Category Archives: Business

Bourbon County, Business

Buying Locally Benefits Community

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This sign is placed at each participating local Bourbon County business owner and includes a list of all the businesses.

There is a grassroots movement across the county to help small towns stay viable.

Bourbon County has its’ own organization for encouraging small businesses.

Live Local BB started in July 2017 to raise community awareness of the benefits to using locally owned business over non-locally owned businesses, including internet businesses.

The initial public meeting of Live Local BB was in September 2017, pictured here. The event was held at Sharkey’s Pub.

Geoff Southwell, president of Live Local BB said his businesses have experienced sales because of awareness that they are locally owned.

Southwell owns Miller Feed and Oil  and The Butcher Block  in Fort Scott.

“Individuals and businesses come in and specifically buy from us because we are local,” he said. “With the Butcher Block, we got some commercial accounts to have us cater, because we are local.”

“Ever since I have “joined the movement” I have really tried to “think Local First” and I think that, being able to be on the board with several other entrepreneurial folks has really brought to light how to ‘think local first'” said Chrystal Cowan, a member of the organization. “In my life I have taken it beyond the normal, everyday items- those are easy…. Get gas locally, buy groceries locally, feed, shoes, etc… the list goes on and on.  Instead I now have the mindset of, how can I utilize my locals.”

She gives an example of a recent birthday party.

“We had a birthday party for my daughter a few weeks back, and I ordered pizza (and) I forgot to pickup ice cream,  and really didn’t want to hassle with going to the other end of town,” Cowan said. ” I reached out to Brita at Papa Don’s (Restaurant)and she was able to sell me a tub of ice cream as well.  I knew going in, that she may not have enough stock to sell me a tub, but I thought I would ask, and that particular time it worked out!  Now ice cream isn’t something that Brita typically sells by the gallon, but it just so happened that her inventory allowed her an extra for me to buy. I could go on and on about how many times I have tried to come up with a way to purchase something from someone local, or called them with weird requests… but I think my point is that it may take a little bit of thinking outside of the box, but I have learned to try and just think local first.”

Cowan has been asked why she got involved with Live Local BB, since she works at a local insurance company.

” My response to that question, and my response on behalf of any of our professional services businesses is this- You can buy what I sell online, you can travel outside of the county and utilize an agent. But if you click the link and fill out the form to get a quote, are you really getting what you need? Are you going to have a person that you can call on a Sunday, or text on a Tuesday night at 10 pm, and the answer to that is, no you won’t…  so why do I think that Live Local is important – every business in this town is important, and it’s important we support each other in any way that we can.”

“The numbers (facts on money benefitting the community) vary slightly depending on the study, but it’s pretty close to 60 cents of a dollar will stay in a community with a locally owned business and 40% with a non-local business,” Bryan Holt, a member of Live Local BB, said. “Retaining 50% more dollars in our community is a great thing!”

The benefits of money staying in the community include job creation, keeping the money in the local economy where it can be respent and also providing community involvement in the form of charitable giving to local organizations, according to the MSU study listed below.

 

Links for reference are the following provided by Holt:

https://ced.msu.edu/upload/reports/why%20buy%20local.pdf

https://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2017/11/20/5-benefits-of-shopping-locally-on-small-business-saturday/#7656510d668b

https://grasshopper.com/resources/articles/small-business-saturday-statistics/

 

The Live Local BB organization is comprised of locally owned businesses within Bourbon County.

“We have over 80 businesses in our group,” said Geoff Southwell, president of the organization.

Locally owned businesses can be identified by an orange sign in the window of the business. To see the list of local business, click below:

live local

Geoff Southwell speaks during the initial Live Local BB meeting in Sept. 2017.

” We have a desire to see the community grow and become stronger,” he said. ” We wanted to give the community a means for identifying locally owned businesses, with owners who live in Bourbon County. We have ‘Live Local’ signage placed at each business which identifies them as locally owned.”

“We feel we have made an impact on the community to use locally owned first,” Southwell said.

