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Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Citizens Bank Celebrates 100 Years with Fort Scott BBQ

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Citizens Bank 100 Year BBQ!

Join them for a 100 Year BBQ in Fort Scott as they celebrate a century of serving the community!

Friday, June 26th
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

ὌD Fort Scott Location
2205 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS

Stop by, enjoy lunch, and help congratulate Citizens Bank on this amazing milestone!

ὄF Congratulations to Citizens Bank on 100 years in business!

Citizens Bank 100 Year BBQ flyer

Check out the full list of celebration dates below and join Citizens Bank at the location that works best for you!

Citizens Bank celebration dates

Visit the Citizens Bank of Amsterdam Facebook Page

Visit the Citizens Bank of Amsterdam website

K-State Extension

From Lemonade Stands to Investment Plans by Amanda Clasen

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By Amanda Clasen, Community Vitality Agent, K-State Extension Southwind District

Amanda Clasen, Community Vitality Agent, K-State Extension Southwind District

We live in a world where you can click a button and have something at your door tomorrow, and honestly, it is hard not to get used to that. The downside is that long-term planning starts to feel like something we will deal with later. But here is the good news: young people have something you cannot rush or replace — time.

Many young adults are focused on student loans, rent, or the newest phone upgrade, and investing does not always make the priority list. The ones who do start early, though, are setting themselves up for something much bigger: long-term financial freedom. At the heart of investing early is a simple yet powerful idea — compound interest. In short, your money earns money, and then that money earns money too. Given enough time, even small, consistent contributions can grow into something significant.

For example, think about setting aside $50 a week instead of spending it here and there. If a young adult starts doing that in their early 20s and invests it, it can grow into hundreds of thousands of dollars over time. But if they wait 10 years to start, they miss out on a huge portion of that growth. That is the power of getting started early.

So why encourage young people to start investing early? Here are a few key reasons:

#1) It creates more freedom down the road: Whether it is retiring early, traveling, or starting a business, having a strong financial foundation gives people options and reduces the need to rely on credit when life happens.

#2) It builds smart money habits early: Learning how to budget, save, and plan ahead at a young age helps reduce financial stress later on. Just like compound interest, these habits build on themselves over time.

#3) It is easier than ever to get started: With today’s technology, investing is accessible to just about anyone. Many apps allow you to begin with just a few dollars and provide tools and education along the way.

Summer also creates a great opportunity to start building these skills through youth entrepreneurship. With fewer school commitments and more flexible schedules, young people can try out small business ideas like lawn care, pet sitting, selling handmade goods, or even starting an online venture. While earning money is exciting, the real value comes from what they learn — responsibility, problem-solving, customer service, and how to manage their money.

Encouraging youth to take on these kinds of projects helps connect the dots between earning, saving, and investing. When a young person earns their own money, they are much more likely to think about where it goes and how to make it grow. Over time, those early experiences can build confidence, independence, and a mindset that sets them up for long-term success.

At the end of the day, investing early is not about having a lot of money — it is about starting where you are and giving your money time to grow. No matter your age, the best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is today.

For more information, please contact Community Vitality Agent Amanda Clasen at any Southwind District office or at [email protected].

Fort Scott Community College, Opinion

From the Bleachers by Dr. Jack Welch

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Can a Boss Be a Friend?

 One of the most common leadership questions I have encountered is whether a boss can truly be friends with employees. Many leadership authors caution against becoming too close to those you supervise. Their concern is understandable. Friendships can make accountability, evaluations, discipline, and organizational changes more difficult. While I understand that perspective, my experience has led me to a different conclusion. I believe it is possible to be both a leader and a friend. The key is understanding that the organization must always remain the top priority.

Leadership is not about choosing between friendship and responsibility. It is about having the maturity to separate the two when necessary. Over the years, I have worked alongside people who became genuine friends. We shared victories, challenges, and countless hours pursuing common goals. Yet there were times when difficult decisions had to be made. I recall a situation where an organizational restructuring was necessary to better serve the institution. One of the positions affected belonged to a close friend. The easy choice would have been to avoid the issue. Instead, we sat down and had an honest conversation about the needs of the organization and the reasons for the change.

Was it easy? No. But because our friendship was built on trust and honesty, we separated the personal relationship from the business decision. The organization moved forward, and the friendship remained intact.

The same principle applies in athletics. Imagine a head football coach whose best friend is an assistant coach. If the team struggles and responsibilities need to be reassigned, a strong leader makes the changes necessary for the program’s success. A true friendship can withstand an honest conversation about what is best for the team. The opposite is also true. Leaders who refuse to build relationships often create distance and distrust. People want to know their leaders genuinely care about them.

