Local manufacturers were encouraged to open their doors to the public in honor of Manufacturing Day, which Fort Scott recognized on Friday.

Visitors to such businesses could get a glimpse of how those facilities work as well as the benefits of learning such a trade. Local and out of town high school students got to participate, such as by visiting Fort Scott Community College.

Faculty of the college including Nacoma Oehme, the program industry coordinator in charge of the technical programs, gave demonstrations on welding, construction, heating and air, emphasizing how such trades are always in demand.

“They can bring a trade with them anywhere,” Oehme said, adding that Manufacturing Day opens their eyes to career options the students may not have ever considered. “I think it’s a great deal for them.”

More than 400 students from seven high schools visited the campus, which also hosted booths and demonstrations from Pittsburg State University students and faculty, who showed recent technology improvements that can also be used in areas of manufacturing. The Bourbon County Young Professionals League was also present to hand out free lunches to the students.

“For generations, manufacturing has played a critical role in Fort Scott’s economy,” Mayor JoLynne Mitchell said during last week’s city commission meeting, pointing out the local manufacturers employ about 1,400 people, adding 380 jobs to the area just since 2010.

Trader Dave’s Antiques & More store celebrated their fifth anniversary of business in Fort Scott by joining the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning.

“We’re excited to have you,” chamber executive director Lindsay Madison said of the store located near the intersection of Wall Street and Scott Avenue.

The store is open each day from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is run by Dave Goff and Melinda Collins and their children, David Goff and Jamie Graham. They also sell items online through EBay.

The family often travels to other cities to find and purchase items to sell in their store. Collins said that search often brings them the most enjoyment.

“It’s fun,” Collins said of the family business. “The fun part is picking.”

Estate sales can also bring in items for their shelves. Goff said they encourage people to bring in any items they think could be sold in the store, adding that some of the most popular items right now are old signs, coins and gas and oil memorabilia.

Trader Dave’s also buys gold at a fair, negotiated price, with that price depending on the quality and condition of the item.

Collin’s said, despite their being in business for five years, many people in Fort Scott have never visited the store or even realized it is there. She added they hope being a member of the chamber of commerce will help bring them more publicity.

City Manager Dave Martin said he enjoys visiting their business and could spend hours just looking at the many items for sale.

“The way you take care of your building and do your business says a lot about your family,” Martin said.

During the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday, staff of the Butcher Block gave members of the community information about their product and services while the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed them with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Jeff Southwell, Rick Weber and their families and others began work in June on the building located where the Dairy Queen used to be on National Avenue, with the Butcher block opening its doors in August with the goal of providing quality and local meat to Fort Scott.

“We wanted to offer as much local product as we could,” Southwell said, saying they sell E3 meat, local elk meat and seasonings made locally.

They also make 15 kinds of brats and a variety of bacon and jerky that they have won numerous prizes for. Weber said some of the meats he makes he has been developing over more than a decade and has even given seminars on them around the state and in other states.

“I am proud of it,” Weber said of his work. “I consider us one of the five top producers in the state of Kansas.

The shop also provides other food products such as cheeses, pies, sauces and seasonings as well as chicken and pork. They sell both fresh and frozen meat. Bundle packages and gift certificates are also available.

Because of the amount of product they have, Southwell said they have begun to look for a self-contained storage unit that could store some of the meat as they are running out of room, preventing them from selling larger product such as Thanksgiving turkeys and lamb.

“We’ve outgrown our building already,” Weber said.

Southwell said they are still developing their image as well as their product after just a couple months in the business.

“We’re continually tweaking things…trying to see what people are wanting,” Southwell said.

“This is a blessing for Fort Scott,” Jake Gross of E3 Meat said of the Butcher Block. “You need to take advantage of this…Being able to get this kind of product in Fort Scott is a big deal.”

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed the new fitness center, Midwest Health & Performance, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at their new downtown location Thursday morning.

“This is a little surreal,” owner Jared Martin said of their opening, which came after about 90 days of work in converting the downtown building at 13 S. National Ave. “It’s very exciting for our team to be able to provide this service here for our community.”

