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Claude Franklin (Frank) Durossette, age 73, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at his home on Thursday, November 7, 2024. He was born to Grover William Durossette and Maxine Lavon (Gibson) Durossette on December 17, 1950, in Fort Scott, Kansas. He married his best friend and the love of his life Ethel Mary (Michalek) Durossette on July 20, 1968.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Charles Franklin (Frankie) Durossette. Survivors include his wife Mary of the home; and children, William and Christi, Kevin and Autumn, and Melissa Durossette; 12 grandchildren, Josh (Tabatha), Jake (Kinsley), Cody (Kim), Wyatt, Sophie, Kasen, Cash, and Ellie Durossette, and Caleb Briggs; 5 great-grandchildren, Kinley, Kane, Kaizley, and Wilder Durossette, and Cutler Briggs; one brother Billy Gene (Shiela) Durossette, and sisters, Bonita (Ron) Jones, and Carolyn Lotterer, all of Fort Scott. And numerous nieces and nephews.
Frank loved to hunt and fish. He especially enjoyed weekend camping trips and get-togethers with his wife and family. He was a very caring person and always ready to help. He worked at Tower Metal Products for 27 years and at age 50 opened 3D Alternator and Starter Repair. He later added a mechanic shop with the help of his son, Frankie. He retired this year and spent most of his time working around the home, helping his wife babysit for the grandkids, and going on camping trips with the family. He loved spending time talking with his sons, Billy and Kevin and spending time with his wife.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, November 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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.co
It’s that time of year that people begin thinking about Thanksgiving holiday celebrations, and for many, having enough food to feed their families is an ongoing issue.
Three local organizations have started a food drive, the Bourbon County-Wide Gratitude Challenge, that will help contribute to limited-resource residents’ food availability. The food drive will continue until November 25.
Canned goods, boxed meals, and dry goods, as well as essential personal hygiene products, will be collected. The items will be distributed to local food pantries and other organizations working to support those in need during the holiday season and beyond.
“During this season of gratitude, we have an opportunity to give back to our neighbors in a meaningful way,” said Lisa Robertson, Community Health Worker with The Local Health Equity Action Team. “Food insecurity is a real challenge for many in our community, and by coming together, we can make sure that no one has to go without the basic necessities of life.”

Tomorrow: A Drive-up, Drop-off Event
Saturday, November 9, Lisa Robertson, LHEAT Community Health Worker, and Lea Kay Karsleskint, with K-State Extension SNAP-ED, will be outside at Brick Street BBQ Restaurant on North National Avenue from 10 a.m. to noon for the convenience of drive-up and drop-off contributions.
There are several options for those who want to help the cause.

The drive, spearheaded by the Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT), and K-State Research and Extension SNAP-ED, has set in motion area partners who are collecting non-perishable food items, according to a press release from Kansas State.

Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
November 11, 2024 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY
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
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – October 18, 2024 – $1,693,306.83
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
4.7 Zero Reasons Why Fundraising
4.8 Orchestra Fundraising
5.0 Employee Recognitions
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Special Education Director’s Report
6.4 FSHS Update & Report
7.0 Old Business
7.1 District Values & Goals (Action Item)
8.0 New Business
8.1 Pre-Employment Drug Screening (Discussion)
8.2 Winfield Scott Chilled Water Line Insulation Project (Action)
8.3 Middle School Boiler Retubing Project (Action)
8.2 District Health Insurance Recommendation (Action)
9.0 Public Forum
10.0 Other Business –
10.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
10.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
10.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
11.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President