Leadership is about balancing relationships and responsibility. Friendship should never interfere with leadership, but when handled correctly, it can strengthen it. A leader can be a friend, as long as friendship serves the mission and never replaces it.

Thought for the Week, “The true test of leadership is having the courage to make the right decision for the organization while preserving the dignity of the people involved,” Jack Welch.

Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

Bourbon County

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Summary for June 22 Meeting

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Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda 06.22.26

Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda Outline

Meeting Date & Time: June 22, 2026, 5:30 PM

Location: 210 S National Avenue, Fort Scott, KS 66701

  • 1. Call Meeting to Order

  • 2. Pledge of Allegiance

  • 3. Prayer – Led by Commissioner Motley

  • 4. Introductions

  • 5. Approval of Agenda

  • 6. Approval of Minutes

    • a. June 15, 2026

    • b. May 11, 2026 (Revised)

    • c. April 13, 2026 (Revised)

  • 7. Approval of Accounts Payable – June 18, 2026 ($83,374.82)

  • 8. Approval of May 2026 Financials

  • 9. Special Appearances

  • 10. Public Comments

  • 11. Department Updates

    • a. Landfill – Blake Hurd

  • 12. Old Business

    • a. Jarred Gilmore Phillips 2026 Audit Engagement

    • b. SEK Juvenile Detention Center Discussion

    • c. American Flag Purchase

    • d. Procedures for Adopting Resolutions

  • 13. New Business

    • a. Statement/Discussion – Commissioner Allen

    • b. Fund Resolution – Commissioner Milburn

    • c. Resolution 25-26: Cancellation of Warrant Checks – County Clerk Walker

    • d. Heartland Business Licenses Annual Billing

  • 14. Future Agenda Topics

    • a. Public Works Budget Work Session (Scheduled for June 29, 2026)

  • 15. Commission Comments

  • 16. Adjournment

(Cross-reference: Complete Agenda Layout found on PDF Page 1)

Detailed Packet Summaries & Historical Minutes

I. Draft Minutes Summary: June 15, 2026

  • Call to Order & Attendance: Chair Samuel Tran called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Present were Commissioners Samuel Tran, David Beerbower, Joe Allen, Gregg Motley, Mike Milburn-Kee, and County Clerk Susan Walker. Multiple local citizens, media members, and department reps were noted in attendance. (PDF Page 1)

  • Agenda & Accounts Payable Amendments: The agenda was rearranged to move public comments up and insert a pressing Public Works item. In reviewing accounts payable batches, Commissioner Milburn-Kee flagged duplicate vendor invoices from Murphy for rock crusher training totaling $7,849. The board approved the June 5 batch ($184,461.59) while withholding the disputed checks, and passed the June 12 batch ($833,269.76) cleanly. (PDF Page 1)

  • Hidden Valley Road Jurisdiction: Public Works Director Kenny Allen delivered a definitive review regarding resident requests for county road maintenance in Hidden Valley. Legal and infrastructure checks confirmed that a 2017 resolution was meant strictly for law enforcement patrol access and did not establish public easements. The current road system fails county infrastructure metrics (lacking proper bases and engineered drainage) and would strain the county budget. The board unanimously adopted Resolution 23-26, formally declining the roads into the public network and reinforcing private HOA maintenance obligations. (PDF Page 1–2)

  • Public Safety Systems & Water Drainage: Representatives from INA Alert pitched security system upgrades, offering a complimentary engineering valuation for county facilities. Local landowner Mark Warren presented severe field flooding concerns near Uniontown, Redfield, and Paint Creek, requesting updated culverts and proper side-ditching. Commissioner Milburn-Kee requested his media evidence to launch a site investigation. (PDF Page 2)

  • Clerk Records, Formatting, & Elections: Commissioner Milburn-Kee brought forward corrections for the April 13 minutes, noting a previous revision had been omitted from the record. Chair Tran voiced strong concerns about the style of AI-generated minutes (referencing May 11), noting subjective phrases like “push back gently” and “echoed forcefully” painted commissioners in a non-neutral light. Clerk Walker clarified that she utilizes standard settings without injecting editorial context. Additionally, a motion by Milburn-Kee to deny the Clerk’s use of the Commission Room for upcoming 2026 elections failed 2-3; a subsequent motion to approve the full spatial request passed 3-2. (PDF Page 2–3)

