Monthly Archives: October 2026

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Ad: Rob Hodgkinson — Read the Bills

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I’ll read the bills, and I’ll explain my votes.

Rob Hodgkinson, Libertarian, Kansas House District 4: Read the bills. Explain the votes.

Right at the end of the last session, legislators were handed a gut-and-go bill: the original bill was gutted, a different one was dropped in its place, and they were told to vote. That has to end.

Every vote should be on the record, in committee and on the floor, not just taken by voice, so you can see where your representative stood.

Elected officials are public servants, not bosses. If you’re going to be a public servant, you should be very public.

Read the bills. Explain the votes. Rob Hodgkinson for Kansas House, District 4.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. In Bourbon County, early voting at the Courthouse runs Oct. 19 through noon Nov. 2.

Paid for by Hodgkinson for Kansas, Ric Koehn treasurer.

Learn more: rob4ks.com

K-State Extension

Tree Care Workshop Planned for Nov. 10 in Fort Scott

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Community members interested in improving the health and longevity of their trees are invited to attend a Tree Care Workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2108 Horton St., Fort Scott.

The workshop is hosted by the Southwind Extension District and will be presented by Kody Kraemer of the Kansas Forest Service. Participants will learn the essentials of proper tree care, including tree biology, selecting the right tree for the right location, proper planting techniques, pruning practices, and watering recommendations for both young and established trees.

Designed for homeowners, landowners, and gardening enthusiasts, the program will provide practical information to help participants make informed decisions that support healthy and thriving trees.

For more information about the workshop, call the Southwind Extension District at 620-244-3826.

Opinion

Giggle Boxes by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker

Giggle Boxes

Mrs. Zula Oldham, my third-grade teacher at Stockton, was my dad’s first cousin. She taught for 38 years and was a favorite educator for a multitude of students. I found my best friend and “partner in laughter” in her third-grade classroom! Mrs. Oldham called Jonita and I “giggle boxes.” And sixty years later, we’re still living up to our nicknames. Whenever we’re together, we have an uncommon way of finding hysterical humor in ordinary life that a normal person wouldn’t even notice or think was funny.

Some people have a generous helping of humor and I believe everyone should embrace laughter as a gift from God. Laughter uplifts the spirit, strengthens relationships, and causes you to forget the rough day you just experienced. There’s plenty of scientific evidence that laughter is delightful medicine for the soul. “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired” (Proverbs 17:22 MSG). Let’s do our best to get on with life by playing a duet of optimism and humor. Why not see your glass as half full rather than half empty… and laugh uncontrollably every chance you get!

“We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness. We were left shouting for joy and singing Your praise” (Psalm 126:2 TPT). When things go awry in church they are usually funnier than anywhere else. Generally speaking, we’re to worship God in reverential fear and awe. But when you know you’re not supposed to laugh, it makes it worse when trying to hold it in. Sometimes you just have to laugh when you’re wired that way. Once, when I was in my teens and the church pianist, Dad was leading the song service and the unexpected happened right in front of everybody. The praise and worship experience erupted in laughter when Dad’s clip-on tie fell off during the singing!

In the Old Testament, Bildad told Job: “God will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy” (Job 8:21 NLT). Combining humor and faith, Christian author and inspirational speaker, Barbara Johnson says, “Laughter dulls the sharpest pain and flattens out the greatest stress. To share it is to give a gift of health.”

“God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh” (Luke 6:21b NLT). Every follower of Jesus is a learner, student, representative, and ambassador of Christ. And as long as we live in a fallen world we will all experience the sorrows of life, which include mourning the loss of loved ones. Because of the words, “in due time,” I prefer the New Living Translation for this scripture. When the time of weeping has come and gone, God will be faithful to restore our laughter. He can restore anyone because He’s the Master Creator and He loves people more than anything.

“Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all….” (Ecclesiastes 11:8 NASB). You are responsible; you have a part to play for ensuring that you rejoice and enjoy all the days of your life – just like you’re responsible for brushing your teeth. Happiness, joy, contentment, and laughter should permeate throughout your life so that it’s present everywhere like a honeysuckle fragrance, a warm-and-fuzzy feeling, or an upbeat attitude.

The Key: Stop blaming God, your family, your friends, or your circumstances for your lack of laughter. If you have to, learn to laugh — like you learned to ride a bicycle.

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Ad: Rick James — Insurance & Prescriptions

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Insurance costs keep going up. I feel it too.

Re-elect Rick James, Republican, Kansas State Representative District 4: Fair Treatment For Local Pharmacies

I’m Rick James, and I serve on the Kansas House Insurance Committee. Health insurance and car insurance keep going up, and prescription costs are a real concern.

