Category Archives: Business

A Biden Administration tax plan proposal will ask banks to give information on the unreported income of their bank customers to U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Two local bankers sent information to help the public understand the proposed requirements.

“Congress is expected to begin considering a new tax reporting requirement that would require banks to report information on account flows to the Internal Revenue Service,” according to a press release from Gregg Motley, Southeast Kansas Regional Manager of Landmark National Bank.

“Specifically, we would be required to report on all customers with gross inflows (credits) and outflows (debits) above $600 in an effort to crackdown on tax avoidance,” Motley said. “The proposal is concerning because it would likely increase tax preparation costs, particularly for our small business/sole proprietor customers, and could undermine public trust in banks. The proposal presents a significant reporting burden for the bank and customer privacy and data security challenge for our customers.”

It is still a proposal under consideration, and customers are encouraged to contact their congressman/congresswoman to share their concerns, according to the press release from Motley.

“The independent community bankers of America (ICBA) has put together the most information on this rule,” Bryan Holt, Union State Bank President said.

The following is a link to the organization’s website:

https://www.icba.org/bank-locally/consumer-alert-from-icba

Motley sent this link to help with understanding the issue:

doc06400220210914133623

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Sept. 16th Chamber After Hours: Bartlesmeyer Jewelry

September 15, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

You are invited to a

Chamber After-hours event

Tomorrow evening,

Thursday, September 16th

5:15 to 6:30pm

to celebrate the new location of

Bartelsmeyer Jewelry

22 N. Main St.

In the Downtown Historic District

See below for more information.

All attendees are respectively asked to wear a mask to this event except when eating or drinking.

Click hereto visit their Facebook page.

Click hereto visit their website.

Thank you to our Chamber Booster Members below!

Bourbon County, Business, Food, Fort Scott

New Service Station Opens on South Hwy. 69

September 14, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

K.C. Mart owner Harjit Kaur waits on a customer on Sept. 8.

A new gas service station/convenience store, K.C. Mart, has opened at 946 S. Hwy. 69, near the LaRoche Baseball Stadium, south of Fort Scott.

The station was opened August 23 by the owner Harjit Kaur.

In addition to gasoline, the station offers dine-in seating space for customers to enjoy food, beer, and soft drinks.

Offered also are off-road diesel fuel, regular diesel fuel and racing fuel (leaded 110), and Octane 93 premium fuel, Kaur said.

“Semi-truck parking is allowed in the back of the station,” Kaur said. “No prior arrangements are necessary.”

Semi-truck parking is allowed in the back of the K.C. Mart Station at 946 S. Hwy. 69.

Harjit and husband Binder Singh also opened a K.C. Mart at 2191 Soldier Road, hear Hammond, north of Fort Scott in October 2020. KC Mart: Gas Station Service to Northern Bourbon County

“We wanted to establish more business,” Kaur said. “People would come from this area to our store near Hammond for Opie’s Pizza that we serve. We thought we would come here to provide it.”

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information or to order a pizza, call 620-644-9867.

K.C. Mart, 946 S. Highway 69, across from the LaRoche Baseball Stadium.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Sept. 16 Chamber After Hours: Bartelsmeyer Jewelry

September 14, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Join us for this week’s

After Hours Chamber Coffee hosted by

Bartelsmeyer Jewelry

Downtown Fort Scott, KS

All attendees are respectively asked to wear a mask to this event except when eating or drinking.

Thursday, September 16th

5:15 pm until 6:30 pm

New location:

22 N. Main St., Downtown Fort Scott

Click Here to visit their Facebook Page.

Click Here to visit their Website.

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or [email protected].

