A new sign brings life to the wall next to Sunshine Boutique in downtown Fort Scott depicting hometown legend Gordon Parks.
The sign was created by artist Cbabi Bayoc in honor of Parks and presented to the community during the Gordon Parks Celebration in October 2025.
Also new are the seasonal holiday signs installed by the Fort Scott Public Works Department on November 13.
November 10, 2025 Bourbon County Commission Meeting Continued
Sheriff Lease for Vehicles
Sheriff Bill Martin brought new numbers and handed them out to the county commission.
The documentation he provided is for an 11 vehicle lease because they need to replace that many in the current fleet.
Annual lease cost is $137,449 per year. The first year will include police equipment for a total cost of $399,303. This would be paid for out of the jail sales tax, as it’s part of the operations of the sheriff’s office and jail.
Martin said he would get the contract updated.
Milburn wanted to get the numbers together and make sure that the funds would be in the jail sales tax.
County Clerk Susan Walker said she could run the numbers if the sheriff’s department would give her five-year number projections for the vehicle lease.
Martin said they would get the numbers for her. He also expressed frustration at how long it’s taking the commission to come to a decision.
After he left the meeting, Tran expressed concern at the entry cost of nearly $400,000, and said he wasn’t sure Martin needed 11 new vehicles.
Beerbower cautioned Tran about trying to manage Martin’s fleet.
“This is one of those things that got kicked down the road,” said Beerbower. “This is one of those things that he’s been asked to compromise on for several years.”
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR SPECIAL
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
November 1, 2025 – 10:15 A.M.
III. Approval of Agenda
Winners of the Gordon Parks Museum photo contest,
sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography and Don Thompson Images, have been selected.
This year’s
theme was, “What Does Your Heart See?”.
141 entries were received, which was the highest number of entries ever.
First Place was Yasser Alaa
Mobarak, Alexandria Egypt, with the photo titled “Nepali Woman.”
Second Place was Kevin B. Jones, San
Francisco, CA, with the photo “2025 Cuba Revisited #2.”
and Third Place was Jacki Lunberg, Fort Scott, KS,
with the photo, “My Baby You’ll Be.”
There were five Honorable Mentions named: “Turn the Page” by KrystalCarter, (Las Vegas, NV), “Not Forgotten” by Mark Dolf, (Tulsa, OK), “SalsaFeet” by Robert D. Little, Stillwater, OK), “Best Friends Forever” by LeyaJanine, (Wichita KS). and ”A Love Without Words” by Mika Milburn,(Fulton, KS).
First, Second, and Third place winners received cash prizes of $200, $75, and $50 respectively.
This photo contest was inspired by a quote from Gordon Parks, “I feel it is the heart, not the eye, that should determine the content of the photograph. What the eye sees is its own. What the heart can perceive is a very different matter. Photographers were invited to capture the essence of the theme.
Judges for the photo contest was professional photographer, Veretta Cobler and, established creative director designer, Donna Fumoso.
The photo exhibitwill be on display on the Gordon Parks Museum facebook page facebook.com/fsccgpmuseum/ and the museum’s website
gordonparkscenter.org.
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Date: September 29, 2025, 5:30 PM Location: Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
I. Call Meeting to Order
II. Roll Call
This report provides the detailed breakdown of the accounts payable to be approved on the consent agenda.
For more information, please see the Fort Scott High School Thespians Facebook page or contact Angie Bin at [email protected] or 620-719-9622.
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The sophomore sat in my class, day one, and shared that when she tried out for middle school track, a teammate told her that she was fat. Another spoke about how classmates treated her after social services visited her home, and the claim of negligence spread throughout the community. Both girls were judged for falling short. But short of what?
