The Chamber Coffee for Thursday, October 31, 2019 will be hosted by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grants. The Chamber Coffee will be held at the Landmark National Bank, 200 S. Main St. Fort Scott, KS.
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation’s mission is to help our donors establish long-term charitable funds, using the most tax-advanced methods, to benefit their causes and our community.
The Chamber opens the floor and encourages members to make an announcement about their business, organization, or the community of upcoming events by donating $1.00.
If you are not a member but would like to explore and experience the community support that is developed at the weekly Chamber Coffee, you are welcome to come and talk to our Executive Director Lindsay Madison for more information. We offer member pricing from just Community supporters to Executive Business Owners and Organizations!
Susan Bancroft is the new Fort Scott Finance Director. Submitted photo.
Susan E. Bancroft, 44, started as the new City of Fort Scott Finance Director on October 9.
However, Bancroft is not new to the City of Fort Scott.
“I left the City of Fort Scott as Assistant City Manager/Finance Director to work for USD 234 as the Business Manager in 2012,” she said. “I was employed by them for three years when I realized I wanted to chase my career. I then went to work for NPC International as HCM Director in Pittsburg. NPC employs roughly 40,000 employees and is the largest franchisee for Pizza Hut and Wendy’s in the nation.”
Bancroft’s husband died this summer, which changed her life priorities.
” Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball when I lost my husband in June of 2019 in a car accident east of town,” she said. ” My life’s priorities changed and I started looking for something closer to home. I am thankful that the City of Fort Scott welcomed me back to work in the position of finance director. I have a lot of catching up to do but am very excited to be back.”
Bancroft replaces Rhonda Dunn, who resigned for a job in private industry.
Bancroft earned her bachelor of science degree from Missouri Southern State University in business administration.
Her family includes daughter, Bailie Hughes and son-in-law Victor Hughes; son- Gunnar Brown: step-daughter – Kynleah Bancroft and daughter – Allie Brown.
Sending the email below on behalf of Chamber member Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County.
Thank you for your Chamber partnership!
Greetings,
HPA in the past has had good success with our Homes for the Holidays Tour, but as of late attendance has dropped due to it being increasingly difficult to secure new houses or at least homes that have not been on the tour 4-5 times. In response to this we have decided to try something new this year.
We are proud to announce our first annual
HPA Holiday Dinner Theater!
HPA has partnered with FSCC Drama and Choir to put on an hour-long program.
This will be on Friday, December 13th beginning at 7pm at Liberty Theatre and will feature entertainment, good food and drinks. Also, a live auction of some historic memorabilia. This will be an exciting event to attend!
As this is our only fundraiser for the year we are trying get sponsors for the program. As a local business we appreciate all you do in this county and would love if you would choose to help us out on the inaugural event. We are offering several levels of sponsorship’s, Platinum $500+ Gold $200+ Silver $100+ Bronze $50+. Your tax-deductible gift will stay local and help maintain our historic presence in Bourbon County and Fort Scott. We love our history and know you all do as well.
Below is a little about what we do and who we are.
Bourbon County HPA:
The Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County, Inc. is an organization formed by citizens interested in the preservation of historic sites, display records, objects & documents of historical importance to the County of Bourbon, State of Kansas, & the United States of America.
The largest preservation project by HPA has been the purchase of the Congregational Church at 5th & National Ave. The church is the meeting place of HPA, but also is the venue for weddings, musicals, programs, and has been leased for church services.
HPA has been involved in storefront grants, walking tour grants, pocket museums, Homes for the Holidays tours & celebrations, moving the MK&T freight house from the floodplain, stabilizing the roof of the Union Block building, sponsorship of the FSHS Jr. History Club, published/promoted several books on Fort Scott and Bourbon County and helped to sell them, established a Facebook page to promote interest in local history, and in general has tried to instill interest in history that we live around every day! HPA at one time had a museum, finances and logistics now don’t favor that, but we try to display some of our artifacts at the Bourbon County Courthouse and businesses so the public may enjoy them.
This is part of a series that highlights young entrepreneurs, under 30 years of age, in Bourbon County. If you would like to nominate a young entrepreneur, submit to [email protected] the name and email/phone number of the person, along with why you are nominating them and your name.
Taylor Qualls, 22, is the owner of her own business, Hazel Bee Ink.
” I create customized gifts and hand-lettered products,” Qualls said. “I have also created wedding invitations, signs, and decor. I have made a little bit of everything. I mostly do calligraphy, but I also make custom dip mugs and coasters, pet portraits, home illustrations, and wall signs. I have also made wedding invitations and I address envelopes! “
Qualls is currently attending Pittsburg State University and will complete her bachelor of music education with an emphasis in vocal music in December 2020. She and her husband are living in Pittsburg. She is from Fort Scott and graduated with an associate of arts from Fort Scott Community College in 2016.
“I have always been one of those people who doodled in their notebooks,” Qualls said. ” During the summer, I would change my handwriting, and then practice it over and over again until it became muscle memory just because I thought it was fun.”
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
Her first job using her penchant for drawing was for a friend.
“My first hand-lettering job was for a friend, Kristian Brennon’s, wedding,” she said. “After that, I got married and ended up making all of the signs, wedding party gifts, bouquets, programs, and centerpieces for my own wedding.”
“I honestly didn’t plan on pursuing it until my husband, family, and friends began encouraging me to,” Qualls said.
In January 2019, another young entrepreneur, Delynn Abati. asked her to make a cake topper for a customer of hers. She is a local Fort Scott baker.
“Then she asked me to make a couple more,” she said. ” One day, she asked me if I had a business name so that she could tag my page in it. That’s when I finally decided to go for it.”
Eight months later, the business has grown “beyond my wildest expectations,” she said.
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
“I used to dream about having my own business one day, and now it’s a reality. I am so thankful for all of the support and encouragement I have received from my people on this wild journey of mine. I would list them out, but there really are so many important people that helped me create Hazel Bee Ink.”
Qualls has no employees, “but my husband, friends, and family have helped me out tremendously!”
Qualls is expanding her business to retail.
“I recently started selling products at a store in Pittsburg named Sonder & Co. and it has been such a blast,” she said. ” If you haven’t heard of them, I would highly recommend looking them up. I have started looking into opening an Etsy store and I will hopefully be setting up booths at some craft shows and festivals in 2020!”
Her family consists of her husband, Levi Qualls and their pup, Hazel.
Her extended family include her parents-Travis and Tina Schilling,
grandparents-Dale and Donna Schilling, Ed and Ladonna Cox and her in-laws, Rex and Michelle Qualls.
A portrait of her dog, Hazel. Submitted.
Qualls was recommended by Kasey Eaton.
“She did a cake topper for my daughters graduation cake,” said Eaton. “She is very talented and artistic.”
announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at
11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:30 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main, facepainting by Fort Scott High School thespians, and fun music by local DJ,
The Hull Experience.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza.
Any businesses or organizations in the community, not located along Main Street, are welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk also providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids.
Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free hot dog lunch will be served to kids in costumes.
Special thanks to donors 5 Corners Mini Mart, Bids & Dibs, The Hull Experience, FSHS PRIDE & Thespians, Walgreens, and all participating organizations and merchants offering treats.
The Chamber would also like to recognize the parade committee Darcy Smith, Chair, Crystal Mason, Vonnie Rickerson, and Angela Simon.
For more information contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
The Beacon announces the Adopt-A-Child and Elk Christmas Baskets sign up it Nov. 5, 6, 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Beacon, 525 E. 6th St. Ft. Scott, Ks.
Also, Tuesday, November 12, 2019, from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Bring your Beacon Card to sign up.
If you don’t have a Beacon Card
*We will need Picture ID for all adults in the household.
*Social Security card for all in household
*Proof of Bourbon Co. residency
*Proof of Income
* If you receive any service from DCF must sign a release for verification
Main Street Gallery and Gifts owners, from left Julie McClellan, Josh McClellan and Rechelle McClellan. Submitted photo.
The owners of Main Street Gallery & Gifts, 23 South Main, have taken the for sale sign out of the window.
Main Street Gallery and Gifts.
Although there has been a for sale sign in the business window for several months, the McClellan’s changed their minds.
“We took the building off the market,” Josh McClellan, one of the owners said. “I had it brought up to me that ‘Why would any more vendors come rent space if I was not investing my time into them?’ We decided to not sell it. We decided to have my wife come full time to assist with the store to help manage everything.”
Home decorations are sold at Main Street Gallery.
Owners of the business are Josh, and his wife, Rechelle, and Josh’s mother, Julie McClellan. They sell home décor, flea market items, custom picture framing, and brew supplies. They have been in business since October 1st, 2000.
“We are wanting to expand the flea market with more booth spaces,” Josh said. “In order to do so, my wife, Rechelle McClellan, will be there to help vendors and buyers, so my mother, Julie, can focus on her upholstery business. Rechelle started full time on October 19.
Booth spaces have been in the lower level of the building and now they are extending the flea market booths to the first level.
The homebrew supplies section of the shop in on the first level.Booth rentals fill the lower level of the shop.
Booth Rental
The McClellan’s are taking names and phone numbers for a booth rental waiting list.
Booth space prices are as follows:
Lower Level 4X4 feet=$20.00
Lower Level 4X8 feet=$35.00
(Expanding on the main level)
Main Level 4X4 feet=$40.00
Main Level 4X8 feet=$70.00
“We take a 10% consignment fee. This fee pays for loading items, bags, credit card fees, etc.” Josh said.
Penny Vote Contest
“Main Street Gallery and Gifts will be doing a penny vote contest with our three (Main Street) windows,” Rechelle said. ” I have four vendors decorating the north and south windows. The money we raise will be donated to The Sharing Bucket. Please feel free to spread the news. Penny votes start the first Christmas open house downtown.”
“We will have mason jars that people can put pennies, dollars, etc. in, and whoever that has the most money wins,” she said.
“We are very excited about what the future holds for our business,” Josh said. “We are here to help the people and visitors of Fort Scott. We have something for everyone through all of our vendors. We couldn’t do it without all of them. We appreciate all the past, present, and future vendors of Main Street Gallery and Gifts.”
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:30 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main, face painting by Fort Scott High School thespians, and fun music by local DJ, The Hull Experience.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses or organizations in the community, not located along Main Street, are welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk also providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free hot dog lunch will be served to kids in costumes.
Special thanks to donors 5 Corners Mini Mart, Bids & Dibs, The Hull Experience, FSHS PRIDE & Thespians, Walgreens, and all participating organizations and merchants offering treats. The Chamber would also like to recognize the parade committee Darcy Smith, Chair; Crystal Mason; Vonnie Rickerson; and Angela Simon.
For more information contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
