Category Archives: Fort Scott

Fort Scott Kiwanis Annual Easter Egg Hunt

 

The Easter Bunny poses with some fans at the Fort Scott Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt on April 1 at Gunn Park. Submitted photo.

On April 1, the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club sponsored their annual  Easter Egg Hunt in Gunn Park.

Egg hunters begin their search at the Fort Scott Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, April 1, 2023. Submitted photos.

Kiwanis members distributed over 1,500 eggs filled with candy, prizes, and coupons from area merchants into the park in areas designated by age groups.  Approximately 75 children participated in the event.

Submitted photo.

 

The Kiwanis sponsors who donated either money, or coupon’s from their place of business are as follows:

 

Big Sugar Lumber                                              Iron Star Antiques & Such

Dairy Queen                                                      Marsha’s Deli

Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s PA                       McDonald’s

Don’s Spirits & Wines                                        Merle Humphrey Photography

Fort Cinema                                                      NuGrille

Flowers By Leanna                                            R&R Equipment

Heidrick’s True Value                                         Wal-Mart

Submitted photo.
Submitted photo.

Submitted by John Crain.

Downtowners Share Projects and Events at Chamber Meet and Greet

John Hill, President and CEO of City State Bank, speaks, as host of the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet. Hill said the bank has been in Fort Scott for 103 years and did a major remodel to its downtown branch in 2018.

Business owners and others interested in downtown Fort Scott met on April 4 at City State Bank to discuss upcoming events and projects.

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce hosted the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet, with President and CEO Lindsay Madison, leading.

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lindsay Madison leads discussion at the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet on April 4 at City State Bank.

Following are the highlights:

The Fort Scott National Historic Site Civil War Encampment is April 15-16: Army re-enactors portray different parts of the war with live music, an author talk, horse and sabre drills to name a few.

Visitor numbers are up this year at The Fort and there is a goal of 30,000 visitors this year to the site.

Upcoming Chamber events in the next few months are the Town Wide Garage Sale on May 5-6, the farmers market starts May 6 with the garden club plant sale.

There will be no downtown clean-up this year.

There will be a new mural to replace the one facing Skubitz Plaza at the north end of Main Street. The current one, the Star Emporium, will be replaced with a historical one: depicting the Kansas 1st Colored Infantry.

A multi-purpose pavilion, which will house the twice weekly farmer’s market, was presented to the city’ design review committee for approval but was tabled until an artists rendition could be presented.

A welcome arch will be put up on Wall Street near the Chamber of Commerce office.

The Christmas Parade will be November 30, with the theme: Candy Land Christmas.

Christmas on the Bricks will be the first weekend in December,  and will include classic Christmas booths/vendors, photo backdrops for families, and later hours for downtown shops. This weekend also includes the candlelight tour at Fort Scott National Historic Site and an art sale at the Artificers. This new event will replace the Christmas in the Park event. Elevate Fort Scott is organizing the new event.

Trolley tours have started back for the season: Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A back up driver is needed to give the narrated tour. Contact the Chamber.

A Community Connection Panelist luncheon was April 5  at the Empress Event Center to help distribute government and local entities’ information.

There will be a job fair April 13 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center from 3-6 p.m.

The annual Chamber Dinner and Awards Celebration will be April 20 at the River Room Event Center.

Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship event is April 5 from 5-7 p.m. at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Office. At this office is also the Small Business Development Center.

Grants available to small businesses through the Chamber: E-Community Loan and Grow Kansas.

Riggs Chiropractic is having its ribbon cutting on May 4, at a Chamber After Hours gathering.

Open Mortgage will have its ribbon cutting on May 11 along with a ribbon cutting and open house.

110 S. Main (former Scottish Rite Temple) has doubled its retail space this week. The owners are waiting on Evergy to repair the electric service to the building to open the cafe.

The Kitchen, located in the McDonald Hall building, is nearing completion and will offer retail space, four kitchen pods for rent and an outdoor eating space in back of the building when completed.

Hedgehog INK owner Jan Hedges said a visitor “was impressed with how the businesses are working together.”

The Iron Star owner Barbara Trimbur said one of her large windows was broken during the recent wind storm.