Marilyn Fay Nuzum, age 91, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Horton House, Fort Scott. She was born May 16, 1933, in Vernon County, MO the daughter of William Dewey Ferguson and Leona Myra Dugan Ferguson. Marilyn graduated from Arcadia High School with the class of 1951 as Valedictorian.
She worked and retired from the Western Insurance Company as an assistant supervisor of key punch. She married Paul Nuzum on December 20, 1986, in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death on December 19, 2009.
In her spare time, Marilyn enjoyed baking, tending her flowers, and her cat Laura. She attended Parkway Church of God (Holiness).
Survivors include her sister, Jo Ann Goans, Fort Scott; a stepdaughter, Nancy Sivcovich (Ken), CA; and 3 step grandsons.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Private family graveside services with burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Parkway Church of God (Holiness) and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Last week, I wrote about my friend who was having a double mastectomy. Her surgery was complicated because she had zero body fat needed to reconstruct her breasts. When I told Dave, his response did not surprise me. “Did you tell her that you—I mean we—could donate some of ours?” After sharing that with my friend, we both cracked up (she more than I).
My friend is now home from the hospital. We spoke yesterday. The evening before, it hit her: part of her womanhood was permanently gone. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she teared up but then felt a nudge to turn on her television. There was Nick Vujicic, the evangelist born with no legs or arms, speaking about how God had used his disability to give people encouragement. She knew that God had offered her that nudging so she would refuse to feel sorry for herself.
The pity pot can be such a cushy place to stay, can’t it? When life is all about me, it can become my frequent resting spot. But what would life look like if I chose, instead, to find my comfort in Jesus’ loving arms? I would no longer dwell on how my troubles seem to outweigh God’s ability to make things better and would focus on Romans 8:28 which reminds us that all things work together for good “for those that love the Lord” and are called according to His purpose.
“For those that love the Lord.” What does that kind of love entail?
The Bible gives us a great example of Joseph who, though experiencing serious injustices, loved the Lord and refused to live with a victim mentality. Genesis 37:12-28 tells us that his jealous brothers threw him into a pit and then sold him to Egyptian slave traders who sold him to Potiphar, Pharoah’s captain of the guard.
Potiphar favored Joseph and put him in charge of his household…until, that is, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of assaulting her and he was thrown in prison. Once released (over a decade later), Pharoah put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt. From the pit to the palace.
You see, Joseph never suffered from self-pity. He always trusted that God would make something good out of something bad, and he was right. God wants to do the same for us. We never should get comfortable on the pity pot, an oppressive trap of the enemy. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us why. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Staying on the pity pot will keep us immobile. Joyless. Stuck on our wants. Unable to forgive and move on. Bitter. Selfish. And in a very, very dark place. If we want our light seen by others, we, like Joseph, must decide where it can shine best.

