Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt, Chairman
1st District Commissioner
David Beerbower, Vice-Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Mika Milburn-Kee
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room 210 S National Ave.
May 12, 2025, 5:30 PM
I. Call Meeting to Order
a. Roll Call
b. Pledge of Allegiance
c. Prayer
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes from 05.05.25
IV. Consent Agenda
a. Approval of 05.09.25 Accounts Payable Totaling $58,537.22
b. Tax Roll Corrections
V. Old Business
a. Policy & Procedures
i. Workers Compensation – Beerbower
ii. Letterhead
iii. Dump Fees for Employees – Milburn
b. Separation of Public Works and Landfill Departments – Beerbower
VI. Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
VII. New Business
a. Ealyn Taylor – Animal Control
b. Commissioner Comments
VIII. Adjournment
Future business that has been tabled in past meetings or planned for future meetings:
Public Hearing 05.19.25 5:35PM Vacation of Road
SEK Mental Health Budget
Juvenile Detention Budget
Office Restructuring Cost
Handbook: Personal Improvement Plan, Corrective Action Plan, Formal Written Notice,
Deviation Policy
Mission Statement (June 2nd)
Job Descriptions
Handbook Updated
Economic Development Direction
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.
Personal Property Change Refund Tax Year Trucks Change Refund Tax Year
2307 245th Street, Fulton (32.54)$ 32.54$ 2023
2307 245th Street, Fulton (26.04)$ -$ 2024
901 S Margrave (69.26)$ -$ 2024
(127.84)$ 32.54$
Tax Roll Corrections for Personal Property, Special Assessments, and Trucks
05.12.25
To view the entire packet, which couldn’t be copy and pasted:
The Kansas Department of Transportation closed K-7 today to through traffic from U.S. 69 south to K-47 at Girard. Local traffic can still access the highway.
The K-7 closure was made to address safety concerns at the intersection of K-39 and K-7, which is undergoing reconstruction. Traffic is following a signed state detour on U.S. 69, K-47, K-3 and U.S. 54.
The intersection reconstruction is the first phase of tied K-7 pavement rehabilitation and widening projects in Bourbon and Crawford counties. KDOT awarded the K-7 construction contracts totaling $20.4 million to APAC-Kansas Inc., Shears Division, Hutchinson.
Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.kandrive.gov, for more highway conditions and construction details. People with questions may contact Construction Manager Warren Ebberts at (620) 901-6549 or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the opening of Producers Cooperative Association, Thursday, May 8th at 8am. The coffee will be held at PCA located at 2187 Hackberry Rd, southwest of the LaRoche Baseball Complex. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
For over 75 years, Producers Cooperative Association has been a full-service agricultural cooperative, serving Southeast Kansas and Southwest Missouri. They work hard to ensure their member-owners’ operations are positioned for optimum success. No matter how large or small, PCA takes pride in supporting the families they call neighbors and owners. From grain marketing to livestock feeds, and fertilizer to bulk fuels and lubricants, PCA has you covered. Visit any of their six locations in Girard, Fort Scott, Liberal and Moundville!
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Cindi Lipe has given 50 years of her wonderful caring and dedication to the residents in Fort Scott since 1976, here in this building, when it was originally a nursing home.
What better time to celebrate her than during Nurses Week!
Please stop by Guest Home Estates on Friday, May 9th, 1 pm-4 pm to say hello to Cindi!
Guest Home Estates is located at 737 Heylman, Fort Scott.
Several weeks ago, there was a reasonably cordial exchange between David Foster, who opposes zoning, and Mika Milburn, who supports it. County Commissioner Mika made a very good point about zoning that is worth considering:
I understand your fear, but I have fear as well that bourbon county will some day be primarily owned by out of state or even out of county people that do not care nor respect our county and the people that call it home, so many counties in Kansas are zoned and it did not kill them! Although I disagree with you that this will kill our county David I certainly respect your opinion and agree with you on many other things.
At a high level, I believe Mika is saying that there is a way to do zoning that is good for the long-term interests of Bourbon County. This is a perfectly reasonable position, and I completely agree with her. Zoning done perfectly and administered perfectly could potentially have some benefits for the county over not being zoned.
