Bourbon County is part of the section of the state of Kansas in emergency drought status. Submitted graphic.
The City of Fort Scott staff opened the Lake Fort Scott valve four turns today to help replenish some of the water lost in Rock Creek, according to Brad Matkin, the city manager.
The city gets its water supply from the Marmaton River, as do many outlying areas. The 50-acre Rock Creek Lake is an integral part of the city and rural water reserve systems.
“The Marmaton River is down to 8.3′ and we need it to be 9.5′-10′,” he said. “We will monitor this for the next several days. Still in Water Warning stage #1. There is a video on the City of Fort Scott’s Facebook page.”
Bourbon County was declared by Governor Kelly that it is in a drought emergency in mid-August.
This is part of a series featuring the grant recipients of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center For Economic Growth in their latest grant cycle.
This grant cycle, they awarded grants to nine area businesses.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Grant Program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation and is a collaborative effort through partnerships with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Wyatt and Krysta Hulbert. Submitted photo.
Hulbert’s Jewelry, LLC,(doing business as Bartelsmeyer Jewelry) owners, Wyatt and Krysta Hulbert became owners of the local jewelry story in historic downtown Fort Scott on July 5, 2023.
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry is located at 22 N. Main, Fort Scott.
Krysta noted however, that the jewelry store has been a part of Fort Scott’s history since 1904.
“Wyatt and I are thrilled and honored to be able to continue the tradition of this long-standing business in downtown Fort Scott, Kansas,” she said. “We are dedicated to upholding the same commitment to quality customer service, and craftsmanship, to ensure that the store will endure through another generation. We hope to have the support of the whole community as we step into a new and exciting future!”
Wyatt and Krysta Hulbert with some congratulation cookies received after taking over ownership of the jewelry store. Submitted photo.
“At Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, I have been the familiar face that greets you at the door for the last 13 years working for John and Cindy Bartelsmeyer,” Krysta said. “I truly enjoy my job and have had the amazing opportunity to develop many wonderful relationships with the people in my community because of working at Bartelsmeyer Jewelry. As John and Cindy started to consider retirement, I began discussing the possibility of buying the jewelry store with my husband Wyatt.”
It took about a year to finalize the sale to the Hulberts.
“At Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, you will find a curated collection of new gold and silver jewelry, from delicate necklaces, earrings, and bracelets to bold statement pieces and permanent jewelry,” she said. “We carry a wide array of estate jewelry, and our designs encompass a range of styles to suit every taste. We also have a sparkling selection of engagement rings and diamond jewelry, as well as a Custom Design Program that can make your unique vision into a tangible, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.”
Submitted photo.
They also provide maintenance of jewelry.
“The store’s jewelry repair service encompasses everything from minor fixes to intricate restorations.” she said. “We offer ring repair, sizing, and soldering; stone setting and tightening; prong re-tipping; watch repair and battery replacement, jewelry appraisal services, and customized engraving.”
They also buy and sell gold and silver jewelry, coins, and bullion.
“We were so excited to be selected as one of the grant recipients!” she said. “We will be using the grant money for some much-needed tool and equipment updates, including a specialized diamond tester that will help us distinguish lab-grown diamonds from naturally mined diamonds. This will allow us to offer peace of mind to our customers as we dive into a new era in the diamond market.”
The jewelry store address is 22 North Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Governor Kelly Announces Kansas Awarded $40M to Build Community Multi-Purpose Facilities, Expand Access to Child Care
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund announced today that Kansas has been awarded $40 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury for a new program, the Capital Projects Fund Accelerator (CPF Accelerator). The program will provide local communities with funding to build or renovate multi-purpose facilities that create new licensed child care slots and provide Kansans access to high-speed internet for digital work, health, and education supports.
“The Capital Projects Fund Accelerator Grant program is another example of how my administration is finding new ways to expand access to affordable, quality child care and other essential community services,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This grant opportunity will enable more communities to work with local businesses to meet a pressing need for Kansas families.”
In June 2023, the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund’s Child Care Capacity Accelerator awarded more than $43 million to 52 organizations and partnerships across Kansas. The new CPF Accelerator grant opportunity builds on that momentum by providing prospective grantees a new funding source for the construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of community facilities and other capital improvement for community-driven projects and programs. This funding is the latest effort to support the state’s rapidly growing work in early childhood and boost communities in scaling up their facilities to serve families and children.
“The Capital Projects Fund Accelerator is another exciting chance to invest in the infrastructure needed to increase access to affordable, high-quality childcare as well as a full range of programs and services to help families meet basic needs,” said Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. “The Kansas Children’s Cabinet is proud to continue our work to champion community-driven solutions to the multi-faceted challenges facing families with young children today.”
The RFP is available here, with two submission deadline options. The first-round application deadline is Oct. 2, 2023, and the second-round deadline is Dec. 18, 2023. The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund encourages applicants to decide which deadline is appropriate for their project as there is no advantage or consequence in applying by either deadline. Applications will be submitted online via the Kansas CommonApp portal.
