Esther Ruth Arnold, 72, of Fort Scott, passed away Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Fort Scott Freeman Hospital. She was born in Kirksville, Missouri on August 26, 1953, the daughter of Maynard Land and Ethel Elizabeth Grogan Osborn. She married Victor Arnold on June 21, 1986, in Kirksville, Missouri, he survives of the home.
She was an L.P.N. in Kirksville, Mo. She attended K.C.C.B.S. and taught there, as well. She graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University. In 1986 she moved to Fort Scott and taught at the Fort Scott Christian Heights School and substituted for U234. She is a member of the Parkway Church of God.
In addition to her husband, Victor, she is survived by a son, Alex Arnold of Fort Scott, a daughter Kaitlyn and Kyle Warren of Redfield, Kansas, a sister, Deborah Johnson of Lambertville, Michigan, 12 brothers & sisters-in-law, and a host of nieces and nephews, including Heidi Mykolajczyk and Katrina Christian. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services for Esther Arnold will be 10:30am, Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Parkway Church of God, with Pastor Nathan Bryant officiating. The Family will receive friends at 10:00 am Saturday at the Church prior to the funeral. Private burial will follow.
Memorials may be made to the Fort Scott Christian Heights School and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701.
Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets. It is the location of the local WIC program in our community.
The U.S. Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding the government beginning on October 1, 2025.
WIC is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and it is affected by the shutdown. The local health agency is advising WIC users to stock up on food and other items to prepare for this lack of federal funding.
WIC is available for income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding moms, and children under five (up to their fifth birthday). Dads, grandparents, foster parents, and anyone raising kids under five can apply for support for the kids in their care.
The local WIC Clinic is part of the SEK Multi-County Health Department, and is located at 6th and Lowman Streets in Fort Scott.
From a press release from the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department:
WIC may operate short-term in Kansas by using limited prior-year federal funding.
There is a risk that WIC benefits will be paused, reduced, or ceased.
WIC Food benefits are estimated to last until the end of October, but that can’t be assured.
Users are encouraged to buy shelf-ready healthy food and/or items the family uses at this time, balancing food safety and storage areas available.
Local food banks, pantries, and non-profit groups may be of assistance if WIC benefits are temporarily disrupted.
WIC users are encouraged to continue using their benefits and attending appointments, but call 24 hours before, to verify the office is open, 620.223.4464.
If the WIC clinic closes due to lack of funding, contact the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment at 785-296-2683 for assistance.
The press release asks that users consider letting their elected U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt, and Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran know how important WIC is to their family and urge them to restore funding.
To reach elected representatives:
President Donald Trump has no phone number to leave comments on; however, the address is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Schmidt can be reached at 202.225.6601 or 1223 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20515.
Marshal: 202.224.4774 or PO Box 1588, Great Bend, KS 67530
Moran: 620.232.2286 or PO Box 1372, Pittsburg, KS 66762
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has partnered with the Kansas Prevention Collaborative (KPC) to host the eighth annual Kansas Prevention Collaborative Conference on October 16-17, 2025, with a pre-conference session on October 15. This year’s conference, “Voices of Prevention: Sharing Stories; Creating Impact,” welcomes five outstanding keynote speakers and breakout session speakers from across the nation.
The KPC Conference will provide attendees with educational opportunities to increase awareness of emerging trends in prevention, build skills and knowledge to prevent suicide, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug misuse, and advocate for best practices. Participants will also learn ways to connect and network with their community and advocate for best practices in prevention.
“Each year, the Kansas Prevention Collaborative Conference reminds us that prevention is not a single action—it’s a movement built through connection and shared purpose,” KDADS Behavioral Health Services Prevention Program Manager Stephanie Rhinehart said. “As we continue expanding prevention efforts statewide, this year’s theme underscores the power of personal stories to drive change and the importance of lifting new voices that move Kansas toward stronger, healthier communities.”
The conference will kick off on October 16 with four keynote addresses. Monica Forrest, Monica Kurz, Dave Sotelo, and Kimberly Freese will bring this year’s theme to life through the powerful stories of four leaders working to create change in their communities. Each speaker will share personal and professional experiences that highlight resilience, innovation, and the power of connection. Their voices reflect the strength of our collective mission to prevent substance use and misuse, promote mental wellness, and build healthier communities across Kansas.
