The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces participating retailers that will be offering a shopping promotion to celebrate Kansas Day on Saturday, January 29th. Patrons wearing apparel with Kansas or a sunflower will receive 10% off their purchase. Participating stores will have a Kansas Day poster in their place of business.
Kansas Day commemorates The Sunflower State being the 34th state to enter the Union in 1861. The Chamber encourages shoppers to celebrate Kansas Day and thank a local store owner for doing business in our great state.
In addition to this local shopping promotion organized by the Chamber, Kansas Tourism invites Kansans to Give a Toast to the Sunflower State on Kansas Day and post their own tribute to the 34th state to social media using the hashtag #ToTheStarsKS Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, January 27th at 8 a.m. hosted by Friends of Fort Scott NHS.
It will be held at First United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 301 S National Ave. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s mission is to be a friend of the National Historic Site and their primary purpose is to support the National Historic Site in a partnership through activities that may include fundraising, volunteerism, education, advocacy and research. To do that they need to raise funds and they raise funds through their Flag Subscription Program.
They are kicking off their 2022 Flag Subscription Program in January.
For the last three years, they have put a full size flag in front of the homes of subscribers for the 5 flag holidays — Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veteran’s Day.
Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2022 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
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In a continuing effort by Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott leadership to combine services, the city’s tourism department will come under the Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.
Jackson Tough, the City of Fort Scott’s Tourism Director moved his office into the Bourbon County REDI office at Landmark Bank today.
“The city commission voted, this month, to move their tourism (department) over to Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.,” Rob Harrington, REDI director said. “Jackson Tough will remain a city employee.”
Funding Is From Bed Tax
The city’s tourism department is funded through a Transient Guest Tax, Harrington said. “Any money left from the transient guest tax, after the administrative stuff, payroll, FICA, and any incumbrances…will come to REDI for marketing.”
The transient guest tax, commonly known as the “bed tax,” is imposed by a city or county on transient guests of hotels, motels, and tourist courts, according to 2006-022 | 9/1/2006 | Kansas Attorney General Opinion (washburnlaw.edu) The purpose of the tax is to provide revenue “to promote tourism and conventions.”
“Convention and tourism promotion,” is defined as follows, according to the website:
“‘Convention and tourism promotion’ means: (1) Activities to attract visitors into the community through marketing efforts, including advertising, directed to at least one of the five basic convention and tourism market segments consisting of group tours, pleasure travelers, association meetings and conventions, trade shows and corporate meetings and travel; and (2) support of those activities and organizations which encourage increased lodging facility occupancy.”
The guest tax has been in force in Fort Scott since Jan. 1, 2014 and is 6 percent, according to Transient Guest Tax Rates and Filers (ksrevenue.gov)
REDI To Provide Oversight
“I’ll oversee the funds to see they are being used appropriately, for what they are supposed to be,” Harrington said.
“Tourism will be under REDI jurisdiction, we’ll be responsible for tourism marketing,” he said. ”
The city and county officials have been working together in economic development, finance management, and human resource services, in recent years, to share resources. Tourism will now be a shared service.
Then In March 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic hit.
The Fort Scott High School Homecoming King and Queen will be announced Friday night between the Lady Tiger Varsity and Boys Varsity games.
Saturday night is Winter Formal!
The dance will be held at the high school auxiliary gym, from 7:30 until 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Mitch Barker will be taking pictures.
Submitted by Bert Lewis, Fort Scott High School Student Council Sponsor, Senior & Junior Class Sponsor, Key Club Sponsor, Ed Rising Sponsor, and Scholars’ Bowl Coach
Based on building COVID positive rates, the high school, middle school, and Eugene Ware will need to continue to wear masks on Monday, January 24. Winfield Scott and the preschool do not need to wear masks starting Monday, January 24. Also shown below is the student absenteeism % for this week.
| Building | Student Absenteeism %
1/18/2022 |
Student Absenteeism %
1/19/2022 |
Student Absenteeism %
1/20/2022 |
Student Absenteeism %
1/21/2022 |
COVID Positive %
1/21/2022 |
| FSHS | 20% | 25% | 22% | 23% | 3.63% |
| FSMS | 22% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 2.25% |
| Eugene Ware | 22% | 25% | 24% | 21% | 4.26% |
| Winfield Scott | 15% | 19% | 21% | 20% | 1.09% |
| Preschool | 17% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 0.0% |
Today, January 21, the district had a total of 4 staff out because they are COVID positive and 3 staff in quarantine.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 @ 9am to Noon the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Presents the Chamber Networking Workshop: How to Build Professional Relationships by Tammy Wellbrock.
Join us at Empress Event Center located at 7 N. Main St., Fort Scott, KS on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 9 am until 12 pm. to take advantage of this workshop.
From her days of selling advertising for the newspaper industry, increasing alumni memberships at her alma mater, creating customer networks in the telecommunications industry, or teaching for FHSU, Tammy Wellbrock is passionate about connecting, enlightening, and empowering others. Tammy served 8 years as the President/CEO for the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce. Under her direction, the Chamber was a 2013 ACCE Finalist for Chamber of the Year.
In 2019, Tammy launched her professional training and coaching business, Girl Twin Solutions, LLC, which focuses on Women and Leadership. Another aspect of her business includes serving as Interim President/CEO’s for several different positions over the years, including Fort Hays State University Alumni Association, Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce and Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys the challenge of leading organizations through transformational change.
This workshop begins with the philosophy that all people have unique value to offer others as well as a foundation of skills and successes. Being able to present yourself in an authentic, genuine, and engaging manner is the most effective tool for professional networking and building relationships.
The objectives of this workshop are Networking with Purpose and Intentionality, Develop Stronger Communication, and Strategically Build & Maintain a Personal Network.
This workshop is for anyone wanting to increase their social impact and reach.
Contact the Chamber for more information about this event at 620-223-3566
A press release from Union State Bank
Residents and customers are asked to please join Union State Bank as they wish Sheila Rygmyr all the best as she retires from Union State Bank.
Sheila has worked at USB since October of 2003.
She has done nearly everything on the deposit operations side and served most recently as the New Accounts Representative in Fort Scott.
Union State Bank will hold a reception honoring Sheila on Wednesday, January 26, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at the Fort Scott Union State Bank, 1009 S. Clark location.
Refreshments will be served.
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The Meet and Greet with Kelley Zellner, City Manager, and the five (5) City Commissioners to be held on Thursday, January 20th, 2022, has been canceled.
There will be a Meet and Greet event with Kelley Zellner, the new City Manager, and the five city commissioners held on Thursday, January 20th, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the lobby area of The Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, located at 2108 S. Horton Street.
Even though a majority of commissioners may be present, no city business will be conducted.
