The criminal case against Bourbon County Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee returns to court on Friday, June 26, for a pretrial hearing at 10 a.m. at the Bourbon County Courthouse in Fort Scott. Residents who want to follow the case can attend in person.
Milburn-Kee faces two misdemeanor charges filed by the Kansas Attorney General’s office in March. The first, interference with the conduct of public business in a public building, is a Class A nonperson misdemeanor. The second, disorderly election conduct, comes from the state’s polling-place “three-foot rule.” A conviction on the election-conduct count would carry forfeiture of office under Kansas law.
The charges stem from Oct. 25, 2025, when the county commission room was being used as an early-voting polling place, an encounter that was captured on video. Milburn-Kee has pleaded not guilty and has demanded a jury trial.
A pretrial hearing is a working session before the trial begins. The judge and the attorneys use it to narrow the issues, settle which witnesses and exhibits will be allowed, resolve any outstanding motions, and confirm the schedule. No verdict is reached. It sets the stage for a jury to hear the case.
A three-day jury trial is scheduled for July 6 through 8 in Courtroom A at the Bourbon County Courthouse, starting at 9 a.m. each day. A jury of six, plus one alternate, would decide the case. The Attorney General’s office is prosecuting, and Milburn-Kee is represented by private counsel. FortScott.biz has also looked at how similar Kansas election cases have been resolved.
A charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt, and Milburn-Kee is presumed innocent unless and until a jury decides otherwise.
FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Friends and community members are invited to celebrate the retirement of Pat Simpson, who is concluding 26 years of dedicated service.
A retirement reception honoring Simpson will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Bourbon County Courthouse – Southwind Extension District Office, 210 S. National Ave., Fort Scott.
The event will be a come-and-go reception, providing an opportunity for friends, coworkers, and community members to congratulate Simpson and thank her for her years of commitment and service. Refreshments will be served.
A former maintenance worker’s photos of crumbling pipe insulation prompted a Kansas environmental official to walk the building. The early word, relayed by the county’s emergency manager, was that nothing looked like an immediate hazard as long as the material stays undisturbed. No samples have been taken, and the state is still reviewing.
Questions about asbestos in the Bourbon County Courthouse, raised publicly this week by a former maintenance worker who photographed deteriorating pipe insulation in the basement, led to a visit from a representative from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to the nearly century-old building. According to the county’s emergency manager, the representative said during the walkthrough that he did not see anything hazardous that had to be addressed right now, as long as the material is not disturbed. The representative is conferring with others at the agency and will get back to the county with more detail about what actions or precautions should be taken.
Deteriorating pipe insulation in the courthouse basement, photographed by former maintenance director William Jackson.
The courthouse was built in the 1930s, and asbestos is common in buildings of its era. None of the officials contacted for this story disputed that it is likely present. The question residents have been asking is a different one. Is it dangerous, and is anything being done about it?
Asbestos is generally most dangerous when it is crumbling or broken up and its fibers become airborne, where they can be breathed in. Whether the courthouse material is in fact asbestos, and whether it is releasing any fibers, has not been determined, because no samples have been collected and tested. A visual walkthrough cannot answer that on its own.
How the concern surfaced
The issue was raised by William Jackson, who worked in the courthouse maintenance this spring. He said he found insulation and ceiling tiles he believed were asbestos deteriorating in the basement, with dust collecting on supplies and on workers’ desks, and that he could not find any asbestos records in the county’s maintenance files. He sent his supervisor a written request for permission to have the material tested.
The message Jackson sent his supervisor, Laura Krom, asking to test the insulation.
Jackson said he sent the request Friday and was fired Saturday morning. He believes the two were connected and that he was let go for raising the concern. County officials declined to comment on his departure.
What the state found
After Jackson’s photos circulated, Bourbon County Emergency Manager Lou Howard walked the building with a KDHE representative, who also had the photos that had been sent to the agency.
