Monthly Archives: November 2025

Opinion

Love is Spelled T I M E by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Love is spelled T I M E

Uncle Dennis once said that kids spell love as “TIME.” In truth, I believe all ages spell it the same way. When I was in high school, my typing teacher would instruct the students to type, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country” over and over. This phrase contained words that are super easy to type which facilitated in developing an efficient rhythm without errors.

Now is the time to be thankful for what we’ve got and forget what we “don’t got.” Every so often God will provide an opportunity to jolt us into counting the blessings that matter the most. While on a family vacation this summer, we pulled off the highway so a couple of us could use the facilities at a rest stop. When my six-year-old granddaughter took a step to cross the single-lane driveway in the parking lot, a speeding car came from out of nowhere. Vivienne immediately stood still, but she was visibly shaken. This near-accident happened in the blink of an eye and there was nothing any human could have done to prevent a heartbreaking outcome. We were all thankful for God’s hand of protection on Vivienne.

Our topic of conversation between the five adults on the ten-hour drive from Kentucky were varied. There were times of hilarity, but eventually the conversation turned serious. My daughter-in-law Emily asked me a question and my heartfelt response was, “Everything I need and am most thankful for are the eight people in this vehicle.” The most-treasured blessings God gives us are flesh-and-blood family and friends. When I was recently involved in an auto collision, the emergency responders kindly reminded me,
“Vehicles can be replaced; people cannot.” We can individually “give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for me” (Psalm 107:8 NIV).

The prophet Jonah prayed from the great fish’s belly, “But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For salvation comes from the Lord alone” (Jonah 2:9 NLT). Like Jonah, I want to use my voice of thanksgiving for all the things God prevented from happening and the things He has caused to happen. Anything that’s good is from God. “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow” (James 1:17 NLT).

It’s important to remember that believers are surrounded by His blessings everywhere. We’re recipients of a neighbor’s helping hand, prayers of a church family, the love and care of family and friends, and the sunshine of a smile. A steady stream of giving thanks to the Lord should be the solid foundation of our daily lives. “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name” (Hebrews 13:15 NLT).

When we count our blessings, we are focusing on the goodness of God. We can joyfully give thanks to the Father for what we have. “May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father” (Colossians 1:11-12 NLT).

The Key: Now is the time for all thankful people to joyfully praise God for all His blessings.

K-State Extension

Vitamin A Matters: Supporting Reproduction, Growth, and Immunity in Cattle by Hunter Nickell

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Hunter Nickell
Southwind Extension District
Livestock Production Extension Agent
1006 N. State St.
Iola, KS 66749
Office: (620) 365-2242
Cell: (620) 473-3298
[email protected]

Vitamin A Matters: Supporting Reproduction, Growth, and Immunity in Cattle

Vitamin A deficiency in cattle can manifest through a range of clinical signs, including reduced feed intake, growth issues, night blindness, and reproductive failures like low conception rates and stillborn calves. Calves born to vitamin A-deficient cows can exhibit signs of a depressed immune system, making them more vulnerable to disease. Recent concerns about the rising incidence of stillborn and weak calves across the United States have led some nutritionists to emphasize the critical importance of vitamin A supplementation in beef cattle production.

All animals require a dietary source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is typically provided to animals in plant products through its precursor, carotene.  Cattle convert beta carotene from green vegetation into vitamin A. In a normal pasture season, the daily intake of carotene that is converted into vitamin A is three to five times the requirement. Cattle can store up to four months of vitamin A in the liver during this period. Under ideal conditions cattle fed good quality hay during the winter will maintain adequate vitamin A status.

Green, lush pastures are an excellent source of vitamin A, primarily due to their high beta-carotene content, the pigment found in these plants. During winter months or periods of drought, vitamin A deficiencies can arise because dormant plants contain significantly less beta-carotene compared to fresh forages. Cows grazing on dry, brown grass or consuming hay made from drought-stressed forages are likely to have low vitamin A. Even hay from good green forage may not maintain adequate vitamin A levels over time, as carotene is unstable and can degrade, even when stored properly. This degradation can result in a loss of one-third to one-half of beta-carotene levels each year. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep mineral supplementation sources fresh to ensure adequate vitamin A intake, as feed grains and concentrates typically have low beta-carotene content.

Luckily, adding vitamin A to cattle diets is both simple and budget-friendly. It’s best to provide this supplement in winter since summer pastures offer plenty of green grass. By the end of summer, cattle typically store ample vitamin A in their livers, but without supplementation during winter, deficiencies can develop. If dietary vitamin A is not adequate, a good time for injection in pregnant cows is at least two months prior to calving to build up stores in the cow and ensure that adequate amounts of vitamins are present in the colostrum. For cows deficient in vitamin A, a single injection may not be enough. These cows have a diminished capacity to store vitamin A in their liver, which means they might require more injections until their vitamin A reserves are sufficient or until adequate oral supplementation can be established. Calves have minimal vitamin reserves at birth and are highly dependent on an adequate supply of vitamins from the dam through colostrum and milk.

Thank you to Emma Briggs, Extension Beef Specialist, for the content of this article. If you have further questions regarding Vitamin A as we are approaching the winter, please feel free to reach out to Hunter Nickell, Livestock Production Agent at any Southwind Extension District office, or by email at [email protected].

Bourbon County

December 1, 2025 Bourbon County Commission Agenda

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The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Bourbon County Commission Agenda: December 1, 2025

12.1.25 Agenda

Location: Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave. Date & Time: Monday, December 01, 2025, 5:30 PM (PDF Page 1)

I. Opening Protocol (PDF Page 1)

  • Call Meeting to Order

  • Roll Call

  • Pledge of Allegiance

  • Prayer

II. Approval of Agenda (PDF Page 1)

III. Approval of Minutes (unofficial until approved) (PDF Page 1)

  • Minutes from November 17, 2025, and November 18, 2025

IV. Recognition (PDF Page 1)

  • St. Luke’s Award – EMS

V. Consent Agenda (PDF Page 1)

  • Approval of November 21, 2025 Accounts Payable: $93,276.25

  • Approval of November 26, 2025 Accounts Payable and Payroll: $327,304.73

VI. Executive Session (PDF Page 1)

  • Executive session pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy – Jennifer Hawkins

VII. Public Comments (PDF Page 1)

VIII. Old Business (PDF Page 1)

  • Sale Tax

  • 2026 Benefits – Susan Walker (HSA, FSA, COBRA)

  • Longevity – Susan Walker

  • Lines of Communication – Susan Walker

  • Road Closure Application – Patricia Daniels

  • Schwab-Eaton Engineering Services Agreement – Dustin Hall/Kenny Allen

  • 190th Street Benefit District – Johnson

  • Sanitation Discussion – Beerbower

  • Handbook Discussion – Tran

  • BBCO Planning Commission Moratorium

IX. New Business (PDF Page 1)

X. Build Agenda for Following Meeting (PDF Page 1)

XI. Commission Comments (PDF Page 1)

XII. Adjournment (PDF Page 1)

 

📋 Information Packet Summary

Minutes from November 17, 2025 (PDF Pages 3-6)

  • Key Topics Discussed: Health insurance options (facing a 17% rise in claims and higher premiums), longevity pay (general fund does not have enough budget room), aging vehicle fleet and infrastructure investment, asphalt plant repairs, a potential moratorium on new commercial/industrial businesses, and an engineering service agreement for a bridge project (PDF Page 3).

