Join us for Chamber Coffee
hosted by Chamber Member
Care to Share ~ Cancer Support Group
The Sharing Bucket

Thursday, May 21st

8am
@ Care to Share
9 E. Wall St.

We hope to see you there!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, May 21st at 8am hosted by Chamber member Care to Share Cancer Support Group, The Sharing Bucket, 9 E. Wall St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served along with a door prize drawing.

Care to Share Cancer Support Group began in 2007 as a grassroots, volunteer-led organization dedicated to supporting local cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and families throughout Bourbon, Linn, and Crawford counties. Now entering its 20th year of service, Care to Share remains 100% volunteer operated and continues to provide quarterly support group meetings, meals, gas vouchers, transportation assistance for medical appointments, financial aid, and emotional support for families during treatment and recovery. Through community donations and local support, the organization works to ensure no family faces the cancer journey alone.

From its humble beginnings, Care to Share has been blessed with nearly $2 million in community donations over the years, allowing almost every dollar raised to be given directly back to local cancer fighters and their families, with the majority staying right here in Fort Scott and Bourbon County. The organization credits much of its success to the generosity of local businesses, Chamber members, volunteers, and community supporters.

Care to Share also looks forward to upcoming community events, including:

July 25 – Golf Tournament

September 25 & 26 – FortFest

Celebrating its official 20th Anniversary in 2027.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by Chamber Member

Thursday, May 14th   8am @ Medicalodges 915 S. Horton St. We hope to see you there!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend a Chamber Coffee on Thursday, May 14th, at 8 a.m., hosted by Medicalodges, Inc. at Medicalodges Fort Scott, 915 S. Horton St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize. Parking at the facility is somewhat limited; however, additional parking will be available in the lot across from the Fort Scott Preschool Center on Horton. Guests may park there and easily cross the street to the front entrance, where staff will be available to welcome attendees. In recognition of National Nursing Home Week, taking place May 10–16, this week’s Chamber Coffee is being held at Medicalodges Fort Scott to celebrate the dedicated caregivers, staff, and residents who play such an important role in the community each day. Community members will have the opportunity to tour the facility, meet members of the team, and recognize the important impact nursing homes have on families throughout the area. Medicalodges Fort Scott is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility offering long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, therapy services, and personalized healthcare support. As part of the employee-owned Medicalodges, Inc. network, the facility is committed to providing compassionate care while creating a welcoming, home-like environment for residents and their families. Community Care Connections also operates from the location, providing home health services, including skilled nursing care and therapy services for residents and patients returning home who may need additional support in the comfort of their own home. For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit the Events Calendar at fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations. Click HERE to visit Medicalodges, Inc. Facebook Page! Click HERE to visit Medicalodges website!

🚎 Historic Trolley Tours

Ride Dolly the Trolley and explore Fort Scott’s history with a narrated tour.

Fridays & Saturdays – Now Boarding!

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Spring Town-wide Garage Sale

Click below on the image for the interactive Google map of the sales!

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SAVE THE DATE!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffees

Every Thursday at 8am

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UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Visit your National Park! Visitor Center and historic buildings are open Friday through Tuesday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The grounds continue to be open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset.

Click HERE to visit the website.

Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes 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. (Taking the month of August off for BINGO & will start again in September)

KANSASWORKS in Fort Scott

Every Tuesday 9am-4pm

Office located at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, 104 N. National Ave.

620-231-4250

FS Public Library

*Wednesday Writers every Wed. @ 1:30-3pm

201 S. National Ave.

$3 Tuesdays at Fort Cinema!

Follow their Facebook Page HERE for updates!

Kansas Small Business Development Center

at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.

Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month 9am-3pm

Want more details or updates on Community, Chamber, and Member events? You can find full dates, times, locations, and links on our community calendar on the Chamber’s website at:

👉 fortscott.com/events/calendar/

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RECURRING EVENTS

Bartelsmeyer Jewelry Estate Sale

25% off April 21st to May 2nd

50% off May 5th to May 16th

Mother’s Day Giveaway!

📍 22 N. Main St.

Fort Scott Tiger Wrestling Takedown Club Gun Raffle!