 

 

The Live Local BB sign can be seen in local businesses and includes the list of participating businesses.

 

 

 

Business, Government, Kansas

KCC Denies Westar Request

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KCC denies request that would have cost Westar customers approximately $93 million

Topeka – This morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission denied Westar Energy’s request for ratepayers to bear the cost of its seven-month lease and subsequent purchase in August 2019 of an 8% interest in Jeffrey Energy Center (JEC). Had it been approved, the cost to ratepayers would have amounted to approximately $93 million in increased rates over the next 15 years.

 

In rejecting the request, the Commission order states Westar failed to meet its burden of showing that its new lease and purchase agreement was a prudent decision for its retail customers and that Westar entered into the agreement knowing it did not need the 8% portion of JEC to satisfy its capacity requirements and the settlement agreement would increase customers’ rates.

 

Prior to the August purchase, Westar and Kansas City Power & Light owned 92% of the Jeffrey Energy Center (JEC). Midwest Power Company owned the remaining 8% and leased it to Westar. The power generated was sold to Mid-Kansas Electric Company through a Power Purchase Agreement. The lease and purchase agreements both expired on January 3, 2019. Westar then opted for a new lease and subsequent purchase of the 8% and asked the Commission to approve the recovery of costs through its Retail Energy Cost Adjustment (RECA) which is included in customer rates.

 

Today’s order does allow Westar to operate the 8% portion of JEC for wholesale sales and retain revenues resulting from that portion of the plant for their shareholders.

The Commission’s regulatory oversight requires balancing the interests of the public and the utility while ensuring reliable and cost efficient service.

Today’s Commission order can be viewed at: http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=a3473a11-528a-46eb-9195-7b5425701361

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee At Stutesman’s Realty Sept. 12

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee and a
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Hosted by:
Stutesman’s Action Realty
Location:

120 E. Wall St.
Thursday, September 12, 2019  at 8:00 a.m.
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:
September 19 – Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (1 S. Main St.)
September 26 – Diehl Banwart Bolton CPA’s P.A. (70th Anniversary)
October 3 – Gordon Parks Museum (16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of “The Learning Tree”)
October 10 – McDonald’s (2224 S. Main St.)
Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Town-Wide Garage Sale Sept. 13-14

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Submitted by: Lindsay Madison, Executive Director, [email protected]
Monica Walden, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]
Phone: (620) 223-3566

FORT SCOTT – Mark your calendars for the Fall Town-wide Garage Sale this Friday and Saturday, September 13th and 14th. Now is the time to get your garage sale on the map.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages residents in Fort Scott to do your fall cleaning and make room for something new. Garage sales may be registered through the Chamber by 1 pm, Wednesday, September 11th for only $10. The registration fee lists your sale on the official garage sale map and enables the Chamber to advertise the sale throughout the region on the radio, newspaper, social media and the Chamber website.
Garage sales may be registered in person at the Chamber office, located at 231 E. Wall Street or by phone using debit or credit card by calling (620) 223-3566.
The official garage sale maps will be available to shoppers this Thursday evening from the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and the following locations: 5 Corners Mini-Mart, Bids & Dibs, Casey’s, Don’s Smoke Shop, and all four Pete’s locations.
***

Business, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Government

Federal Reserve Needs Distribution Partners

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The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is looking for partners to help to distribute the National Small Business
Credit Survey
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is looking for small business and economic development organizations that will partner with us to help distribute the National Small Business Credit Survey. This survey is an important survey that assesses the credit and financing needs of the small businesses in the seven states we serve.
Organizations like yours have used this survey to determine the needs of the small businesses that they serve as well as an information resource for fundraising and grant writing.
The time commitment is minimal, requiring only your distribution of a survey link, specific to your organization, to small businesses in your network. All survey responses are anonymous.
Each organization that receives fifty responses from business owners will receive a specialized report exclusive to their organization.
The survey’s official launch date is September 10 and it will be open for responses through December 2.
The Federal Reserve System has recently moved to a centralized partner system to streamline the process.
If you are interested in partnering, please click here to fill out a response form.
If you are interested in learning more about small business research and analysis by the 12 Reserve Banks of the Federal Reserve System,
click hereto visit our
Federal Reserve System page
that houses all the past reports, data, and other information on the survey.
Thank you in advance for your partnership on this important survey.
Dell Gines
Senior Community Development Advisor
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Omaha Branch
Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Sidewalk Sale Sept. 14

