The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Tuesday, April 4th at City State Bank, 202 Scott Ave from 8am-9am.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 with any questions.
Teri, 49, and Michael Hamilton, 47, own The Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery.
Their bakery focuses on slow fermented sourdough products using only high quality ingredients, Teri said.
“This process takes up to 72 hours and increases the body’s absorption of nutrients and is a healthier food option for our community,” she said.
They offer a variety of sourdough breads, including original, roasted garlic and rosemary, jalapeno cheese, and even a triple chocolate sourdough loaf. They plan to add new items such as cinnamon rolls, scones, seeded wheat loaves, focaccia, bagels and pretzels, all made from sourdough.
The Hamiltons started their bakery in April 2022 with just a few loaves at a time and have grown their business in the last year, selling up to 100 items each week, she said.
The Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery is a cottage bakery without a storefront located in Fort Scott.
Future Plans
Within the next year, they plan to expand to surrounding counties’ farmers markets and craft fair events. Eventually, they would like to open a storefront in Fort Scott, she said.
Recent Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Grant Recipient
The Hamiltons feel honored to receive the $5,000 business start up grant from HBCAT, Teri said.
“They have been an invaluable resource from the very beginning, helping set up an LLC, bringing focus to our goals for the future and helping articulate a sustainable business plan,” she said. “HBCAT is a phenomenal support to small businesses in South East Kansas.”
The Hamiltons plan to use the grant money to purchase a specialty oven, designed for use in a cottage bakery setting. Their production will increase 300% by utilizing this new oven, Teri said.
They also plan to invest in printed banners to increase their advertising at local farmers markets.
These two main investments will enable The Hamilton”s Artisan Bakery to serve the Fort Scott area more efficiently and increase their ability to provide healthy, handmade breads to surrounding communities, she said
About The Hamiltons
Michael ran a few businesses in Arizona and Teri grew up in a bakery in Northern California, she said.
After moving to Fort Scott in 2020, they were inspired to put those experiences to use and started selling bread at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.
The Hamiltons quickly saw a need for healthy, handmade breads that are an alternative to those available at mainstream groceries. Because of that need, they decided “to dedicate their creativity, energy, and resources” to slowly building a bakery that could sustain itself without any debt.
They love to create “unique, delicious products that are a special addition to family tables” in their community, she said.
“We are especially excited to develop relationships with community members that they get to see weekly at the farmers markets, she said..
They can be found online at:
https://thehamiltonsbakery.
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
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KDHE Announces Recipients of Waste Tire Product Grants
45 grants distributed to recipients across Kansas
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has announced the recipients of waste tire product grants.
“These grants will help handle the costs of proper disposal of many materials scrap tires and assist many important local efforts to promote litter and waste reduction. KDHE applauds the creativity and innovation that our communities have in reusing materials that help support the mission of protecting the health and environment of all Kansans” said Janet Stanek, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The grants are funded by revenue collected through the tire excise tax, a $0.25/vehicle tire fee.
The grants totaled $522,312.25, an almost 20 percent (19.8%) increase from 2022 were awarded to 45 organizations to fund projects that include the use of recycled tire products, including playground surfacing and picnic tables.
Visit, kdhe.ks.gov/700/ for information about their projects.
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“We have been working with our electrician to have adequate service reinstalled in the building but we are having to work around other utilities that were added in the alley,” Kathy said. “As soon as we have enough electricity to operate the commercial kitchen equipment and modern HVAC, we will finish licensing and begin training staff. We will announce opening dates on our social media pages, 110SouthMain and Cohn’sCafeonMain.
Contact info
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM – 123 SOUTH MAIN ST.
March 21, 2023 – 6:00 P.M.
Roll Call:
Improvements – $12,274.30
Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion.
VII. Old Business:
Restoration, Co., Inc. – John Carrier
VIII. Appearances:
XII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
XIII. Adjournment:
Elevate Fort Scott is one of several community “movers and shakers” groups that have have organized recently to improve the quality of life in the community.
“Besides our Elevate Fort Scott group there are several other groups that are making things happen and bringing great events to Fort Scott,” said Brad Matkin, one of the organizers of Elevate Fort Scott. “Advance Bourbon County, Fort Scott Forward, and others have been working very hard to bring in events and activities for our citizens and visitors to enjoy.”
“We are not only looking for a strong 2023 but are already planning some events for 2024 we feel everyone will enjoy and be excited about,” he said.
“While talking to one of the current members, I told them I felt I wanted to get a group together that wanted to make Fort Scott a place to be and to put on events that would make us a destination place plus add more things for our citizens to do,” Brad Matkin, group member said. “Even though I am the one that thought of getting this group together it is the six other members that make Elevate Fort Scott successful, they do the leg work and put in the time to make these events a reality.”
