Hey kids! Want to learn how to make some tasty snacks or how to help fix dinner? Sign up for the FREE Southwind Extension District Kids Cooking Classes this summer!
Program Details:
Age Group: Kids ages 7–10
Duration: 2 days in a row per location
Class Length: 3 hours each day
Cost: Totally FREE!
Summer 2026 Schedule We are coming to 10 towns across the district. Find the date and location closest to you:
Dates
Mornings (8 AM – 11 AM)
Afternoons (1 PM – 4 PM)
May 27, May 28
Iola
Humboldt
June 3, June 4
Chanute
Thayer
June 11, June 12
Yates Center
Toronto
June 17, June 18
Bronson
Fort Scott
June 23, June 24
Erie
St. Paul
Ready to Join? Registration is easy! You can sign up online at the link below:
The USD 234 Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at the Board Office, 424 South Main, Fort Scott.
Agenda
Call Meeting to Order – David Stewart, President
Flag Salute
Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
Other Business – Personnel Matters
Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
Text scam impersonating Supreme Court targets Kansans
TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch is raising awareness about a new text message scam that appears to be from the Kansas Supreme Court about a subpoena over unpaid tolls incurred with the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
Anyone who receives the text message should ignore the requests to respond or visit links. Instead, the recipient should report it as junk and delete it.
If a case exists on CaseSearch, it will also generally show whether there are any unpaid fines or fees. The CaseSearch site links to the KSCourts Central Payment Center where payments can be made online.
The judicial branch encourages the public to check the Spot the Scam webpage whenever they are contacted by someone who claims to be with a court. The page says to be alert for these signs that a contact they did not expect is a scam:
Scammer initiates contact. Scammers will call, text, or email using phone numbers, email addresses, website links, and documents that look real but are fake.
Scammers ask for personal information. Never give a Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card information to someone you don’t contact on your own.
Scammers demand payment. Scammers will pressure you to pay now using gift cards or apps like PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App. They will tell you something bad will happen if you don’t pay now.
The page also gives guidance for reporting scams and a link to contact information for courts statewide.
Senator Marshall Joins Major Anti-Fraud Package to Protect Kansans’ Taxpayer Dollars
This week, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Protecting American Taxpayers Act, a comprehensive anti-fraud legislation package designed to recover stolen funds, protect taxpayer dollars, and crack down on fraudsters exploiting federal programs. The package is projected to save taxpayers $240 billion.
The Protecting American Taxpayers Act includes 17 bipartisan proposals focused on three core goals: recovering wasteful funds, protecting taxpayer dollars, and stopping fraudsters while holding them accountable. This includes Senator Marshall’s WALZ Act,which would help prevent fraud by requiring payments to be made as reimbursements only after services have been provided—closing loopholes that have allowed billions in taxpayer dollars to be stolen. The legislation comes after the widespread fraud in Minnesota and beyond exposed the fact that $1.4 billion is stolen from taxpayers each day.
Senator Marshall Joins Wichita Small Business Roundtable Highlighting Capital Access & Tax Relief
Last Friday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined business and community leaders in Wichita for a small business roundtable hosted in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce. The discussion focused on strengthening Kansas small businesses, expanding access to capital, supporting workforce development, and ensuring Main Street businesses have the tools they need to grow.
Senator Marshall thanked John Gonzales with the U.S. Chamber, Angie Elliott with the Wichita Chamber, and Michael Monteferrante and the Envision team for organizing and hosting the event. During the roundtable, Senator Marshall also highlighted Senate passage this week of his bipartisan Investing in All of America Act, legislation which will direct more private investment into rural communities, low-income areas, manufacturing, and critical technology sectors. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
Participants in the roundtable represented a broad range of Kansas industries, including manufacturing, technology, workforce development, aerospace, environmental services, hospitality, and construction.
Senators Marshall Introduces Legislation to Bring Accuracy to CBO Budget Baselines
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced the No Bias in the Baseline Act, legislation that reforms the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) annual baseline to eliminate built-in fiscal distortions that have long skewed federal budget projections toward higher spending.
The CBO’s annual baseline projects federal spending and revenues over a ten-year window and serves as the benchmark against which the cost of all legislative proposals in the House and Senate is measured. Currently, CBO is required to incorporate a series of assumptions that distort the baseline.
