Fort Scott, Government

Unapproved Minutes of the June 2 City of Fort Scott Meeting

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FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION MEETING

 

 

Minutes of June 2, 2026                                                                                                                       Regular Meeting

 

A meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held  in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The meeting was streamed live on YouTube.

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:00PM. Roll call was taken. Commissioners Matthew Wells, Tracy Dancer Tim Van Hoecke (via Teams), Julie Buchta, were present with Mayor Kathryn Salsbury (via Teams). Julie Buchta presided over the meeting this evening.

 

In Attendance – Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Chief Jason Pickert/FSPD, Lisa Lewis/City Clerk, Jason Dickman/Earles Engineering & Inspections LLC, Leroy Kruger/Codes Enforcement, Deana Betts/Core Community, Brian Coomes/Olsson, Kristene Gemsky, Gavin Gemsky, Aleksei Gemsky and Michael Hoyt.

 

BUCHTA led the Pledge of Allegiance and WELLS said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, the Citizens, our Government and City officials.

 

Approval of Agenda

MOTION:  WELLS moved to amend the agenda to include an Executive Session after Reports and Comments. DANCER seconded.

 

       MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

       MOTION:  WELLS moved to approve the amended agenda.  DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consent Agenda

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1409-A – Expense Approval Report –

Payment Dates of May 14, 2026 – May 27, 2026 – $487,980.60              

  1. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of May 19, 2026
  2. Approval of New License – Retailer’s Liquor License – Don’s Spirits & Wine – 1705 S. National Ave., Fort Scott, KS – New Ownership – Licensing May 20, 2026 – May 19, 2028.
  3. Approval of Renewal of License – Drinking Establishment/Caterer – Sharkys – 16 N. National Ave., Fort Scott, KS – Licensing May 24, 2026 – May 23, 2028
  4. Approval of Retail Fireworks Vendors Permits – Jake’s Fireworks (2229 S. Main St.) – Bellino Fireworks, Inc. (2400 S. Main St.) – Ka-Boomers Enterprises, Inc. (1712 S. National Ave.)
  5. Request to Pay Invoice# 9203 – JCM Restoration – Gunn Park Retaining Wall Repairs – Progress Billing – Completion over 50% – $13,000.00
  6. Request to Pay Olsson – Project No. AV-2026-16 – FSK Reconstruct Taxiway Lights – Design & Bidding – Invoice# 555897 – $28,750.00 (Oct. 4, 2025); Invoice# 572809 – $23,000.00 (Mar. 14, 2026); Invoice# 576737 – $5,750.00 (Apr. 11, 2026) – $57,500.00

 

              MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve the Consent Agenda.  WELLS seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

Public Comment – No comments.

 

 

 

Appearance

Deana Betts /Bourbon County Core Community

Program Overview: Core Community aims to “Engage a community to lift people out of poverty” by addressing 11 types of poverty, not solely financial. The program utilizes Ruby Payne’s “Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World” curriculum, with Phase One focusing on mindsets and Phase Two connecting members with resources, “core friends” (middle-class volunteers), and a coach for barrier elimination and crisis management. The program serves as a “wraparound service” for Redemption House, assisting women with re-entry into the community, housing, and life skills, and plans to expand to an upcoming men’s house. Core Community has 29 class graduates, with 4 “declarations of poverty” (exited poverty). Participants collectively saved over $26,000 in taxes,

decreased debt by almost $40,000, and increased income by $160,000. The coach’s role is “instrumental” and “vital” to the program’s success, encompassing recruiting, crisis intervention, and navigating barriers for participants, including middle-of-the-night calls.

Funding Request: Core Community requested support from the city’s drug and alcohol tax revenue in the amount of $30,000.00. VAN HOECKE requested that upon voting, that the stipulation that it be reviewed in (1) year with an update of how the (2) programs (Core Community and Redemption House) are working together.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to table discussion for funding until the next meeting in June

 

MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF SECOND.

 

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to fund this particular program for a one-year cycle with the stipulations that Commissioner Van Hoecke asked be placed upon it. SALSBURY seconded. VAN HOECKE, SALSBURY, WELLS and BUCHTA voted yes.  DANCER voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

 

Jose Montanez/ Owner of 118 E. Wall/Barber Shop – An invitation was extended to the owner to appear and provide status update however he could not attend the meeting.

