Category Archives: Fort Scott

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

FS Chamber: Working to Provide Opportunities for the Community

Leave a comment
Lindsay Madison is the executive director of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Submitted photo.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce staff have been working to provide educational, financial, and marketing opportunities for businesses.

Kansas Main Street

At the Feb. 20 Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet at the Courtland Hotel, President and CEO Lindsay Madison said that the City of Fort Scott passed a resolution to apply for Kansas Main Street. The Kansas Main Street Program is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts. Currently, Fort Scott is listed as an affiliate. She is waiting for the new Kansas Department of Commerce/Kansas Main Street training. This training is provided to equip participants with knowledge, skills, and strategies to effectively engage with decision-makers and drive meaningful change, according to information she passed out.

Legislators In Town at Chamber Coffee on Saturday

This Saturday, February 28, the Chamber is having a Capitol Update over coffee with Kansas legislators, which will be held at the Kansas Renewal Institute, at 401 Woodland Hills. It will be in the McAuley Center from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The public is invited.

Guests should enter through the main east doors; the meeting room is located down the hallway on the right.  KRI will sponsor coffee and light refreshments provided by Common Ground Coffee Co.  Tours of the KRI facility will be offered immediately following the event. according to a press release.

Kansas Senator Tim Shallenburger and State Representative Rick James are confirmed to attend.  The legislators will provide an update on the current legislative session, share information about the committees on which they serve, and address questions and issues presented by attendees.  Bryan Holt will serve as moderator for the event, according to the release.

Other items from the meet and greet meeting:

A Destination Creation course will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2  p.m. on Monday, April 13. This one-day course will help towns to work towards becoming a tourist destination. The cost is $50, including lunch. Contact the Chamber at 620.223.3566.

There are two upcoming business builder workshops: March 10 at 1.30 p.m. for creating a smarter social media strategy for small businesses, and March 31 at 1.30 p.m. for Google Business 101.

For more opportunities http://www.score.org/kansascity/local-workshops

There is a Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks state-wide leadership training on March 7 at the River Room, with approximately 100-150 people attending.

The Fort Scott Community College Rodeo is March 13-15.

The 2026 Schedule of Events, a community guide, is almost complete. There will be 10,000 copies available for distribution.

The Fort Scott Downtown Clean-up will be in April or May, with Craig Campbell leading. The Elks have provided a grant for clean-up supplies for the event. Businesses are requested to send notices of clean-up needs to the Chamber.

Grants Available

An E-Community Grant is available at .networkkansas.com   Grants are for $5,000 to $50,000 at 6% for 10 years.

Grow KS maximum grant for $100,000 at 4% for five years and 6% for 10 years.

There are technical assistance grants available for up to $1,000 to current loan participants.

The next Meet and Greet is Tuesday, May 5 from 8-9 a.m. at City State Bank.

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College

Showcase Your Business at FSCC’s Annual Women’s Luncheon on March 26

Leave a comment

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Fort Scott Community College

Calling all Vendors!

FSCC’s Annual

Women’s Luncheon

Wednesday, March 26th

10am-2pm

Ellis Fine Arts Building

2108 Horton St.

This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to the community, network with other local entrepreneurs, and enjoy a day dedicated to empowerment and connection.

Vendor perks:

Free Lunch

(pasta bar for lunch)

8ft table provided

Reserve your vendor table by March 9th!

Email: [email protected]

Call: 620.223.2700 x4600

Don’t wait—spaces are limited!

Attendees can look forward to a day of presentations, giveaways, and community engagement.

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
Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
Constant Contact
Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Downtown Meet/Greet Feb. 20: Changes in Downtown

Leave a comment

Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Director, led the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet on Feb.20. at the Courtland Hotel and Spa and told of changes happening in the historic district.

The former After Effect Beauty Salon, 14 E. Wall, will be a leather business in the future, she said.

