Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, History

70th and Final Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is October 1-4 in Fort Scott: Volunteers Needed

September 28, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

This is the 70^th and final year for Pioneer Harvest Fiesta (PHF), according to a press release.

PHF is Kansas’s oldest antique farm show, according to Jim Kemmerer, a spokesman for the annual event in Bourbon County at the fairgrounds.

The event kicks off with a Parade of Antique, Classic Farm Implements and More through Fort Scott’s historic downtown on October 1 at 6 p.m. on Main Street.

All three days are alive with events that help tell the story of life in the area in earlier times.

Steam Engines, Blacksmiths, Food and Flea Market Vendors, Drag Saw Demonstrations, Tractors & Gas Engines on Display, Baker Fan Demonstrations, Quilt Show, Straw Baling, Wheat Threshing, Corn Husking/Shelling, Sorghum Making Demonstration, Rock Crushing, Saw Mill Operation, Car Show, Tractor Pull (Antique & Classic), Garden Tractor Pull, and many more learning events.

It’s one great weekend to kick off Fall in the 4-state’s region, according to its website.

Friday, October 2, through Sunday, October 4, events, vendors, demonstrations, etc. will be at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street, across from Fort Scott Community College.

Visit the event on YouTube to view Pioneer Harvest Fiesta. https://www.youtube.com/@PioneerHarvestFiesta

To learn more, view the website www.pioneerharvestfiesta.com for the schedule and other information.

Each day’s events start at 10 a.m., with an outdoor church service at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Volunteers are needed to help with working the grounds and operating the demonstrations. Get in for free and make a memory that lasts a lifetime.

If more information is required, please contact Jim Kemmerer at 816-898-8068 or jimkemmerer86@gmail.com

A 2015 photo of some of the farm implements on display.

Quilts displayed during the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta 2015. The quilt show is October 2-4 at the event in 2026.

Opinion

Grilled House Shoes by Carolyn Tucker

September 27, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Grilled House Shoes

I had given my seven-year-old granddaughter, Vivienne, a new pair of house shoes when she spent three days and nights with me. She liked the soft and colorful gift a lot more than I thought she would. She soon discovered she had a great talent for kicking one leg up high which made the house shoe come off and fly through the air. Vivienne loved doing this trick, and I didn’t mind because it was harmless. We never knew where the thing would land – it was anyone’s guess. As I was preparing a grilled-cheese sandwich for her lunch, she ran into the kitchen, stood on one side of the stove and quickly threw her leg up into the air. I could tell she was going to do this, but I couldn’t get the words out fast enough — “NOOO, don’t do it!” The house shoe went flying high into the air and landed perfectly on top of the sandwich in the skillet. The only thing we could do was laugh like crazy as I wiped the butter off the house shoe and then placed the grilled-cheese sandwich on her plate. And she ate it!

For the most part, I would say we all need to lighten up! Keep a watch out for the funny stuff that happens all around us. King Solomon stated that, “A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul” (Proverbs 17:22 TPT). Other translations refer to a “cheerful heart, joyful heart, glad heart, happy heart” as good medicine. And there’s no cost or side effects – what a delightful bargain!

“A glad heart makes a happy face…” (Proverbs 15:13 NLT). We can’t really hide what’s inside of us because our face takes its cue from our inside signal. Have you ever been asked, “What’s so funny?” Or “What’s wrong?” Our family and friends are looking at our face when asking either of these questions. Charles Swindoll writes, “A well-developed sense of humor reveals a well-balanced personality…The ability to get a laugh out of everyday situations is a safety valve. It rids us of tensions and worries that could otherwise damage our health.”

I remember a certain driving experience when I wasn’t late, but I had no time to spare. I was on my way to play piano at church, so I was on an important mission. The driver in front of me was probably going the speed limit of 40, but I felt like a ticking time bomb. I checked the straight road ahead and there was no oncoming traffic for a long way. So I put the pedal to the metal and passed the guy in his manly truck. He honked at me, and as I looked in my rear-view mirror I saw the finger! I got flipped off on my way to church! I didn’t endanger his life, so I guess I hurt his feelings because I was just a little gal driving a little SE car as I blew past him in his honkin’ truck. This incident didn’t make me angry; it struck me as funny! I started laughing and laughed all the way to church. Fortunately, we were not headed to the same church.

If we look for humor we’ll be more apt to notice the funny stuff in life. I realize it’s easier for some people to laugh than it is others. I come from a cheerful bunch on both my mom and dad’s side so I have a double portion. My mom used to say, “You might as well laugh as cry,” when something didn’t go as planned. I can still see my late brother laughing so hard that his face turned red and tears trickled down his cheeks. What a great way to take good medicine!