“Kansas families don’t assume last year’s budget automatically carries over to this year. They make tough choices when the numbers don’t add up,”said Senator Marshall.“Congress should be held to the same standard. With our national debt exceeding $39 trillion, this bill brings accountability and honest budgeting back to Washington.”
Senators Marshall Introduces Legislation to Expand Health Savings Accounts
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), introduced the Health Savings Account (HSA) Expansion Act, legislation that would expand access to HSAs and give Americans more freedom and flexibility in how they pay for their healthcare.
“As a physician, I saw firsthand how confusing and expensive our health care system can be,”said Senator Marshall.“This legislation gives Americans more flexibility, more choice, and more control over how they manage their medical expenses.Health care decisions belong to patients and families — not Washington. This bill makes that real.”
The bill will expand HSA eligibility to people on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, allow a person to pay for their insurance premiums or health care sharing ministry expenses with HSA funds, and more.
Senator Marshall: We Must Treat the Root Cause of Mental Health, Not Just Medicate It
On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined a roundtable hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) focused on mental health and substance abuse care.
With more farmers dying of suicide each year than farm accidents, Senator Marshall emphasized the need to address the mental health crisis in farmers. He advocates for targeted solutions rather than just medication, highlighting the work of Kansas State Extension, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Corn, and farm credit institutions for helping identify individuals in crisis and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health treatment in rural communities. With the increase of behavioral health clinics embedded in primary care clinics, more rural Kansans are able to access mental health services than ever before.
Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Far-out Prayer for a Wife
As a young girl, I remember the congregation of my childhood church gathering around the altar to pray for the healing of a newborn baby girl. She was born without soft spots (fontanelles) on her head. As the adults fervently poured out their hearts before God, baby Cynthia was precious and content. Her parents,
Leo and Geneva, returned her to the doctor’s office a few days later and she was deemed completely healed and whole. Because I was there for this special prayer and experienced the entire situation, I have never doubted that God answered our prayers. And I have a lifetime of answers to prayer.
I think God actually enjoys answering bizarre prayers just to prove He’s a listening all-powerful God. In the Old Testament, Abraham’s senior servant, Eliezer, was told to go back to Abraham’s home country and get a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham told Eliezer, “God will send His angel ahead of you to get a wife for my son.” So Eliezer took ten camels loaded with gifts and headed to the city of Nahor. Just outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well and he prayed a far-out prayer: “O God, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day… Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink say,’‘Drink and let me also water your camels’ – let her be the woman You have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I’ll know that You’re working graciously behind the scenes” (Genesis 24 MSG).
Eliezer wanted to make sure he brought home the right wife for Isaac, so he prayed very specifically. And we know Eliezer’s prayer was answered exactly as he prayed. When Rebekah offered to water all the camels (at least 11), that was the clincher. A normal woman wouldn’t offer to water any of the camels, a considerate woman might offer to water Eliezer’s camel, but only the right woman would offer to water all the camels! It’s been roughly estimated that one camel can drink 25 gallons of water after a long journey. Rebekah sure wasn’t lazy or puny – she drew approximately 275 gallons of water for all the camels. If I had been Rebekah I guess I’d have remained unmarried.
Some Christ followers might think, “Well, I’m not going to ask for anything from God, that way I won’t be disappointed.” That’s a strange way to think about your heavenly Father. I’ve heard it said this way: “I’d rather ask God for a lot and receive half of it than not ask for anything and get all of it.”
God’s Word tells believers to ask for what they need. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). “I always pray, I don’t faint, quit or give up” (Luke 18:1). “Because of my faith in Him, I dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear)” (Ephesians 3:12 AMP). The definition of “Amen” is the end of a prayer and the beginning of an answer.
“You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it” (James 4:2 GNT). I double-dog dare you to ask God for what you need and then step back and watch Him work.
The Key: Never underestimate the power of a far-out prayer to an awesome God.
On October 25th, 2025, early voting was taking place at the Bourbon County Courthouse. The hallway outside the commission meeting room held voting booths, and the commission meeting on the North side of the hallway was being used as an area to validate voters and deal with provisional ballots. The use of the areas was described in a memo written by the Clerk on October 10th and discussed at the October 14th commission meeting.
