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Dumbest Question Ever by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Dumbest Question Ever
The last time I was at an out-of-town doctor’s office, I asked an honest dumb question. I’d already been to this medical clinic twice, so when I arrived for the third appointment the receptionist handed me the iPad so I could check myself in. I know the drill, but I asked, “Do I have to do this? I was here four weeks ago and nothing has changed.” She replied, “Yes. That’s the only way we can check you in.” I wasn’t having especially happy thoughts as I sat there wasting my time answering the same questions with the same answers as last time. In retrospect, here’s a brilliant question: Why can’t the check-in process be two simple questions: “Are you here?” “Has your personal information changed?”
Here’s the backstory to James and John’s dumb question: “As the time drew near for Him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for His arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because He was on His way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, ‘Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village” (Luke 9:51-56 NLT). Obviously, James and John utterly misunderstood their Master and His mission.
I doubt that Jesus was shocked when these two disciples asked if they could burn the Samaritans to a crisp because they rejected Him. For Jesus had previously nicknamed them the “Sons of Thunder.” Perhaps James and John thought that calling down fire would demonstrate their zeal, love, and loyalty to Jesus. But Jesus let them know that they were to have a different spirit. They were to practice love, mercy, forgiveness, and forbearance. Burning up people was not on Jesus’ to-do-list. He didn’t come to destroy sinners but to give them the gospel and an opportunity to repent.
Jesus knew James and John’s fiery dispositions when He called them to be His disciples. But they had to learn the right way to use their enthusiasm properly and in the Spirit of Christ. They needed to use it against Satan and evil, not to destroy the very ones Jesus came to redeem and save.
After such an outrageous question from the brothers, Jesus may have rolled His eyes, shook His head, and sighed. We know they were reprimanded for their hateful attitude and proposal of revenge. After being with Jesus for years, shouldn’t they have known they were asking a dumb question? No matter, He didn’t miss the opportunity to teach the boys of thunder that following Him meant they were to live a life of compassion.
Jesus’ deep empathy and love for humanity is beautifully illustrated throughout the four gospels. “But when He [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NKJV). Jesus still has compassion for all the lost and hurting people who will welcome Him into their life. Now we, as Christ followers, are to do the same.
The Key: Stop asking dumb questions and start showing some compassion.
New Year, New Goals: Why a Financial Check-up Matters by Amanda Clasen
A new year often feels like a fresh notebook, clean pages, new possibilities, and plenty of motivation to make positive changes. January is when many people sit down to set personal goals, and while health-related resolutions are often top of mind, your financial health deserves the same level of attention. Just like an annual physical helps you stay on track with your well-being, a financial checkup can give you clarity, direction, and renewed confidence in your money management.
K‑State Extension offers a practical and easy-to-use resource titled How Are You Doing? A Financial Checkup, which walks individuals and families step-by-step through evaluating their current financial situation. The publication is available online through the K‑State Extension bookstore, or printed copies can also be picked up at your local Extension office.
A financial checkup is simply a structured way to take stock of where you are and where you want to go. There’s no universal formula for financial success; every household faces different needs, priorities, and challenges. But having a clear picture of your finances can help you identify what’s working, what needs attention, and what steps will move you closer to your goals.
One of the first tools in the publication is the Financial Fitness Quiz, a short but meaningful self-assessment designed to help you reflect on important parts of your financial life, scoring your responses to give you a better understanding of strengths and areas where habit improvements could happen, such as:
- Financial Management: Do you keep accurate records, use a checking account to pay bills, or follow a budget or spending plan?
- Saving and Investing: Are you building an emergency fund, saving regularly for long-term goals, or investing for retirement?
- Insurance & Estate Planning: Do you have the insurance coverage you need? Is your will or estate plan up to date?
The publication goes a step further by guiding you through practical tasks such as creating a net worth statement, a simple calculation of what you own (assets) minus what you owe (debts). Many people find this eye-opening, and it often serves as a motivational starting point for reducing debt or increasing savings. You’ll also find tips for setting clear, realistic financial goals and building a spending plan that reflects your priorities rather than simply tracking where money went in the past.