 

 

Unfinished Business

Consideration of Resolution No. 6-2026 Resolution Directing The Repair Or Removal Of An Alleged Unsafe And Dangerous Structure at 1403 E. Oak – Tabled November 18, 2025, January 20, 2026, and February 16, 2026 – L. Kruger

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve the removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure at 1403 E. Oak.  VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

Consideration of Resolution No. 11-2026 – Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of An Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 18 S. Holbrook – Tabled September 19, 2025, November 18, 2025, and February 3, 2026 – L. Kruger

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve the removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure at 1403 E. Oak.  DANCER seconded. DANCER, BUCHTA, VAN HOECKE and SALSBURY voted yes. WELLS voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

New Business

Action Items

Consideration of Bid Award for Fort Scott Municipal Airport (FSK) – KAIP Project No. AV-2026-16 – Olsson No. 025-04135 – Replace Taxiway Edge Lighting System – B. Coomes/Olsson

A bid award was considered for the Fort Scott Municipal Airport KAIP project to replace the taxiway edge lighting system, which is a continuation of efforts from last summer and funded 90% by a KDOT grant. Strukel Electric was the low bidder at $398,158.40 and was recommended due to their low bid, familiarity with the facility from a previous runway lighting project, and reputation in airport work. The total anticipated project cost of $562,258.40 is approximately $200,000 under the KDOT grant award, resulting in about $20,000 less for the city’s share.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to award Strukel Electric out of Girard the contract for replacement of the lights at the airport. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

Consideration of Letter Agreement Amendment No. 1 to Current Design and Bid Phase Agreement with Olsson for Professional Services KAIP Project No. AV-2026-16, Olsson Project No. 025-04135 the FSK Taxiway Edge Lighting System – B. Coomes/Olsson

Letter Agreement Amendment Number One was considered for Olson’s professional services for the FSK Taxiway Edge Lighting system, covering the construction engineering and closeout phase. This amendment includes construction administration, full-time on-site personnel for construction observation, and materials testing (concrete testing).

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to award Olsson Amendment number one so they can continue with the project, provide the professional service and the closeout for the taxiway edge lighting system.                DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MATKIN left the meeting at 7:08PM and returned at 7:10PM.

 

Consideration of Resolution No. 20-2026 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1701 E. Wall – L. Kruger

The property owner has been in communication, but no action has been taken; the roof is falling in, windows are missing, and doors are open, making it accessible and dangerous.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to approve Resolution No. 20-2026.  VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

Consideration of Resolution No. 21-2026 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 723 W. 5th – L. Kruger

The owner’s grandson has promised action for over a year with no changes; the city regularly mows the property due to nuisance violations, and the house is dilapidating with sagging roof levels and a falling privacy fence.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve Resolution No. 21-2026. VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

Consideration of Resolution No. 22-2026 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 123 S. Wilson – L. Kruger

There has been limited interaction with the owner, who did tarp a gigantic hole in the roof after an extended period; many windows and doors are boarded up, and the house is dilapidating to the point of no repair.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve Resolution No. 22-2026.  WELLS seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

 

Consideration of Resolution No. 23-2026 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 414 W. 4th – L. Kruger

The owner advised they would tear it down and started the process but stopped, with no movement for a while.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to approve Resolution No. 23-2026. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

406 South Horton: Resolution No. 24-2026 was removed from the agenda as the house already been taken down.

 

 

Consideration to Further Define Gunn Park Camping Regulations Regarding 14-Day Permit in Ordinance No. 3606

MATKIN recommended amending Ordinance No. 3606 to require campers to vacate the park for (30) days after a (14)-day stay, addressing a “tremendous problem” where campers could stay indefinitely by leaving for a day and returning.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to go forward with the recommendation of City staff on making the (2) weeks in effect and then must vacate the campground for at least (30) days.  DANCER seconded. BUCHTA, VAN HOECKE, SALSBURY and DANCER voted yes.  WELLS voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

 

Reports and Comments

 

Commissioner Wells:

–  Good Ol Days and Melodrama

–  Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) and parking laws

 

Commissioner Dancer:

–  IPAWS Alert System

–  City Manager evaluation criteria

–  School Zones concerns at 9th, 10th & 11th streets

 

Commissioner Buchta:

–  Lake lots encroachment

–  School zones

–  Crosswalk painting

–  Common Consumption area

 

Commissioner Van Hoecke:

–  Good Ol Days

–  Freeman grant

–  Golf cart safety reminder

 

FARMER left the meeting 7:51PM and returned at 7:54PM

 

Commissioner Salsbury:

– Status of CLG scholarship

–  Fireworks discharge ordinance

 

City Attorney:

–  Moody Building update

 

 

City Manager:

–  Monthly newsletter

–  Good Ol Days – streets closures

–  Outdoor Fitness Park

–  Gunn Park retaining wall

–  Street projects update

–  City-issued alcohol licenses – next agenda

 

City Engineer:

–  Memorial Hall update

–  Davis Lift Station update

–  Railroad permit

–  Wall Street – Phase III

–  E. National Project update

–  Traffic and school signs

 

Executive Session

MOTION:  BUCHTA moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6). In the meeting will be the City Manager, City Attorney and (5) City Commissioners in the City Manager’s office. The open meeting will resume in the Commission Room at 8:48PM. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

       

        MOTION:  DANCER moved to come out of Executive Session with no action.  WELLS seconded.

