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Monthly Archives: February 2026
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Presbyterian Church Hosts Chamber Coffee on Feb. 19
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Downtown Meet and Greet on February 20
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Bronson Micro Grocery Store Is Transitioning
Thaddeus and Kelly Perry’s business, Perry’s Country Store in Bronson, is changing focus.
“Our physical location in Bronson will no longer operate as it has. We are shifting the space to what it was originally designed for — production and distribution,” Kelly Perry said. “This is not a light decision, but for the first time in a long time, I 100% believe this is God opening and closing doors and bringing partnerships and networks full circle, and I’ve never felt peace like I have this last week and here is why.”
Monday through Friday we will be growing and expanding Perry’s Pork Rinds nationally.
“The physical storefront will still offer pork rinds, Perry’s Produce Boxes, bulk produce buying through online pre-orders, and our seasonal fruit like Colorado peaches, Florida strawberries, Oregon blueberries, Washington cherries, and the spring flower baskets and mums in the fall and similar offerings. That piece isn’t going away — it’s simply becoming more structured so it works long term and will likely occur on the second Saturday of each month. I’ll be inviting food trucks on those days, and others to set up in the parking lot and make it a monthly community event.”
“Monday through Friday we will be growing and expanding Perry’s Pork Rinds nationally.”
“Because of this shift, we’ll be liquidating all items not directly related to the pork rind business,” she said. “The red retro tables will stay; they have been an item that was here in the original fuel station. Food, small and large equipment, decor, and shelving. All of it will be for sale. I’m posting smaller items on my personal Facebook page now, and I’ll likely have my big list of large equipment posted online today on our new Facebook page that is dedicated to JUST the Perry’s Country Store https://www.facebook.
“I truly believe this transition is part of a bigger path we have prayed and worked so hard for since starting in 2017,” she said. “The goal hasn’t changed: support rural communities while building something sustainable for our family and future job growth.”
Her husband and co-owner, Thaddeus, is having a catfish fry this weekend, which will start the markdown pricing of food items in the store.
“Pre-orders are now open for the Sweet T’s Fried Catfish event this Saturday, February 21,” she said. “The pre-orders will close at noon on Feb 19! www.PerrysPorkRinds.com During this event, we will start our in-store markdowns of candy, canned goods, jar items, jams, frozen pies, meats, etc. ”
“All things Perry’s Pork Rinds will be posted on our normal Perry’s Pork Rind Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/
Granddads Groceries Coming
Discounted bulk groceries will soon be offered through Perry’s Country Store.
“About a year ago, I met with a company that distributes deeply discounted bulk groceries. At the time, logistics didn’t work out. I reached back out just on faith and asked if they would reconsider a community drop location here so both Bourbon and Allen County residents could benefit since the closing of the Marmaton Market in Moran and now our Micro Grocery Store in Bronson — and they said yes.”
Perry’s Country Store will be a new pick-up location for Grandad’s Groceries, a discounted bulk grocer that delivers to locations in our area.
“It allows continued food access locally without pulling focus, time, or capital away from growing Perry’s Pork Rinds. Here is a video link for what will be coming https://youtu.be/DnWRnA1ctrE and Perry’s parking lot will be the pick up location for Grandad’s Groceries. https://www.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Feb. 17
FSCC Softball Opens Season with Sweep of Avila University JV
Fort Scott, KS – The Fort Scott softball team opened the 2026 season in strong fashion on Feb. 12, sweeping Avila University JV in a doubleheader on the road. Fort Scott secured a 12-4 victory in Game 1 and followed with a 7-2 win in Game 2 to start the year 2-0.
In the opener, Fort Scott’s offense came out swinging, tallying 13 hits and 12 runs. Kylee Goad led the charge with five RBIs, while Madelyn Burkdick and Chloe Shoemaker each added multiple hits. Aubrey Kinsey earned the win in the circle, pitching six innings with three strikeouts.
Game 2 saw another balanced effort from Fort Scott, which recorded 12 hits in the 7-2 victory. Madelyn Burkdick collected two RBIs, and Amia Carr and Bailey Couch also contributed key runs batted in. Makenna Lawson picked up the win, throwing six strong innings with seven strikeouts, while Kaylyne Gregg closed out the game in relief.
Head Coach praised the team’s complete performance across both contests.
“Opening the season with two wins over Avila University JV was a great way to start, and it was truly a total team effort,” the coach said. “Everyone contributed in their own way, and I’m proud of how we pulled it together to get the job done. We know there’s still a lot of work ahead of us, but this was a strong first step for our team.”
Fort Scott showcased depth throughout the lineup and in the pitching staff, combining timely hitting, aggressive baserunning and solid defense to secure the sweep.
The team will look to build on its momentum as the season continues.
Legislative Update by Ks State Senator Caryn Tyson
February 13, 2026
School Funding has been a long-standing important issue, and with the current formula set to expire, it will remain a key topic for this session and next. One issue that would be addressed by SB 387 is requiring income verification for the at-risk program that uses free or reduced lunch counts to calculate funding amounts. It addresses concerns raised in a nonpartisan Legislative Post Audit, which found that the free or reduced lunch count is overstating the poverty counts and funding. SB 387 would require income verification, with districts being reimbursed for accurate verification of costs. Parents not willing to answer income verification may not be eligible for reduced costs. Families already verified through programs like SNAP would be eligible without additional verification. The Legislative Post Audit (https://kslegislature.
Victim Protection from convicted felons who committed serious crimes would increase if SB 358 is passed into law. SB 358 would require those felons be held in jail without bond until they are sentenced. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and was sent to the House.
K‑TRACS is Kansas’s prescription‑monitoring database. Under current law, only a narrowly defined group of users may access it, helping protect your prescription information. The Kansas Board of Pharmacy, however, is granted authority to broaden that access through the rules and regulations process. SB 322, introduced at the request of the Joint Committee on Rules and Regulations after hearing proposed expansion by the board, would strip the Board of that authority, keeping K‑TRACS limited to its present user class. The bill sailed through the Senate unanimously and awaits consideration in the House.
Golf Carts could be allowed on city sidewalks if SB 367 would become law and if local governments approve. There was debate about requiring carts only to go to and from a golf course, but it just makes sense to let the locals decide. They may want to allow people to drive a golf cart on a sidewalk to go to the store, church, or elsewhere in town. Current state law prohibits golf carts from being driven on sidewalks. It passed unanimously and was sent to the House.
Director of the Office of Early Childhood, lives in Missouri and has indicated she does not plan to relocate to Kansas while serving in the role. She was confirmed by a narrow vote, 21 to 19. Elected officials are required to reside in the district they represent, but apparently this appointment does not have to live in Kansas. It raises several concerns. This Director will shape policies that impact Kansans, so what happens when a personal, business, or financial conflict arises? Where will her primary allegiance be to Kansas or to her home state of Missouri? To top it off, some senators – who have expressed frustration over the lack of appointments from their regions – nonetheless defended this nomination and voted to confirm a Missouri resident. I voted no.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
County Clerk Discusses Payroll Changes
In the February 2nd County Commissioner meeting, it was stated that the county clerk had seven and a half weeks to prepare for the transition to the Pay Entry software. Susan Walker, Bourbon County Clerk, disputed the timeline for the cutover. She said, “Commissioner Milburn had made a statement that the clerk had 7 & 1/2 weeks to learn Pay Entry, which is false.” She went on to explain that they spent 7 & 1/2 weeks sending Pay Entry information and explaining the county processes to them, but that time wasn’t spent training on the software.
Despite statements by Tim Emerson from Emerson & Co in October listing training that had been provided on the PayEntry software, the County Clerk says the first time they saw the software was two business days before they had to run their first payroll.
(Note: Tim Emerson shares the name, but is not the same Tim Emerson who lives near Devin and, with Commissioner Tran, Commissioner Beerbower, and others, sued the Bourbon County Commissioners. Past news reports seem to indicate that Tim Emerson of Emerson & Co. is the son of the Tim Emerson of Bourbon County who filed the lawsuit.)
“We implemented and had training for PayEntry on November the 20th. It was the first time we even saw the product.” Walker explained that PayEntry requires payroll to be run two days before the county wants to pay employees. After training on Thursday, the 20th, the clerk says that they had to run payroll on November 24th so county employees could be paid the day before Thanksgiving on the 26th. The first time she says they actually saw the software was on Thursday, the 20th, and they had to run the first payroll on Monday, the 24th, two business days later.
When asked if Emerson (the accountant who sold the system to the county) provided training to the department heads, she said no, but PayEntry “gave us a piece of paper to hand out that still didn’t help people.”
She went on to explain, “So we had people come in and sit down in our office. We helped them get into the app that had lots of problems. In the app they would try [to] clock in, and they couldn’t tell if they were clocked in or not. If you hit it again, it would clock them out and wouldn’t let them know if they were clocked out.” Walker says those problems are still there along with an issue that allows employees to change the cost center for time entries. “So I might have a deputy[‘s time] show up in the clerk’s office.”
When asked if the PayEntry system provided any capabilities that weren’t available in the previous system, she said that it has an online portal that would let employees download their W2 tax forms at the end of the year. With the previous system, the county printed those forms out and distributed them. However, since the system isn’t integrated with the rest of the county’s accounting, it requires a lot of manual copying of information back and forth between PayEntry and the county’s accounting software. These manual steps are more error-prone and harder to troubleshoot than the integration that the county had previously.
Walker said that the decision to outsource payroll was made after she had asked the commissioners for another employee to help run payroll in her office. The clerk explained, “During budget seasons, I did ask for an additional employee, and they denied me that. That’s part of this process. I go in, and I request what I feel like I need to run my office efficiently. If you deny me, that’s ok.”
But after asking the commissioners for another employee, Walker says, “They came in and said, well, we’re going to outsource now.” She said she was confused by this step and asked, “Why would you do that? Because I’m fully willing to continue doing what we’re doing.”
When asked how much money was being saved by switching to PayEntry, Walker said that the change had lowered the cost from the $6,500 per year that she was getting to run payroll as well as about $5,000 per year for the CIC payroll module. Those two things lowered the cost by $11,500. However, she said PayEntry is costing around $20,000 in the first year with slightly lower cost next year. She provided the following comparison of costs if no additional employees were hired.
The clerk said the commissioners have had to hire an additional employee to run the PayEntry payroll for 32 hours a week and says an additional employee will cost around $32,000 per year in salary. According to the clerk, since the new employee is working more than 30 hours a week, she would be eligible for benefits as well in addition to the cost of the salary.
When asked for comment about the clerk’s concerns with changes to payroll, Commissioner Milburn provided the following information over a text exchange. She pointed out that payroll affects all offices and “any one of us may not run again or may not be elected again.” She said, “It is reassuring to me that payroll will not be changed by the coming or going of the elected.”
She went on to say that the cost for the additional employee who is managing PayEntry is “less than what it cost us in the clerk office,” because the new employee has duties outside of payroll and, as a part-time employee, doesn’t cost the county for health insurance. Commissioner Milburn said this was “as opposed to the full-time employee in the clerk’s office plus the additional $10,000 for oversight of payroll duties that we were paying.” In addition to pointing to cost savings, she said, “I am pleased with the separation of duties that we get with this change.”
New Auto Repair Business Opens in Fort Scott
Noah Terry and Dakota Rusk are the owners of a new car maintenance business.
G3 Auto Repair, is located at 1131 227th, Fort Scott, on the east side of town by the Fort Scott Middle School.
Terry and Rusk perform simple auto maintenance to major overhauls “and everything in-between,” said Terry.
“We also do tires, we can even balance them, and we offer detailing services.”
(620) 240- 9343
The business will have a grand opening on February 28, 2026. They are currenlty accepting job inquiries now, Terry said.
Dakota Rusk is the technician and has experience from working at Briggs Auto. Terry is the CEO, he said.
Why start an auto repair business?
“The reasons are twofold,” Terry said. “We want to first and foremost honor God with our work. We devote all things to Him, and our business is a part of that.”
“Secondly, we see this as an opportunity to serve our community; we want to offer a professional service to Fort Scott. We want to build up the place we call home, and providing excellent and honest service is one of many ways we can contribute to that mission.”
Terry said their goals are simple:
“Over communicate. Under promise.
and over deliver.”
To learn more: 620.240.9343 or
From the Bleachers-751 by Dr. Jack Welch
FROM THE BLEACHERS-751
BY DR. JACK WELCH
When Efficient Leadership Feels Uncomfortable
Efficient leadership can feel uncomfortable. It can sound firm. Sometimes it even gets labeled as heavy-handed, especially in organizations that have operated the same way for a long time. When leaders begin realigning systems, expectations, and processes, the shift can feel sudden. Discomfort doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong. Often, it means something important is changing.
Most organizations needing realignment aren’t broken. They’re simply out of sync. Over time, good intentions can be slowed by unclear roles, outdated practices, and layers of process that no longer serve the mission. Efficient leadership steps in not to criticize the past, but to prepare the organization for what’s ahead.
Realignment requires moving away from purely top-down, task-focused leadership and toward a people-centered approach built on clarity, trust, and collaboration. That starts with a clearly defined vision. People want to know where they’re going and why it matters. When leaders communicate that vision consistently and transparently, uncertainty fades and confidence grows.
People-centered leadership also means empathy, listening, acknowledging concerns, and understanding that change affects everyone differently. At the same time, efficiency depends on shared responsibility. Clear expectations help teams work together with purpose, not confusion. When roles are understood and accountability is fair, people are better positioned to succeed.
Agility matters as well. Organizations must be able to adapt, make informed decisions, and adjust without losing momentum. Technology and data, when used well, can simplify work, reduce friction, and give leaders and teams better insight into what’s working and what needs attention.
Personnel changes and process adjustments are often the hardest part of realignment. Leaders must communicate openly, involve people in the transition, and provide training and support. Going slow in these moments, listening carefully and explaining decisions, often allows organizations to move faster and more effectively in the long run.
From the bleachers, structure can look restrictive. In reality, efficient leadership is about alignment, not control. It’s about creating an environment where people understand the mission, trust the direction, and have the tools to do their work well. Realignment isn’t about fault, it’s about focus. Focus is what allows an organization to move forward together.
Thought for the Week, “Change isn’t a judgment on where you’ve been, it’s a commitment to where you’re going.” Jimmy Shuck, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Copperas Cove, Texas.
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.
Bourbon County Commission Meeting Move to Feb. 19
The Bourbon County Commission has moved their regular meeting to February 19th at 5:30 at 210 S National. They will not meet on Monday the 16th for observance of Presidents’ Day.
Nevada Hospital Offers Free, Take-home Colon Cancer Screening Kits
NRMC to Make Free Colon Kits Available
Nevada Regional Medical Center is joining other healthcare organizations around the country to observe Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month during March. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with about 2 million cases diagnosed each year. It is the second leading cause of cancer death despite the fact that effective screening techniques exist that can greatly reduce the number of deaths.
NRMC Internal Medicine physician, Dr. John Fox recently said, “The good news is that a simple colonoscopy allows a physician to quickly spot and remove polyps before they ever become cancerous. It’s one of the few cancers that we can spot early and deal with before it becomes a problem.”
NRMC will have free, take home colon cancer screening kits available to the public starting Monday, March 2nd, throughout the month as supplies last. The kits can be picked up any weekday between 8:00 and 4:30 at the Information Desk in the hospital’s main lobby. Instructions on how to mail in the samples are provided with the kits. For further information the public is asked to call 417-448-3710.
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About Nevada Regional Medical Center
Serving a six-county area since 1937, NRMC is a 71-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital providing comprehensive health care services. Staff represent more than a dozen medical specialties including ear, nose & throat, family practice, general surgery, gynecology, internal medicine, orthopedics, pain management, pediatrics, psychiatry and wound care services. Additionally, consultation clinics are held regularly by specialists in cardiology, dermatology, neurology, podiatry, pulmonology and urology.
NRMC is centrally located between Kansas City and Joplin along the I-49 corridor.