  • Decisions Made/Action Taken:

    • Approved the Enterprise Fleet Management Agreement to lease 11 vehicles for the sheriff’s department, funded through the jail sales tax (PDF Page 4).

    • Tabled the discussion on longevity pay to a special meeting the next day (November 18, 2025) (PDF Page 5).

    • Approved a letter of support for the Tri-Valley Coordinated Transit District’s transportation grant application (PDF Page 4, 6).

    • Approved a real property tax relief application for a total loss property (PDF Page 5-6).

    • Approved benefit Option D presented by Don Doherty for benefit plans and contributions (PDF Page 5).

    • Tabled the Bourbon County Planning Commission Moratorium until the next meeting (PDF Page 4).

    • Approved the lease agreement for 11 vehicles for the Sheriff out of the Jail sales tax fund for $399,216 (PDF Page 5).

Minutes from November 18, 2025 – Special Meeting (PDF Pages 7-8)

  • Key Topics Discussed: Resolution to break a tie in a Uniontown council race, revisions to meeting rules (including public comments on agenda items), increase in dental insurance contributions, and funding for employee longevity pay (PDF Page 7).

  • Decisions Made/Action Taken:

    • Approved Resolution 35-25, breaking a tie in the Uniontown Council race with Stewart Troutman winning (PDF Page 7).

    • Voted to repeal Resolution 34-25 and replace it with Resolution 36-25, which allows public comments on agenda items (PDF Page 7).

    • Approved the employer taking on the increase in dental insurance contributions for 2026 with BCBS, resulting in a $4,000 increase to the county’s budget (PDF Page 7-8).

    • Approved funding the $55,100 longevity pay by moving $305,000 from the jail sales tax fund to the Sheriff’s operational fund, and then moving $55,100 from the Sheriff’s operational fund to the general fund (PDF Page 7-8).

Accounts Payable and Payroll Details (PDF Pages 9-44)

  • Total Accounts Payable (11.21.25): $93,276.25 (PDF Page 22, 34)

    • The largest single fund expense was Road and Bridge at $46,986.12 (PDF Page 22).

    • The second largest was County Sheriff/Correctional at $25,454.04 (PDF Page 22).

  • Total Accounts Payable & Payroll (11.26.25): $327,304.73 (PDF Page 43, 44)

    • The largest single fund total was Employee Benefit expenses at $92,651.97 (PDF Page 43).

    • The second largest was County Sheriff/Correctional at $71,932.69 (PDF Page 43).

    • The Road and Bridge fund total was $47,575.12 (PDF Page 43).

Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Details

  • Administrator Proposal: Presented by ABY Benefits LLC for Section 125 (FSA/DCAP/POP), HSA, and COBRA administration (PDF Page 45).

  • 2026 HSA Contribution Limits:

    • Single Coverage: $4,400 (or $5,400 with $1,000 catch-up for age 55+) (PDF Page 52, 59).

    • Family Coverage: $8,750 (or $9,750 with $1,000 catch-up for age 55+) (PDF Page 52, 59).

    • Requires enrollment in a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a minimum deductible of $1,700 for Single or $3,400 for Family (PDF Page 52).

  • FSA Contribution Limits for 2025:

    • Health FSA (Medical Expenses): $3,300 (PDF Page 46). Note: The enrollment booklet lists the maximum as $3,400 (PDF Page 64).

    • Dependent Care FSA (DCAP): $5,000 (PDF Page 46, 77). Note: The enrollment booklet lists the maximum as $7,500 (PDF Page 64).

  • FSA Details: Contributions are pre-tax, reducing taxable income and FICA taxes (PDF Page 46, 64). The benefit is subject to a “use-it-or-lose-it” rule, unless the plan allows up to a $680 carryover or a 2.5-month grace period (cannot have both carryover and grace period) (PDF Page 65, 78).

  • COBRA Administration: Federal law mandates continued benefits for employees experiencing a qualifying event (PDF Page 46). Consequences for non-compliance include fines up to $100/day to the IRS and up to $110/day to the Qualified Beneficiary (PDF Page 46).

Bourbon County Planning Commission Moratorium (PDF Page 86)

  • The Planning Committee unanimously recommended an immediate moratorium requiring any new commercial or industrial business that is not agricultural in nature and is located in unincorporated areas of the county to obtain a special use permit before commencing operations (PDF Page 86).

  • Purpose: To protect the county and residents while the Planning Committee develops more detailed and comprehensive zoning regulations (PDF Page 86).

Fort Scott, Government

Agenda Packet for the Fort Scott City Commission on December 2

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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

December 2, 2025  –  6:00 P.M.

 

                                      

  1.     Call to Order/Roll Call
  2. Pledge of Allegiance

III.       Invocation

  1. Approval of Agenda
  2. Consent Agenda
  3. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1397-A – Expense Approval Report –

      Payment Dates of November 12, 2025 – November 25, 2025  – $367,132.08

  1. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of November 18, 2025
  2. Approval of 2026 Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) Licenses: Pete’s #27 – 605 National,     

Pete’s #20 – 998 N. National, Pete’s #14 – 1920 S. Main, Pete’s #28 – 1135 E. Wall, Woodland Hills Golf Course – 2414 S. Horton St.

 

  1. Public Comment

VII.      Appearances

 

VIII.   Unfinished Business

  1. Consideration of Bids for Davis Lift Station Extraneous Flow Pump and Force Main – EEI No. 21-303 – Tabled November 3, 2025 – J. Dickman

 

  1. New Business
  2. Consideration of Resolution No. 42-2025 – Resolution and Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 310 N. Cleveland – L. Kruger
  3. Consideration of Resolution No. 43-2025 – Resolution and Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 601 S. Little – L. Kruger

 

  1. Reports and Comments

 

  1. Adjourn

 Unapproved Minutes of the last meeting

 

CITY OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION MEETING

 

 

Minutes of November 18, 2025                               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 Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer, Dyllon Olson, and Matthew Wells were present with Mayor Tim Van Hoecke.

