Monthly Archives: September 2025

Obituary

Obituary of John Nicholas “Nick” Sell

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John Nicholas Sell, II, known affectionately as Nick, passed away on September 21, 2025, at the age of 73, in Joplin, Missouri, after a period of ill health. Born on October 2, 1951, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Ernest J and Billie (nee Miller) Sell, Nick lived a life marked by dedication to family, service, and a love for adventure.

Nick grew up in Chicago, IL laid the foundation for a person of remarkable skill and warmth. After completing his education at Pittsburg State University in Autobody, he went on to apply his trade across various dealerships. Nick’s entrepreneurial spirit shone when he owned and operated Sell & Son tools, distributing Mac Tools with a reputation for quality and service. Nick’s later years were spent working at Hix Corporation and Crawford State Park, where he left a lasting impression before his well-deserved retirement.

A pillar of his community, Nick served with distinction as a volunteer firefighter and Treasurer for the Sherman Township Fire Department. His commitment extended to his role on the Honor Guard, where he stood in solemn respect for his fellow service members. Nick’s Christian faith was a guiding light throughout his life, providing his with strength and solace.

Beyond his professional and community service, Nick was a man of diverse interests. He was an avid scuba diver, exploring the underwater world with the same passion he brought to every endeavor. His love for the unique sport of underwater hockey showcased his adventurous spirit and sense of fun.

Nick’s warmth and humor were the glue of the Sell family. He is survived by his brother, Ernie (Andrea) Sell; his daughters, Christina “Nina” (Greg) Bulow and Guinnevere “Guinn” (Bill) Ehrheart; his sons, John Nicholas, Jr. and John Paul (Kylee) Sell. His legacy extends to his cherished grandchildren, Brad (Haley) and Drake (Kaylee) Markley, Joseph Ehrheart and Tara Stienbarger, Natalie (Connor) O’Dell and Emma (Nathan) Hays, Kaytlin Timmons, and Gabrielle (Alex) Sell, as well as Max Bulow. Nick was also blessed with great-grandchildren, Aubree, Nash, Knox, and Mae Markley, Connor, Declan, and Alessa Stienbarger, Lyla and Willow Hays, Remington Brekken, and Cyrus Sadler, who will carry forward his love and zest for life. And Debra Pryor former wife and longtime friend.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Jennifer “Jen” O’Dell, and her husband Darrel “Dino” O’Dell. His passing leaves a void in the lives of all who knew him, yet his influence remains palpable. Described by those who loved him as friendly, funny, and incredibly handy, Nick was a beacon of joy and practicality.

As we say farewell to John Nicholas Sell, II, we celebrate a life lived with purpose and generosity. He has left an indelible mark on his family, friends, and community, and his memory will continue to inspire and comfort those who were fortunate enough to have known him. Nick’s story is one of love, laughter, and service, and it is with these memories we will honor his legacy.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Thursday, September 25th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:00 AM until service time at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren Education Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott, Housing

Fort Scott Manor Is Turned Into Standard Market Apartments

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Workers are finishing up work at the former Fort Scott Manor to turn it into apartments for the community, which are named Charlotte Place.

Fort Scottians need more apartments, and a Kansas contractor is turning a former nursing home, which has been vacant for several years, into new rentals after a complete renovation of the property.

The former Fort Scott Manor nursing home property, 736 Heylman, was purchased by  Rural Asset Management (RAM) in January 2022, after being closed down by the state several years prior.

The new name for the Fort Scott property is Charlotte Place, RAM Owner Shane Lamb said, adding that his children pick the name of the business’s properties.

The first four units are slated for rental availability in late October, said  Lamb, if all goes as planned.

Work started on the property, then halted to finish a similar Iola project in March 2025.

“It’s coming together, it’s been an intensive and costly project, and it should be nice when done,” he said. “Our goal is to be the nicest apartments in the community we are in, and to keep it affordable.”

There will be 24 units:  one-bedroom, one-bath apartments are 550-626 square feet with a range of $650-695 per month,  two-bedroom apartments are between 700-1000 square feet with a range of $800 to 875, and there will be a 500 square foot studio apartment for short-term rentals, Lamb said.

“The short-term rental, a couple of local businesses want to lease for their staff,” Lamb said.

The apartments will feature new appliances, including a stove, above-stove microwave, and fridge, and will be equipped with fiber optic internet availability.

Tenants will pay rent and their electric bill; the landlord pays for the water, trash, and sewer service.

There will be a brand new on-site laundry provided for the tenants.

Additionally, “there will be a pet-friendly fenced-in area in the back of the apartments,” he said.

These apartments will not be low-income rentals, but instead will be available to the standard market, said Lamb.

“The standard market means that they are not subsidized by the government,” Lamb said.

About Rural Asset Management

RAM focuses on rural towns and rural housing, purchasing nursing homes, schools,  and hospitals that are converted to housing, according to a prior interview with Lamb.

