Category Archives: Business

Smallville Crossfit Reopens Today, Dec. 2

Aaron Watts works on the flooring in one of the large classrooms at Smallville Crossfit  on Nov. 29

 

After a hiatus finishing up the new facility at 1905 Judson, Smallville Crossfit opens today for classes.

“Our first classes will be held here Monday,” owner Aaron Watts said on Nov. 29. His wife, Lindsey is his partner in the fitness business.

The reconfigured facility, once Fort Scott Lumber, is just off West 19th Street in the southern part of the city. They were formerly in a downtown location but outgrew the space.

Smallville Crossfit has 130 members, Aaron said.

Some of the Smallville Crossfit members, from the business Facebook page.

They now have about 60 percent more space to accommodate those members, Aaron said.

“We now have three large heated rooms for classes, as opposed to two large and an auxiliary room,” he said.

Smallville Crossfit provides regular Crossfit classes, a “sweat class” and a pre-teen class for kids eight to 12 years old, Aaron said.

The Watts are going to add some new classes, a dance fitness class and strength and conditioning classes, in the future.

“We are going to get through a couple of months to determine new equipment that might be needed,” Aaron said.

New showers and bathrooms have been added to the building and Aaron was putting the mat floor down on Friday, while Lindsey was cleaning the walls in one of the new classrooms, with a little help from family and friends.

Lindsay Watts cleans the wall of one of the new classrooms at Smallville Crossfit on Nov. 29.

 

Smallville Crossfit classes are Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 8 a.m. 11:15 a.m., the 4 p.m. pre-teen class to the last class at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday classes are at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Saturday there is an open gym which starts at 9 a.m.

For more information contact Lindsey at 620-619-9602 or Aaron at 620-719-7554.

A grand opening at the new facility will be after the first of the year.

Aaron Watts stands in front of the newly remodeled Smallville Crossfit, 1905 Judson.

 

Agenda for the Bourbon County Coalition Dec. 4

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition general membership meets each first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 123 Scott. There will be no January 2020 meeting.

The meeting agenda for December 4, 2019

  1. Welcome and Board update by Billie Jo Drake, chairwoman:
  1. Member introductions and announcements:
  1. Program: Gary Miller, Angels Home Care Health
  1. February program will be presented by Meaghan Russell, USD 235. Meaghan will tell us about their Teammates program.
  1. Open Forum:
  1. Adjournment: Next meeting will be February 5, 2020.

Historic Redo Back On Track


The residential development at 1st and Main Street is now on track for a summer 2020 opening. This is a 2018 photo.

Though there has been no activity for months on the building at First and Main Street, that will change soon, said the developer.

“As happens from time to time, we are in the process of switching general contractors,” Tony Krsnich, president and CEO of Flint Hills Holding, 2315 W. 65th, Mission Hills, KS. said.

“We are getting ready to start construction back up in 30 days,” He said.

The three-story building is being converted into 25 “high-end” apartments, he said. “They are for the general public and rent will be based on income.”

“It will be historically preserved,” Krsnich said. “It will pretty much look like it did when built.”

What was known as the Stout Building, adjacent to the west at First and National Avenue was torn down.

“The old Stout Building was endangered and needed to be razed,” he said. “It will be used as green space and a parking area for downtown.”

“The project is fully financed and construction is expected to resume within the next few weeks,” Rachel Pruitt, Fort Scott Economic Director said. “The City looks forward to seeing the construction restarting and is thankful for the additional investment from Flint Hills Holdings. ”

The First and Main building as seen from National Avenue on Nov. 4. The Stout Building was razed on this space and will be made into a green space and parking lot for downtown Fort Scott.

 

Small Business Saturday: Buy Local

Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November
30, 2019

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages the community to support SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY on November 30th.

For every $100 spent locally, $68 stays in our community. When the same $100 is spent with a national franchise, only $43 is retained locally. Shoppers across the nation are encouraged to “SHOP SMALL” and support local businesses this season.

The Chamber encourages all to take part in a Passport Event as part of Small Business Saturday. This Saturday when shopping at participating retailers, customers may collect stamps by spending $5 or more at a minimum of four stores, then turn in the passport to one of the businesses by 5 pm to be entered in a drawing for Chamber Bucks.

Small businesses promoting the passport event include Bartlesmeyer Jewelry, Bids & Dibs, Books & Grannies, Country Cupboard, Courtland Spa, Fort Scott Munitions, Fort Scott Gun & Pawn, Front Door Christmas Store, Hedgehog.INK, Here We Go Again Upholstery, Hole in the Wall, Iron Star Antiques, J & W Sports Shop, The Lavender Patch, Lowell Milken Center, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Mayco Ace Hardware, Papa Don’s Pizza, Redbud Farm & Nurseries, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sekan’s Occasion Shop, Sunshine Boutique, The Electronics Store, Trader Dave’s, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566.