  • Comprehensive Plan & Moratoriums: The board accepted a Planning Commission recommendation to hire Confluence to orchestrate the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code for $152,000, praised as a long-term “blueprint” for entrepreneurs. Due to the expiration of previous protective measures, the board approved Resolution 24-26, instating a 365-day moratorium on utility-scale power generation, data centers, crypto-mining, and waste operations (exempting established solar entities). (PDF Page 3)

  • Baker Tilly System Access: To eliminate friction in generating general ledger records, the commission voted unanimously to grant financial consulting group Baker Tilly read-only remote access to the CIC accounting platform using standalone login credentials. (PDF Page 3)

II. Historical Minutes Summary: May 11, 2026

  • Public Meals-on-Wheels Crisis: During public comments, Michael Hoyt warned that federal funding rollbacks had severely defunded regional agencies on aging, restricting home meal delivery eligibility for local seniors. He implored the county to build provisions into upcoming budget cycles. (PDF Page 4)

  • County Communication & Check-Signing Authority: County Attorney James Crux formally admonished the commission for a stark “lack of communication,” revealing that unannounced policy deviations had caused late employee payrolls for two consecutive months. To clear logistical hurdles, the board passed a motion authorizing Commissioner Allen to sign accounts payable checks, superseding previous procedural standoffs regarding statutory requirements. (PDF Page 4–5)

  • SecureView Payroll Access Standoff: Commissioner Motley moved to restore read-only pay entry reporting access to the County Clerk to expedite general ledger balancing, noting intermediary data formats provided by administrative staff lacked cost-center mapping. Commissioner Milburn-Kee countered that the system configuration was all-or-nothing, raising data privacy exposures. The motion failed 2-3, and the matter was tabled to invite a systems representative to a future work session. (PDF Page 5)

III. Historical Minutes Summary: April 13, 2026

  • Economic Development Wins: Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin announced major property acquisitions: the Value Merchandisers building and the Timken manufacturing plant were successfully sold to new operators, collectively projected to introduce up to 550 local jobs over three years and trigger massive facility expansions. (PDF Page 5)

  • Employee Outcry Over Altered Benefit Records: A major labor dispute erupted when County Clerk Walker and approximately 40 county employees confronted the board over unannounced adjustments to their benefit tracking. Documentation showed 21 employees had their original hire dates modified in the software between November 2025 and March 2026, threatening KPERS retirement tiers and erasing decades of longevity credits. Following intense public cross-examination and heated executive recesses, the board voted to restore open time-entry visibility to all workers and authorized structural corrections. (PDF Page 6)

  • Juvenile Justice Regulatory Shift: Michael Walden, Executive Director of the SEK Regional Juvenile Detention Center, requested the county preserve its board membership. He warned that newly passed House Bill 2329 overrides previous vetoes to extend juvenile detention lengths of stay from 45 to 90 days, an overhaul expected to saturate facility bed capacities across Kansas. (PDF Page 6)

Financial Packet Breakdown

I. Accounts Payable Batch Summary (June 18, 2026)

The upcoming accounts payable batch totals $83,374.82 across 70 total departmental invoices. Key operations pulling from county resources include:

  • District Court (Dept 10): $17,054.00 total. Features a heavy capital deployment of $15,324.00 paid to McClelland Inc. as a 40% deposit for an audio system upgrade in Courtroom A, alongside legal conflict attorney fees. (PDF Page 8)

  • Courthouse General (Dept 43): $13,379.74 total. Includes localized utility overhead with Evergy facilities, commercial maintenance services with Cintas, and an elevator maintenance contract payout to Kone Inc. totaling $7,503.36. (PDF Page 10)

  • Road and Bridge Sales Tax Fund (Fund 222): $12,455.80 total. Driven primarily by a material and logistical invoice of $11,257.15 paid to Kunshek Chat and Coal Co. for sand and hauling operations supplying 284.99 tons of material. (PDF Page 3)

  • Juvenile Detention (Dept 18): $11,347.00 total. Encompasses the primary monthly regional detention fee of $11,194.00 alongside inmate medical costs. (PDF Page 9)

  • Landfill (Fund 108): $10,652.41 total. Designated entirely for regional municipal solid waste (MSW) processing agreements with Allen County Public Works. (PDF Page 2)

  • County Sheriff & Correctional (Fund 120): $6,810.57 total. Distributed across needs assessments, facility sprinkler inspections, plumbing repair labor ($1,440.00), and vehicle fleet equipment. (PDF Page 2)

II. Bank Reconciliation & Cash Balance (As of May 31, 2026)

The county records a unified cash balance across all liquid profiles of $15,781,466.81 with zero variance reported by the Clerk’s review. (PDF Page 11)

  • *Treasurer General Account (Landmark 3049): Main bank balance of $13,805,425.64. Adjusted down by $68,436.38 in outstanding checks and $931,493.16 in outstanding wires, balanced against $710,976.27 in transit deposits and minor adjustments for an ending book value of $13,621,735.67.