 

        MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

 

Adjourn

 

        MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to adjourn at 8:51PM.  DANCER seconded.

 

        MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:51PM.

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Lisa A. Lewis/City Clerk

Fort Scott, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Agenda for Ft. Scott City Commission on June 16

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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR

MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

June 16, 2026  –  6:00 P.M.

                                                                   

                      

  1.     Call to Order
  2. Pledge of Allegiance

III.       Invocation

  1. Approval of Agenda
  2.     Consent Agenda
  3. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1410-A – Expense Approval Report –

Payment Dates of May 28, 2026 – June 9, 2026 – $795,782.34            

  1. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of June 2, 2026
  2. Approval of Retail Fireworks Vendor Permit – Jurassic Fireworks (4500 Campbell Dr.)
  3. May Financials
  4. Request to Pay – Jeff Asbell Excavating & Trucking, Inc. – Application No. 4 – Davis Lift Station – $12,150.00
  5. Request to Pay – Earles Engineering & Inspection, LLC – Invoice# 18628 – EEI Project No. 25-12 E. National Phase I – Final Design 60% – $10,350.00; and Invoice# 18629 – EEI Project No. 26-402 – Davis Lift Station Extraneous Flow – $18,214.89

 

  1. Public Comment

VII.      Appearance

  1. Garth Herrmann/Gilmore & Bell – Award of Sale and Note Resolution
  2. Review bids for sale of the Series 2026-1 Temporary Notes and award sale to the best bidder
  3. Approve Note Resolution No. 25-2026 authorizing the issuance of the Series 2026-1 Temporary Notes
  4. Al Niece – Moody Building                                                
  5. Kari West/Evergy – Franchise Fee Update
  6. Rachel Carpenter/Director of Community Development & Human Resources – Gordon Parks Film Initiative (First Read)
  7. Kristy Holmes/Holmtown Pub LLC – Request for assistance
  8. Jess Milburn/JCM Restoration – Request to Pay Invoice# 9204 – JCM Restoration – Gunn Park Retaining Wall Repairs – Progress Billing – Base Bid Work Complete – $33,000.00 and Invoice# 9205 – Additional Work Completed Beyond Base Bid – Change Order –  $17,148.00

 

VIII.    Unfinished Business

  1. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3797 – An Ordinance Amending Article 20 of the Fort Scott Zoning Regulations Regarding Accessory Structures and Intermodal Shipping Containers – L. Dillon
  2. B. Consideration to Resolve Issues with 118 E. Wall
  3. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3799 Further Define Gunn Park Camping Regulations Regarding 14-Day Permit and Repeal Ordinance No. 3606 – B. Matkin

 

 

  1. New Business

Action Items

  1. Consideration to Award 2nd Quarter Small Business Grants – M. Wyatt

1) Kale Nelson/K & K Properties – DBA Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance – 113 S. National; 2) Dylan Renfro/M&K Carwash – 723 E. Wall

 

  1. Consideration to Amend City-Issued Alcoholic Liquor and Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) Licenses – Reference to Title 5 – Chapters 5.08; 5.12; and 5.14 of the Fort Scott Municipal Code – B. Matkin

 

  1. Discussion of City Manager’s Review

 

  1. Reports and Comments        

 

  1. Adjourn
Area News, Health Care

Nevada Hospital Recieves Sleep Lab Accrediation

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NRMC Achieves Sleep Services Accreditation With ACHC

 

Nevada, MO Nevada Regional Medical Center proudly announces that the Respiratory Therapy Department has renewed its accreditation through Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for Sleep Lab services upon successfully passing the accreditation survey on June 9, 2026.

 

This achievement recognizes the hard work, clinical excellence, and attention to patient safety demonstrated by the NRMC Respiratory Therapy and Sleep Lab teams.  The accreditation recognizes NRMC’s dedication and commitment to providing high-quality sleep care services, including home sleep testing and in-lab services, in accordance with nationally recognized standards.

 

“Sleep accreditation validates the quality of care our team delivers every day,” noted Andrea Miller, RRT, Respiratory Therapy Manager.  “It confirms that our processes, technology and patient care meet the rigorous national benchmarks.”

 

“Having accredited sleep services available locally at NRMC allows patients to receive timely diagnosis and treatment close to home, which makes a real difference for individuals and families in our community.”