Kansas was previously awarded $83.5 million from the Capital Projects Fund to build reliable broadband infrastructure and extend high-speed internet to more than 24,500 homes, businesses, schools, health care facilities, and other public institutions in underserved counties across the state. A portion of Kansas’ $40 million award for the CPF Accelerator will be used to assist in the administration of the program. Combined with the Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant programs, these two funding opportunities will infuse more than $83 million into Kansas’ early childhood care and education sector.
Click here to learn more about the Capital Projects Fund Accelerator.
Wishing Kansans a Happy Labor Day
Kansas is home to hard workers and major industries that support agriculture, aviation, health, science and more across our nation and the world. Thank you to all who contribute to make Kansas a great state to work, live and raise a family.
Miles Across Kansas
While traveling across Kansas during the August Work Period, I added almost 6600 miles to my truck. Thank you to all the Kansans I met with during my time back home.
Governor Kelly Announces $1M Available for Tourism Attraction Development Grants
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $1 million in Attraction Development Grants is available from Kansas Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. Attraction Development Grants are designed to assist in the development of sustainable tourism experiences that influence travel decisions and create economic impact, including new jobs, capital investment, revenue, and increased visitation.
“Kansas tourism is an economic driver that highlights the many reasons why our state is the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By investing in our tourism industry, we strengthen our economic growth and Kansas’ placement as a destination state for tourists from around the world.”
A first round of applications is now open with a deadline of October 1, 2023. A second round will open on February 1, 2024. $500,000 will be awarded in each round. Successful grant applications must have an accountable tie to the tourism industry, with funds being used to develop new or enhance existing tourism attractions.
“Investing in the growth and development of our destination-based assets contributes to economic prosperity in communities of all sizes across Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Tourism empowers local communities by creating job opportunities and strengthening the overall business landscape.”
Tourism has a total economic impact of $11.2 billion on the state, which includes $7 billion in direct visitor spending on lodging, dining, transportation, and entertainment. Eligible projects for this grant program include new attraction construction, enhancements to an existing attraction, and new or enhanced exhibits that will improve a visitor’s experience.
“By strategically fostering new tourism development, we are inspiring quality vacation experiences for our visitors,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “Visitors spend dollars while in our state, and those dollars provide increased tax revenue, new jobs, and a better quality of life for all.”
For more information on the Attraction Development Grant Program, click here or email Kansas Tourism Grant Program Manager Carrie Doudhere.
Funding for Kansas Tourism grants, including the Tourism Marketing Grant, is provided by the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) from state lottery proceeds.
The past couple of years the attendance has been growing for the Downtown Trick-or-Treat parade with 600+ kids in attendance! At the end of the parade, we serve a hotdog, chips, and drink to each child who is in costume. We have been very thankful for the gracious donations from you all in the past!
If your business is interested in making a donation, please contact us! Click here to email us or call the
Chamber at 620-223-3566.
We will accept monetary donations or other items such as hot dogs, buns, individually packaged chips, or drinks.
Saturday, October 28, 2023 @ 11:00 AM
10-11am: Walgreens will be taking pictures with a Halloween Backdrop & providing a free 4 x 6 print. The backdrop will also be available throughout the event for pictures with your own camera.
Face painting will be offered by the Fort Scott High School Pride and Thespian Clubs!
11am: Parade will start at La Hacienda, down the west side of Main Street to 2nd, then back down the east side of Main Street to Skubitz Plaza.
Following parade: Hotdog, chips & drink will be served to the kids in costume provided through the generous donation of local businesses!
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***Businesses along Main Street will be handing out candy during the parade, and businesses not on Main Street as well as any community organizations are welcome to set up a table along Main to pass out candy, coupons, promo items, etc.***
Please email the Chamber if your business or organization will be passing out candy so we can plan accordingly.
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
On October 21st Harley Race “World League Wrestling” is coming to Fort Scott.
World League Wrestling Showdown airs on 15 stations across the United States.
In 1999, professional wrestling legend Harley Race created WLW. The sport had lost many fans across the world and this company was his way to try and give fans an alternative to what they see on television. WLW takes modern wrestling and traditional wrestling and brings it to a place where everyone can enjoy it.
Jason Scott and The High Heat along with B.J. Pruitt and the Barnstormers will be performing on November 4.
Too loud for folk music and too textured for Red Dirt, this is the sound of a genuine band rooted in groove, grit, and its own singular spirit, led by a songwriter whose unique past— a Pentecostal upbringing, years logged as a preacher-in-training, and an eventual crisis of faith — has instilled both a storyteller’s delivery and a unique perspective about life, love, and listlessness in the modern world. Their first full-length album Castle Rock, independently released in February 2022, spent two months in the top 50 reaching all the way to #36 with the help of Angela Backstrom and Rek Room Media.