As part of a complete financial review, the checkup encourages you to look over your taxes, obtain and examine your credit reports, review insurance policies, and evaluate retirement accounts and other investments. These periodic reviews help ensure your financial decisions remain aligned with the changes in your family, job, income, or long-term plans.
Start the year with clarity and confidence. Your future self will be grateful for the steps you take today.
For more information, please contact Community Vitality Agent Amanda Clasen at any Southwind District office or at [email protected].
What do we mean by eating “real food”? by Sandy Haggard
What do we mean by eating “real food”?
Do you ever glance in someone’s grocery cart and see all processed, easy-to-warm-up box meals, chips, sodas, and such, and wonder how healthy they are? What does your own shopping cart look like? Do you buy ingredients to make meals? You may have seen in the news recently that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Agriculture released their new dietary guidelines for the next five years.
These new guidelines place a heavy emphasis on eating real, whole foods and encourage individuals to increase the nutrient-dense foods they consume, while reducing heavily processed foods. The new guidelines do retain many of the previous recommendations, but it is important to understand the key differences between them. The hope is that these guidelines will help Americans make informed nutrition decisions for themselves and their families for the next five years.
Key Takeaways from the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
Build most meals around whole foods with limited ingredients.
- Consume a variety of protein foods from animal and plant sources.
- When cooking, focus on baking or grilling rather than deep-frying.
- Incorporate fiber rich foods such as beans, lentils, and other legumes.
- Avoid highly processed foods that contain many ingredients such as chips, cookies, candies, and sodas. When consuming processed foods, choose those with shorter ingredient lists.
- Pay attention to portion sizes, especially for foods higher in calories.
Eating real food means choosing foods with a few ingredients without added sugars, industrial oil, artificial flavors, or preservatives. Did you know there is such a thing as a “healthy fat”? Examples would include meat, seafood, dairy, nuts, olives, and avocados. It’s also recommended to avoid trans fat oils such as canola, and to use oils such as olive, avocado, peanut, or safflower oil.
Understanding changes in dietary guidelines can be overwhelming and confusing. Research is always happening, and we are continuing to learn more about foods and what they do for and to our bodies. The first step in taking charge of your health is becoming more informed. Focusing more on protein and vegetables can support muscle health, metabolic function, gut health, and stable energy while naturally phasing out of eating highly processed foods.
You may have heard of the MyPlate Eating Plan of one fourth each of the plate for vegetables, fruit, protein, and grains. This has been replaced by an “upside down pyramid” which recommends 3 servings of vegetables, 2 servings of fruit, 2-4 servings of whole grains, and 1.2-1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day (approximately 5-7 ounces per day).
Instead of the MyPlate diagram of the past, the recommended visual is the Healthy Eating Plate from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which emphasizes consuming more protein and vegetables:
For more information, visit realfood.gov, or contact Sandy Haggard, Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health Agent, Southwind District at [email protected] or by calling 620.365.2242.
February 9 Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda Summary
Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda
February 9, 2026 | 5:30 PM
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1. Call Meeting to Order
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2. Pledge of Allegiance
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3. Prayer
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4. Roll Call Introductions
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5. Approval of Agenda
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6. Approval of Minutes: January 15, 2026
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7. Approval of Minutes: January 26, 2026
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8. Approval of Minutes: February 2, 2026
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9. Accounts Payable & Payroll: February 6, 2026 ($332,847.69)
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10. Signing of Resolution 14-26
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11. Executive Session: Personnel matters (K.S.A. 75-4319 (b) (1)) – Samuel Tran
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12. Executive Session: Personnel matters (K.S.A. 75-4319 (b) (1)) – Lora Holdridge
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13. Old Business
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a. Handbook Review – Samuel Tran
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b. Forensic Audit Update – Samuel Tran
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c. Fractional CFO Discussion – Samuel Tran
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d. DMV Lease Agreement – Samuel Tran
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14. New Business
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a. Payroll Administration – Samuel Tran
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b. Employment Action – Samuel Tran
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c. Bourbon County Comprehensive Plan – Samuel Tran
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d. Noise Complaint Discussion
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e. Employee Recognition – Joe Allen
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15. Agenda Topics for Future Meetings
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16. Commission Comments
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17. Adjournment
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18. Future Meetings
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Special Meeting: February 12, 2026 (5:00 PM – 6:00 PM for Interviews; Work Session until 8:00 PM)
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Information Packet Summary
Special Meeting Minutes: January 15, 2026 (Pages 2–9)
This meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive, methodical review of the 65-page employee handbook.
