Category Archives: Business
Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.
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Fort Scott Broadcasting Celebrates 70 Years On The Air
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Fort Scott Broadcasting Celebrates 70 Years In Business
Seventy years ago, KMDO1600 Radio signed on the air in Fort Scott.
From October 7 through 11, the station will celebrate its 70th anniversary featuring the music of the 50s through the 90s.
The McKenney family has owned and operated the local radio business for the past 70 years, providing contemporary hit music, news, weather, sports, and public service announcements to the community.
Celebration Week at The Radio Station Oct. 7-11
In October 2024, music of the different decades will be featured, and some former disc jockeys will be on the air in the studios again.
During the week of October 7-11, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the radio station will play special music from the different decades in which it has served the community.
On Monday, music from the 1950s will be featured, Tuesday will feature 60s music, Wednesday, 70s music, Thursday, 80s music and Friday, music from the 1990s.
The Trading Post is a daily program where one can buy, sale, trade or give away items.
Special Trading Post program for the anniversary celebration will be Tim Mckenney and Ron Palmer on Monday, Oct. 7; Charlene Keating, Becky Allen, and Kirby Ham, on Tuesday Oct. 8; Gary Palmer and Deb Mckenney on Oct. 9th, and Larry Gazaway and Pam Hutchison on Friday Oct. 11th.
The Beginning
Lloyd James (Jim) McKenney built several stations in the late 40s and early 50s, including the first stations in Carthage, Monnet, Cassville, and Branson, MO, and Iola, KS.
Jim McKenney built KMDO-AM radio station in Fort Scott, signing on for the first time on Oct. 7, 1954, in the vicinity of where Tractor Supply is today, with six employees.
“Jim had five sons and a daughter,” Deb said. “Several of the sons worked at KMDO in the early years, however, Tim, after starting on- air in 1969, worked there on and off until 1980, when he returned full-time and built 103.9FM (KOMB). Tim has been manager of the radio stations since 1980 and owner since 1996.”
“The studios and transmitters were south of town on Hwy. 69 originally in the area of Tractor Supply,” Deb said. “In 1990, we moved the studios and offices to the building we are now located in at 2 N. National and moved the tower and transmitters to a site where Walmart is presently located. In 2006, we moved the towers from that site to two separate sites. The KMDO tower is now located south of town in the industrial park and the 103.9FM tower is located about seven miles northwest of Fort Scott on 7 Highway.”
Deb started on the air at the station in the early 1980s and has worked with her husband in almost every function of the business since that time.
Serving the Public
They regularly broadcast city, county, and school talk shows in the Fort Scott area to keep people informed about current happenings in the area.
The radio station’s goal has been to serve the public interest, she said.
“We do that by broadcasting things of interest and/or service to our listeners,” she said. These include local news, weather, sports, music and public service announcements. We air weekly programs that inform listeners about what’s going on in our school systems, talks with our city manager about things going on in the city and talks with our county commissioners about what’s going on in the county. Broadcast Tiger games! And of course, we play music for folks too!”
Through the years, technology has changed, “but our clients and staff have been faithful,” she said.
The rest of the current broadcast crew besides Deb and Tim is Darla Ramsey, the office manager; Deana Wade, Angie King, and Angie Martin, sales executives; on-air personnel include “Downtown” Keith Brown, Charlene Bolinger, Carlos Muniz, and Jonah Cooke and they also have contract engineers.
Fort Scott Broadcasting is located at 2 N. National in Downtown Historic Fort Scott and can be reached at 620-223-4500.
State Recognition
In 2023, Fort Scott Broadcasting Co. Inc was recognized as the Southeast Kansas Regional Winner in Retail and Service by the Kansas Department of Commerce.
To The Stars: Kansas Businesses Awards is an annual awards program that recognizes businesses across the state for the valuable contributions they make to the Kansas economy and to the well-being of their communities, according to https://www.kansascommerce.gov/kansasbusinessawards/.
Opening Day of the Kitchen C & C
Snapshots of the first day open of The Kitchen C & C.
To learn more:
Susan Eldridge Retires After 41 Years at Union State Bank
Union State Bank announces the retirement of Susan Eldridge, who has been an integral part of our team since May 1, 1983. Susan, who has served primarily as the bank’s Cashier, will be retiring after an impressive 41 years of dedicated service.
Susan Eldridge’s tenure with Union State Bank has been marked by her unwavering commitment to excellence, customer service, and community involvement. Her extensive knowledge and steadfast dedication have greatly contributed to the success and reputation of our institution. Her retirement marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
To honor Susan’s remarkable career and celebrate her contributions, Union State Bank will be hosting two special receptions in her honor:
- Uniontown Reception: Tuesday, September 24th, 2024
- Time: 1 – 3 pm
- Location: Union State Bank, 204 Sherman Street, Uniontown
- Fort Scott Reception: Thursday, September 26th, 2024
- Time: 1 – 3 pm
- Location: 1009 S. Clark Street, Fort Scott
Both receptions will offer an opportunity for friends, colleagues, and community members to extend their best wishes to Susan and to join us in celebrating Susan’s remarkable career and to wish her well as she embarks on her well-deserved retirement.
For further information, please contact Stevia Ratcliff at (620) 223-0066.
