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Area News

Feedlot and Dairy Operations Incentives For Water Efficiency Available

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MANHATTAN, Kansas —The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation (KDA–DOC) is pleased to announce the availability of funds in the form of cost share assistance and incentive payments to assist commercial feedlots and dairy operations with livestock water efficiency technology. The Kansas Livestock Water Efficiency Project is part of the state’s ongoing effort to encourage water conservation and to seek solutions for water challenges in the state.

This initiative is designed to enhance and/or upgrade current large-scale livestock watering systems in commercial feedlots and dairies by providing cost share assistance for practices such as upgrading to high efficiency livestock waterers, water controls, and water recycling systems.

KDA–DOC will accept applications from October 15, 2025, to the close of business November 14, 2025. Equipment purchases and subscriptions made before application approval by KDA–DOC are not eligible for this initiative. Eligible applicants must hold a current livestock water right with the state of Kansas.

Funding is provided through appropriation from the State Water Plan Fund and the program is administered by KDA–DOC in consultation with the State Conservation Commission.

Applications for this livestock water efficiency cost share funding must be made through KDA–DOC. Find more information about the project including the application and more details about funding eligibility at www.agriculture.ks.gov/DOCLivestockWater or email Jake Dooling at [email protected].

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Obituary

Obituary of Esther Ruth Arnold

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Esther Ruth Arnold, 72, of Fort Scott, passed away Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Fort Scott Freeman Hospital. She was born in Kirksville, Missouri on August 26, 1953, the daughter of Maynard Land and Ethel Elizabeth Grogan Osborn. She married Victor Arnold on June 21, 1986, in Kirksville, Missouri, he survives of the home.

She was an L.P.N. in Kirksville, Mo. She attended K.C.C.B.S. and taught there, as well. She graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University. In 1986 she moved to Fort Scott and taught at the Fort Scott Christian Heights School and substituted for U234. She is a member of the Parkway Church of God.

In addition to her husband, Victor, she is survived by a son, Alex Arnold of Fort Scott, a daughter Kaitlyn and Kyle Warren of Redfield, Kansas, a sister, Deborah Johnson of Lambertville, Michigan, 12 brothers & sisters-in-law, and a host of nieces and nephews, including Heidi Mykolajczyk and Katrina Christian. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services for Esther Arnold will be 10:30am, Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Parkway Church of God, with Pastor Nathan Bryant officiating. The Family will receive friends at 10:00 am Saturday at the Church prior to the funeral. Private burial will follow.

Memorials may be made to the Fort Scott Christian Heights School 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.

Government, Kansas

Voices of Prevention: Sharing Stories; Creating Impact

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has partnered with the Kansas Prevention Collaborative (KPC) to host the eighth annual Kansas Prevention Collaborative Conference on October 16-17, 2025, with a pre-conference session on October 15. This year’s conference, “Voices of Prevention: Sharing Stories; Creating Impact,” welcomes five outstanding keynote speakers and breakout session speakers from across the nation.

The KPC Conference will provide attendees with educational opportunities to increase awareness of emerging trends in prevention, build skills and knowledge to prevent suicide, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug misuse, and advocate for best practices. Participants will also learn ways to connect and network with their community and advocate for best practices in prevention.

“Each year, the Kansas Prevention Collaborative Conference reminds us that prevention is not a single action—it’s a movement built through connection and shared purpose,” KDADS Behavioral Health Services Prevention Program Manager Stephanie Rhinehart said. “As we continue expanding prevention efforts statewide, this year’s theme underscores the power of personal stories to drive change and the importance of lifting new voices that move Kansas toward stronger, healthier communities.”

The conference will kick off on October 16 with four keynote addresses. Monica Forrest, Monica Kurz, Dave Sotelo, and Kimberly Freese will bring this year’s theme to life through the powerful stories of four leaders working to create change in their communities. Each speaker will share personal and professional experiences that highlight resilience, innovation, and the power of connection. Their voices reflect the strength of our collective mission to prevent substance use and misuse, promote mental wellness, and build healthier communities across Kansas.

Justin Maffett, corporate lawyer, advocate, and multimedia storyteller, will close the conference on October 17 with a keynote presentation, “Still Here: Resilience and Building Back Better.” This closing session invites attendees to consider how we build back better – individually, in community, and within systems of care – and what it truly means to say, “I’m still here.”

KDADS’ Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Commission and the KPC are excited to provide this learning opportunity to communities across Kansas. To learn more about the conference, view the schedule, and read more about the keynote speakers, visit kansaspreventioncollaborative.org/conference.

