CHAMBER ANNOUNCES THE SPRING TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALE IN FORT SCOTT
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Spring Town-wide Garage Sale will be held Friday and Saturday, May 2nd and 3rd. The Chamber encourages the community to register garage sales to be included on the official listing and map and to save the date to hunt for bargains on clothing, home décor, tools, and more.
The deadline to register a garage sale is 1pm, Tuesday, April 29th which can be done online at fortscott.com/events, calling the Chamber at 620-223-3566 and paying over phone by credit or debit card, or stopping by the Chamber office at 231 E. Wall St.
The cost to register a sale is $12. The Chamber also sells display ad spaces on the map to help make the sale possible, and those are $35 for a business card-sized ad or $25 for a smaller ad.
Starting Thursday, May 1st at 10am, copies of the official garage sale map may be found at the Chamber office as well as local stores 5 Corners, Bids & Dibs, Casey’s, Don’s Smoke Shop, and all Pete’s locations. The map may also be found on the Chamber website fortscott.com or on Facebook on the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce page.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the 2025 Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration Thursday, April 24th at The River Room, 3 W. Oak St. The evening will be a “70’s Disco” themed event with a message of “We Are Family, Come Together and Celebrate Community”. All are welcome to attend as Chamber members, guests, and the community come together to recognize businesses, organizations, and individuals who contribute greatly in different ways to benefit Fort Scott and Bourbon County.
The Chamber is now accepting nominations for awards to be presented that evening. Links to both online and printable nomination forms may be found on fortscott.com on the event link. Hard copy forms may be picked up at the Chamber. Nominations are due by Thursday, April 10th.
Awards to be presented include Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, Agri-Business of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Community Spirit, and Young Professional of the Year. Additional awards to be presented include the Keystone award, selected by the Chamber Board of Directors, the Mayor’s Citizenship Award selected by the Mayor and City of Fort Scott.
The Annual Dinner is one of the primary fundraisers for the Chamber to fulfill their mission to serve members and the community, and donations of silent or live auction items would be greatly appreciated. Chamber members are also invited to decorate a table at the event in coordination with the theme which is great advertising and promotion for the business or organization. One of the fun awards presented at the event is for the best decorated table.
The Annual Dinner event will start with the social hour and silent auction at 5:30pm, followed by dinner, awards, and a live auction at 6:30pm. Reservations are $40 for individuals, and table pricing and sponsorships are available. Those wanting to attend may contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected]. by Friday, April 18th.
Downtown business owners and other interested attendees met on April 1 at the Kitchen Collective + Collaborative’s event center called The Parlour by Eighteen65, to learn about happenings in the downtown area.
The door is pictured to The Parlour by Eighteen65 which is located north of the storefront of the Kitchen Collective and Collaborative, at 20 North Main.
The Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet is facilitated by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce to share the happenings of the businesses located there.
Rachel French, co-owner and general manager of the Kitchen told the group there are cooking classes coming, including some for kids. She said there will also be pop-up restaurants coming to the venue, featuring several area restaurants.
“A pop-up restaurant is a provisional event designed to showcase … culinary talents at a temporary location. This includes everything from an exclusive one-night food event to a public rooftop food tent open for a few months,” according to
The Parlor by Eighteen65 on South Main in downtown Fort Scott is an event venue.
French said, “Think of us when you need a ready-made breakfast, lunch, or dinner.” In addition, the venue can be rented as a commercial kitchen, or an incubator kitchen, for $20 per hour for food businesses. The Kitchen is located at 12 S. Main and can be reached at 620.644.0064 or [email protected] or thekitchencc.com
Other news from the meet and greet:
As part of Fort Scott’s Community Concert Series, this Friday, April 4 there is a FREE concert at Memorial Hall featuring Ty Ellis and the Flatliners, with special guest Nathan Ast. Enjoy food from Care to Share Cancer Support Group/The Sharing Bucket, and drinks from Holmtown Pub.
Fort Scott High School’s Prom is this Saturday at the River Room above Brickstreet BBQ.
The downtown splash pad has new shade structures and a new grant-funded restroom.
Storefronts are being produced for the building under construction across from Lowell Milken Center on Main Street. The building is owned by Ward-Kraft, a local print industry.
The old J&W Sports Store at 20 N. Main has been remodeled and is rented by NextStar Energy for an office. The upstairs is being remodeled into an apartment that will be a vacation rental with a view of the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
On April 5 from 9 a.m. to noon, the Easter Bunny will be at the Bids and Dibs Consignment Store for parents to take photos with their children.
April 5 is the Home, Sport, Farm, and Garden Show at Fort Scott Community College’s Arnold Arena, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
April 9 is a Community Connection event that will provide presentations from local school districts and government entities from 11:45 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Empress Event Center.