However, we shouldn’t be comparing a utopian execution of zoning with no-zoning. We should be comparing the zoning we will actually get with the lack of county zoning we have today. What makes it difficult is that it is hard to predict exactly what we will get, and it is impossible to say how it will actually be used by current and future commissioners. So, while Mika may be optimistic about her goals for zoning from the commission she sits on, residents should be weighing the risks and rewards of zoning under both the current and future commissioners. It is less of a question of whether good things could come from the decisions made by the best commissioners and more a question of the harm that might result under the worst commissioners in the future. People will evaluate these risks in different ways and will likely come to different conclusions.
So that is thinking about the way zoning might be administered in the future, but what about the way it is enacted today? In other words, what type of zoning are we likely to actually get? Well, let’s look at the current zoning advisory board. This board consists of Brian Wade, Christine Farbo, Brian Ashworth II, James L. Banworth Jr., Mary Pemberton, Jason Yaunt, Amanda Spicer, Pete Owensby, and Mike Houston. They are meeting in the commission room at the courthouse on Thursdays at 5 p.m. starting April 17th and running for 5 weeks. Hop on over to the county’s YouTube channel where all the county meetings are streamed and archived, to see how the process is going. What’s that? You say you can’t find any of the meetings? Are you sure you looked hard enough? Does that seem strange?
Even though the advisory board meetings under previous commissioners were streamed, the current commissioners have inexplicably broken with this tradition and made the peculiar decision to leave the streaming turned off for these meetings. It isn’t just past commissions that make these types of meetings accessible to the public. A similar advisory board at the city streams their meetings in order to maintain transparency. The commissioners have also decided to forgo taking minutes at the meetings, so there is no official record of what is discussed.
Multiple requests by citizens asking the commissioners to stream these meetings have been denied. In a recent poll, every participating voter except one asked that the meetings be streamed. The sole exception was a vote by Commissioner Beerbower, who voted that the meetings should not be streamed.
Since the evidence suggests that the commissioners think their goals are better served by making these advisory meetings less transparent to the broad population than what has been done in the past, how likely is it that those goals are in the best interest of the broad population of Bourbon County?
That isn’t a rhetorical question. Apparently, Mika feels confident that this process will produce zoning that will be used in a way that will be better than no zoning in the county. This isn’t an unreasonable position, and I’m sure she is not alone. Others may see the downsides of zoning outweighing any potential benefits. The important thing is to look at the process, ask yourself the above question, and then let your commissioner know what you think.
Mark Shead
Additional note: After the meeting ended on Wednesday, Brian Wade indicated that he was unhappy with this piece because it wasn’t the truth. He was walking out the door, so I may not have caught everything, but it seemed he felt that the decision to not make the meetings available in the way that past commissioners have done with past advisory commission meetings was made by the advisory committee, not the commissioners. I would suggest that, since the advisory committee is appointed and directed by the commissioners, the decision is ultimately that of the commissioners, and if the commissioners wanted to make sure the meeting was conducted with the same level of transparency as similar meetings, they could have done so. However, it is worth noting that Mr. Wade felt the committee had the option to make the meetings accessible but chose not to. He mentioned several times that he didn’t want people to be able to see the meetings unless they came in person.
The Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging has received disappointing news that the Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program will not begin at its typical time.
Older Kansans anticipate the KSFMNP. It typically begins on June 1st, and individuals 60 and older who meet income guidelines receive ten $5 vouchers to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey at farmers markets.
“We already have people that are calling to see when they can pick up the vouchers,” said Kathy Brennon, Executive Director of Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging. “It is a great opportunity for older Kansans to eat healthy as well as promoting our local farmers markets. There is no confirmed start date, but any delay could be detrimental because the participants might miss out of the peak growing times. The number of vouchers we have to distribute has been cut in half of what we received in previous years. We were not told why the number of vouchers was reduced.”
SEKAAA is the assigned Distribution Agency for Bourbon, Neosho, Labette, Crawford, and Allen counties.
County Commissioners began discussions to restructure those departments within the county that the commission is over. They also ordered a safety study for the Elm Creek Lake Dam.
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Old Business
Policy and procedures
Commissioner Mika Milburn talked about the need for an interim reference addendum to the county’s 2002 policy book as the commission revisits and revises it. She suggested assigning reference numbers to the forms and procedures as they make or revise them for easy reference during revision and in the final product.