  • *Clerk’s Payables Account (Landmark 3064): Main statement balance of $457,742.07. Adjusted against $344,337.25 in outstanding checks, $95,945.93 in outstanding wires, and $922,985.86 in transits for an ending value of $608,031.14.

  • Certificates of Deposit (CDs): The county maintains a total CD investment portfolio of $1,550,000.00 structured across Union State Bank, Landmark Bank, and City State Bank.

III. Key Fund Balances (May Period 5 Close)

The formal Fund Status Report outlines major operational accounts tracking into the mid-year boundary:

  • 001 – General Fund: Opened the period at $821,487.83, logging $83,469.32 in monthly receipts against $305,900.27 in active disbursements, closing with an ending cash balance of $599,056.88. (PDF Page 11)

  • 064 – Employee Benefit Fund: Holds a substantial reserve tracking at $1,087,833.14 after drawing down $121,982.84 in monthly expenses. (PDF Page 11)

  • 120 – County Sheriff/Correctional: Closed period 5 with $330,789.46 in cash reserves following $277,052.64 in operational monthly expenditures. (PDF Page 11)

  • 220 – Road and Bridge Fund: Tracks at a tight ending balance of $54,140.92, significantly insulated by the parallel 222 – Road & Bridge Sales Tax Fund which maintains $779,851.14 in reserve capital. (PDF Page 11)

  • 224 – Road & Bridge Special Improvement: Retains an independent cash structure of $624,755.21. (PDF Page 12)

  • 108 – Landfill Fund: Concluded the processing month with an active operational balance of $289,843.67. (PDF Page 12)

Obituary

Obituary of Karen Ann Endicott-Coyan

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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28.

Karen Ann Endicott-Coyan, 72, passed on Friday morning, June 19, 2026, at Freeman Medical in Fort Scott with family beside her.

Karen was born August 6, 1953, to William Junior and Grace Lorene (Cash) Endicott, the fourth of seven children. She grew up in the Pawnee and Hiattville areas of Bourbon County. She was baptized at the Cherry Grove Baptist Church where she is a member. She learned many life-long skills as a member of 4-H. Karen graduated from Uniontown High School in 1971, and in September of 1971, she married Joel Raines. They had one son, Joseph William Raines, on July 29, 1972. They divorced in January 1973. Karen raised her son by herself while working and completing her education.

Karen graduated from Fort Scott Community College and attended Pittsburg State University majoring in accounting. During her career, she was employed for 5 years by Fort Scott Coca-Cola in accounts receivable; 14 years at Mid-Western Distribution in accounting, with her last position as Accounting Manager; 23.5 years at Mercy Hospital of Fort Scott, focusing on Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement and Advocacy; and 1 year at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri, in Reimbursement, before her cancer diagnosis forced her retirement.

On July 2, 1993, she married the man of her dreams, John A. Coyan, her soul mate and best friend. They enjoyed their life together on the farm and grew closer and more in love as each year passed. Their marriage was truly a blessing from God. Karen’s heart was shattered on July 31, 2019, whe`n her beloved John was called to his eternal home.

Karen enjoyed reading, cooking, especially baking, and working in her flowers, plants, and African Violets, as well as counted cross stitch and spending time with her family. Karen cherished time spent with her grandchildren. When Madelyn and Arminda were young, Karen and John made several trips each year to Pennsylvania. She was an excellent cook and baker, and truly enjoyed hosting get-togethers with family and friends.

Karen was a member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church. She was a life-member of Bourbon County Fair Association, and former Treasurer; she had served as Pawnee Republican Precinct Committee Woman; Trustee of Pawnee Township; and Treasurer of the Pleasant View Cemetery Association for over 25 years. She served as a 4-H project leader while her son was a member. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for many years. She served as Worthy Matron for 3 years, District Aide, Rand Committee Member, Grand Teller, and Special Page twice.

