Bourbon County

Tri-Valley Developmental Services Receives Grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation

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Brenda Harrison, Tri-Valley Director of Programming, reviewing program information. Submitted photo.

Tri-Valley Developmental Services (TVDS) received a $475 grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation. The gift was used to purchase Friendship and Dating program developed by the University of Alaska – Anchorage. The program will be used to educate individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on the development of healthy, meaningful relationships and prevent interpersonal violence. “We are grateful to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation for their generosity in helping us purchase this educational tool,” said Bill Fiscus, CEO. “The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation was there to help us, and we appreciate it.  The training is already providing huge dividends.”

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation hosts individual charitable funds created by donors who have a passion for giving back to their community. Grants from these funds assist people throughout Fort Scott and Bourbon County. Call the Foundation at 620-244-6500 with questions about the Community Foundation.

 

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott May 2

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What’s Happening in Fort Scott! May 1st Weekly Newsletter

SAVE THE DATE!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffees

Every Thursday at 8am

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Visit your National Park! Visitor Center and historic buildings are currently open Friday through Tuesday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The grounds continue to be open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset

** Guided tours Saturday & Sunday 10am & 1pm! **

Click HERE to visit the website.

Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes for ALL ages!

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall. (Taking the month of August off for BINGO & will start again in September)

KANSASWORKS in Fort Scott

Every Tuesday 9am-4pm

Office located at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, 104 N. National Ave.

620-231-4250

Wednesday Writers at FS Public Library

Every Wednesday 1:30-3pm

201 S. National Ave.

Kansas Small Business Development Center

at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 9am-4pm.

EVERY THURSDAY EVENING

STUDENT NIGHT AT FORT CINEMA

$5 tickets for all students Pre-K thru College

Par Tee Girl Ladies’ Golf League –

Every Wednesday thru July!

League Fee: $40

Contact:

Diane Striler at [email protected] or 248-568-7790

Click HERE for the Facebook Group Page!

Dolly Trolley Historic 50-min narrated tours!

Adults $6 | Children 12&under $4

Call 620-223-3566 or stop in the Chamber at

231 E. Wall St. to book your ride!

__________________________________

UPCOMING EVENTS

5/2-3 Town-Wide Garage Sale Spring 2025

*53 sales on the map!

Click HERE for the interactive Google map!

Click HERE for a copy of the map & listings!

Hard copies of the map may be found at the Chamber,

231 E. Wall St along with 5 Corners, all Pete’s locations, Casey’s, Don’s Spirits & Wines, and Bids & Dibs!

5/2-3 | Pioneer Harvest Swap Meet at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds

$10 fee for a booth

Contact Davin Reichard

620-224-7916 or [email protected]

Flea market & garage sale items, antiques, farm equipment, and more! Food also available.

5/2 ~ 6-9pm | First Friday’s at The Artificers

8 N. National Ave.

5/2 ~ 7-10pm | First Friday Event by City of Fort Scott

Live music by The Michael Pierce Band at the Gathering Square Pavilion & around

Downtown Fort Scott!

See the Map below for more details or click HERE for the Facebook post with details!

5/3 ~ 8am-12pm | Opening Day of the

Farmers’ Market

Downtown Fort Scott under the Gather Square Pavilion!

Click HERE for the Farmers’ Market Facebook!

Neosho River Boys will be playing LIVE! 8:30am-11am

5/3 ~ 9am-3pm Fort Scott Christian Heights Country Store & Auction!

1101 S. Barbee St.

Events include:

5k and 2 mile Fun Walk

Giant Indoor Garage Sale

Bakery & Concession Stand

~ 4-6pm Fried Chicken Dinner

~ 6pm-? Auction

*All proceeds benefit the FSCH PTF

Questions? 620-223-4330 or office@fortscottchristianheights.org

5/3 ~ | Kansas Rocks Adopt-A-Trail work day

5/3 ~ 8am-1pm | SparkWheel Scramble Golf Tournament

Woodland Hills Golf Course, Fort Scott

Click HERE for more details!

5/3 ~ 9am-12pm | Painting with Wool at The Artificers

with Kay McCoy of Prairie Village Creations.

~ 1pm-5pm Needle felted Creatures

Click HERE to sign up!

5/3 ~ ALL DAY | GO Car Wash Fort Scott High School FBLA Car Wash Fundraiser

10am-4pm – FSHS Students will be on site!

20% of Net revenue goes to the FBLA FSHS students.

5/5 ~ 10am-2pm | Flange Fitting Clinic by

SEK Multi-county Health Department

524 S. Lowman St.

Free Event

Click HERE for their Facebook Page!

