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Amended Agenda For the Bourbon County Commission December 30
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
December 30, 2024 5:30 p.m.
- Call Meeting to Order
- Flag Salute
- Approval of Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from 12/23/2024
- Approval of Payroll Totaling $288,297.18
- Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $324,314.00
- Public Comments
- Dustin Lewis-Potential Housing Development MOU
- Kaety Bowers-Republican Party Chairwoman
- MOU
- Redistricting
- Incoming and Outgoing Commissioners
- REDI
- Justin Meeks
- Cemetery Right-of-Way
- Housekeeping
- Jim Harris-Executive Session KSA 75-4319 (b)(1)
- Redistricting
- Commission Comments
- Adjourn Meeting
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the
attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the
representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting
would jeopardize such security measures.
What Kind of Shoes? by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
What Kind of Shoes?
It was my first podiatrist appointment and I was patiently waiting in the exam room. The doctor entered and we exchanged the usual pleasantries. Then he dropped a bombshell and asked, “What kind of shoes do you wear?” That was a loaded question — I had no idea how to begin to describe all the happy shoes in my closet! I was dumbfounded, plus I knew he wouldn’t approve of 90% of my high heels, mules, sandals, flip-flops, slides, slingbacks, water shoes, knee-high boots, ankle boots, sneakers, and walking shoes. I’m a shoe lover on steroids.
So here’s another loaded question: “What kind of Christian are you?” How would you answer that if you were put on the spot by someone? Would all the color drain from your face as you changed the subject in order to get out of answering the question? Or would you sidestep by answering with the name of your church denomination? Or would you do a song-and-dance and respond, “I regularly attend church and take communion?” Hey, I could go sit in a tree all day and eat a nut but that wouldn’t make me a squirrel.
If we want to cut to the chase, an adequate answer to the proposed question would be, “A biblical one.” When Christians base our faith walk on the truth of God’s Word, that means we think and act like the Bible is true. So let’s review a few scriptures regarding what kind of Christian we should be.
Christ followers must grasp the fact that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus. Although this is nearly too much to wrap your head around, it’s still the truth. God’s love for us is unconditional and timeless. Here are the words of Jesus’ evening prayer with His disciples before His crucifixion: “I am in them and You (God) are in Me (Jesus). May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me“ (John 17:23 NLT). God created us to experience love, faith, hope, peace, and abundance, so we should gratefully receive what He offers.
Believers are to desire to please God rather than ourselves. “Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God” (Hebrews 13:16 GW). Always choose the high road over the low road, even though the low road is easier. In order to please God, we must also live by faith and trust Him every day (see Hebrews 11:6).
The following scripture is certainly not a convoluted explanation of what a Christian is: “No, the Lord has told us what is good. What He requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God” (Micah 6:8 GNT).
A man asked Jesus to explain the most-important commandment. His answer was simple yet profound: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself“ (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT). After all these thousands of years, His answer remains the same for Christians today.
The Key: So, what kind of Christian are you? Hopefully the kind who practices love.
Farm Safety in the Winter

This time of year, typically it is pretty slow in the ag industry. The two main activities are livestock care and equipment maintenance. These everyday runs of the mill things that seem like just another day in the life of farmers and ranchers can be dangerous at times. As your Extension Agricultural Agent, I feel that we all need to be reminded every now and then to please be careful as you tend to your livestock and as you work on your equipment.
According to the 2022 census the average age of Kansas farmers is now 58.2 years of age. This means that slips, trips, and falls become a main concern for producers. I know this warm dry weather helps but at some point, this winter we could see some moisture and freezing temperatures that will increase the likelihood of falling while tending to your livestock. Examples include but not limited to are:
- Slipping in the mud or on ice
- Slipping on the steps getting in and out of the truck or tractor
- Tripping over frozen clods of dirt
- Losing your balance when carrying buckets of feed
- Getting knocked down by livestock trying to get to the feed source
One reason the probability increases is due to freezing temperatures we tend to layer up to stay warm which is necessary when working in winter conditions. The problem with this is the more layers and heavier the clothing you have on the more it will decrease your range of motion and restrict your ability to maintain your balance.