 

              In Attendance – Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Leroy Kruger/Codes Enforcement, Lisa Lewis/City Clerk, Lindsay Madison/Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Nadine Aboul-Magd/Joplin Nephrology, Dominic Eck/Gilmore & Bell, Ahmed Aboul-Magd, Ahmed Badach, Mary Wyatt/Planning, Housing & Business Development Director (via Teams), Steve Robb/Municipal Consulting, LLC (via Teams), Jason Dickman/Earles Engineering & Inspection, Betty Wortley, Mindy Brundrick, Sean Cameron, and Michael Hoyt.

 

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

 

Approval of Agenda – Amendments requested – 1) Removal of Appearances/Item A/Lisa Dillon-Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator – Consideration of Resolution No. 39-2025 A Resolution to Support the Main Street Program and 2) City Manager requested to removal of New Business/Action Item A/Consideration of Proposals for Fort Scott Lift Station.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to agenda as proposed with the changes. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consent Agenda

–  Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1396-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of     

November 1, 2025 – November 11, 2025  – $190,896.79

–  Approval of Minutes:  Special Meeting of November 1, 2025, and Regular Meeting of     

November 3, 2025

–   October Financials

–  Approval of 2026 Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) Licenses:  Walmart #0039 – 2500 S. Main St., G&W Foods – 911 E. 6th St.,  and Casey’s General Store #3399 – 2216 S. Main St.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Public Comment – No public comment

 

Appearances – No appearances

 

Unfinished Business – No unfinished business

 

Public Hearings:

Consideration of Resolution No. 40-2025 – A Resolution Of The Governing Body Of The City Of Fort Scott, Kansas Determining The Advisability Of Issuing Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds For The Purpose Of Financing The Acquisition, Renovation, Furnishing, And Equipping Of A Commercial Facility Located In The City; And Authorizing Execution Of Related Documents – Fort Scott Dialysis – 2526 S. Main Street – Dominic Eck/Gilmore & Bell

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to open the public hearing. VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

  1. ABOUL-MAGD: Dr. Nadine, a kidney specialist with Joplin Nephrology Consultants who previously served Fort Scott from 2015 to 2019, is requesting a 10-year, 100% tax abatement through the IRB process as a critical component for reopening the community’s dialysis clinic. She explained that dialysis is costly to build and operate, and the abatement would provide the financial runway needed to keep the service in Fort Scott long-term. The project includes adding two kidney physicians to expand regional access and strengthen the city’s overall healthcare network. She noted that reopening the clinic would increase city utility revenue, create local healthcare and maintenance jobs, support local businesses through added spending, and help reduce preventable hospital admissions. Dr. Nadine asked for the city’s full support for the requested abatement.

 

WORTLEY:  a local dialysis patient, described the strain of traveling to Pittsburg three times a week for treatment and the financial burden of having to spend money outside Fort Scott. She emphasized that reopening the local clinic would ease the hardship on patients like her and help keep healthcare dollars within the community.

 

MADISON:  president of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed strong support for the project, highlighting the value of putting the vacant building back into use, improving convenience for local patients, and creating an opportunity for partnership with Freeman.

 

BRUNDRICK:  former clinic manager explained how the closure affected both employees and patients, noting that staff who once worked, shopped, and banked in Fort Scott shifted their daily activity elsewhere. She stressed the need for a nearby dialysis clinic to better serve local patients, and Dr. Nadine added that the reopened facility would employ at least seven people initially, with staffing increasing as the patient base grows.

 

ECK:  Steve will present the cost-benefit analysis, which is required by state law when issuing industrial revenue bonds. The analysis systematically compares the project’s costs and expected benefits over a 10-year period, evaluating the value and impact of granting tax abatement. It incorporates data from the company, including investment, jobs, salaries, revenue, and expenses, alongside public records.

 

ROBB:  The speaker, as the preparer of the cost benefit analysis, reviewed budgets and government service costs for all taxing units, using state tax collection records and assumptions like a 2% inflation rate to estimate revenues from new jobs and residents. Property taxes on new construction are calculated at 80% of construction cost as appraised value and 25% assessed value. The key metric is the benefit-to-cost ratio, estimating 10-year returns; a ratio of 1.3 or higher is desirable, with the project yielding a 9.67 ratio and an 87% return for the city, largely due to profitable water and wastewater utilities. Over 10 years, the city is projected to gain $450,000 from utility profits, sales taxes, property taxes, and other revenues, while costs include service provision and tax exemptions. Most taxing entities benefit, with minimal impact on the extension district and community college. This analysis supports the first step of the IRB process, including a public hearing for property tax abatement, with no upfront city cost. Industrial revenue bonds are not city debt and allow access to state-level incentives, making the project beneficial for the city, the developer, and patients.

 

ECK:  This item represents the first step in the IRB process, which requires a cost-benefit analysis and a public hearing for any property tax abatement. Approval of a resolution of intent signals the city’s commitment to proceed, and a sales tax exemption certificate can be used for construction. The bond issuance could occur in December or early next year, with no upfront cost to the city. IRBs are not city debt and do not affect the city’s debt limit; the city acts only as a conduit to access state-level incentives. There is no limit on IRBs in Kansas, and the city has no financial obligation for repayment.

 

  1. ABOUL-MAGD: The facility is currently taxed and will be owned by Dr. Nadine, employing seven to eight staff. While there was a question about guarantees for local hiring or relocation, there is now more local healthcare talent available, including nurses and technicians who have moved to the area. The city and provider are willing to collaborate to prioritize local recruitment and job opportunities.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to close the public hearing.  SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to go forward with Resolution No. 40-2025 .

            DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

  1. Consideration of Resolution No. 25-2025 – Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 18 S. HOLBROOK – Tabled from September 16, 2025

MOTION:  DANCER moved to open the public hearing. WELLS seconded.

 

 

MATKIN left the meeting at 6:43PM.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

WELLS:  The structure, previously considered for the city’s land bank, will be included in the upcoming January tax sale after due diligence by the land bank and assurance from the county. The city plans to purchase it through the tax sale to secure a clean title and advance the project.

 

MATKIN returned to the meeting at 6:45PM.

 

Discussion was had about potential interest in rehabilitation, having the interested party appear to state their intentions, and quality of life for neighbors.

 

WELLS stated the house is structurally sound except for the front porch, and the land bank will board up a rear window to prevent entry.

 

KRUGER:  Neighbors report people who do not belong in the house have been found sleeping in the residence. The city pays for mowing property and taxes have not been paid since 2021.

 

The owner is deceased. No one appeared to represent the home for the public hearing.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to close the public hearing. VAN HOEKCE seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to allow the Land Bank an opportunity to purchase the property at a tax auction in January, and if not acquired, to proceed with removal of the alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 18 S. Holbrook. OLSON seconded.