Justin Maffett, corporate lawyer, advocate, and multimedia storyteller, will close the conference on October 17 with a keynote presentation, “Still Here: Resilience and Building Back Better.” This closing session invites attendees to consider how we build back better – individually, in community, and within systems of care – and what it truly means to say, “I’m still here.”
KDADS’ Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Commission and the KPC are excited to provide this learning opportunity to communities across Kansas. To learn more about the conference, view the schedule, and read more about the keynote speakers, visit kansaspreventioncollaborative.org/conference.
KPC is a group of five partner organizations funded by KDADS working to integrate and innovate behavioral health prevention efforts. This conference is part of KPC’s strategy to ensure that Kansans get the tools they need to prevent underage drinking, substance misuse, problem gambling, and suicide. Partner organizations are KDADS, the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute, DCCCA, the Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush, and the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas.
These five partner organizations, along with these four gold conference sponsors, make this year’s event possible: BeePurple, HeadQuarters Kansas, Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition, and TFI Family Services.
About the Kansas Prevention Collaborative: The Kansas Prevention Collaborative was created in 2015 to integrate and innovate behavioral health prevention efforts. A partnership of several different state, educational, and provider agencies, the KPC’s goal is to expand prevention efforts to include mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and problem gambling education and awareness, as well as increase the availability of resources to adequately fund local-level prevention and promotion strategic plans. For interviews, media inquiries, or more information, please contact the Kansas Prevention Collaborative at [email protected].
We invite you to our next Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet to be held FRIDAY, October 17th from 8:30 to 9:30am in the back room of Common Ground Coffee Co., where owners Wayne & Stacy Racy, are excited to host!
Please note that the Quarterly Meet & Greets are normally held the first Tuesday of each quarter, but we are trying a Friday this quarter to accommodate business owners not able to join us on Tuesdays.
We hope to see you there where we will go over details for upcoming Downtown events and other information related to our Downtown Historic District!
Saturday, 10/25 – Downtown Halloween Parade, activities 10am, actual parade 11am
>>> The City is hosting Almost Kiss for a concert at Gathering Square the night of 10/25 from 9-10:30pm, weather permitting, if not then Memorial Hall, costumes encouraged, bring your own chair.
Thursday, 11/6 – Holiday Open House Shopping Main Event, 5-8pm (open house continues Fri/Sat)
Saturday, 11/29 – Small Business Saturday
Thursday, 12/4 – Christmas Parade, 6pm
Thursday, 12/4 to Sunday 12/7 – Christmas on the Bricks, stores open late until at least 8pm (Candlelight Tours of the Fort Fri/Sat nights)
The Glide Synthetic Ice Skating Rink will be open at Gathering Square from Friday 12/5 thru at least the first weekend of January.
Let me know if you have anything particular you would like included on the agenda!
There will be coffee, water, and light refreshments available for the meeting, but feel free to arrive early or call in ahead to order anything you would like to support Common Ground at 620-223-2499.
Building Health, Inc. CareVan – General Public Transportation Letter of Support
Becky Gray, Executive Director of Non-profit, Building Health, Inc., spoke about her organization’s CareVan program. The program offers general transportation in Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee Counties, as well as non-emergency medical rides.
“The riders’ experience is, I think, world-class, particularly for southeast Kansas,” she said. Their drivers are trained through the Kansas Rural Transit Association program from KU.
All of their vans are ADA accessible. They provided 2300 rides in Bourbon County last year, 1,600 of them were general transportation, the remainder was to get them to non-emergency medical appointments. They transport throughout the region, including to Kansas City, Joplin, and Tulsa. Primary pick up places are Fort Scott, Redfield, Bronson, Arcadia, and other small communities.
CareVan shares the road with CCAP. By tracking the requested rides they are unable to provide, but have referred to CCAP, Gray said about 22 rides per month go unserved. She said this shows the need for additional transportation services in Bourbon County.
“We’re trying to fill that,” she said. However, KDOT requires local match money to help support the general public transportation program. Her organization bills individual insurance plans for the non-emergency medical transportation they provide to meet that requirement.
She is asking for a letter of support to help their organization’s grant application to KDOT
Commissioner Mika Milburn said the commission would like to sign it next week, when Commissioner Samuel Tran is back.