 

Sleep disorders can have significant negative health impacts including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression, obesity, and more. Symptoms of a sleep disorder include snoring, breaks and pauses in breathing while sleeping, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, the urge to move legs or uncomfortable feeling in the legs at night, excessive sleepiness during the day, and reduction in concentration, memory, and attention.

 

If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, please make an appointment to discuss this with your primary care provider, who can recommend appropriate sleep testing at NRMC.

 

For more information about sleep studies and respiratory therapy services, please visit www.nrmchealth.com/sleep-center, or contact us at (417) 667-3355 ext. 3183.

 

 

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Bourbon County, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital

Interview with Commissioner Motley: Keeping Healthcare in Bourbon County for the next 50 years

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District 4 Commissioner Gregg Motley says the county is pursuing enforcement of a safeguard in the 2022 donation, not seizing a building for Freeman. 

Bourbon County has engaged an attorney to determine whether it can unwind its 2022 donation of the former Mercy Hospital building, a step Commissioner Gregg Motley says is about one thing: whether or not the county will still have a hospital in the future.

“The status quo threatens the long-term health care of Bourbon County,” Motley said. “What we need to do is do everything we can to ensure that we have health care in Bourbon County long term.”

Motley, a retired banker seated in January, spoke with FortScott.biz on June 11 after a portion of a memo he wrote for an executive session was posted to a Facebook group. He rejected the spreading claim that the county is taking Kansas Renewal Institute’s (KRI) building to benefit Freeman Health System: the county “does not want to own that building,” and Freeman “is not behind” it.

A safeguard the county built into the donation

The “clawback” is not a legal loophole; it is the remedy the county wrote into the donation itself. Effective Nov. 17, 2022, the agreement gave the former Mercy property and $2 million to Legacy Healthcare Foundation, a California nonprofit. The $2 million could be used only for building maintenance, “development of an Acute Care Hospital and ancillary services,” and reduced rent for community-benefit tenants — the county’s way of tying the gift to keeping health care on the site.

The agreement also set out what happens if the recipient breaks the deal: its “sole and exclusive remedy” is that the property returns to the county, along with a sliding-scale refund — $1 million if the deal is unwound in the first year of operation, $750,000 in years two through four, $500,000 by the fifth. After five years, the county has no remedy at all.

That five-year window — which Motley says closes in November 2027 — is the source of his urgency. The clause exists so that if the recipient fails to deliver, Bourbon County gets the building back instead of watching it slide toward foreclosure or wind up owned by a mortgage company. The claim rests on both Legacy and KRI being in default under the donation agreement and the lease, Motley said.

“The Mercy situation all over again”

No full hospital has operated there since Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December 2018. Legacy sold the building to KRI, a mental-health treatment center for children and adults, which took ownership in December 2024 and renovated it. Joplin-based Freeman opened a 10-bed hospital and emergency department there in 2025.

Much of his information, Motley said, came from a February briefing where KRI told the Fort Scott city manager, chamber president and others they could share what they heard. By that account and his own research, he said, KRI is losing six figures a month; it paid $8.5 million for the building, and the state has cut its daily reimbursement 34%, issued only a provisional license and so far denied its property-tax exemption request.

“It’s really the Mercy situation all over again,” Motley said. “We just bleed them to death and they leave.” If nothing changes, he said, the county is “likely to lose Freeman in four years,” when a five-year healthcare sales tax and the KRI–Freeman lease expire.

The lease had Freeman staffing 10 inpatient beds on KRI’s side for about $120,000 a month, but the state has refused to license the beds and KRI is in default, Motley said. “That is a big hole in the Freeman budget.”

Those missing payments compound other setbacks, Motley said: a subcontractor delayed Freeman’s opening to September, a collapsed lab deal left a seven-figure hole, and it could not bill Medicare or Medicaid until late February — months “virtually without patient revenue.” Persistent roof leaks and HVAC failures, he said, violate both the lease and the donation agreement.

Questions about the sale

Motley also questioned the financing. KRI says it paid $8.5 million, but Legacy’s IRS Form 990s report $7.5 million — “a million dollars unaccounted for,” he said. Legacy sold a $2.5 million KRI mortgage to Pasadena Lending at 13% interest, well above market. “Risk and rate are conjoined,” Motley said. “A high rate means high risk.”

If KRI fails, the building could revert to Legacy or Pasadena Lending through foreclosure, he said — leaving the county “right back where we started.”

Not just the county

The concern did not start with the commission, Motley said: state and elected officials sought his assessment, and hired Kansas City’s Polsinelli law firm at the state’s own expense. Polsinelli, the state and Freeman all agree the agreement was violated in several provisions, he said, and officials are “dubious” KRI will ever be fully licensed.