The Key: A smile is a facelift that everyone can afford and it prepares us for that belly laugh we so desperately need!

K-State Extension

Feeling Stretched as a Caregiver? by Tara Solomon-Smith

September 26, 2026 Submitted Story 1 Comment

Tara Soloman-Smith, Family and Wellness Agent, Sunflower District of Kansas State University’s Extension Office. Submitted photo.

It’s a fact: caregivers have higher levels of stress than non-caregivers. If you are serving as a caregiver to a loved one, know you are fulfilling a valuable role — and that it’s okay to take care of yourself. K-State Extension can help with that.

In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, K-State Extension is providing an Empowered Caregivers two-part series. This program is designed to help reduce stress, build a caregiver foundation, support independence, communicate effectively, balance life, improve decision-making, and locate helpful resources.

Free meal and classes will be held on Tuesdays, October 6 and 13, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., in Fort Scott. Register by calling 620-244-3826. Until then, here are some tips.

While we can’t prevent stress, we can help manage it. Too much stress, especially over a long time, can harm your health. You may not get enough sleep or physical activity, or eat a balanced diet, which increases your risk of medical problems.

The following are some ideas to help you manage your caregiver stress:

Take a break from caregiving. Take a walk or meet up with a friend. Do something not related to caregiving.
Get support. Attend a support group, have a friend you can call just to let off steam, or look for community resources.
Relax. Read a book, meditate, pray, garden, knit, take a long bath.
Take care of your health. Go to the doctor, get routine exams and flu shots, get enough sleep, and eat your fruits and vegetables.
Change “guilt” to “regret.” Guilt means you did something wrong; regret means that you are in a difficult situation, and sometimes you have to make difficult decisions, but they are not wrong.
Forgive yourself — often. You cannot be a perfect caregiver all day, every day.
Ask for and accept help when offered. No one can do this alone. We often don’t know what to say when someone offers help. Prepare for this and create a task list to have ready. When someone asks you if they can help, refer to your list and say “YES.” Let them choose which task on the list they would like to do.
And finally … laugh. Find ways to keep your sense of humor on a daily basis.

For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, Family and Community Wellness Agent, Southwind Extension District, at tsolomon@ksu.edu or 620-244-3826.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Housing

USDA Official Visits Fort Scott for Rural Housing Talks

September 26, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

This week, U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt welcomed Glen Smith, USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development, to Southeast Kansas for a rural housing roundtable in Fort Scott. Schmidt thanked everyone who joined the discussion and shared their perspectives, and also thanked USDA for presenting a $28,000 check to help address specific housing needs in Bronson.

Schools

USD 234 Board Approves Personnel Report at Special Meeting

September 26, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, for a special meeting at 424 S. Main St.

President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda, then went into executive session for personnel matters. Following the executive session, the board approved the Personnel Report, and President Stewart adjourned the meeting.

Personnel Report – Approved

September 25, 2026

Employment

Classified Recommendations for 2026-27 School Year:

Stephen Dunning – Tech Director

Documents:

2026-27_News_Release_092526.pdf

Kansas

K-7 pavement patching project completed in Bourbon County

September 26, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

A pavement patching project on K-7 north and west of Fort Scott in Bourbon County has been completed, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The nearly 14-mile project area patched K-7 from U.S. 54 to the K-31 junction.

Emery Sapp and Sons Inc. and Subsidiaries, of Columbia, Missouri, had the contract for the $272,731 project.

For current road conditions, visit kandrive.gov or call 511. For updates on construction projects in southeast Kansas, visit ksdot.gov/projects/southeast-kansas-projects.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Police Department

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – September 25, 2026

September 26, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – September 25, 2026

Fort Scott police, fire and EMS logged 64 calls for service on September 25, 2026.

Reports and Arrests

Fire/Grass — 9:00 AM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-01556FS. Disposition: * Multiple.

Warrant Service/Arrest — 9:26 AM, 324 S National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01552FS. Disposition: RPTC.

Animal Control — 10:46 AM, 701 Burke, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-01553FS. Disposition: RPTACO.

Theft — 11:07 AM, 1449 Indian Rd, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-0912BB. Disposition: RPTG.

Warrant Service/Arrest — 12:57 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01554FS. Disposition: ARRC.

Other Agency Assist — 2:04 PM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01555FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Domestic/Verbal — 3:40 PM, 1010 Park Ave. Complaint No. 26-01557FS. Disposition: ARRC.

Juvenile — 4:49 PM, 160th, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-0913BB. Disposition: RPTG.