“He stated that at the time he looked, he did not see anything that was concerning,” Howard said. “They did not see anything that was hazardous right now that had to be addressed.”
“He did say that if there was active construction going on at the time, then it would be a concern. But nothing is being disturbed. Everything is as it should be.”
Lou Howard, Bourbon County Emergency Manager
Howard said she offered to walk the representative through the rest of the courthouse and that he said he did not need to, based on what he had already seen. She said in the past an area basement had been used as the county’s emergency operations center until other space became available. The review is not finished. The representative was passing the information and photos to a supervisor, and the county is waiting to hear what action it should take, which could include further testing.
More photos from the basement
Insulation at a pipe joint in the basement.A close-up of the fraying, fibrous wrap.Original insulated piping in the basement.A larger insulated pipe with deteriorating wrap.An opening near the ceiling above the basement drop ceiling.Dust that Jackson said was collecting on desks in the basement work area, which he raised as a concern.
What this does and doesn’t settle
Howard’s account is the most direct word so far on the courthouse. However, it was a visual walkthrough, not laboratory sampling. No material was collected and tested, and the representative did not view the entire building. Some residents have worried that deteriorating material in the basement could send fibers into the building’s heating and cooling system and on to other floors. The walkthrough did not include air sampling or an evaluation of that system, and the state’s guidance to the county is still pending.
The caution about disturbed material is also the heart of the original complaint. Jackson’s concern was that the insulation is already breaking down. Confirming whether that is releasing any asbestos fibers would require testing.
For now, the practical takeaway for residents and courthouse employees is limited but real. The early, visual look reported by the county found nothing requiring immediate action, the chief risk would come from disturbing the material, and a final determination from the state is still to come.
FortScott.biz will update this story when KDHE provides further guidance.
The Kansas Department of Transportation requests comments on an amendment to the Federal Fiscal Year 2026-2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.
The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at ksdot.gov/about/publications-and-reports/state-transportation-improvement-program-stip.
The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes July 9. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Division of Program and Project Management at 785-296-2252.
This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, 785-296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).
This is the third and final installment in a series on the future of Bourbon County healthcare that is being cross-published by BourbonCountyMonitor.com and FortScott.biz. The first part can be found here, and the second can be found here.
Fort Scott, KS – While Freeman Health Systems as an organization is from all appearances on strong financial footing, the Freeman Hospital Fort Scott operation has experienced a series of documented substantial financial blows since opening in September 2025.
The Delay
Freeman began hiring for the Fort Scott hospital in spring 2025, with an expected June 1 opening. But on May 27, Four States Homepage reported the opening had been pushed to September because interior renovation issues had delayed the state survey needed before the hospital could open.
At the time, Freeman Health System Rural Hospitals CEO Renee Denton said Freeman had already hired slightly more than half the staff needed to open the facility. One employee hired during that period told the Monitor that Freeman continued paying them throughout the delay.
Medicaid and Medicare Certification Delay
The opening delay was followed by another financial setback: a lengthy wait for certification to bill Medicare and Medicaid.
At an April 16 joint meeting of the Bourbon County and Fort Scott City commissions, County Commissioner Gregg Motley, former vice chairman of the Freeman Fort Scott board, said the hospital had been seeing most patients at no cost while awaiting certification. Motley said more than 70% of Freeman Fort Scott patients were covered by Medicare or Medicaid, and the hospital hoped to retroactively bill for much of that care.
At the May 7 ribbon-cutting, Freeman Fort Scott Chief Administrative Officer Anita Walden told the Monitor the approvals had come through, but collecting payment for the previous nine months would not be simple. Walden said some payers were allowing Freeman to backdate claims to its certification date, while others were not.
A memo Motley sent to the County Commission also said Freeman had expected another health care provider to shift its lab work to the Fort Scott hospital. Instead, the provider stayed with its existing lab vendor, creating what the memo described as a seven-figure hole in Freeman’s planned budget.