 

            SALSBURY, OLSON, WELLS and DANCER voted yes. VAN HOECKE voted no.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

  1. Consideration of Resolution No. 35-2025 A Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 1815 E. OAK – L. Kruger

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to open the public hearing. VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

KRUGER:  Taxes on the property have not been paid since 2022.

 

CAMERON:   the adopted son of the deceased, The owner passed away recently, and the property is going through probate. He stated that he has been maintaining the lawn and intends to sell the land to a neighbor, who plans to remove the house. If the sale does not proceed, he plans to tear down the house himself because he agrees that it is dangerous and in bad shape. He will secure the property in the meantime.

 

KRUGER:  Clarified that the City is doing the maintenance on the lawn.

 

FARMER:  Recommended tabling the item for (120) days due to probate.

 

KRUGER:  Concerned about the safety of the structure because it is open to the elements.

 

ACTION:  KRUGER will contact the neighbor regarding his intent to purchase the property and report back to the Commission as requested.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to close the public hearing. DANCER seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to table Resolution No. 35-2025 for 120 days on advice of counsel.

 

DANCER requested adding pending we give direction to City Codes to instruct the current owner to secure the property before that (120) days.

 

Discussion was had on next move if neighbor is not purchasing the property.

 

WELLS amended the motion to include that CAMERON will secure the structure.

 

DANCER seconded.

 

WELLS, DANCER, SALSBURY and OLSON voted yes. VAN HOECKE voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

  1. Consideration of Resolution No. 36-2025 Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 1626 E. PINE – L. Kruger

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to open the public hearing. VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

KRUGER:  Property taxes are (1) year overdue, previously issued building permits have not been acted upon. House is uninhabited and has been on the Code’s list for over (1) year.

No one appeared to represent the property at the public hearing.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to close the public hearing. OLSON seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

WELLS believes someone would be interested in rehabbing the building.

 

Discussion was had about the concern of demolishing a structure that could be rehabilitated, given the shortage of affordable housing. Could also be proposed to the Land Bank.

 

KRUGER:  will not reach out to the current property owners to see if they are

interested in selling the property or donating to the Land Bank. He stated that it is a waste of time to get to this point in the procedure and then consider the Land Bank. He requested that in the future the Commission consider this before waiting until the public hearing to make suggestions.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve Resolution 36-2025 the Removal of An Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 1626 E. Pine. OLSON seconded.

 

VAN HOECKE, OLSON and SALSBURY voted yes. WELLS and DANCER voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 3-2.

 

  1. Consideration of Resolution No. 37-2025 A Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 1403 E. OAK – L. Kruger

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to open the public hearing. DANCER seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

KRUGER:  The owners have made some attempts at work on the house, but it remains structurally unsound and completely open in the back. They have a permit, and the owner claims they plan to rebuild it into a standout property for the neighborhood. Taxes are current, but the house is unsecured, with the roof supported only by two-by-fours. There is concern about the owner’s ability to finish the repairs. He thinks they will spend way more on the repairs than the house will ever be worth. KRUGER confirmed that the owner was notified properly of their status with condemnation.

 

No one appeared to represent the property at the public hearing.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to close the public hearing. DANCER seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to table the resolution, directing the Codes Officer to have the owner secure the property and make it safe for neighborhood children for (30) days. SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

  1. Consideration of Resolution No. 38-2025 A Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 505 S. COUCH – L. Kruger

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to open the public hearing. DANCER seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

KRUGER:  Taxes haven’t been paid since 2020. The house has no redeeming qualities.

 

No one appeared to represent the property at the public hearing.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to close the public hearing. VAN HOEKCE seconded.

 

            MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve Resolution 38-2025 A Resolution Directing the Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 505 S. Couch. SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Action Items:

Consideration of 2026 City Holiday Schedule

 

MATKIN:  The only change for 2026 is the floating holiday moved to June 19.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to approve the DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of Ordinance No. 3791  – An Ordinance Providing For The Salaries Of The Appointive Officers And Employees Of The City Of Fort Scott, KS And Replacing Ordinance No. 3779 – B. Matkin

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve Ordinance No. 3791.                                     VAN HOECKE seconded.

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of Ordinance No. 3787 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 10.04 0f The Fort Scott Municipal Code To Incorporate The Standard Traffic Ordinance By Reference Repealing And Replacing Ordinance No. 3772.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve Ordinance No. 3787.

DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

  1. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3788 – An Ordinance Increasing the Basic Monthly Charge for Sanitary Sewer Rates in the City of Fort Scott by Amending Chapter 13.24.100 and 13.24.110 of the Fort Scott Municipal Code and Repealing Ordinance No. 3778

 

Discussion was had regarding a proposed 3% increase to the basic monthly sanitary sewer charge, as planned in the 2026 budget and forecasted since 2021. Concerns were cited about the economic outlook and the potential to avoid the increase. It was suggested that rates be reviewed during the next budget cycle, taking into account the CPI and cost of goods.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve Ordinance No. 3788.

VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

DANCER, SALSBURY AND VAN HOECKE voted yes. OLSON and WELLS voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 3-2.

 

  1. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3789 – An Ordinance Setting New Water Rates and Repealing Ordinance No. 3777 for the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas, Pursuant to the Fort Scott Municipal Code, Chapter 13.04.030.

 

Discussion was had regarding the ordinance to establish new water rates annually, setting a minimum charge of $15.56 per month for up to 1,500 gallons. OLSON suggested renegotiating the county contract, so they contribute to capital costs. DICKMAN added that the annual 3% rate increase is intended to maintain infrastructure and keep pace with rising costs, reflecting increases in the cost of living and goods and avoiding a large increase in the future as it has in the past. FARMER cited that this ordinance was adopted due to a 30% increase in the past.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve Ordinance No. 3789.

 

MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF SECOND.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to table the consideration until BakerTilly could provide feedback. OLSON seconded.

WELLS, DANCER, SALSBURY and OLSON voted yes. VAN HOECKE voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

  1. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3790 – An Ordinance Amending the Fort Scott Stormwater User Charge and Repealing Ordinance No. 3776 for the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas, Pursuant to the Fort Scott Municipal Code, Chapter 13.24.121

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to table the consideration until BakerTilly could provide feedback. OLSON seconded.

 

            DANCER, SALSBURY, OLSON and WELLS voted yes. VAN HOECKE voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

FARMER left the meeting at 7:47PM and returned at 7:51PM.

