Casper resigns from Chamber

By Jason E. Silvers

The Fort Scott Tribune

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will lose one of its key staff members next week following a recent announcement that FSACC Tourism Director Katie Casper plans to resign.

Casper, a Fort Scott native who began working in the chamber's tourism department in May 2007, said Thursday that she has accepted a job with the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office in Iola working as a loan specialist for business and community events. Her last day of work at the chamber will be July 17.

Casper, a graduate of Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Community College, said she will continue to live in Fort Scott and commute back and forth to her new job -- a position that Casper said she is more ideally suited for based on her background and education in agri-business. She holds an agri-business degree from Oklahoma State University.

"It was just an opportunity that I couldn't pass up," she said. "I have absolutely loved this job, and I couldn't think of a better job to promote the community, but this is something I couldn't say 'no' to."

Casper said she has seen many positive changes in the local community since she began working to help promote Fort Scott more than a year ago.

"I think Fort Scott is changing," Casper said. "I've seen a renewed energy to better our community, and I've seen more people care about the community."

Casper said more involvement in the community has been evidenced by better turnouts at local chamber-sponsored events that take place throughout the year, such as "The Hop" car show that takes place during the fall in downtown Fort Scott. That show, which highlights several 1950s-style custom and hot rod vehicles owned by an Oklahoma-based company, has been a popular event in the community in recent years, as have many other events, Casper said.

These types of events have also recently been drawing more interest from out-of-town visitors who choose Fort Scott as a tourist destination, and from people and groups who come to Fort Scott to conduct community events, Casper said.

"Anything that brings people into our community is positive," she said. "Fort Scott is a place where they can have conventions and special events. I think we're seeing more people making trips (to Fort Scott) from the Kansas City area. There's always something to do in Fort Scott."

Casper said she believes that tourism has improved not just locally, but statewide as well.

"I think Kansans are taking an interest in what Kansas has to offer," she said.

Casper added that her new job duties will include working throughout the entire Southeast Kansas region, so there is a strong possibility that even after she begins her new job, she will still be seen periodically throughout the community.

"I'm sure I'll have some dealings in Bourbon County," she said.

Casper is the fourth tourism director the chamber has employed since 2002. Chamber officials have advertised Casper's job and are "actively looking" for her replacement, she said.

FSACC President and CEO Vicki Pritchett was unavailable for comment on Casper's departure as of press time.