At today’s Chamber Coffee located at the Lowell Milken Center in downtown Fort Scott, several announcements related to upcoming events were made.

FSCC President Dr. Clayton Tatro announced several new employees at the college, including Band Director Michael Dzbenski. Dzbenski replaces Betty Jo Laflen who retired at the end of the school year. FSCC has also hired Juliana Hughes as the college’s Director of Public Relations.

In other school-related news, FSCC will be hosting a visit by Governor Brownback at the FSCC Vinylplex Construction Trades Building in Pittsburg, KS. The visit to the area is a result of FSCC’s involvement in vocational education for high school students paid for by the state through Senate BIll 155. The bill, which was signed by Governor Brownback on May 25, 2012, has allowed FSCC to produce, according to Tatro, “one of the largest groups that took advantage” of the legislation and the benefit it provided to young people.

Fair Board Lifetime Member Allen Warren announced the opening of the Bourbon County Fair this weekend, Saturday July 13th. Warren said that the activities would begin with a dog show in the morning, and would be followed by the ATV Showdeo Saturday evening. Warren also mentioned that the 4-H horse show would be held the following evening.

Warren highlighted other entertainment to be showcased at the fair this year, including the tractor pullers from the Missouri State Tractor Pullers Association. Warren said that the association only puts on 5-6 pulls in Kansas, and that Fort Scott was fortunate to host them for the event. Warren said of the event, “They bring lots of tractors with them, they bring lots of smoke, lots of noise.” The tractor pullers will compete Saturday July 20 at 7:00 PM.

Jackie Warren, Open Class Superintendent, reminded fair goers about the King Aurthur Flour Baking Contest and free flour for attendees. Warren said, “Please come to the fair and take a bag of flour home.” The flour company has donated 960 sacks of self-rising flour as a gift to the community, which currently is being stored at the Warren home.

In other news:

• City Manager Dave Martin announced the departure of the city’s outgoing Economic Development Director Macy Cullison. Martin said, “Macy did a lot of great things behind the scenes [for Fort Scott’s economic development], and we’re going to miss her.” Martin also announced an ice cream social to be held sponsored by members of the area Farmer’s Market. The social will be held at Skubitz Plaza, the evening of Tuesday July 16th.
• Quentin Umphenour, a local student, was present at the Chamber Coffee to present his History Day project on Captain James M. Williams, head of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer regiment, who fought during the Civil War. Umphenour placed 3rd in the Junior Individual Performance category in the State History Day Competition, which made him the alternate candidate for the national competition held in Washington, D.C.
• Lindsey Madison, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, announced two upcoming events. The first is the Legislative Wrap-Up which will be held July 20th, 9:00 AM at the Common Ground Coffee Co. The second event is the Chamber Golf Tournament, which will be held July 26th. More information about the Golf Tournament is available from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
• Norm Conard , Executive Director of the Lowell Milken Center, announced several developments at the center, including 6 new exhibits made possible by the recent building expansion. In addition, Conard urged attendees to read the Life in a Jar book, which is currently #6 on Amazon.com’s List of 6,000 Books on the Holocaust.