UPCOMING CHAMBER COFFEE’S

9/23 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Bourbon County Cars Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

9/30 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Pioneer Harvest Fiesta

10/7 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Gordon Parks Museum

10/14 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore

10/21 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Sleep Inn & Suites (7 yrs)

10/28 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church

11/4 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by VFW

11/11 ~ No Coffee

11/18 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by FS Compassionate Ministries

11/25 ~ No Coffee…Thanksgiving Holiday

12/2 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by FS Area Community Foundation

12/9 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Sunshine Boutique

12/16 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by The City of Fort Scott

12/23 ~ No Coffee…Christmas Holiday

12/30 ~ No Coffee…New Year’s Holiday

Business, Food, Fort Scott

Dry Wood Creek Cafe: New Business Owners at the Former Lyon’s Mansions

September 13, 2021 Loretta George 7 Comments

In front is Seraphine, with Jackson, Marty, Carrie, and Caleb Elton. Submitted photo.

A new family to Fort Scott has purchased the two former Lyon’s Mansions on National Avenue.

Marty and Carrie Elton moved their family into the north mansion on June 1.

The south mansion’s main floor, formerly known as Nate’s Place, will be a restaurant called Dry Wood Creek Cafe, Carrie Elton said.

The Elton’s will be offering delicious food, and a comfortable space to enjoy it, Carrie said.

“Marty has been in the restaurant business his entire life,” she said. “He has been both in the back of the house and the front of the house. He is past president of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and most recently the owner and operator of a successful catering company.”

Carrie grew up north of Buffalo, NY among “amazing bakers and cooks” and desires to bring those flavors to the people of Fort Scott, she said.

The Eltons were looking for opportunities to move to a small town, she said.

“We found this property and immediately fell in love with it,” she said. “A perfect confluence of events made this dream a reality for us.”

“We are currently living in the former bed and breakfast with our three children and two dogs,” Carrie said. “Once the children are grown we may look at reopening the north mansion as a bed and breakfast.”

They have been preparing to open the restaurant soon, possibly next week if staffing and licensing issues are resolved.

There is office space available on the second floor that they “look forward to partnering with someone as they begin their journey,” she said.

The third floor is a two-bedroom apartment that is currently a vacation rental on Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO, she said.

The restaurant is slated to have hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Contact information for Marty or Carrie is 620.224.2970. Like the restaurant on their Facebook page, Dry Creek Cafe.

“We look forward to holding special events a couple of times a month, at night,” she said. “More information will be available on these once we get up and running.”

The menu is taken from their Facebook page:

From the Dry Wood Creek Cafe Facebook page.

Bourbon County, Business

Jayhawk Wind Farm Update: On Track For Completion This Year

September 7, 2021 Loretta George 2 Comments

Submitted photo by Apex Clean Energy. A crane stands next to a Jayhawk Wind turbine.

The Jayhawk Wind energy project workers are currently constructing the wind turbines in Bourbon and Crawford counties, with a completion date expected in late 2021.

Submitted photo. A crane next to a wind turbine in Bourbon County.

The following questions were answered by Patrick Chilton, Apex Public Engagement Manager, Apex Clean Energy, Inc., Charlottesville, VA

Where are the currently completed wind turbines located?

We have erected six turbines so far. Four are in the southwest corner of the project, in Crawford County, and two in the northwest corner, in Bourbon County.

The first wind turbine in Bourbon County, located at 20th and Eagle Road in the southwest corner of the county.

What is the timeline of the project currently?

As previously expected, we are on track to complete the construction of Jayhawk Wind by December of 2021.

How many turbines will there be? What are their dimensions?

There will be 70 turbines built once construction is completed. That represents no change from the project design as permitted. These turbines are 584 feet from the base to the tip of the blade at its highest point.

A Jayhawk Wind Turbine in Bourbon County from the distance.

How many employees are there?

There are more than 250 employees working on the various elements of construction for Jayhawk Wind.

What are the contractors’ names and where are they from?

IEA is the Balance of Plant (BOP) contractor for Jayhawk Wind, and they have many sub-contractors working with them. We don’t disclose those contractors for their proprietary reasons.

Sunset over the wind turbine at 20th and Eagle Road in Bourbon County.

Hwy. 3 from Hwy. 39 to Hwy. 47 is in pretty bad shape because of all the tear-up laying new lines, when can the public see this remedied?

While the work being done on Highways 3 and 39 is in our project area, it is not because of our construction work. The maintenance work is being done by KDOT and is happening now because of recent funding from the state.