County Clerk Susan Walker has started adding reference numbers to forms as they are being amended. She has also requested an administrative procedure book separate from the original policy and procedure book. Commissioner David Beerbower agreed.
Per the commission’s decision in the April 28 meeting, the road closure request form now has relevant statutes on the back, instructions for accurately filling out the form, and includes the proviso that those applying for road closures pay the county’s administrative costs to close the road.
An audience member expressed that requiring a citizen to pay for administrative costs of road closures seemed unfair in light of the taxes paid by citizens for the maintenance of that road.
The commission approved Resolution 1625 to update the road closure form and costs.
Resolution for waiving landfill fees for cities of fewer than 400
Beerbower expressed concern that the reduction in landfill fees will reduce income for the Public Works Department. However, he’s okay with giving the break to cities that do the demolition themselves.
“I’d rather all of the garbage be in one spot than all over the county, personally,” said Milburn. She sees this an opportunity to help build and grow in the county.
Public Works Director Eric Bailey said there’s been inconsistent charges to municipalities for construction and demolition waste in the past. He recommended charging for C&D because of the work it requires.
Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt moved to approve the resolution. Milburn and Whisenhunt voted “yes,” Beerbower voted “no.”
Set public hearing for vacation of road for May 19, 2025 at 5:35pm
The road for the hearing is the alley in between lots 3 and 4 of sub of lot one block eight in Hyattville.
Budget Work Session Update
Milburn wanted to put out a reminder that the commission has requested each department’s detailed budget be submitted to the commission by June 1, 2025.
Work Comp Procedures and Benefits
Beerbower spoke of changes he is proposing to the way the county handles Workman’s Comp. He said the purpose of Workman’s Comp is to protect employees from financial hardship due to injury on the job. With added medical expenses costs amount to more than the 66.67% that comp provides to an employee. In light of the impact on the employee’s inability to work and possible need for care causing their spouse to be unable to work, Beerbower believes there should be changes.
His suggested changes state that any employee injured on the job will be placed on administrative leave until their status is determined, with pay. If placed on workman’s comp, they will remain on administrative leave with 50% pay and remain in that status until released from workman’s comp.
County Counselor Bob Johnson cautioned that it would be wise to run this change by the county’s insurance provider to be sure that if the county has a policy to continue to pay an employee it won’t affect their workman’s comp benefits.
The commission chose to table it until the May 12 meeting to gather more information.
Human Resources
Bob Johnson, county counsel, said most counties don’t have human resources, but it runs through the clerk’s office and then goes to the county counsel if needed. Regarding grievances, he said he would be glad to assist. He also referred to the handbook as the main source of information and guidance.
He offered to talk to Susan’s office to help them make a plan for how to handle employee grievances and infractions in the future.
Milburn expressed concern about a conflict of interest in using the clerk’s office as the county’s HR resource. Johnson agreed, saying she was right and that he would be glad to help.
Hiring for a Floater Position
Milburn said the commission allocated $13,000 at the last meeting for a floater position to help in various offices and report directly to the commission. As it is the county’s policy to hire from within whenever appropriate and possible, she moved to hire Jennifer Hawkins for the position.
The commission approved the motion.
News Business
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Don George with KDWP spoke to the commissioner about the $40,000 grant from his department that the county received to help with the dam at Elm Creek.
George recommended that the commission renew its current grant, which has expired. The project has been ongoing since August of 2021, but it is much more extensive than a $40,000 project. The grant is a 25/75 split, committing the county to pay 75% of the costs of dam repairs. However, George said they could apply for a phase II grant of another $40,000.
Milburn expressed concern that the project would end up being much more extensive than currently projected.
Eric Bailey suggested they look at minutes from previous commission’s discussion to see if they made any decisions about it.
He also spoke to Frank Young from AG Engineering today, who strongly encouraged the commission to do a safety inspection on the dam to give them recommendations on all that they notice out there. The inspection will cost the county $3000 and has at least a 60 day wait.
Bailey strongly encouraged an inspection and George agreed. Bailey said they know of 3 areas where water is getting through and a valve that needs to be dealt with.
Whisenhunt said he is on a hunt for other money to help with the lake.
The dam was a WPA project and has historical value, said George.
Milburn asked who the county had that could go look for grants. But there’s not currently an economic development resource for the county.