 

  1. Discussion of Ordinance for Limit on Number of Dogs

 

MATKIN stated that four citizens raised concerns about the number of dogs allowed per household. Discussion was had regarding that while the Zoning Regulations permit three dogs for breeding, ranging, or as pets, this limit isn’t reflected in the ordinance. Options discussed include allowing more than three dogs if neighbors consent. Concerns include unvaccinated or unregistered dogs, highlighting the need to align the ordinance with community expectations. It was decided that further discussion is required for this topic.

 

Reports and Comments      

City Engineer:

–  National Avenue Project update

–  Davis Lift Station Recommendation of Award of Bid – December 2, 2025, meeting

 

City Attorney:

–  Complimented downtown

 

City Manager: 

–  8th through 10th and Eddy Project update

–  Looking at narrow streets and public safety access

Commissioner Salsbury:  No comments

 

City Clerk: No comment

 

Commissioner Wells:

–  Dump trucks on Crawford

–  Monday parking downtown

Commissioner Olson:  No comments

 

Commissioner Dancer:

–  Delivery driver/parking/truck loading hours

 

ACTION:  MATKIN will look into the request.

 

Commissioner Van Hoecke:

–  December 2, 2025 – Out of the country – SALSBURY will officiate the meeting.

–  Mayor’s Christmas Tree – Christmas on the Bricks

 

Adjourn

 

MOTION:  OLSON moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:12PM. DANCER seconded.

 

NOVEMBER 18, 2025, MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:12PM.

 

 

Submitted by Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk

 

 

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Jim L. Scott

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Jim (James) L. Scott, age 79, a former resident of Fort Scott, peacefully passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025, in Excelsior, Minnesota of heart failure.

Jim was born on November 18, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Lucille Smith. He was raised by his mother, Lucille, his Grandma Eva, and later his stepfather, Gene Smith. Some of his fondest childhood memories were spent swimming, boating, and water-skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks. In school, he was an avid basketball player and proudly represented Raytown High School, graduating in 1964.

Following graduation, Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force with hopes of seeing the world. He volunteered for three tours of duty in Vietnam, beginning a long and honorable military career.

In November 1969, Jim went on a blind date that would change the course of his life. He and Martha danced the night away, bonding over a shared love of Benson & Hedges Menthol cigarettes and their favorite Beatle, George Harrison. The very next day Jim visited Martha at Crown Drugstore, where she worked, and asked for a second date. She invited him over for dinner—an unforgettable meal that sealed their future. Just two weeks after meeting, they eloped at Kansas City’s City Hall on November 26, 1969, timing the wedding for Thanksgiving weekend so they’d have four days off to meet each other’s families.

Jim and Martha made their first home in Kansas City before moving to Nevada, Missouri, in 1972. There, Jim was active in the Jaycees, their church, and the National Guard. The young couple loved the outdoors and spent weekends camping, canoeing, and trout fishing. In 1976, Jim embraced one of his most cherished roles: Dad, when their daughter Sarah was born.

The family moved to Fort Scott in 1988, where Jim and Martha opened Scotty’s Wine and Spirits. They operated the business for more than 15 years and were honored with the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award for their contributions to the community. Jim was also proud to serve as past president of the Kansas Liquor Dealers Association. In 2006, he retired as a highly decorated Master Sergeant with more than 25 years of combined active duty and National Guard service in both the Air Force and Army.

In 2013 and 2015, Jim became “Poppy” to his beloved granddaughters, Lucy and Piper, a role he cherished and embraced wholeheartedly.

Jim was deeply rooted in the Fort Scott community and was active in numerous organizations. He took great pride in his time as a Rotarian, helping organize countless fundraisers—from potato and spaghetti feeds to hosting Oktoberfest for 19 years, one of the club’s most celebrated events. Working alongside Martha, he also helped coordinate, fundraise for, and build the dog park at Gunn Park. For their extraordinary commitment to Fort Scott, Jim and Martha were jointly awarded the Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award—one of Jim’s proudest honors.

After losing Martha in 2022, Jim faced one of the hardest chapters of his life. At his daughter’s insistence, he moved to Minnesota, where he found renewed community at Presbyterian Homes in Spring Park. There, he sang in the choir, attended church, participated in the Veterans Association, and spent peaceful afternoons on the shores of Lake Minnetonka—often with a cigar in hand.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Sarah (Andrew) Punch, and their daughters, Lucy and Piper, of Excelsior, Minnesota. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Templeton of Independence, Missouri, and his nephew, Nathan Templeton.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, December 5th, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 PM Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting an organization meaningful to Jim, including Trinity Lutheran Church, VFW, or DAV and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Government, Kansas

New Books To Explore at SEKnFind

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The SEKnFind Newsletter
November 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Wild Dark Shore: Reese’s Book Club Pick (a Novel)
by Charlotte McConaghy

A novel about a family living alone on a remote island, when a mysterious woman washes up on shore–

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife
by Martin Edwards

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to an all-expenses-paid Christmas holiday at Midwinter, a remote hamlet in the North Pennines in Yorkshire, England, to play a murder mystery game. Joining you are a has-been mystery author infamous for copycatting the classics, an out of work publicist, a disgraced influencer whose off-the-record remarks have come back to bite her, a true crime podcaster who’s been sued for every penny, a former hotshot literary agent who’s been sued for sexual harassment, and a publisher who used AI to plagiarize bestsellers–and was sued by Netflix. Oddly, the contestants also share a lack of any next-of-kin who might notice or care if they disappear. But no matter! There are cash prizes for all who see the game through to the end, and of course a high-stakes Grand Prize for the winner that no one is allowed to discuss. But it’s promised to be life-altering. And then one by one, people start dying…–

The Fix
by Mia Sheridan

Eleven years ago, Cami Cortlandt’s mother and sister died cruelly in a violent home invasion. The trauma and notoriety still linger, but Cami has managed to build a life in her hometown despite everything she’s lost.Then one day it all comes rushing back.A distorted voice on the phone: Would you like a do-over? A disturbing video of a room with bars on the window, trapping a young boy inside who looks achingly, impossibly familiar. Four days to find him.With the help of Rex Lowe, an old classmate whose past is inextricably tied to her own, Cami races to uncover everything she can about the boy–where he is, who he is, and why she’s the only one who can save him.But as Cami and Rex unravel one clue after another, the past and present converge in an explosion of secrets they never saw coming…and a truth they never could have imagined.