We understand their pain, but what about the ones who had offended them? Aren’t we all guilty? Oh, maybe we don’t say it out loud, but we sure say it to ourselves. We fail to understand that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night might be a single mother who was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and run back to her night job. We forget that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested man who cannot make change correctly is a stressed, 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. As for that weird-looking bum? The one begging for money in the same spot every day (I mean, seriously! Why doesn’t he have a job? Everyone is looking for employees.). Do we stop to consider that he might be a slave to heroin, an addiction we can imagine only in our worst nightmares?
We roll our eyes at the old couple walking slowly through the store aisles, blocking our hurried-shopping progress, and we fail to recognize that maybe, just maybe, they are savoring this moment because, based on the biopsy report she received last week, this will be the last year they go shopping together. We stare at the obese, secretly wondering why they don’t walk instead of using the store’s mobile device, not even considering that perhaps they eat for emotional comfort due to the abuse they received as children.
The point is, it doesn’t matter what makes people different from us; what matters is that we arrogantly dare to look at them differently than God looks at them. Only if we never have judged someone can we claim innocence.
The other evening, Dave and I were with another couple, and we were talking about difficult people. The husband (“Ron”) shared a story about delivering a package to a company in which a sourpuss woman worked. Sure enough, Ron showed up near closing time and got an earful from the employee who was ticked that she had to process the package.
Instead of responding in an equally hateful manner, the next morning, Ron picked up a special coffee drink he found out the woman liked and surprised her with it. He said that he assumed she had had a bad day and might enjoy a pick-me-up. Every time he saw her after that, she greeted him with a smile and a hug.
Ron could easily have judged her attitude. After all, she had judged him, and he was just doing his job and didn’t deserve to be treated so hatefully. She had no right to unload on him when he had done nothing except what his job required. He chose not to pay back. He chose not to judge.
Deciding to give someone the benefit of the doubt is the way Jesus would have us handle this situation. Every situation. 1 Peter 3:8 is a verse we all should remember: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
Not a bad place to start.
BOURBON COUNTY,
KANSAS
Bourbon County Special Meeting Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
August 29, 2025, 4:00 PM
I. Call Meeting to Order
• Roll Call
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Prayer
II. Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect
their privacy
III. Budget Discussion-Publication date will be September 3rd for a Budget Hearing Date on 9/15/25
IV. Adjournment
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS – FORM OF MOTION
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency which would be deemed
privileged in the attorney-client relationship
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in
consultation with the representatives of the body or agency
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations,
partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of acquisition of real estate
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at
an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures
The subject to be discussed during executive session: ________________________________________
State persons to attend
Open session will resume at _____ A.M./P.M. in the commission chambers.
Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
Squirrel Dynasty
My rambunctious squirrels provide early-morning entertainment for me. They appear to work hard and play hard all at the same time. Many years ago, our friend Hildred gave us two little pecan trees that my late-husband Jimmy planted. The trees have been bearing nuts for several years but I’ve yet to pick or eat one. That’s because the squirrels are busy little critters and beat me to the pecans every year. I had great fun watching a Momma bird beat the tar out of two squirrels because they were getting too close to her babies’ nest. After their sound beating, they were smart enough to run away and play somewhere else.
We can learn from the bird that it’s the parents’ responsibility to protect and bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (ref. Ephesians 6:4). The observation of nature can be a practical teacher if we will only pause and pay attention. In the Book of Proverbs we find both the nature and the spiritual fused together as a relevant learning tool. This Book of Wisdom speaks about the ant, rock badger, locust, lizard, spider, eagle, snake, lion, rooster, etc. Like a rock badger, believers can hide in the Lord as our solid Rock when storms hit us. Just as locusts are part of a swarm, believers are part of a team (the family of God). We can receive great insight and spiritual lessons from the simple things right in front of our eyes.
