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The first meeting of the year for the Fort Scott Farmers Market is on March 11 from 6-8 p.m. in the Healthy Bourbon County office at 104 N. National, directly across from the pavilion where the farmers market occurs.
“This is a business meeting for returning vendors only,” said Teri Hamilton, spokesman for the group. “We’ll be discussing finances and voting on leadership. One can pay for the season and put in location requests.”
On April 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a vendor welcome meeting.
“This meeting is for new and returning vendors,” she said. “We’ll go over market guidelines, talk about the SNAP program and accept applications and fees for the season.”
Fees remain the same from last year:
$5 registration fee, $5 per week booth rental, or $108 for the full season from May until October.

The farmer’s market moved to the new Downtown Pavilion in 2024.
“The first year under the pavilion was great,” Hamilton said. “All of our vendors saw an increase in our sales. It didn’t matter what the weather was like, people came to shop and visit. We are so thankful for it.”
New this year is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
“This is for people who qualify for Food Stamps,” Hamilton said. “Any who has SNAP can use it at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.”
Venors interested in joining the 2025 Fort Scott Farmer’s Market season are welcome to the April 17 meeting.
The farmers market is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. at the Downtown Pavilion at North National and Old Fort Boulevard starting the first Saturday in May, this year it’s May 3, and ending on the last Saturday in October, this year it’s October 25.
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Teri Hamilton, owner of The Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery, is putting her own business on pause and will be using her baking talents at Common Ground Coffee Co.12 E. Wall as of Monday, February 3.

In recent years, Hamilton’s husband has been able to help her with her home business, but because of a new job, he won’t.
“This makes it unsustainable for me physically,” Hamilton said. “The bakery business needs to grow in employees and space…and we are not ready to take that step.”
Starting on February 3 she will be at the coffee shop on Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to noon, baking for them.
“I’ll be making cookies and pastry-type things and possibly adding a few things of my own but will be keeping that baked good case full,” she said. “Taking this part-time job will keep me baking for the community.”
She started her artisan bakery three years ago, and feels the job will allow her to “see people, interact with them and see them enjoy the things I make for them.”
“I’m excited to join the Common Ground team, I look forward to serving people good food.”
Suzanne Griffin will continue her weekly dinners at the coffee shop and offer catering services.
Together they will produce some fun offerings for Super Bowl parties and Valentine’s Day.
Griffin said they will be offering appetizer trays and dip assortments for Super Bowl parties and for Valentine’s Day-chocolate dipped strawberries and Chardudery Trays for men.
“We call it Chardudery Trays because it has bacon, beef and no frilly stuff,” Griffin said.
For more information contact Common Ground Coffee Co. at 620.223.2499.

February 1, 2025, 8 A.M. – 2 P.M.
at First Southern Baptist Church
Children 7 and under FREE
8 to Adult $5.00 in advance or
$6.00 at the door
for advanced tickets Contact
Ida Ford 417-262-3948 or
Terri Williams 620-215-3202
**All proceeds go to FSBC Building Fund

Becky Cowlishaw purchased the former Christian Church at 101 S. Judson in 2016 and renamed it Bethsada Christian Church.




Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin came up with an idea to create a community dance party in the town’s Memorial Hall, 1 East Third Street several times in 2025.
“I thought having a quarterly dance party with a disc jockey playing music would be a good idea to give our citizens and others from out of Bourbon County, the opportunity to come dance, listen to music, visit with friends, meet new friends, while eating/drinking from our local flavors.”
“We will be changing the type of music that will be played each quarter ranging from Disco to Country, to Rock and Roll,” he said. “We are planning on giving people the opportunity to dress up to the era of the music being played (an example would be dressing in 70’s Disco outfits or Rock and Roll outfits). The cover charge will be $5 per person.”
The first 2025 community dance is on Saturday, January 18 from 7 to 10 p.m.
This dance will be from every music era and genre.
Local restaurant, Aunt Toadies, will provide food and drinks for sale during the dance.









The Beacon is an interfaith, not-for-profit network in Bourbon County that has been in existence for 40 years. They assist community residents with food, utilities, and other necessities during times of need.
“We are dedicated to providing an efficient link between churches, civic groups, and other service organizations to those in need,” according to Dave Gillen, the director.
This time of year, the community gears up to give gifts and food to those who need it.
“The Adopt-A-Family program is a project that The Beacon takes great pride in,” said Gillen. “We help local Bourbon County families bring Christmas to their homes. After the application is filled out, we make the families available for the public and organizations to come in and ‘adopt’. They then purchase gifts for the children and The Beacon puts together a rather large holiday meal package for the family. The children’s Christmas gifts are purchased, wrapped, and tagged with the family number and dropped off at Community Christian Church, where we sort into the proper family group.”
Those who want to adopt a family can come to The Beacon, 525 E. Sixth, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to pick the family they want to adopt or call 620-223-6869.

There is an increase in the number of local families in need this year.
“This year we have 112 families, which includes 290 children that will be up for ‘adoption.’These families are current Beacon clients or families needing help in Bourbon County. Last year we had 77 families for the Adopt-A-Child program so we had a major increase in local families in need this year.”
“This program could not be possible without the help of individuals, businesses, organizations, and our local fire department,” he said. “It takes many volunteers to transfer and sort food from The Beacon to the Community Christian Church gym.”
“The Beacon also helps supply food items for the Elk’s Christmas Basket that is delivered the Sunday before Christmas,” he said.
“We are very busy this time of year with food and toy donations, sign-up, and just everyday activities,” he said. “We average about 25 to 30 families a day for food distribution and do some financial assistance to help residents of Bourbon County. The Beacon celebrated our 40th year helping Bourbon
“We are dedicated to providing an efficient link between churches, civic groups, and other service organizations to those in need.“