The center will bring services including functional medicine provided by Heather Davis of Premier Functional Health, chiropractic services by Grant Hartman of Hartman Spine & Joint, as well as fitness training by CrossFit trainer Brooks Narvaez.

Hartman, who opened a Fort Scott chiropractic clinic 14 months ago with Davis, his wife, said they wanted to bring their services to an underserviced area. Martin said he is excited about the potential of the facility, which also provides nine new jobs to Fort Scott.

“It’s such a group effort to do what we do,” Narvaez said of the team of employees as well as the gym members who helped with the building.

City Manager Dave Martin said he is grateful for the vision of the team involved with Midwest Health & Performance and their goal of making people’s lives better. Chamber of Commerce director Lindsay Madison also expressed appreciation for their investment in Fort Scott’s downtown.

“It’s so inspiring for downtown to see this building preserved, remodeled, revamped into this wonderful place,” Madison said. “We’re focusing on health as a whole as a community…I think this is just one more asset towards that goal of being an overall healthy community.”

After being a part of Fort Scott since 2000, the Woods Supermarket is scheduled to close its doors the first week of November.

The grocery store announced the news to the community Wednesday and is now holding a closeout sale in order to get rid of as many items as they can prior to their November 5, closing date.

Woods began in 1947 in Long Lane, Mo., with the purchase of a small country general store by Don and Bertha Woods, but has since expanded to include about 12 locations, with Fort Scott being the only one in Kansas while the others are located in Missouri.

The Fort Scott branch of Citizens Bank celebrated their arrival with a grand opening event Wednesday, providing food and drawings as well as the opportunity to view the location on Highway 69.

The fifth branch of Security Bank out of Rich Hill opened its doors in Fort Scott at the end of May, providing another option for members of the community looking for loans or other assistance with finances.

“We’re pretty versatile,” bank president Cliff Yarick said of their services, expressing their excitement to be in Fort Scott.

Bank owner Randy Shannon said they are glad to bring a branch of their bank to Fort Scott, a larger community that is still rural and agriculture-based, after opening other branches in smaller communities such as Hume and Rich Hill.

“We’re just glad to be here,” Shannon said, saying they look forward to serving the banking needs of the community.

Lindsay Madison, executive director of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, said she is glad to see an empty building being put to use once again in Fort Scott.

“We are extremely excited that you’re here,” Madison said. “We’re excited to have another business that’s really involved in the community.”

During their grand opening held Saturday July 2, The Bunker drew a large number of visitors to their downtown store to purchase weapons and other gear or learn about the training courses the store will offer.

Chad Wise, a member of the United States Army and assistant professor currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth, said he is scheduled to retire this year and, about three years ago, he and his wife Melissa began considering a business such as The Bunker where he could continue putting his skills gained through the army to good use.

“Why not find a way to utilize it?” Wise said of that knowledge of firearms and training from his time spent in the army and teaching graduate level courses to officers. “I wanted something else to do.”

Recognizing the growing demand for firearms and concealed carry licenses as gun laws continue to change, Wise said they began working towards opening The Bunker, with great support from the city and the community, to bring not just weapons retail but training courses to Fort Scott.

“I think there’s always a need for weapons safety and being comfortable with a firearm,” Wise said.

Currently, The Bunker will open its doors 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday until Wise retires, with more hours potentially being added to that based on the community’s interest. A wide variety of new and used weapons and other equipment will be available at the store located on Scott Avenue.

Starting next week, The Bunker will also regularly offer training courses at an off-site, outdoor range located about six miles west of Fort Scott, where participants can receive basic instruction including self-defense, safety, shooting techniques, loading and unloading a weapon and other aspects of using pistols and rifles. Different technical courses will offer a range of training for participants with different levels of experience.

Events include couples’ and ladies’ nights as well as classes on conceal carry. Group team-building events can also be scheduled for any organizations or businesses interested in a group outing.

Wise said some classes have already sold out, but more will continue to be scheduled. Depending on the demand, he added they hope to possibly add an indoor range at their downtown location as well.