The Tortoise’s Tale
by Kendra Coulter

Snatched from her ancestral lands, a giant tortoise finds herself in an exclusive estate in southern California where she becomes an astute observer of societal change. Her journey is one of discovery, as she learns to embrace the music of jazz and the warmth of human connection. The tortoise’s story is enriched by her bond with Takeo, the estate’s gardener, who sees her as a being with thoughts and feelings, not just a creature to be observed. The tortoise’s mind and heart are further expanded by Lucy, a young girl who names the tortoise Magic and shares a friendship that transcends species. Together they witness the estate’s transformation into a haven for industry titans, politicians, and rock stars, each leaving their mark on the world and on Magic’s heart–

Soyangri Book Kitchen
by Kim Jee Hye

With good books, good food and companionship, the Book Kitchen fills people’s tired souls. Yoojin, who grew up in Seoul, opened the Book Kitchen by chance in Soyangri, a village two hours from Seoul by car. The Book Kitchen functions as a bookshop and cafe. The second function of the Book Kitchen is a Book Stay, where one can stay overnight in one of the building’s four complexes. Over the course of one year, multiple characters each find comfort and hope at Yoojin’s Book Kitchen. From a music idol facing an identity crisis, to a promising lawyer beset by an unsettling medical diagnosis, to a young, failed music director who has had to rein in his dreams, they happen upon Soyangri at pivotal moments in their lives–

Revolve
by Bal Khabra

“The road to redemption is far from smooth as ice in this sweeping romance between a figure skater and a hockey player. Sierra Romanova was an Olympic figure skater before a life-altering accident on the ice left her with panic attacks every time she enters the rink. Now, back for her final year at Dalton University, she’s ready to reclaim the spotlight with all eyes on her . . . including those of hockey player Dylan Donovan, whose audacious words goad her back into her skates to prove him wrong. After getting kicked off his hockey team for his reckless behavior, Dylan is left with slim chances of making it to the NHL draft. But Dylan’s whole world revolves around the ice, and if hockey is forbidden, well, at least there’s figure skating. Even better, it means more time at the rink with Sierra. Sure, he’s helping her rebuild her confidence, but pushing her buttons along the way? That’s a bonus. As the figure skating world awaits Sierra’s comeback, she finds herself in need of a new pairs partner. The only person she knows who can match her skill on the ice is none other than the cocky hockey player who refuses to cut her any slack. Dylan’s a wild card, Sierra’s a seasoned pro, but together, they might just be the perfect match on the ice”

The Hong Kong Widow
by Kristen Loesch

Hong Kong, 1953: In a remote mansion, witnesses insist a massacre took place. The police see nothing but pristine rooms and declare it a collective hallucination. Until decades later, when one witness returns…from the Edgar(R)-nominated author of The Last Russian Doll. In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation–to take part in a competition in one of the city’s most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges–she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei’s entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house–even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . .

The Second Death of Locke
by V. L. Bovalino

Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier. She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector. The deep well of raw power inside her is Kier’s to wield. They are bound together by blood and magic, but there is one truth Grey dare not reveal . . . not even to Kier. When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into a dangerous mission, Grey will need to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to protect her secret. For Grey is no ordinary magical well, and if she dies, all magic dies with her–

Sunward
by William Alexander

Captain Tova Lir chose a life as a courier rather than get involved in her family’s illustrious business in politics. Set in humanity’s far future, hiring a planetary courier is essential for delivering private messages across the stars. Encouraged by friends, Tova begins mentoring baby bots, juvenile AI who are developmentally in their teens, and trains them how to interact within society essentially becoming their foster mom. Her latest charge, Agatha Panza von Sparkles, named herself on their first run from Luna to Phoebe station. But on their return, they encounter a derelict spaceship and a lurking assassin, igniting a thrilling chase across the solar system. Tova and Agatha’s daring actions leave Agatha’s mind vulnerable, relying on Tova’s former AI pupils for help. As Tova starts gathering her scattered family around her, she is chased through the solar system by forces who want her captured and her family erased.–

Midnight black
by Mark Greaney

The Gray Man, aka assassin Court Gentry, must face miles of frozen wasteland and the Russian police state to free his lover, ex-spy Zoya Zakharova, from Penal Colony IK22.

The Hitchhikers
by Chevy Stevens

On the remote Canadian highways in 1976, Tom and Alice set out to heal their fractured marriage. An RV, a new beginning, and the hope of recovery after a devastating tragedy. Then they meet two young hitchhikers, Ocean and Blue-a seemingly innocent couple who aren’t who they seem. They are Jenny and Simon. And they have left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them. Now Tom and Alice are trapped-prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. But as the tension builds and the lines blur, the question becomes: in whose heart does evil truly lie?–Provided by publisher.

The Unkillable Frank Lightning
by Josh Rountree

Catherine Coldbridge is a complicated woman: A doctor, an occultist, and, briefly, a widow. In 1879, Private Frank Humble, Catherine’s husband, was killed in a Sioux attack. Consumed by grief, she used her formidable skills to resurrect him. But Frank lost his soul after the reanimation, and disappeared after a killing spree. Unable to face her failure and its murderous consequences, Catherine fled to grieve. Twenty-five years later, Catherine has decided she must make things right. She travels back to Texas with a pair of hired killers ready to destroy Frank. But Frank has remade himself as the Unkillable Frank Lightning, traveling with the Wild West Show. Reaching for a last chance at redemption, Frank and Catherine are at an impasse. As time runs out, their final choices may result in considerable bloodshed–

New Audiobooks

Cry Havoc: A Tom Reece Thriller
by Jack Carr

1968. A time of division. A time of civil unrest. A time of war. Just before the Tet Offensive changes the dynamic in Vietnam, before President Johnson announces he will not run for reelection, before the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, as riots and protests rage across the nation, a spy ship, the USS Pueblo, is captured by communist forces off the coast of North Korea. The crew thought they had destroyed everything of intelligence value. They were wrong. As a KGB ‘illegal’ elicits information from a high-ranking CIA official, and teams of special operators infiltrating into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam disappear without a trace, an ambitious Soviet advisor launches an ingenious plan with consequences that reach far beyond the battlefields of Southeast Asia, one that will forever alter the world balance of power. Tom Reece, a SEAL operator attached to the highly classified and shadowy MACV-SOG is about to be thrust into a bloody battle to discover the truth. From the Kremlin to the White House, from the streets of Saigon to the rugged A Shau Valley, along the paths of Ho Chi Minh Trail and into the secret war in Laos, Navy SEAL Tom Reece has an official mission assigned by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group, but it’s his unofficial mission that might get him killed.

The King’s Ransom
by Janet Evanovich

Gabriela Rose, recovery agent extraordinaire, can find just about anything. Too bad she can’t seem to lose her gorgeous-but-infuriating ex-husband Rafer Jones. And now he needs her help. His cousin Harley is in trouble — big trouble. As the president of a too-big-to-fail bank, he invested an astronomical amount of money in insuring some of the world’s most priceless artifacts at the urging of his board. It seemed like a low-risk, high-reward business move, so he jumped in with both feet. But recently, these insured pieces started going missing — and worse, there’s no paper trail of Harley being directed to make these risky investments. Unless the artwork can be recovered soon, it looks like Harley is going to be heading to jail as the fall guy for an ingenious crime. Gabriela knows what she must do: travel around the world with Rafer to find the missing works of art, keep Harley out of jail, and save both his skin and his bank. Along the way, she’ll encounter corruption, threats, murder, mysterious dark forces behind a global conspiracy to destroy the world’s wealth, and a nefarious villain who will stop at nothing to bring the world to the brink of ruin.