🎟️ Tickets:

• 1 for $20
• 6 for $100

🏆 Prizes:

• Prize #1: Ruger American Predator .223 Rem, 10 rounds
• Prize #2: Tokarev SDS Imports TAR 12P, 12GA 3″ chamber, 5 rounds
• Prize #3: CZ P-10 F 9mm Luger, 19 rounds, 2 mags

📅 Drawing: May 15

⏰ Deadline: May 13

Hosted by Tiger Wrestling Takedown Club — not affiliated with USD 234.

You can visit the Chamber for Tickets or reach out to Leslie Godden 620-644-8050.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, May 1

🎡 Winfield Scott Carnival

🕔 5:00–7:00 PM

📍 Winfield Scott Elementary School, 316 W. 10th St.

Food, games, prizes, dunk tank, bounce houses, face painting, barrel rides, snack walk, and more.

🎨 First Fridays at The Artificers

🕕 6:00–9:00 PM

📍 The Artificers, 8 N. National Ave.

Browse art, enjoy light refreshments, and stop in for good conversation. Hosted by Kate & Trent Freeman.

Saturday, May 2nd

🛍️ Spring Town-Wide Garage Sale 2026

📅 Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2

📍 Fort Scott, KS

Plan your shopping route and check out garage sales throughout town. Printed maps are available through the Chamber and local distribution spots.

🚜 Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Swap Meet — 70th Anniversary

📅 Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2

📍 Bourbon County Fairgrounds, Fort Scott, KS

Part of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta’s 70th anniversary celebration. The Swap Meet takes place May 1–2, with show dates coming later in October.

⛳ Flight of Honor Golf Tournament

🕗 8:00 AM–2:00 PM

📅 Saturday, May 2

Golf tournament benefiting Flight of Honor.

🌱 Fort Scott Farmers’ Market – Opening Day!

🕗 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

📍 Gathering Square Pavilion, Downtown Fort Scott

Shop local produce, goods, and more at the Farmers’ Market, held Saturdays May through October.

🌸 Bourbon County Garden Club Booth at the Farmers’ Market

🕗 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

📍 Gathering Square Pavilion, Downtown Fort Scott

The Bourbon County Garden Club will be selling perennials, annuals, and other gardening items as a club fundraiser.

🏃 1st Annual Summer Stride 5K by FSRD

🕘 9:00 AM

📅 Saturday, May 2

Run or walk to kick off summer with the 1st Annual Summer Stride 5K.

🚎 Trolley Tour of Historic Fort Scott

🕙 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

📍 Pick up/drop off: Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, 231 E. Wall St.

Hop aboard Dolly the Trolley for a 50-minute narrated tour of Historic Fort Scott. Saturday tours depart at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, and 2 PM. Adults are $6 and children 12 & under are $4.

🌴 Summer Luau & Splash Pad Launch Party featuring 90s Kids Superfly Tribute

🕔 5:00–9:00 PM

📍 Gathering Square Pavilion / Downtown Fort Scott area

Enjoy a summer luau, splash pad launch, face painting, food vendors, and live 90s tribute music.

🎨 Celebrating Sobriety Art Fair

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 HBCAT, 104 N. National Ave., Fort Scott, KS

Free, all-ages art fair celebrating recovery, wellness, and creative expression. Includes art, food trucks, $5 walking tacos, and live music by 90s Kids Superfly Band at 7:00 PM.

Sunday, May 3rd

🛍️ Spring Town-Wide Garage Sale 2026

📅 Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2

📍 Fort Scott, KS

Plan your shopping route and check out garage sales throughout town. Printed maps are available through the Chamber and local distribution spots.

✅ See more events & details: https://fortscott.com/events

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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.

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Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema

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REMINDER TO GET YOUR TICKETS ⬇️

Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for May 5th! The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to attend: Downtown Meet & Greet Tuesday, May 5th 8am-9am @ City State Bank, 202 Scott St. These quarterly informal gatherings provide an opportunity to network, collaborate, and share ideas regarding downtown events, promotions, and other topics impacting our downtown district. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566. A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!