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MERCHANT MADNESS SIDEWALK SALE

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale will take place Saturday, September 14th. From 9 am to 5 pm, eleven downtown retailers will have sales set up in front of their stores with deals and special drawings.

Participating merchants include Bids & Dibs, Books & Grannies (inside), Country Cupboard, Hedgehog.INK, Iron Star Antiques & Such, J & W Sports Shop, Main St. Gallery & Gifts, Mayco Ace Hardware, Sunshine Boutique, Trader Dave’s, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market.

The Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale will take place in conjunction with other Fort Scott events this weekend including the Fall Town-wide Garage Sale and the Art in the Yard Festival. More information on all community events may be found on fortscott.com/events or by contacting the Chamber at 620-223-3566.

***

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Washateria Ribbon Cutting Today at 10 a.m.

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REMINDER:
The Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend the
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for
Fort Scott Washateria
 September 7th at 10am
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the opening of
Fort Scott Washateria,
at 501 South National Avenue. The event will take place TOMORROW, September 7th at 10 a.m., with remarks and ribbon cutting at 10:15 a.m. The event will feature free hot dogs, chips, sodas, snow cones, popcorn and homemade ice cream. Music will be provided by KOMB 103.9 FM from 10 a.m. until noon. There will be giveaways, and specials on wash/dry/fold subscriptions.
Fort Scott Washateria is owned and managed by Lori Lovelace. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days per week. Please note that on Sundays the Washateria will be unattended from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The following services will be available: a downloadable “Spiderwash” app that tells you what machines are available and how long your load has until it’s done; loyalty cards; wash/dry/fold services; starching & pressing; alterations; delivery in Fort Scott; soaker sinks; vending machines with detergent, softener, etc.; a kid’s section with movies and a blackboard wall; free coffee and tea. The washateria has been equipped with
state-of-the-art machines, including thirteen washers and thirteen dryers.
As a special promotion to familiarize the public with the new state-of-the art machines, all washes and dries are free from September 7th through September 14th. (Limit 1 load per visit, which does not include soap or softener.)
Contact Lori Lovelace at
620-644-9834 for more information
Art, Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Happenings Sept. 6

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Horticulture Services in Fort Scott – Krista Harding, Horticulture Agent for the Southwind Extension District, has office hours at the Extension office inside the Bourbon County Courthouse every Thursday
In an effort to better serve residents of Fort Scott and the surrounding communities, Krista is there weekly to answer questions and offer advice on lawn and gardens, trees and shrubs, flowers and insect. Bring your spotted leaves, strange looking insects or wilted flowers and let her help you! This a free service and is available to all community members. Questions? Call 620-223-3720 (See flyer below)
6-7
Weekly Livestock Sale at Fort Scott Livestock Market. Starting at 10am on both Fridays & Saturdays
Fridays:  Cows, Pairs, Big Bulls
Saturdays:  Stocker & Feeder Cattle, followed by any cows
& bulls that come in late Friday & Saturday. Cafe open both sale days. You don’t have to be a buyer, just to come watch the sale and visit the cafe!
6
Mommy Meet Ups – Community Christian Church,
1919 S. Horton, 8:30-11am
MMU is designed for moms of young children to have an opportunity to relax, refresh, find friendships and share the journey called Motherhood. Expectant moms and mothers of children up to kindergarten are invited.
Join us! Unwind! Enjoy a cup of coffee! Find support from moms for all faithsChildcare and snacks are provided for kids. Breakfast provided for moms
MMU meets an average of twice monthly during the school year. Mark your calendar with the following Fridays: 9/6, 9/20, 10/4, 11/1, 11/15, 12/6, 12/13, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1 and 5/15
6 Children’s Miracle Network Pulled Pork Sandwich Dinner Fundraiser – Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott St., 10am-8pm