“We currently have 13 projects under construction in rural communities,” he said. “We typically supply 300-600 apartments per year in rural communities.”

Elections, Government, Kansas

KS Governor Asks Legislature to Talk to Constituents About Redistricting

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Governor Kelly Calls for Public Meetings Prior to Circulation of Redistricting Special Session Petition


TOPEKA – In light of rumors circulating that Republican legislative leadership may call a special session of the legislature to do the bidding of D.C. politicians and enact mid-decade redistricting, Governor Laura Kelly issued the following statement:

“I do not agree with mid-decade redistricting based on old data and a clearly partisan agenda. According to public reporting, Republican legislative leadership is seriously considering calling a special session of the legislature to enact new congressional district maps.

“A special session may be called by the governor or by the signing of a petition supporting the call by a two-thirds majority in each chamber. As I will not call a special session for mid-decade redistricting, Republican leadership would have to rely on a petition.

“A special session to draw new maps without new data would be an unprecedented departure from the normal post-Census process. For Kansans to have any faith in these new maps, they must be afforded opportunities to speak directly, in person, with their legislators.

“As imperfect as the last redistricting process was, legislative leadership held 18 public meetings. Then House Speaker Ron Ryckman said at the time, ‘It’s important to remember that redistricting is a multi-year process that starts with these town halls to get a gauge on what Kansans want.’ Senate President Ty Masterson said in January 2022, that Johnson County is the ‘core’ of the 3rd Congressional District.

“Any efforts to institute an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting must offer a robust public comment period with both online and in-person options, especially in Johnson County.

“That is why I am calling on legislative leadership to host town halls prior to circulating a petition for a special session. Kansans must be offered the opportunity to express their opinions directly to their representatives, as they have during previous redistricting processes.

“Discussions about a special session and redistricting must be brought out from behind closed doors and into the public domain.”

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Gordon Parks Museum, History

Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony

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The Gordon Parks Museum will host a grand opening event and dedication
ceremony for the Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Commemorative Park on
Thursday, October 2, at 4:30 p.m. as part of the Gordon Parks Celebration events.

The commemorative park is located at 301 S. Lowman Street in Fort Scott, on the historic site that was once
home to the oldest Black church in Fort Scott. The land, formerly the property of Wayman Chapel AME
Church, was generously donated to the Gordon Parks Museum by Fort Scott resident Josh Jones, through the
Fort Scott Community College Foundation.

.Josh Jones helped the Gordon Parks Museum receive the AME Church property in June 2023.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation
(left to right) Josh Jones, Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum, and Sarah Smith, Fort Scott Community College Foundation. Submitted photo.

The church was regularly attended by Gordon Parks and his family, and was even featured in a scene from
Parks’ acclaimed film, The Learning Tree.

Originally established in 1866, the church moved to its final location at Third and Lowman in 1885, where it
stood for more than 115 years as a spiritual and cultural cornerstone of Fort Scott’s Black community.

Declining membership and unsafe building conditions eventually led to its condemnation and demolition in the
early 2000s.

While the building is gone, its legacy endures: two original stained-glass windows, two pews, and
other archival objects from the church are now preserved in the Gordon Parks Museum’s permanent collection.

The property has since been transformed into a commemorative, low-maintenance park honoring the legacy of
the church.

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AME Church
Gordon Parks, 1950.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation. Submitted photo.

The new display signage includes four large storyboard panels (76” x 27”) featuring photos,
graphics, and text that highlight the church’s rich history and its vital role in the local Black community. These
panels are installed on a concrete slab beneath a pergola structure (12’ x 20’). In addition, a large 4’ x 3’
welcome sign will greet visitors at the park entrance.

The commemorative park is funded in part by Kansas Tourism and made possible with generous support from:
Armstrong Pressure Washing, LLC, Bourbon County Historical Association, City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Area
Community Foundation, Fort Scott Community College Foundation, The Healthy Bourbon County Action
Team’s Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), Josh Jones, Rick Mayhew, My One Stop, Marbery
Concrete, Inc. and McKenney Masonry, LLC.

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott National Historic Site to Host National Public Lands Day Event Sept. 27

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Prairie restoration. Submitted from Fort Scott National Historic Site, NPS.

Volunteers are needed for a day of helping remove weeds from Fort Scott National Historic Site on National Public Lands Day, September 27.

Tens of thousands of volunteers across the country will join in trail maintenance, planting projects, trash pick-up, and other activities aimed at restoring and caring for public lands to celebrate the 30th Annual National Public Lands Day.

 

On the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands, Fort Scott National Historic Site plans to remove invasive and exotic woody plants from the tallgrass prairie starting at 9:00 a.m. The first 50 volunteers will get a free one-day entry pass to federal public lands, valid for up to one year after the event. Tools, gloves, and other equipment will be provided by the park; volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and layered clothing. Sunscreen and insect spray are also encouraged. Kids under the age of 12 must stay with their parents, and pets are not allowed on the project. Entry is free to all National Parks on Public Lands Day, September 27th, 2025.

