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Category Archives: Business
Chamber Coffee At Sleep Inn Oct. 24
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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
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Hosted by:
Sleep Inn & Suites
Location:
302 East Wall Street * Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bill Michaud will be celebrating with the Chamber Members of Sleep Inn & Suites 5th Anniversary!
In addition, we will be enjoying an Anniversary cake, Breakfast items and a drawing for a FREE ROOM CERTIFICATE!
Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
***Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
October 31 – Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (Landmark Bank)
November 7th – VFW @ 1745 S. National Ave.
November 14th – Integrity Home Care & Hospice
November 21st – TBA
November 28th – No Chamber Coffee this day.
Main Street Gallery Expands Flea Market
The owners of Main Street Gallery & Gifts, 23 South Main, have taken the for sale sign out of the window.
Although there has been a for sale sign in the business window for several months, the McClellan’s changed their minds.
“We took the building off the market,” Josh McClellan, one of the owners said. “I had it brought up to me that ‘Why would any more vendors come rent space if I was not investing my time into them?’ We decided to not sell it. We decided to have my wife come full time to assist with the store to help manage everything.”
Owners of the business are Josh, and his wife, Rechelle, and Josh’s mother, Julie McClellan. They sell home décor, flea market items, custom picture framing, and brew supplies. They have been in business since October 1st, 2000.
“We are wanting to expand the flea market with more booth spaces,” Josh said. “In order to do so, my wife, Rechelle McClellan, will be there to help vendors and buyers, so my mother, Julie, can focus on her upholstery business. Rechelle started full time on October 19.
Booth spaces have been in the lower level of the building and now they are extending the flea market booths to the first level.
Booth Rental
The McClellan’s are taking names and phone numbers for a booth rental waiting list.
Booth space prices are as follows:
Lower Level 4X4 feet=$20.00
Lower Level 4X8 feet=$35.00
(Expanding on the main level)
Main Level 4X4 feet=$40.00
Main Level 4X8 feet=$70.00
“We take a 10% consignment fee. This fee pays for loading items, bags, credit card fees, etc.” Josh said.
Penny Vote Contest
“Main Street Gallery and Gifts will be doing a penny vote contest with our three (Main Street) windows,” Rechelle said. ” I have four vendors decorating the north and south windows. The money we raise will be donated to The Sharing Bucket. Please feel free to spread the news. Penny votes start the first Christmas open house downtown.”
“We will have mason jars that people can put pennies, dollars, etc. in, and whoever that has the most money wins,” she said.
“We are very excited about what the future holds for our business,” Josh said. “We are here to help the people and visitors of Fort Scott. We have something for everyone through all of our vendors. We couldn’t do it without all of them. We appreciate all the past, present, and future vendors of Main Street Gallery and Gifts.”
The phone number of the shop is 620.223.2210.
Halloween Parade Oct. 26 Downtown Fort Scott
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:30 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main, face painting by Fort Scott High School thespians, and fun music by local DJ, The Hull Experience.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses or organizations in the community, not located along Main Street, are welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk also providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free hot dog lunch will be served to kids in costumes.
Special thanks to donors 5 Corners Mini Mart, Bids & Dibs, The Hull Experience, FSHS PRIDE & Thespians, Walgreens, and all participating organizations and merchants offering treats. The Chamber would also like to recognize the parade committee Darcy Smith, Chair; Crystal Mason; Vonnie Rickerson; and Angela Simon.
For more information contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
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Turvey Promoted to Tourism Manager
Allyson Turvey, 30, is the new Fort Scott Tourism Manager at the Fort Scott Visitors Center, 231 E. Wall.
“Most of my past experience has been in customer service, but because I worked in the tourism department for two years before the promotion, I have gotten lots of on-the-job training,” she said. ” I am a certified Kansas Destination Specialist, a credential I received last year from the Tourism Industry Association of Kansas. I’m also a Certified Professional Travel Counselor, a credential I received from the State of Kansas Tourism Department.”