Children’s Miracle Network Pulled Pork Sandwich Dinner on Friday, September 6th at Buck Run Community Center. Free delivery to workplace or come in and eat all day! Dinner comes with pulled pork sandwich, bbq beans, potato chips, and dessert for just $5.00
You may call Chris Chaplin at 620-215-4903 or Kristie Maycumber at Walmart at 620-223-2867 and ask for Claims to schedule delivery time and how many meals ordered. All proceeds go to CMN
6 YPL First Friday Luncheon (Young Professional’s League) – Papa Don’s Pizza, 10 N. Main St., 12-1pm

Join us for the YPL First Friday Luncheon, open to YPL members or anyone interested in the organization
6

Friday Night Concert in the Park – Heritage Park Pavilion, 1st & Main, 7pm

Friday Night Concert in the Park – Sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

This week’s concert features Dr. Buck and Band – Classic country & gospel. Come early and bring a lawn chair as seating is limited.  In the event of bad weather we will move to The Common Grounds Coffee Shop

The concerts are organized by Ralph Carlson. If you or someone you know is interested in performing, contact Ralph at [email protected]
6 The Boiler Room Brewhaus presents Deliberate Kin live in concert. Friday, September 6th from 7-9pm,
10 S. National Ave. (See flyer below)Tickets ($10) available at the Brewhaus, the Visitors Center and the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.Visit www.boileroombrewhaus.com

View a Deliberate Kin video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDPhtOWdQKU
7
FSHS Tiger Softball Co-Ed Softball Tournament has been cancelled
7

Farmer’s Market – Skubitz Plaza (in front of the historic fort)

Saturday Mornings, 8:00am – 12:00pm

Fort Scott Farmers’ Market is a farmer driven and run market. The farmers work hard to produce the very finest produce available. We also provide a great venue for community organizations to promote their mission and raise funds

We are focused on fresh locally produce farm products
7 Fort Scott Soccer Shoot – Kiwanis Soccer Field, 10am

Ages 4-16, boys and girls division. First place in each division advances to district soccer shoot held in Fort Scott on Sunday, September 15th at pm. For more information, contact Bryan: 620-719-0836
7

Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Fort Scott Washateria – 501 S. National Ave. 10am (See flyer below)

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the opening of the new Fort Scott Washateria at
501 S. National Avenue. The event will take place Saturday, September 7th, 10:00 a.m. with remarks and ribbon cutting at 10:15 a.m. Free hot dogs, chips, sodas, sno cones, popcorn and homemade ice cream! Music provided by local radio station KOMB FM 103.9 from
10am-12pm. There will be giveaways, and specials on wash/dry/fold subscriptions. ALL WASHES AND DRIES ARE FREE FROM SEPTEMBER 7th-14th (1 load per visit, does not include soap or softener)!!
Fort Scott Washateria is owned and managed by Lori Lovelace. The following services will be available:
– Downloadable “Spiderwash” app (and a loyalty card) that tells you what machines are available and how long your load has until it’s done
– Wash/dry/fold services- Starching & pressing
– Alterations- Delivery in Fort Scott- Soaker sinks
– Vending machines with detergent, softener, etc.
– Kids section with movies & blackboard wall
– Free coffee & teaWashateria features state-of-the-art machines, including:
– Eight 22 lb. washers, two 40 lb. washers, two 60 lb. washers, one 80 lb. washer, eight 30 lb. dryers, four 40 lb. dryers, one 75 lb. dryerThe Washateria will be open from 8am-8pm, 7 days per week (Note: the Washateria will be unattended from 8am-12pm on Sundays.)
Lori Lovelace also has the Fort Scott Community Clothes Closet on the site, which is a 501c3 non-profit. The clothes closet will be run by volunteers. If you would like to volunteer or would like to be a Board member, there is an organizational meeting August 15th at 6pm at Washateria.