 

National Public Lands Day promotes shared stewardship of public lands through a variety of programs, activities, and volunteer work projects. In the last 10 years, NPLD has had more than 1,000,000 volunteers and generated more than $133 Million in volunteer service.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site’s exhibit areas and visitor center are open Friday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site is a free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc, on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS and Instagram www.instagram.com/fortscottnps

 

 

www.nps.gov

 

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

 

 

-NPS-

 

Credit Photo as: NPS Photo

Bourbon County, Youth

Parent Empowerment Circle September Meeting Is September 28

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Parent Empowerment Circle September Meeting: 
Is Your Child Struggling in School?
Learn the Real Differences Between IEPs and 504 Plans
🔹 What’s the right plan for your child?
🔹 How do you get one?
🔹 What are your rights as a parent?
Join us for a free, informative session with a Special Education Specialist who will walk us through the key differences between 504 Plans and IEPs, how to start the process, and how to advocate for your child effectively.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to all parents and caregivers of children with special needs (any physical or behavioral difference)— whether you’re just starting out or looking to better understand the system.
📅 Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
🕕 Time: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
📍 Location: First Southern Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS
🎤 Guest Speaker: Tonya Barnes, USD 234 Special Education Director
Cherri Walrod
Community Health Worker
K-State Research and Extension Southwind District
WORK CELL PHONE:  620-945-9081
Art, Bourbon County

Bourbon County Arts Council Presents Emily Hollingshed on October 17

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Bourbon County Arts Council

Bourbon County

Arts Council

Presents

Emily Hollingshed

Friday, October 17th

8-10pm

Liberty Theatre Patio

113 S. Main Fort Scott, KS

Tickets

$15 BCAC Member

$20 Non-Member

Contact

Terri Floyd 620-224-7221

Deb Anderson 620-224-8650

Click HERE to visit Bourbon County Arts Council’s

Facebook Page!

Click HERE to visit the Emily Hollingshed Music

Facebook Page

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Art, Gordon Parks Museum

The Gordon Parks Museum to Host Mural Dedication

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Fort Scott, Kan. Sept. 22, 2025 – The Gordon Parks Museum will host a dedication ceremony for a new mural
honoring Gordon Parks on Friday, October 3, at 4:15 p.m. as part of the Gordon Parks Celebration events.
The mural will be located on the north side of the Wilder House Building at 18 East Wall Street (home of the
Sunshine Boutique) in downtown Fort Scott.

Renowned St. Louis–based visual artist and illustrator Cbabi Bayoc designed and painted the mural. Bayoc is
internationally known for his vibrant and thought-provoking works and is also the artist behind the First Kansas
Colored Infantry Mural, completed in 2023 on the north downtown building at 9 South Main Street near Skubitz
Plaza, facing the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

The Gordon Parks Museum received a $6,874 grant from the Kansas Arts Commission Public Art and Murals
Grant Program to support the project. Funding for Kansas Arts Commission grants is provided by the Kansas
Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Additional support for the project is provided by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and Fort Scott
Forward.

For more information, please contact The Gordon Parks Museum at (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850 or
[email protected]

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Schools, Youth

Parents: Learn the Real Differences Between IEPs and 504 Plans

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Is Your Child Struggling in School?
Learn the Real Differences Between IEPs and 504 Plans
🔹 What’s the right plan for your child?
🔹 How do you get one?
🔹 What are your rights as a parent?
Join us for a free, informative session with a Special Education Specialist who will walk us through the key differences between 504 Plans and IEPs, how to start the process, and how to advocate for your child effectively.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to all parents and caregivers of children with special needs (any physical or behavioral difference)— whether you’re just starting out or looking to better understand the system.
📅 Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
🕕 Time: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
📍 Location: First Southern Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS
🎤 Guest Speaker: Tonya Barnes, USD 234 Special Education Director
Submitted by
Cherri Walrod
Cherri Walrod, K-State Extension Community Health Worker.
Community Health Worker
K-State Research and Extension Southwind District
Area News, Government, Health Care

Workers Comp Seminar Sept. 23-24

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Kansas Department of Labor to Host 51st Annual Workers Compensation Seminar

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) will host its 51st annual Workers Compensation Seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 23-24, 2025, at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan.

The two-day event provides legal, medical and case management professionals with the latest updates on workers compensation and the opportunity to earn continuing education credits.

This year’s seminar features a variety of educational opportunities, including morning general sessions and three focused tracks: Legal, Management and Medical.

Event Details:

  • Dates: September 23–24, 2025
  • Location: Overland Park Convention Center

For more information about the seminar agenda, please visit dol.ks.gov/wc/seminar and follow KDOL on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn using #KSWCSeminar.

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