Editor’s note: this could not be copied and pasted in the format sent, please click to see the agenda.
Editor’s note: this could not be copied and pasted in the format sent, please click to see the agenda.

Ruth Maxine Larsen Burchett passed away peacefully on her 89th birthday on Friday, November 8, 2024, surrounded by loved ones! She was born November 8, 1935, in Richards, Missouri, the daughter of George Christian and Myrtle Elizabeth (Schnedler) Larsen.
Ruth was first a mother, but she did have several jobs in the business field. Most notably, she worked at Western Insurance in Fort Scott and State Street in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ruth had a hunger for knowledge and bettering herself as a person. One of her accomplishments in life includes earning an associate degree at Fort Scott Community College while raising six daughters. She may be the only person that has read the Webster’s Dictionary more than once. This pastime came in handy as she did crossword puzzles in her spare time.
Ruth was an avid Chiefs and Royals fan getting to attend a winning World Series game in 2015. Ruth did not let her shy personality hold her back – she learned how to swim and tried water skiing as an adult. She also learned how to snow ski as a 50+ grandma! But that may have been more about getting the good-looking ski patrol to help her down the mountain!
She loved to travel to the many places her children lived because she absolutely loved spending time with family.
For exercise, Ruth loved walking and loved taking care of her many flowers. She was a woman that loved the outdoors! Ruth loved the Lord and encouraged all her daughters to be women of faith.
Ruth will be lovingly missed by her children, Vicki (Robert) Kerley of Ozark, Missouri; Sherry (Roger) Kellogg of Springfield, Missouri; Regina (Cameron) McAllister of Fort Scott, Kansas; Donna (Jim Jr) Banwart of Fort Scott, Kansas; Tonia (Mike) West of Norman, Oklahoma; and Trina (Kirk) Whitson of Clarksville, Tennessee; and 16 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren; her sister, Geraldine Neth and brother Charles “Buck” Larsen, both of Fort Scott. She was preceded in death by brothers Leonard Larsen and Raymond Larsen, and three sisters, Ruby O’Dell, Alice Gilkey, and Helen Larsen.
The family will hold private family services under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. A private burial will be in White Cemetery, Richards, Missouri. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left in the care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S Main, PO Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

As parents, educators, researchers, social service organizations, and government programs search for answers about the well-being of the American family, it is apparent that family meals tell us a lot about how those families become and stay connected.
Family meals provide a great amount of good, in a variety of ways, for the entire family. Young children show improved literary skills, children and adolescents gain improved food habits, and older adults not only eat better, but increase socialization. Intergenerational family meals help preserve and pass along family culture, traditions, and values.
Despite all the directions families are pulled today, parents are still the biggest influence on the food and meal habits of their children. It is important to realize that meals don’t need to be home-cooked masterpieces in order to serve the purpose. Focus on familiar foods that fit the time, skills, and favor of your family. The meals don’t necessarily have to take place at home around the dinner table either. Based on the scheduling barriers, dinner could be a picnic at the park between practices or meetings. If dinners are impossible due to busy schedules, give family breakfasts a try.
If family meals are not common for your family, it might seem difficult to know how to get started. So, sit down as a family and have a discussion. Allowing family members to contribute to this new venture will make them feel even more connected and responsibility in seeing it through. It is important to be realistic and consistent with expectations. As well as being flexible. Dr. Sandy Procter, Specialist in Maternal and Child Nutrition for Kansas State University shares some tips to help:
There is no single environment when it comes to family meals – and those numerous environments mean every family, every schedule, every mealtime is unique. But even though there may be barriers, it is possible to work through them and make successful family meals happen for you and your family.
For information, contact Jennifer Terrell, District 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District at 620-223-3720 or [email protected].
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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR SPECIAL
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
November 12, 2024 – 5:30 P.M.
Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
VII. Unfinished Business
VIII. Reports and Comments
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Claude Franklin (Frank) Durossette, age 73, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at his home on Thursday, November 7, 2024. He was born to Grover William Durossette and Maxine Lavon (Gibson) Durossette on December 17, 1950, in Fort Scott, Kansas. He married his best friend and the love of his life Ethel Mary (Michalek) Durossette on July 20, 1968.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Charles Franklin (Frankie) Durossette. Survivors include his wife Mary of the home; and children, William and Christi, Kevin and Autumn, and Melissa Durossette; 12 grandchildren, Josh (Tabatha), Jake (Kinsley), Cody (Kim), Wyatt, Sophie, Kasen, Cash, and Ellie Durossette, and Caleb Briggs; 5 great-grandchildren, Kinley, Kane, Kaizley, and Wilder Durossette, and Cutler Briggs; one brother Billy Gene (Shiela) Durossette, and sisters, Bonita (Ron) Jones, and Carolyn Lotterer, all of Fort Scott. And numerous nieces and nephews.
Frank loved to hunt and fish. He especially enjoyed weekend camping trips and get-togethers with his wife and family. He was a very caring person and always ready to help. He worked at Tower Metal Products for 27 years and at age 50 opened 3D Alternator and Starter Repair. He later added a mechanic shop with the help of his son, Frankie. He retired this year and spent most of his time working around the home, helping his wife babysit for the grandkids, and going on camping trips with the family. He loved spending time talking with his sons, Billy and Kevin and spending time with his wife.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, November 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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.co
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
November 11, 2024 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY
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
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – October 18, 2024 – $1,693,306.83
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
4.7 Zero Reasons Why Fundraising
4.8 Orchestra Fundraising
5.0 Employee Recognitions
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Special Education Director’s Report
6.4 FSHS Update & Report
7.0 Old Business
7.1 District Values & Goals (Action Item)
8.0 New Business
8.1 Pre-Employment Drug Screening (Discussion)
8.2 Winfield Scott Chilled Water Line Insulation Project (Action)
8.3 Middle School Boiler Retubing Project (Action)
8.2 District Health Insurance Recommendation (Action)
9.0 Public Forum
10.0 Other Business –
10.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
10.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
10.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
11.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President