Traffic Stop — 9:34 PM, 12th St. Complaint No. 26-01558FS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 11:41 PM, Limestone Rd. Complaint No. 26-0914BB. Disposition: HBO.

Fire and EMS

EMS/Transfer — 7:37 AM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: * Multiple.

EMS — 10:36 AM, 319 S Burke. Disposition: AMBU.

EMS/Transfer — 11:23 AM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: * Multiple.

EMS — 12:58 PM, 1513 S Broadway. Disposition: AMBU.

EMS — 4:45 PM, 2430 Locust Rd, Fort Scott. Disposition: AMBU.

EMS/Standby — 6:36 PM, 1005 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: * Multiple.

Fire/Grass — 6:46 PM, 215th. Disposition: * Multiple.

Fire/Other — 9:42 PM, 822 S Horton St, Fort Scott. Disposition: FIRE.

Other Calls for Service

Check Subject — 2:41 AM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: 22.

Accident/Non-Injury — 6:02 AM, 65 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

911/Accidental — 6:31 AM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: HBD.

27,28,29 Checks — 7:47 AM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Complaint/Livestock — 8:11 AM, 1778 Locust Rd. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control — 8:47 AM, 293 E 20th St. Disposition: HBO.

Other Agency Assist — 9:20 AM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 10:17 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 11:04 AM, 293 E 20th St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Noise Complaint — 12:55 PM, 8th St. Disposition: 77.

Other Agency Assist — 1:13 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control — 1:37 PM, 601 N Barbee, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: 77.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 1:49 PM, 323 S Broadway, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Check Subject — 2:36 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Complaint/Driving — 3:36 PM, 54 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: 77.

Animal Control — 4:48 PM, 114 S Lowman. Disposition: 77.

Check Subject — 5:40 PM, National Ave. Disposition: HBO.

SRO — 5:48 PM, 1005 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 6:32 PM, 293 E 20th St. Disposition: HBO.

Remove Subject — 6:50 PM, 501 S Holbrook St, Fort Scott. Disposition: * Multiple.

Seeking Advice/Info — 8:32 PM, 902 E Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: * Multiple.

Seeking Advice/Info — 10:07 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Juvenile — 10:13 PM, 2224 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Check Vehicle — 10:18 PM, 2322 S Main St. Disposition: HBO.

Disturbance — 11:01 PM, 16 N National Ave. Disposition: HBO.

Check Area — 11:56 PM, 2102 S Horton St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stops

Traffic Stop — 12:02 AM, 6th St. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:04 AM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:14 PM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 8:11 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:17 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 8:21 PM, 3rd St. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 8:56 PM, 1124 S Clark. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 9:03 PM, 135th. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 9:10 PM, 125th. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 9:32 PM, 523 E Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 9:42 PM, 3 Hwy. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 9:56 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 10:10 PM, 215th. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 10:26 PM, 1920 S Main St. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 10:28 PM, 215th. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 10:35 PM, 2101 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 10:41 PM, Jayhawk. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 10:51 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 11:15 PM, N National Ave. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 11:31 PM, 165th. Disposition: HBO.

Total Calls for Service: 64

Documents:

DaySheet09252026.pdf

Gordon Parks Museum

Gordon Parks Celebration Returns Oct. 1-3 in Fort Scott

September 25, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

The Gordon Parks Museum will host the 23rd Annual Gordon Parks Celebration October 1-3, 2026, at the Gordon Parks Museum and Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton St. The four-day event features films, presentations, music, history, poetry, tours and special guests celebrating the life and legacy of Fort Scott native Gordon Parks. Many activities are free; some events require advance reservations or ticket purchases.

Thursday, October 1

8 a.m. — Chamber Coffee. Kicks off the celebration at the Gordon Parks Museum; photo and poetry contest winners announced. Free.
9 to 10:50 a.m. — The Learning Tree. Screening of Gordon Parks’ film at the FSCC Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Theater. Free.
11 a.m. to noon — Lunch and Learn: Clemmie Parks. Explores the life of Gordon Parks’ older brother, a decorated World War I officer. Free to attend; optional wrap lunches $12, order by September 30.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — Moments Without Proper Names. Screening of the film directed by Gordon Parks. Free.
1:45 to 2:45 p.m. — Gordon Parks Trolley Tour. Visits Fort Scott locations connected to Parks and The Learning Tree. Meet at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center entrance. $10, reservation required.
3 to 4 p.m. — The Sounds of Leadbelly. Blues guitarist Lem Sheppard shares the music and story of Leadbelly. Free.