KPC is a group of five partner organizations funded by KDADS working to integrate and innovate behavioral health prevention efforts. This conference is part of KPC’s strategy to ensure that Kansans get the tools they need to prevent underage drinking, substance misuse, problem gambling, and suicide. Partner organizations are KDADS, the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute, DCCCA, the Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush, and the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas.

These five partner organizations, along with these four gold conference sponsors, make this year’s event possible: BeePurple, HeadQuarters Kansas, Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition, and TFI Family Services.

About the Kansas Prevention Collaborative: The Kansas Prevention Collaborative was created in 2015 to integrate and innovate behavioral health prevention efforts. A partnership of several different state, educational, and provider agencies, the KPC’s goal is to expand prevention efforts to include mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and problem gambling education and awareness, as well as increase the availability of resources to adequately fund local-level prevention and promotion strategic plans. For interviews, media inquiries, or more information, please contact the Kansas Prevention Collaborative at [email protected].

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Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Meet and Greet is Oct. 17

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Greetings from the Chamber!

We invite you to our next Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet to be held FRIDAY, October 17th from 8:30 to 9:30am in the back room of Common Ground Coffee Co., where owners Wayne & Stacy Racy, are excited to host!

Please note that the Quarterly Meet & Greets are normally held the first Tuesday of each quarter, but we are trying a Friday this quarter to accommodate business owners not able to join us on Tuesdays.

We hope to see you there where we will go over details for upcoming Downtown events and other information related to our Downtown Historic District!

Saturday, 10/25 – Downtown Halloween Parade, activities 10am, actual parade 11am
>>> The City is hosting Almost Kiss for a concert at Gathering Square the night of 10/25 from 9-10:30pm, weather permitting, if not then Memorial Hall, costumes encouraged, bring your own chair.
Thursday, 11/6 – Holiday Open House Shopping Main Event, 5-8pm (open house continues Fri/Sat)
Saturday, 11/29 – Small Business Saturday
Thursday, 12/4 – Christmas Parade, 6pm
Thursday, 12/4 to Sunday 12/7 – Christmas on the Bricks, stores open late until at least 8pm (Candlelight Tours of the Fort Fri/Sat nights)
The Glide Synthetic Ice Skating Rink will be open at Gathering Square from Friday 12/5 thru at least the first weekend of January.

Let me know if you have anything particular you would like included on the agenda!

There will be coffee, water, and light refreshments available for the meeting, but feel free to arrive early or call in ahead to order anything you would like to support Common Ground at 620-223-2499.

Thank you!

Lindsay Madison
President & CEO

Leslie Godden
Events & Communications Coordinator

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

Bourbon County

Bo Co Coalition Minutes of October 1

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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Minutes

 

October 1, 2025

 

 

  1.  Welcome: Seventeen members representing fourteen agencies attended the meeting held at the Scottview Apartments Conference Room.

 

 

  1.  Member Introductions and Announcements:
  • Pamela Thrompson – Family Strong Community Liaison -Family Strong has family response advocates in 8 counties. Pamela also helps partners sign up with the IRIS referral system. If you need assistance, let her know.
  • Henry Coronado – SER Corporation – The SER Corporation facilitates grants for students with agricultural backgrounds. Henry covers the east side of the state.
  • Sandy Haggard – K-State Extension – K-State Extension is offering a “Back to the Land” homesteading series, which is kicking off in Fort Scott. Sandy reminded everyone that October is 4-H membership month.
  • Kristine Abbott- Kansas Workforce One- SEKWORKS has merged with Kansas Workforce One. They now cover 96 counties in Kansas.  Kansas Workforce One offers the same services as SEKWORKS.  Kristine is the Lead Employment Specialist.  Her new email is [email protected].  She is still at HBCAT on Tuesdays, 9:00-4:00.  You can check social media for more information about the merger.   com has a merger plan.  Christine works with youth, adults, and dislocated workers by providing training, helping set up accounts, and creating resumes.
  • Kelly Stammer- Dept. for Children and Families in Parsons- Community engagement coordinator.  Kelly is seeking information about offering a Get Together KS event in Fort Scott.  Community partners would come together to share information/resources with the public.  Employers can attend to find job seekers.  Typically takes place from 10:00-1:00.  The Pittsburg event has been a success with 50-60 vendors, and events have also been held in Ottawa and Labette County. Kelly would need a partner in town to help organize advertising.  Email [email protected] if you have any interest or suggestions. LIEAP is starting very late this year.  The first event will be on January 20 in Wichita.
  • Tammy Alcantar – Crawford County Health Dept. – Provide teen pregnancy programs and Baby and Me Tobacco-free programs for moms who want to quit smoking or vaping. Also offering a prenatal class, hybrid with/ Bourbon County, which will begin next Monday, October 6th.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
  • Stephanie Breckinridge, Family Response Advocate – Stephanie helps relieve the stress of parents through connecting to resources and providing limited concrete funds.
  • Janelle Tate – Early Childhood Block Grant
  • Gayla Mendenhall – Early Childhood Block Grant
  • Star Culp – Parents as Teachers
  • Patty Simpson – Fort Scott Housing Authority – The housing authority has 190 income-based apartments. There is currently a short waiting list.
  • Cheri Walrod – Community Health Worker, K-State Extension- helps fill gaps for those in need.
  • Shelby Moore – FAST Program – Particularly working with families providing special education assistance.
  • Michelle Stevenson – Fort Scott Early Childhood Program – Home visiting program prenatal – 6
  • Kelli Mengarelli – Early Childhood Block Grant
  • Nick Johnson – Fort Scott Preschool Center will host their annual Early Childhood Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 30.