The charges by the Kansas Attorney General against Commissioner Milburn-Key cite an October 25th incident that led to the two counts. The following is a summary of the contents of a video from the security camera in the commission room on that date, and is likely the incident in question. The Kansas Attorney General’s office gave FortScott.biz permission to view the video, but did not provide the actual file. A narrative of the video contents follows:
At 9:37 am, Commissioner Mika Milburn enters the commission meeting room, sits at her usual spot at the table, and takes out a newspaper. County Clerk Susan Walker enters at 9:38, and they converse. The conversation is hard to hear, but it is clear that Walker is telling Milburn that, under election law, people aren’t allowed in the commission room while it is being used as a polling place. Milburn appears to object
Milburn remains at the table and continues to read the newspaper after Walker leaves. To Milburn’s immediate right are a stack of provisional ballots that have been cast, but won’t be counted until they are verified.
Sounds of people coming in to vote can be heard on the recording. Milburn is sitting on the North side of the table, facing South toward the open door that opens into the hallway where people are coming in to vote.
At 9:40 Milburn unrolls her laptop charger, plugs it into the wall behind her and continues reading the newspaper. She uses a remote to adjust the TV at the back of the room.
At 9:41, someone enters the hallway, apparently to get their ballot, and Milburn waves and greets them through the open doorway.
Around 9:48, Walker returns and reiterates that election laws do not allow Milburn to be in the polling areas. Commissioner Milburn objects, saying that this is her office and that it won’t take her long to prep things. Walker says that she does not make the law, but she will call the police if necessary. This all happened right around 9:49. The exact wording is hard to hear, but Milburn seems to be saying that her prep work won’t take very long. Walker gestures to the office 4 or 5 feet behind Milburn and asks her to move into that room. She offers to help her move her things into that office, where she can continue to work.
At 9:50 Milburn asks how long this is going to go on and how long she will not be able to use the commission room as her office. The clerk says the area will be used for voting while the elections are ongoing, and the discussion continues for a bit with Milburn saying that she needs to be in there to do her work.
Walker reiterates that she is asking Milburn to please leave the room, but Milburn says that it is unreasonable. Walker suggests it is not unreasonable. At 9:51 Milburn takes her stuff into the adjoining room, comes back and gets her bag, and then mostly closes the door.
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
There will be a work session on 03.30.26 at 4:30 PM to discuss Budget Goals for the Bourbon County Commission. Following the work session at 5:30 PM the board will meet for their regular commission meeting at 210 S National Avenue, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
a. Culvert Permit: Tuchscherer (874 210th) – K Allen
b. ADM Agreement: Transfer Station – K Allen
c. Culvert Permit: Farley (2445 Jayhawk) – K Allen
XII. Old Business
a. Elevator Package: Presented by Commissioner Tran
b. Vending Machine Placement
c. Title IV-E County Reimbursement Opportunity
d. Audit RFP
XIII. New Business
a. Hay Bids: Presented by the County Clerk
XIV. Future Agenda Topics
XV. Commission Comments
XVI. Adjournment
(Source: PDF Page 1)
Agenda Packet Detailed Summary
1. Previous Meeting Minutes (March 23, 2026)
The packet includes minutes from the previous week’s session. Key highlights include:
Public Comments: Clint Walker voiced concerns regarding the condition of flags in the chamber. County Clerk Susan Walker presented legal opinions regarding the restricted access individual commissioners have to personnel records. (Page 3)
Cintas Proposal: A representative from Cintas presented a plan to provide hygiene products and dispensers, claiming a potential 10% cost reduction over current providers. (Page 4)
Sewer Issues at Hidden Valley: Discussion of serious sewage violations at Hidden Valley lake community, where 30-40 homes lack regular pumping, leading to environmental concerns and potential KDHE fines of up to $7,000 daily. (Page 4)
Forensic Audit RFP: Commissioner Tran presented a draft for a forensic audit covering multiple county offices from 2021 to the present. (Page 4)
ADM Composting Agreement: Tabled for further cost analysis; current equipment issues (a tractor in the shop since June) have made managing the bean composting volume difficult. (Page 5)