Contact Lori Lovelace at: 620-644-9834 for more info
7 Kansas Appleseed Bi-Partisan “Voter-to-Voter” workshop on getting out the vote – Boiler Room Brewhaus,
2 S. National Ave., 3-5pm (See flyer below)All are welcome at this non-partisan event
7 Wayward Bettys performing at LIberty Theatre (final 2019 Patio Concert) – 113 S. Main St., 8-10pm (See flyer below)

The Bourbon County Arts Council presents The Wayward Bettys, performing live at Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St., Saturday, September 7th from 8-10pm. This is the final 2019 Patio Concert of the series

Tickets are $10 for BCAC members, $15 for non-BCAC members. Tickets may be purchased by calling:
– Terri Floyd: 620-224-7221
– Deb Anderson: 620-224-8650
– The Chamber: 620-223-3566
7

Back to School Bash at Holmtown Pub – 206 N. National Ave., 9pm-1pm

DJ Ray Ray will be spinning tunes on the patio
8 Hospice Patio Celebration & Memorial at Riverfront Park – 2pm

A celebration and memorial ceremony will be held at Riverfront Park in recognition of the new patio to honor hospice patients of the former Mercy Home Health and Hospice, now Integrity Home Care + Hospice

Refreshments will be served and the public is invited in addition to bereaved families

Click here for a link to a prior FortScott.biz article on the project: https://fortscott.biz/news/mercy-hospice-patio-complete
8 Team Trivia at the Boiler Room Brewhaus –
10 S. National, 3-5pmExciting, fun and challenging team trivia. Put your team together (maximum of 8 teams, maximum of 5 members on a team)$5 per person. Cash prizes for winning team. Pre-register at the tap room
9 Fort Scott Community College Centennial Kick-Off – FSCC Cafeteria and Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton, noon-2pm (see flyer below)

On September 9th, we will start with a FREE lunch at 12pm in the FSCC Cafeteria, followed by an assembly in Ellis Fine Arts Center at 1pm. There will be refreshments, tree dedication, and aerial picture of all that attend.

For more info on the upcoming centennial events, click http://www.fortscott.edu/article/07172019-812am/Join-Centennial-Celebration
9 Forget Me Not Fellowship at Integrity Home Care
& Hospice – 902 S. Horton St., 2nd Monday of each month, 2-3pmForget Me Not Fellowship – Hope and Healing One Day at a TimeJoin us on the 2nd Monday of each month.
– At Integrity, we know the passage through grief is tough and can lead to a time of intense soul searching. That’s why we’re here for you when it matters most. You don’t have to bear the burden of doing it all alone. We provide care that never stops – for our clients, and for their families. As you continue your journey, join us for fellowship and support
9 USD 234 Board of Education Meeting – 424 S. Main St., 5:30pm
10-11
Story Time, hosted by the Fort Scott Public Library –

201 S. National, 10-11am

Join Miss Val and other local families for a themed story time, featuring 2-3 books read aloud, songs or fingerplays, craft, and snack, along with a play table for before and after the stories. All story times welcome any age children and teens
Some themes are based around seasons, holidays, and annual events, while others are chosen by regular attendees
For more information, visit www.fortscott.mykansaslibrary.org or see our Facebook events page by clicking HERE
Enjoy stories, songs, crafts, and snacks related to our theme in the downstairs event room. Hope you can come. Tell your friends!
10 T.O.P.S Meetings held weekly on Tuesdays at Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Ave., 10:30am
10 Fort Scott Kiwanis Meeting – FSCC Heritage Room,
2108 S. Horton, 12-1pm
10 Farmer’s Market – Skubitz Plaza (in front of the historic fort)

Tuesday evenings, 4-6pm

Fort Scott Farmers’ Market is a farmer driven and run market. The farmers work hard to produce the very finest produce available. We also provide a great venue for community organizations to promote their mission and raise funds. We are focused on fresh locally produce farm products
10 Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County Meeting – Old Congregational Church, 502 S. National Ave., 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7-8pm

