All posts by Loretta George
Hwy. K-7 Will Close From U.S. Hwy. 69 to K-39 Junction on August 4
Beginning Monday, August 4, 2025, the K-7 highway will be closed from US-69 to the K-39 Jct.
Sideroads will remain open at this time. Barricades will be set on K-7 at each sideroad.
Accommodation will be made for residents and landowners to have access to their properties via access from the nearest sideroad.
K-7 from the K-39 Jct South to Girard will remain open to local traffic only, according to the Fort Scott/Bourbon County Dispatch Post on Facebook.
Volunteers Needed To Get The Old Fort Genealogy Society Reopened
For those interested in learning more about their family history in Bourbon County, the Old Fort Genealogy Society is a valuable resource to the community.
“Many people don’t know what we have to offer,” said Susan Karleskint, president of the society. ” We have tons of Bourbon County history….birth records, death records, cemeteries, pictures.”
“We provide help to people who are researching their families in Bourbon County,” she said. “In addition, we have moved beyond genealogical to historical.”
The society is non-profit.
“We don’t charge, but do ask for a donation, should they want to give one,” she said.
In early 2025, the society’s board began searching for an alternative location. The location they were at, in the basement of Memorial Hall, was too small for all the records they housed, and the cost of renovating to a different part of that building was too high.
They found a much larger site for their services at 2801 S. Horton, in the Professional Building, north of the old Mercy Hospital.
In the spring, they began the move to that building, which has been vacant for several years.
“We have encountered some ‘hiccups’ along the way that have slowed our progress,” Karleskint said.
“The space is futuristic,” she said. “We can grow. We had a lot of things that couldn’t be put out (in the prior building), but now can be.”
The space is almost 4,000 square feet.
Now the board members are seeking volunteers to help them get open to the public.
“Volunteers are needed to unpack items….to go to the bookshelves,” she said. “Currently, there are three to four of us. We need helpers in order to get us open.”
“When our doors open, we will have a need for volunteers who would be willing to help at least 1/2 day per week.”
Contact them at 602.223.3300. “If that number is not currently answered, an individual may call my phone at 620-224-6613,” Karleskint said.
The board consists of Karleskint, Ralph Carlson, Peggy Cummings, Shirley Hurd, Jim Logan, Terry Sercer, and Don Tucker.
Karleskint said she wanted to thank this board for all of the time and energy they have contributed in the past few
months.
Micheal Olkowski, Fort Scott, Arrested For Sex Offenses on July 23
Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin confirmed that Michael Olkowski of Fort Scott is still in the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center as of 10 a.m. today.
Olkowski was arrested for sexual exploitation of a child on July 23 at 920 West Park Avenue, Fort Scott, and is being held without bail.
The following was taken from the Kansas Missing and Exploited Facebook page
Bourbon County Veterinary Clinic Is Open For Business
From the business Facebook page.
Bourbon County Veterinary Clinic, LLC is fully open for business at 1251 240th Street in Fort Scott.
Owners are Dr. Trent Callahan and Dr. Joely Roe Johnson.
Dr. Callahan and Dr. Joe (Joely Johnson) both come from an agricultural background and share a love for providing veterinary care to rural communities, Dr. Callahan said.
The new business is just over the Bourbon County line in Bates County, Missouri, where the two are vets at the Bates County Veterinary Clinic in Butler.
The two clinics will share goals, clients, veterinarians, and patients.
Their core values are “Keeping your pets happy and healthy and your livestock profitable!”
Dr. Joe and her family also call Bourbon County home, with her husband’s family having deep roots in the area, she said.
“We will have a broad range of experience and knowledge,” said Dr. Joe. “We will provide large animal and small animal services ranging from routine vaccines, surgeries, herd work, consulting, and much more. We are excited to serve Bourbon County and surrounding areas.”
Dr. Callahan earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri with the class of 1998. He opened his first practice in 2008 in Bates County after practicing for eleven years as an associate veterinarian in Butler, Missouri.