Friday, October 2

10 to 10:50 a.m. — David Parks: GI Diary Vietnam. Documentary screening followed by a brief conversation with David Parks. Free.
11 to 11:50 a.m. — A Conversation with Victor Goines and Maryemma Graham. Meet the 2026 Choice of Weapons honorees. Free.
Noon to 12:45 p.m. — Lunch and Learn: Leadbelly and Irene. Explores Leadbelly’s influence on American music. Free to attend; optional wrap lunches $12, order by October 1.
1 to 1:45 p.m. — Reflections on Filming Leadbelly. Conversation with cast and crew celebrating more than 50 years of the film. Free.
1:45 to 3:55 p.m. — Leadbelly. Screening of Gordon Parks’ film. Free.
8 p.m. — Celebration Dance Party. Dancing to R&B and soul with Power Unlimited featuring Keith Marlo at the River Room, 3 W. Oak St. Doors open at 7 p.m. Reserved seats $25 advance, $30 at the door.

Saturday, October 3

10 to 11:15 a.m. — Open Mic Poetry. Poets, rappers, musicians and artists of all ages welcome; no sign-up needed. Free.
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Lunch and Learn: The 1927 Plaza School Yearbook. Learn about the Fort Scott yearbook featuring Gordon Parks as an eighth-grade graduate. Free to attend; optional BBQ lunches $8, order by October 2.
1 to 2:45 p.m. — Fort Scott Stories. Encore screening of Michael Cheers’ documentary inspired by Parks’ unpublished 1950 LIFE magazine assignment. Free, but registration required; doors open 12:30 p.m., seating limited.
3:15 to 4:15 p.m. — Gordon Parks Trolley Tour. Same route as Thursday’s tour. $10, reservation required.
7 p.m. — Celebration Tribute Dinner. Dinner, music, a photo auction and presentation of this year’s Choice of Weapons and Learning Tree awards. Social hour begins 6 p.m. at the Liberty Theater, 113 S. Main St. Reserved seats $35; reserve by September 30.

Sunday, October 4

9 a.m. — Breakfast at Crooner’s Lounge, 117 S. Main St. No event ticket needed; guests pay for their own meals.

Throughout the celebration

Photo exhibits and the “Giving a Voice to the Voiceless” photo and poetry displays will be on view at the Gordon Parks Museum and Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Visitors can also see the Gordon Parks sign at Lowell Milken Center Unsung Heroes Park, the mural at Riverfront Park, and Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park. Most daytime programs are held at the Gordon Parks Museum or Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton St. Registration is open outside the museum Thursday through Saturday.

For questions, contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700, ext. 5850, or gordonparkscenter@fortscott.edu.

Opinion

A Grandparent’s Mission by Patty LaRoche

September 25, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I wouldn’t change my grandchildren for the world but sure wish I could change the world for my grandchildren, but since I can’t, I will do what I can do. “Salty Believer” recently posted this: “It isn’t your job to save your child. It isn’t your job to change their heart or make them believe. Your job is to faithfully point them to Jesus. God is the One who changes hearts. God is the One who gives faith. God is the One who saves. So keep praying. Keep loving. Keep opening God’s Word together. Keep planting seeds of truth, one conversation at a time, and trust God to do what only He can do.” Grandparents, substitute “grandchild” for “child,” and you find your mission.

As much as we wish our grandchildren could spend their youth tip-toeing through the tulips, this probably will not be their experience. They more than likely will be overwhelmed, frustrated with those impossible multiplication tables, perhaps not allowed on the swing set by the class bully, probably not even voted prom king or queen. On my six-year-old granddaughter’s first day of school, she sat next to a poker…you know, the kind who pokes your ribs nonstop. He refused to quit, even when she repeatedly asked him to.

Sometimes we just need to remind our grandkids that life seems unfair. We all must face difficulty and overcome it. Moses was overwhelmed, and he prayed, “Please kill me here and now.” Jeremiah was broken and he cried, “Cursed be the day I was born.” When Elijah was overcome with fear and exhaustion, he said, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life.” And when Job was in deep anguish, he asked, “Why did I not die at birth?” And no, I probably would not share those stories with little ones, but they do need to know that God wants to hear from them when they are discouraged or frustrated. He will equip them to overcome.

The Bible is full of people who did not handle life well, but their story was not over. The same God who sustained them is still sustaining today. Our grandkids are in great hands.