The following is from Priscilla Peterson, Kansas Department of Transportation Public Affairs Manager, Southeast District:

KDOT replaced the crossroad pipes under K-3, and have patched the areas afterward.

Crossroad pipes are drainage structures that carry water from one side of the road to the other side.

“We replace the deteriorating pipes as needed,” she said. “If a pipe collapses, the roadway can no longer carry traffic or drain properly.”

Business, Fort Scott

Suddenlink: Upgrade To Provide Faster Internet Service Announced

September 2, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Suddenlink, a local internet provider, got an update last week, looking to provide faster service.

“Suddenlink’s new 400 Mbps broadband service (announced on August 24) is more than eight times faster than the previous highest speed tier available,” Ashley Morales, Specialist Communication at Altice USA said.

“The new 400 Mbps speed tier paired with Suddenlink’s Smart WiFi 6, delivers a supercharged WiFi experience with faster speeds and greater coverage than ever before, including powering today’s uber-connected smart homes, streaming content, engaging in video conferences, downloading files, and playing games on connected devices,” she said.

“Additionally, broadband-only customers can complete their entertainment experience with Suddenlink Stream, the new streaming experience provides a best-in-class and user-friendly solution for broadband-only customers to have access to a wide variety of video content, including thousands of apps and streaming services on Google Play and over 50 free live streaming channels,” Morales said.

“Suddenlink Stream is typically $5, however, right now we’re offering the service free to 400 Mbps customers,” she said.

“This upgrade does not impact landline phone calls, however, it does support video calls or calls made over WiFi,” Morales said.

The following is a press release from Suddenlink provider Altice.

“Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS), the provider of Suddenlink broadband, television, and phone service, announced (last week) that as a result of major investments in its advanced broadband infrastructure, the company has launched faster speeds for Suddenlink residential customers in Fort Scott, Kansas. The company’s new 400 Mbps speed tier complements Suddenlink’s broadband offerings, which now include 200 Mbps and 100 Mbps service among other options, providing customers with choice and flexibility in selecting which broadband speed is right for them.

“Over the last few months, we have made major investments in our Suddenlink network and advanced broadband infrastructure to ensure we’re providing our local communities with fast and reliable high-speed broadband,” said Hakim Boubazine, Altice USA’s Chief Operating Officer and President of Telecommunications. “In today’s connected world, more households and businesses are relying on their broadband connection to keep them connected to work, school, customers, friends, and family, and our Suddenlink broadband service makes it all possible.”

The new speed tier is more than eight times faster than the highest speed previously offered by Suddenlink to customers in Fort Scott, Kansas and is paired with Suddenlink’s Smart WiFi 6 which delivers a supercharged WiFi experience with faster speeds and greater coverage than ever before. Smart WiFi 6 is primed to support customers’ increasing broadband usage, including powering today’s uber-connected smart homes, streaming content, engaging in video conferences, downloading files, and playing games on connected devices.

Altice USA offers a wide range of broadband speeds to meet all needs and budgets, including Altice Advantage Internet, a low-cost 30 Mbps service available to eligible customers for $14.99 per month, and going up to multi-gigabit services for enterprise customers. In addition, the company’s mobile service, Optimum Mobile, currently offers customers data, talk and text on a nationwide network with 5G coverage starting at just $14 per line per month. Visit Suddenlink.com to learn more.

About Altice USA

Altice USA is one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States, delivering broadband, video, mobile, proprietary content and advertising services to more than 5 million residential and business customers across 21 states through its Optimum and Suddenlink brands. The company operates a4, an advanced advertising and data business, which provides audience-based, multiscreen advertising solutions to local, regional and national businesses and advertising clients. Altice USA also offers hyper-local, national, international and business news through its News 12, Cheddar News and i24NEWS networks

Ashley Morales

Specialist, Communications

Altice USA

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee Sept. 2 Hosted By Stewart Realty

September 1, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Join us for this week’s Chamber Coffee hosted by Stewart Realty

Downtown Fort Scott, KS

Thursday, September 2nd

8 am

102 S. National Ave.

Click Here to visit their Facebook Page.