Dr. Joe earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Purdue University, class of 2023
In 2021, Bates County expanded and remodeled its facility, offering the newest technology and expanding the veterinarians on staff. In 2023, Dr. Joe joined the Bates County Veterinary Clinic team.
They will have a rotation of four veterinarians with support staff at the Kansas clinic. Other vets who will be rotating are Dr. Levi Cade and Dr. Megan Westerhold.
Contact info: phone:620-223-1171, email: bourboncountyveterinary@gmail.
Hours of operation: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Fort Scott Mud Turtles 16U Softball Team Wins World Championship in KC
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“The Fort Scott 16b Mud Turtles have finished their summer season,” said Chrystal Cowan, coach. “One of the many highlights of the season was the KC Metro World Series Championship, in which the crew battled through rain, lightning, and extreme heat. The team has fought adversity this summer, but has managed to put it all together and continue to fight for each other. Southeast Kansas is loaded with softball talent, and continues to dish out incredibly skilled kids!”
The girls are coached by Cowan, Zack Marsh, and Eric Loercher.
“The 16U Mud Turtles participated in a softball tournament on the weekend of July 11-13th,”. The team competed against 24 other regional teams and went undefeated to win the tournament. The girls on the team have been playing together for almost eight years and display remarkable sportsmanship and teamwork,” said Marnie Zimmerman, an aunt to Lexie Forester, a member of the team.
This group of young athletes is a 16-year-old and under traveling softball team from Fort Scott.
Miniature Golf Project Organizers Are Surveying Options
Justin Miles and Josh Jones have been working on a miniature golf course project for the community to enjoy.
“It’s an idea that has been lingering for a little over a year, and we have been hard at work for about the last eight months ironing out the logistics of everything,” Miles said.
Recent Facebook debates over the location are prompting a rethink of several options that will work.
“Since Facebook has a way of muddying the water and stirring up confusion, we wanted to take a moment to clear the air about the mini golf project,” he said.
“First and foremost: this is a privately owned business, not a city project. We’ve been working behind the scenes on something we believe could bring fresh foot traffic, tourism, and life downtown. Because of the positive economic impact we hoped to create, we felt it was fair to ask the city for a little support, not ownership, just support.”
“This is not a get-rich scheme. This is a passion project. One we’ve poured time and heart into because we love this town and wanted to bring something new and fun to it,” Miles said.
The parking lot that was looked at was across from Sharky’s Pub and Grub on North National Avenue.
“It was presented to us—we didn’t go after it blindly. It’s a public city-owned lot, not owned by any one private business. After getting some initial thumbs-up from a handful of downtown business owners and neighbors, we decided to bring it to the Fort Scott City Commission to test the waters and get their input.”
“That (recent) commission meeting was the public communication step. It was the beginning of the conversation, and we hoped a public hearing would allow everyone to share thoughts and be part of the process. But instead of discussion, we got a Facebook frenzy.”
“To be clear, we never intended to take over the entire lot. In fact, plans included Wall Street adjustments to add new parking, and we hoped to use only about 50% of the lot, leaving 15–20 public spots.”
“But at this point, if it even needs to be said: We will not be moving forward with that location. We’re disappointed, sure—this wasn’t the welcome we hoped for. But we hear you.”
“We’re now going back to the drawing board, exploring new options, and reevaluating the overall feasibility of the project.”
“We truly appreciate everyone who has supported this idea and shared constructive feedback. Thank you for being part of the conversation—even if it came a little louder and messier than expected,” Miles said.
“We are surveying possible options and what will work best for us moving forward.”
Flash Flood Warning For Bourbon County KS In Effect Until 12:15 p.m.
Flood Warning
National Weather Service Springfield MO
613 AM CDT Thu Jul 17 2025
KSC011-171715-
/O.NEW.KSGF.FA.W.0026.250717T1113Z-250717T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bourbon KS-
613 AM CDT Thu Jul 17 2025
...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...A portion of southeast Kansas, including the following
county, Bourbon.