Working in the shop on equipment requires producers and employees to be more proactive when it comes to safety. A wise investment for anyone working in a shop is the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We all know how expensive hospital visits can be. Spending a couple hundred dollars on PPE is less expensive than a trip to the emergency room. PPE items I strongly encourage producers to wear when working in the shop are:
- Safety glasses
- Leather gloves
- Long sleeve shirts
- Jeans
- Solid toe boots with slip resistant soles
- Ear plugs that do not need to be smashed or earmuffs
Along with proper PPE a clean shop is a safe shop. Pick up slip and trip hazards such as spills, extension cords and hoses when not in use, and put tools away when finished. Keep all hot work like welding and cutting away from flammable materials (oil, fuel, cleaners, etc.). OSHA standard is a minimum of 50ft and in a flammable storage cabinet. You also need to check to make sure all electrical equipment is properly grounded and all cords are free from any rips and tears that may expose the wires and all an operator to get shocked or electrocuted.
As the 2024 calendar year ends, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year. Coming up after the first of the year, K-State Research and Extension will be very active in putting on several programs throughout the southeast area. In January, I will be hosting a 4-day coffee shop discussion in 4 different locations across the Southwind District that will be producer led. It is called Growers’ Grind. I would love to sit down and visit with you all and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out for more information.
On a final note, we in the ag industry know how precious life can be. One second everything is good, and the next tragedy can strike. Do your part to stay safe out there.
Lonnie Mengarelli is a K-State Research and Extension Agriculture agent assigned to Southwind District. He may be reached at mengo57@ksu.edu or 620-223-3720
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
County Commission Meeting Agenda for December 30
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
December 30, 2024 5:30 p.m.
- Call Meeting to Order
- Flag Salute
- Approval of Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from 12/23/2024
- Approval of Payroll Totaling $288,297.18
- Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $324,314.00
- Public Comments
- Dustin Lewis-Potential Housing Development MOU
- REDI
- Justin Meeks
- Cemetery Right-of-Way
- Housekeeping
- Jim Harris-Executive Session KSA 75-4319 (b)(1)
- Redistricting
- Commission Comments
- Adjourn Meeting
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the
attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the
representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting
would jeopardize such security measures.
Quick Facts About Radon Risks and Your Home

Beware of a silent threat in your home: radon. This colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas naturally lurks in the soil. The silver lining? Take action this winter, especially during Radon Action Month in January, to safeguard your home and loved ones.
Here are the facts on radon:
- Radon and lung cancer
Radon induced lunch cancer is the number one cause of death in homes and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. One in four Kansas homes have high levels of radon.
- Radon in Kansas
Radon seeps into your home through the ground, exploiting cracks and openings in the foundation. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the average indoor radon level statewide stands at 5.4 picocuries of radon per liter (pCi/L), surpassing the EPA threshold of 4.0.
- How do I know the level of radon in my home?
Testing is the only reliable way to determine the radon levels in a home. Test kits can be obtained from your Southwind Extension District office for a reduced fee, which includes a lab analysis and return postage.
- My home has elevated radon levels, now what?
The most common technique to reduce levels is called Active Soil Depressurization. An ASD mitigation system is a permanently-installed pipe-and-fan system that places a direct constant vacuum on the soil beneath the home’s foundation, so the amount of radon that can penetrate into the living space is reduced.
More information about radon, testing, and mitigation is available at www.kansasradonprogram.org or by calling the Kansas Radon Hotline at 1-800-693-5343. To purchase a test kit locally, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, tsolomon@ksu.edu, or call 620-244-3826.
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
The SEKnFind Newsletter December 2024
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An Encounter at the Post Office by Patty LaRoche

Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
I made a new friend last week. We were standing next to each other in a looooong line at the post office here in Las Vegas, and I listened to her try to help a young man behind her navigate his paperwork. She noticed me (eavesdropping) and sweetly said, “I sure hope I told him right. I’m not even sure I’m doing mine right.” She was trying to decide if she should attach a mailing label to her package or not. I told her that whatever she did was just fine, and if the postal worker didn’t approve, she should tell him that I told her it was fine. It was a goofy thing to say, but we both laughed. And in the next few minutes, we laughed a lot. My kind of gal.
