The Fort Scott Police Department’s electric sign. The department is located at 1604 S. National Avenue.
Several residents of Fort Scott called the Fort Scott Police Department last night, March 5, to report the sound of gunshots.
“At 9 p.m., calls started coming in,” said Jason Eastwood with the Fort Scott Police Department. “Several people heard the sounds of windows and doors rattling and a racket that sounded like gunshots, around the same time.”
“We followed up by looking around town. There was no particular place it came from. Numerous reports from the east and west sides of town.”
The entire shift of police officers was driving around town, and Eastwood believes the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office was assisting, as well.
“The majority of calls were from the 12th Street to 18th Street blocks of our town,” he said.
There was no evidence of guns or fireworks in searching for the cause of the sounds, he said.
If anyone has any information, contact the Fort Scott Police Department. at 620.223.1700.
Patty LaRoche. 2023. Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection www.alittlefaithlift.com AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy but much better when others are happy because of you.”
The same day I read this quote from Pope Francis, someone sent me this post: “If God is making you wait, then do what waiters do. Serve.”
The photo to the left shows a man who stands outside the church Dave and I attend in Las Vegas. Faithfully, each Sunday, he is on the corner after the service, smiling to every exiting vehicle. Granted, he’s not on the stage preaching or singing, but his service is no less appreciated.
Ephesians 2:10 (TLB) says this: God . . . has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. I have met people who say they “serve” in their church. When I ask them how, they answer “by going to church” or “attending a Bible study.” Those are good things to do, of course, but that’s not the message Paul intended for the Ephesians.
What makes people prone to take care of their own needs and no one else’s? Fortune Magazine ran an article and referred to Faith Popcorn, a New York City marketing expert, as the “Nostradamus of Marketing.” Ms. Popcorn addresses a shift since Covid: “One of the major changes that is taking place in American culture is the ‘cocooning of America.’ It is looking for a haven at home – drawing their shades, plumping their pillows, clutching the remotes. Hiding . . . and everybody is digging in.”
Churches reflect this behavior as Christians choose to stay at home and “play it safe” on Sundays instead of obeying Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The bottom line is that we Christians must be inconvenienced for the Gospel. We must be willing to sacrifice so that others may come to know Jesus. Why is it so hard to think of others first, to remember that every person we see is someone Jesus thought enough of to die for?
Even praying for someone becomes an after-thought instead of an intentional, purposeful opportunity to bombard the thrones of Heaven to plead for them. And Heaven forbid we take the time to mentor someone with the good news of eternity. In Romans 10:14, Paul asks how people will come to believe in Christ. Answer: through us.
Three Scriptures in Romans pave the road to sharing the gospel.
1. 3:23—For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
2. 5:8—God shows his love for us that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.
3. 4:4-5—Salvation can’t be earned (or else Jesus wouldn’t have died.) We need to believe in Christ.
Reread the quote by Pope Francis and ask yourself this simple question: “What is the best thing I can do sacrificially to make others happy?” I pray that leading others to Christ is at the top of your list.
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
www.usd234.org
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
March 9, 2026 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
02-09-2026
02-11-2026
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – February 20, 2026 – $1,842,624.59
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
4.7 Food Service Fundraiser
4.8 Archery Club Fundraiser
4.9 Boys Golf Fundraiser
5.0 FSHS Theatre Students presentation – March – Theatre in Our Schools Month
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
7.0 New Business
7.1 Health Insurance Refund
7.2 Cost Containment Planning
7.3 10 Passenger Van Purchase
7.4 Approval of 2026-2027 School Calendar (Pending negotiations)
7.5 Approval of Graduation Requirements
7.6 High School Activity/Athletic Director Mentor Contract
7.7 KASB Membership Renewal 2026-2027
7.8 KASB Legal Assistance Fund Renewal 2026-2027
7.9 Sparkwheel Memorandum of Understanding
8.0 Public Forum
9.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
9.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters
9.2 Exit Executive Session
9.3 Approval of Personnel Report
10.0 Adjourn Meeting David Stewart, President
March is Women’s History Month. It behooves us to recognize how women have played an important role in our nation’s 250-year history.
Women have worked hard for 152 of those years in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Founded on November 18, 1874 in Cleveland, Ohio, it’s objectives are the following:
To protect the home
To instill Christian virtues in our children
To promote good citizenship
To inform society about the values of total abstinence by providing scientific facts concerning the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs
To build public sentiment for total abstinence
Beginning with women on their knees against the scourge of alcohol on their homes, the WCTU work expanded greatly under the leadership of Frances E. Willard, who became National WCTU Second President in 1879. She served as NWCTU President (and of the World WCTU from 1891) until her death in 1898.
The WCTU women proposed, supported and helped to establish: stiffer penalties for sexual crimes against girls and women, laws
that raised the age of consent from as low as seven years, higher education for women, uniform marriage and divorce laws, dress reform, travelers’ aid (originally protection for women and children traveling alone), matrons in jails, the Pure Food and Drug Act, legal aid, labor’s right to organize, equal pay for equal work and an 8-hour work day, legislation in every state mandating scientific instruction in public schools as to the dangers of smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages, and use of other drugs.
World peace was
proposed and supported.
WWCTU was a charter member of the United Nations.