Dereck Ranes with Noise Complaint
Ranes came back to the commission to ask for a moratorium and a noise resolution regarding the bitcoin mining natural gas generators near his property, which he spoke with the commission about last week. He referred to the moratorium the commission placed on solar panels.
“We’ve lived there 6 years, and the last two years is nothing but stress,” he said. “The noise is overbearing,”
He was told by the owner of the company that operates the generators that he would do something to mitigate the noise if he got the generators working 24 hours, 7 days a week, but he has done nothing.
Ranes also expressed concern about rumors that the lessor is trying to purchase the land for expansion. He has also heard they are going to drill two new wells, and that there are people working in there at all hours.
“I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t hear it in my house,” said Raines.
Ranes said that the stress of having the constant noise is taking a toll on him and his family.
Neighbor Kimberly Sparks lives 3/4 of a mile away and can hear the humming and feel the vibration constantly. “It’s very upsetting,” she said.
“I’m concerned that it’s going to get bad,” she said of unregulated development in the area. She suggested a noise ordinance or a moratorium.
“We’re going to do something. It’s just we gotta be sure we’re doing the right thing,” said Commissioner David Beerbower.
Milburn said she had contacted the administration of Jefferson County to get their information on how they handled this issue.
Ranes said he appreciated the commission’s attention.
Milburn said it’s staying on the county commission’s agenda.
Jill Franklin, neighbor of Raines, lives a mile away and can still hear it. She referred to ChatGPT finding of a 2020 noise ordinance in Bourbon County for wind turbines, saying they cannot be louder than 45dB measured at the nearest nonparticipant dwelling. It was not a countywide thing, but a project-specific ruling.
Sheriff Bill Martin
Martin said his department is doing everything it possibly can regarding the Evolution Technology natural gas generator noise.
Martin said that Jefferson County had their resolution in place before any similar facilities moved in to their county.
He said the commission can make a resolution or moratorium; however, by state statute, he doesn’t enforce it. The county would have to hire personnel to follow up and enforce any moratorium or resolution.
His department will continue its investigation per KSA216204. He will send the report to the county attorney, who will make the final determination about whether a crime is being committed or charges will be filed.
He said if Ranes and his neighbors want to follow up with the Kansas secretary of health and environment, they have their own investigators and do not use the sheriff’s department.
“I understand where the family and residents in that area are coming from, but I can only do what the statute allows me to do,” said Martin.
He expressed concern that a resolution wouldn’t solve the issue because you can’t punish someone after the fact, but it will become a civil issue.
Virginia Macha runs a small group that has been “rather busy” especially when it comes to the Kansas Corporation Commission.
She mentioned problems with using abandoned wells that have been capped by federal grant funding. These wells near Ranes’ property were on the plug list, and for them to repurpose it is odd, she said. She is concerned for public safety. The KCC should have addressed this and gotten something done about directly sourcing power to a data center so the Department of Revenue can collect its taxes.
Heather Etheridge asked how close the data centers are to water and what will happen if one of them catches on fire.
“We really need to keep an eye on this. This is something huge,” said Etheridge.
Beerbower handed out a rough draft of the moratorium they will talk about next week.
Martin asked that those who had turned in affidavits stay available to the deputy who will be talking to them to create the report to be given to the county attorney.
Public Works — Kenny Allen and Dustin Hall
Hall said his department needs to purchase a walking floor trailer for the landfill at $85,000. They haul trash to Allen County every day. When they started they were doing $300,000, in trash hauling with two trailers, now they are doing about $700,000. One of the current trailers has a leak in the hydraulic line and must be taken out of service to be fixed. Purchasing a third trailer will allow them to have three in rotation. The plan was to purchase next year after the building is paid off.
Milburn asked how they would fund the purchase. Hall said the landfill has the money to buy it.
They brought the issue to the commission because it is a purchase over $25,000. Commission approved.
Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
Heather Etheridge, president of West Plains and Centerville Cemeteries, spoke to the commission about the need for better record-keeping for the cemeteries and more volunteers. As people are getting older and dying off, nobody wants to take care of the cemeteries. It’s a voluntary position.
She showed them the maps and how they keep track of who owns which plots. Most of the cemetery records are in the hands of very elderly folks and no one younger is stepping up to help.