We will have great fellowship, refreshments, and a door prize – hope you can attend!
11

9/11 Remembrance Day hosted by the Friends of the Fort

The names of the people who lost their lives on 9/11 will be read over the downtown sound system by volunteers throughout the day
11 Breakfast Bingo at Buck Run Community Center,
735 Scott Ave., 9-10amCome drink some coffee and play some bingo at Buck Run. Staff will provide the bingo cards, the caller, and coffee. Prizes provided by the Fort Scott Recreation Commission
11 SEK Senior Golf Association at Woodland Hills Golf Course – 2414 S. Horton, 9:30 shotgun start
11 Rotary Meeting – Presbyterian Church,  308 S. Crawford St., 12-1pm
11
Adult Coloring Program – Fort Scott Public Library,
201 S. National Ave., 2-4pm
Join us in the library events room for a relaxing afternoon of coloring and conversation. Library provides coloring pages, pens and pencils, and snacks. Bring your own beverage of choice (no alcohol, please)
11
TAG – Teen Advisory Group – Fort Scott Public Library –

201 S. National, 4:15-5:15pm

Join Teen Advisory Group members in the library events room. This event is exclusively for middle and high school students. We have meetings weekly, including a games & snacks night, community service project, book club meeting, and craft night each month. Members can help the library develop programs, displays, and book collections that better serve teens! Make a difference in your community while having fun at TAG! Each meeting includes food, drinks, and a good time with your fellow teens. See you at TAG, and bring your friends!
12
Join us for the weekly Chamber Coffee of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 8am. This week’s Chamber Coffee is being hosted by Stutesmans Action Realty, with remarks and  ribbon cutting ceremony immediately following (See flyer below)
Location: 120 E. Wall St. (next to Hole In The Wall Liquor)
12 Horticultural services at the Bourbon County Courthouse every Thursday – 210 S. National, 9am-3:30pm (See flyer below)

Krista Harding, Horticulture Agent for the Southwind Extension District, has office hours at the Extension office inside the Bourbon County Courthouse every Thursday. In an effort to better serve residents of Fort Scott and the surrounding communities, Krista is there weekly to answer questions and offer advice on lawn and gardens, trees and shrubs, flowers and insect. Bring your spotted leaves, strange looking insects or wilted flowers and let her help you! This a free service and is available to all community members. Questions? Call 620-223-3720
12 Pioneer Kiwanis Meeting – FSCC Heritage Room,
12pm-1pm
12

Car Show presented by Fort Scott Presbyterian Village – 2401 S. Horton St., 4pm (See flyer below)

ENTRIES WANTED!!

– fill up on hot dogs!
– trophies presented to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners!

– live music by Lynn Oliphant!

To enter a car for the show, please RSVP by September 9th to Becky Kellum: [email protected] or call

620-223-5550

Visit Presbyterian Village’s website by clicking https://fortscottpresbyterianvillage.org/
12 Thursday Card Players – Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Ave.,
6-9pmFree weekly event to anyone that wants to play cards, drink coffee, eat snacks, and socialize
12
A Star is Born, or Died – Boiler Room Brewhaus,
2 S. National Ave., 7-9pm
Join Boiler Room Brewhaus on Thursday evenings from
7-9pm for karaoke fun. Cheer on your favorite local star!
13-14
Mark your calendars for the Fall Town-wide Garage Sale presented by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce: Friday and Saturday, September 13th and 14th.  Now is the time to get your garage sale on the map! (See flyer below)
Garage sales may be registered through the Chamber by 1 pm, Wednesday, September 11th for only $10 – in person at the Chamber office, 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, located at 231 E. Wall Street or by phone using debit or credit card by calling (620) 223-3566
The official garage sale maps will be available at the Chamber, 5 Corners Mini-Mart, Bids & Dibs, Casey’s, Don’s Smoke Shop, and Pete’s (all 4 locations)
13-14
Weekly Livestock Sale at Fort Scott Livestock Market. Starting at 10am on both Fridays & Saturdays
Fridays:  Cows, Pairs, Big Bulls
Saturdays:  Stocker & Feeder Cattle, followed by any cows
& bulls that come in late Friday & Saturday. Cafe open both sale days. You don’t have to be a buyer, just to come watch the sale and visit the cafe!
13

