Category Archives: Business

First Friday Bonus & Live Wheel Throwing!

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First Friday Bonus & Live Wheel Throwing!

Along with our Last Look Opening,

Trent Freeman will be wheel throwing large pottery pieces all night!

This live event will also be a First Friday Bonus:

If your subtotal is more than $500 you can select a

large piece as it’s being made before your eyes!

Come in for the Last Look event and

LIVE WHEEL THROWING!

Friday August 4th • 5pm – 9pm

theartificers.com

Recommended Young Entrepreneurs Will Get a Grant

Judah Whitson at the cash register at Fort Scott Farmers Market.
Judah Whitson mans the cash register at his family’s booth at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on June3, 2023. He sells homemade mini-donuts.

Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor  wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.

To view the prior story:

Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor

 

If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]

Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.

What’s Happening in Fort Scott

What’s Happening in Fort Scott! July 28th Weekly Newsletter

The above photo is of the Farmers’ Market which is held every Tuesday from 4-6pm and Saturday’s from 8am-12pm, located at Skubitz Plaza in front of the Fort!

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Guided Tours: 10am & 1pm

Special activities all this weekend! See link below.

Visit your National Park!

Trolley Tours of Fort Scott

50-minute narrated historical tour

Every Friday & Saturday on the hour

Fridays 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

Saturdays 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

$6 adults, $4 12 & under, leaves from the Chamber

Click this link: The Artificers

August pottery class/workshop

schedule, a creative space for all ages!

Click here for all the FUN activities at the

Museum of Creativity, something for all ages!

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall.

Fort Scott Public Library Summer Schedule has ALOT of fun things to do! Click here to see!

The Lavender Patch Farm will be open many days throughout the month of July, click here for specific hours/dates.

7/28 ~ Otis Nixon Youth Baseball Camp, $20/per participant, ages 7-15, call Steve Anthony at 620.215.2392 for more info!

7/28 ~ Special Olympics Golf Tournament Horse Race, come out and be part of the gallery, starting at 5pm, Woodland Hills Golf Course!

7/28 ~ GRAND OPENING of the Splash pad and Sensory Park! Music, food trucks, and so much fun for all ages, RIBBON CUTTING is at 5:30pm with the opening of the splash pad to follow, Skubitz Plaza, click here for more info!

7/28 ~ Friday Night Concert in the Park will be held at the First United Methodist Church this week for a special Branson Show, concert starts at 6pm, click here for more info!

7/28 ~ Uniontown Live Music Event Featuring Country Singer Rick Hite, Ice Cream Social starting at 6:15pm, music @ 7pm, Uniontown Park, click here for more info!

7/28 ~ Book Signing Meet & Greet at Fort Scott Munitions featuring Jessica Lynch Former POW Iraq 2003, books will be available on site for purchase, starts at 3pm, click here for more info.

7/28 ~ Absolutely Country, Definitely Gospel Faith’s Journey in Concert at First United Methodist Church, 6pm, click here for more info!

7/29 ~ Rumble on the Bricks, family friendly car meet on Skubitz Plaza, all vehicles are welcome, 3pm, click here for more info!

7/29 ~ BBCO Golf Scramble for Special Olympics Kansas, starting at 7am, awards/raffle prizes/ and silent auction will be later in the evening,

click here for more info!

7/31 ~ Sports Physicals and Immunizations at Bourbon County Health Department, call the health department to schedule an appointment time, or click here for more info!

8/2 ~ Mammography Event hosted by Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, no appt or referral needed, 7am-7pm, click here for more info!

8/2 ~ Wednesday Writers at Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, all are welcome with an interest in writing, 1:30-3pm, click here for more info!

8/3 ~ Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting hosted by Laree + Co, 3 S. National Ave, 8am

8/4 ~ Backroom Art Gallery 1st Friday at Hare & Crow, 118 S. Main, 1-9pm, click here for more info!

8/4 ~ First Friday at the Artificers, 8 N. National, stop by browse art/have light refreshments/enjoy good company, 5-8pm, click here for more info!

8/4-5 ~ Sales Tax Holiday Weekend, customers receive a discount equal to the sales tax of 9.4% on purchase, see flyer below for details.

8/5-6 ~ Woodland Hills City Championship, $65 per person, Men’s (18-50)/36 holes, Women’s/18 holes, Senior 55+/27 holes (completed on Saturday), Juniors 12-17/18 holes, click here for more info!

8/5 ~ Grand Re-opening and Lillian’s 7th Birthday at Laree + Co, enjoy treats/food trucks/door prizes/vendors, 10:30am-3pm, click here for more info!

8/5 ~ First Saturday Story Time at Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, come enjoy a guest reader and an activity, 2:30-3:30pm, click here for more info!

8/5 ~ End of Summer Craft Creations, River Room, 8am-5pm, click here for more info!