“All this information’s going to be lost,” she said. “It should be a huge concern.” People have invested money and need to know who owns which plots and what’s available to purchase.
They had to pass a resolution stating that if someone claimed a family member owns a particular plot, they need to show deeds, or if the deed is lost, explain what happened.
“We have got to do something,” she said. There are approximately 100 cemeteries in Bourbon County, but no centralized records anywhere.
Etheridge gave the example of Allen County, which has one person in charge of all of their cemeteries.
“We need someone,” she said. “I would do it, but I don’t want to do it for free.”
Beerbower said that 13 cemeteries in the county get tax levies. He said the county can’t intervene unless a cemetery comes to them for help. “The biggest hurdle is to get everybody together,” he said.
Etheridge agreed and said the issue is that cemetery administrators are volunteers.
Milburn suggested Etheridge take a look at the national cemetery record system, which may help with the creation of a way to track plot ownership and who is buried where.
Old Business Road Closure 140th Street
Milburn and Beerbower voted to take no action on the application for road closure for 140th St.
Gov. Deals
“Nobody bought anything,” said Beerbower of the old hospital equipment that was left to the county. He spoke with KDHE about what to do with the X-Ray machine and is awaiting a response.
Milburn moved to trash the rest of the items. Beerbower said he would determine what is junkable and what is scrap. They also discussed allowing the people of Bourbon County to pick it over.
They decided to bring it back up in two weeks.
New Business Credit Cards – Milburn
Milburn said the county has a lot of credit cards. She asked if they wanted to start a discussion on a different way to handle it.
County Clerk Susan Walker said that many of the cards are assigned to department heads. She said Public Works, Sheriff, and EMS use them the most. Much of the time they are used for travel.
The county requires itemized statements for each purchase. Milburn wants to collect every single receipt. Walker said some departments are more vigilant than others. She mentioned a policy and procedure that revokes credit cards for those who fail to turn in receipts. Milburn said they could move to a reimbursement system, but that would lead to the county paying sales tax when they shouldn’t have to as a government entity.
Walker offered to provide a Standard Operating Procedure example from when she was at the City of Fort Scott for the commission to look at.
They tabled the issue until Oct. 27.
Voting Delegate KCAMP KAC Conference
Susan Walker is attending this year and has offered to serve as the Bourbon County Delegate.
KDEM (FEMA required documentation)
Needed for the county to receive FEMA funding. Milburn wanted to wait until Tran is back. Beerbower agreed.
Build agenda for following meeting
The commission set a special meeting for Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. just prior to their rescheduled meeting at 5:30 that evening. The meeting is on a Tuesday because Oct. 13 is a holiday.
Commission Comments
Milburn: Thanked citizens and commission members. The budget levies less money than last year. “I think that’s a great accomplishment.”
Welcome: Seventeen members representing fourteen agencies attended the meeting held at the Scottview Apartments Conference Room.
Member Introductions and Announcements:
Pamela Thrompson – Family Strong Community Liaison -Family Strong has family response advocates in 8 counties. Pamela also helps partners sign up with the IRIS referral system. If you need assistance, let her know.
Henry Coronado – SER Corporation – The SER Corporation facilitates grants for students with agricultural backgrounds. Henry covers the east side of the state.
Sandy Haggard – K-State Extension – K-State Extension is offering a “Back to the Land” homesteading series, which is kicking off in Fort Scott. Sandy reminded everyone that October is 4-H membership month.
Kristine Abbott- Kansas Workforce One- SEKWORKS has merged with Kansas Workforce One. They now cover 96 counties in Kansas. Kansas Workforce One offers the same services as SEKWORKS. Kristine is the Lead Employment Specialist. Her new email is [email protected]. She is still at HBCAT on Tuesdays, 9:00-4:00. You can check social media for more information about the merger. com has a merger plan. Christine works with youth, adults, and dislocated workers by providing training, helping set up accounts, and creating resumes.
Kelly Stammer- Dept. for Children and Families in Parsons- Community engagement coordinator. Kelly is seeking information about offering a Get Together KS event in Fort Scott. Community partners would come together to share information/resources with the public. Employers can attend to find job seekers. Typically takes place from 10:00-1:00. The Pittsburg event has been a success with 50-60 vendors, and events have also been held in Ottawa and Labette County. Kelly would need a partner in town to help organize advertising. Email [email protected] if you have any interest or suggestions. LIEAP is starting very late this year. The first event will be on January 20 in Wichita.