A more viable operator

Motley’s premise is that KRI cannot sustain the operation on its own, a conclusion he draws from KRI’s own disclosures of mounting losses, its provisional state license, and the state’s refusal to license its 10 beds. If KRI cannot continue, he said, the question is who keeps the same kind of children’s behavioral-health care going on the site.

His answer is Freeman, whose Ozark Center runs behavioral health across the state line in Missouri. Freeman believes it can do what KRI could not — win full licensing and get the 10 beds approved. They could continue the operation, likely hiring many of KRI’s staff, he said. That would put Freeman in KRI’s place as operator; KRI reported 110 employees in 2024, and its five investors, from California, Colorado and the Midwest, pay what Motley said KRI itself describes as “California wages in southeast Kansas,” above local rates.

Those above-market wages, Motley suggested, also help explain some of the opposition to enforcing the terms of the donation agreement. He acknowledged a tension between residents focused on the county’s long-term health care and some who benefit from KRI’s higher pay and would like to see the operation continue as long as possible. “This is why … I’m not their best friend right now,” he said.

“I have a lot of friends and people I dearly love who work at KRI, and I don’t want to see them harmed,” Motley said. “But my number one priority is that we have health care in Bourbon County for the next 50 years.”

What the county is considering

The commission voted 3-2 to explore legal action — Motley, Joe Allen and David Beerbower in favor, Mika Milburn-Kee and Samuel Tran opposed, Motley said. An initial $10,000, overseen by Motley and county counselor Bob Johnson, funds a review of the claim’s viability and title work on the property.

Delay is costly, he said: the reversion window closes in November 2027, the refund the county could recover shrinks each year, and Freeman’s losses deepen. If the case looks winnable, the first step would be a new donation agreement with Freeman to keep both the hospital and the children’s services running. Other possible fixes could also help without any clawback: Freeman misses new rural-health reimbursement enhancements because it was not open in 2020, and the state could restore KRI’s rate or license the beds, he said.

Conflicts and the closed session

Motley said he resigned from Freeman’s board in December, before taking office, as required by Freeman’s conflict-of-interest policy. “I’ve never taken a nickel from Freeman,” he said. “The board positions were unpaid. I have a Freeman t-shirt, but I paid for it.” He is simply applying “45 years of financial experience in accounting,” he said.

The matter began in executive session to protect KRI, not to hide it, he said. “My hope originally was that we could get to this point in executive session, without disclosures, and protect KRI and everyone else involved until we knew,” he said. “But that didn’t work out.”

He said he does not know who leaked the memo, noting only that someone outside the commission had information about what happened in the closed session.

Motley urged residents with questions to contact him directly, at 620-215-7125, rather than rely on social media. The next step is the attorney’s opinion on whether the county can realistically reclaim the building “to try to make sure it gets in the hands of someone that’s on better financial footing” — and keep a hospital here for decades to come.

Reporting note: This article is based on a June 11, 2026 interview with Commissioner Gregg Motley. Building history and donation terms come from prior FortScott.biz reporting and county records. Characterizations of the finances, licensing, lease and legal views are Motley’s account; KRI, Legacy Healthcare Foundation and Freeman Health System were not interviewed and may differ.

Bourbon County

Walker v. Crux Update: Recall Committee Moves to Rejoin the Case

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The legal fight over the effort to recall Bourbon County Clerk Susan Walker has taken a new turn: the three members of the recall committee, after being dropped from the lawsuit, are now asking the judge to let them back in as a group. On June 9 they filed a motion to intervene, along with a request to throw Walker’s lawsuit out entirely.

This is the latest step in a case we have been following. For the fuller background — how the lawsuit started and how the committee members came to be dismissed — see our earlier story: Walker v. Crux Update: Recall Committee Dismissed, Member Fights Back.

Key events

  • A petition is being circulated to recall Walker from office. It points to mistakes on the USD 235 (Uniontown) school board ballots in the November 2025 election.
  • Walker sued, asking a court to rule that the recall petition does not meet the legal requirements, which would stop it from going to a vote. She first named County Attorney James Crux and the three recall committee members as defendants: Kyle R. Parks, Kevin Wagner, and Lyle K. Owenby.
  • She later narrowed her lawsuit to drop the three committee members and proceed only against Crux. The judge dismissed them from the case. Wagner then asked the judge to undo that dismissal.

