Shead Farm Homestead Festival – Explore and gather ideas from Shead Farm, a sustainable lifestyle farm where nutritious veggie powder is grown.
Saturday, May 16th, from 10 am to 5 pm at 2468 Cavalry RD, Garland, KS. Follow the event on Facebook.
Ad: Shead Farm Festival – Saturday, May 16, 2026
Crawford County Law Enforcement Pursue Vehicle Into Bourbon County: Shots Fired
The following is the press release issued by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. This is all information being released at this time.
The KBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday night in Bourbon County involving deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance at approximately 11:40 p.m. Thursday, May 7. KBI agents responded to the scene.
Late Thursday evening, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen semi-truck traveling northbound from Pittsburg. The vehicle was reported to be driving into oncoming traffic and fleeing from local law enforcement.
Crawford County deputies pursued the vehicle after the driver refused an attempted traffic stop. During the pursuit, the suspect continued to drive the wrong way in the southbound lanes. Deputies attempted to disable the vehicle but were unsuccessful.
As the pursuit continued into Bourbon County, two Crawford County deputies discharged their firearms, striking the suspect and vehicle. The suspect lost control of the vehicle near Highway 69 and Indian Road and was taken into custody.
The suspect was treated at a local hospital before being transferred to a regional medical center and is now in stable condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.
The investigation remains ongoing.
USD235 Board of Education Meets May 11
Freeman Health System Appoints Renee Denton as Market President
Joplin, Mo. — Freeman Health System announced today the appointment of Renee Denton as Market President for the Missouri/Kansas market, effective May 18.
Denton brings more than 38 years of combined clinical and operational hospital experience to the role and has served Freeman Health System for 17 years, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Rural Hospitals. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated steady, mission‑driven leadership and a strong commitment to quality care, team development, and the communities Freeman serves.
“Renee is a trusted and respected leader within Freeman Health System,” said Matt Fry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeman Health System. “Her deep understanding of our organization, her background as a nurse, and her collaborative leadership style make her uniquely positioned to support system alignment and guide our continued progress across the region.”
As Market President, Denton will focus on strengthening alignment across Freeman’s Missouri and Kansas operations, supporting leaders and teams, and advancing the health system’s strategic priorities.
“I am honored to step into this role and continue serving Freeman Health System and our communities,” Denton said. “I’m proud of the work our teams do each day and look forward to building upon that work together.”
Freeman Health System is a locally owned, not‑for‑profit health system serving more than 400,000 people across the four‑state region, offering comprehensive care in local communities.
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Inc., and Ozark Center—the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services—as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics, and a variety of specialty services. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
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Ad: Automotive Technology Instructor – LaHarpe, KS Campus
Automotive Technology Instructor – LaHarpe, KS Campus
Flint Hills Technical College is seeking a full-time instructor for the Automotive Technology program, located in LaHarpe, KS, beginning with the Fall 2026 semester.
The successful candidate will have knowledge of the principles of operation for fundamental concepts of at least half of the following subjects:
- Automotive Engines
- Automotive Brakes
- Electrical
- Engine Performance
- Automotive HVAC
- Steering and Suspension
- Automatic Transmissions/Transaxles
- Manual Power Trains
Qualifications:
- Associate’s Degree in related field required (or willingness to obtain within a specified timeframe); Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of two years’ work experience in the automotive field or two years of teaching experience in automotive education.
- ASE Certifications in instructional areas (or ability to obtain certification within a specified timeframe).
- Strong communication skills – both verbal and written
- A Kansas teaching certificate is not a requirement for this position.
Salary and Benefits:
- Full-time, 9-month position
- A competitive salary range of $40,000-$54,000, commensurate with experience and education level
- KPERS retirement plan
- Employer-paid health insurance for the employee
- Annual salary is distributed over 12 months
- Flexible teaching schedule.
Application Process:
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, unofficial college transcripts, and contact information for three professional references to Human Resources at [email protected].
The FHTC Board of Trustees reserves the right to withdraw positions prior to being filled.
Obituary of Terry Don Hahnfeld
Terry Don Hahnfeld, age 80, resident of Bronaugh, MO, passed away Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada, MO. He was born November 16, 1945, in Waco, TX, the son of William and Mildred Power Hahnfeld. Terry graduated from Independence, MO high school. He served in the Army then in the Missouri National Guard for a total of 34 years of service. In his spare time, he collected vintage tractors and later progressed into classic hot rods. Terry enjoyed buying, showing and selling hot rods, owning over 30 at various times. He loved spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife Jean of the home; 4 children, Dawn Hahnfeld (Milan) Independence, MO, Michele Rusk (Phil) Stover, MO, Kolbe Starne (Abby) Bronaugh, MO, and Nathan Starne, Lamar, MO; 7 grandchildren, Samantha Terrell, Cody Hanes, Aaron Hanes, Arin Starne, Brant Starne Ethan Starne, and Brody Starne; 7 great grandchildren; and a sister, Cheryl Hahnfeld, Colorado Springs, CO. He was preceded in death by a sister, Sandra England, and his parents.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, May 12th, at the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott, KS. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until leaving for the cemetery at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Wreaths Across America and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Rusty Tweezers and Multiple Spatulas by Patty LaRoche
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
How can two people accumulate so much junk? Dave and I are packing to move from the lake area into town. This move, probably because we are tired of paying per-pound for things we never will use, we are trying really, really hard to declutter. For some reason, I look at Dave’s things with clearer eyes than I do my own.