Find the Golden Egg Shopping Event is April 18-19. Find eggs in stores and around downtown after 10 a.m. on the 19th.
The Easter Bunny will be at Hedgehog.INK, downtown, on April 19 at 10 a.m.
April 24 is the Annual Chamber Dinner and Awards Celebration at the River Room Event Center.
May 1 is the yearly downtown cleanup, facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce, with Kate Freeman as the chairperson. Submit project ideas to [email protected]
May 2-3 is the town-wide garage sale, list a sale on the map at the Chamber.
On May 13, Freeman Advantage Travel Group, Joplin, will be in town.
June 6-7 is the Good ‘Ol Days Festival in downtown Fort Scott. The parade is Friday at 6 p.m. and parade entries are being taken now by the Chamber.
June 25-27 is the Fort Scott High School All-School Reunion, Rhonda Dunn is the contact. The Chamber will be selling FSHS signs to honor alumni.
Advertising opportunities: downtown map, rack cards, and Veteran’s flag/plaque on Skutbitz Plaza.
Grants available to business owners: E-Community and Grow KS.
For more information, contact the Chamber office at 231 E Wall St, Fort Scott, KS 66701 or
The Bourbon County Coalition would like to announce that the 2025 Family Swim Pass Scholarship Applications are ready to pick up. They are located at the Beacon and Buck Run Community Center. They can be filled out and returned to either location. Any questions can be pointed to our email, bourboncountycoalition@gmail.com.
Commerce Offers Funding Opportunities for Upper Floor Housing in Main Street Communities
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today $250,000 is available under the Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) grant program to support new upper-floor housing in commercial buildings in Designated Kansas Main Street communities.
“Last year’s initial round of ROOMS funding resulted in 34 new housing units across the state and nearly $6 million in total investment,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Another year of funding allows for us to continue breathing life into communities across this state and growing economic opportunities for generations to come.”
Upper-floor investments play an important role in addressing the affordable and quality housing shortage, which regularly is identified as a major issue throughout Kansas. Upper-floor housing enhances the overall livability and functionality of downtowns. It also can lead to increased investment, improved infrastructure, a positive cycle of economic growth, a stronger tax base, and a greater sense of place and community identity.
“The Kansas Main Street program has worked to help communities build their capacity in developing upper-floor housing in downtown buildings,” Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell said. “Housing in these historic buildings downtown helps generate excitement and vitality in the area while restoring buildings to maximize their full use. ROOMS grants help these types of projects become reality.”
ROOMS funds will be available to applicants within active Designated Kansas Main Street communities for projects that can be shown to lead directly to housing creation or retention in upper floors of existing buildings in downtown areas. Projects must incorporate Main Street design standards and follow local ordinances and codes for improvements.
More details about ROOMS can be found here. For more information about the Kansas Main Street program, click here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
As high schools around the country look for ways to help students meet the two-year foreign language requirement, Fort Scott and Uniontown have come up with an innovative way to offer a new exciting option by pooling their resources to hire a new teacher for “pirate talk” classes at both highschools.
“It was really hard to find a teacher qualified to teach pirate speak,” said a school administrator who was hard to identify on this particular date. “Especially because most people who are good at speaking pirate, are usually looking for watery waves and less amber grain. But we are proud to announce that we’ve managed to procure the services of Captain Barnaby Blackwater as a teacher for the 2025 to 2026 school year.”
When asked about the compensation package offered Mr. Blackwater, the administrator seemed a big hesitant and mumbled something that sounded like “rum, doubloons, and more rum…” but it wasn’t clear exactly what they were trying to say.
Mr. Blackwater agreed to a short interview to answer some questions.
Captian Barnaby Blackwater, what convinced you to give up the high seas to come teach our high school students how to speak like a pirate?
Arrr, that be a fine question, matey! Truth be told, sailin’ the high seas be grand, but when the good folk o’ Bourbon County waved doubloons and barrels o’ their finest rum under me nose, ol’ Barnaby couldn’t resist!
Mind ye, I’m still scratchin’ me beard ’bout the notable absence o’ oceans ’round Kansas—makes sailin’ me ship, the Salty Grammar, mighty tricky—but the thought o’ teachin’ landlocked lads and lasses the sweet tongue o’ piracy warmed me black heart. And between you an’ me, I’ve a notion to recruit a few sturdy seniors to crew me ship once their diplomas be in hand! Harrr-harr-harr!
Some people say that learning pirate speak isn’t comparable to learning a foreign language and students should be required to learn more traditional languages. What do you think of those claims?