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Rosie’s Cabin Hosts Vendors Dec. 7: Buy Local

Rosie’s Cabin and Event Center, 563 Maple Rd., Uniontown
Rosie’s Cabin Event Center Manager Kelsey Blythe was approached by a local entrepreneur to host a vendor show.
“Kelly Perry from Perry’s Pork Rinds is a very motivated entrepreneur with great ideas,” Blythe said.  “She came to me with an idea to have a local vendor show. Since we have space, we were delighted to host.”
The Backwoods Holiday Mart is scheduled for December 7 at Rosie’s Cabin – 563 Maple Road Uniontown, just 20 minutes from downtown Fort Scott.
“Everyone is invited,” Blythe said.  “The more support our local vendors get, the better for all of the community in Bourbon County.”
The event is from 9 am – 4 pm on Saturday, Dec. 7.
There will be giveaways, prizes, and samples.
Santa Claus will be available for family photos by Erica George Photography.
“Loads of people will be setting up a booth to sell and advertise their products,” Blythe said.  “There are so many different kinds of vendors coming, it’s going to be so fun to look around.”
  “There will be hand made jewelry, wines, nuts, knives, Perry’s Pork Rinds, homemade baked goods, homemade dog treats, leather goods,  woodworking, Tupperware, homemade Christmas wreaths and many many more. Come support your local business people!! Most of these vendors travel to vendor shows and put their heart into their products.”

Blythe is considering this an annual event and possibly bi-annual
“to give hard-working people a good chance to sell LOCALLY! What would be better than to have one of your best shows be here in Bourbon County,” Blythe said.

 

Gordmans Offers Gifts On Black Friday

Line Up for Fun on Thanksgiving & Black FriYAY

The first 75 guests…

  • get a scratch-off card — it could be a $100 Gordmans gift card or a $5 shopping card;
  • can enter a drawing to win a giant FAO Schwarz® teddy bear, replica of the cuddly Bella Bear from Gordmans’ BEARS that CARE partnership with St. Jude.

On Friday, the first 75 guests…

  • receive a free, festive reusable holiday tote bag.

 

GivingTuesday: Gordmans Doubles Donations to St. Jude

  • On Tuesday, Dec. 3, Gordmans will match 100% of all donations made at checkout to St. Jude.
  • Guests also can help St. Jude families by purchasing holiday teddy bears that celebrate a special little girl named Bella, who has childhood cancer and is getting expert care at St. Jude.
  • Gordmans’ BEARS that CARE are under $10; Gordmans will donate $2 of each bear sale to St. Jude.

Time for the Fall Extravaganza, Buy Local Nov. 25

Georgia Brown of Sunshine Boutique visits with customers during Fall Extravaganza in a prior year.

FREE childcare and an evening of shopping are offered Nov. 25.

The 10th Annual Fall Extravaganza is next Monday from 5-8 p.m. in the Fort Scott Middle School gym and commons areas. The school is located at 1105 E. 12th Street. The childcare is provided by Fort Scott High School PRIDE.

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out local crafters and businesses.

Homemade articles of cloth and wood, jewelry, locally made food items and other local small business offerings can be found at the event.

 

With over 60 vendors, there should be something for everyone on the holiday gift list.

There will be a full meal for sale from the 8th-grade Washington Workshop students,  and chances to win raffle prizes.

There will also be six $25 cash prize giveaways:

1) Every adult who comes to our event will be allowed to add a middle school child’s name into a drawing. At the end of the night, two student names will be drawn and those students will win $25 cash!

2) Every USD 234 employee who attends will have a chance to be entered into a drawing. At the end of the night, four names will be drawn and those employees will win $25 cash!

The event is sponsored by the FSMS VIPs, which is the parent group at the middle school.
  “This is one of about five fundraisers we do every year to raise money for our school,” Stephanie George, coordinator for the event and a middle school teacher. “Teachers and students benefit.  Every year we look at the needs of them both and decide what to do with the money.”
”  In past years, we have purchased laptops and iPads for student and teacher use, we have given money to the science teachers for lab supplies and to the music teachers for sheet music and instruments, and we give money each year to the teachers to purchase school supplies at the start of the year.  We also pay for software that the district wasn’t able to afford when budgets were cut years ago:  we have paid for Accelerated Reader (a reading supplement) for over five years now and we pay for video subscriptions that teachers want like Flocabulary and BrainPop.”
“The first year of our event was 2009,” George said. “We had 29 vendors and we held it all in our commons.  By year 3, we had so many vendors we had to expand into our gym.  This year we have 69 spots sold, plus a few booths manned by middle school student groups (Washington Workshop and the 8th Grade Technology Class), which is bigger than last year by one vendor.”
Approximately 400 people from the community come to shop during the event each year, she said.
. Fall Extravaganza 2017.

 

Buy Local: HPA Stocking Stuffer Dec. 7,8

Articles for sale in a past Stocking Stuffer.

The annual Historical Preservation Association Stocking Stuffer, after skipping a year, will be the weekend of Dec. 7 and 8.

Several area crafters will be offering their wares, along with some small business owners.

“We didn’t have it last year, and this year I have a couple of gals who have stepped up to help,” Carolyn Crystal, event coordinator said. ” Julie Norris and Charlotte Kite.”

On Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. vendors will sell homemade crafts, home decor, jewelry and fashion accessories at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons Area, 1105 E. 12th Street.

The 2014 Stocking Stuffer in the gym of the Fort Scott Middle School.

Admission is free.

The Sharing Bucket organization will serve lunch as a fundraiser to provide support for local cancer survivors.

“I invite you to come back and see what all the vendors have,” Crystal said. “There are lots of new things.”

There are currently 30 vendors signed up, and Crystal is seeking more.

The booth space is 10 feet by 10 feet and costs $45. Vendors must provide their own tables. Electrical sites are available.

“If electricity is needed, I need to know ahead of time,” Crystal said.

For more information contact Crystal at 620-215-1969 or Kite at 620-224-0931.