“Honey, you don’t need those old baseball folders. And when was the last time you wore those polyester pants or needed those rusted tweezers or those tireless bikes?” Dave is equally as helpful. “Patty, didn’t you wear that outfit on our honeymoon? How many hair products do you actually need? Aren’t three spatulas enough?”
And then we both defend whatever it is our spouse thinks we should throw away. This is ridiculous. We have no problem moving, leaving behind years of sweet, family memories, but we can’t part with unnecessary junk. Change is a natural part of life. We can embrace it, or we can fight it. The choice is ours. Just like the eagle’s.
The eagle has the longest life-span among birds. It can live up to 70 years, but to reach this age, the eagle has to make a hard decision. In its 40s, the eagle’s long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey, its food. Its long and sharp beak becomes bent, and its old and heavy wings, covered with feathers that have grown thick over the years, become stuck to its chest, making it difficult to fly.
The eagle is then left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days. This requires the eagle to fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until the beak falls off. The eagle will then wait for a new beak to grow back and use the new beak to pluck out its talons. When the new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking out all of the old feathers. After five months, the eagle takes a famous flight of rebirth and lives 30 more years.
Change is sometimes needed to survive. Read the Bible. Every story includes choices people had, either to follow God or not. What is God asking of you? How is He working to increase your faith by making a change in your life? The answer is simple. He is preparing your steps to move out of your comfort zone, to get rid of useless material junk, to eliminate destructive habits and to focus on what is truly important.
When Dave and I began to concentrate on what we really need, we found a certain satisfaction in not holding onto what was familiar. Joshua 3 illustrates how God works in these decisions. The Israelites were close to the Promised Land, but the Jordan River stood in their way. God asked them to take one step into the water. He would do nothing until the Israelites obeyed. The lesson is one for us all.
Don’t wait until you believe it all. Don’t wait until you can see it all. Don’t wait until you understand it all.
Take the first step. God will meet you there…even if it involves rusty tweezers and multiple spatulas.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 8
Ribbon Cutting for Freeman Fort Scott Hospital Is Celebrated
‘An Incredible Day’
Ribbon Cutting Held for Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Inc.
Joplin, Mo.—Nearly 3,400 Fort Scott and Bourbon County residents have utilized Freeman Fort Scott Hospital Inc.’s Emergency Department since it first opened for business last September.
The need for the facility helps explain why so many residents showed up to support the long-awaited ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place, appropriately enough, in front of the hospital’s ambulance bay Thursday morning.
“I think it’s beautiful when we come together like this in celebration,” said Matt Fry, Freeman Health System’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “There’s so many people that showed up for this ribbon-cutting today, and I think it’s a testament to how much this hospital means to the people living in this community.”
The reaction to Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was very similar to the enthusiastic response from residents when Freeman officials first proposed the hospital in mid-2024, when nearly 150 people cheered the announcement. At that time, Fort Scott had been without a hospital since 2018 and without an emergency department since 2023. Between then and the September 2025 opening of Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, residents were forced to travel to neighboring communities for their emergency healthcare needs.
Anita Walden, Chief Administrative Officer for Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Inc., described Thursday morning as an “incredible day” for Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and the future of healthcare in the region.
“When these doors opened in September 2025, we did more than reopen a hospital, we restored local access to care, created stability, and brought healthcare back home for the families of this region,” she said.
Over the last 25 years, 470-plus rural hospitals have closed nationwide. To open a rural hospital during this time is a cause for celebration. The best way for Bourbon County residents to continue showing support for the six-bed ED and 10-bed acute care hospital is by choosing to receive care locally whenever possible, Walden said.
“By utilizing the services available right here at Freeman Fort Scott Hospital and encouraging your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same, you help strengthen access to quality healthcare for all of Bourbon County,” she continued. “Your trust and support play an important role in the long-term success of [Freeman Fort Scott Hospital].”
“The hospital continues to serve our community every day, with 14 patients seen daily in the ED and four more on the acute care side,” Fry said, emphasizing that, even with this steady utilization, “the pursuit of improvement never stops.”
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Inc., and Ozark Center—the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services—as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics, and a variety of specialty services. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Newsletter
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A Discovery Award Journey Comes Full Circle
Come discover how Unsung Hero Mary Anning and her groundbreaking fossil discoveries helped pave the way for modern paleontology and changed the world’s understanding of prehistoric life. 
Discovery Award submissions are due July 1.
Learn more about the 
Questions? Contact Norm Conard at 
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Honoring Holocaust Remembrance in Kansas
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2026 Gordon Parks Museum Poetry Contest: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless