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Handbook Governance: Clarified that while the handbook establishes county-wide policies, independent elected officials maintain statutory discretion over certain operational matters in their offices.
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Leave and Accrual: Approved several new policies governing direct deposit, leave accrual based on employment classification, and rules for transferring between exempt and non-exempt status.
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Sick Leave: Established a 25% payout for sick leave, but only for employees with at least 10 years of service.
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Operational Policies: Updated policies regarding cell phone use (prohibiting use while operating heavy equipment), inclement weather pay (time and a half for essential personnel during closures), and a 90-day probationary period for new hires.
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Final Action: The commission approved the corrected handbook pending final review by KCAMP.
Commission Meeting Minutes: January 26, 2026 (Pages 10–12)
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Road Vacation: Following a public hearing, the commission approved Resolution 08-26 to vacate a road.
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Procedural Conflict: The meeting became contentious during citizen comments regarding whether the public must address the commission as a whole or could target individual commissioners.
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Abrupt Adjournment: Due to escalating tension and procedural disagreements, the meeting was adjourned early (at 5:46 PM) during the public comment section.
Commission Meeting Minutes: February 2, 2026 (Pages 13–24)
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New Leadership: Joe Allen was officially sworn in as the District 3 Commissioner.
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IT Infrastructure Tensions: A significant discussion occurred regarding the decision by the Clerk, Treasurer, and Register of Deeds to move to an independent mail server due to security and service concerns with the current IT provider. Chairman Tran expressed concern over the budget implications of decentralized IT systems.
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Financial Oversight:
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Approved accounts payable of $114,143.02.
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Chairman Tran proposed an “operational audit” (estimated cost $20,000) to investigate potential financial irregularities, which was tabled for further discussion.
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Discussed hiring a “Fractional CFO” service (Baker Tilly) for $5,500/month, to be split with the Sheriff’s Department.
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Liaison Program: The commission voted to terminate the Commissioner Liaison program (established in July 2025) and return to collective board decision-making to avoid commissioners interfering with day-to-day department operations.
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Planning: Scheduled a strategic planning work session for February 12 to focus on budget and finance deadlines.
Financial Summary: Accounts Payable (Pages 25–52)
The packet includes a detailed breakdown of the February 6, 2026, payroll and accounts payable totaling $332,847.69. This includes:
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Standard payroll clearing and tax withholdings.
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Departmental expenses for the Appraiser, Election, and Landfill funds.
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A server purchase for the Clerk’s Tech Fund ($5,556) that was previously queried by the commission.
Noise Attenuation Data (Page 53)
The end of the packet includes technical specifications for sound levels of Caterpillar equipment (120M2) to assist in the ongoing noise complaint discussions. It provides formulas for measuring decibel levels at 75 feet to match county standards.
Obituary of Robert Franklin (Bobby) Beal, Sr.
Robert Franklin (Bobby) Beal, Sr., age 66, resident of Hesston, KS, died and rejoined his wife Judy Saturday, January 31, 2026, in his home with his granddaughter Breanna Morales and her family. He was born on December 18, 1959, in Austin, Texas, the son of Olan F. and Audre C. Beal. Bobby loved watching Paranormal Activity and Bigfoot documentaries. His favorite things in the world were working on cars, fishing, going ghost hunting in cemeteries with the boys and working on the farm with Uncle Ronny before his passing. He was also a member of the Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Olan F. and Audre C. Beal, his wife, Judy A. Beal, and his sisters Tonia E. Beal, and Katherine D. (Mammy) Howe.