King Sorrow
by Joe Hill

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill comes a chilling tale of modern-world dangers, dark academia, and the unexpected consequences of revenge as six friends dabble in the occult and are tragically, horrifyingly successful… calling forth an evil entity that demands regular human sacrifice.Arthur Oakes is a reader, a dreamer, and a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters, exceptional library, and beautiful buildings. But his idyll–and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot–is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner corner him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the college library.Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for comfort and help. Together they dream up a wild, fantastical scheme to free Arthur from the cruel trap in which he finds himself. Wealthy, irrepressible Colin Wren suggests using the unnerving Crane journal (bound in the skin of its author) to summon a dragon to do their bidding. The others–brave, beautiful Alison Shiner; the battling twins Donna and Donovan McBride; and brainy, bold Gwen–don’t hesitate to join Colin in an effort to smash reality and bring a creature of the impossible into our world.But there’s nothing simple about dealing with dragons, and their pact to save Arthur becomes a terrifying bargain in which the six must choose a new sacrifice for King Sorrow every year–or become his next meal.

New Nonfiction

In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur
by Karen Walrond

From Karen Walrond, author of The Lightmaker’s Manifesto and Radiant Rebellion, comes a joyful jaunt into doing the things you love even if you’re not any good at them. Learn the Seven Attributes of Intentional Amateurism: curiosity, mindfulness, self-compassion, play, zone-stretching, connection, and awe. Resist grind culture and learn to dabble.

Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away
by Coltan Scrivner

The leading expert on the science behind morbid curiosity explains our spooky, gory, and macabre fascinations– Provided by publisher.

Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
by Michael Brownstein

An argument that individual action vs. structural change is not a zero sum game, as if often portrayed in the popular media, but is symbiotic and can be successfully navigated–

The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind
by Simon Winchester

“The Breath of the Gods is an urgently-needed portrait across time of that unseen force–unseen but not unfelt–that respects no national borders and no vessel or structure in its path. Wind, the movement of the air, is seen by so many as a heavenly creation and generally a thing of essential goodness. But when it flexes its invisible muscles, all should take care and be very afraid.”–Provided by publisher.

What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters
by Marion Nestle

An updated classic on nutrition and food, Marion Nestle’s What to Eat Now is a straightforward and comprehensive guide to cutting through the marketing and half-truths in order to make healthy, delicious, and sustainable food choices at the grocery store–Provided by publisher.

The Science of Pets
by Jay Ingram

In the tradition of The Inside of a Dog, top science writer and TV personality Jay Ingram shares new insights into the hearts, minds, and bodies of the animals who love us (or do they?). More than one billion pets live in homes around the world, sleeping on dog beds, clawing at cat trees, swimming in bowls, crawling around in aquariums. Canada, the United States, Brazil, the EU, and China make up half of those households, with half of the world’s population owning a pet of some sort. Yet despite the ubiquitous animals that lick our faces and steal food off the counter, we really don’t know a lot about the scientific side of their existence: why do dogs spin around when excited, do our cats really love us, do lizards make good pets, can single-celled organisms be considered pets (you can cut the hydra in two and have two pets!), what are parrots thinking, and can a horse be considered a pet? Or pigs (even those sent to market)? Or praying mantises? Or how about robot pets in Japan, caring for the elderly? Veteran science broadcaster and journalist Jay Ingram, author of twenty popular science titles, including the bestselling Science of Why series, has researched the latest science behind our beloved furry, and not-so-furry, creatures that sleep on our sofas and eat our pizza crusts. Along the way, he discusses the myths and misconceptions about our companions: do dogs always do their business facing north? Why are we seeing a rise in exotic pets such as tigers and bears? Are the deer and foxes we see rescued on Instagram considered pets and could they be domesticated? Did dogs entirely evolve from wolves, and why? Can you communicate with a turtle? Do highly intelligent octopi make good pets? And why are baby animals, like baby humans, so darned cute: have they evolved to be born cute as a survival mechanism, and would that cuteness matter to others of their own kind who might consider them their next lunch? Full of fabulous insights, humorous asides, and the wisdom of decades in science reporting, The Science of Pets will elucidate as it entertains. You will never look at your pets the same way again (but be sure they’re watching you closely).

Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America
by Sean Sherman

Discover the multifaceted story of the foods that have linked the environment, traditions, and legacy of Native American tribes for millennia through over 150 ancestral and modern Indigenous recipes from three-time James Beard Award-winning Sioux chef Sean Sherman. Sean … is a leading figure in the Indigenous food movement–serving as the go-to source for stories on Indigenous food, Indigenous food issues, and recipes. In Turtle Island, he explores the diverse Native foodways of this continent, spotlighting the foods that have nourished, both physically and spiritually, the North American peoples for generations. Organized by regions, this book highlights the unique culinary traditions of Turtle Island–the name for this land across multiple Indigenous cultures–that are as varied and rich as the landscapes from which they arise–

Color Curious: Find Color Inspiration All Around You for Art, Design, and Life
by Ana Bianchi

A creative guide on how to use color– Provided by publisher.

The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry
by Walt Hunter

An ode to America’s people, land, and spirit, this stunning collection features a breadth of contemporary and historical poetry from the Atlantic magazine’s 168-year archive. The poetry of The Atlantic has, from the magazine’s first issue in 1857, called attention to the unfinished project of the nation. The magazine’s verse has featured odes to American leaders and landscapes, laments for the dead, and calls for change, appealing to the enduring ideals of Atlantic readers. This one-of-a-kind collection selects poems of rousing optimism, clear-eyed realism, and moving lyricism–poems infused with the language of America’s songs, myths, and history, from the Civil War up through the present in three rich parts: National Anthems, Natural Lines, and Personal Mythologies.

Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters
by Edward J. Larson

On the 250th anniversary of American independence, with the history of our founding a political battleground, this study of the ideas and battlefield sacrifices of 1776 by a Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar could not be more timely.

Even more reading suggestions

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Government, Kansas

Inclement weather possible: KDOT crews stand ready

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Early weather forecasts from different weather services are showing the possibility of inclement weather affecting parts of Kansas as well as several northern and western states this holiday weekend.