What’s new (June 5–9)

  • June 5 — Walker’s attorney filed a response opposing Wagner’s request to undo the dismissal. Her argument, in plain terms: dropping the committee members was proper, and if they want back in, the right way is to ask to “intervene” — formally join the case — not to reverse the dismissal.
  • June 9 — That is exactly what they did. All three committee members, now represented by Wichita attorney Patrick B. Hughes, filed a motion to intervene under K.S.A. 60-224, the state law on joining a lawsuit. They argue they are “necessary parties” — people the case cannot fairly be decided without — under K.S.A. 60-219, because the case asks the court to decide whether their recall petition is valid. County Attorney Crux, they say, cannot stand in for them — his role is separate, and a ruling without them could leave Crux facing conflicting court orders later on.
  • If the judge lets them back into the case, they also want to throw Walker’s lawsuit out under K.S.A. 60-5320, the Kansas Public Speech Protection Act, and to make Walker pay their attorney fees. That law — often called an “anti-SLAPP” law — lets people who are sued over protected speech or petition activity ask a court to dismiss the case early. They included a copy of that motion with their June 9 filing.

Underneath the legal back-and-forth is a factual dispute about what happened with the November 2025 ballots. Neither side disputes that about 50 of the USD 235 school board ballots used during early voting were printed wrong, but they do disagree about whether Walker acted fast enough to fix them.

The recall committee’s petition, which Kansas requires the petitioners swear are true,  says Walker “caused to be printed and distributed incorrect ballots,” and that even though the problem was “brought to her attention by multiple individuals during the early voting period,” she did not correct it promptly and new, correct ballots were not printed until the night before Election Day.

However, in Walker’s sworn court petition, she says she “took immediate action to cure the ballot error”: within about four hours she and her staff set up a corrected election with the county’s voting-machine vendor, and, working into the early morning of Election Day, printed roughly 2,600 new ballots before voters went to the polls. In a written statement she released to the public, she added that her office received only one complaint just before early voting ended on Nov. 3, 2025 and that a review of two weeks of her office’s phone records turned up no earlier complaint. She points to the state law requiring that ballot mistakes be “corrected without delay” (K.S.A. 25-604) and says she did exactly that once she knew about the error.

It is worth being clear that none of these filings is asking the court to decide on the conflicting sworn statements. As the committee’s own filing puts it, whether Walker’s explanation is convincing is “a question for the voters, not the court.” The judge’s job at this stage is narrower: to decide whether the recall petition meets the legal requirements to move forward, such as stating valid grounds. Under K.S.A. 25-4302, “failure to perform duties prescribed by law” is one of the grounds Kansas law allows for a recall.

On June 9 the court also granted a 14-day extension giving County Attorney Crux until June 23 to formally respond to Walker’s lawsuit. The judge has not yet ruled on Wagner’s request to undo the dismissal, on the committee’s request to rejoin, or on the underlying question of whether the recall petition is legally sufficient. No hearing date had been set as of this writing.

Being named in a lawsuit is not a finding of wrongdoing, and the filings described here reflect each party’s arguments, not the court’s conclusions. FortScott.biz will continue to follow the case.

Opinion

Storms on the Sea of Life by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

As I watched the movie “The Twister: Caught in the Storm,” I was reminded of the tornado warnings we had when I was a child living in Fort Scott. When the warning signs screamed, my mother gathered up the three of us kids and headed to our neighbor’s cellar across the street. I had packed a box loaded with my favorite things, just in case. My stuffed monkey sat atop my plastic horses and pop-bead bracelets, treasures I could not live without. When the all-clear siren blasted, I knew my precious treasures and I were safe… at least for a while. Little did I know, those storms were nothing compared to the figurative storms I would face as an adult. You probably can relate.

Life is filled with storms – crazy schedules, emotional bankruptcy and physical exhaustion. My first reaction is to run and hide until the storm passes, but I have learned that (1) there will always be another storm, and (2) I must be prepared before those trials hit. That means I sometimes must say “no” to requests that do not edify those I love or the Lord. If not, my life becomes pretty chaotic.

My girlfriend Robin and I recently were discussing how easy it is to miss God’s will when we are navigating turbulent decisions. She and her husband moved to another town when they were offered a good price on their home. The only problem? They had to be out in three weeks…not a lot of time to check out other properties on the market in their new location. One prospective house needed a little work, but when the inspector assured them that all was well, they placed a bid that was accepted.

Unfortunately, they had purchased “the money pit.” A few days after moving in, Robin’s husband was in the attic, moving boxes, unaware there was a hole in the ceiling, a hole he fell through, resulting in seven broken ribs, a head laceration, a broken finger and a broken hip. As bad as that was, nothing prepared them for the cockroach infestation, a refrigerator and dishwasher that did not work, and a copperhead that crawled up Robin’s leg when she was in her back yard.

“I probably didn’t pray enough,” she said. “I prayed but clearly panicked with the time constraints.” Oh, how many times have I done the same! There isn’t enough room here to describe my inability to listen to God before I jump in, and usually a storm of some sort is waiting for me. Then again, in my case, that storm might be for my benefit to draw me closer to God.