 

 

 

CHAMBER ANNUAL CELEBRATION PLANNED FOR April 20th

 The River Room Event Center is located on the second floor.

 

FORT SCOTT – The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces their 2023 Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration will take place Thursday, April 20th at the River Room Event Center, 3 W. Oak Street in Downtown Fort Scott.  The theme this year is “Let’s Get Fired Up and Celebrate Our Community!” where the event will be a fun evening of recognizing businesses, organizations, and individuals who make a great impact on Fort Scott and Bourbon County.

All are welcome to attend, and reservations can be made online at fortscott.com/events or by calling the Chamber at 620-223-3566.  The deadline for reservations is Friday, April 14th.  The evening will begin with a social hour and silent auction at 5:30pm, followed by dinner, awards, and live auction at 6:30pm.  Reservations are $40 for individuals and table pricing for a table of eight is $360.  Dinner will be catered by Brickstreet BBQ.

The Chamber is accepting businesses and organizations to decorate tables for advertising and promotion and is also accepting donations for the silent and live auctions.  Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected] by Friday, April 14th to make reservations.

 

 

Chamber Coffee hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course on April 6

 

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee this Thursday, April 6th at 8am. This week’s coffee will be hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course located at 2414 Horton St. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Fort Scott’s Woodland Hills Golf Course was named a Top 10 golf course in Kansas by Best Things Kansas and number 6 in the entire state. Woodland Hills has also been named one of the best municipal courses in Kansas. Woodland Hills is an 18-hole park-style course, winding through beautiful scenery, with elevation changes and some of the best views in Bourbon County. Come enjoy one of Southeast Kansas’s hidden treasures at the Woodland Hills Golf Course.

 

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

 

Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for April 4th!

Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for April 4th!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Tuesday, April 4th from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at City State Bank, 202 Scott Ave.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotion and anything related to downtown.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

New Windows For the Kress Building

The Kress Building houses the Pizza Republic on the first floor at 17 S. Main Street. New windows were installed into the second floor, by Coon Rentals LLC. Submitted photo.

The Kress Building, an historic building at 17 S. Main St. got new windows on the second floor both front and rear of the building last week.

“When Kim and I bought the the building there were 10 new windows uninstalled,” said Robert Coon.

The Kress is owned by Robert and Kimberly Coon, Coon Rentals LLC who are continuing the effort ” to  help revitalize the downtown area of Fort Scott,” Coon said.

Also helping in the installation was an Amish group of workers, and Dakota Garcia LLC, Coon said.

 

Robert and Kimberly Coon. Submitted photo.

Coon said a retail business will open on the second floor of the building sometime this summer.

“They were waiting for us to install the windows,” he said. “The front 2,500 feet will be retail, the back 2,500 feet will be storage for the retail space.”

 

To see a recent history of the building;

Coon Rentals Purchases 17 S. Main

 

The building known for years as the Kress Building was sold to Coon Rentals LLC in 2021.

The building housed a grocery store on the first floor for a brief period in the COVID 19 Pandemic and also a sushi restaurant for a brief period.

The second floor was an office for the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center at this time frame, organized by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, which later moved to a different location.

 

 

 

What’s Happening in Fort Scott

What’s Happening in Fort Scott!

March 30th Weekly Newsletter

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Tours: 10am & 1pm

Trolley Tours of Fort Scott

50-minute narrated historical tour

Every Friday & Saturday on the hour

Fridays 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

Saturdays 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

$6 adults, $4 12 & under, leaves from the Chamber

Click this link: The Artificers

Upcoming pottery class/workshop

schedule, something for all ages!

Click here for all the FUN activities at the

Museum of Creativity, something for all ages!

April Specials at Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, Buy 2 Get 1 Free on any Poetry, Classics,

and Performing Arts.

3/30 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site at the Fort, 8am.

3/30 ~ Bingo hosted by American Legion Post 25, doors open at 6pm, bingo starts at 7pm, concession stands available so no outside food or beverages, click here for more info.