Better in Bourbon Boutique on Main Street will be moving to the former H & H Insurance/Real Estate, 2 Old Fort Bvd. Rachel Pruitt is the owner. The timeline is uncertain at this point, Pruitt said.

Merle Humphrey has retired from his insurance business, but will still operate his photography business from the back of the store. He is also updating the second floor for another business project. The storefront will be available to rent.

Merle Humphrey’s storefront at 5 N. Main.

Barbara Trimbur, owner of the Iron Star Antiques and Such Store, closed and sold the store to new owners this month. This store is 3 N. Main, Fort Scott.

Barbara Trimbur recently sold the Iron Star Antiques and Such Store at 3 N. Main.
Better in Bourbon is located at 13 N. Main.

The subject of “unhomed people” was discussed among the group.

“The city is meeting with the unhomed people,” Rachel Carpenter, Human Relations/Project Coordinator for the City of Fort Scott said. “They are moving out of the gazebo area.” The Heritage Park Gazebo is located at First and Main Street.

“The unhomed have been hanging laundry on a line, taking ownership of the spot,” Madison said.

Some clothing and food were left at the Heritage Park Gazebo in downtown Fort Scott on February 20.

John Hill, a meeting participant, noted that there is currently a “car blocked up on bricks” in the parking lot of the gazebo.”

A car with one wheel missing was parked at the Heritage Park parking lot at 1st and Main.

Carpenter said “It is a work in progress,” indicating that the city is working to resolve the issue.

Carpenter also said there is a prospective buyer of the former Fort Scott Barber Shop building, 118 E. Wall. The building has been vacant for an extended time.

The Fort Scott Barber Shop building, the tall red brick one, is empty in this 2024 photo.

The Moody Building at 2nd and Main Street has a person interested in purchasing it, she said. The building has been deteriorating for several years.

The Moody Building, 2nd and Main Street, Fort Scott.

Madison reminded the group that a Civil War Encampment is scheduled for April at the Fort Scott National Historic Site, at the north end of Main Street.

The Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site has a flag pole subscription as a fundraiser currently. They will set up a flag at your site on special occasions during the year.   To learn more about the event, here is a prior announcement: Civil War Encampment April 27-28 at FSNHS

Carpenter said the World Cup soccer matches will be in Kansas City in June and July (six matches) this year, and http://VisitKC.com is doing all the marketing for the Kansas City region. Fort Scott Tourism is making plans for visitors to come by bus for a day trip. The event is listed on TripAdvisor, she said.

The  Fort Scott Dragoons Baseball Team, a new collegiate summer team in the Mid-America League, will have its first season at the LaRoche Baseball Stadium this year. Volunteer hosts are needed for the men.

Dragoons Baseball from Facebook.

Christmas on the Bricks, the winter festival in Fort Scott has monthly meetings with local organizer, Diane Striler, leading.

“We need more people to help,” she told the attendees. “Put and take down” some of the temporary buildings for the event. We are hoping to add next year that clubs will help with the skating rink staffing and get a percentage of the profits. Maybe we could start having the rink open from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day.”https://fortscott.com/christmas-on-the-bricks

The Glide is a synthetic ice skating rink that is located at the Gathering Pavilion on North National Avenue in the 2024 photo.

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Wall and Main Street,  is bringing a large dinosaur exhibition celebrating a paleontologist in the near future.

The Artificers Art Gallery is having a textile show through the end of March at the shop on North National Avenue.

The Courtland Hotel Dining Room was the location of the Downtown Meet and Greet on Feb. 20

The hotel owners, Frank and Cheryl Adamson, purchased the historic property at 121 E. First Street in 2004.  He said many people who stay at their hotel “praise what’s going on in our downtown.”

People have been purchasing historic buildings and renovating them into new businesses.

“Many people don’t realize the diversity of restaurants the downtown has to offer,” Frank Adamson said. The attendees tallied the total of restaurants to be 11 in the downtown district.