“They’re not happy with their current situation.”
In an interview with the Monitor, Motley said those losses, combined with the roughly $1.4 million in lost revenue from the unlicensed 10 beds and growing maintenance problems in the building owned by Kansas Renewal Institute (KRI), have left Freeman in an untenable position.
“They’re not happy with their current situation,” Motley said. “They’ve received financial blow after financial blow. It was extremely disappointing to them that they will not be operating those 10 beds. They were hiring based on that.” Motley called it a “big budget hole.”
The Legal Action
That legal action Motley is advocating for would invoke the “clawback” clause in the original donation agreement between the county and Legacy Healthcare Foundation — which now also applies to KRI — transferring the property back to the county.
Under that clause, the county’s only remedy if the building owners default is to take back the property plus a cash repayment that shrinks over time — $1 million in year one, $750,000 in years two through four, and $500,000 in year five. After that, the county can reclaim nothing.
Motley said that window closes in November 2027. He said the $10,000 in legal fees approved by the commission during the April 14 meeting will go toward getting a legal opinion on whether the county has a strong case for reclaiming the building, and whether it can be accomplished within a reasonable amount of time and cost.
According to Motley, state officials had Kansas City-based Polsinelli Law Firm review the donation agreement, and the firm concluded the agreement had been breached. Motley said Freeman’s attorneys agreed with Polsinelli’s assesment.
The Transfer
Motley said that the lynchpin to this plan is Freeman agreeing to take the building, including all maintenance responsibilities. Motley says the healthcare provider has shown interest in doing so, but the county will require a binding legal agreement with them before initiating legal action to reclaim the building.”The county does not want this [building],” Motley said. “Before we ever file a lawsuit, we have to have an ironclad agreement with Freeman that says we are going to take over the building and the full maintenance of it.”Motley, who was voted as the commission’s point-man for the process, said that Kansas City-based MSB Law has been engaged to provide the legal opinion for the county.
The Employees
When asked what happens to the roughly 150 employees of KRI if the county is able to reclaim the building and transfer it to Freeman, Motley says that Freeman has discussed opening an operation similar to KRI in the building.”Well, again, Freeman hasn’t committed anything, but they have a KRI-like operation in Southwest Missouri called Ozark Center. And their plan would be to open a facility similar to that, get licensed for the 10 beds,” Motley said.Motley said the fate of KRI’s employees has been at the forefront of his mind. He said he told Freeman he wouldn’t pursue the deal unless they were committed, and that he asked what would happen to the workers.
“Where do you think we would get any employees to do the operation? We would look hard at the existing employees,” Motley said Freeman responded.Motley said the human cost has weighed heavily on him. He said the employees’ fate is “a huge concern of mine,” and that he pushed to keep the discussions private specifically to shield the people he knows and loves that work there.
The Lesser of Two Evils
Motley framed the choice as the lesser of two bad options. “I have to put them at risk a little bit in order to consider the whole county here,” Motley said.”I think the worst thing that could happen is we do nothing. KRI closes, all those people are gone. They don’t have a Freeman to go to now. Pasadena Lending or Legacy forecloses on the building and now we (sic) got an empty building owned by an organization that we know is ill intended.”
For Motley, the priority is maintaining ER and hospital services in Bourbon County, and that inaction on the part of the county puts those in the greatest amount of danger.”Any path we take is going to be risk. Any path. What’s the path of least risk? It is a huge risk to do nothing,” Motley said. “You know, you have two entities losing significant money every month. And what’s Freeman’s affinity for Fort Scott apart from ‘we have a break-even operation’? There is none.”
The Future
Regardless of what legal opinion the county receives, the commission’s direction remains uncertain. The board has been frequently and publicly divided.