Click Here to visit their Website.

Note! Chamber Coffee open dates!

September 16th

& November 11th, 2021

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or [email protected].

UPCOMING CHAMBER COFFEE’S

9/16 ~ OPEN for AM Coffee – only

Join us at 5:30 pm for the After-Hours GRAND OPENING & Ribbon Cutting at Bartelsmeyer’s Jewelry, downtown at the new location at 22 N. Main St. Masks are requested.

9/23 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by ~ Bourbon County Cars Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

9/30 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Pioneer Harvest Fiesta

10/7 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Gordon Parks Museum

10/14 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore

10/21 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Sleep Inn & Suites (7 yrs)

10/28 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church

11/4 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by VFW

11/11 ~ OPENING!

11/4 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by FS Compassionate Ministries

11/25 ~ No Coffee…Thanksgiving Holiday

12/2 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by FS Area Community Foundation

12/9 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Sunshine Boutique

12/16 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by The City of Fort Scott

12/23 ~ No Coffee…Christmas Holiday

12/30 ~ No Coffee…New Year’s Holiday

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Former Family Video Building For Lease

August 27, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Building for Lease in Fort Scott

Commercial Building

Formerly Family Video

Space can be divided

or built-out to suit!

See pictures below or click here for current property information; and, click here for potential build-out examples.

Total square feet = 6,935

Contact Information:

Shawn Krisher, Highland Ventures

(847) 400-7320

[email protected]

You may also contact Highland Ventures

for lease information through working

with a local realtor if desired.

Click here for Chamber member realtors.

Thank you!

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

New Realtor Added to Lyons Realty Group: Chelsea Harrison

August 26, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Chelsea Harrison, 28, is a new realtor at Lyons Realty Group.

Originally from Frontenac, in 2012 she moved to Fort Scott and fell in love with the community, she said.

She started a career in health care and worked for the Mercy Physicians Group, transitioning to Mercy Emergency Room until the closure of the hospital.

“Up until recently, I held a position at the office of Dr. Katrina Burke,” she said.

She decided on a career change after renovating a home.

“My interest in real estate started when my fiance and I purchased our first home and did a full renovation on the property,” she said. “It was such a rewarding experience to be able to create our own space and watch it transition into our family home”

“My fiance and I have two boys, 4 and 6 years old,” Harrison said.

” I fell in love with the idea of getting to help other clients and families find their dream homes,” Harrison said.

“I was immediately drawn to Lyons Realty Group for that reason,” she said. “Upon meeting with Bailey, it became clear that the mission of Lyons Realty Group was to truly serve the client and give them the best possible experience when purchasing or selling their home, which made it a great fit for me.”

“After working in health care for the last 10 years, I am truly excited to be able to serve the community of Fort Scott and surrounding areas in a new way,” she said.

Lyons’ Realty Group, taken from its Facebook page.

Contact Harrison at the Lyons Realty Group office: 620.266.9448 or her cell phone: 620.249.9825, or her email:

chelsea@lyonsrealtygrp.com

Business, Fort Scott, Government

Coon Rentals Purchases 17 S. Main

August 23, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

The building known for years as the Kress Building has been sold to Coon Rentals LLC.

History

The building at 17 S. Main most recently housed a grocery store that had been a recipient of SPARK money, which was federal money given to the state who gave the money to local governments to help businesses during the pandemic.

BAJA Investments had purchased the building, remodeled it, purchased supplies and equipment, and opened a grocery store called The Star Emporium Downtown General Store in January 2021 and closed in May 2021, citing not enough business.

BAJA Investments had received a $450,000 grant from SPARK to provide a downtown grocery store.

To learn more about the SPARK program: https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SPARK-Overview-06.16.20.pdf

“They (BAJA) did give it an effort,” he said. “And if the traffic would have been there…but it wasn’t. He had all the receipts, there was accountability for this.”

Coon Rentals LLC paid $158,000 for the building in an auction last week.

“When that business failed, the county had two options,” Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said. “Let the business go into bankruptcy, which would have taken over a year. Or sell the property and it goes back on the county tax rolls.”