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Performs Clue (High School Edition) on March 5-7

Leave a comment

Fort Scott High School Performs Clue (H.S. Edition)

 

Fort Scott High School performs the play Clue (H.S. Edition) at 7 p.m. on March 5-7 in the FSHS Auditorium.

 

“It’s a dark and stormy night, and we’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well, dead. So whodunit? Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep the audience guessing until the final twist,” according to Concord Theatricals.

 

The show features seniors Levi Fairchild as Wadsworth the butler, Sypher Cannon as Mrs. White, and Grace Walker as Miss Scarlet; juniors Landon Hill as Professor Plum and Ava Johnson as Mrs. Peacock; and sophomores Theodore Bowman as Mr. Green, Gianna Gorman as Yvette the maid, and Tray Maloun as Colonel Mustard.

 

Clue is adapted from the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and written by Sandy Rustin, with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price. Parental guidance is suggested as the play includes simulated use of weapons and smoking.

 

Tickets are reserved seating and are $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Tickets are available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

 

Clue (H.S. Edition) is directed by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with Mesa Jones as Assistant Director and Jericho Jones as Sound Designer.

# # #

Business, Fort Scott

Barb Trimbur Closes The Iron Star Store in Downtown Fort Scott

Leave a comment

 

Barbara Trimbur.

Barbara Trimbur is a “hunter and gatherer” at heart, she said.

In 1996 she started a flea market vendor booth at this building. She began renting more booths and gathering items to sell. Eventually, she “took over the back room” of the flea market,” she said.

“Yvonne Beck owned the store and I mentioned that if she ever got tired of doing this, I was interested,” Trimbur said.  That was in November 2003.

“The first year Cindy Bowman (another vendor) and I did an open house around the holidays,” she said.

The store next door, Corner of Time,  became available to rent when Cathy Reed and her husband left.  She started expanding and moved into that store.

In 2014, the building owner, Steve McGinnis, was interested in selling the store, so Trimbur purchased the whole building at 3 North Main Street in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown District.

The store, The Iron Star Antiques and Such, was an anchor in the downtown for these decades.

On February 13, 2026 she closed her doors.

A young couple has purchased the building and her inventory.

“I just had to move out a few things,” she said.

“It’s been a very emotional transaction for me,” she said. “I had no idea how people really felt about us.”

“The store was a place where people could decompress. We tried to treat everybody with respect, whether they spent $5 or $500.”

Trimbur had two consigners at the store, people who brought items in to be sold: Karen Mix and Cathy Thomas.

The challenge through the years has been “to win over ‘Where are we going to put that?’  But, some of the grumpy men became our best friends.” Many customers became friends over the years, she said.

The best part of the job was helping people create a warm space

“The building needed to be taken over by somebody younger with visions for it,” she said. “It’s time to let go. Maybe I’ll do a little traveling.”

“I’ll have a booth here and there and continue hunting and gathering antiques and decor things that bring joy.”

Trimbur would like to thank Fort Scott and the surrounding area for “Making us feel so appreciated. We had about 1/3 of our customers that came from Nevada (MO) and Pittsburg. We are lucky to have such a pretty downtown.”

The Iron Star, north Main, September 2018.
A view of the interior of The Iron Star, 3 N. Main in 2019.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Sports, Youth

FSHS Wrestling Program Is Seeking Sponsors

Leave a comment
Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Fort Scott High School

Tiger Wrestling Teams
The Fort Scott Tiger Boys and Girls Wrestling teams are reaching out because they need your help!

It has been an exciting season filled with hard work, dedication, and Tiger pride, and now the teams are pushing to finish strong as they prepare for the State Wrestling Championships.

Your business can be part of that journey!

A $100 minimum sponsorship secures your business’s place on the official FS Tiger Wrestling sponsorship poster.

Any additional contribution goes directly toward making the end of the season even more special for our athletes – supporting their hard work, their dedication, and the pride they feel representing our community.