* WHEN...Until 1215 PM CDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying
and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 613 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to
thunderstorms. Flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly in the warned area.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Fort Scott, Uniontown, Redfield, Marmaton, Hiattville, Pawnee
Station, Devon, Petersburg and Garland.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Many flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Events in Downtown Fort Scott Updated At Meet and Greet on July 8
The Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet attendees learned of upcoming events, grants, and advertising opportunities on July 8 at the meeting, hosted by the Landmark National Bank.
Upcoming events:
Attendee John Hill commended the recent Fort Scott High School All Class Reunion committee for scheduling the majority of the events downtown.
Sales Tax Holiday, August 1-3, with a 9.65% discount on purchases from participating stores
Fall Fest is September 5; the Chamber staff is asking for ideas for this event.
The annual downtown Halloween Parade is on October 25, the Saturday before Halloween.
The Holiday Open House is November 6-8, with Thursday night the big event.
Small Business Saturday is November 29.
Christmas on the Bricks is December 4-7, when stores will be open late, and lots of activities for the community to enjoy.
July 25 is the Chamber Golf Classic fundraiser at Woodland Hills, and they are still taking sponsorships.
At the July 15 Fort Scott City Commission, a new downtown business will be announced, according to Mary Wyatt, Planning, Housing, & Business Development Director for the City of Fort Scott.
The Hedgehog INK Bookstore is for sale in the downtown district. Contact Randi Witt.
Jill Jaworski, Superintendent of Fort Scott National Historic Site, said that the site’s buildings remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday. They hope to have three seasonal employees by the end of August. A new executive order set a hiring freeze that affects the Fort until October 18.
The city and the chamber are having tourism meetings in preparation for the World Cup Soccer Game that is coming to Kansas City in 2026, in an effort to encourage people to come to Fort Scott.
The new Fort Scott Baseball Team, the Dragoons, will join the Mid-America League next season as the league expands to eight teams, according to a KOAM news report. The events surrounding the announcement of last weekend’s LaRoche Baseball Stadium events were given by Mary Wyatt at the meet and greet.
Evergy Kansas Central, Inc. spokesperson Kari West said there are business energy efficiency updates available at /ways-to-save/incentives-link/business-energy-savings
Grants available:
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation offers grants to local 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, government agencies, and religious institutions, with applications starting in August, said Becky Tourtillot.
E-Community Loans are available through www.networkkansas.com with 6 % interest for 10 years, a minimum is $5,000 and, maximum is $50,000.
Grow KS grants are 4% interest for five years, 6% for 10 years, maximum $100,000.
Advertisement Opportunities
New, revised downtown maps are being devised, with business card-sized ads available on them.
The Chamber Community Guide and Membership Directory is getting ready to launch by the first of 2026.
4 by 9-inch rack cards are available from Sekan Printing Company for Chamber distribution to visitors.
About the Host
The Landmark National Bank has two locations in Fort Scott: one at 2nd and Main Street in the downtown area, and another at 23rd Street and Highway 69. Statewide, there are 29 branches. Currently, a teller position is available. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
FSHS Senior Ali Simhiser Is Competing At The Junior National Wrestling Championship
Ali Simhiser, who will be a senior at Fort Scott High School this fall, is the only female Fort Scott wrestler to be invited to the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior National Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Championship, held July 10-19 in Fargo, ND.
The event is at the Fargo Dome and men’s wrestling Freestyle and Greco-Roman athletes will also compete.
“It’s the largest in the world and a pretty big deal to be invited,” said her Aunt Stephannie Erie, who submitted the information. “She is the first female from First Scott to attend. She is also ranked 2nd in her weight class of 190lbs in the state for 4A.”
“She is a two-time state qualifier, placing 3rd at state, winning a Southeast Kansas League Championship, and reaching a huge milestone—100 career wins and pins as a junior.”
Alvin Metcalf is the head wrestling coach at Fort Scott High School.
Federal Funding Freeze Will Affect USD 234
All American schools, including local schools, will be impacted by the funding freeze that President Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Education to delay, pending a review.