She is survived by her son, Joe Raines and Sonja Davis of Fort Scott, having moved from Roxboro, NC to be Karen’s care-givers; two granddaughters, Madelyn Raines, of Canton, Ohio, and Arminda Grace Drexler and husband John of Pennsylvania; a brother, Oscar Endicott and wife Ruth; sisters Michele Schick and husband Greg, and Billie Young and husband Steve; and a sister-in-law, Debbie Endicott, all of Fort Scott. She is also survived by a step-daughter, Suzann Audi and husband Ahmad; 3 step-grandchildren, Ali, Jawad, and Layla of Prairie View, IL; 5 nephews, Jim Endicott, Mike Endicott, Tim Endicott, William Schick, and Matthew Schick; and 6 nieces, Leanna Howard, Louella Howard, Stephanie Nimmo, Stacy Davis, Alycia Endicott, and Mary Grace Barfield. In addition to her beloved husband John, she was also preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters, Joyce Elaine Howard, and Joy Lee (Yodi) Endicott; a brother, Robert Endicott, and a brother-in-law, Dennis A. Howard.

Pastor Mike Bright will officiate a celebration of Karen’s homegoing at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Cherry Grove Baptist Church, with burial following at the Pleasant View (Large) Cemetery, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family will greet friends Thursday evening, June 25, 2026, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with O.E.S. Service beginning at 6:00 p.m. Karen requested memorial donations to Care to Share, or Cherry Grove Baptist Church, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.

 

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

2026 LMC Fellow: Katie Botello

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Katie Botello Named

2026 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow

 

The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Katie Botello, a video production teacher at Sunnyside High School in Fresno, CA. Katie will arrive in Fort Scott on June 21st for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

 

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

 

Katie Botello, a video production teacher from Fresno, CA, was recognized in 2019 as a Milken Educator. Katie is the coordinator of the Video Production Academy, a three-year grant-funded program aimed at building a school within a school. Her students learn hands-on production skills and earn certifications that land them work in the industry while still attending high school.

Last year, Katie earned her National Board Certification in Career Technical Education. She is on the board for the Fresno Clovis Community Media Alliance, completed a Journalism Teacher Fellowship with Cal Matters, and is actively working with Kincade Productions to get students in California recognition through the state for completing training as a production assistant. In September, she was given a Resolution from the State of California highlighting the work she has completed with her students. She loves working with community and business partners to help give her students real-world applications of the skills they learn in class.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Katie’s expertise and experience utilizing project-based learning and interdisciplinary instructional approaches will significantly benefit our 2026 team of LMC Fellows.”

 

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion

Rad Dads by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Rad Dads

I’ve heard it said that any man can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a real dad. Having experienced a real dad for myself, and watching my late husband be a rad dad to our children for 34 years, I would agree with the lede statement. How fun it would be to spend another day with my dad – with both of us in our younger years! I’m grateful he did the “dad thing” right. He was affectionate, easily demonstrating his feelings of love and acceptance to me and my brother. Interestingly, fatherhood provides men with the choice of either being a rad dad or a bad dad. Yep, it’s a serious responsibility, so choose wisely.

As a daughter growing up, the one-on-one time I spent with Dad wasn’t financially costly or impressive by worldly standards. But to us, it was fun, memorable, and knit our hearts together for all time. Only once did we go quail hunting – I was a bad shot and we never did that again! We were members of the Stockton Saddle Club and we rode our horses with our friends every Monday night at the arena. We also went on trail rides and rode with the Club in the Stockton Black Walnut Festival parade. Dad taught me how to check the fluids in my vehicle, drive defensively and drive “with the traffic” in Springfield. His words were, “You gotta’ drive for yourself and the other man too.”

We would laugh together as we watched our favorite TV series: The Carol Burnette Show, All in the Family, The Honeymooners (Jackie Gleason), Mash 4077, Hogan’s Heroes, and The Dean Martin Show. We watched every Western series known to man: Gunsmoke, High Chaparral, Bonanza, The Virginian, Rawhide, The Big Valley, Wagon Train, and The Rifleman. I wouldn’t trade those special times with Dad for love nor money.

Dad knew how to get the most out of life and that included being the spiritual leader of our home. When the church doors were open, we were there. At home, we found joy in singing gospel songs around the piano. We did our best to study and practice the Word of God. Dad taught us to have a reverential fear of God and to promptly obey Him. A Christian father is a flesh-and-blood example of God to his children. Godly dads who represent their heavenly Father well in front of their kids will subconsciously cause them to believe, accept, and trust Jesus much easier. A rad dad works hard for the good of his family and cares about love, peace, laughter, and the spiritual health of his household.