5/6 ~ 4-6pm | Farmers’ Market at the Gathering Square Pavilion

5/6 ~ 6-10pm | $3 Tuesdays at Fort Cinema!

5/8 ~ 8am | Chamber Coffee & Ribbon Cutting

hosted by Producers Cooperative Association!

2187 Hackberry Rd.

Click HERE for the Facebook Event Page!

5/8 ~ 1-5pm | Uniontown Varsity Golf Tournament

Woodland Hills Golf Course

5/8 ~ 6-8pm | Mother’s Day Special ~ Create Birthday Flowers with Kadra at The Artificers

$25

Click HERE to sign up for classes!

5/10 ~ Kansas Barrell Association Rodeo

Bourbon County Fairgrounds

5/10 ~ Kansas Rocks – Newbie Women Wheelers Recovery Course

5/10 ~ Create your own beaded earrings

at The Artificers

$50/class

Click HERE for the 10:30am-12:30pm Class Sign-Up!

Click HERE for the 2:30-4:30 Class Sign-Up!

5/10 ~ 8pm | Fort Scott High School Graduation

Congratulations Seniors!

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.

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema
…
Opinion

When God Nudges by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

 

God tried to get my attention last Saturday evening.  I was having too much fun to listen.  Six of us were having dinner at one of the couple’s houses, and I had a quick thought: Did you turn off the stove before you left home? Answer: Of course I did.  I put the lid on the pan that held the chicken and turned off the stove.                                                                                                          

I didn’t give it a second thought.

I should have.

When Dave and I walked into our house five hours later, the smell made me gag.  Sure enough, resting atop the flame was a charred pan with no evidence chicken had ever been cooking in it.  For days afterwards, we did everything to rid our home of the horrific odors.  Everything had to be washed.  Pine-sol and candles did little to help.

When I shared my story with a friend, she told me about an Amazon product that I could place in strategic areas of my house, and it would absorb all the residual smells. And then Nanette, Dave’s daughter, told me to boil vinegar.  How simple! Here I had labored for days, burned every candle, laid baking soda in different rooms and washed all the cabinets and rugs, and there were simple products that would absorb the residue?  Nice to know.

Of course, this never would have happened had I listened to God’s nudging and run home to double-check my chicken.  Enjoying myself took precedence.  I wonder if anyone can complicate their life the way I can.

There are times I work my tail off to do something for the Lord, only to realize that all He wanted me to do was to pray about it and then sit back and watch Him work. I keep busy doing whatever I think is important instead of paying attention to how He is trying to direct me.  Last Saturday, I was having too much fun to hear His prodding.

I’m always amazed by friends who pause to listen to God’s voice, relying completely on His guidance. For example, should they be laboring to make a dinner for 80 and some needy person calls, craving counsel, they put everything on hold (i.e., turn off their stove) to share spiritual advice with them.

Not me.  I bulldoze my way through life, rarely having a calm demeanor when I have large tasks to accomplish. I do few things gently. I can’t even sneeze gently.  Mine is a tsunami kind of sneeze that makes people jump instead of a sweet, almost inaudible “achoo” like some people I know.  I eat fast.  Really fast.  Not like Nancy Reagan (size 2) recommended to stay slim: “Chew each piece of food 20 times.”  I waste much less time when I jam 20 pieces of food in my mouth and chew once.

 

Psalm 143:10 gives great instruction on what really matters: Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. When God gives a nudge, I need to budge. When He presents before me others looking angry or sad, He gives me an opportunity to ask if I can pray for them.  When they struggle to pay for their groceries, I can recognize His push to help them financially.  When God stirs my heart to donate my time for a needy cause, I can set aside my excuses and help.

And when He asks if I turned off my stove, I must, must, must listen.

 

 

Fort Scott

Town-wide Rummage Sale May 2-3

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TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALE

THIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

MAY 2ND & 3RD

IN FORT SCOTT!
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PDF OF THE MAP & LISTINGS 

Click HERE for link to Google map of the sales!

50 SALES REGISTERED!

Click HERE for the Facebook Event Page!

Hard copies of the map may be found at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St

along with 5 Corners, all Pete’s locations, Casey’s, Don’s Spirits & Wines, and Bids & Dibs!
THANK YOU TO ALL SALES WHO REGISTERED

WITH THE CHAMBER & TO ALL OF OUR BUSINESS

ADVERTISERS FOR MAKING THIS SALE POSSIBLE!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Government, Kansas

KS April Total Tax Collections at $1.33B; 1.3% Above Estimate

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Governor Kelly Announces April Total Tax Collections at $1.33B; 1.3% Above Estimate


TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends April 2025 with total tax collections at $1.33 billion. That is $17.6 million, or 1.3%, above the estimate. Total tax collections were down 5.9% from April 2024.