The commission approved motions to extend the grant application and to hire Ag Engineering to do a safety inspection of the dam.
Hard Surface Roads and Bridge Repair Request
Eric Bailey, public works director, spoke to the commission about Uniontown Maple Road connecting a county road to a highway, which will be done later this year as the funds become available.
Yale Road is a priority for his department this year.
The commission approved the current hard surface plan and asked Bailey to come with to the commission with any changes.
Bridge
It’s time to apply for grants for bridges. This year’s bridge is on Jayhawk between 195th and 205th. “It really needs to be replaced,” said Bailey. It would be a project similar to the one at 60th and Grand.
The current estimated cost is $889,127, with the cost to the county being around $85,000. May 23 is the deadline to apply for the 90/10 grant, with the state paying 90 and the county paying the 10 percent.
In the past the county set aside money from a previous FEMA declaration to pay its portion of the bridge replacement costs. When Bailey took over, the county had about $300,000 set aside for that use. A good deal of that was used up with the flood of 2024, but they are expecting a reimbursement from FEMA.
The commission moved that Bailey apply for the grant.
Elm Creek Shelter House #2 has the roof off for replacement, and two large trees near it had to be taken down.
The commission approved the culvert requests.
Adopt a Countywide Letterhead
Milburn suggested that the commissioners bring examples of letterheads for them to choose from.
“Things are changing so we need to change our logo,” said Whisenhunt. He suggested having a school competition at the start of the 2025-26 school year for students to design a new logo for the county.
Dump Fees for Employees
Milburn moved to end the perk of no dump fees for county employees because of complaints she had received from more than one person.
Beerbower wants to deal with the inconsistency issues but keep the benefit for county employees.
Whisenhunt said that if they are going to run it as a benefit, they should figure out what it’s costing the county.
The motion failed for lack of a second, and the issue was tabled for discussion at the next commission meeting.
Bourbon County Mission Statement
Milburn said, “I think we need a mission statement.” Beerbower agreed, and the commissioners agreed to bring it back up on June 2.
Commissioner Comments
Beerbower announced that due to surgery, he will be unavailable after the 13th for a couple of weeks and needs a commissioner to attend the zoning committee meeting on May 14th.
Beerbower then spoke of the changes the commission has been working on, particularly in how the county does its work. He said he believes it’s time to start restructuring some of the departments that the commission oversees. He moved to separate the landfill from public works, using revenues generated by the landfill to offset their budget. The landfill is vital to the community, he said, “I believe they will benefit more from having their own supervision and answering directly to the commission.”
Milburn said she thought separating that would cause additional cost to the county in the form of hiring a director.
Beerbower said that he had reservations about the seperation when it was first proposed, but now believes it’s the right move.
Milburn suggested that they let Johnson help with the personnel issues and wait until they get to the budget talks to do anything further. She wants to see all the restructuring as a whole rather than starting on it piecemeal.
Whisenhunt believes restructuring is also in order, but the problem is that they have a building they need to pay for. The need to crunch the numbers is the only reason Whisenhunt didn’t second it so the motion died.
Milburn then moved to table the discussion and to look at the restructuring as a whole.
The motion carried.
Milburn thanked the cooperating agencies that have kept on through the years advocating for the community, particularly George with KDWP. She also thanked Johnson for offering to help with the HR issues and Greg Motley for his help with the budget meetings.
“I am committed to improving and becoming more proficient,” she said.
“I want to thank you [Milburn] for jumping right in and taking the bull by the horns,” said Whisenhunt. He also thanked the citizens who speak up and tell the commission what they think.
Laura, the register of deeds, is fighting pneumonia. Whisenhunt asked that we please pray for her. She is a vital part of the county.
John Ted Miles passed away suddenly on May 1, 2025, at the Guest Home Estates Assisted Living Facility in Ft. Scott, Kansas. He lived at 9 N. Hillside Drive, Holiday Lakes, before his battle with diabetes caused blindness and a lower leg amputation.
He was born to Alvin Ted Miles and Alice Virginia Ruby Miles on January 29, 1960, Kansas Day, at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott, Kansas. John was a small infant, but he grew to resemble a lumberjack. John said he looked like a mountain man, and he ate like a caveman.