This session we passed SB 20 to rein in the prescription middlemen, the pharmacy benefit managers:

  • Bans the hidden markup known as spread pricing
  • Makes them treat our local pharmacies the same as their own
  • Requires more transparency in how drug prices are set

Insurance costs will be a big topic again next session, and I sit on the committee that handles them.

Working for fair treatment of local pharmacies and better savings for you. Re-elect Rick James, State Representative, District 4.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting at the Bourbon County Courthouse starts Oct. 19.

Paid for by Rick James for Kansas State Representative.

Learn more: Rick James on Facebook | rickjamesks.com

K-State Extension

Is This Normal Aging or Something More?

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Tara Soloman-Smith, Family and Wellness Agent, Sunflower District of Kansas State University’s Extension Office. Submitted photo.

Is This Normal Aging or Something More?

Many people become concerned when they forget a name, misplace their keys, or need an occasional reminder. While some changes in memory and thinking are a normal part of aging, others may be warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Knowing the difference can help individuals and families seek medical guidance when needed.

Here are 10 warning signs to watch for and examples of what is typically considered normal aging:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

A common warning sign is forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or events, asking for the same information repeatedly, or relying heavily on reminders.

A typical age-related change is forgetting someone’s name but remembering it later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

Individuals may have difficulty following a familiar recipe, concentrating, or managing numbers and finances. Normal aging may involve occasional mistakes when balancing a checkbook or preparing a meal.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks

A person may struggle with routine activities such as driving to a familiar location, performing work responsibilities, or remembering the rules of a favorite game. Typical aging may mean occasionally needing help with technology or an unfamiliar task.

4. Confusion with time or place

People may lose track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time. They may forget where they are or how they got there. A normal age-related change is occasionally forgetting the day of the week but remembering it later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

Difficulty judging distance, reading, or distinguishing contrast and color may occur. Normal changes are often related to vision conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma.

6. New problems with speaking or writing

Someone may have trouble following conversations, frequently repeat themselves, or use incorrect words.

A typical age-related change is occasionally struggling to find the right word.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Items may be placed in unusual locations, and the person may be unable to recall where they were left. Normal aging involves occasionally misplacing something but eventually finding it.

8. Poor or decreased judgment

Changes may include poor financial decisions, giving away large amounts of money, or neglecting personal hygiene. Typical aging may involve making an occasional poor decision.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

A person may stop participating in hobbies, work projects, or social events because tasks become difficult or frustrating. In contrast, most people occasionally feel tired and choose to skip activities.

10. Changes in mood or personality

Individuals may become more anxious, fearful, suspicious, depressed, or easily upset. Normal aging may include occasional irritability when things do not go as planned.

Experiencing one of these signs does not necessarily mean a person has dementia. However, if you notice several of these changes in yourself or a loved one, it is important to schedule a medical evaluation. Early detection can help identify the cause of symptoms, provide access to resources and support, and allow families to plan for the future. For more information about the 10 warning signs, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org.

Information for this article came from “Alzheimer’s 101,” Kansas State University Extension, MF3364. For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, Family & Community Wellness Agent, at 620-244-3826 or tsolomon@ksu.edu.

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Trustees Approve Land Buy, Benefits, Staffing Changes

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The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees approved a land purchase for a housing project, employee benefits renewal and staffing changes during its regular meeting Monday, Oct. 19.

Trustees approved purchasing the north half of Lot 5, Block 1, Cameron Addition, from the Land Bank for $1. The property will be used for the FRAME Grant housing project.

The board also approved restructuring two existing Miami County Campus positions into enrollment coordinator positions. Beginning in January 2027, the positions will be based on the Fort Scott campus and report to the dean of enrollment and student services.

For the 2027 employee benefits renewal, trustees approved a plan that includes a 0.4% increase in medical premiums, a modest increase in dental premiums and no change in vision premiums. The college will absorb the increases, keeping employee contributions unchanged.

Trustees approved a facility usage agreement with Living Proof Ministries, which will return to campus for a program expected to bring approximately 200 students to FSCC.

The board authorized disposal of surplus fleet vehicles and equipment no longer needed for college operations. Trustees also approved disposal of surplus information technology equipment from the Harley-Davidson building in accordance with college policies and procedures.

Personnel actions included the transfer of Lacey DeMott from instruction office assistant to athletics assistant, effective Oct. 20. New hires approved were Monica Walden as instruction office assistant, effective Oct. 21; Heidi Maupin as TRIO online engagement specialist, effective Oct. 22; and Christopher Haynes as John Deere Tech instructor, effective Nov. 1.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Police Department

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – October 23, 2026

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Fort Scott Police Day Sheets

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – October 23, 2026

Fort Scott police, fire and EMS logged 78 calls for service on October 23, 2026.