(Source: PDF Pages 2-6)
2. Accounts Payable (March 27, 2026)
The total accounts payable for this period is $60,156.30. The packet includes a line-item breakdown by department:
Appraisers: $387.49 for wireless services and fuel. (Page 7)
Landfill: $10,740.00, including significant diesel fuel costs and waste services from Allen County Public Works. (Page 7-8)
Sheriff/Correctional: $17,475.40, which includes nursing services ($7,678.50), utility costs for the jail ($3,495.17), and plumbing repairs. (Page 8-9)
Road & Bridge: $4,887.10 for equipment parts, fuel, and vehicle leases. (Page 9-11)
County Jail Bond: $7,641.00 for vehicle fleet leases and equipment principal/interest payments. (Page 11-12)
Commissioners: $1,911.32, which includes a new laptop for Commissioner Joe Allen ($1,618.21). (Page 13)
(Source: PDF Pages 7-13)
3. Financial Reports (January 2026)
The packet contains the “Revenue and Expense Report” for the start of the year:
General Fund: Provides the percentage of budget remaining for various departments like the Register of Deeds and Courthouse Maintenance. (Page 98)
Tax Distributions: Detailed records of tax receipts for employee benefits, public safety, and road and bridge funds. (Pages 106, 125, 133)
School District & Watershed Distributions: Records of tax distributions to local entities including USD 234, USD 248, and various watersheds. (Pages 158, 163, 168, 177)
Victor Johnnie Snow Jr., of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed away on March 23, 2026.
A man of deep faith, Victor lived with sincere devotion to God’s word and a generous spirit toward his community. He was a dedicated father who cherished his children and held them close to his heart. Victor was known for his kindness, fairness, and willingness to help anyone in need.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Victor Snow and Frances Snow; his sister, Edith Boeding; his former wife, Carolyn Snow; and his wife, Naomi Snow.
He is survived by his children: Victor Snow III and Lori Snow of Independence, Missouri; Michael Snow of Kansas City, Kansas; Vickie and Steve Henderson of Kansas City, Kansas; and Robert and Carmen Snow of Gentry, Arkansas. He is also survived by his sister, Virginia Barnes and her husband, David Barnes of Appleton, Missouri. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Nicholas Snow and his wife, Becka; Victoria Goldberg and her husband, Nathan Goldberg; Steven Snow and his wife, Heavenly Snow; Steven Smith, Austin Smith, and Mel Henderson; and Cheyenne Smith, Laramie Smith, and Casey Snow; and great-grandchildren, Anastasia Snow and Nicholas Snow.
He will be greatly missed by his children, family, and all who knew him. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.
Pastor Danny Brown will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Monday, March 30th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Pittsburg Meals on Wheels and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
A meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The meeting was streamed live on YouTube.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00PM. Roll call was taken. Commissioners Matthew Wells, Tracy Dancer, Tim Van Hoecke, Julie Buchta and Mayor Kathryn Salsbury were present.
In Attendance – Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Chief Dave Bruner/FSFD, Chief Jason Pickert/FSPD, Leroy Kruger/Codes Enforcement, Lisa Lewis/City Clerk, Lisa Dillon/Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator, Jason Dickman/Earles Engineering & Inspections LLC, Ben Hart/BakerTilly (by phone), Darrin Petrowski/KDOT, Michael Hoyt, Patrick Wood, Geoffrey Marr, Dilynn Marr, Anita Walden/Freeman, Kevin Allen, Doug Eden .
SALSBURY led the Pledge of Allegiance and BUCHTA said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, the Citizens, our Government and City officials.
Approval of Agenda
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to approve the agenda with the amendment of removal of Unfinished Business/Item A Consideration to Initiate Contractor License. DANCER seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Consent Agenda
– Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1404-A – Expense Approval Report–Payment Dates of February 25, 2026 – March 10, 2026 – $1,270,095.98
– Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of March 3, 2026
– February Financials
Public Comment
Geoffrey Marr addressed the Commission regarding the airplane hangar currently owned by the City. He would like to lease or purchase it and fix it up and negotiate a long lease instead of it being torn down.
ACTION: MATKIN will meet with MARR regarding an arrangement.