During the March 9 meeting, which was the first time the commission discussed the potential legal action behind closed doors, the vote to go into closed session was not unanimous, with Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee casting the sole dissenting vote.The first public vote on the legal action came at the April 14 commission meeting. Milburn-Kee again cast the lone vote against going into the executive session that preceded it, which included Pam Lanier, Freeman Health System’s director of government relations; state Rep. Rick James; state Sen. Tim Shallenburger; Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin; and County Counselor Bob Johnson.
After returning to open session, the commission voted 3-2 to approve a motion from Motley allocating $10,000 for legal fees and title work. Motley, Commissioner Joe Allen and Commissioner David Beerbower voted in favor; Milburn-Kee and Commission Chairman Samuel Tran opposed.
During a recess that followed, Tran was recorded saying, “We should have this conversation before we threw 10 Gs onto this dumpster fire.”During the April 27 meeting, after an identical split vote affirming the vote on April 14 and Motley’s appointment as contact person, Tran again expressed apprehension with the legal action.”And I’m saying nay for the same reason that I said no the very first time, because I don’t think this should be our wheelhouse,” Tran saidPrior to another 3-2 split vote during the May 4 meeting confirming a short list of law firms for Motley to approach for the legal opinion , Milburn-Kee requested that the details of the legal action be discussed publicly.”Can we move this discussion to the public, please, so we can talk more freely about what we’re asking them to do because I don’t even know what we’re asking them to do,” Milburn-Kee said.
Freeman’s Statement
In response to a request for comment regarding Freeman’s agreement with KRI and Freeman’s long-term viability in Fort Scott, Freeman Health System’s Media Relations Coordinator Kevin McClintock provided the following statement to the Monitor:
“As for KRI, we worked closely with their team to complete renovation of the hospital space, and we successfully passed licensure and life-safety surveys. Additionally, we look forward to working with KRI as we make necessary updates to the MRI suite.Freeman is not in a position to comment regarding KRI’s financial condition or ability to obtain licensure. Freeman Health System will continue to operate responsibly and make thoughtful decisions to ensure long-term sustainability while advancing access to care and remaining focused on meeting the healthcare needs of the rural communities we serve.”Because this reporting was expanded into a three-part series, the Monitor extended KRI an additional opportunity to comment. KRI did not respond before publication.
Front Row L-R: Katie Botello, Magali Turner, Heather Hurt, Johnna Stoffregen Back Row L-R: James Lawlor, Collin Binko. Submitted photo.
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, has awarded its 2026 Fellowship to 12 educators. As part of their week-long experience in Fort Scott, the six fellows for June 22 – 26 were presented the key to the city by Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Lindsay Madison. (Six more Fellows will arrive on June 29th.)
Upon presenting the keys, Madison remarked, “The City of Fort Scott is proud to welcome the 2026 Lowell Milken Center Fellows and present them with keys to the city. It is inspiring to see outstanding educators from across the country come to Fort Scott to deepen their commitment to teaching and learning. As they return to their schools and communities, they will carry forward the mission of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, ensuring that the stories of individuals whose contributions have too often gone unrecognized continue to be shared. Recognizing those who have made a meaningful difference is important work, and through these powerful stories, future generations are inspired to make a positive impact in the world.”
The Fellows honored this week were Collin Binko from Wyoming, Katie Botello from California, Heather Hurt from Alabama, James Lawlor from New York, Johnna Stoffregen from Kansas, and Magali Turner from New Mexico. LMC Director Norm Conard praised these outstanding individuals, saying, “We are so honored to be able to network and collaborate with these exemplary educators and provide them with an opportunity to reflect, reenergize and strategize with each other as they seek to find new ways to inspire their students.”
Every summer, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes awards its Fellowship to national and international award-winning educators from America and around the world. As LMC Fellows, they deepen their understanding of Unsung Heroes and project-based learning, preparing them to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students and learn the stories of role models who help change the world. Along with the time spent deepening their professional skills at the LMC, the Fellows have enjoyed visiting the Fort Scott area.
HUDSON, JOSEPH F, 43
Arrested: 6/24/2026 3:40 AM
Agency: Fort Scott PD
Charges:
– Possess Opiates/Opium/Narc Drug and Certain Stim ($2,000 cash/surety)
– Use/Poss Drug Paraphernalia/Human Body
Bond Total: $2,000
BRASHEAR, JULIE IRENE, 62
Arrested: 6/24/2026 3:40 AM
Agency: Fort Scott PD
Charges:
– Possess Opiates/Opium/Narc Drug and Certain Stim ($2,000 cash/surety)
– Use/Poss Drug Paraphernalia/Human Body
Bond Total: $2,000
HAYNES, RAYA L, 18
Arrested: 6/24/2026 8:12 PM
Agency: Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
Charge: Warrant – Out of State *
Bond: $0
STINNETT, JACOB ALLEN, 22
Arrested: 6/24/2026 10:23 PM
Agency: Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
Charges:
– DUI; 1st Conviction
– Failure to Give Information on Accident
– Reckless Driving
– Transporting an Open Container
Bond: $0
Inmate Released List
STEWART, REBECCA ANN, 33
Booked: 05/21/2026
Released: 6/24/2026 at 3:32 PM
Type: Transferred out
Released to: Allen County
Mike and his family are moving and Cindi is purging her inventory, and they are selling it all at an in-person, public auction. Two John Deere tractors, two zero-turn mowers, a horse trailer, vehicles, an ATV, farm equipment, tools, furniture and a whole lot more. Come spend the day with us!
When: Saturday, June 27, 2026 – starting at 10:00 AM
Where: 19863 Valley Road, La Cygne, KS 66040
Terms: Cash, check or credit card (5% credit-card processing fee). No buyer’s premium!
Bonus: Free hot dogs while they last. Come support our 4-H, selling drinks, desserts and snacks.
Featured Video — John Deere 730
John Deere 730 Diesel: factory weights, straight sheet metal and dual hydraulics. Runs (needs batteries).
Auction Headliners
John Deere 730
John Deere 730 RUNS factory weights, straight sheet metal and dual hydraulics. Needs batteries. See the featured video above.
John Deere 420
John Deere 420 RUNS. See video.
Simplicity 60″ Zero-Turn Mower
Simplicity 60″ commercial cut, 27 hp zero-turn mower. See video.
John Deere Z225 Zero-Turn Mower
John Deere 42″ cut EZ Trak Z225, 18.5 hp, w/ bags. See video.
Two-Horse Livestock Trailer
Two horse livestock trailer. This trailer has an attached air conditioning unit which comes on. It may need some maintenance. Also is equipped with electrical outlets and light. Selling with bill of sale, no title. See video.
ATV
Honda 4×4 ATV.
2018 Jeep Renegade
2018 Jeep Renegade 160,000 miles more or less. Daily driver, great gas mileage. Slight damage a couple years ago hitting a deer.
2005 Volvo
2005 Volvo 540 high mileage, runs and drives. See video.
Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker
Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker.
Priefert Headgate
Priefert Headgate.
MIG Welder
Mig Welder.
Shop Smith Table Saw / Wood Lathe
Shop Smith table saw / wood lathe.
Air Compressor
Rolltop Desk
Rolltop desk.
Display Case
Display case.
Full List of Auction Items
Here is a list of some of what will be selling:
Tractors & Farm Equipment
John Deere 730 (runs)
John Deere 420 (runs)
Land Pride 6′ blade
Homemade 5′ blade
Post hole digger
Antique plow
Road grader
Tiller
Scrap metal & batteries
Mowers, Cars & ATV
Simplicity 60″ commercial zero-turn (27 hp)
John Deere Z225 42″ zero-turn (18.5 hp, w/ bags)
2018 Jeep Renegade
2005 Volvo
ATV
Trailers
Two-horse livestock trailer (w/ AC, bill of sale)
All-metal trailer (bill of sale)
Trailer w/ hand winch, wooden floor
Tools & Shop
Stihl MS 170 chainsaw (runs)
MIG welder
Portable welder on wheels
Shop Smith table saw / lathe
Air compressor
Little Giant ladder
Step ladder
Sockets & small tools
Old-time fire extinguishers
Livestock & Outdoor
Priefert headgate
Dog grooming table
Big bale feeder
Hay feeders
Stock tank
Heaters
Saddles
Fuel tank & fuel cans
Wheelbarrow
Metal lawn furniture
Bicycles
Hoses
Moving dolly & carts
Craftsman pole saw / weed eater
Windmill
Grills & Fishing
Oklahoma Joe’s smoker
Charcoal smoker & grills
Propane bottle
Fishing poles & reels
Tackle
Household & Appliances
Ice cream maker
Sausage grinder
Microwave
Blender
Mixer
GF lean machine
Pots, pans & dishes
Bed linens
Misc. household
Furniture
Display case
Queen bed w/ mattress
Dresser w/ mirror
Rolltop desk
Futon love seat
Beds
Chairs
Kitchen table w/ chairs
End tables
Curio cabinet
Electronics
T-shirt screen maker
Wii console, controllers & games
PS4 / PlayStation games
Like-new laser printer
Cameras
Apple Watch
New-in-box home security system
Super Soakers
See You There!
Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM — 19863 Valley Road, La Cygne, KS 66040. Cash, check or credit card (5% credit-card fee). No buyer’s premium. Auction conducted by Semper Fi Auction Services.
This is the second in a three-part series on the future of Bourbon County healthcare that is being cross-published by BourbonCountyMonitor.com and FortScott.biz. The first part can be found here.
Fort Scott, KS – Records reviewed by the Bourbon County Monitor show the confidential hospital memo that was posted in a local Facebook group on June 10 was obtained through a single open records request – one filed by former District 3 Commissioner Clifton Beth.It wasn’t the first time Beth had knowledge of nonpublic information regarding the county’s deliberations on the hospital. On March 9, before commissioners first met in executive session on possible legal action over the hospital, Beth called local residents — including a sitting county commissioner — and told them what the commission planned to discuss that night.
Beth was contacted for comment for this story and did not respond by publication time.
The Phone Calls
District 3 County Commissioner Joe Allen says he had never spoken with Beth until he returned a missed call from him at 4:03 p.m. on Monday, March 9 — nearly 90 minutes before that night’s county commission meeting was set to begin.
Allen said Beth told him that Commissioner Gregg Motley was trying to get the county to reclaim the hospital building, but that building owner KRI was in good standing, and urged Allen to call local ER Sales Tax Committee members Dr. Randy Nichols and Charles Gentry to confirm.
Allen said the conversation lasted about seven minutes and was largely one-sided, as he had no information to share with Beth.
At 4:40 p.m., former Bourbon County Review publisher JD Handly called Beth after receiving a request from Beth over Facebook to call him. Handley said it was the first time he had ever spoken to the former commissioner.
Handly said Beth told him Motley planned to call the commission into executive session that night to advocate for legal action to reclaim the hospital building — a move Beth said would mire the county in costly, extended litigation. Beth told Handly that KRI was paying its mortgage on time and that there was no justification for the county to consider reclaiming the building.Handly said the call lasted 19 minutes and 26 seconds, and left him greatly concerned.
At 5:06 p.m., Handly sent a private message to this reporter, Monitor editor Nick Graham. “You need to call me,” the message read, followed by his phone number.
Handly then said he called local citizen Anne Dare at 5:08 p.m., relaying what Beth had told him without identifying his source. Dare confirmed Handly’s account of the call to the Bourbon County Monitor.
At 6:04, this reporter called and spoke to an audibly alarmed Handly. As he had with Dare, Handly relayed what Beth had told him regarding the planned executive session.
The Facebook Messages
In a Kansas Open Meetings Act violation report Dare sent to the attorney general’s office on March 20, she reported the call from Handly as well as Facebook messages she had received from Beth starting at 12:38 p.m. on March 16. The message exchange between Dare and Beth, which was filed with the report, reads:BETH: “I don’t know if you are a Motley fan or not but I think the public needs to know that he is try to take the hospital building back which would be a very costly mistake”DARE: “I talk to Gregg but he doesn’t talk about that with me. I do have questions about how this would be good for the county but I’ve not had the opportunity to ask him.”BETH: “It would be a long drawn out court battle that would cost the county a lot as the contract has been fulfilled ie. We have an ER and the rumor that KRI isn’t paying there (sic) mortgage isn’t true because Legacy holds the mortgage and there (sic) attorney has told me that they haven’t missed a payment along with the fact that they have a sweetheart deal from legacy on repayment but the selfish side of me would love to see them try and fail again and spend lots of money on attorneys”
Facebook messages from Clifton Beth to Anne Dare on March 16, 2026, as filed with Dare’s Kansas Open Meetings Act complaint.
Dare told the Monitor that the report has since been closed by the Attorney General’s office, as they stated there was no way to conclusively prove that a commissioner had leaked the info to Beth.
The Paper Trail
When the memo surfaced in a local Facebook group on June 10, the local resident who posted it wrote that it had come from a citizen who obtained it through a request under the Kansas Open Records Act, or KORA.
To trace the memo’s path, the Monitor asked the county for every KORA request related to it. The county returned a single record: a request Beth filed on May 14.
Beth’s request asked for one thing: “Emails sent from Bourbon County Clerk on 3-7-26 to Bourbon County Commissioners: Sam Tran, Mika Milburn, David Beerbower, Joe Allen.”
The only email the clerk sent those four individuals on March 7 was the one distributing Motley’s memo for the upcoming March 9 executive session.
The records account for how Beth obtained the memo in May. They do not account for how he knew its contents, or how he knew about the commission’s plans for the March 9 executive session before the session was ever held.
Legacy Ties
Beth has had documented ties to the California-based Legacy Healthcare Foundation since shortly after it became involved in the county.
On Nov. 17, 2022, then-county commissioners Beth, Jim Harris and Nelson Blythe donated the Mercy Health Systems property, along with $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, to the Foundation on the condition that the funds be used for building and property maintenance, development of an acute care hospital, and several other specified expenses.
An April 7, 2023, invoice submitted to the county in accordance with the act shows that Legacy paid Osage Construction LLC — Beth’s construction company — $7,300 of those funds for roof repair work on the hospital building.
Beth is also the organizer and sole member on record of Moody Building LLC, which currently holds the deed to the historic Moody Building in downtown Fort Scott. However, in recent weeks city officials have gone on record identifying their primary contacts for the building as California-based Juan Banos and Troy Schell, Legacy Health Foundation’s president and chairman, respectively.
“Who Can He Hurt?”
In an interview with the Monitor, Motley said he did not understand what was driving the leaks.
“I. Don’t. Understand. The. Motive.” Motley said. “What’s Clifton’s motive? He can’t hurt the county case because that rests in the lease and the donation agreement.”
“Who can he hurt? KRI. That’s the only organization to get hurt here,” Motley said.
Motley said one of his primary reasons for trying to restrict the discussion of potential legal action to executive session was to protect KRI.
“Why did I try to do all this in executive session? To protect KRI,” Motley said. “I didn’t want their financial condition broadcast. I didn’t want to say that they are in default of a donation agreement and default of a lease broadcast until we had a plan of action.”
Motley said the county may receive a legal opinion that says that reclaiming the building is not feasible — which, he said, would render the leaks moot.
“We could get in front of an attorney and they say, ‘This is a hopeless case,'” Motley said. “That’s a possibility still. So if we do nothing now, this is out in the wind. Why? Why is it out in the wind? Of what benefit is that to anybody?”
The Monitor sent a request for comment to all seven individuals who had seen Motley’s memo – the commission, the County Clerk, and the County Counselor – asking if they had contacted Beth about the contents of the memo or the topic of the March 9 executive session.By publication time, only Motley, Allen and the County Clerk had responded. We will update this story if we receive further responses.
Public Documents
The public documents referenced in this article are linked below.
I’m Josh Jones — born here, built my life here, running to serve here.
I’m Josh Jones, and I’m running for Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3.
My family has been in this county since the 1850s, and so has my wife’s. I grew up here. I tried leaving once — it lasted about three weeks before I moved right back. By the time I had my first kids at 20, I’d made up my mind: I was going to build something here, so my family would never have to leave to find a good life.
So I went to work. Nearly 20 years as a small-business owner — Fort Scott Sanitation, rental properties, and today Bourbon County Cars. For a stretch in between, I even drove a school bus for our middle- and high-school sports teams, so I wouldn’t miss being part of my kids’ school experiences. And along the way I learned you don’t fix a community by complaining about it. You find good people who care as much as you do, and you get to work:
Joined the volunteers who resurfaced the tennis courts so our kids have a place to play
Pitched in on scholarships for young people going into the trades
Acquired the Lowman Street lot where the historic church Gordon Parks attended once stood, and donated it to the Gordon Parks Museum — so that piece of our history stays alive here
None of that was about me. It was about people who are passionate about this town pulling in the same direction — and I’ve been lucky to be part of it. That’s exactly what I want to bring to the county: see a problem, bring the right folks together, and actually get it done.
I’d be grateful for the chance to earn your vote.
Vote Josh Jones — Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3. A neighbor who shows up.
Paid for by Joshua Jones for County Commissioner, Josh Jones, Treasurer.
Chamber Coffee Hosted by Freeman Fort Scott Hospital
Thursday, June 25th — 8:00 a.m.
Freeman Fort Scott Hospital
401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
McCauley Conference Room
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend a Chamber Coffee hosted by Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd., this Thursday, June 25, at 8:00 a.m. Guests may enter through the Main Entrance, as coffee will be held in the McCauley Conference Room.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees may register for a special door prize drawing.
During the Chamber Coffee, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital will share several exciting updates, including the announcement that the hospital has been awarded more than $2.5 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The grant funding will support the addition of MRI services at Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, bringing an important and much-needed diagnostic service to Bourbon County while improving access to care closer to home.
The hospital will also introduce Dr. Katrina Burke, who has joined Freeman Fort Scott Hospital as a full-time employed hospitalist. Her addition further strengthens the hospital’s medical staff and supports continuity of care for patients.
Freeman Fort Scott Hospital remains committed to continually evaluating healthcare services and opportunities based on community needs and the hospital’s ability to sustainably provide those services locally.
For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit fortscott.com and select the Chamber Coffees category on the Events Calendar for upcoming Chamber Coffee locations.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend a Chamber Coffee hosted by Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd., this Thursday, June 25, at 8:00 a.m. Guests may enter through the Main Entrance, as coffee will be held in the McCauley conference room.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees may register for a special door prize drawing.
During the Chamber Coffee, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital will share several exciting updates, including the announcement that the hospital has been awarded more than $2.5 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The grant funding will support the addition of MRI services at Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, bringing an important and much-needed diagnostic service to Bourbon County while improving access to care closer to home.
The hospital will also introduce Dr. Katrina Burke, who has joined Freeman Fort Scott Hospital as a full-time employed hospitalist. Her addition further strengthens the hospital’s medical staff and supports continuity of care for patients.
Freeman Fort Scott Hospital remains committed to continually evaluating healthcare services and opportunities based on community needs and the hospital’s ability to sustainably provide those services locally.
We hope to see you there!
For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit fortscott.com and select the Chamber Coffees category on the Events Calendar for upcoming Chamber Coffee locations.
