*In case of inclement weather, stay tuned for location updates.
We hope to see you there!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by the Good Ol’ Days Festival Committee this Thursday, June 4th at 8am, on Skubitz Plaza in Downtown Fort Scott. In case of inclement weather, stay tuned for updated information. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register for a special door prize drawing.
Trey Sharp, Good Ol’ Days Chairman, and the committee are excited to celebrate the 45th Annual Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days, taking place June 5-6 in Downtown Fort Scott. This year’s theme, Red, White, & Good Ol’ Days, is a fitting tribute as America celebrates its 250th birthday, while also honoring the traditions that have made Good Ol’ Days a community favorite for 45 years.
One of those traditions is the popular vendor fair, featuring more than 100 booths offering food, crafts, shopping, family activities, and much more.
Plan to attend the parade, which kicks off Good Ol’ Days at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 5. Before and after the parade, stroll along Main Street north of Wall Street and throughout Skubitz Plaza to explore the many vendors, who will open at 5 p.m. Friday evening will also feature live entertainment beginning at 7 p.m. with a DJ, followed by The KC All Stars live band at 8 p.m. on Skubitz Plaza.
On Saturday, vendor booths open at 9 a.m., with a full day of activities, entertainment, and live music planned throughout downtown. For a complete schedule, visit www.fortscottgoodoldays.com or follow Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days on Facebook.
The Good Ol’ Days Committee extends its sincere thanks to the sponsors, volunteers, donors, and supporters who help make this annual tradition possible. Everyone is encouraged to join the fun and help celebrate 45 years of Good Ol’ Days memories in Fort Scott.
For more information, contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit fortscott.com Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees for upcoming locations
Tuker Ross (left), Janna Trotter (right), submitted photo.
Two best friends started a mobile coffee business in Nevada, Missouri, in September 2025, and will soon have a physical location in Fort Scott to serve this community.
The name that owners Janna Trotter and Tuker Ross chose for their business is Holy Grounds Jesus & Coffee.
“Coffee is what we do, but it’s never been the full story behind Holy Grounds Jesus & Coffee,” said Ross.
“It has grown into something so much bigger than we anticipated. Our hearts have always been simple: serve our community well and share Jesus with every cup we serve.”
“The Beauty Lounge Salon & Barbershop will be making a location change at the beginning of June, to 1621 S Main St. (previously the Baker Clinic),” Ross said. ” Holy Grounds Jesus & Coffee will be located inside part of the salon, as well as Dr. Press, the audiologist, will be remaining inside the building to continue his work.”
“Holy Grounds Jesus & Coffee has an estimated open date of mid-June. Holy Grounds will be offering hot and iced lattes with scripture written on every cup, as well as non-caffeinated drink options.”
Tentatively, operating hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Friday, and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To contact the business, use their Facebook page.
“We will be looking to hire soon. To reach out to us about a job opportunity, please Facebook message us.”
The Why of the new business
“From the very beginning, this business was built on faith. Before the menu, before the logo, before we ever served our first drink— God placed this dream on our hearts,” Ross said. “Long before we felt equipped, He continued to remind us that He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”
“Now, seeing God open the door for us to continue serving Nevada while also opening our very first physical location in Fort Scott feels surreal. Time after time, He has continued to make a way where we couldn’t see one ourselves.”
“Every cup we serve is more than just coffee to us. It’s an opportunity to place truth into someone’s hands right when they need it most. We may be the ones writing the verses on the cups, but we truly believe God places them exactly where they’re meant to be.”
“If someone walks away with a drink in their hand and hope in their heart, then we’ve done what we were called to do. This is our why”.
A long vacant property on National Avenue has new life.
Bolt Bevs and Bites at 1808 S. National Avenue has been remodeled into a drink and snack business.
Bolt offers coffee, energy drinks, kids’ drinks, breakfast items, snacks, sweet treats, and more.
The dress rehearsal before the grand opening of the business starts tomorrow, May 22, with hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and continues on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. then 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
They will be closed for Memorial Day.
Following the soft opening this weekend, regular hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
Co-manager Claire Bradshaw said, “We are from PIttsburg. We like the small town feel, the community connection, and were able to purchase a building here in Fort Scott.”
The owner of the business is Mick Marietta.
The building is the former Taco Tico restaurant. “It’s been vacant for a long time,” Bradshaw said.
“It’s been gutted, with remodeling starting last fall,” said Co-Manager Emery Kafka.
The remodeling includes a drive-through with a canopy on the front of the building.
Currently, the staff includes 20 people ranging from high school age up, and they are still accepting applications, Bradshaw said.
Menu. Submitted graphicSubmitted graphic.
Claire Bradshaw, right, and Emery Kafka are the co-managers of Bolt Bevs and Bites. taken from Bolt’s Facebook page.
Vickie and Larry Shead from their farm’s Facebook page.
Vickie and Larry Shead work diligently every year to have a homestead festival at their farm, located near Garland in Bourbon County. They do this to encourage the community in homesteading.
Alongside them are their children, grandchildren and community members who share in their enthusiasm for the homestead lifestyle.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, homesteading is “the act or practice of living frugally or self-sufficiently, especially by growing and preserving food.”