Survivors include his 3 sons, Robert Beal, Jr. (Crystal), Columbus, KS, Robert O. Beal, Mayview, MO, and Dalton Beal, Mayview, MO; 2 daughters, Brandy Garner (Jason) Fort Scott, KS, and Christal Beal (Danny Lagud), Mayview, MO; 3 brothers, Uncle Olan F. (Bud) Beal, Jr. (Janet), Deerfield, KS, Alan L. Beal (Debbie), Mineral Wells, TX, Rusty E. Beal (Donna), Deerfield, MO; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren with 2 on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 7th, at the West Liberty Cemetery north of Fort Scott. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
KS House Bill 2347 Explained
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Agenda For USD234 Board of Education Meeting on Feb. 9 at Ware Elementary School
The next USD 234 Board of Education Meeting be held at Eugene Ware Elementary, 900 E 3rd St. It will be Monday, February 9th at 5:30PM.
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697 www.usd234.org
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
February 9, 2026 – 5:30 P.M. AGENDA SUMMARY PUBLIC
- Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
- Flag Salute
- Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
- Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
- Board Minutes
01-12-26
- Financials – Cash Flow Report
- Check Register
- Payroll – January 20, 2026 – $1,801,674.26
- Activity Funds Accounts
- USD 234 Gifts
- Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
- New Business
- Resolution 25-16 Healthy Kansas Farm to School Program – Information, Overview, School Implementation Plan, Implementation Grant
- Long-Range Financial Planning (Information Only)
- Property Acquisition
Enter Executive Session – Property for High School Overflow
- Public Forum
- Other Business – Personnel Matters
- Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters #1 (Action Item)
- Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters #2 (Action Item)
- Adjourn Meeting (Time) David Stewart, President
KS New Program To Help Inmates Re-enter Society
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report Feb. 6
Agenda for the Uniontown City Council on Feb. 10
The Uniontown City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on February 10, 2026 at City Hall
CALL TO ORDER AT ________ by _____________________________
ROLL CALL: ___ Kyle Knight ___ Amber Kelly ___ Mary Pemberton ___ Savannah Pritchett
___ Bradley Stewart
2026 Financials – January
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
Carry Spoon – Grants
CITIZENS REQUESTS
FINANCIAL REPORT
Sally Johnson – Financial reports
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
- Minutes of January 12, 2026 Regular Council Meeting
- Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Utility Meters
Clerk Report: Haley Arnold
At-large Dog Complaint
Water Rate Increase
EMC Insurance Conditional Renewal
Jayhawk Software Renewal
Memorial Stone Design Proposal
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilman Ervin –
Councilman Kelly –
Councilwoman Pemberton –
Councilwoman Pritchett –
Councilman Stewart–
Mayor Jurgensen –
OLD BUSINESS
FEMA Flooding–
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURN Time ____________ Moved by ______________, 2nd ___________________, Approved ___________
Unapproved Minutes of the Uniontown City Council on Jan. 12
The Regular Council Meeting on January 12, 2026 at Uniontown Community Center was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, Savannah Pritchett, and Bradley Stewart at 7:10PM and Councilmember-elect Kyle Knight. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting was Mike Ramsey, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Treasurer Sally Johnson and City Clerk Haley Arnold.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
Motion by Pemberton, Second by Pritchett, Approved 3-0, to approve Mayor Approval of 2026 CMB License Applications.
City Clerk Arnold administered the oath of office to re-elected Mayor Larry Jurgensen and to newly elected Councilman Kyle Knight.
Open discussion took place on the available councilmember position. After discussion on possible new councilmembers, Amber Kelly volunteered to fill the vacant position.
Motion by Stewart, Second by Pritchett, Approved 4-0, to approve Amber Kelly for an additional term of office on the Council.
Council thanked Kelly for serving another term as councilwoman.
City Clerk Arnold administered the oath of office to Amber Kelly.
Motion by Pemberton, Second by Pritchett, Approved 4-0, to approve Bradly Stewart as president of the Council.
CITIZENS REQUEST
Mr. Mike Ramsey addressed the Council with questions regarding the memorial stones and the process for purchasing a stone. Council advised that, at this time, only one memorial stone requires repairs. Council further stated that there is no specific numbering or designation system for individual stones within the park. Individuals wishing to purchase a stone must provide a description of the stone’s location.
