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One Caring Adult Changes Everything
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Garden Art Creation Workshop Offered
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Food Access, Environmental Health Grant For Southeast Kansas Announced
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Partners on $200,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Project to Advance Food and Environmental Justice in Southeast Kansas
Fort Scott, Kansas — March 12, 2026
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is partnering with the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) on a new $200,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to support community-driven solutions that improve food access and environmental health in Southeast Kansas.
The two-year initiative, “An Action-Oriented Study of Community-Driven Solutions to Address Food and Environmental Justice,” is co-led by Christina Pacheco, JD, MPH, Assistant Professor at KUMC, and Jody Love, MBA, President and CEO of HBCAT. Together, they will partner with the Montgomery County Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), a coalition that brings together residents, local organizations, and cross-sector partners to identify priorities and implement practical solutions that improve health and quality of life.
Through this project, community members will design and implement locally driven strategies to strengthen food systems and improve neighborhood environments. Potential solutions include edible landscapes, raised garden beds, and other place-based approaches that expand access to nutritious food while revitalizing underused community spaces.
“This project reflects the power of community leadership,” said Jody Love. “When residents are at the center of planning and implementation, the solutions are more practical, more sustainable, and more reflective of local priorities.”
The project builds on community infrastructure developed through the COPE initiative, which helped establish LHEATs across Kansas to advance health through collaboration and shared governance.
HBCAT will provide community coordination, resident engagement, and implementation support, drawing on more than a decade of experience building cross-sector partnerships and supporting community-led initiatives across Southeast Kansas.
This work also aligns with the broader regional strategy being advanced through Rural Community Partners (RCP), a Southeast Kansas initiative focused on strengthening long-term systems for community development across county lines. By connecting local coalitions, organizations, and residents throughout the region, RCP works to ensure that community-led solutions are supported not just locally but regionally, helping communities share learning, coordinate resources, and build sustainable change over time.
In addition to supporting local implementation, the project includes an evaluation component that will document outcomes related to food access, community capacity, and systems change. Findings will be shared with community members, regional partners, and other rural communities interested in replicating effective strategies.
The grant was awarded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Rapid Response: Reinvesting in Racial and Indigenous Health Equity Research program, which funds community-centered research designed to advance equitable and sustainable health solutions.
About the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is a community-based organization dedicated to improving health, well-being, and opportunity through collaboration, resident leadership, and locally driven solutions. HBCAT’s mission is to increase access to physical activity and healthy food, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life, and encourage economic growth.
About the University of Kansas Medical Center
The University of Kansas Medical Center is an academic medical center committed to improving the health and wellness of Kansans through education, research, and patient care.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
RWJF is a leading national philanthropy paving the way, together, toward a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. Through funding, convening, advocacy, evidence building, and impact investing, they work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to get to health equity, faster and together.
This research was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evidence for Action Program. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Foundation.
2026 CFSEK Scholarship Stories: Brayton Brueggen, Milling for the Future
The future of agriculture is no longer confined to local borders; it is a global industry that requires world-class expertise. For students like Brayton Brueggen, the path to mastering the ancient craft of milling now leads from the heart of the Midwest to the cutting-edge laboratories of Europe.
Brayton, a Louisburg native and junior at Kansas State University, is currently studying Milling Science and Management. Thanks to the support of the Stacy Goedeke Scholarship through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK), he recently traded the Manhattan campus for a six-month intensive program at the renowned Swiss Milling School in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
“I like to say the experience was informative, transformative, and fun,” Brayton said. “I learned so much about milling and about myself while having a great time.”
During his semester abroad, Brayton immersed himself in eight major areas of milling science. However, the education wasn’t just technical. He networked with future industry leaders from 14 different countries across six continents, all while finding time to explore and admire the historic architecture of Europe.
“I got to pursue my passion while having an incredible experience I’ll remember forever,” he noted.
For Brayton, the Stacy Goedeke Scholarship through CFSEK was the key that unlocked this international door. He explained that scholarships are vital because they allow students to pursue high-level ambitions without the weight of financial barriers. “My scholarship helped pay for my experience abroad so I could focus on my studies and enjoy the experience without financial stress.”
When it comes to the application process, Brayton encourages his peers to be bold. “Don’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments,” he advised. “Asking for help is the whole idea, so sell yourself.”
CFSEK scholarship applications close March 31st, 2026. A full list of scholarships and their requirements is available at SoutheastKansas.org/Students/Scholarship. Scholarship applications are available online at SoutheastKansas.org/Scholarship-App.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. The Columbus Area, Fort Scott Area, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.
Special Meeting of the FSCC Trustees Today, March 12, at Noon
FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING
BURRIS HALL
MARCH 12, 2026 – 12:00 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA
1.0 CALL MEETING TO ORDER – CHAIR
2.0 FLAG SALUTE & INVOCATION
3.0 LEADERSHIP REPORTS & UPDATES (INFORMATION)
3.1 Academics
- Vice President of Academic Affairs – Dr. Larry Guerrero
3.2 Advancement
- Dean of Advancement – Lindsay Hill
- Gordon Parks Museum
- Gordon Parks Update
- Gordon Parks Museum
3.3 Athletics
- Athletic Director – Dave Wiemers
- Athletic Update
3.4 Finance
- CFO – Vice President of Finance & Operations – Gina Shelton
3.5 Student Services
- Vice President of Student Affairs – Vanessa Poyner
3.6 Administrative Committees
- Vice President of Student Affairs – Vanessa Poyner
- Strategic Plan
3.7 Presidential Update
- President Dr. Jack Welch
4.0 REVIEW OF MARCH 13TH AGENDA ITEMS (INFORMATION)
5.0 BOARD MEMBER TRAINING (INFORMATION)
6.0 ADJOURN (ACTION)
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports March 12
Ks Senate Passes Two Bills Supporting Agriculture Producers
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Obituary of Lytle Emory Arnold
Lytle Emory Arnold, age 80, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at his home. He was born August 6, 1945, in Leavenworth, Kansas, the son of Oscar “C.R.” Arnold and Effie Lynne Walker Arnold. He was the youngest of five children. Lytle was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Wendell Oliver Arnold and Joseph Lynn Arnold and a sister, Florence May Arnold White. Lytle was a kind and gentle person. He attended elementary and most of high school in Ottawa, Kansas. After graduating high school, he joined the US. Army where he served in Germany. He completed his military service as an E-5. Lytle lived in Dallas, Texas where he worked in construction. He was also a musician and played in different bands. He wrote music and loved playing his guitar.