It turns out that Ty lives near me. We exchanged phone numbers, agreed that God works in the craziest of ways, and today had lunch together. I had hoped to share Jesus with her, but I didn’t have to. As we hugged in front of the restaurant before going inside, she handed me a gift: a Christian book she had written. Before we even ordered, I asked Ty to tell me about her life. She shared how God had taken her from homelessness at the age of 14 by directing her steps and giving her entrepreneurial skills.
While we were eating, Ty received a text from her mother, the same mother who had abandoned her and left her (Ty) to raise her two-year-old brother. “To my beautiful, intelligent, wonderful daughter” it began. Ty had forgiven her mother and bought her a car and a home about an hour away. “That’s what God calls us to do,” she said matter-of-factly.
We talked about how God had orchestrated our meeting in that looooong line in the post office. Ty said that she now spends most of her time writing software codes for doctors and accountants and isn’t really into developing relationships with people, so it was strange that we talked and laughed the way we did. I assured her that I had no idea how she did what she did because my brain does not work like that. I’m just into people. I love making friends.
This past week, my husband sent me an email he had received that dealt with finding good friends. Some of it, I liked. Some, not. Take this one, for instance: “If you want to reach the top, surround yourself with the right people. We have heard your network is your Net Worth. It is so, so true! Be with those who will help you climb higher.” I get what the writer intends, but money never should be a qualification for a friendship.
The writer went on to list other kinds of friends we need: a Covenant Friend who loves no matter what; a Confidant Friend who never is jealous of other’s success; a Hospitable Friend who keeps people grounded; and a Spiritual Friend (“one that will pray for you without you asking, the one that you go to for advice, you go to when you need a reality check”).
Christmas is the perfect time to remember family and friends. Jesus was all about relationships and instructed his disciples to spend their lives discipling others. I cannot imagine how empty my life would be without my friends, but I wonder how many times I’ve been too self-absorbed to reach out like I did with Ty. What opportunities did God lay at my feet, but I just ignored them? I’m afraid it’s not their loss, but mine.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Dec. 23-27
Obituary of Karin Turk

Karin Lee Turk, age 74, a former resident of Topeka, Kansas, and more recently of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, December 23, 2024, at Arma Health & Rehab in Arma, Kansas, surrounded by her family.
She was born October 26, 1950, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Jack and Margaret Williamson. Karin graduated from the Hayden High School and Platte Business College. She married Steven Lee Turk on March 15, 1968.
Throughout her life, Karin wore many career hats. She was a professional cake decorator and also ran a daycare out of her home for over ten years. She later did clerical and claim work for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. Other than her favorite role of grandma, Karin enjoyed baking, embroidering, and reading. She was also an accomplished seamstress and had a secret dream of becoming a fashion designer. She often made outfits for her children in their younger years, and in her own words, she was “almost as good as mom.”
Following the death of her husband in September of 2005, Karin moved to Ft. Scott to be with her daughter. However, she still remained connected with her other family and cared for her own elderly mother in her later years.
Survivors include her children, Jennifer Clara Lemke of Ft. Scott, Steven Louis Turk of Topeka, and Matthew Berglund Turk of Pensacola, Florida; thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who were pride and joy. She is also survived by her siblings, Susan Williamson and James Williamson, both of Topeka. In addition to her husband, Karin was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, John Williamson.
Following cremation, a private family service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
City of Fort Scott Special Meeting Today at 6 p.m.
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
December 23, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
- Invocation
- Approval of Agenda
- New Business
Action Items:
- Consideration to approve changes to the Payment Contract with Freeman Hospital
VII. Adjourn
Amended Agenda For the Bourbon County Commission Meeting Today at 5:30 p.m.
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
December 23, 2024 5:30 p.m.
- Call Meeting to Order
- Flag Salute
- Approval of Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from 12/19/2024
- Approval of November Financials
- Public Comments
- Department Updates
- Public Works
- Freeman Agreements
- Sheriff Bill Martin-Financial Advisor Request
- Jim Harris-Executive Session KSA 75-4319 (b)(1)
- MOU For Possible Housing Development
- Redistricting
- Commission Comments
- Adjourn Meeting
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the
attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the
representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting
would jeopardize such security measures.