Susan B. Anthony in the 1890’s introduced Willard to a United States Senate Committee as a “general with an army of 250,000.” At the time of her death she was , next to Queen Victoria, the best known woman in the world. On February 17, 1905 her statue
(sculpted by a woman) was placed in Statuary Hall of the US Capitol in Washington D.C.
She was the first woman so honored.
If you get the opportunity to visit Statuary Hall, you might enjoy seeing the statue of Frances B. Willard, as I did a few years ago.
Submitted by Loreta Jent, NWCTU Education Director
A local Fort Scott Community College student is moving forward with skills he has developed on his own, called A-Z Odd Jobs.
“I grew up helping my grandpa, Mark Tucker, on his cattle farm, and that is where I learned how to operate the tools I now use every day,” Max Blubaugh said. “I’ve grown up in Fort Scott, and I love being present in Bourbon County. I like to transform properties for people and give them something to be proud of.”
“I offer a wide range of services,” he said. “I do small-scale construction projects, limb/tree/brush removal, junk removal, heavy lifting, lawn care/mowing, snow removal, and anything on your ‘honey do’ list. Anything from A-Z!”
He is a 2025 graduate of Fort Scott Christian Heights.
“I am currently in my second semester at FSCC. I plan to eventually transfer to Pittsburg State University to major in construction management.”
“This has been my part-time job since I started my business in my junior year, but I didn’t try to do things consistently until the summer following my senior year. I realized there was a need for the type of work I do, and decided to push things more. Things have been picking up as of late. I’m busy, but I would like to be busier! I am not currently an LLC, but that is coming soon.”
His grandparents are Mark and Brenda Tucker and Dave and Shelia Blubaugh, and his parents are Brad and Bethany Blubaugh, all of Fort Scott.
He is involved in the community as an active member of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
The top photo shows the area before Max Blubaugh cleaned it. The bottom photo is the spot after. Submitted photos. This example shows his ability to change the look of properties by cleaning out debris and brush.
Have you ever wondered how the new playground equipment at your neighborhood park was funded? Or who paid for the welcoming sign that guides visitors to a local landmark? Maybe you’ve attended a festival that relied on seed money to get started. In many cases, these community projects are made possible because someone took the initiative to write a grant proposal.
Grants play a vital role in helping communities fund ideas, expand services, and strengthen local economies. While many grants come from federal or state government programs, others are offered by local foundations, corporations, and municipal agencies. Because grants provide such an important source of sustainable funding, K‑State Research and Extension’s Community Vitality Team supports communities by offering grant-writing education.
Residents and community groups can learn how to craft effective grant proposals at an upcoming in‑person Grant Writing Workshop hosted by K‑State Research and Extension in the Southwind District.
The workshop will take place on April 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Southwind Extension District office in Iola, KS. To register, call 620‑244‑3826 or email [email protected]. The cost to attend is $60, which includes workshop materials and lunch.
The workshop will be led by Nancy Daniels, a community vitality specialist with K‑State Extension and an experienced grant writer. “This workshop is for everyone, from those who have never written a proposal and don’t know where to begin, to those with experience who want to sharpen their skills,” Daniels said. “It’s incredible to see what happens in a community when people realize they don’t have to wait for change. They can create it themselves.”
Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from one another. Daniels noted that even seasoned grant writers often leave the workshop with new ideas, renewed motivation, and valuable insights from peers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their current grant projects or proposal ideas to the sessions.
Workshop topics include:
Conquering your grant writing fears and start writing
Identifying sources of data for community needs (where do you find the numbers to back up your request?) ·
Where to find grants ·
Practicing the grant writing elements: Problem, Outcomes, Activities, Evaluation and Budget.
For more information, please contact Community Vitality Agent Amanda Clasen at any Southwind District office or at [email protected].
“Today, Kansas joins 21 other states in implementing restrictions on candy and soda purchases with SNAP dollars,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I have always supported policies that incentivize healthy eating, including axing the state sales tax on food to put more money back in Kansans’ pockets. Going forward, I would encourage the USDA to develop a nationwide eligibility strategy to reduce confusion and uncertainty for retailers and recipients alike.”
The approved waiver, which will go into effect February 15, 2027, will exclude all candy and soda beverages (also known as soft drinks) from the definition of eligible foods under 7 CFR 271.2 for purchase with SNAP benefits. Candy and soda are defined by the state’s food and sales tax laws within the state retailer tax:
Candy is defined as a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. Candy does not include any preparation containing flour and shall require no refrigeration.
Soft drink beverages are defined as nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. Soft drinks do not include beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy, rice, or similar milk substitutes or beverages that are greater than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume.
During the approval process USDA recommended an implementation date of February 15, 2027. USDA provided this recommendation based on feedback from retailers in other states that have similar approved waivers and avoids concerns with implementing restrictions over and through the 2026 holiday season.
The Kansas SNAP Food Restriction Waiver is made up of four plans that focus on communicating information to SNAP Food Assistance recipients and authorized retailers, as well as detailed evaluation, monitoring, and compliance plans.
DCF released a request for proposals (RFP) which closed on February 17, 2026. This RFP is to bring on a contracting partner to help DCF manage the implementation plans and process. The proposals received are under review and a contract is expected to be in place by April 2026.
The photo to the left shows a man who stands outside the church Dave and I attend in Las Vegas. Faithfully, each Sunday, he is on the corner after the service, smiling to every exiting vehicle. Granted, he’s not on the stage preaching or singing, but his service is no less appreciated.