Survivors include his sister, Rosalyn Good of Ft. Scott, Kansas, nephews, Eric Avery of Albutuch, North Carolina, Brent Avery of Bastrop, Texas and Tab White of Ottawa, Kansas and a niece, Michelle White of Little Elm, Texas.
Graveside services will be held at 12:30 P.M. Friday, March 13th at the U. S. National Cemetery. Family and friends may meet on Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel from 11:30 A.M. until leaving for the cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Medicalodge Activity Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Fort Scott Community Foundation Grant Purchases Life-Saving AED Trainers
Thanks to funds from the Fort Scott Community Foundation and the John Valentine and Patricia Jean Neff Health Care Fund, Tri-Valley Developmental Services purchased six AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Training Devices and supplies. These devices provide students in Tri-Valley’s CPR/1st Aid Class firsthand experience on the proper use of an AED. Tri-Valley offers multiple CPR/1st Aid classes throughout the month for Tri-Valley Staff, Persons Served, and Community Members.
“Thanks to the Fort Scott Community Foundation and the John Valentine and Patricia Jean Neff Health Care Fund, we are able to train not only our staff, but persons served and other community members on life saving techniques.” said Alisa Miner, Training Coordinator. “These trainers provide the opportunity for hands-on training. Class attendees have benefited from learning on these trainers. It is exciting!”
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) hosts individual charitable funds created by donors who have a passion for giving back to their community. Grants from these funds assist people throughout Southeast Kansas and beyond. FSACF is an affiliate of Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK). Call CFSEK at 620-231-8897 with questions about FSACF.
Tricia Campbell
Special Projects Coordinator
Tri-Valley Developmental Services, Inc.
PO Box 518
Chanute, KS 66720
CHC/SEK Launches Specialized Support for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence
PITTSBURG, Kan.—No one should have to face the aftermath of domestic or sexual violence alone—and thanks to expanded services from the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), help is now closer than ever.
The numbers behind these experiences are sobering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of women and more than one in six men have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetimes. In rural communities, domestic violence and sexual assault occur at rates equal to or higher than in urban areas. Due to a lack of services and resources, the impact on rural survivors is often more severe. Many cases also go unreported, which means the true number of people affected is likely far greater than statistics can capture.
The ripple effects of these crimes touch every part of a survivor’s life, impacting their children, families, work, and sense of safety in the world. “As a result of these crimes, survivors’ mental health is often impacted, but there are frequently unmet medical needs too. Together, these can impact their everyday lives in so many ways,” said Keri Thompson, RN, CHC/SEK Forensic & Victim Services Program Manager. “Ensuring each person gets the compassionate care they need, when they need it, is vital to the healing process.”
Ensuring access to timely care is central to the mission of CHC/SEK, which has expanded its services and support for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking. CHC/SEK has created a dedicated new team—including a program manager and forensic nurse, nurse case manager, and community health worker—to support survivors and their children as they receive the care they need.
At CHC/SEK, care extends beyond medical treatment. The team will also coordinate wraparound services such as dental care, transportation, and behavioral health support—with trauma-informed care woven throughout. “People’s lives can be challenging. In addition to the ‘regular’ medical issues, a person’s past experiences and trauma shape their health and how they live in the world, including in healthcare settings,” Thompson said. “Trauma-informed care means recognizing these complexities, caring for the whole person, and being careful not to retraumatize them. Receiving trauma-informed healthcare can give survivors a sense of safety, control, and a chance to rebuild trust that’s often fractured by abuse.”
CHC/SEK is also working to strengthen the broader community safety net. Through partnerships with Safehouse Crisis Center, law enforcement, and other local organizations, a Community Response Team will be established to improve communication, identify gaps in services, and ensure that every survivor receives a consistent, compassionate response. Training opportunities for healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community partners will further support this unified approach.
“We know this is an issue that all communities face. Many of the people who walk through our clinic doors are survivors,” said Thompson. “No one should suffer in silence. We want survivors to know that we’re here to care for them and help them stay safe as they work through the process of healing. Their well-being is our top priority.”
These efforts are made possible by two grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women and Office for Victims of Crime.
For more information, call the CHC/SEK Forensic & Victim Services Hotline at 620-240-5090.
For those who are experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, local support is available 24/7/365 through Safehouse Crisis Center by calling 800-794-9148 or texting 620-670-0754.
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About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) serves as a healthcare hub for communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. CHC/SEK delivers quality, integrated care to nearly 90,000 patients each year with a goal of improving health, sustaining rural communities, and providing purpose-driven work to 950 staff members. Beyond healthcare, CHC/SEK finds innovative ways to improve lives by focusing on education, housing, and transportation. Regardless of income or insurance status, CHC/SEK ensures everyone receives the care they need. For more information, visit chcsek.org.
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