The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce sponsored a quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet on Oct. 2, during which attendees shared information about upcoming community events.
Frank Adamson, owner of the Courtland Hotel and Spa, hosted the event and said that he and his wife, Cheryl, have owned the building for 20 years this year. He commended all the owners of the downtown historic district for the revitalization that is going on.
“Look around, it’s amazing,” he said.
Comments from other attendees:
- Fort Scott Tourism Director Jackson Tough listed all the avenues he is taking to get Fort Scott’s many assets to the public in surrounding areas. In addition, The Kansas Museum Association Conference will be coming in a few weeks, The Military Preservation Convoy toured the town on Oct. 13-14. His office is once again in the Chamber office, 231 E. Wall St.
- Diane Striler, the event organizer, spoke of the 2nd Annual Christmas on the Bricks, the first weekend in December. Fundraising for the new skating rink has started in the community and another addition will be costumed Christmas characters walking around the festivities. This year there will be a big Christmas tree near the First Colored Infantry mural on Skubitz Plaza. Volunteers of all kinds are needed for the event. She is looking for a business to provide free gift wrapping for the festival shoppers.
- Fort Scott National Historic Site Supervisor Jill Jaworski said that two new employees have been hired and the fort will be open full-time within two weeks. She thanked the community for supporting the recent Naturalization Ceremony conducted at the fort, with over 1,000 visitors that day. The Dragoon Barracks is being renovated and the fort is preparing for the annual Candlelight Tour, the first weekend in December. Tickets will go on sale for this event in the 1st part of November.
- Mary Wyatt, Fort Scott Community Development, said the city is “putting together a housing committee to do a housing needs study.” She is also working on a mini-golf project for the community, looking at updating the city’s comprehensive plan and introduced the new Housing and Community Development Coordinator, Lisa Dillon. Dillon told the group of some ideas she has for the position.
- Kari West, spokesperson for Evergy, the electric company, said there is a Kansas Business Energy Program available.
- Bailey Lyons, a spokesperson for the splash pad that was opened this summer, told the group that in this off-season they are putting up shade structures, building an ADA bathroom and installing a new sprinkler system for the landscape around the facility.
- Kathy Dancer, whose building at 110 S. Main, houses a cafe, retail store, and bar is undergoing facade renovation. The bar, called The Green Lantern, added a murder mystery dinner and was sold out for that, but will offer another in the spring, she said. The bar, which they call a speakeasy, is open on Friday and Saturday nights and can also be booked for special events. The distilling of bourbon should be operational by the end of this year, with bourbon tastings in the future.
- The building at 23 S. Main, Main Street Vintage and Co. is for sale, FS Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison said.
- Upcoming Chamber events:
- The Community Connection Panel luncheon is Oct. 19 at the Empress Event Center.
- Outpost 13 West Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting is Oct. 17, 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
- Bourbon County Clay After-Hours is Oct. 24, 5:15-6:30 p.m. at the Artificers.
- Manufacturing Day is Nov. 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with tours of local manufacturers.
- Christmas Light Trolley Tours are Dec. 12-23 nightly.
- Christmas Light Contest is in December with cash prizes, contact the Chamber for more information.