“Kansas’ current financial health is strong, but we must remain committed to fiscally responsible budgeting to ensure lasting stability in the future,” Governor Laura Kelly said.

Individual income tax collections were $684.8 million. That is $10 million, or 1.5% above the estimate, and down 7.5% from April 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $316.5 million. That is $1.4 million, or 0.4% above the estimate, and down 6.4% from April 2024.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $296.3 million, which is $5.5 million, or 1.9% above the estimate and up $1.2 million, or 0.4%, from April 2024.

Click here to view the April 2025 revenue numbers.

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Government, Kansas

Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Honors Kansas

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Commerce International Division Recognized for Excellence in Export Promotion

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that the Kansas Department of Commerce International Division has been awarded the Regional Export Promotion Program (REPP) Member of the Year Award. This honor from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) was presented at REPP’s 2025 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

“With 95% of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States, the State of Kansas is firmly committed to supporting and providing resources to Kansas exporters of all sizes,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This award acknowledges how serious we are about helping Kansas companies succeed in the global marketplace.”

The award recognizes Kansas for its collaboration and commitment to supporting businesses in exporting, particularly by hosting several informative and impactful webinars. These webinars, hosted by Commerce, were designed to bring awareness and accessibility to EXIM programs for Kansas exporters, generating greater participation and engagement across the state.

“The collaborative spirit and unwavering support of the Kansas Department of Commerce exemplifies and reflects the values and missions of EXIM and the work that we do to support American business,” Acting President and Chairman James Cruse said. “The innovation and advocacy of the agency has been an invaluable resource to exporters, allowing them to access the tools necessary to thrive in international markets and making them a standout recipient of this year’s REPP Member of the Year award.”

EXIM is an independent federal agency that supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. Collaboratively, the REPP program brings state, county and local nonprofit economic development entities together with EXIM through partnerships designed to expand export opportunities. Kansas has been a member of the REPP program since 2024.

“Kansas’ partnership with EXIM has assisted 19 Kansas businesses with international trade finance solutions — with the majority of them being small businesses,” Assistant Director of Global Resources Laurie Pieper said. “We are honored to have received the 2025 REPP Award, and Kansas Commerce looks forward to continuing a fulfilling and mutually beneficial relationship with EXIM.”

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.

About EXIM:

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation’s official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. Learn more at www.exim.gov.

Bourbon County

Bo Co Coalition is May 7

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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Agenda

 

May 7, 2025 1:00 PM

Scottview Conference Room

315 S. Scott Ave

 

 

  1.  Welcome: 

 

 

  1.  Member Introductions and Announcements:

 

 

  1.  Program:  Heather Shepherd – Lead School Community Health Worker- CHC-SEK/USD 234

 

 

  1.  Open Forum:

 

 

  1.  Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be June 4, 2025.

 

Government, Kansas

Flags at Half-Staff for National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day

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Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown
at Half-Staff in Honor of
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day


TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly, in accordance with Executive Order #20-30, on Thursday, directed flags throughout the State of Kansas be flown at half-staff from sunup to sundown on Sunday, May 4, 2025, in recognition of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.

“Our first responders risk their lives every day in service to our communities and Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day is a time to honor Kansas firefighters for their tireless work and ensure the ultimate sacrifice that far too many have made will never be forgotten.”

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit: https://www.governor.ks.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.

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Church news, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Pioneer Kiwanis Host Chamber Coffee at 1st Methodist Observing National Day of Prayer May 1

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Join us for Chamber Coffee

hosted by the

Pioneer Kiwanis
Thursday, May 1st

8am

at

First United Methodist Church

301 S. National Ave.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee and observation of National Day of Prayer hosted by Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis, Thursday, May 1st at 8am. The coffee will be held at the First United Methodist Church located at 301 S. National Ave. in the Fellowship Hall for which the entrance is on the 3rd Street or north side of the church. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.

Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis’ mission statement is “Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time”. Locally, they support several causes yearly, including school programs and scholarships, feeding families, healthcare, and community services.

The Chamber Coffee will honor the National Day or Prayer and this year’s theme is HOPE – Pour out the God of HOPE and be filled. Guest speakers will include Rachel French with reflections about HOPE, along with Kelley Collins, educating about Kiwanis and its mission. Pastor Christopher Eshelman will conduct opening and closing prayer. The Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis meet on Thursdays at noon in the Fellowship Hall at the 1st United Methodist Church, and anyone interested in their work is always welcome to visit and join them.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US

Bourbon County Local News