Letter to the Editor: Nick Graham
Hurtling Towards The Cliff
We’re at a precarious crossroads here in Bourbon County, and if the public doesn’t start getting involved and speaking out, various internal battles that have been brewing behind the scenes for years threaten to boil over and turn our County into a permanent laughingstock. As such, despite thoroughly enjoying my vacation from local politics, I read an abbreviated version of the letter below during Public Comments at tonight’s County Commission meeting, fittingly right after a heated battle over who should control the landfill:
The last time I sat at this table was the first meeting of the new Commission, and that night I felt something I had not felt in a long time – hope. Hope that the toxicity that has plagued this County for years was over. Hope that, to be blunt, the dumpster fire our county had become was finally extinguished. I come before you tonight with a heavy heart, as it has become clear to me that that fire rages on, and that without fast intervention, the sickness that fuels that fire is going to turn this county into a place no one with any sense will want to serve, work for, or live in.
That sickness has a name, and that name is “grievance mentality”. Google defines grievance mentality as “a pattern of behavior where individuals persistently perceive themselves as unfairly treated, unjustly wronged, or as victims of external forces”.
Just over 20 years ago I first entered the world of local politics, and I watched up close as a man I worked with, a man who was a good and decent person, was eaten alive from the inside out by grievance mentality. With his grievance mentality came paranoia, an inflated sense of entitlement, and an insatiable desire to control EVERYTHING. By allowing this to fester, this man made not only himself miserable, but just about everyone around him.
20 years later, history is repeating in front of my eyes, only this time it’s not just one person I care about being consumed by this sickness, but many, and it’s not just affecting one city, but the entire county. I truly believe every controversy that has popped up since January in Bourbon County, from shock resignations to legal controversies to battles over who controls the landfill, can be traced back to grievance mentality.
A lot of people have questioned why Commissioner Kruger resigned so quickly. I don’t want to speak for him, but I will say this: I believe Leroy felt caught in the crossfire of the endless civil wars within this Courthouse, wars between the Clerk and IT offices and the Sheriff’s department, wars between factions within the Public Works Department, and I’m sure others I’m not even aware of. Basically, there are more offices fighting each other than not within our Courthouse walls, and it’s been that way for a long time. I believe Leroy felt like an island unto himself at this table, like he was the only one here who wasn’t trying to serve one side of these wars or the other, and I hate to say it, but I don’t think he was wrong. These things are easy to get sucked into for the uninitiated – grievance mentality also tends to breed manipulation. I would also like to note that I don’t operate on hearsay – as a courtesy, I sent Leroy this portion of my comments this past weekend, and he had no issue with me making them.
Prior to the Special Convention to replace Commissioner Kruger, I met with both Dillon Duffy and Mika Milburn to encourage them but also to warn them about the giant toxic mess they were walking into. I told them about the internal wars being waged, and that if they were chosen, they would likely end up feeling just as isolated as Leroy did, but that I believed help would arrive this coming January. To their credit, this didn’t deter either of them. Flash forward to this past Friday morning when I received an unexpected phone call from an audibly frustrated Commissioner Milburn. Her message was short and to the point: “Nick, you were right.”. That phone call ate at me all day, as it had the same tone and tenor as phone calls I used to receive from Commissioner Kruger. Guys, I hate doing this, I hate public speaking, and I hate that by speaking out, I will likely get several people I consider friends mad at me. But what I hate even more is that every time I encourage good people like Leroy, Dillon, and Mika to serve this County, it turns out that what I’m REALLY asking them to do is jump headfirst into a spirit crushing, toxic meat grinder. That has to stop, and stop now.
Now I don’t want to discount the fact that there were many very legitimate grievances made against each and every one of these warring departments by some of the previous occupants of this table, and I have no doubt those previous occupants enjoyed playing each side against the other. But those occupants are gone now, and just because a grievance is legitimate, that doesn’t mean it’s healthy to hold on to. It’s past time for everyone in this County to put the past in the past, put down their swords, their paranoia, their sense of entitlement, and their need to control, and bury the hatchet. If they don’t, grievance mentality will eat both them and this entire County alive from the inside out like a cancer.
In closing, I want to end on a hopeful note. I haven’t spoken to the man I mentioned earlier in 18 years, and quite honestly I’m not sure he would want to speak to me, but out of curiosity, I’ve followed his career in the time since. By letting go of grievance mentality and moving on from here, he thrived, having a lengthy tenure in Ottawa, and retiring just last year after a well received stint as the Interim City Manager of Topeka. He finished strong, and left a legacy to be proud of. I know many in our County government plan to retire from public service in the next few years, and I would encourage them to do the same – don’t let grievance mentality define your legacy here. Finish strong.