Our goal, Grandparents, is to teach our children’s children that feeling inadequate is not the response God wants any of us to have. There always is hope. When they still can pray while bleeding, still worship while waiting or still believe while broken, they are not weak; they are a weapon. That kind of faith moves mountains and makes hell tremble. According to livingyourseniorlife.com, regular contact with grandparents reduces depression and anxiety in young people, fostering resilience during challenging situations. There probably has not been a time in history when grandparents did not grieve over the state of the culture into which these little ones were born. What loved one is not saddened that the young ones cannot ride their bikes or play a pickup game of baseball or attend a sleepover without fear of danger? So, what do we do? We pray. Every day. Multiple times a day. And we never give up. Even if our first reaction to “Poker Boy” is to meet him after school and stick our finger into his eyeballs as payback, we must refrain. And that may be the hardest test of all.

Bourbon County

How a county budget change moved forward without a vote

September 25, 2026 Staff 1 Comment

FORT SCOTT — Bourbon County commissioners spent part of their Sept. 21 meeting trying to work out when they had agreed to shift money between funds in the 2027 budget. They never voted on it, and they did not agree about what their earlier discussions had settled. Meeting video and the county’s own minutes show how the idea moved forward over four meetings without a vote.

Aug. 24: a stated goal, no vote

Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee described what she wanted from the budget: “keep everybody exactly where they’re at, revenue neutral, but us take the assessed valuation increase of that two mil and put it in the reserves in the general fund” (video, 52:45). She put that growth at “approximately $300,000, a little bit less.” The only vote on the 2027 budget that night authorized publishing the hearing notice. The minutes, approved Sept. 9, record the idea as “the Commission’s overall objective.”

Aug. 31: a new recommendation, with Tran absent

A week later, budget consultant Matt Lawn of Baker Tilly recommended “lowering that mill levy” for Road and Bridge “by about four mills and then essentially pushing those mills back into general fund and the employee benefit fund,” using one-time FEMA reimbursement money in the road fund (video, 23:20). He said the plan was based on “some requests that I’ve got from you guys.”

Commissioner Samuel Tran was absent. The commission took no vote on the recommendation. County Treasurer Jennifer Hawkins cautioned that part of the road fund’s balance predates the FEMA reimbursements and that some is needed to match bridge grants. The minutes say the commission directed that her reconciliation of those funds “be completed before any mill reallocation is finalized.”

Sept. 14: the shift shows up in the numbers

After the revenue-neutral rate hearing, Lawn walked through how mills had been moved between funds while the total levy stayed flat: up 2.313 mills in the employee benefit fund and down 1.134 mills in Road and Bridge, among other changes. He said the Road and Bridge cut was smaller than first proposed because some of the FEMA money was “already spoken for” and some had to stay in its special project fund, and that the changes were made “based on council priorities.” The commission voted 5-0 to exceed the revenue-neutral rate but did not adopt the budget. Later that night, all five commissioners, Tran among them, voted to approve the Aug. 31 minutes describing Lawn’s recommendation.

Sept. 21: “When and where do we change our mind?”

When Lawn described moving Road and Bridge money into the employee benefit fund, Tran objected. “That’s the last thing I remember the five of us talking about,” he said of the general fund plan. “We agreed to that, all of us, unanimously” (video, 12:26). “I just want to know when and where do we change our mind on this.”

Milburn-Kee said she was “fine with general.” Lawn said he was “merely saying what Commissioner [Milburn-Kee] asked me to consider” and was open to whatever the board wanted. Tran asked who had directed the change. “Projections. Nobody directed,” Milburn-Kee said, explaining that Lawn had projected what Road and Bridge would overspend in 2026 and carried that forward (video, 13:20).

About 25 minutes later, Commissioner David Beerbower said he did not remember that discussion at the table. “Did we vote?” he asked. “No,” Tran said. “We never voted because we weren’t voting at the time. It was just a consensus like, hey, that’s a good idea” (video, 37:42). He said two commissioners had liked the idea, “so I kept it in the back of my head.”

“To be fair for Matt, we’re throwing him all over the place because we haven’t voted on a single thing,” Milburn-Kee said.

Tran then told Lawn that direction should come only from the full board. “Any marching orders that you get should come from the table,” he said. “It should always come from the table where there’s a consensus. … We rule as a body, not as a single person” (video, 38:35).

“To be fair to him again, we haven’t made any motion here,” Milburn-Kee said of Lawn. “He’s just listened to all the conversations and tried to build something.”

What’s next

The allocation also bears on raises: the draft includes a 5% wage increase across departments, and Milburn-Kee pressed Lawn on whether it rests on one-time money. Lawn agreed to bring about four versions of the budget. The budget must be adopted by Sept. 30, and the commission’s next regular meeting is Sept. 28. Full coverage of the Sept. 21 meeting is also available.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Police Department

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – September 23, 2026

September 25, 2026 Submitted Story Leave a comment