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Obituary of William Homer “Bill” Douglas
William Homer “Bill” Douglas Jr., 88, passed away on January 8, 2026, in Overland Park, Kansas. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and good friend to many, Bill lived a full and vibrant life.
Bill was born on December 14, 1937, in Rich Hill, MO, to William and Edith Douglas. Bill graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1955 before embarking on a career that spanned several decades. He began his professional journey with the Bank of Warsaw in Warsaw, MO. After moving to Fort Scott, KS in 1962, he began a job at Security State Bank followed by an 11-year tenure with the Western Insurance Companies. He later joined Citizens National Bank and served as a vice president and loan officer for 25 years until he retired in 1999. Alongside his civilian career, Bill served in the Army National Guard followed by the Army Reserves.
In 1960, Bill married Donna Carolyn (Goodenough), with whom he shared 65 years of love and companionship. Together they built a life filled with adventure and shared experiences. In their younger years, they enjoyed camping trips with their daughters to a range of locations, from Farlington Lake to Yellowstone to Florida. He and Donna later traveled to Hawaii, Alaska and every other state but North Dakota plus several European destinations and popular cruise locales. They wintered for nineteen years in Weslaco, TX, returning each year to reunite with their Texas friends and family. Of course, many trips were also made to Branson to sight-see, enjoy music, and take a few whirls on the dance floor to his favorite country song, “All My Exes Live in Texas.”
A man of faith, Bill was a founding member of Community Christian Church in Fort Scott, KS, where he served as both deacon and elder and often lent his voice to the church choir. He and Donna later attended Rinehart Christian Church in Richards, MO.
Known for his wit and fun-loving spirit, Bill had a gift for bringing laughter into any room. Whether at work or among friends, he was always ready with a joke or light-hearted comment. His enthusiasm also extended into the outdoors—he had a passion for motorcycles and often took weekend biking trips with his buddies.
In addition to his wife, Donna (Goodenough) Douglas, other survivors include daughters Carolyn (Tom Blau) Jaqua, Kansas City, MO; Marilyn (Mitch) Yung, Springfield, MO. Surviving grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Lauren (Aaron) Hannon of Shawnee, KS and their three children, Hayes, Jane, and Ivy; Katherine (Andrija) Markovic, Overland Park, KS and their son, Matija; Collin (Gabby) Yung, Kansas City, MO; Ryan Jaqua, Lenexa, KS.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Monday, January 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until service time Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Rinehart Christian Church and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Loose Lips Sink Ships by Patty LaRoche
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
Loose Lips Sink Ships
Let’s face it. We love to be heard, to have others want to listen to what we have to share. The spotlight on us, all ears attentive. And even though we have been entrusted with a “secret” that no one else knows, even though we have been told not to share, we can’t help it. Well, we can…but we don’t. After all, we have the spotlight. We can be heard.
There are a few places in Scripture where an individual is told to keep silent but doesn’t. Not a big deal…except of course, it is. This morning, while reading in the gospel of Mark, I read that a leper begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus, “moved with compassion,” cleansed the outcast. In 1:43, Jesus “strictly” warns the leper not to tell anyone. He is to go to the priest and follow the protocol for a healed leper. And. Not. Talk.
I get why the healed man couldn’t keep his mouth shut. I mean, it’s not like people aren’t going to see the difference. One day, you’re covered in sores. The next, you’ve just been given the $7000 HD Diamond and Ruby Peel facial. (Think baby’s skin.) When people ask, the leper can’t pretend that he doesn’t notice that he no longer has sores covering his body. He has to be ecstatic, for he has been given a new life.
Did Jesus really expect him to lie about the miraculous healing and act like he had no idea how his body had changed? Couldn’t he just tell his BFF or his family? And trust them to keep his secret?
Uh, nope. This quote proves it: “If you want to keep a secret, tell no one.” Get that? Not even your pinky-promise friend because your gut is churning to share something that nobody else knows.
Have you ever noticed how all attention turns towards you when you start a conversation with this: “You wouldn’t believe what I just heard!” Does anyone speak to your sin and respond with, “If this is something negative about someone, I don’t want to hear it,” or “Is this something we need to know?” or “Are you positive that what you are sharing is the truth and needs to be told?” Probably not. More than likely, all ears turn your direction, eager to hear the juicy gossip you are ever-so-willing to divulge. Why are we so eager to share? According to Behavioral Scientist Jessica Salerno’s research in “Morality, Punishment, and Revealing Other People’s Secrets,” …people keep their own immoral secrets to avoid being punished but are motivated to reveal others’ secrets to punish them for immoral acts.” Hypocrisy at its finest!
Scripture refers to our tongues as “a restless evil.” Get that? Our tongues are sins on steroids! John Gotti once said this: “Don’t ever say anything you don’t want played back to you someday.” Smart advice.
“Loose lips sink ships” is a slogan coined in World War II by the War Advertising Council and was part of a larger propaganda campaign warning that careless talk might be overheard by enemy spies and could undermine the war effort. The imagery stirred guilt by implying that openly discussing sensitive matters could have disastrous consequences.
The next time we consider loosing our lips to share some information with which we have been entrusted not to share, perhaps the psalmist’s prayer should be our own: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).
Kansas SIGNS Program: Support Communities By Upgrading Business Storefronts
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Obituary of Jason Findley
Jason John Findley, 49, passed away suddenly at his home on January 7, 2026.
He was born March 21, 1976 in Fort Scott, Kansas to John and Connie Findley. He grew into a man of integrity, with a love for life and family.
He attended Fort Scott schools and was a proud member of the Class of 1994. He was self-employed. As soon as he was old enough to walk, his mom sent him to work at Findley Automotive with his dad. Jason and Adina expanded the business to include auto body work, Findley Auto & Body in 2014.