Council informed Mr. Ramsey that the $150 purchase fee includes the stone itself and lifetime maintenance of the stone. Mr. Ramsey was provided with the memorial stone design form and advised that the form was officially adopted at the previous month’s Council meeting. Council explained that prior to purchasing a stone, both the purchase fee and the proposed engraving design must receive Council approval before engraving may proceed.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Treasurer Johnson presented the December 2025 Treasurer’s Report. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $210,072.85, Receipts $51,497.04, Transfers Out $20,016.00, Expenditures $40,808.43, Checking Account Closing Balance $200,745.46. Bank Statement Balance $218,472.49, including Checking Account Interest of $45.08, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $17,727.03, Reconciled Balance $200,745.46. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $38,724.94, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $23,332.48, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $45,677.57, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $308,480.45. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $623.56, and Utility CDs $2,458.47 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $3,082.03. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of December 2025, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0. December Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,400.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,616.00; from General Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $4,000.00; from Water Utility Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $2,000.00, for Total Transfers of $20,016.00. Net Loss for the month of December $9,327.39, Year-to-Date Net Loss $63,118.28. Budget vs Actual Gas Fund YTD Revenue $118,624.48 (88.1%), Expenditures $134,188.42 (87.9%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $35,276.00 (94.8%), Expenditures $45,483.46 (98.6%); Water Fund YTD Revenue $114,866.39 (92.7%), Expenditures $129,756.54 (81.4%); General Fund YTD Revenue $181,648.12 (121.3%), Expenditures $231,798.36 (108.5%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $8,101.28 (111.6%), Expenditures $7,251.44 (99.9%). The January 2026 payables to date in the amount of $13,788.21. Treasurer Johnson reported that she has further corrections to make to the budget for the beginning of the 2025 year.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Kelly, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0, to approve Consent Agenda:
- Minutes of December 9, 2025 Regular Meeting
- December Treasurer’s Report, Profit & Loss Report by Class & January Accounts Payables
- Designate Union State Bank as official bank
- Designate Fort Scott Tribune as official newspaper
- Resolution 2026-0112-01 GAAP Waiver
- Destruction of records for 2015 and prior
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
City Superintendent Bobby Rich informed the Council that several water and gas meters are in need of replacement. The Council discussed the price differences between purchasing new versus used meters, the total number of water and gas meters currently in use, and the average number requiring replacement each year. The Council instructed Superintendent Rich that the City should plan to replace 15 water meters and 12 gas meters annually. The Council further advised Superintendent Rich to conduct an inventory of meters currently in stock and to provide updated pricing information at the next Council meeting.
Clerk Arnold asked the Council if the city was interested in our yearly rabies clinic on the last Saturday in March. Council advised to go ahead with the clinic.
Arnold also asked if the city wanted to provide a donation to the SOS party.
Motion by Kelly, Second by Pritchett, Approved 5-0, to approve a $100 donation to the SOS party.
Arnold informed the council of the upcoming 2026 Municipal Court Clerks Conference and the CCMFOA Spring Conference both in March and inquired if the city would approve her to attend both conferences.
Motion by Kelly, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0, to approve City Clerk Haley Arnold to attend 2026 Municipal Court Clerks Orientation and Conference on March 26th and 27th.
Motion by Kelly, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0, to approve City Clerk Haley Arnold to attend the CCMFOA Spring Conference on March 11-13th.
COUNCIL REPORT
Councilman Knight – nothing
Councilwoman Kelly – nothing
Councilwoman Pemberton – nothing
Councilwoman Pritchett – nothing
Councilman Stewart – nothing
Mayor Jurgensen – Informed the Council of an upcoming water rate increase from Consolidated Rural Water District #2. The Council was advised that Carey Spoon, the SEK Regional Planning Commissioner, will attend the February Council meeting to discuss potential grant opportunities. Jurgensen stated that one of the primary focuses for a grant would be the cleaning, camera inspection, and lining of the City’s sewer system lines. Discussion followed regarding possible project costs and the types of grants that may be available.
OLD BUSINESS
FEMA Flooding– Marbery Concrete Inc is scheduled to resume work on Wednesday, weather permitting. The crew will be working on Union Street, 1st Street, and Clay Street as they continue with the remainder of the project. During discussion of the ditches at 1st and Clay Streets, Council agreed that contractor should proceed with any work necessary to complete the project.
NEW BUSINESS
Executive session not needed.
Moved by Kelly, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 8:18PM.