Tammy Alcantar – Crawford County Health Dept. – Provide teen pregnancy programs and Baby and Me Tobacco-free programs for moms who want to quit smoking or vaping. Also offering a prenatal class, hybrid with/ Bourbon County, which will begin next Monday, October 6th. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Stephanie Breckinridge, Family Response Advocate – Stephanie helps relieve the stress of parents through connecting to resources and providing limited concrete funds.
Janelle Tate – Early Childhood Block Grant
Gayla Mendenhall – Early Childhood Block Grant
Star Culp – Parents as Teachers
Patty Simpson – Fort Scott Housing Authority – The housing authority has 190 income-based apartments. There is currently a short waiting list.
Cheri Walrod – Community Health Worker, K-State Extension- helps fill gaps for those in need.
Shelby Moore – FAST Program – Particularly working with families providing special education assistance.
Michelle Stevenson – Fort Scott Early Childhood Program – Home visiting program prenatal – 6
Kelli Mengarelli – Early Childhood Block Grant
Nick Johnson – Fort Scott Preschool Center will host their annual Early Childhood Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 30.
Program: Lacy Nickelson, Fostering Connections
Through personal experience with the adoption and foster care systems, Lacy and her husband noticed several gaps in services. They started Fostering Connections to help fill these gaps. Fostering Connections is not on the prevention side, but offers care after the foster process has started. Fostering Connections serves families in Linn, Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee counties.
Statistics:
In Southeast Kansas, there are 730 children out of their homes.
60% of foster parents quit after the first year.
Children average 3 placements in their lifetime.
The average child waits 4-6 hours before receiving emergency placement
Fostering Connections’ mission is to positively impact foster and adoption families and children in the community. They do this by connecting them to the community and churches. The Anchor family program matches youth aging out of foster care with a supportive family. This program currently has 9 matches. The program is voluntary for children and the anchor family. Fostering Connections serves 75-100 kids per month. They hold 2-4 events for children and foster families. Fostering Connections offers family-centered solutions such as fun events, home improvement support, restaurant gift card program, caring closet, mom’s coffee nights, foster parents retreat, and sleep in safety program. Currently planning a Hope for the Journey event in November. Fostering Connections also offers several child-centered programs such as Christmas for kids, graduating senior program (43 kids last year), anchor family program, VIP birthday program, teen impact events, VIP kid bags, teen shopping spree, and kids night out events. One of the newest programs is birthday celebrations, which will provide funds for families to go to fun venues in the community (Jumpy Land, skating, SOAR, etc) . If you would like to help, check out the volunteer tab on their website for opportunities.
Open Forum: Nothing further came before the membership.
Adjournment: The next General Membership meeting will be November 5, 2025.
FSN Teens Launch “Rent-a-Teen” Fundraiser This October to Support Students’ Trip to Nazarene Youth Conference 2026
FSN Teens at Fort Scott Nazarene is excited to announce its “Rent-a-Teen” fundraiser, running throughout the entire month of October. Community members can support local youth while receiving help with projects such as yard work, cleaning, and other odd jobs.
All proceeds will directly benefit FSN Teens’ upcoming trip to the Nazarene Youth Conference (NYC) 2026, scheduled for July 1–5, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah. NYC is a life-changing gathering where high school students from across the U.S. and Canada come together for worship, service projects, concerts, and spiritual growth. This year’s theme, “Wonder,” will inspire students to deepen their faith and live it out boldly.
“Rent-a-Teen is more than a fundraiser—it’s an opportunity for our students to serve their community while preparing for an event that can shape their lives and faith for years to come,” said Pastor Nick.
FSN Teens (grades 7–12) is a ministry of Fort Scott Nazarene that exists to help students encounter God, pursue Jesus, and make an impact. Weekly activities include Wednesday night youth group with dinner, worship, and small groups (6:30–8 PM), as well as Friday morning Donuts & Devos for high school students. Teens also engage in Sunday worship, leadership opportunities like the Impact Summer Internship, and special trips and events throughout the year.
Community members can request a teen worker anytime during October by emailing [email protected] with project details. Teens will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and donations are gladly accepted for their time and work.
For more information or to schedule a teen, please contact [email protected]