On November 11, 2006, Jason married the love of his life, Adina (Johnston), in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. For 19 years, they built a life together as devoted partners in marriage, family, and business, rarely apart and always side by side, sharing a life filled with love, laughter, hard work, and countless memories.
He was a wonderful father to Aliyah, Maggie, Riley, and Jake. That father’s love extended to his son-in-law Quinton. He was the dad who showed up. He loved hard and was so very proud of each of them.
Jason was a proud grandpa to Everlee and embraced the role with pure joy. He never missed an opportunity to be with her, never said no to her requests, and loved spoiling her with all the things her parents said no to. He was greatly looking forward to the arrival of another grandchild in April.
He was a good son, brother, and friend. He was a true friend to many and a stranger to no one. He always had a story, loved talking with people, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed Nascar, the Chiefs, motorcycles, camping, lake fun, doing stunts in cars, swap meets, food, and laughed loudly. He loved God. He supported many community organizations. He could always be found with one or more rottweilers by his side. He was a member of the Fort Scott Nazarene Church.
Jason is survived by his wife Adina of the home, Aliyah Findley (Seattle, Washington), Maggie & Quinton Parsons, grandaughter Everlee (Pittsburg, KS), Riley Findley and Jake Findley of the home, his mother Connie Findley; siblings Suzanne (Allen) Griffin, Gina (Travis) Shelton, and Debi (Daniel) Fritter, many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father John Findley and infant brother Wesley.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 13th at the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene, 1728 Horton St., Ft. Scott, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Woods Cemetery near Redfield, Kansas. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 5 to 7 P.M. at the Ft.Scott Church of the Nazarene. Memorials are suggested to the Findley Children Scholarship 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 submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
USD 234 Board of Education Agenda for January 12
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
www.usd234.org
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
January 12, 2026 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA PUBLIC
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
12-08-25
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – December 20, 2025 – $1,831,678.21
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
5.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
5.1 Superintendent’s Report
5.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report (Zach)
5.3 Assistant Superintendent’s Report (Terry)
5.4 Special Education Director’s Report (Tonya)
6.0 New Business
6.1 Resolution 25-14 To Establish Regular Board Meetings 2026 (Action)
6.2 Resolution 25-15 To Establish Election of School Board Officers (Action)
6.3 Human Resources Processes & Procedures (Information only) Presentation
7.0 Public Forum
8.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters – Time __________
8.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
8.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
9.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Jan. 9
Agenda Packet for the Uniontown City Council on Jan. 12
Agenda for the City of Uniontown City Council on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in City Hall
Res 2026-0112-01 Audit Waiver for 2026
12092025 Regular Meeting
ORDER AT ________ by _____________________________
ROLL CALL: ___ Jess Ervin ___ Amber Kelly ___ Mary Pemberton ___ Savannah Pritchett
___ Bradley Stewart
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
Review Mayor Approval of 2026 CMB License Applications
Oath of Office to Newly Elected Governing Body Members
Election of President of the Council
CITIZENS REQUESTS
FINANCIAL REPORT
Sally Johnson – Financial reports
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
- Minutes of December 9, 2025 Regular Council Meeting
- Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables
- Designate Union State Bank as official bank
- Designate Fort Scott Tribune as official newspaper
- Resolution 2026-0112-01 GAAP Waiver
- Destruction of records for 2015 and prior
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Utility Meters
Clerk Report: Haley Arnold
Rabies Clinic?
SOS Donation
Court Clerk Conference
CCMFOA Conference
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilman Ervin –
Councilman Kelly –
Councilwoman Pemberton –
Councilwoman Pritchett –
Councilman Stewart–
Mayor Jurgensen –
OLD BUSINESS
FEMA Flooding–
NEW BUSINESS
Motion by _____________, Second by __________, Approved ______, to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss performance of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at ____________.
ADJOURN Time _____
Nevada Hospital CEO Responds to Lawsuit From City of Joplin
Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) is a longstanding regional provider of inpatient medical and
psychiatric services caring for patients from across the state. We treat patients regardless of their economic
and housing status. There currently is a significant shortage of facilities and professionals who care for
patients with mental and behavioral health conditions in the state and the nation. Some of these patients
come from Joplin. Our duty is to care for patients regardless of their circumstances. Once treatment is
completed at NRMC and there is a safe discharge plan, patients are discharged. NRMC respects the
freedom of all patients to go about their lives following their discharge from the hospital. NRMC cannot
hold patients without a Court Order.
The City of Joplin has voiced public concerns, singled out NRMC and has filed a lawsuit about patients
discharged from NRMC who traveled to Joplin. Unfortunately, other than a threatening letter and the
lawsuit, the City has made no attempt to talk about this issue, discover the actual facts of the discharges in
question, or to resolve what they believe is the problem. It is unclear why the City of Joplin is pursuing
legal action against another governmental entity in the State that also struggles to provide services to the
homeless. NRMC emphatically denies all claims of inappropriate discharges from the hospital. The two
patients who chose to travel to Joplin in 2025 following discharge is not a material contributor to the
number of homeless in Joplin. Further, cities receive state and federal funds to assist in providing many
forms of public services in their community. This financial assistance is not limited to or intended
exclusively for citizens that originate from the community.
NRMC still invites and welcomes an open and sincere conversation with the City of Joplin. I’m confident
that there is a peaceful and cost-effective solution to this problem.
Sincerely, Jason McCormick, CEO of NRMC
KS Virtual Job Fair is January 22
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Old Fort Genealogical Society is Re-Opening January 12
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