Destry Brown, superintendent of USD 234, Fort Scott’s school district, wrote the following about how the funding freeze will affect his district.
“The federal funding freeze has affected two of our Title funds.
“The first is Title IIA. This money is used for professional development for our teachers and administrators. Title IIA provides $120,000 toward professional development. This accounts for 90% of our professional development budget. The impact of withholding that funding is that we will not be able to send staff for professional development. The State no longer provides funds to be specifically used for professional development any longer. As we prepare our budget for this school year, we do not expect to be able to fill this gap in funding.
“The other fund that is impacted is Title IV. This fund provides funding for innovative programs that enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math programs in the district, to provide more hands-on, interactive learning activities for our students. Title IV provides $38,000 to the district for these activities. The loss in funding will impact our ability to provide some of these updates and enhancements. Any updates will be funded through our regular supply and equipment accounts for each building.
“Currently, the State (of Kansas government) has advised us to budget as if we will receive the funds and spend as if we will not. The State expects to hear more about this funding later this month. Our understanding is that the money is being held while the US Department of Education evaluates these two programs.”
To contact your elected representatives with your views on this matter, according to the Bourbon County, KS website:
US Senator
Roger Marshall – (R)
PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530
(202) 224-4774
Jerry Moran – (R)
PO Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620-232-2286
Derek Schmidt (R)
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6601
How Federal Education Funding Freeze Will Effect U235 School District
All American schools, including local schools, will be impacted by the funding freeze that President Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Education to delay, pending a review.
USD235 Superintendent Vance Eden remains hopeful that the Trump administration will unfreeze funds, enabling schools to continue operations as authorized by Congress, he said.
Here is his statement
“The Uniontown USD 235 School District receives federal “Title” funds to support students. Currently, the Trump administration has directed the US Department of Education to delay reimbursement of some of these funds until a review can be completed. These Title funds aren’t a single lump of money, but instead are received by the district with individual designations for individual purposes. While we don’t qualify in all categories, the following three specifically apply to Uniontown.
- Title IIA- These funds can be used to reduce class sizes and were initially used to add a teacher, and that position has continued to be paid with Title II funds. Our allocation for the coming year is $25,222. While not all funds the district receives can be used for teacher salaries, this can and has been a meaningful part of our budget and the goal of maintaining a quality salary schedule. The removal of this funding stream will make it more difficult to continue this practice.
- Title IVA- These funds can’t be used on people and but instead are used primarily on safety and security items and also things that “extend the curriculum.” Our next year allocation was set at $17,492. While most are likely unaware if anything in their classroom has been purchased with these funds, the reality is that probably all of them have had some benefit. I manage these funds and purchase qualifying items throughout the school year as teachers submit requisitions that can qualify. As an example, field trips, science experiment supplies, digital cameras for the yearbook team, a pottery wheel, the window display at WBE, and a good chunk of the smartboards in the district are all things that have been purchased with these funds over the past few years. These funds invite creativity and foster a robust and quality learning experience. Losing these funds directly impacts our ability to maintain this commitment in the future without cutting from other areas or increasing the mill levy (which no one wants).
- Title IVB- These funds pay for the WBE after-school program and summer program. Without this allocation, the district will not be able to afford to continue to offer this to students and parents.
We also receive Title I funds, which are used to support math and reading support at WBE. These funds are stated to still be usable for the coming year. This is good news as it represents our largest area of allocation and would be extremely difficult to adjust for in its absence.
I’d encourage you to visit with our federal legislators during this period of review to help them consider this change in direction and priority, as ultimately, they SHOULD control the disbursement of funds. Most likely, none of us enjoys making these contacts, but I want you to be informed and involved, as these decisions will affect us all.”
To contact your elected representatives, according to the Bourbon County, KS website:
US Senator
Roger Marshall – (R)
PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530
(202) 224-4774
Jerry Moran – (R)
PO Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620-232-2286
Derek Schmidt
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6601