If inclement weather does impact the highways, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is ready to treat roadways as needed. KDOT employees have been preparing since September: Salt, sand and brine materials have been ordered, trucks and other equipment have undergone preventive maintenance and crews have completed training courses.

“Whatever the obstacle, KDOT crew members work together and find a way to get the job done,” said Director of Field Operations Ron Hall. “Our crews always do their best to serve the public in their efforts to clear the highways.”

Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed shared a reminder for all travelers: “Check on road conditions and weather forecasts in advance and possibly delay travel plans. It’s important to stay informed, plan ahead and travel safe.”

Resources and safety reminders for motorists:

  • Road conditions: Before traveling, check KanDrive.gov, KDOT’s road condition website, which is available 24/7 and provides camera views to see current conditions. Travelers can also download the KanDrive app in the App Store or Google Play.
  • Keep an eye on forecasts: Forecasts will change up to and throughout the holiday weekend. Check weather sources for updated forecasts.
  • Emergency kit: Motorists are reminded to travel with a stocked emergency kit in their vehicle.
  • Emergency contacts: Travelers who are stranded or need assistance can call the Kansas Highway Patrol dispatch at *47 or the Kansas Turnpike Authority at *KTA if using the turnpike. If it’s an emergency, call 911.

Kansas maintains about 9,500 miles of highways, including more than 25,000 total lane and ramp miles. Clearing snow from these highways takes time, especially while the snow is still falling.

Secretary Reed emphasized the importance of safety for the crews working to keep roads open.

“KDOT employees work challenging 12-hour shifts to remove snow and ice from the highways,” said Secretary Reed. “Don’t drive in their blind spots and give them space to work so they can focus on the job.”

###

Government, Kansas

Judicial branch launches new district court public records search tool

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Judicial branch launches new district court public records search tool
TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch has launched a new tool to search public district court records, and it will replace the current Kansas District Court Public Access Portal.

 

The new tool, CaseSearch, allows visitors to search public district court case information and documents online. It is active now, as is the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal it will replace. Both will remain active until next week, after which only CaseSearch will be available.

 

This change does not affect the Kansas Appellate Courts Public Access Portal.

 

Building from centralized case management

 

Amy Raymond, chief of district court operations and research, said CaseSearch was built in house to deliver on the opportunity to enhance how search works and the information it displays.

 

“Since completing the project to move all district courts to a centralized case management system, we’ve been alert for ways to harness greater benefit from this new technology,” Raymond said. “Rather than use an out-of-the-box solution, our case management team and developers built CaseSearch to pull data from the case management system to more effectively answer searchers’ information needs.”

 

Among the enhancements are more search types, a filter to search within case events, and more data in the financial details. The enhancements are responsive to feedback shared with the judicial branch during implementation of the centralized case management system in district courts, which is when case searches were first offered through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal.

 

Another change involves using the identity verification tool ID.me for people who are approved to have expanded access to case information. Attorneys and justice system partners described in Supreme Court Rule 25 and in a temporary rule adopted by Administrative Order 2025-RL-139 are eligible for expanded access to case information.

 

Some public records only at courthouse

 

Public district court records are both case data and case documents. What is available through CaseSearch is described in Supreme Court Rule 22: Access to Public Electronic District Court Case Records.

 

Public records not available through CaseSearch are available at the courthouse using a courthouse terminal. Each district court has a computer reserved for public searches of court cases and court records.

 

Sealed cases and sealed records are not public and are not available through either CaseSearch or a courthouse terminal.

Kansas Judicial Branch

Office of Judicial Administration

301 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

785-296-2256

kscourts.gov

 
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Bourbon County

The Bourbon County Coalition Agenda for December 3

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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Agenda

 

December 3, 2025 1:00 PM

Scottview Conference Room

315 S. Scott Ave

 

 

  1.  Welcome: 

 

 

  1.  Member Introductions and Announcements:

 

 

  1.  Program:  Stephanie England, Prevention Services Supervisor, KVC Kansas

 

 

  1.  Open Forum:

 

 

  1.  Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be February 4, 2026.

 

Elections, Government

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall Newsletter

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Senator Marshall: Happy Thanksgiving From My Family to Yours!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, families across Kansas will come together to enjoy delicious food, the company of loved ones, and hopefully watch our Chiefs beat the Dallas Cowboys.

Thanksgiving gives us a moment to pause and reflect on what we’re grateful for. If your family is like mine, you probably take a minute to go around the table and share what you’re most thankful for.

I’m thankful for my beautiful family, my faith, and the privilege of serving you in the Senate. My family and I never take that honor for granted, and every day I’m reminded what a blessing it is to stand up for you and represent Kansas.

So, from my family – and all of my staff in Washington and Kansas – to you and yours: Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 107:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

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Topeka
800 SW Jackson Street, Suite 600
Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: 785-414-7501		 Overland Park
7011 W. 121st Street, Suite 100
Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: 913-879-7070		 Pittsburg
402B North Broadway
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-404-7016
Salina
204 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Suite 1
Salina, KS 67401
Phone: 785-829-9000		 Garden City
921 Lareu Street, Suite C Garden City, KS 67846
Phone: 620-765-7800		 Wichita
100 S. Market, Suite 102 Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: 316-803-6120
Kansas City
400 State Avenue
Suite 1006
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Phone: 913-549-1570		 Washington D.C.
Russell Senate Office Building Suite 479A
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4774

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Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Packet for December 1

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BOURBON COUNTY,
KANSAS
Bourbon County Commission Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
Monday, December 01, 2025, 5:30 PM

To  view the entire packet:

12.1.25 Agenda

I. Call Meeting to Order
 Roll Call
 Pledge of Allegiance
 Prayer
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes (unofficial until approved) 11.17.25 & 11.18.25
IV. St. Luke’s Award – EMS
V. Consent Agenda
 Approval of 11.21.25 Accounts Payable (sent 11.21.25) $93,276.25
 Approval of 11.26.25 Accounts Payable (sent 11.26.25) & Payroll (sent 11.25.25) $327,304.73
VI. Executive session pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected
personnel to protect their privacy – Jennifer Hawkins
VII. Public Comments
VIII. Old Business
 Sale Tax – Susan Walker
 2026 Benefits – Susan Walker
 HSA
 FSA
 COBRA
 Longevity – Susan Walker
 Lines of Communication – Susan Walker
 Road Closure Application – Patricia Daniels
 Schwab-Eaton Engineering Services Agreement – Dustin Hall/Kenny Allen
 190th Street Benefit District – Johnson
 Sanitation Discussion – Beerbower
 Handbook Discussion – Tran
 BBCO Planning Commission Moratorium
IX. New Business
X. Build Agenda for following meeting
XI. Commission Comments
XII. Adjournment _____________

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