Nick Graham, Uniontown, KS
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May 22-23 Learn More About Ruritan at Uniontown and Bronson
Local service clubs provide many behind-the-scenes activities to enhance the quality of life for their communities.
Mark Warren, a past District Governor of Ruritan for the Middle America district and currently a member of the Uniontown Ruritan Club, said he enjoys the projects the Ruritan Club provides for the community.
“For me Ruritan is being involved in making money through fundraising projects and giving this money back to the community through financial assistance to the needy, improving the physical appearance of our community, honoring those who serve and have served this country in the military, and providing scholarship assistance to our youth to help accomplish their goals in life.
In the last few years, the club has helped bring the Girard Medical Center of Uniontown to the town, which has a population of around 300, with the collaboration of other entities. They have helped build the new public restrooms in the town’s downtown and provided scholarships to several high school students to further their education.
On May 22, the club is hosting a special informational recruiting event for area residents who may be interested in learning more about Ruritan, Warren said.
Rebecca Lane, the 2025 National Ruritan President, from the home office in Dublin, Virginia, will be in Kansas and Nebraska from May 20 to May 29, visiting clubs in these two states.
“The potluck style dinner event hosted by area Ruritan Clubs will be May 22 at 7 p.m. at the Uniontown Community Center, and on May 23 at the Chicken Shack, Bronson is hosting. Anyone in rural Bourbon County communities who would like to learn more about Ruritan is invited to attend,” Warren said. “Rebecca will be here to answer questions. We have clubs in Bronson, Redfield, and Uniontown. Residents of these communities are invited to join the clubs that night.”
Current Uniontown Ruritan Officers are President Mike Mason, Vice President Rick Allen, Secretary Raymond “Skeet” George, Treasurer Mary Pemberton, 3rd Year Director Henry Homan, 2nd Year Director Randy Rathbun, and 1st Year Director Joe George.
The Uniontown Ruritan meets at the Uniontown Methodist Church on the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m.
To learn more about the Bronson Ruritan, call Terry Johnston at 620-224-7566, and Redfield, call Skeet at 620-224-8051.
National Park Service Augmented Reality Pilot at Fort Scott
Time Travel at the Tap of a Finger
Fort Scott, Kan. – Travel back in time using just your phone, the NPS App, and the tap of a finger.
Beginning Friday, May 23, 2025, Fort Scott National Historic Site is proud to pilot the first-ever augmented reality (AR) experience of digitally reconstructing historic structures in a national park through the NPS App.
At the heart of this immersive journey is the Quartermaster’s Complex—once the pulse of the fort. In partnership with GuideOne Mobile, the park has brought these vital support structures back to life through AR. Explore the quadrangle as it existed nearly two centuries ago. Hear the sounds of daily operations and uncover the often-overlooked stories of the people and processes that kept the fort running. Each virtual building reveals a new layer of history and purpose.
This is the first in a series of AR experiences planned at the national park.
Discover Fort Scott Like Never Before—Through the power of technology and the NPS App! The official NPS App, available for iOS and Android, offers an immersive way to experience the park—whether you’re on-site, exploring from home, or almost anywhere around the world.
Get Started:
Download the NPS App from the App Store or Google Play. Visit the park’s mobile app page for links and more info: www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/photosmultimedia/mobileapp.htm. Open the app and tap the Fort Scott Quartermaster Complex image to begin your journey.
On-Site Visitors: Start your exploration at the Quartermaster Complex display panel to see the buildings in their original locations.
Exploring from Afar? Select “Place Manually” in the app to begin a virtual visit of Fort Scott.
Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are currently open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
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Credit Photo as: NPS Photo, Augmented Reality view of the Quartermaster Complex.
Study will guide long-term success for Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital
Feasibility Study Initiated
Joplin, MO. – Freeman Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Fry has initiated a comprehensive feasibility study to help strategically guide both development and long-term success of the proposed Southeast Kansas Hospital on the 55-acre Frontenac site.
The study will delve into all critical aspects of the $168 million hospital, including market dynamics of the region, consumer demand, construction cost validation, and operational sustainability.
According to Fry – who has been assessing and strategically coordinating efforts since joining Freeman two months ago – conducting this study “will best determine how to move forward in service to Southeast Kansas residents.”
A feasibility study is a standard and detailed analysis conducted prior to significant construction investment, examining all critical facets of a proposed building project.
The construction project is currently in the initial phase which includes site development, utilities, and roadways. Engineers are completing the Phase 1 environmental assessment of the site in Frontenac and are now in the process of geotechnical investigations of the subterranean condition.