Friday Night Concert in the Park – Heritage Park Pavilion, 1st & Main, 7pm

Friday Night Concert in the Park – Sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

This week’s concert features Open Mic Night. Come early and bring a lawn chair as seating is limited.  In the event of bad weather we will move to The Common Grounds Coffee Shop

The concerts are organized by Ralph Carlson. If you or someone you know is interested in performing, contact Ralph at [email protected]
14
2019 Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Fall Golf Classic
4-Person Scramble – Saturday, September 14th at Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton in Fort Scott (See flyer below)

$200 per team includes green fees, cart & lunch. Deadline to enter is September 6th

This fundraiser will help the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation to support programs for our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, and Woodson counties

For more information, contact Tricia at 620-431-7401, ext. 230 or [email protected]
14

Farmer’s Market – Skubitz Plaza (in front of the historic fort)

Saturday Mornings, 8:00am – 12:00pm

Fort Scott Farmers’ Market is a farmer driven and run market. The farmers work hard to produce the very finest produce available. We also provide a great venue for community organizations to promote their mission and raise funds

We are focused on fresh locally produce farm products
14

Sidewalk Book Sale at Hedgehog.INK – 16 S. Main, 9am-5pm (See flyer below)

Bags of books for sale: $4/small, $8/large
14 “Art In The Yard” hosted by Bobbi Kemna – 1366 215th St., just north of Fort Scott (known as Old 69 Hwy.),
9am-5pm (See flyer below)”Art In The Yard”, hosted by Bobbi Kemna, will feature all forms of art (no crafts) – paintings, pottery, jewelry, metal art, fabric artLive music, BBQ, FSHS Thespians selling beverages, dessert table, kettle corn

Ride “Dolly the Trolley” shuttle for FREE from Boiler Room Brewhaus (10 S. National Ave.) to event and back
14  Storytime at Hedgehog.INK – 16 S. Main, 10:30am (held the second Saturday of each month) (See flyer below)

Storytime and special activity. This month: disco/rap with Jaymie & Kenzie Murphy
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Stutesman’s Realty Expands and Moves: Offers Office Space To Businesses

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The interior of the Stutesman’s Action  Realty  Fort Scott office space’s common area features tin ceilings and exposed walls.

Stutesman’s Action Realty has extended its reach in Fort Scott.

“We’ve grown the last two years,” said Amanda Bourassa, a broker for the real estate business, said. “We needed more space to continue to serve our clients.”

Amanda Bourassa, Real Estate Broker for Stuteman’s Action Realty, at the 120 E. Wall, Fort Scott location. Pictured is the conference room.

She loves the location of the new space.

“It’s downtown, in the center of everything and it has a view of the Fort (Scott National Historic Site),” she said.

“We wanted to show a permanent presence here in Fort Scott and Bourbon County,” she said. “To show we are committed to not only our clients who are buying and selling but also our community.”

The realty signed a 10-year lease with Pat and Stacy Wood for the space and began a remodel in June, she said.

“We all have our own homes and investment properties,” she said. “We believe this will help with serving our clients.”

The new office is located at 120 E. Wall and officially opened its doors on Sept. 3.

Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Stutesman’s Action Realty, 120 E. Wall is the white building in the photo.

The 1,600 square-foot space has been completely remodeled by her husband, Tim, with Stutesman’s Action Realty paying for the reno.

There are now five agents working for the agency: Bourassa is the broker; agents are Stacy Wood, who joined in December 2018; Kaci Kurtz who joined in November 2018, along with Bailey Lyons and Scott Theis.

