KEM Armors on N. Penelope in Belton officially opened its doors for the first time on Saturday, featuring the only indoor archery range in Bell County. Owners Kelly and Kathy Murphy are no strangers to the Belton area. Kelly, a Killeen graduate, servied as a Belton police officer for 22 years and is currently working for The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor also as a police officer. Kathy graduated from Belton in 1992.

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Photo by Elizabeth Varville
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“We have had a lot of traffic coming in to see us for our grand opening.  We are excited to see everyone. We have had an amazing response from the residents,” said Kathy.

There is no other indoor archery in Bell County. You are not required to have your own equipment, you can rent from us. We are in the beginning stages of offering special events which will engage every one of all ages. Once a month, we will have special days reserved for kids six years and older; we will teach them the dos and don’ts of archery and we will have snacks plus additional crafts available. The cost will be $45.00 for approximately four hours of fun. Pre-registration is required and upcoming dates are posted on own Facebook page. Birthday packages will be offered as well. A gun range is in the process of being approved.

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Photo by Elizabeth Varville
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While Kelly is the "gun nut" of the bunch, Cody Smith, a State Champion Archery Pro, and the staff are prolific in archery.

Kelly asked me to give him a hand in developing the business. I have been involved in archery for approximately eight years. I have State and National rankings in the sport. I really love archery.  We currently do not sell equipment but we do plan on it eventually; after we become more established.  There are several places you can purchase your bow and arrow; Academy, Dicks, Gander Mountain in Killeen, and Cabela’s in Buda.  No license is required to participate in archery here at KEM Armors.

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Photo by Elizabeth Varville
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According to historyoffighting.com, archery dates back 50,000 years ago when the earliest known composite bow (a bow made from a number of materials) was used by Egyptian warriors on chariots and is believed to have been made by at least 2,800 BCE. In modern times, archery is more of a sport than a martial discipline though it is still a popular pursuit across the world, both for hunting and as an activity in its own right.  It first appeared in the modern Olympics in the year 1900. Archery is also believed to help with hand and eye coordination, physical strength, concentration, confidence, and even math.

KEM Armors is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Archery leagues are currently in the process of recruiting members. Just ask Wes or Jason!

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