His appearance, according to his longtime nurse, Tereasa Hall, caused him to be misunderstood by many. He sounded like a grizzly bear, but he was more like a teddy bear. He was so tender-hearted. He didn’t endorse sticky traps for mice because he said it was “too cruel”.
John attended Fort Scott High School and Clarksburg Valley Chapel. Pastor Randy Query shared Christ many times with him and believes he reached John. Recently, John was asked if he trusted Jesus and he shouted loud and clear, “I trust You, Jesus”.
Last June, when John went into cardiac arrest and our local EMS brought him back after four minutes, what a capable and caring ambulance crew. Since then, there have been many other close calls, but it wasn’t John’s time.
He was a simple man with simple pleasures like Lucci’s ribs or fried catfish, real mashed potatoes and white gravy, and salad with lots of crackers. He had false teeth, but didn’t like wearing them. Crackers helped him chew up lettuce with Ott’s dressing, no tomatoes. John loved oatmeal cookies, especially the ones made by Faith Wells. Faith befriended John when visiting Guest Home Estates.
He loved hotrods. He owned a few, a blue 1964 Chevrolet Impala two door hardtop he bought from his cousin, Joe Johnson and pimped it out, a white 1965 Chevrolet SS Impala that belonged to his stepfather, Kenny Johnson, a white with a black vinyl top 1972 Chevelle Malibu, most people remember his “rainbow truck” 1972 Chevrolet pickup, painted like Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR. His last was a red 2002 Z71 Chevrolet. He cherished each of his vehicles and took great care of them.
John was a hard worker. His first job was hauling hay for his stepfather. He was meticulous at whatever he did because he was taught a job worth doing is worth doing well. He took a lot of pride in hard work and loved the “bucks” that came from it. Times changed with technology and John’s declining health; he became a jack of all trades. Anything John saw done he mastered. Firewood was meticulously stacked twice, once in the truck and again in the customer’s yard. He built fence, harvested walnuts, scrapped metals and whatever he could do to make the bucks.
His life spiraled after a tree-cutting accident when a limb fell straight down and broke his neck in two places. He developed a blood clot that caused a stroke, and tube feeding was required; however, John loved to eat. He was determined and fully recovered and ate as he pleased.
John’s work spoke for itself.
He loved setting limblines on the Little Osage River. This fall, at his request, his ashes will be released there on October 11, 2025, at 2:00 P.M.
One of John’s favorites was “roll-your-owns” and this is one of the factors that caused his lung problems.
The day before he died, he called his cousin Ruby to take him into town. First, he got a haircut and his beard trimmed. They went to the bank and got the bucks and went to Lucci’s and ate a great lunch and then it was 4:20 somewhere. That was John.
He lived life on his terms. It was his time.
John’s greatest love was for his mother, and he has mourned her for forty-nine years. He’s been on his own since the age of sixteen and slept most of the time in her car, the ’65 Chevy Impala mentioned before. Now they are together again, beholding the face of Jesus.
John is survived by his stepfather, Kenneth B. Johnson, one sister “the bossy one” Dollie Shadden and her husband, Harry “Sid”, who has patience to no end, of Fulton, Kansas, a cousin who has been like a sister, “the fun one”, Ruby Johnson Kline of Ft. Scott, nephews and nieces, Isaiah, Seth, Harley, Olivia and Brian and also many friends and family members.
John would say “thank ye” to everyone, Verena, everyone at Guest Home Estates, Dr. Self and his nurses who cared about and for John.
Like the river where we will release John’s ashes, people flow through our lives, and we hold on to the memories and lessons learned. God is good and we thank him for our Beloved John.
A quote from A River Runs Through It: “Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question, ‘We are willing to help Lord, but what if anything is needed?’ for it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don’t know what part of ourselves to give or more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is, those we live with and should know elude us, but we can still love them, we can completely love without complete understanding. He was beautiful.”
John will lie in state at the Cheney Witt Chapel from 8 – 5 P.M. Tuesday through Friday. Memorials are suggested to the Guest Home Estates activity fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be made to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Department of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2025 To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards. The increasingly popular annual award program recognizes companies and individuals around the state for the positive impact they make on the Kansas economy and their communities.
During the event, Commerce also will announce the prestigious Governor’s Award of Excellence, the 2025 Governor’s Exporter of the Year, and the two newest inductees of the Kansas Business Hall of Fame.