Turvey graduated from Sail High School, Tallahassee, FL and attended Fort Scott Community College for an associate’s degree before attending Missouri Southern State University for a bachelor’s degree in business.
Turvey’s duties include managing the visitors center, and social media marketing.
“I also attend various conventions and trade shows throughout the year in an effort to secure group tours and conferences, for which I help plan itineraries and agendas,” she said. “I work closely with the city and county tourism assets in order to get more visitors to them, and assist in planning and marketing events.”
In addition, she handles the marketing program of the LaRoche Baseball Complex.
” The best part of my job is the people,” Turvey said. ” I not only get a chance to work closely with locals, but I also get to meet people from all over the world who have come to visit this little community. At the visitors center, I’ve met people from Mexico, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, France, and so many others.”
Many in the community often take for granted Fort Scott and its’ attractions, but “Our visitors are always beyond impressed,” she said.
Her work is enjoyable in other ways as well.
“It’s also pretty awesome to work so closely with locals as well,” she said. “This community is absolutely filled with great people who love this city and want it to continue to succeed. This makes my job a lot easier because someone always has a new idea, or event, or business they want to bring here. I love that I can use my job position to help out with some of the fun endeavors people come up with. ”
Turvey grew up near Tulsa, OK, and still has family there.
Fort Scott Convention & Visitors Bureau can be reached at
620.670.2750 or [email protected]
American Legion Auxiliary Hosts Pampered Chef Fundraiser
Pampered Chef Party
Hosted By: Auxiliary President Sylvia Norris
I would like to thank everyone for taking the time for supporting a great cause.
The money we raise will be used to help support varies programs for our disabled veterans. Patriotism and veterans advocacy are so important to the American Legion Auxiliary that for more than nine decades, we’ve been serving, educating and giving to America’s finest—our servicemen and women.
The American Legion Auxiliary answers the call of Service Not Self. 20 percent of the proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the various programs the Auxiliary supports, and for every party that is booked, 5 dollars will be donated to our Unit. So please help us to reach our goal.
Here is the link to the pampered chef party
American Legion Unit 25 President Sylvia Norris
Butcher Block Customer Appreciation Oct. 19
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Bo Co Economic Development Community Goals
Submitted by Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director
Bourbon County Economic Development is actively working on countywide goals to enhance our economic growth, lower property tax, and address population decline. We are addressing the current business climate with strategies to increase revenue through adding value, and therefore lowering the individual tax burden.
By providing opportunity for a privately developed multi-use facility with a focus on participatory sports, such as rodeo, we will inject added value into the community which will increase opportunities for recreation and assist retail business with increased sales revenue and foot traffic.
Bourbon County community has identified business, housing, and quality of life as their top three priorities.
Data collected from County surveys and face to face interviews on current business needs indicate that property tax burden is one of the top issues business face, second only to workforce needs.
Currently, the countywide average mill levy is $180.77 per $1000 assessed valuation, ranking Bourbon County 11th highest in the State of Kansas (Kansas Department of Revenue, 2018).
We are preparing for a marathon, not a sprint, to address our current tax climate, with long term goals of becoming more regionally competitive at $158.61 per $1000 assessed valuation by the year 2030.
We are leveraging community strengths and assets to create a more business-friendly environment in a place people want to live, work and play.
Fort Scott Community College is renowned nationwide for its rodeo team and Fort Scott is located on an intersection of two major highways. A grassroots committee of former rodeo team athletes, business owners, and public sector, with support from the community college president and rodeo team coach, has formed to see a privately developed multi-use facility constructed.
Bourbon County Commission, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance livability and quality of life for its residents and to grow our economic base and resulting job opportunities, has commissioned a feasibility study for a multi-use event facility to be located in the Fort Scott area.
Markin Consulting, a national consulting firm specializing in these types of facilities, is conducting this two-phase study.
The first phase is an intense look at the market viability of this type of facility.
We are thankful for Bourbon County stakeholder’s Jim Keller, of Keller Ranch, and Steve Buerge, of Buerge Farms and Buerge Enterprises, Inc. who have made substantial contributions toward the market demand study. By completing rigorous cost benefit analysis, we are not only showing to be good stewards of tax payor resources but we are also planning for the future.