Already, Wise said they have received a good response concerning the classes, which will be informative as well as fun, as different competitions and even meals are provided during select courses.

“A family-friendly environment is really important to us,” Wise said, saying they will not teach offensive tactics, but defensive and self-protection strategies.

The classes will be taught by Wise as well as Mike Trim, of the local police department, and his brother Nick. Weapons and ammunition will be available for rent for the courses and ear and eye protection can be provided if needed.

Those interested in learning more about The Bunker and what it offers can visit it at 108 Scott Avenue and at their website, www.thebunkerllc.com.

A number of announcements concerning upcoming community events were shared during the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday morning. Stay up to date on these events and more by visiting the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism website.

This week’s Chamber Coffee event was hosted at the Public Safety Building and and also took time to recognize the local police and fire departments and dispatch for their service to the city for more than a century.

• The Young Professionals League will hold their July luncheon Friday at noon at Papa Don’s, delayed a week because of the holiday weekend. Published author Michael Smith will be the guest speaker. The YPL will then hold a social gathering at the Vinedo Del Alamo Winery for a wine-tasting event Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
• The annual Marmaton Massacre will again be held at Gunn Park as a two-day event, Saturday and Sunday, and will include activities such as live music, camping, a kids’ race as well as the marathon and bike trials on Saturday and the main event and category races on Sunday. Cyclists and even others not interested in the races are invited to come to the park and enjoy the family-friendly festivities.
• On Tuesday, July 12, the Beaux Arts Centre will host the quarterly, downtown meet and greet at 8:30 a.m. Representatives from downtown businesses as well as members of the community interested in gathering information are encouraged to attend.
• My Father’s House will hold a fundraising pancake breakfast Saturday July 16, beginning at 9 a.m., with the meal costing $5 per adult and $3 for children.
• A Texas Hold ‘Em event will be held Saturday July 16, at 3 p.m. as a fundraiser to raise about $5,500 for new uniforms for the Fort Scott High School girls’ basketball team.
• CrossFit Fort Scott will celebrate its first year in the city with a birthday celebration and kickball tournament Saturday July 23, at 10 a.m. at Gunn Park. Teams and other members of the community are encouraged to come participate.
• The candidate forum for the August 2, election is tentatively scheduled for Monday July 25, to be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College.
• With the Bark in the Park dog park nearing completion at Gunn Park, a ribbon-cutting and grand opening event is scheduled to be held Saturday August 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will include free pet toys, snacks and even a dog costume and best trick contest for those who attend.
• Fort Scott Community College will host their annual Black and White Gala on August 13. Fewer than 100 tickets remain and should be purchased as soon as possible.

Although already present in the community for a few months, the new Briggs Auto Group was officially welcomed to the area by Fort Scott residents and the area Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting event during the Thursday morning Chamber Coffee.

In March, what had previously been Shepherds Auto Plaza for many decades became Briggs Auto Group with the sale of the family business to Russell Briggs, who has been in the business for more than 30 years and had about nine dealerships in Kansas at the time of the sale.

“We’ve really enjoyed being in Fort Scott so far,” general manager Mike Terry said, saying they appreciate the welcoming and friendly reception from the community.

With the change of ownership, the employee staff has approximately doubled, with most of the Shepherds employees remaining at the dealership.

“They do an amazing job,” Terry said of the staff, including the office staff as well as the salesman and other leadership in place.

A larger inventory of vehicles has also been made available, making the local dealership one of the fastest growing in the area for certain manufacturers like Chevy and Ford. Other improvements such as computer upgrades have also been made at the dealership.

Those considering purchasing a vehicle or in need of repairs are encouraged to visit the new Briggs Auto Group located on Highway 69 in Fort Scott.

In recent weeks, changes have come to the downtown Captured Images photo studio as Gary and Kylene Palmer renovated their place of business in order to improve its appearance as well as the services they provide.

“I’ve been in the studio business for 20 years this October,” photographer Gary Palmer said, adding there had not been significant changes made to their Fort Scott office during that time. “We were due for a refresher.”