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson May 16
Kansas Supreme Court Justice Wilson has resigned. You will get to see how broken the current system is for selecting a replacement. It has been reported that 15 people have applied for the position. The names are public. The State Supreme Court Nominating Commission will interview applicants in June. The Commission is accepting written comments from the public. All of the information can be found at https://kscourts.gov/Newsroom/
The current system to select a new justice may sound good, but let’s take a closer look. There are 9 members on the Commission, two from each congressional district and one chairman. Four members, one from each district, are elected by members of the bar (lawyers) from that district. The other four members, who are not lawyers, are appointed to the Commission by the Governor. The chairman of the Commission is a statewide election by members of the bar. The Commission interviews justice applicants and presents three names to the Governor to select a replacement. Yes, the interviews are public, and the Commission is accepting comments from the public. However, the public has no say. But the good news is you will have a say as to changing the process with a Constitutional Amendment that will be on the ballot August 4, 2026, allowing the option to elect justices. Some say that electing justices makes it political. Isn’t the Commission selection process political? From 1861 to 1958, Kansas elected State Supreme Court Justices. It was changed after Governor Hall resigned in January of 1957 and his Lt. Gov, who become Governor, appointed Hall to the Kansas Supreme Court. Hall had lost a primary challenge, and before the end of his term, the maneuver was executed. Talk about political. After that happened the process with lawyers and a governor in control was put in place. The powers that be in the late 1950’s felt that Kansas voters were not smart enough to select their supreme court justices. This process has failed Kansans. You may have heard, the U.S. Supreme Court has allegedly overturned more Kansas Supreme Court rulings than any other state per capita.
Wind and Solar inverters and batteries have “mysterious, undocumented communication devices in some Chinese-made” equipment. It’s been reported the devices could be remotely accessed, bypassing firewalls. “The devices were designed to connect solar panel arrays and windmills to power grids.” The devices can do more than “spy on the U.S. power grid… [it] could allow an attacker to shut down power grids”. To protect the people of Kansas the legislature passed language that bans government purchases of drones and drone technology from foreign adversaries. There are also restrictions of land purchases and oversight of foreign land ownership by requiring registration. The language didn’t go far enough, but I am hopeful that people will realize the threats to our nation, and we can strengthen Kansas laws for our safety.
Legislative Post Audit presented a report last week on the selection process the Department of Commerce used to distribute Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-19 grant money. The report states, “The Department of Commerce evaluated BASE 1.0 grant program applicants using a standardized scoring rubric, but it didn’t consistently follow its process or document the Secretary’s final award decisions.” The report is disturbing, and it is not the first report to point to problems with the Department and how they are distributing funds. Another report (audit results) of a BASE 1.0 grant of $3 million was awarded to a Johnson County Company, SOFTwarfare, who was suposed to open a facility in Barton County. The Department issued grant money even though the company’s “matching fund expenses also differed from the specifics of the award agreement”. The Department and the business denied the report, but the two reports do not bode well.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
FSCC Kick-off of Senior-versity is June 12: Bourbon County Mural Trolley Tour
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K-65 to close for pipe replacement on Thursday, May 22
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close K-65 in Bourbon County to replace a crossroad pipe on Thursday, May 22, weather permitting.
K-65 will be closed between the junctions of K-3 and K-31 for the entire day, reopening in the evening. Drivers should use other routes during the closure.
People with questions may contact KDOT Superintendent Jeff Marks, 620-901-6550, or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen, 620-902-6433.
CHAMBER NOW TAKING ENTRIES FOR GOOD OL’ DAYS PARADE
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces they are now accepting entries for the 2025 Good Ol’ Days Parade, which will kick off the 44th Annual Good Ol’ Days Festival in Fort Scott on Friday, June 6th at 6 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “44 years of crafting memories”.
Entering the parade is free, with Wednesday, June 4th at 1pm being the deadline for entries. We are so excited to announce that Ken Clary has been selected as this year’s Grand Marshal. Registration forms can be filled out online at fortscott.com under the “Events” tab, or a registration form may be picked up at the Chamber at 231 East Wall Street. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to get co-workers, family, or friends together and enter a float, foot unit, golf cart, tractor, antique or classic car or truck or horse entry to make this the biggest Good Ol’ Days parade ever! Cash prizes will be handed out to 1st place winners in each category.
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.
Bo Co Republicans Meet May 22
Bourbon County Republican Meeting, Thursday, May 22, 2025, 7pm, Bailey Hall, FSCC Campus, Ft Scott, KS
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 19
U.S. Congressman Derek Schmidt Newsletter
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