Stutesman’s Action Realty, 120 E. Wall.

In addition to the realty business, the Bourassa’s finished out two additional offices in the new space, that are available for lease.

The business will host a Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee and ribbon cutting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12.

In addition, on Wednesday, October 2, the business will have a Celebration of Success Open House from 3-6 p.m.

“This is open to the public for people to see the reno and meet with agents if they want to do so,” Bourassa said.

For more information, the toll-free number is 833-286-8400 or www.actionsold.com.

Bourassa can be reached at 417-684-5681.

The original office of the realty is still located in Nevada, MO.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Ribbon Cutting At Washateria Sept. 7

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The Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend the
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for
Fort Scott Washateria
Saturday, September 7th at 10am
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the opening of
Fort Scott Washateria,
at 501 South National Avenue. The event will take place
Saturday, September 7th at 10 a.m.,
with remarks and ribbon cutting at 10:15 a.m. The event will feature free hot dogs, chips, sodas, snow cones, popcorn and homemade ice cream. Music will be provided by KOMB 103.9 FM from 10 a.m. until noon. There will be giveaways, and specials on wash/dry/fold subscriptions.
Fort Scott Washateria is owned and managed by Lori Lovelace. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days per week. Please note that on Sundays the Washateria will be unattended from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The following services will be available: a downloadable “Spiderwash” app that tells you what machines are available and how long your load has until it’s done; loyalty cards; wash/dry/fold services; starching & pressing; alterations; delivery in Fort Scott; soaker sinks; vending machines with detergent, softener, etc.; a kid’s section with movies and a blackboard wall; free coffee and tea. The washateria has been equipped with
state-of-the-art machines, including thirteen washers and thirteen dryers.
As a special promotion to familiarize the public with the new state-of-the art machines, all washes and dries are free from September 7th through September 14th. (Limit 1 load per visit, which does not include soap or softener.)
Contact Lori Lovelace at
620-644-9834 for more information
Business, Fort Scott

New Business Spaces Available Soon

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Jeff and Jamie Armstrong stand in front of the property they are developing into business suites. Submitted photo.
Eighteen years ago,  Jeff and Jamie Armstrong came home to Fort Scott and started raising their family here.
 “We love our community and despite the challenges all small towns face, we still believe Fort Scott has something special,” Jeff said.
The couple had discussed ways to encourage more young professionals to return to Fort Scott.
“We have often talked about developing property and finding a way to recruit more young professionals like us to come back home,” Jeff said. ” We were surprised to learn late last year that the building my wife currently runs her investment office out of, was getting ready to be listed.”
” We had been considering moving her office to another location in town…but we weren’t finding much we felt good about,” Jeff said.   “We ran the numbers, prayed for wisdom, and took a calculated leap of faith.”

They purchased the property at 1711-1715 S. National Avenue on December 31, 2018, and started a business, which they call Legweak, LLC.

The Legweak Property, located at 1711-1715 S. National Avenue.  Submitted photo.

“We wanted to use our family name somehow, so it is a play on our name. ARM STRONG …LEG WEAK,” Jeff said.

 

U.S. Cellular, Subway Restaurant, and Edward Jones Financial Services are the existing tenants at the building the Armstrong’s purchased.
 The Armstrongs began asking small business owners what they want and need in a space.
“We’d love to continue working with those types of professional businesses that want a nice storefront with good visibility,” Jeff said.
“Surprisingly, we found a lot of sole-proprietor-type businesses don’t want all the extra space and expenses,” he said. “So we started looking at a shared office space.  It makes a lot of sense for small professional businesses who want a higher-end workspace without the extra overhead.  We will continue to develop the other four units (about 4800 sq ft) as we find needs in the community.”
There are seven units total, one of which is already under lease.

 Each unit is a 12’x10’ office and shares a full kitchen, an ADA Compliant bathroom, and room for a shared receptionist down the road.

For more information:

Jeff and Jamie Armstrong at
or 620-224-3036 or
search  on Facebook at @legweakllc