This year’s To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards ceremony will be held this fall, bringing together leaders, innovators and supporters from across the state to celebrate business excellence. The awards also underscore Kansas’ commitment to celebrating and supporting businesses at every stage of growth. The day and location of the event will be announced soon.
“Each year, our To The Stars honorees exemplify the vision, passion and drive needed to excel in business and have a lasting impact,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “They go the extra mile for their customers and communities — and it’s an honor to recognize all they do for the Kansas economy. I encourage everyone to nominate their local stars for these distinguished awards.”
Companies, organizations and individuals can be nominated in the following award categories:
AgriBusiness – Companies that stand out in the agribusiness industry – including agricultural production, products and services, and agri-tourism
Apprenticeship Champion – Companies and other entities that excel providing registered apprenticeship programs in Kansas
Business Innovation – Companies from any sector incorporating innovative technologies in their business
Healthcare/Nonprofit – Noteworthy services provided by either healthcare facilities or nonprofit organizations
Main Street Momentum – Businesses revitalizing main streets or neighborhood commercial districts through growth or engagement
Manufacturing/Distribution – Outstanding achievement for companies of all sizes involved in manufacturing and distribution
Non-Traditional Talent Pools – Companies that have gone above and beyond to hire those with prior involvement in the justice system, youth, seniors or individuals with disabilities
Small Business Champion – Corporate Partner Award (state-level only) – Honors a corporation that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to small business growth in Kansas through investment and partnerships
Under 30 Entrepreneur – Young entrepreneurs under the age of 30 who are achieving business success
Welcome Back – Entrepreneurs and businesspeople who once left Kansas but have returned to make their mark in the Sunflower State
“During the past year, the surge of economic development successes driving the Kansas economy continued unabated,” Deputy Secretary of Business Development Joshua Jefferson said. “Kansas businesses both small and large are giving outsized contributions to their communities and the entire state. We look forward to highlighting the efforts these honorees make.”
Award nominations will be accepted until July 7. To learn more, view past winners, and to submit nominations, click here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
Our museum just got an upgrade!
We’re excited to unveil our new interactive digital wall showcasing powerful student artwork from the ARTEFFECT competition. This ever-growing gallery gives visitors a closer look at the inspiring stories and creative projects shared by students nationwide. The display has quickly become a favorite among guests, offering a dynamic and engaging way to experience the creativity, research, and impact behind these exceptional student projects.
Come see it for yourself!
Anne Frank Exhibit Coming to Fort Scott This June
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is honored to announce the arrival of a powerful international traveling exhibit, Anne Frank: A History for Today, coming to Fort Scott this June.
This impactful exhibit, presented in partnership with the Anne Frank Center—official partner of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam for the United States and Canada—offers visitors a rare and meaningful opportunity to learn more about Anne Frank, her family, and their courageous actions during one of history’s darkest periods.
Through historical photos, powerful stories, and visuals of the actual Anne Frank House, visitors will be immersed in the life of a young girl whose words and resilience have touched millions around the world.
The Center is especially proud to share that this exhibit was made possible through the efforts of Megan Helberg, a 2021 Lowell Milken Center Fellow and the current Program Coordinator for the Anne Frank Center. Her connection to both organizations helped bring this significant educational opportunity to Fort Scott.
“We are proud to be the featured location for this meaningful exhibit,” said Norm Conard, Executive Director of the Lowell Milken Center. “Anne Frank’s story remains as relevant today as ever—reminding us of the dangers of prejudice and the strength of hope.”
The exhibit will be displayed from June 2nd through June 26th at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at 1 South Main Street in Fort Scott. The museum is open Monday through Friday from10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Center is closed on Sundays. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
For more information, visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org or follow the Lowell Milken Center on social media.
2025 Discovery Award – Deadline: July 1, 2025
The 2025 Discovery Award competition is now open to students in grades 4–12! This unique opportunity invites students to research and celebrate Unsung Heroes who have made a lasting impact on history.
Through Project-Based Learning, students build essential skills in research, critical thinking, and creativity while creating original documentaries, websites, or performances. Entries may be submitted individually or in teams of up to five students. Cash prizes are awarded to both students and teachers!
This competition is more than a contest—it’s a chance to inspire change and bring untold stories to life.