Reports and Arrests

Other Agency Assist — 8:31 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01692FS. Disposition: ARRC.

PFA Violation — 10:52 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01695FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Accident / Non-Injury — 11:19 AM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-1002BB. Disposition: RPTA.

Accident / Non-Injury — 1:07 PM, 10 N Main St, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-01693FS. Disposition: RPTA.

Accident / Non-Injury — 1:49 PM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-01694FS. Disposition: RPTA.

Disturbance — 3:42 PM, 101 Andrick St. Complaint No. 26-01696FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Traffic Stop — 6:50 PM, 69 Hwy. Complaint No. 26-1003BB. Disposition: * Multiple.

Threat — 5:47 PM, 710 W 8th St. Complaint No. 26-01697FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Follow-Up — 6:34 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01699FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Lost Property — 7:07 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01698FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Traffic Stop — 7:53 PM, 69 Hwy. Complaint No. 26-1004BB. Disposition: * Multiple.

Domestic / Unknown — 8:19 PM, 817 S Little St, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-01700FS. Disposition: RPTC.

Accident / Injury — 9:29 PM, 69 Hwy. Complaint No. 26-1005BB. Disposition: * Multiple.

Fire and EMS

EMS / Transfer — 8:40 AM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: * Multiple.

Fire / Alarm — 10:39 AM, 2505 S Main St, Fort Scott. Disposition: FIRE.

EMS — 1:25 PM, 820 S Horton St, Fort Scott. Disposition: AMBU.

EMS / Transfer — 4:27 PM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: * Multiple.

EMS / Standby — 6:16 PM, 401 E 5th St, Uniontown. Disposition: AMBU.

EMS — 7:17 PM, 601 E 5th St, Uniontown. Disposition: AMBU.

EMS — 8:35 PM, 822 S Horton St, Fort Scott. Disposition: AMBU.

EMS / Transfer — 8:56 PM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: AMBU.

Other Calls for Service

27,28,29 Checks — 6:11 AM, 1604 S National Ave, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Theft — 8:46 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 9:22 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control / Dead Animal Pick Up — 9:40 AM, National Ave, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 11:14 AM, 1135 E Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Check Welfare — 11:20 AM, 101 Andrick St. Disposition: HBO.

Juvenile — 11:18 AM, N Crawford, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Juvenile — 11:33 AM, Judson, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Check Welfare — 12:22 PM, 602 S Main St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Accident / Non-Injury — 12:48 PM, 2305 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 12:53 PM, 1402 E Wall, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: RPTS.

Follow-Up — 1:06 PM, 15 Scott St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 1:06 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 1:15 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

911 / Accidental — 1:30 PM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: HBD.

Juvenile — 1:58 PM, Hill St, Fort Scott. Disposition: 77.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 2:08 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 2:56 PM, 1012 S Hwy 69, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 3:01 PM, 2300 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 3:05 PM, 2205 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Check Welfare — 3:09 PM, 120 S National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 3:11 PM, 1009 S Clark, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control / Dead Animal Pick Up — 3:22 PM, 905 S National Ave, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control — 3:39 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / Walk-In — 3:56 PM, 293 E 20th St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Complaint / Livestock — 4:24 PM, Jayhawk, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 5:24 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

SRO — 6:00 PM, 401 E 5th St, Uniontown. Disposition: HBO.

Juvenile — 6:16 PM, 2001 Locust Rd, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Public Assist — 7:43 PM, Judson. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 7:59 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Suspicious Activity — 9:27 PM, 10th St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info — 10:37 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Civil Standby — 10:51 PM, 106 S Broadway, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Accident / Non-Injury — 11:33 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stops

Traffic Stop — 12:13 AM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 12:24 AM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 12:33 AM, National Ave. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 12:44 AM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 2:50 PM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 4:06 PM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: * Multiple.

Traffic Stop — 4:33 PM, 12th St, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 4:37 PM, Jayhawk, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 4:43 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 4:44 PM, 240th, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 5:20 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: * Multiple.

Traffic Stop — 7:07 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:25 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:42 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:44 PM, 54 Hwy, Bronson. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:14 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:12 PM, Steen. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 10:55 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 11:09 PM, Judson. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 11:28 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 11:31 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Total Calls for Service: 78

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Ad: Rob Hodgkinson — No Tax Should Live Forever

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No tax should live forever without review.

Rob Hodgkinson, Libertarian, Kansas House District 4: No tax should live forever.

Every tax and every program should come with an end date. I support a five-year sunset, with a super-majority vote required to renew a tax or create a new one.

When that date comes, lawmakers have to ask a simple question: is this still doing what it was supposed to do, or has it morphed into something else?

If it’s still working, vote to keep it, on the record. If it’s morphed, it’s time to kill it.