Over the years, the Sheads have widened the scope of their farm festival to include locals and a festival that includes events, entertainment, and vendors, making it a fun family day.
The Shead Farm Festival is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2468 Cavalry Road, Garland. Tickets are $5 or for a family of five or more members $25. For more information 620.224.4149 or www.sheadfarm.com.
From their Facebook page.
Vickie Shead said there are new events added this year and some new vendors.
“Laura James from Lucky Horse Ranch will be bringing her miniature horses for young children to ride.
“Also, Steve William, from Redfield, will be at the festival with wagon rides pulled by his giant draft horses.
“Other new vendors include: chicken tractors, canning shelves, herb/spices, birdhouses, books, baskets, fudge, pork rinds, sourdough items, and more!” she said.
Information booths will include the National Resources Conservation Service, explaining their grant program to help people farm and garden.
The Shead Farm Homestead Festival is offering kids vendor booth spots for young business-minded kids who would like to sell their products or services.
If you have a young business minded child and you have been looking for an opportunity to sell their product or service, you have found it. Sign up for a spot at the Shead Farm Festival kids vendor booths. We look forward to hosting your young vendor and shopping their business booths.
Sign up for a kids (ages 6-18) vendor booth spot for FREE today by clicking HERE!
Lu’s Ice Cream is excited to celebrate our amazing local educators during
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8, 2026)
And we’re inviting area businesses to be part of something special!
We’d like to extend a big THANK YOU to Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union for stepping up to help provide our local teachers with a free scoop of ice cream! We are incredibly grateful for their support.
However, in order to provide ALL USD 234 teachers with a free scoop, we are still in need of additional sponsors.
This is a fun and meaningful opportunity for your business to:
✨ Support our hardworking teachers
✨ Show your community involvement
✨ Gain positive exposure and goodwill
Businesses can contribute toward free scoop coupons that will be distributed to local teachers during the week. As a thank you, all coupons will recognize our generous sponsors.
No contribution is too small…every scoop helps us celebrate more teachers!
If your business is interested in sponsoring or would like more information, please reach out to:
We’re excited to share that planning is officially underway for the 45th Annual Good Ol’ Days Festival, happening June 5th & 6th, 2026, in Downtown Fort Scott, and it’s shaping up to be an incredible weekend!
We would love your support as we prepare for one of our community’s most cherished traditions.
Every contribution helps carry on a tradition that has been part of Fort Scott for generations. Good Ol’ Days is more than an event. It’s a celebration of community, connection, and hometown pride that brings people together year after year!
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Partners on $200,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Project to Advance Food and Environmental Justice in Southeast Kansas
Fort Scott, Kansas — March 12, 2026
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is partnering with the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) on a new $200,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to support community-driven solutions that improve food access and environmental health in Southeast Kansas.
The two-year initiative, “An Action-Oriented Study of Community-Driven Solutions to Address Food and Environmental Justice,” is co-led by Christina Pacheco, JD, MPH, Assistant Professor at KUMC, and Jody Love, MBA, President and CEO of HBCAT. Together, they will partner with the Montgomery County Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), a coalition that brings together residents, local organizations, and cross-sector partners to identify priorities and implement practical solutions that improve health and quality of life.
Through this project, community members will design and implement locally driven strategies to strengthen food systems and improve neighborhood environments. Potential solutions include edible landscapes, raised garden beds, and other place-based approaches that expand access to nutritious food while revitalizing underused community spaces.
“This project reflects the power of community leadership,” said Jody Love. “When residents are at the center of planning and implementation, the solutions are more practical, more sustainable, and more reflective of local priorities.”
Jody Love
The project builds on community infrastructure developed through the COPE initiative, which helped establish LHEATs across Kansas to advance health through collaboration and shared governance.
HBCAT will provide community coordination, resident engagement, and implementation support, drawing on more than a decade of experience building cross-sector partnerships and supporting community-led initiatives across Southeast Kansas.
This work also aligns with the broader regional strategy being advanced through Rural Community Partners (RCP), a Southeast Kansas initiative focused on strengthening long-term systems for community development across county lines. By connecting local coalitions, organizations, and residents throughout the region, RCP works to ensure that community-led solutions are supported not just locally but regionally, helping communities share learning, coordinate resources, and build sustainable change over time.
In addition to supporting local implementation, the project includes an evaluation component that will document outcomes related to food access, community capacity, and systems change. Findings will be shared with community members, regional partners, and other rural communities interested in replicating effective strategies.
The grant was awarded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Rapid Response: Reinvesting in Racial and Indigenous Health Equity Research program, which funds community-centered research designed to advance equitable and sustainable health solutions.
About the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is a community-based organization dedicated to improving health, well-being, and opportunity through collaboration, resident leadership, and locally driven solutions. HBCAT’s mission is to increase access to physical activity and healthy food, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life, and encourage economic growth.
About the University of Kansas Medical Center
The University of Kansas Medical Center is an academic medical center committed to improving the health and wellness of Kansans through education, research, and patient care.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
RWJF is a leading national philanthropy paving the way, together, toward a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. Through funding, convening, advocacy, evidence building, and impact investing, they work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to get to health equity, faster and together.
This research was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evidence for Action Program. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Foundation.