Fathers, if you make mistakes (and you will because you’re human) God will stand by you. If you fall short of His commandments, He’ll still love you. If you feel worried, He will touch your heart and lift your soul. If you don’t know what to do, He’ll show you. God is wide-awake and He’ll not abandon you in your responsibilities as a dad.

Don’t be blinded by the “bigness” of fatherhood. Don’t allow yourself to be waylaid by our stressed-out, freaked-out culture. And please remember to set aside time to play with, love on, and enjoy your kids! Satan will use every means to make you think you don’t have time to hang out with them. Your kids desperately need you to simply relax and “be you” with them! Your calling as a godly dad is not overlooked by God. He knows every hill and curve along the sometimes bumpy road of fatherhood.

The Key: Fathers, with God’s help, you’ve got what it takes to be a rad dad!

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

2026 LMC Fellow: Heather Hurt

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Heather Hurt Named

2026 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow

 

The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Heather Hurt, a fifth-grade teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central in Alabama. Heather will arrive in Fort Scott on June 21st for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

 

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Heather Hurt, a fifth-grade teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central in Alabama, was honored in 2018 as an Alabama Milken Educator. She is known for her engaging creativity, exceptional relationships with students and parents, and her passion for preparing students for success beyond the standards. Her interdisciplinary, creative, and tech-savvy lessons encourage students to think outside the box while fostering collaboration, curiosity, and confidence in the classroom.

Within her school community, Hurt is recognized for creating meaningful learning experiences that inspire students to become innovative thinkers and lifelong learners. Her commitment to student growth and creative education reflects the mission and values of the Lowell Milken Center.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Heather’s collaborative spirit and innovative approach to education make her an excellent fit for our Fellowship program. Her interdisciplinary and creative lessons encourage students to think beyond the classroom, and her work with the 2026 Fellows team will undoubtedly yield many great projects and ideas.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

 

 

 

 

 

K-State Extension

Newly Hatched Bagworms Are Set to Cause Damage by Krista Harding

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Newly Hatched Bagworms Are Set to Cause Damage

If you haven’t scouted for bagworms yet, trust me – they are out and about! They are a recurring pest in our area and can cause significant damage to landscape plants. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not become concerned about bagworms until they notice the large bags hanging from trees and shrubs. By that point, the damage has often already been done. Fortunately, the ideal window for control is approaching.

Bagworms overwinter as eggs inside the protective bags left by female moths. From mid-May through mid-June, larvae hatch and emerge through the bottom opening of the old bag. They immediately begin constructing their own miniature silk-lined bags, incorporating bits of foliage into the structure for camouflage. Once the bags are completed, the young larvae begin feeding. As the larvae grow, their bags expand.

By mid- to late August, feeding is complete. The mature larvae firmly attach their bags to twigs and branches, where they remain protected as they complete their life cycle.

Bagworms are most commonly found on eastern redcedar and juniper, but they also attack arborvitae, spruce, and pine. In addition, many broadleaf trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants can serve as hosts. After defoliating a plant, bagworms may migrate in search of additional food sources, attacking either the same species or entirely different plants.

The extent of damage can range from minor to severe. As larvae grow larger, their appetite increases dramatically. In some cases, what appears to be a healthy tree can become heavily defoliated in a very short period of time. Several consecutive years of severe feeding can weaken and eventually kill trees, especially conifers.

There are two primary methods of bagworm control: cultural and chemical.

For those who prefer not to use insecticides, handpicking bags from infested plants can be an effective management strategy. This is often easiest during the winter months when the bags are more visible against dormant foliage and branches. However, it is important to remember that a single overlooked bag may contain hundreds to more than a thousand eggs. Handpicking also becomes impractical when plants are heavily infested or too large to reach safely.

Chemical control is most effective when larvae are young and actively feeding. In most years, bagworm larvae begin emerging from overwintering bags in mid- to late May. Because egg hatch occurs over 4 to 5 weeks, treatment timing is important. Insecticide applications made in late summer are often ineffective because the larvae are larger, more resistant, and may have already stopped feeding.

The third week of June is generally the ideal time to apply insecticides for bagworm control. Products containing spinosad, acephate, cyfluthrin, or permethrin are commonly used and are available under a variety of trade names. Always read and follow label directions, and check the active ingredients to ensure the product is labeled for bagworm control.

For more information on managing bagworms, please get in touch with me at your local K-State Extension, Southwind District office in Iola, Erie, Fort Scott, and Yates Center.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to the Southwind District.  She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.