Arrrr, poppycock and bilgewater, says I! Pirate speak be as foreign as any tongue sailed across the seven seas. Why, me hearties, Pirate speak is brimmin’ with culture, tradition, and adventure—enough to put French or Spanish to shame!
Besides, when was the last time ye heard o’ French helpin’ ye find buried treasure, or Spanish teachin’ ye how to properly swing a cutlass and shout fearsome insults at yer foes, eh?
Will Pirate Speak help students get positions in the job market?
Arrr! A wise query indeed, matey! O’ course Pirate speak be useful in the job market—more useful than a parrot that can recite poetry, I’ll wager!
Think o’ the skills these young buccaneers’ll master: assertive communication (“Hand over the doubloons, ye scallywag!”), leadership (“Hoist the mainsail and ready the cannons!”), negotiation (“Five barrels o’ rum or I be walkin’ away!”), an’ teamwork (“All hands on deck, ye salty seadogs!”).
Plus, should traditional jobs fail ’em, there’s always plenty o’ room aboard me ship, the Salty Grammar. Ol’ Captain Blackwater always be lookin’ for hearty new recruits with a flair fer proper Pirate speak! Harrr-harr!
Painting of Captain Blackwater’s ship, the Salty Grammar
Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for April 1st!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Tuesday, April 1st at The Parlor by Eighteen65, adjacent to The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative,
10 S. Main St., from 8:30 to 9:30am.
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.
Students at Fort Scott High School joined the national grassroots effort called Theatre in Our Schools Month (TIOS) to advocate for the benefits of theatre education in schools in the month of March. Members of International Thespian Society (ITS) Troupe #7365 drew attention to the need for increased access to quality theatre programs for all students.
To get the word out, students participated in a number of theatre related activities. On Feb. 26 and 28 the troupe participated in community service activities at the Senior Center in downtown Fort Scott. They had a Theatre in Our Schools Month Kick-Off Party on March 4 at the Museum of Creativity. On March 6, the troupe traveled to Topeka to meet with Thespians from across the state and Senator Tim Shallenburger and Representative Rick James to celebrate and discuss Theatre Advocacy Day in KS. Troupe President Cooper George and Secretary Emi King presented to the USD 234 Board of Education on March 10.
Throughout the month, the troupe dressed to represent various musicals on Musical Mondays and wore theatre-related shirts on Theatre Shirt Tuesdays. They also had Improv Acting Troupe practice on Tuesdays after school and FSMS Drama Club on Fridays after school. All Drama class students learned about mask use in theatre and created their own masks using plaster strips molded to their own faces. Masks were on display in the Art Gallery throughout the month. Drama classes also held a Creative Costuming contest using a tote full of miscellaneous items to create a unique costume. Technical Theatre classes designed costumes for a specific character based on costuming the school has on hand in our wardrobe. To finish out the month, the troupe saw the FSCC production of “No Exit” on March 26 and held the annual FSHS Talent Show & Minute to Win It on March 28.
The ITS is the theatre honor society for middle and high school students. These Thespians plan and implement TIOS activities in their schools, in their communities, and with elected officials. The presentations and activities explain how theatre education positively shapes students’ lives by instilling necessary life skills. TIOS Month is an opportunity for students, parents, communities, school boards, and elected officials to come together to make theatre education more available to all students. One of the key messages is that theatre skills help students develop vital 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, as well as social/emotional skills critical to students’ growth as young adults.
Zoe Scott won first place in the Fort Scott High School Talent Show. Submitted photo.
The annual FSHS Talent Show and Minute to Win It was held on March 28th. The event, sponsored by FSHS Thespian Troupe #7635 and emceed by Molly Hoyt and Emma Bin, awarded cash prizes to the top three competitors.
Junior Zoe Scott won the $100 grand prize. She sang “At Last” by Etta James. Sophomore Allie Wards took second and $75 with her violin solo of “Adoration” by Felix Borowski. Third place and $50 went to junior Junie Fisher and freshman Gianna Gorman for their duet of “What is This Feeling” from Wicked.
Allie Ward won second place. Submitted photo.
A new Minute to Win It competition was held between clubs and organizations. The Minute to Win It winners were Blaiton Terry and Gracin Pitts for FFA. They win $200 sponsored by Thespians and National Speech and Debate Association toward their club or favorite charity.
Gracin Pitts and Blaiton Terry
The next Thespian event is the annual Rummage Sale to be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Apr. 18 and from 8 a.m. to noon on Apr. 19 at FSHS. Enter the school through the NW doors. Prices for the sale are a free will donation. Thespians is now accepting donations at the high school or contact Angie Bin at [email protected] or 620-719-9622 for pick up.