“We are in the process of closing on the property,” he said.

To see prior stories on the business:

Star Emporium Downtown General Store to Open Next Week

Star Emporium Closes in Downtown Fort Scott

Robert and Kimberly Coon. Submitted photo.

New Owners

“Coon Rentals LLC will manage and maintain the building for its new tenants, soon to come,” Robert Coon said. Coon who with his wife, Kimberly, owns the business.

“There have been so many negative vibes regarding the grant the previous business there had, but I don’t think anyone thought of the greatness of it: federal money came to Kansas, to Bourbon County,” Coon said. “Then the grant was used partly to revitalize a building. In the process, lots of small local businesses received some of those funds to work on the building. That’s economic development at its finest.”

“I also think the current (Bourbon County) commissioners should be applauded for salvaging the situation with the building,” Coon said. “Commissioners had a decision to make regarding acquiring the building and redistribution to avoid lots of issues.”

A1 Towing and Moving, Fort Scott, move shelving into the new grocery store, at 17 S. Main on November 4, 2020.

“We have three businesses, A1 Towing, A1 Bill Bonds, and Coon Rentals LLC, ” Coon said. “None require a storefront.”

“We are going to lease that building to a business,” He said. “That agreement is in process. They will operate in the whole downstairs portion of the building.”

“We are going to remodel the upstairs and have more professional businesses there,” he said.

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott: August 20 Newsletter

August 20, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

What’s Happening in Fort Scott!

August 13th ~ Weekly Newsletter

Let’s start the weekend with the Friday night concert in the Park!

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

________________

TROLLEY TOURS!

Every Friday & Saturday!

50-minute Narrated Trolley Tour

of Historic Fort Scott. Every hour on the hour. Depart from the Fort Scott

Chamber at 231 E. Wall St.

Friday hours: 11 am until 3 pm

Saturday hours: 10 am until 3 pm.

$6 Adults & $4 for 12 yrs & under.

THE FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OFFERS DAILY GUIDED TOURS AT 10 AM & 1 PM, 7 DAYS/WEEK.

FREE – See more details below.

8/20 – Friday Night Concert in the Park -Neosho River Boys here Live! (7 pm). Clickherefor info.

8/20 thru 8/28 – Hedgehog.INK! Sale of 25% off Romance Novel Sale! Clickhere for info

8/20 & 8/21 ~ Fort Scott Livestock Sale. Click here for info.

8/20 – 8/26 – Fort Scott Cinema. Now showing:

Free Guy, Jungle Cruise & Paw Patrol. Click here for more showtimes and upcoming movies.

8/20- CORNHOLE FUN AT HOLMTOWN PUB, EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6 PM. Click herefor more information.

8/20 – Boiler Room Brewhaus:Whiskey Outlaws make their debut at 7 pm. Click hereto learn more.

8/21 – Boiler Room Brewhaus:Outlaws and Bandits Live at 10 pm & Saturday. Click hereto learn more.

8/21- Farmers’ Market, 8 am to noon, Skubitz Plaza in front of the Fort.

8/21 ~ The Lavender Patch Farm will be open this Saturday! 9 am until 1 pm. Limited days open on the off-season. Visit their website to learn more about events & hours open, click here.

8/21 ~ EKTEC Rodeo in Uniontown (Eastern Kansas Timed Event Circuit) To learn more about events & hours open, clickhere.

8/21 ~ Hollister Shooting Range Open 1st & 3rd weekend of each month. To learn more about events & hours open click here.

8/21 ~ Care to Share Bike Run, Dinner, Silent Auction & More. Starting at 9 am, Holmtown Pub & Grub. Fundraiser Event. To learn more about this event clickhere .

8/21 ~ Kansas Rocks Riding a Night Run of Fun! 7 pm ~ midnight. To learn more, click here.

8/25 ~ Kansas Rocks Riding a Night Run of Fun! 7 pm ~ midnight. To learn more, click here.

SEPTEMBER 10TH & 11TH

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Downtown Fort Scott is booming!

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

[email protected]