3/31 and 4/1 ~ Home, Sport, Farm, & Garden Show, Friday 5-8pm, Saturday 9am-3pm, Arnold Arena at FSCC, 2108 S. Horton St., hosted by KOMB FM 103.9 and 98.3 FM Radio

4/1 ~ Eggstravaganza @ Buck Run Community Center, pre-k – 5th Grade, pre-register by March 30th, 9-10:30am, click here for more info.

4/1 ~ Floral Easter Basket Class at Sunshine Boutique, $25/person, 10am-12pm, click here for more info.

4/1 ~ First Saturday Story Time at Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, guest reader and an activity, 2:30pm, click here for more info.

4/1 ~ Annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt at Gunn Park Shelter house #2, starts at 11am.

4/1 ~ Star Party at the Fort Scott National Historic Site, join Park Rangers and the Kansas Astronomical Observers for a deep look into space at stars, galaxies, and nebulae, dress in layers, comfortable shoes, bring a red covering for your flashlight, 7:30-9:30pm, click here for more info.

4/4 ~ Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet at City State Bank, 202 Scott Ave, 8-9am

4/5 ~ FSHS 2023 Career Fair, Fort Scott High School Auxiliary Gym, 8am-12pm, click here for more info.

4/5 ~ Community Connection Event, public invited 11:45am to 1pm, Empress Event Center, panelist updates from City of FS, Bourbon County, USD234, USD235, BB County REDI. Click here to register & purchase lunch (if desired).

4/5 ~ Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship Event, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Office, 5:30pm

4/6 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 Horton St, 8am

4/6 ~ BINGO at Memorial Hall by the American Legion, doors open 6pm, starts 7pm

4/8 ~ Floral Easter Basket Class at Sunshine Boutique, $25/person

4/13 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by The Artificers,

8 N. National Ave, 8am

4/13 ~ JOB FAIR hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, 3-6pm, click here to register for an employer booth.

4/15 ~ America’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist Greg Morton Comedy Show, Memorial Hall, 7-10pm, click here for tickets!

4/15 ~ VFW 8 Ball Pool Tournament, Every 3rd Saturday of each month, Registration will begin at 11:00 AM, Calcutta at 12:00 Noon,

1745 S. National Ave, click here for more info.

4/15-16 ~ Civil War Encampment at Fort Scott National Historic Site National Park, this event is free and open to the public, 9am-5pm, click here for more info.

4/16 ~ Benefit Bull Team & Futurity, Bull Team Fees $1250 Fees/$1250 added Riders, Futurity Fees: $400 fees yearling/$300 fees, BJ Cattle Ranch 1353 195th St., for more information contact 573-259-1420

Save the Date!

4/20 ~ Chamber Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration, individual reservations $40 and a table of 8 $360, email or call the Chamber to make a reservation, sponsorship, and/or donation,

|click here for more info.

4/26 ~ Women’s Appreciation Luncheon at FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center, $5/per person,

11am-1:30pm, click here for more info.

5/23 ~ Spring into Summer Self-Care Fair hosted by Southeast Kansas Mental Health at Fort Scott Middle School, 5-8pm, SEKMHC is NOW requesting Vendors for this event, register here for a FREE booth.

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SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.

Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!

Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

Star Party at the Fort ~ March 29th!

Don’t Be A Fool, shop at

Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore!

April Special at Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore!

Job Fair hosted by the Chamber

April 13th, 3-6pm, employers register here!

America’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist Greg Morton!

Click here for tickets!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration!

Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center is NOW requesting vendors for their Self-Care Fair!

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema

Mental Health Self-Care Fair May 23

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member
Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center…
In celebration of Mental Health Month in May, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center is holding the 1st annual Spring into Summer Self-Care Fair on May 23 from 5 to 8 pm! We invite anyone who provides self-care products, activities, or services to participate.
Register online for a FREE booth space! (www.SEKMHC.org/selfcarefair)
We hope to provide an opportunity for participants to learn the importance of incorporating self-care into their daily routines, along with giving them limitless options for self-care in our community! This is a great opportunity to showcase your business, club, or organization to an audience eager to connect with local resources!
If you have questions, please call Vicki Wright (620-212-9391) or Dawne Burchett (620-496-8702).
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701