 

 

 

  1.  Program:  Lacy Nickelson, Fostering Connections

 

Through personal experience with the adoption and foster care systems, Lacy and her husband noticed several gaps in services. They started Fostering Connections to help fill these gaps.  Fostering Connections is not on the prevention side, but offers care after the foster process has started.  Fostering Connections serves families in Linn, Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee counties.

Statistics:

  • In Southeast Kansas, there are 730 children out of their homes.
  • 60% of foster parents quit after the first year.
  • Children average 3 placements in their lifetime.
  • The average child waits 4-6 hours before receiving emergency placement

 

Fostering Connections’ mission is to positively impact foster and adoption families and children in the community.  They do this by connecting them to the community and churches.  The Anchor family program matches youth aging out of foster care with a supportive family.  This program currently has 9 matches.  The program is voluntary for children and the anchor family.  Fostering Connections serves 75-100 kids per month.  They hold 2-4 events for children and foster families.  Fostering Connections offers family-centered solutions such as fun events, home improvement support, restaurant gift card program, caring closet, mom’s coffee nights, foster parents retreat, and sleep in safety program.  Currently planning a Hope for the Journey event in November. Fostering Connections also offers several child-centered programs such as Christmas for kids, graduating senior program (43 kids last year), anchor family program, VIP birthday program, teen impact events, VIP kid bags, teen shopping spree, and kids night out events.  One of the newest programs is birthday celebrations, which will provide funds for families to go to fun venues in the community (Jumpy Land, skating, SOAR, etc) .  If you would like to help, check out the volunteer tab on their website for opportunities.

 

 

  1.  Open Forum:  Nothing further came before the membership.

 

 

  1.  Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be November 5, 2025. 
Church news, Fort Scott, Youth
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FSN Teens Launch “Rent-a-Teen” Fundraiser This October to Support Students’ Trip to Nazarene Youth Conference 2026

 FSN Teens at Fort Scott Nazarene is excited to announce its “Rent-a-Teen” fundraiser, running throughout the entire month of October. Community members can support local youth while receiving help with projects such as yard work, cleaning, and other odd jobs.

All proceeds will directly benefit FSN Teens’ upcoming trip to the Nazarene Youth Conference (NYC) 2026, scheduled for July 1–5, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah. NYC is a life-changing gathering where high school students from across the U.S. and Canada come together for worship, service projects, concerts, and spiritual growth. This year’s theme, “Wonder,” will inspire students to deepen their faith and live it out boldly.

“Rent-a-Teen is more than a fundraiser—it’s an opportunity for our students to serve their community while preparing for an event that can shape their lives and faith for years to come,” said Pastor Nick.

FSN Teens (grades 7–12) is a ministry of Fort Scott Nazarene that exists to help students encounter God, pursue Jesus, and make an impact. Weekly activities include Wednesday night youth group with dinner, worship, and small groups (6:30–8 PM), as well as Friday morning Donuts & Devos for high school students. Teens also engage in Sunday worship, leadership opportunities like the Impact Summer Internship, and special trips and events throughout the year.

Community members can request a teen worker anytime during October by emailing [email protected] with project details. Teens will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and donations are gladly accepted for their time and work.

For more information or to schedule a teen, please contact [email protected]