Anita Walden addressed the Commission to introduce herself as the Chief Administrative Officer at the new Freeman Hospital. She also thanked the City for their continued support.
Kevin Allen addressed the Commission in hopes to comment on the KDOT maintenance agreement specifically on Wall Street.
Appearances
Garth Herrmann/Gilmore & Bell – HERRMANN could not be present. HART presented Resolution No. 17-2026 Authorizing and Providing for the Construction Sanitary Sewer Pumping Station Improvements and Providing for the Payment of the Costs. He stated that there will be another Resolution in the future.
MOTION: WELLS moved to approve the Resolution. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Darrin Petrowski/KDOT – PETROWSKI addressed the Commission regarding KDOT Maintenance Agreement on Hwy 69 and Hwy 54.
New Business
Public Hearing:
Vacation of Street and Alleys – Doug Eden – Consideration of Petition to Repeal Ordinance No. 3579 and Approve Ordinance No. 3796 – Vacation of Street and Alleys
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to open the public hearing. DANCER seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
FARMER left the meeting at 6:58PM and returned at 7:00PM.
EDEN presented his petition to vacate the north-south alley. It was recommended that the prior ordinance (No. 3579) be repealed and replaced with Ordinance No. 3796 addressing the vacation of Durkee Street, the east-west alley and the north-south alley for clarity.
MOTION: WELLS moved to close the public hearing. VAN HOECKE seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
MOTION: DANCER moved to approve the vacation. After having heard all the testimony on said petition on the 17TH day of MARCH, 2026 and all necessary information in order to fully understand the true nature of this petition, the City Commission of the City of Fort Scott, upon motion of DANCER and seconded by BUCHTA, passed and approved to repeal Ordinance No. 3579 and the petition of the Petitioner to and vacate the platted Durkee Street located between Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, Block 4 and Lots 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19,21, 23, 25, 27, Block 2, all in Durkee and Stout’s Addition to the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas; AND the alley running East and West through Lots 1-28, Block 2, Durkee and Stout’s Addition to the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas; AND the alley running North and South along the East side of Lots 27 & 28, Block 2, Durkee and Stout’s Addition to the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas. BUCHTA seconded. (Excerpt of Minutes of the same but separate document was submitted to Bourbon County Deeds for recording of the vacation).
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Action Items:
Consideration of Resolution No. 16-2026 and MELPA – Firetruck Financing
MOTION: WELLS moved to approve Resolution No. 16-2026. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Consideration of Proposals for Fire Station Exhaust system
BRUNER stated that they received an Assistant to Firefighters Grant (AFG) last year for $106, 571.42 to be used for the exhaust systems in both fire stations. He went out for proposals (RFP) and received (2) back. The first was from Air Clean for $101,750.00, the second from MagnaGrip that submitted (3) options however their lowest option was $106,913.00. BRUNER requested that the Commission approve the proposal from Air Clean.
MOTION: BUCHTA moved to approve the recommendation to accept the proposal from Air Cleaning for $101,750.00. WELLS seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Consideration of 2026 Ground Lease Bids
MATKIN stated that (3) bids were received: $15,700.00, $13,160.00, and $11,776.00.
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to approve the bid for $15,700.00 from Mike Fritter of Richards, MO for the Ground Lease Bid of 94-acres. WELLS seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Consideration of 2026 Cape Seal Program Proposal
MATKIN stated that we received (1) proposal from Vance Brothers for $388,948.00 and recommended that the Commission accept their proposal for the 2026 project.
MOTION: BUCHTA moved to approve the 2026 Cape Seal Program proposal as it’s been presented. WELLS seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Consideration of Ordinance No. 3795– AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 3782 for CLG
DILLON stated that SHPO and the National Parks Service requested amendments to the ordinance for the CLG. She drafted what they asked for and FARMER approved to form. She requested that the Commission approve the ordinance so it could be submitted and the City could receive its CLG status.
MOTION: WELLS moved to approve Ordinance No. 3795. DANCER seconded. BUCHTA, WELLS, DANCER and SALSBURY voted yes. VAN HOECKE voted no.
MOTION CARRIED 4-1
Consideration of Amendment to Zoning Regulations – Connex Boxes – L. Dillon
DILLON stated that the Planning Commission has viewed the City Commission’s initial request and is returning it to the City Commission to make the decision.