Humans have a natural tendency to be foolish. But for those who fear (revere) the Lord, wisdom is available to those who sincerely seek it from God. “My child, will you treasure My wisdom? Then, and only then, will you acquire it. And only if you accept My advice and hide it within will you succeed. So train your heart to listen when I speak and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment — then pass it on to your sons and daughters” (Proverbs 2:1-2 TPT). Knowledge is found in books, but wisdom comes straight from God. “Wisdom is a gift from a generous God, and every word He speaks is full of revelation and becomes a fountain of understanding within you. For the Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom made accessible to His godly lovers“ (Proverbs 2:6-7 TPT). We need God’s wisdom everyday to guide our steps and direct our life.
God is good, thoughtful, and caring so He created the animal kingdom with instincts. You’ll never find a squirrel reading a book, yet he knows how to outsmart me by eating or burying every last stinkin’ pecan on my place. Yes siree Bob, I have an army of hard-working, fun-loving squirrels with ginormous energy. I researched and found that squirrels like to eat other things besides my pecans and black walnuts. They also enjoy stuffing themselves on vegetables, seeds, insects, fruits, fungi, eggs, plants, berries, cereal, worms, pumpkins, birdseed, cheese, flowers, mushrooms, beans, corn, spinach, celery, and bark. I knew they liked bark because they’ve been chewing on my park bench — even though they‘re surrounded by trees and live in them!
God created an awesome nature for us to enjoy and also learn from. We’re doing ourselves a great disservice when we fail to look for the lessons in nature that can be applied in a spiritual manner. Some have said, “I feel closer to God when I’m fishing.” And I say, “Be wise and do both — go to church and then fish if you want.”
The Key: Join God in His nature and see what you can apply to your spiritual life.
Last week, we looked at Samson, the man who began the work of deliverance for Israel from the Philistines but never saw its completion. His legacy would not be related to his leadership abilities but rather to his inability to recognize women who manipulated.
Most of us, thankfully, have not betrayed our spouses as Samson’s wives did. However, before we come down too hard on them, we must realize that too many married partners are master manipulators who use looks, threats, paybacks, pouts, tears, or anger if they don’t get their way. Many are so effective at pouting or verbal chastisement that the spouse tiptoes around them in an effort to avoid their partner’s wrath. Household, vacation, and child-rearing decisions are made simply to have “peace at all costs.”
Professional baseball gave me an opportunity to watch as big bucks passed hands to assuage the athletes’ guilt for the long road trips they endured. Diamonds got bigger. Furs got furrier. Purses and shoes got matchier. (You get the point).
Even if you, the reader, are not guilty of resorting to manipulative tactics, chances are you know people who are. Perhaps you will recognize a few of their behaviors in the following category of comparisons.
You have a tummy ache? I’ll have diverticulitis. After all, it’s all about me. Comparisons are typically directed at, and intended for, our spouse:
This has to be one of the easiest forms of manipulation. A few words here, a few words there, and shazam! Suddenly we’ve planted some incredible seeds by which our spouses should measure their performance. And even if we have convinced ourselves we do not intend to compare (probably a lie), even if we have not one critical bone in our body and sincerely mean to compliment (probably another lie), what good do those comments do?
Put the shoe on the other foot. Any time our spouses are foolish enough to single out someone of our gender and praise his/her looks or behavior, we probably are a wee bit offended. Rarely (if ever) would we celebrate with them the beauty or accomplishments of this other person. Can’t you hear it? “Oh, honey, I agree. Colleen has lost so much weight I hardly recognized her. I think I’ll just get a few dozen Krispy Kremes and celebrate her success!
I don’t think there is a person alive who has not compared him/herself to others at one point or another. She is prettier. He is stronger. She is smarter. He is more spiritual. Our nature is to see how we measure up. That is a problem. But it’s a bigger problem when we have a twinge of delight when we find that we have it a little better than they do. Sadly, there is no win in comparison.
When we look at Philippians 2:3 (“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves”), we are reminded of the need to be humble enough to acknowledge others’ strengths and be delighted God has gifted them with gifts we need to appreciate, not covet. Samson learned the hard way. Let us not be as foolish as he.