We were honored to welcome 2015 LMC Fellow and 2005 Milken Educator Shelley Self, along with her talented art students from Coweta High School in Oklahoma. Among the group was Alyssa Knapper, whose powerful artwork Jar of the Known Truth, honoring Unsung Hero Irena Sendler, earned a 2024 Certificate of Excellence in the ARTEFFECT Competition.
We also commend the three additional Coweta students who have submitted entries for this year’s competition. We can’t wait to see their creative work!
Thank you, Shelley, for your ongoing commitment to honoring Unsung Heroes and empowering students through the arts and storytelling.
LMC Hosts Kickoff Event for Kansas LEADs Conference
On April 25, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes was proud to serve as the kickoff venue for the Kansas LEADs (Linking Educators Across Districts) conference, held in Pittsburg, Kansas. We welcomed educators from across the state and shared how LMC supports teachers and students worldwide through Project-Based Learning and Unsung Hero projects.
Special thanks to LMC Fellows Dyane Smokorowski (’14), Carly Bowden (’21), and Jennifer Farr (’23) for organizing this powerful conference and leading impactful breakout sessions. We’re honored to be part of a community that is passionate about empowering educators and inspiring change.
Gratitude from Gracious Visitors
We were touched to receive this thoughtful note from Collyn and Phyllis following their recent visit to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Their kind words and desire to support our mission mean the world to us.
Visitors like this remind us that the impact of Unsung Hero stories extends far beyond the classroom. Thank you for spending time with us, for your encouragement, and for believing in the power of education to spark change.
Welcoming the 2025 LMC Fellows to Fort Scott
Beginning June 16, we are excited to welcome the 2025 class of LMC Fellows to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. These outstanding educators, recognized nationally and internationally for their excellence in teaching, represent both the United States and Canada.
The LMC Fellowship offers a week of immersive professional development focused on Project-Based Learning and the power of Unsung Hero stories to transform classrooms and communities. We’re honored to work alongside these dedicated changemakers and look forward to introducing them to you.
Stay tuned—we’ll share more about each of our 2025 Fellows in our next newsletter!
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week
This week—and every week—we honor the incredible educators who inspire, uplift, and empower students every day. At the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, we’re proud to work alongside teachers who bring Unsung Hero stories to life in classrooms around the world.
Thank you for your dedication, creativity, and unwavering belief in your students. Your impact reaches far beyond the walls of your classroom.
Book Your Group Tours NOW for Spring & Summer!
There’s still time to schedule your group’s visit to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes! Whether you’re part of a school group, senior citizen group, community organization, book club, or just a group of friends, we welcome you to dive into the inspiring stories of history’s Unsung Heroes.
Visitors are raving:
“Truly inspiring—an experience that will change you.”
“A powerful reminder that one person can change the world.”
“Our students left ready to make a difference.”
Tours are tailored to your group’s interests and ages, offering an engaging, thought-provoking experience. Don’t miss the chance to explore the lives of remarkable individuals who made a difference in history.
FORT SCOTT, KS – The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is honored to announce the arrival of a powerful international traveling exhibit, Anne Frank: A History for Today, coming to Fort Scott this June.
This impactful exhibit, presented in partnership with the Anne Frank Center—official partner of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam for the United States and Canada—offers visitors a rare and meaningful opportunity to learn more about Anne Frank, her family, and their courageous actions during one of history’s darkest periods.
Through historical photos, powerful stories, and visuals of the actual Anne Frank House, visitors will be immersed in the life of a young girl whose words and resilience have touched millions around the world.
The Center is especially proud to share that this exhibit was made possible through the efforts of Megan Helberg, a 2021 Lowell Milken Center Fellow and the current Program Coordinator for the Anne Frank Center. Her connection to both organizations helped bring this significant educational opportunity to Fort Scott.
“We are proud to be the featured location for this meaningful exhibit,” said Norm Conard, Executive Director of the Lowell Milken Center. “Anne Frank’s story remains as relevant today as ever—reminding us of the dangers of prejudice and the strength of hope.”
The exhibit will be displayed from June 2nd through June 26th at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at 1 South Main Street in Fort Scott. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Center is closed on Sundays. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
For more information, visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org or follow the Lowell Milken Center on social media.