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to approve to table until April 7, 2026. DANCER seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Reports and Comments
City Engineer:
– Davis Lift Station update
– Railroad permit
– Survey scheduled for Wall St.
– E. National utility plan sent out
City Attorney: No Comment
City Manager:
– Moody building update
– Railroad dialogue and spur system talks happening
– Homeless situation in town
Commissioner Wells:
– Fort Scott Greyhounds going for title
Commissioner Van Hoecke:
– Homeless situation
Commissioner Dancer:
– SLA draft and 5-year lifecycle management plan for IT – April 7th
ACTION: MATKIN will email all Commissioners prior to next meeting.
Commissioner Buchta:
– Shop local to help with sales tax
Commissioner Salsbury:
– Fish Fry until Good Friday at St. Mary’s
– 8th & Eddy intersection open
Adjourn
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:51PM. DANCER seconded.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to announce the hiring of Kayley Hartman as its new Accounting Manager!
Kayley comes to CFSEK and its affiliates in Columbus, Fort Scott, and Girard with a passion for helping those in need, and great hopes and aspirations for the future of our communities in Southeast Kansas. She is actively training with current CFSEK Accounting Manager, Kim Lynch, who will be retiring in April.
“We are excited to welcome Kayley to our team,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “As a Pittsburg native with a strong background in accounting and finance, she is a great fit for this role. Her enthusiasm for our community is evident, and I know she will be a strong advocate for our work throughout Southeast Kansas.”
After graduating from Pittsburg High School, Kayley attended Pittsburg State University earning a double major in Finance and Accounting. After several years in business accounting and management, Kayley has made the transition to nonprofit work, wanting to make an impact in her community.
“I want to make sure our children thrive because they are the driving force of tomorrow,” Kayley said. “It’s great to be able to work with a like-minded team to support our communities to make our future brighter in Southeast Kansas.”
When outside of the office, Kayley spends her time with her 6-month-old daughter and her fiancé. She is also a self-described bibliophile and is currently creating her own personal library. With 4 dogs and 2 cats, Kayley says walks are a necessity for her.
When asked about her new position, Kayley had this to say: “Accounting is more than just numbers, it’s about the big picture and making sure everything runs smoothly. Working and learning alongside Kim is helpful, and I look forward to this new and exciting challenge supporting our communities in Southeast Kansas!”
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas has awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in grants since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with a wide variety of charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.
Fort Scott, KS – Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) is expanding its Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program to the FSCC Miami County Campus, with the first class scheduled to begin in March 2026. Enrollment is now open.
The expansion follows the successful re-establishment of the CDL program at the Fort Scott campus in 2025 and is part of the college’s continued commitment to workforce development and addressing the regional and national shortage of professional truck drivers.
The six-week training program prepares students to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License and enter high-demand careers in the transportation and logistics industry. Students receive classroom instruction, range practice, and behind-the-wheel driving experience using industry-standard equipment while meeting all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements.
“This expansion allows us to bring career training directly to more students and employers in our service area,” said J.D. Handly, CDL Instructor. “The trucking industry is essential to our economy, and employers need safe, well-trained drivers. Our goal is to remove barriers and provide a clear pathway to a strong, well-paying career.”
Graduates of the program may qualify for positions in local, regional, and over-the-road trucking, as well as employment with construction companies, agriculture operations, and municipal fleets. Many employers offer tuition assistance, sign-on bonuses, and immediate job placement opportunities.
The FSCC CDL program emphasizes safety, compliance, and real-world driving skills. Students train on modern tractor-trailer equipment and receive instruction from experienced industry professionals. The FSCC CDL Training Program offers a variety of options: Class A or Class B CDL, Manual or Automatic transmissions, as well as additional training options with Passenger, School Bus, HazMat, Tanker and Doubles/Triples endorsements.
The Miami County expansion increases training accessibility for residents of Paola, Osawatomie, Louisburg, and surrounding communities while supporting regional employers seeking qualified drivers.
Classes are limited in size to maximize behind-the-wheel training time. Interested students are encouraged to enroll early.
For enrollment information or to apply, contact Fort Scott Community College at (620) 223-2700 or visit www.fortscott.edu.