The band is composed of Jason Scott (guitar, vocals), Gabriel Mor (guitar), Taylor Johnson (guitar, keys), Alberto Roubert (drums), Ryan Magnani (bass), and Garrison Brown (keys).
The Almost Kiss Tribute Band will be in Fort Scott on November 18.
Considered talented enough to be placed on the world-famous “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” in front of an international audience, Almost Kiss caught the eye of the Family Jewels Producers and Executives in 2010 and was one of six tribute bands to be endorsed by Gene Simmons.
Since then this amazing group of four musicians has continued to excite crowds all over the country, growing substantially in popularity.
On December 16th Copenhagen Bandit Live will be entertaining in Fort Scott.
Right now Advance Bourbon County is offering a 2-for-1 special: Buy tickets to Harley Race World League Wrestling event and get free tickets to Copenhagen Bandit.
Picture Left to Right: Ella Snyder and Tex, Makiah Woods and Sadie, Davina Foster and Paris. Submitted photos.
The Bourbon County 4h Dog Project qualified three members for the 2023 Kansas State Fair Dog Agility Competition.
On September 2 in Hutchinson, KS Ella Snyder with Tex, Makiah Woods with Sadie, and Davina Foster with Paris competed in a field of 45 in the Dog Agility 1 competition.
All three received purple ribbons with Davina Foster placing 4th with a perfect score of 200.
The Bourbon County 4h Dog Project is assisted by volunteers Zach and Aubry Ross of Ross’s Kennels.
They will be holding try-it days in September or October for current and future 4Hers to come and experience the project along with adults as the club fundraises for equipment.
Ist Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment mural. August,2023.
The local historic depiction of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment is completed.
The mural faces the Fort Scott National Historic Site, the place of the mustering of the regiment during the American Civil War.
St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc worked on the mural for a week in August with temperatures over 100 degrees.
The new mural was created by Cbabi Bayoc, pictured here in a submitted photo.
“The project took six days to complete,” Bayoc said in an interview. “I started spray painting the sketch on Monday and made final touches on it Saturday afternoon. The only long day was Wednesday which was crucial in getting it done on schedule.”
He worked from afternoon to evening because of the location of the mural on the north side of the building. That week of August 2023 the community experienced over 100 degrees daily.
“The heat was a definite factor,” Bayoc said. “It cut my days shorter than I am used to spending on murals of this scale. Also the rail and the steps made for some interesting body maneuvering to get the soldier on the left and the banner bottom middle done.”
Bayoc describes his work and its meaning.
“I chose the soldier with the flag because black folks always hoped going to battle for the country would gain their rights and respect as citizens,” he said. “The ad (To Arms! To Arms!) was crucial because putting guns in the hands of black soldiers was crucial to the (Civil War/slavery) times and foreshadowed their being the first regiment to see battle. I like the line created by the rifle and what it adds to the design. Their name and regiment number flank the left side and of course, elements from the battalion flag provide the backdrop.”
Fort Scott left a good impression on the artist from St. Louis.
“The folks we interacted with were warm and inviting,” he said. “My wife and I thought the downtown was gorgeous. We look forward to returning in October.”
The revealing and acknowledging of the mural will be during the annual Gordon Parks Museum Celebration the first weekend in October.
The public is invited to join the “Free To Serve” mural unveiling on Friday, October 6 from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
This is in honor and tribute to the regiment’s sacrifice and willingness to serve during the Civil War.
The mural is located at the north downtown building at 9 South Main St, near Skubitz Plaza, facing the Fort.
“We will veil the mural before out-of-town guests arrive for the Gordon Parks celebration for a more grand reveal, but until then the mural is available to be photographed,” Rachel French, coordinator of the project for the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division said.
The Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Rural Prosperity awarded funding for the project, along with several local benefactors.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee Thursday, September 7th at 8am hosted by Hare & Crow Barbershop. Matt and Krista Park will be serving their own coffee brand, Branch, along with homemade goodies and treats.
Hare & Crow Barbershop, owned by Matt Park, opened its doors in January of 2022. Barbershops were once gathering places for friends and neighbors. This is the kind of space we set out to create for our community. Along with a full-service barbershop Hare & Crow is also home to a small selection of thoughtfully curated goods, Branch Coffee Roasting and Backroom Art Gallery. We have been hard at work over the last several months on a few new projects that we’re really excited about.
Chamber Coffees are held each Thursday at 8am for members to network, make announcements, and learn about the host business or organization. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information or to inquire about available dates for hosting a Coffee.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Fall Town-wide Garage Sale is, September 8th, and 9th. The Chamber wants to encourage the community to get garage sales listed on the map and get out to hunt for bargains on clothing, home décor, tools, and more.
The deadline for registration is 8am, Wednesday, September 6th.
Starting Thursday, September 7th 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.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
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