One of the most recognizable stories in the Bible is when Jesus slept during a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. The day has been long, filled with teaching, healing, and ministry, and the disciples are weary. Although accomplished fishermen, they, accompanying him in the boat, cannot imagine how he is not awakened as the “waves swept over the boat.”

Matthew 8:26, 27 reports that Jesus replied, “’You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’”

Bible Hub tells us that Jesus’ words point to the danger of fear when faith is weak, and they serve as a reminder that true faith trusts in His power and presence. Jesus not only has authority over creation, he also can bring peace to the chaos of life. Think about it. His ability to calm the sea is immediate and complete. There are no after-effects except, of course, in the life of the disciples who once again are witnesses to the person in whom they need to place their faith.

What storm are you enduring? If you are trying to face it alone, you are missing an opportunity to call on the One who can make an everlasting difference, and in this case, you don’t even have to wake him up to ask for his help.

Bourbon County

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – June 12, 2026

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Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – June 12, 2026

Arrested

Arent, Nicholas Ray (Age 43) — Arrested 6/11/2026 2:51 AM by Fort Scott Police Department. Charges: Possess Opiates/Opium/Narc Drug and Certain Stim, Use/Poss Drug Paraphernalia/Human Body. Bond: $2,000.00 (Cash/Surety). Released 6/11/2026 5:53 PM via Surety Bond (Able Bonding).

Leonord, Hilary Rose (Age 42) — Arrested 6/11/2026 3:37 PM by Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Charge: Domestic Battery; Knowing/Reckless Bodily Harm. Bond: $0.00 (No Bond).

Young, Corey Danielle (Age 52) — Arrested 6/12/2026 2:00 AM by Fort Scott Police Department. Charges: Cultivate/Distribute/W/Int Opiates/Opium/Narc/Stim, Poss of Certain Hallucinogenics W/1 Prior Conv, Use/Poss Drug Paraphernalia/Human Body. Bond: $0.00 (No Bond).

Blevins, Roger Dean (Age 57) — Arrested 6/12/2026 2:09 AM by Fort Scott Police Department. Charges: Possess Opiates/Opium/Narc Drug and Certain Stim, Use/Poss Drug Paraphernalia/Human Body. Bond: $0.00 (No Bond).

Released

Arent, Nicholas Ray — Released 6/11/2026 5:53 PM via Surety Bond (Able Bonding).

Lotterer, Joseph — Released 6/11/2026 8:00 AM via Probation (Self).

Ludeman, Samantha Joy — Released 6/11/2026 7:03 AM via Transferred Out (KDOC).

Total Inmates Released: 3

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Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Annual Chamber Golf Tournament is June 26

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The Fort Scott Area

Chamber of Commerce presents the

32nd Annual

Chamber Golf Classic

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to invite members, businesses, organizations, golfers, and the community to the 32nd Annual Chamber Golf Classic!

 

This annual tournament is a great way to enjoy a fun day on the course, promote your business or organization, and support the Chamber. Teams, sponsorships, and raffle items are now being accepted.

Click here for online registration, printable registration & sponsorship form, and more info.!

 

Friday, June 26th

Woodland Hills Golf Course

2414 s. Horton St.

Registration & Putting Contest

8am

Shotgun Start

9am

Format

4-person Scramble

$320 per team includes:

Play, lunch, cart, mulligans, games package, & skins

Limited carts are available, so teams with their own cart are encouraged to bring it.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Sponsorships

This annual event is a great opportunity to promote your business or organization while supporting the Chamber and enjoying a fun day of golf, networking, and community connection.

BANNER SPONSOR
Showcase your business name & logo prominently displayed along the fence at #1 tee box. sponsor logos also included on pre-tournament materials

Banner + Team

$595 with own/prior banner

$645 if banner is made

Banner Only

$300

$350 if banner is made

EXCLUSIVE HOLE SPONSOR

Showcase your business name & logo displayed

exclusively on a hole.

Exclusive Hole + Team
$495

Exclusive Hole Sponsor Only:

$200

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

Sponsor sign with business name displayed in front of the clubhouse, showing your support.

Supporting Sponsor & Team

$420

Supporting Sponsor Only

$125

TEAM ENTRY ONLY

Enjoy a great day of golf, which includes play, lunch, cart, mulligans, games package, and skins.

$320

Click HERE for a PDF copy of Sponsorship levels and information.

Reserve your sponsorship:

[email protected] or 620-223-3566

Raffle & Prize Donations Needed!

The Chamber is also accepting raffle and prize donations for the Golf Classic. Donated items help add excitement to the event and give businesses another great way to be recognized.

Items may include gift certificates, merchandise, themed baskets, promotional items, services, golf items, swag bag items, or hole prize giveaways.

All donations are appreciated and help make the tournament more fun for players while showcasing local businesses and organizations.

Register Today!