About Union State Bank
Union State Bank has been a cornerstone of the Uniontown and Fort Scott communities, offering personalized banking services and financial solutions for decades. Our commitment to exceptional customer service and community involvement remains at the heart of our mission.
Outpost 13 West Opening on September 23
The Bowman family, Cindy and John and their son Alex and his wife Carissa, own both Brickstreet BBQ and across the street, the NuGrille Restaurant, at the corner of National Avenue and Oak.
In 2021 they purchased the property west of Brickstreet BBQ to save it, Cindy Bowman said.
On September 23, they will open Outpost 13 West, a Southwestern cuisine restaurant at 13 West Oak Street.
The Bowmans found after they purchased the it, that it is a 152-year-old historic building.
The oldest record found for the building was 1862, according to records found with help from personnel at the Old Fort Genealogical Society of Southeast Kansas Inc, located at 221 S. National.
The Oulds family built it as a livery stable that was used by the government military, at Fort Scott, and was the corral, used to contain the animals that the U.S. federal fort needed.
The 3,000 square feet building by 2021 was in “pretty bad shape,” said John Bowman.
The arches are a noticeable architectural feature in the renovation.
“The arches are original, but they were closed in and we reopened them,” Cindy said.
The venture will be a build-your-own Southwestern cuisine food line, “you pick it, we will build it,” Alex said.
Southwestern cuisine includes tacos, burritos, etc. with choices of meat and toppings.
In addition, there is a separate bar that serves ice cream, slushes, and desserts.
There will be 15 employees in the new business, with some being moved from Brickstreet BBQ to help.
September 23 will be the official opening of Outpost 13 West.
Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To contact the restaurant: 620.224.2419. or [email protected]
About the original building owner
The Bowmans found that before S.A. Oulds came to Fort Scott in 1852, he went to South Australia to the gold mines and made $150,000 there. “He returned to his family in Ohio where he farmed, then traveled south and west to this location where in 1862 he started this livery stable in Fort Scott,” Carissa said.
Cindy said that concrete posts have been added to the front of the building, so vehicles can’t get too close, as a safety measure.
Chamber Coffee Hosted by Brickstreet BBQ on September 19
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Bourbon County Clay: New Woman-Owned Business
“We have been working to build the business since we discovered the clay vein in 2017 on our family property in northwest Bourbon County,” she said. “We have worked diligently since then to reclaim and test the clay, dreaming of the day we could launch Bourbon County Clay.”
The Kitchen Collective+Collaborative is September 19
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s, Celebrate 75h Anniversary
In 2024, Diehl Banwart Bolton CPAs PA is celebrating 75 years of service to the community.
At the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee on September 12, James Wood, one of the partners in the firm, said they have had a “long history” in the community because of the “great leadership, amazing team, and this community and everything that goes on in it.”
The business is a full-service accounting firm located in Fort Scott and Pittsburg,
They help both businesses and individuals succeed financially through accounting services, with expert, professional and confidential service, according to their website.
The business story begins just after the Second World War.
John Diehl came to Fort Scott in 1948 with his wife Ina Mae, after serving in the United States Marines as a pilot in World War II.
He worked for the Winchell Manufacturing Company, and soon after, opened an accounting office in Fort Scott for a Kansas City firm of Senderson, Little, and LaChelle, according to James Banwart Jr., who is currently a partner in the business.
In 1949, Diehl purchased the business and renamed it John E. Diehl and Company.
Maurice Fletcher later joined the firm and it was renamed Diehl and Fletcher. The company was located in several buildings
in what is now the Fort Scott Downtown Historic District.
In the Fall of 1963, James L. Banwart Sr. joined Diehl and Fletcher.
James Regan, the long-time Information Technology “guru”,
joined the firm in 1971.
In 1973, Mark Bolton joined Diehl and Fletcher and in 1976, the firm became Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s.
The firm’s shareholders purchased the Milrose Block at
Wall and National in 1974 where the business continues today.
Mr. Diehl died in 2017 at age 99.
“He was an involved member of church and community and a loved and respected employer and partner.” James Banwart Jr. said.
Currently, there are five partners, James L Banwart Jr., Daryl Eagon, Amanda Lancaster, Matthew Keys, and James Wood.
“CPAs Randy Phillips, Carol Hill, and Donna Banwart round out the list of supervising accountants and we have 10 staff accountants doing IT, payroll, accounts payable, and other client service,” Banwart said.
The business currently has offices in Fort Scott and Pittsburg and “are always on the lookout for additional talented people,” Banwart said.
The firm offers municipal and commercial auditing, preparation of general ledger and financial statements, payroll, estate planning, tax planning, income tax, retirement planning, business analysis
and coaching, and assisting clients with Accounting CS, Quickbooks, and other software.
“Not many small businesses survive and thrive for 75 years,” Banwart said. ” But because John Diehl founded the firm on the
principles of integrity and prompt client service and we strive to uphold his high standards in the present, we plan on being a member of the Fort Scott business community for a long time to come. He
would be pleased to know his firm continues his traditions.”
The business is located at 7 1/2 East Wall, in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown. They can be reached at 620-223-4300.
Sign Up For The Town-Wide Garage Sale Weekend
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