8/5 Keith Meech Benefit, Fort Scott Elks Lodge, 12pm Scottish Doubles Pool Tourn, 3-5pm Pulled Pork Sandwich Meal, 5-6pm Live Auction, click here for flyer.

8/6 ~ Champions Forever Event by Advance Bourbon County, Fort Scott High School, 7-10pm, click here for more info!

8/10 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Old Fort Genealogical Society, 221 S. National Ave, 8am

8/12 ~ Poverty Paradigm by Core Community of Bourbon County, Tickets are $10, all are welcomed and encouraged to attend, Fort Scott Middle School, click here for more info!

SAVE THE DATE!

8/24 ~ Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting at Structure by Margo, 19 S. National Ave.

8/26 ~ Todd Royce Comedy at Memorial Hall, 7-10pm, click here for more info.

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SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.

Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!

Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

Book Signing with Jessica Lynch Former POW Iraq 2003, Fort Scott Munitions!

Friday Night Concert in the Park

will be held @ First United Methodist Church tonight, July 28th, 6pm!

Click here for info.!

Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the Splash Pad and Sensory Park! Come out and enjoy music, food trucks, and so much fun for ALL ages!

Sports Physicals & Immunizations at Bourbon County Health Department!

Mammography Event hosted by Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas!

Keith Meech Benefit – Pulled Pork Dinner – Live Auction – Raffle!

Grand Reopening and Expansion of Laree & Co on August 3

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Laree + Co….

Save the Date!

Join us for a Chamber Coffee & Ribbon Cutting

to celebrate the Grand Reopening & Expansion of

Laree + Co, Downtown Fort Scott!

Thursday, August 3rd, 8am

3 S. National Ave.

PLUS, exclusive access to shop before the

public reopening event on Saturday, August 5th!

*Door Prizes

*Breakfast Charcuterie Board

*Juice & Coffee

Laree + Co is also hiring for a full-time Sales Manager and 2 Sales Reps. If you or anyone you know is interested in these position, they can click here to apply!

Click here for the Laree + Co Storefront Facebook Page!

Click here for the Laree + Co Facebook Page!

Click here for the Laree + Co Community FB Group!

Click here for the Laree + Co website!

The Artificers In August  

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The Artificers In August

August is almost here! Check out the calendar below for all the

classes and events happening this next Month!

Register for Classes Here!

Summer Review

All of your Favorite master and guest artist are sharing a show this First Friday! Come in during August 4th to have a last chance to see all their work together!

Classes Are Available On The Website!

All of the classes for the rest of the year are up on our website!

Go check them out and get in before everyone else!!

Check out all of our awesome classes here!

Updates of Activities in Fort Scott Tomorrow

Community Connection Panelist Luncheon!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Community Connection Panelist Luncheon on Wednesday, July 26th, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main St. Chamber members and the community are invited to attend for updates on things that are happening in the community!

The event is free to attend but registration is requested. Box lunches are available by pre-order for $10 and those need to be ordered by July 25th at 10am. Those planning to attend may RSVP online at fortscott.com under the events tab.

There will be a 7-minute update from each of the following panelists, ending with time for questions:

  • Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, Craig Campbell Chair, Becky Tourtillott Vice Chair
  • Fort Scott National Historic Site, Carl Brenner
  • Fort Scott Recreation Commission, Lucas Kelley
  • Good Neighbor Action Team, Craig Campbell
  • Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Jody Hoener President/CEO, Rachel Carpenter Director
  • Kansas Small Business Development Center, Dacia Clark, Assistant Director PSU KSBDC

Moderator for the event will be Bailey Lyons of Lyons Realty Group, 2023 Chamber Board Chair.

Click here to RSVP and pre-order lunch!

This event is being sponsored by Davis Accounting, Inc.

and Labconco.

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566 for more information or visit fortscott.com.

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Chamber Coffee hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course on July 27

 

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee this Thursday, July 27th at 8am.

This week’s coffee will be hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course located at 2414 Horton St.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Fort Scott’s Woodland Hills Golf Course was named a Top 10 golf course in Kansas by Best Things Kansas and number 6 in the entire state.

Woodland Hills has also been named one of the best municipal courses in Kansas. Woodland Hills is an 18-hole park-style course, winding through beautiful scenery, with elevation changes and some of the best views in Bourbon County.

Come enjoy one of Southeast Kansas’s hidden treasures at the Woodland Hills Golf Course.

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

 

Evergy Rate Increase Request July 27

KCC to hold final public hearing in Evergy
rate increase request this week in Wichita

TOPEKA – Evergy customers will have one more opportunity to attend a public hearing to learn about the company’s rate increase request, ask questions and make comments before the Kansas Corporation Commission. The third and final public hearing will be held this Thursday at Wichita State University’s Lowe Auditorium at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5014 SE 29th St. North, beginning at 6 p.m.