Teams may register online, stop by, or call the Chamber Office!

620-223-3566

231 E. Wall St.

Click HERE to register!

Click HERE to visit the

FS Area Chamber of Commerce

Facebook Page!

Click HERE to visit the

FS Area Chamber of Commerce

website!
A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com
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Click HERE to view our 2026 Community Guide-Member Directory!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
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Bourbon County

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – June 11, 2026

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Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – June 11, 2026

Arrested

Arent, Nicholas Ray (Age 43) — Arrested 6/11/2026 2:51 AM by Fort Scott Police Department. Charges: Possess Opiates/Opium/Narc Drug and Certain Stimulants, Use/Possess Drug Paraphernalia/Human Body. Bond: $0.00.

Released

Lotterer, Joseph — Released 6/11/2026 8:00 AM via Probation (Self).

Ludeman, Samantha Joy — Released 6/11/2026 7:03 AM via Transferred Out (KDOC).

Total Inmates Released: 2

Documents:

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Health Care

CHC/SEK to Assume Operations of Ascension St. John Primary Care

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INDEPENDENCE, Kan. — The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is pleased to announce an agreement with Ascension St. John to assume operations of Ascension St. John Primary Care in Independence, Kansas, effective July 1, 2026.

As part of this transition, Ascension will donate the clinic’s building and land to CHC/SEK. CHC/SEK and Ascension St. John are committed to ensuring a seamless transition for every patient.

“We very much appreciate Ascension’s trust in us and are committed to ensuring that every patient in Independence receives the quality care they deserve,” said Krista Postai, CHC/SEK Chief Executive Officer.

This agreement deepens CHC/SEK’s longstanding roots in Montgomery County. The organization first came to the area in 2012 with the opening of its Coffeyville location. CHC/SEK’s Independence clinic, established in partnership with Four County Mental Health Center, opened in 2014.

Moving forward, CHC/SEK will operate two locations in Independence. The new CHC/SEK Independence clinic will open on August 10, 2026, offering primary care services as well as specialty services in collaboration with Ascension. Erica Whitson, APRN-C, will join the CHC/SEK team, providing family medicine services. Walk-in care and pharmacy services will be introduced later in the year.

Earlier this year, CHC/SEK released the results of its 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment, which serves as a blueprint for the organization’s plans to address the region’s largest health challenges. “Our Community Health Needs Assessment made one thing clear: the people of southeast Kansas need more access to care,” said Jason Wesco, CHC/SEK President and Chief Strategy Officer. “Every barrier we remove, whether it’s distance, cost, or availability, is a step toward a healthier community.”

Expanding access to quality, affordable care is not just a goal for CHC/SEK, it is the mission. The organization serves more than 85,000 patients annually across Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma, a region that faces persistent provider shortages and generational poverty. This investment into the Independence community is one of the many ways CHC/SEK strives to meet these challenges head-on.

CHC/SEK has built its recent growth by developing partnerships aimed at preserving healthcare access in rural communities. Before opening a new location, CHC/SEK works to first understand the community’s unique needs and tailors services accordingly. Over the past several years, the organization has opened clinics in:

  • Arma, Fort Scott, Mound City, Pleasanton, and Miami, Oklahoma (2019)
  • Garnett (2022)
  • Pittsburg State University campus and Bartlesville, Oklahoma (2023)

For more information, visit chcsek.org.

About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas serves as a healthcare hub for communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. CHC/SEK delivers quality, integrated care to nearly 90,000 patients each year with a goal of improving health, sustaining rural communities, and providing purpose-driven work to 950 staff members. Beyond healthcare, CHC/SEK finds innovative ways to improve lives by focusing on education, housing, and transportation. Regardless of income or insurance status, CHC/SEK ensures everyone receives the care they need. For more information, visit chcsek.org.

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Obituary

Obituary of Joyce Ann (Cox) Findley

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Joyce Ann (Cox) Findley, 73, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children. Born on August 3, 1952, in Deerfield, Missouri, she was the daughter of Elmer and Arta Mae Cox and grew up alongside her six siblings: Lonni, Jerry, Marilyn, Karen, Forrest, and Patsy.

Joyce was known for her kind heart, caring nature, and beautiful smile. She married Floyd Findley in August of 1980 in Miami, Oklahoma, and together they built a loving family. Joyce devoted her life to being a homemaker and caring for those she loved most. She was a proud mother to Jason, Melanie, and Kenneth, and grandmother to Bailey, Tyler, Megan, and Phoenix. One of her greatest joys in recent years was having all of her children back home living in Fort Scott.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Findley, in 2015. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her ever-present smile, and the chocolate chip cookies that brought everyone to her kitchen table. Her kindness, will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.

Bourbon County Local News