The group is comprised of Cory Bryars, Kirk Sharp, Jackson Tough, Josh Jones, Diane Striler, Lindsay Madison, and Matkin.
They first met last year around November, he said.
“The purpose of this group is to come up with positive ways and events to help Fort Scott grow, to show visitors what Fort Scott has to offer, and to get citizens involved in the many great things Fort Scott has to offer,” he said. “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel with the events we are working on, just trying to build off the already great events Fort Scott has to offer”
“Our goal is to think of an idea, work to get it started, then hand it off to a charity organization to put it on and raise money for their cause,” Matkin said. “Our group is not generating any funding for the events and are not involved in that part of the event; we just want to help get more things going in our great town and help the charities raise money.”
Events in The Works
“This group has been working on a lot of different ideas that are still in the early stages, but I can tell you we have added a BBQ cook-off that will share Riverfront Park with the second annual Care to Share/Sharing Bucket Fall Festival and Blues Festival,” he said.
“We are also working on a newly named Christmas on the Bricks that will take place of Christmas in the Park that has been a yearly tradition for Fort Scott,” Matkin said. “Christmas on the Bricks will offer the opportunity for the uptown shops to bring out their holiday flare and stay open late for holiday shopping. We are looking at this event to flow along right with the Christmas Parade, Artificers Christmas Shoppe, and the Annual National Historic Site Candlelight Tour. Some of the things we have already planned is a movie night, a Christmas concert, carolers, chili, and much more.”
“Some of the newest things this group has brought to life is a ‘Rock-N-Roll Karaoke’ which will allow people to sing with a real band,” he said. “This will be held at Memorial Hall on June 9th. ‘Almost Kiss’ will be at Memorial Hall on November 18th. They are a cover band for the Legendary Rock band Kiss and is one of only six Kiss tribute bands that former Kiss star Gene Simmons endorses.”
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Sami Rogers, 21, started her business, The Baby Stitch, at the encouragement of her best friend, Chloe Mohn.
“I started with hairbows for my friend, Chloe, who had a baby,” Rogers said. “She suggested I start making bummies, a baby diaper cover. She said I had an eye for design.”
The only sewing she had been taught was in Fort Scott Middle School, “And it was a pillow,” she said.
She began looking on the internet.
“I got on Etsy and purchased patterns, and started on YouTube to learn the techniques of sewing,” she said.
For her business, she makes baby clothes, which include bummies, hairbows, bell bottom pants, leggings, shirts and joggers.
“I only make baby and toddler clothing, up to size 3-4 Toddler,” she said. “Everything is handmade.”
Go to her website to order: http://the-baby-stitch.myshopify.com
The Baby Stitch is also on Facebook and Instagram.
About Rogers
Rogers is a 2020 graduate of Fort Scott High School and attended Fort Scott Community College.
At age 19, while a freshman at FSCC, she started her business.
She is a recent recipient of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) grant for women, minorities or low income to start up a business, in the amount of $5,000.
“Dacia Clark was amazing to help you,” Rogers said.
Clark is Assistant Director of the Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University, with an office in the HBCAT office at 104 N National Ave, Fort Scott.
The HBCAT Phone is (620) 215-2892
“They help with a business plan, expense projection,” she said.
Rogers had applied for a grant previously, but wasn’t accepted.
“I felt defeated,” she said. “I do run a business and the grant would help me, so I reached out again. They gave pointers to improve the application.”
She applied again, and received the grant, which she plans to use on a serger sewing machine, fabric and specialty scissors to “help get the product out the door.”
The Knights of Columbus organization at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church will offer three more Friday Fish Dinners in support of the rebuilding of the church.
The church was struck by lightening in August, 2022 and and a fire ensued which destroyed the building.
March 17, March 24, and March 31 are the last three dates and will end the annual fish dinners for the year.
The dinners always precede Good Friday, which is April 7 this year.
The community is invited to the dinner, which is from 5 to 7 p.m. and is a free-will donation event.
April 22, 2023 is Earth Day.
It is also the day that the Fort Scott Kiwanis have set aside to plant 90 trees.
The trees were purchased through a grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
This year we have flowering Redbud trees and two types of shade trees, Swamp Chestnut Oak, and Water Oak.
The Kiwanis will supply and plant the tree on 4/22/23. To request a tree, call or text Craig Campbell at 620-224-0167.
Your only obligation is to water and nurture the tree.
The Fort Scott Design Review Board will meet on Monday, March 20th at 3:00PM. It will be held at City Hall and is open to the public.