Marilyn Fay Nuzum, age 91, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Horton House, Fort Scott. She was born May 16, 1933, in Vernon County, MO the daughter of William Dewey Ferguson and Leona Myra Dugan Ferguson. Marilyn graduated from Arcadia High School with the class of 1951 as Valedictorian.
She worked and retired from the Western Insurance Company as an assistant supervisor of key punch. She married Paul Nuzum on December 20, 1986, in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death on December 19, 2009.
In her spare time, Marilyn enjoyed baking, tending her flowers, and her cat Laura. She attended Parkway Church of God (Holiness).
Survivors include her sister, Jo Ann Goans, Fort Scott; a stepdaughter, Nancy Sivcovich (Ken), CA; and 3 step grandsons.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Private family graveside services with burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Parkway Church of God (Holiness) and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Last week, I wrote about my friend who was having a double mastectomy. Her surgery was complicated because she had zero body fat needed to reconstruct her breasts. When I told Dave, his response did not surprise me. “Did you tell her that you—I mean we—could donate some of ours?” After sharing that with my friend, we both cracked up (she more than I).
My friend is now home from the hospital. We spoke yesterday. The evening before, it hit her: part of her womanhood was permanently gone. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she teared up but then felt a nudge to turn on her television. There was Nick Vujicic, the evangelist born with no legs or arms, speaking about how God had used his disability to give people encouragement. She knew that God had offered her that nudging so she would refuse to feel sorry for herself.
The pity pot can be such a cushy place to stay, can’t it? When life is all about me, it can become my frequent resting spot. But what would life look like if I chose, instead, to find my comfort in Jesus’ loving arms? I would no longer dwell on how my troubles seem to outweigh God’s ability to make things better and would focus on Romans 8:28 which reminds us that all things work together for good “for those that love the Lord” and are called according to His purpose.
“For those that love the Lord.” What does that kind of love entail?
The Bible gives us a great example of Joseph who, though experiencing serious injustices, loved the Lord and refused to live with a victim mentality. Genesis 37:12-28 tells us that his jealous brothers threw him into a pit and then sold him to Egyptian slave traders who sold him to Potiphar, Pharoah’s captain of the guard.
Potiphar favored Joseph and put him in charge of his household…until, that is, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of assaulting her and he was thrown in prison. Once released (over a decade later), Pharoah put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt. From the pit to the palace.
You see, Joseph never suffered from self-pity. He always trusted that God would make something good out of something bad, and he was right. God wants to do the same for us. We never should get comfortable on the pity pot, an oppressive trap of the enemy. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us why. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Staying on the pity pot will keep us immobile. Joyless. Stuck on our wants. Unable to forgive and move on. Bitter. Selfish. And in a very, very dark place. If we want our light seen by others, we, like Joseph, must decide where it can shine best.