The application, filed with the KCC on April 25, requests an average monthly rate increase of $14.24 for Evergy Central customers and $3.47 for Evergy Metro customers. Commission approval is required before a regulated utility can change its rates.

For those unable to attend the hearing in person, a virtual option via Zoom is available to allow remote participants to comment. Advance registration on the KCC’s website is required for those participating by Zoom. The hearings will be broadcast on the KCC’s YouTube channel for those wanting to view the hearing without participating.

The Commission is also accepting written comments regarding the rate increase request through 5 p.m., September 29, 2023, on its website, by mail to the Commission’s Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.

The Evergy Central service area includes Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Olathe, Leavenworth, Atchison, Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Emporia, Parsons, Arkansas City, El Dorado, Newton, Fort Scott, Pittsburg and Independence, among other towns and rural areas. The Every Metro service area includes Lenexa, Overland Park and other communities near the Kansas City metro area.

Hearings were previously held in Topeka on July 11 and Overland Park on July 13. Recordings of both hearings are available on the KCC’s YouTube channel.

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Hulberts Purchase Bartlesmeyer Jewelry

Krysta and Wyatt Hulbert purchased  Bartelsmeyer Jewelry on June 30, 2023

The store is located in the historic downtown Fort Scott district at 22 N. Main St

Bartelsmeyer Jewelry is now owned by Wyatt and Krysta Hulbert. Submitted photo.

“I’ve been working at the jewelry store for 13 years, and I hated the idea of the store closing it’s doors when John Bartelsmeyer decided to retire,” Krysta said. “My husband and I have been working along side John and Cindy for almost a year now to plan for us to take over the business. We are so excited that we have finally been able to make all of those plans a reality.”

John Bartelsmeyer has been a jeweler for over 60 years. Submitted photo.

“The jewelry store has been in John’s family since 1963, when his father purchased the store from Mr. Newberry,” she said. “In 1991, John Bartelsmeyer purchased the store from his father M. H. Bartelsmeyer.”

“My husband Wyatt and I are keeping the name Bartelsmeyer Jewelry for the jewelry store,” she said. “We know that the store’s name carries with it a history of honesty and integrity, and we are excited to carry on that legacy.”

The inside of the jewelry store. Submitted photo.

Krysta has been learning the ropes for all those years as an employee.

” I do a little bit of everything at the store from sales and customer service to jewelry repair and office management,” she said. “My specialty, and one of my favorite things to do, is designing custom jewelry. I love to work with customers and help them create one-of-a-kind jewelry that you won’t find anywhere else! At the jewelry store we also specialize in engagement rings, jewelry repair and restoration, ring sizing and watch repair.”

Anything new on the horizon?

“We have lots of new ideas for the future of the store,” she said. “One of our biggest and most exciting plans is to update our website to offer our jewelry for sale online! John will continue to work at the store in the mornings during the week. We will also be adding a new team member to our crew. My husband, Wyatt Hulbert, will soon be working full time alongside John to learn jewelry repair and take over the bench jewelry work when John decides he is ready to fully retire.”

Cindy and John Bartelsmeyer have been working with Krysta and Wyatt Hulbert to transition to new owners of the jewelry store. Submitte photo.

To learn more about John and the jewelry store:

John Bartlesmeyer: 60 Years in the Craft

 

Evergy Will Move Substation Equipment and Poles

The Fort Scott Substation fire in 2022. Submitted photo.

Following a fire at the Fort Scott Evergy Substation in August 2022 , Evergy is expanding its footprint.

Evergy is an electric utility company that serves eastern Kansas.

The company purchased property near Stanton Street and Old Fort Boulevard in March for the construction of a new substation, according to Kaley Bohlen, Evergy Communications Manager.

Evergy is currently located on Old Fort Blvd. on Skubitz Plaza and will expand their substation to the north and west of the current site.

Stanton Street is behind the current substation to the north and west.

Bohlen said Evergy doesn’t disclose real estate transactions, and are still reviewing options for access to National Avenue.

The existing Fort Scott Service Center utilized for personnel and offices will remain, according to Bohlen. Once the new Infantry Substation is built and operational, the existing Fort Scott Substation equipment and poles will be removed.

“The new Infantry Substation will be about 1.75 acres and will replace the former Fort Scott Substation that was damaged by fire last year,” she said. “The new substation will provide additional capacity to enhance electric reliability for the Fort Scott area, as well as strengthen the regional power grid. Automated switching capabilities and grid automation will help improve outage response times.”

“Construction has begun and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024,” she said. “Once the new substation is operational, we will decommission the current Fort Scott Substation and remove all structures and equipment that are no longer in use. The existing Fort Scott Service Center utilized for personnel and offices will remain. Once the new Infantry Substation is built and operational, the existing Fort Scott Substation equipment and poles will be removed.”