As a thank-you for your generous support, your business will receive:

✅ A sponsorship poster featuring the 2 teams group photo

✅ All sponsors listed on the poster alongside the teams

✅ A keepsake you can proudly hang in your office, storefront, or building to show you are a proud supporter of Tiger Wrestling and our local student-athletes!

This sponsorship promotes your business while supporting our local athletes as they finish the season strong and celebrate meaningful final moments with teammates, families, and seniors. #TigerPride

Important Dates:

📅 Sponsor contribution due by: February 25

📅 Tiger State Wrestling State Tournament in Salina: February 27–28th!

(Stay tuned for updates on live feed and streaming opportunities if available. You can watch the state tournament on www.flowrestling.org – but this will require a subscription purchase.)

Below is a sample of what the sponsorship poster will look like. Each space on the poster will display a sponsor’s logo or advertisement. The size of each logo, as well as the total number featured, will be determined by the final number of sponsors.

TO SPONSOR:

Cash or Check

Make Checks Payable to FSHS Booster Club

(if you need to use Venmo or CashApp

please reach out, and we can make arrangements.)

💵 Drop off/mail payment to:

Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.

Attn: Leslie Godden (Tiger Wrestling Booster Parent)

 

📧 Send business/company logos

(high-resolution image preferred)

and your contact information by replying directly to this email, or [email protected]

 

 

📞 Questions?

Contact Leslie Godden at the Chamber of Commerce

or on her cell at 620-644-8050

Thank you for supporting our Tigers! 🐯

GO BIG RED!

Click HERE to visit

Fort Scott Tiger Wrestling Facebook Page!

Click HERE to visit

Fort Scott High School Facebook Page!

Click HERE to visit

Fort Scott High School 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
Facebook  X  Instagram
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
Constant Contact
Business, Fort Scott

Collapse Of West Wall of Holmtown Caused An Electrical Fire

Leave a comment

 

The front of Holmtown Pub on Feb. 17. The building’s west side collapsed, which caused an electrical fire.

The west wall of Holmtown Pub, 206 North National Avenue, Fort Scott, collapsed on Feb. 13 and that event caused an electrical fire.

“To be clear, there was no major fire on the property,” said Fort Scott Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Miles.  “As you can see from the pictures shown on our Facebook page, it was an electrical fire caused by the collapse.  The building’s far west wall of the two-story structure failed and collapsed.  When that happened, it sheared off the entire electrical panel to the building, leaving behind the incoming electric lines.  Those began arcing and caused the wiring to catch fire.  So it was not a fire that caused the collapse, or was there a major fire”.
It is unknown why the wall collapsed, Miles said.
The damage inside of Holmtown Pub as a result of the wall collapse. Taken from the Fort Scott Fire Department Facebook page.
“Occupants of the building said there was flickering of lights, then a full loss of power, so they went to investigate. They found that the entire wall had collapsed, and they called 911.”
“When I arrived on scene, the building had no electricity and I advised all occupants to exit the building.   I investigated the area of collapse and found the fire beginning in the collapse area.  Fire crews arrived on scene, and we were able to extinguish the fire with an extinguisher off the truck.”
“Crews taped off the area and determined the building was unsafe due to the structural integrity and the electrical system being severely damaged.  We contacted Evergy and Kansas Gas to disconnect services from the building.”

“Fort Scott Fire was the only responding unit. The Fort Scott Police Department did respond for traffic control.”

The view at the back of Holmtown Pub on Feb. 17, following the wall collapse.
“It (the damage) is severe, and the extent of it would need to be determined by a structural engineer and insurance,” Miles said.
From The Owner Team

“The wall on the northwest section of the building collapsed, causing a small electrical fire,” said co-owner James Wood.

” Patrons and team members were in the building at the time for our normal operations. The damage was not anywhere near our operations area, and thankfully, no one was injured.”

“We don’t believe it will be a total loss.  We are working with insurance to determine coverage and plan for securing the remaining building and hopefully repairs,” Wood said.

The business has been at 206 N. National Ave. for 19 years.

The ownership team is Charles and Kristy Holmes, and James and Kristal Wood.