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

Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by Briggs Thursday, April 30th   8am @ Briggs of Fort Scott 1819 S. Main St. We hope to see you there! The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend a Chamber Coffee on Thursday, April 30, at 8 a.m., hosted by Briggs of Fort Scott, located at 1819 S. Main St. The event will be held in the north showroom building, with attendees entering through the south door. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize. Briggs of Fort Scott is celebrating a significant milestone, marking ten years of service to the community since opening its doors on March 16, 2016. Over the past decade, Briggs of Fort Scott has experienced steady growth and success, made possible by the continued support of the Fort Scott community and the surrounding four-state area. Throughout its ten years, Briggs of Fort Scott has remained committed to serving its customers while building strong relationships throughout the region. The company extends its appreciation to the community for its ongoing support and looks forward to continued growth and service in the years ahead. For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit the Events Calendar at fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations. Click HERE to visit Briggs of Fort Scott Facebook Page! Click HERE to visit Briggs of Fort Scott website! A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members below… Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce 231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701 620-223-3566 fortscott.com

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

Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott Public Library

Thursday, April 23rd   8am Fort Scott Public Library 201 S. National Ave. We hope to see you there!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend a Chamber Coffee on Thursday, April 23, at 8 a.m., hosted by the Fort Scott Public Library, 201 S. National. The coffee will take place downstairs in the events room. Please enter through the north entrance. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize. This special gathering takes place during National Library Week (April 19–25, 2026), a nationwide celebration sponsored by the American Library Association that highlights the vital role libraries play in our communities. This year’s theme, “Find Your Joy,” encourages everyone to explore all the library has to offer. The Fort Scott Public Library has proudly served the community since 1891, growing from its beginnings in Eugene Ware’s office into a cornerstone resource for Fort Scott and the surrounding area. Today, the library continues to evolve as a modern information hub, recently completing a new adult learning area while expanding spaces for children, teens, makers, and a “Library of Things.” In addition to its updated spaces, the library offers a wide range of services including free digital platforms like Kanopy, Hoopla, Libby, and CloudLibrary, along with programs such as Story Time, Golden Aces, Book Clubs, and Summer Reading for all ages. Community members are encouraged to stop in, reconnect with the library, and explore everything it has to offer. For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit the Events Calendar at fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations. Click HERE to visit Fort Scott Public Library Facebook Page! Click HERE to visit Fort Scott Public Library website!

Fort Scott Carnegie Library postcard, circa 1908.

Fort Scott Public Library, 2025

Historical Timeline: 1883-The Library Association was founded in Fort Scott. 1891- Eugene Ware established the Ware Public Library in Fort Scott. Mr. Ware uses the front of his law office as the library space. It was located at 113 Market Street, Fort Scott, where it stayed until the fall of 1892. The annual membership cost for the library was $4. 1893- The Ware Public Library opens at the Redfield Building on Wall St. 1894- Ware donated his library collection to the City of Fort Scott, and the citizens voted to establish a free Fort Scott Public Library to be maintained by the taxpayers. The new library board votes to stay in the Redfield building at a monthly rent of $25. Mary Barlow made the first librarian of the Fort Scott Public Library. 1901- Andrew Carnegie donated $18,000 for the construction of a library building. 1902- Fort Scott Public Library construction starts. The building is designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style. 1904- The library is opened sometime in February. 1911- Hitching posts removed from the front of the library. 1918- The Library sent over 700 books, short stories, and boxes to the troops at the front during WWI. 1923- Mary Barlow retires from the Fort Scott Library after 32 years. She had also been the librarian for the Ware Public Library. 1936- A Children’s area was made in the library 1942- The library donated 1,137 books to the Victory Book Campaign during WWII. 1965- The library joins the Southeast Kansas Library System. This provides the library with access to interlibrary loans and rotating collections. 1973- The library was deeded to the city of Fort Scott. 1987- The library is placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Kansas State Historical Society as a historic Carnegie Library. 1990- The Library card catalog is put on a computer. 2013- Fort Scott Public Library joined the SEKnFind consortium, a group of 52 Southeast Kansas libraries. This gives access to the catalogs and collections of all these libraries, expanding services to patrons. 2014- Fort Scott Public Library joined the Sunflower/Libby eLibrary consortium, giving our patrons access to eBooks and audiobooks. 2016- The library temporarily moved into the old City Hall offices in Memorial Hall, so that the library building could undergo a major renovation. 2017- In April, the library reopened in the newly remodeled original Carnegie Building, giving longevity to the building, ensuring it will be there for future generations. 2025- The library has a newly redesigned library website to serve our patrons better online. The library was also rearranged to accommodate new services and the relocation of the children’s room and computers.

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members below…

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce 231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701 620-223-3566 fortscott.com