FortScott.biz covers news in the Fort Scott area with a particular focus on business, government and community. If you have news, a press release or a suggestion for an article, please contact us at [email protected].
FortScott.Biz
PO Box 81
Fort Scott, KS 66701
1-888-937-4210
Comment Policy
FortScott.biz allows comments to facilitate civil discourse. We encourage readers to share their opinion on various stories. Please use your real name and email address when adding a comment.
Library looks beautiful love the colors and big thanks to all who made it happen READING one of life’s great pass times.
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you offer.
It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the
same old rehashed material. Great read! I’ve bookmarked
your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
I noticed in the Marilyn Love obituary that her son Shane walker is listed twice and son Lane is not listed but his wife is listed with Shane on the second listing.
Bob Love
Cheney Witt sent a corrected obituary for Marilyn Love and fortscott.biz published it about 20 hours ago.
How about an article on the fiasco at City Hall – AKA City of Fort Scott Utilities Department?
I cant see the sheriff’s office reports any more why? Sheriff reports
Good day!
Since the elections last year we’ve seen much change, whether in our control or not. Let’s control our future. Let’s work together on the things we want to improve.
Many of the things we want to be better in Bourbon County are why we elect certain people to lead us. However, we have only so much resources of full-time personnel and funds. Perhaps it’s time for the citizens to assist in order to accomplish what we want.
Street quality is an issue. If it’s possible, can volunteers help the street department when it’s time to do activities volunteers can do such as hand labor (think picking up and placing bricks)?
I don’t know how much time it takes to keep the public lands mowed. When the government mows they can’t do other things. Is there a way to have volunteers help with this task, whether operating their own equipment or the governments?
Many properties in the county have not kept up with their property tax payments. It’s currently not illegal since the collection of such taxes are behind by more than a year. Perhaps a plan should be developed to get caught up sooner than later. It’s funding that’s available without needing to raise the tax rate. What resources are needed to get caught up, and how can volunteers help accomplish this task?
The care of private properties sometimes doesn’t meet codes yet continues on a wide scale due to a lack of resources, mainly time and personnel. Is there a way to have volunteers help the Codes Department accomplish their tasks?
All are appreciative of the assistance private and public ‘help’ groups provide. When public funds are used to fund such groups perhaps the groups ensure as much as possible that the funds are used for those truly in need. And for those that are helped by the groups, perhaps they should help the groups continue their work.
In today’s world there is a large amount of information needed to be understood and followed when doing projects such as what the Water Department and Streets are involved with. Perhaps there ought to be multiple people including volunteers learn and understand the guidelines to assist when needed, and keep the knowledge available when changes in personnel occurs.
Long story short, we only have a certain amount of funds, people, and time provided by the government bodies. Instead of talk, complain, and watch our limited resources try to do what we’d like done, let’s take action ourselves under the direction of our leaders once they determine what volunteers can participate in.
FROM THE BLEACHERS-716
BY DR. JACK WELCH
A Life Well-Led: Remembering Dick Hedges and His Legacy of Service and Leadership
Thinking about when I served underneath a legendary administrator, I was reminded of the leadership and guidance I received. In a world where titles are often seen as the measure of success, Dick Hedges never saw his roles, as college president of Fort Scott Community College, mayor, or board of trustee, as positions of power, but rather as platforms for service. His life was not defined by the seats he held, but by the lives he touched.
Dick Hedges, a man whose name has long been synonymous with integrity, mentorship, and community commitment, leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond any single institution or office. He was not just a leader; he was a builder of people, a steady hand in turbulent times, and a voice of reason and compassion when it was needed most.
Those who had the privilege of knowing Dick, remember a man who never sought the spotlight, yet somehow always found himself in it, not because he demanded attention, but because his character commanded respect. He mentored young leaders, guided institutions through seasons of change, and reminded everyone in his circle of the value of humility, hard work, and doing the right thing, even when no one was looking.
Serving as president, Dick led with a deep understanding that education was more than books and tests. It was about unlocking potential. Under his leadership, programs expanded, student success soared, and a culture of care and accountability took root. He walked through the halls, shook hands, listened deeply, and believed in second chances. He understood that shaping minds also meant shaping hearts.
His service as mayor was equally impactful. In every city council meeting, in every community project, in every decision made, Dick brought the same sense of stewardship and purpose. His leadership was never about personal gain; it was always about leaving his community better than he found it. Streets were paved, parks were improved, but most importantly, people felt seen and heard. He governed with the belief that small towns could do great things when people worked together.
As a member of the board of trustees, Dick never missed a chance to lift others up. He encouraged collaboration over competition, vision over ego. Whether mentoring a young coach, advising a new teacher, or guiding a fellow trustee, Dick believed in sharing wisdom, not hoarding it. Although he is now gone from this world, his influence continues to spread through schools, city halls, churches, and homes.
At the heart of everything Dick Hedges did was an unshakable belief in service. He lived as a transformational leader, someone who didn’t just manage change, but inspired it. He didn’t just lead teams or organizations; he led people to become better versions of themselves.
We often talk about “legacy” in abstract terms, but with Dick Hedges, it’s visible and real. It lives in the institutions he strengthened, the policies he shaped, and the people he mentored. It lives in the students who walked across graduation stages because he never gave up on them. It lives in the citizens who felt pride in their town because he fought for it. It lives in the hearts of all of us who carry his example forward.
My aim is to strive to be more like my mentor: listening more, judging less, leading with heart, and lifting others along the way. He once said, “Leadership is simply serving others long enough, often enough, and selflessly enough that they begin to believe they can do more than they ever thought possible.” Dick Hedges did just that. Those who had him as a mentor are better because of it.
Thought for the week, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Isaac Newton
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive on the field, in the classroom, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.