Menu
Tax holiday, job fair, downtown community conversation on tap
A tax holiday weekend, a gospel performance, a job fair and a community conversation about downtown are among the events coming up in Fort Scott.
Eight local merchants are offering a "We Pay the Tax Promotion" Aug. 3-5 featuring an 8.8 percent discount. Participating businesses are Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, Country Cupboard, eNVy Babies & Kids, Everything Pets, Flowers by Leanna, Iron Star Antiques & Such, J&W Sports Shop, Life + Style, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Radio Shack, Redbud Farms & Nurseries, Ruddick's Furniture, SEKAN Occasion Shops/Designers Florist by SEKAN, Shirt Shack and The Vintage Trunk.
The promotion was organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and was among the items announced at Thursday morning's coffee, hosted by The Highlands apartments.
A city-wide job fair is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton. Hosted by the city and chamber, Economic Development Manager Macy Cullison said it is open to any and all employers.
Fort Scott Democrat Shirley Palmer, who is running for Kansas House District 4, a seat she held prior to being defeated by incumbent Rep. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, told those attending the coffee she is "coming out of retirement to try and become your state representative."
Palmer is unopposed in the Aug. 7 primary and will face Mound City auctioneer Marty Read in the Nov. 6 general election.
Tyson is running for Senate District 12, created by redistricting. John R. Coen, R-Wellsville, is also running for that Senate spot.
Denise Cassells will face either Tyson or Coen in the Nov. 6 general election.
The three issues Palmer said she is focused on are job creation and bringing business to Kansas, funding education and fair taxes.
In line with Palmer's remarks, the chamber will host a candidate forum July 31 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the forum starts at 6 p.m. Bryan Holt, who emceed the coffee, said he hoped everyone would attend. He also urged everyone to "vote on Aug. 7 if you haven't already." The county offers advance voting through noon Aug. 6.
Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison said she and Cullison have put together a community conversation about downtown, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Life + Style, 22 N. Main St. "We're looking for input on things we can do to improve downtown," Madison said.
A chamber after-hours, hosted jointly by the Fort Scott and Nevada chambers of commerce, is scheduled for 5:15-7 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Liberty Theatre/Crooner's Lounge.
The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, which performs gospel tunes, will make a second appearance at First United Methodist Church in Fort Scott. The performance, at 301 S. National Ave., is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 5. The Rev. Kenton Van said the concert is free, but freewill offerings are welcome.
Bourbon County Commissioner Allen Warren thanked everyone for their support, participation and involvement in this year's fair. "We had more exhibits than we've had for many years," Warren said.
Joy O'Neal of The Sharing Bucket, an all-volunteer organization that provides support to cancer patients, their caregivers and survivors, announced a fundraiser Fort Scott businessman Chris Howard is having from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 18 at Shelter House No. 4-5 at Gunn Park.
Howard, owner of Stateline Garage Doors LLC, picked the Sharing Bucket because he wanted a group where all the money donated stays in the area and is used to help people in the community. Activities include a Frisbee golf tournament, a 5K run, horseshoe pitching, food and a variety of activities for children.
The fundraiser kicks off with a 5K run; check-in time is 7:30 a.m. with the run starting at 8 a.m. Cost to participate is $20 per person. The disc golf tournament follows with check-in at 8:30 a.m. and a start time of 9 a.m. The cost for this event is $25 per three-person team.
Sign-in for the horseshoe pitching tournament will be 9:30 a.m. and the event begins at 10 a.m. The cost for this contest is $10 per person. All check-ins will take place at Shelter House No. 4.
Following these events will be several activities for kids, including an inflatable obstacle course and bounce house, pony rides and a kiddie train. All of these activities will cost 50 cents each.
Lunch begins at 11 a.m. and will include a bake sale, music and drinks.
All food and drinks will be available for a freewill offering.
Organizers said assistance will be needed at all locations during the event. Area residents interested in lending a hand in some way may contact Howard at (620) 215-1078 for more information.
Additionally, a ribbon cutting is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 30 at Miss Jamie's in the Five Corners business plaza and the 2012 Southeast Kansas Business Conference is scheduled for 8:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Aug. 2 at Parsons High School, 2900 Southern.
Speakers will include Joyce Layman Blackburn with "Mind by Design," Kansas Secretary of Revenue Nick Jordan and William B. Greiner, who is a regular guest on Bloomberg Television, CNBC, and CNBC Worldwide, a news release said. Madison said Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt will also be on hand.
The conference is hosted by the Southeast Kansas Human Resource Association (member of the Society for Human Resource Management), Southeast Kansas Inc. and Labette Community College Workforce Education.
Representatives from more than 60 companies and organizations attended last year's gathering.