The short-term plans are to secure the building and work on a plan, with hopes of reopening as soon as possible, he said.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Government

Capitol Update Over Coffee Saturday Feb. 28 at KRI

Leave a comment
Join us for a

Capitol Update Over Coffee
Saturday, February 28th

9am-10am

Kansas Renewal Institute

in the McAuley Center

401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

Guests should enter through the main east doors; the meeting room is located down the hallway on the right.

We hope to see you there!

Chamber members and the community are invited to attend a Capitol Update Over Coffee hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, February 28th, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

The event will take place at Kansas Renewal Institute (KRI), 401 Woodland Hills Blvd., in the McAuley Center. Guests should enter through the main east doors; the meeting room is located down the hallway on the right. KRI will sponsor coffee and light refreshments provided by Common Ground Coffee Co. Tours of the KRI facility will be offered immediately following the event.

Kansas Senator Tim Shallenburger and State Representative Rick James are confirmed to attend. The legislators will provide an update on the current legislative session, share information about the committees on which they serve, and address questions and issues presented by attendees. Bryan Holt will serve as moderator for the event.

Events such as this reflect the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to supporting commerce, building community, and promoting spirit throughout Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and the surrounding area.

For more information, please contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566.

Click HERE to visit

Kansas Renewal Institutes Facebook Page!

Click HERE to visit

Kansas Renewal Institutes 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
Facebook  X  Instagram
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Unsubscribe | Update Profile
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Presbyterian Church Hosts Chamber Coffee on Feb. 19

Leave a comment
Join us for Chamber Coffee

hosted by

First Presbyterian Church
Thursday, February 19th

8am

First Presbyterian Church

308 S. Crawford St.

(in Zimmerman Hall)

We hope to see you there!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend a Chamber Coffee on Thursday, February 19th at 8am, hosted by First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford St., in Zimmerman Hall. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.

This Chamber Coffee event, held the day after Ash Wednesday, will include a presentation of the nondenominational Lenten devotional the church will use throughout Lent, as well as a first look at the church’s Lenten prayer stations and indoor labyrinth. The prayer stations will be open to the public on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the Lenten season. The congregation looks forward to welcoming the community.

For more information, please contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations.

Click HERE to visit

First Presbyterian Church

Facebook Page!

Click HERE to visit

First Presbyterian Church 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
Facebook  X  Instagram
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Meet and Greet on February 20

Leave a comment

Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for February 20th!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to attend a Downtown Meet & Greet on Friday, February 20th from 8:30–9:30 a.m.

The event will be held at the Courtland Hotel & Spa, 121 E. 1st Street.

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
Business, Fort Scott

New Auto Repair Business Opens in Fort Scott

Leave a comment
Dakota Rusk. Submitted photo.
Noah Terry  and Dakota Rusk are the owners of a new car maintenance business.
G3 Auto Repair, is located at 1131 227th, Fort Scott, on the east side of town by the Fort Scott Middle School.
Terry and Rusk perform simple auto maintenance to major overhauls “and everything in-between,” said Terry.
“We also do tires, we can even balance them, and we offer detailing services.”
(620) 240- 9343
The business will have a grand opening on February 28, 2026. They are currenlty accepting job inquiries now, Terry said.
Dakota Rusk is the technician and has experience from working at Briggs Auto. Terry is the CEO, he said.
Why start an auto repair business?
“The reasons are twofold,” Terry said.  “We want to first and foremost honor God with our work. We devote all things to Him, and our business is a part of that.”
“Secondly, we see this as an opportunity to serve our community; we want to offer a professional service to Fort Scott. We want to build up the place we call home, and providing excellent and honest service is one of many ways we can contribute to that mission.”
Terry said their goals are simple:
“Over communicate. Under promise.
 and over deliver.”
To learn more: 620.240.9343 or
Noah Terry, right, and Dakota Rusk, left, are the owners of the G3 Auto Repair. Submitted photo.