To celebrate the renovations, Captured Images held an Open House Friday, welcoming visitors to come and see the changes.

In past months, the front space of the studio had been shared with other area businesses. But when those leases expired, Palmer said they decided to make changes to the front that would let customers and those walking by know they are there and what quality of services they offer.

Those changes came in the form of replacing old carpet with wood floors, adding new coats of paints and other features to the studio, including new shooting bays to provide more portrait options more quickly. Old photography equipment on display gives the building a vintage feel that Palmer said they wanted in their studio.

“Everything’s been redesigned or rebuilt,” Palmer said of the studio.

They also added a consultation room where customers can sit comfortably and view their photos on a screen as well as see options for sizes and styles of their portrait prints.

Photographic artwork will also be rotated through the front of the studio for visitors to view while items such as jewelry, frames, art prints and other retro items and gifts will be available for purchase as well, a new addition for Captured Images.

With the Open House, Palmer said they are also offering special deals, such as up to 50 percent off sessions booked between now and July 15, with the session paid for in advance. More information on portrait options and prices can be found at their website: www.capturedimagesportraits.com.

“I love it,” Palmer said of his job for almost the past 20 years. “This is where my passion is.”

It will now be more comfortable for residents and visitors to use shelter house #5 at Gunn Park throughout the year after Norris Heating and Air Conditioning donated and installed an air unit in the building.

The city of Fort Scott recognized and thanked the local business Thursday with a plaque on the wall of the shelter house during the businesses customer appreciation lunch.

“We appreciate your business here in Fort Scott and we appreciate your community support,” Fort Scott Mayor JoLynne Mitchell said.

City Manager Dave Martin said it is businesses like Norris Heating and Air Conditioning that help smaller cities like Fort Scott thrive by being active in the community and supporting it in whatever ways they can.

“It’s very nice and I know it’s being used by a lot of people,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison said of the addition to the shelter, pointing out it has already been used for events this summer.

Andy Norris said his family and their business has been a part of the city of Fort Scott for many years and they were happy to have the opportunity to provide heating and air for the shelter house, a goal of the city for the past five or six years.

“The park means a lot to us,” Norris said. “The community means a lot to us.”

The business also used the event as a chance to express their appreciation to the “best customers,” according to Norris, who said those customers have made it possible for the Norris family to continue the business, earn a living and serve the community.

Norris’ father Phillip also expressed his gratitude to the city for making the park so attractive to visitors through their maintenance and other improvements.

Since 2015, Velocity Tactics and Fort Scott Munitions, business endeavors started by Ryan Kraft, have sold lead-free ammunition through online sales. But with their Grand Opening held Saturday, their storefront at 523 E. Wall Street is officially open for customers as well.

Office Manager Steven Kalm said the store has been open to the general public for about four months, but they did not want to widely publicize that fact until after their computer systems and new website were completely ready. With the Grand Opening during the Good Ol’ Days weekend and advertising through their website and Facebook page, Kalm said word has spread quickly, surprising many people who did not realize they sold more than ammunition.

Velocity Tactics provides tactical clothing, pellet grills, firearms, suppressors, knives and beef as well as lead-free ammunition in a wide range of caliber, designed and developed for more than three years and now manufactured by Fort Scott Munitions. The store also features a 13-foot alligator and other stuffed animals given to the store by hunters who used the ammunition, which is designed for greater accuracy, impact and damage.

“We’ve had real positive feedback,” Kalm said of their opening, which drew a long line of people Saturday interested in ammunition giveaways and the approximate 650 free hamburgers that were handed out to customers.

Kalm said the business has made great strides on the property, which was once the Key Industries building, improving the parking area as well as preparing the store and manufacturing areas of the building for Velocity Tactics and Fort Scott Munitions. As business continues to grow, Kalm said they look forward to tailoring their services to their customers and Fort Scott.

“Slowly we’ll add little by little,” Kalm said of Velocity Tactics, adding he believes their business will continue to grow as customers return and word spreads.

The store is currently open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will be open this Saturday for the first time from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those Saturday hours could be adjusted based on how much business the weekend hours draw in.