Government should have to prove it still needs your money. Rob Hodgkinson for Kansas House, District 4.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. In Bourbon County, early voting at the Courthouse runs Oct. 19 through noon Nov. 2.

Paid for by Hodgkinson for Kansas, Ric Koehn treasurer.

Learn more: rob4ks.com

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Ad: Rick James — Where Does the Money Come From?

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Before Kansas takes on a billion-dollar project, somebody has to ask: where’s the money coming from?

Re-elect Rick James, Republican, Kansas State Representative District 4: Where'S The Money Coming From?

I’m Rick James. Fiscal responsibility isn’t a talking point. It’s a responsibility we owe to every Kansas family.

  • This year’s budget cut State General Fund spending by nearly $190 million
  • It still fully funds our constitutional obligations
  • And it keeps nearly $2 billion in the Rainy-Day Fund

Now there’s talk of building a new state prison that could cost well over a billion dollars. On a project that size, I’ll be asking where the money comes from.

Protecting taxpayers. Re-elect Rick James, State Representative, District 4.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting at the Bourbon County Courthouse starts Oct. 19.

Paid for by Rick James for Kansas State Representative.

Learn more: Rick James on Facebook | rickjamesks.com

Opinion

The Price Tag of Love

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Patty LaRoche

Barb shared a story during our Zoom Bible study that left us speechless, some in tears. Her 90-year-old friend was in a nursing home, and the resident’s only child, a son, came to visit her. On his way home, he was hit head-on by another vehicle and died. Barb was called and asked to contact her friend about the fatal accident.

When she arrived at the care facility, her friend asked why she was there since it was so late in the evening. Barb explained that she had bad news to share and that the elderly woman’s son had died on his way home. The woman said nothing but instead rolled over in her bed and faced the wall. Barb had no idea what to say next. She stood in silence.

Within a couple of minutes, the woman rolled back towards Barb and said, “This must have been so hard for you to share this with me.”

Tonight’s Bible lesson was about compassion, an emotion Jesus frequently showed. In the New Testament, the Greek term splagchnizomai describes being deeply moved by another’s plight (Matthew 9:36). Jesus exemplified this through healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and comforting the marginalized (Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13). One theologian said that the word “compassion” is used to describe Jesus’ emotion more than any other word in scripture.

Our group looked at John the Baptist’s beheading and how, immediately after Jesus was told about his cousin’s death, he tried to find a place to be alone. People followed him and begged for him to heal them. Jesus, “moved with compassion,” set aside his grief and met their needs. That’s when Barb told us about her friend, an example of someone grieving who put her feelings aside to care for someone else. This was the first time I have ever seen our group without words.

Who reacts like that? Who isn’t filled with self-pity—at least a little bit—upon hearing such horrendous news? Her only son died after coming to visit her, and here she was in a nursing home. Who would not question why God didn’t take her but took her son instead? When we on the Zoom call finally broke the silence, everyone in our group admitted that they could not imagine being as selfless, as Christ-like, as this lady.

We are called to put others ahead of ourselves, not just when we’re in the mood to do so but every time we are given a chance. We can have a “Honk if You Love Jesus” bumper sticker on our car but not stop for a stranded driver. We can memorize scripture but never read the Bible to someone too ill to read for themselves. We can host lovely dinner parties but never invite the lonely neighbor to join us. It’s just too easy to put ourselves first, isn’t it?

Clergyman J.C. Watts, Jr. said it best: “Compassion can’t be measured in dollars and cents. It does come with a price tag, but that price tag isn’t the amount of money spent. The price tag is love.” I’m sure that Jesus would agree.

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Core Community: Raising Families Out of Poverty

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Core Community believes something powerful: poverty can be solved when a community comes together with the right tools, trusted relationships, and long-term support.

The organization equips families by inviting them to participate in a 22-week-long class, mobilizes food donors and childcare volunteers to help eliminate barriers during class, and wraps participants — called Core Leaders — with support and proven tools. After the class and graduation, graduates move into Phase 2, where they are partnered with a community volunteer who joins them once a month to walk alongside the Core Leaders as they continue working on their goals and gaining resources from community presenters.

Core Community meets every Tuesday night from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Fort Scott Nazarene.

Core Community Bourbon County is also a sponsor of Praisefest, happening Oct. 24 at Gunn Park in Fort Scott, with stage events starting at 3 p.m. and the main event with Tasha Layton at 6 p.m. The festival features food trucks, vendors, guest speakers, local artists, testimonials, a disc golf round, a cornhole tourney, a fishing derby, a tri-yak-a-thon, and a kiddie zone. Wristbands are $10 (ages 5 and under free), and all proceeds benefit Core Community’s work engaging the community to lift families out of poverty.





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