The decisions we make on investments today will determine the productivity, wages, and quality of life for generations to come. To grow a sustainable, thriving, prosperous community, we are developing creative and dynamic strategies, fostering public/private partnerships, and encourage civic participation.
We believe the feasibility study for the multi-use event facility is very important to our business community and are asking business and residents for your help by taking time to complete a very short, on-line survey for this study process.
Here’s the link for the resident survey: http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Bourbon-County-Event-Center-Survey
And here’s the link for the business survey: http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Bourbon-County-Business-Needs-Survey
For more information please contact:
Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director
620-215-5725
Highlands Apartments Fall Open House Oct. 17-18
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Pioneer Harvest Fiesta: Looking At Our Rural Roots
It is almost time for 63rd Annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta which is held on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, across the street from Fort Scott Community College on South Horton Street, each year.
October 18, 19 and 20 are the show dates with a parade downtown on Thursday, the 17th at 6 pm.
“We are using equipment 50 to 100-years-old to demonstrate how our forefathers annually harvested their farm crops,” Allen Warren, president of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta board said. “We also demonstrate how our forefathers crushed rock for the early gravel roads.”
Vendors with some of everything, including old tools will be positioned around the fairgrounds.
Tractors will be on display and also gas engines.
The featured tractor this year is the Ford and the featured engine is a Hercules.
Also included in the harvest fiesta are quilt shows along with arts and crafts vendors. They will be housed in the buildings on the fairgrounds.
Quilts to be exhibited should be brought to the Myers Building from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17.
“If these times do not work for you, please let me know or if you have any questions,” Jackie Warren, quilt event coordinator said. She can be reached at 620-224-8161.
“The quilt show is always fun, viewing the beautiful quilts and visiting with the vendors who are always ready to help you chose a new project,” she said. “This year’s vendors are Erica with Nine Patch Quilt Shop of Nevada, Carolyn with Heavenly Kneads & Threads of Humboldt, Cassino with Country Creek Peddlers, John Newland with Hot Fix products and Bobbi Schroeder with her quilting machine.”
“Bring some handwork with you and join the others who are hand quilting and embroidering and maybe, there will be someone crocheting and knitting. Lots of visiting and learning new procedures going on.”
Don’t forget the Arts and Crafts that will be in the 4-H Building.
Any questions about the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, please call Allen Warren, 620-224-7761
The 2020 dates of the show will October 2, 3, and 4.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee will be held in the 4-H Building at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds Oct. 17.
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta officers are Allen Warren, president Larry Richard, vice president; Delphine Parks, treasurer; and Betsy Readinger, Secretary.
The mission of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is:
“To create and maintain an organization of persons who are interested in all aspects of equipment, machinery, and other technology characteristic of rural American culture particularly during the period encompassing the first half of the twentieth century; to provide for the collection, preservation, display and management of artifacts and/or documents contemplated above; to provide and/or promote educational and charitable activities and programs which fulfill the above purposes, and thereby advance the cultural betterment of humankind; and to receive, administer, and distribute funds in connection with any activities related to the above purposes; provided, however, that the organization shall only engage in activities that are in the purview of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 amended.”
New Chamber Employee: Rita Schroeder
Rita Schroeder is the new administrative assistant at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, as of Oct.1
Schroeder’s duties include social media, networking, front desk duties, hospitality, customer service, promoting and recruiting, fundraising, and helping with events.
Schroeder, 50, is originally from the Miami, OK area and graduated from Quapaw High School.
Schroeder has a background of experience in printing, accounting, and sales and received training in product sales shows, webinars, system training through Team Viewer and Podcast.
She is married to Greg Schroeder and has two sons, Blake Carriger, Fort Scott, and Nathan Eby, Nevada.
The chamber office is located at 231 E. Wall and can be reached at
Phone: 620-223-3566
Fax: 620-223-3574
Email: [email protected]
Chamber After Hours Oct. 16 at Holmtown Pub
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