Bourbon County Interagency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
November 6, 2024
Safe Families for Children works with churches and community members to recruit vetted, background-checked volunteers who can host vulnerable children to support families while they are facing a crisis. Safe Families for Children’s goal is to keep families together. Safe Families can help parents in jail, those receiving mental health services, addiction treatment, etc. Safe Families works to prevent child abuse, child welfare deflection (approx. 50% of referrals come from DCF), family support, and stabilization. Safe Families is a faith-motivated, family-focused organization. They partner with local organizations, keep a database, and can provide liability insurance for volunteers. Safe Families for Children is a national organization which began in 2003. Local efforts have picked back up after Covid. This program is not foster care. It’s not court-ordered, it is completely voluntary, and parents must request Safe Families services. Parents don’t lose custody while their child is with a host family. The Safe Families program has an approximate 95% reunification rate. While children are with a host family, Safe Families tries to coordinate parental in-person visits at least weekly. The average placement is 2 weeks, but placements can be as short as day hosting. If you have a family in crisis, they can call the intake line. A 24-hour notice for placement is preferred, but exceptions can be made.
ROLL CALL:
___ Jess Ervin ___ Danea Esslinger ___ Amber Kelly ___ Mary Pemberton ___ Bradley Stewart
CITIZENS REQUESTS
FINANCIAL REPORT
Charlene Bolinger – Financial reports
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Clerk Report: Sally Johnson
Siren maintenance agreement
2025-2026 Projected Gas Schedule
KMGA prepay project
Progress on warehouse
Councilman Ervin –
Councilwoman Esslinger –
Councilman Kelly –
Councilwoman Pemberton –
Councilman Stewart–
Mayor Jurgensen –
Pickleball court project –
Streets/FEMA –
Sale of Property –
SEED Grant –
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 non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at ____________.
ADJOURN Time ____________ Moved by ______________, 2nd ___________________, Approved ___________
The Regular Council Meeting on October 10, 2024 at Uniontown Community Center was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Mary Pemberton, and Bradley Stewart. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, Christina Miller, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
CITIZENS REQUEST
none
FINANCIAL REPORT
Treasurer Bolinger presented the September 2024 Treasurer’s Report. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $293,284.75, Receipts $26,524.95, Transfers Out $3,026.00, Expenditures $43,856.83, Checking Account Closing Balance $272,926.87. Bank Statement Balance $277,322.90, including Checking Account Interest of $58.90, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $4,396.03, Reconciled Balance $272,926.87. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $37,624.74, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $21,491.62, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $39,426.41, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $371,469.64. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $526.69, and Utility CDs $1,443.93 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $1,970.62. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of September 2024, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0. September Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00 for Total Transfers of $3,026.00. Net Loss for the month of September $20,357.88, Year-to-Date Net Income $37,447.67. Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $85,303.47 (69.1%), Expenditures $91,153.26 (56.1%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $26,081.71 (70.6%), Expenditures $22,478.11 (53.4%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $96,558.19 (65.9%), Expenditures $82,294.82 (46.4%); General Fund YTD Revenue $159,408.25 (81.5%), Expenditures $145.554.58 (47.0%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $6,120.92 (84.2%), Expenditures $7,183.05 (70.0%). The October 2024 payables to date in the amount of $23,176.99 were presented. The invoices from Homestead Tech, KMGA, Johnson-Schowengerdt, and Ag Engineering have not been received by noon meeting day.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Ervin, Second by Pemberton, Approved 4-0, to approve Consent Agenda:
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan reported that 405 Hill St sold, utilities will not be turned on until new sewer and/or gas service lines have been installed. He spoke to owner of 107 S Washington. They will be demolition the structure. He requested a “Mow Your Grass” door posting for 406 Fulton. He also sent a letter to 303 Washington regarding dogs at large. He will not be checking for ordinance violations through the winter. He will be back in attendance at the April 2025 meeting.
City Superintendent Rich had nothing to report.
Clerk Johnson presented a proposal from TextMyGov. After discussion, Council decided not to take action at this time.
She informed Council of an educational opportunity for the new clerk and provided information about .gov websites and email addresses
COUNCIL REPORT
Councilman Ervin – nothing
Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing
Councilwoman Kelly – absent
Councilwoman Pemberton – nothing
Councilman Stewart – nothing
Mayor Jurgensen – Trunk or Treat will be on October 31. Council directed Clerk Johnson to provide candy to FFA.
OLD BUSINESS
Pickleball Court Placemaking Project – Mary Pemberton reported will try to get fence up in next few weeks.
Streets/FEMA – Mayor Jurgensen reported that a site inspection was conducted by FEMA on drainage ditch. Clerk Johnson reported that Janelle Phillips with KDA/DWR was notified of culverts that we wish to increase in size. No permitting is needed at this time.
An email was received from Bill Delich, Bettis Asphalt, that they will be here as soon as they complete work on US 54 late this week or early next week. The S Washington extension will need prepped before they come. Quotes were received from Marbery Concrete, Inc ($1,375) and Bloesser Outdoor Services ($750).
Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 4-0 to accept quote from Bloesser Outdoor Services
Sale of property – No comments were received. Union State Bank has offered $1,000 and pay all closing costs to purchase the west 70’ of Lot 56, Block 7, Uniontown.
Motion by Pemberton, Second by Ervin, Approved 4-0 to adopt Resolution 2024-1008-1 to sell the west 70’ of Lot 56, Block 7, City of Uniontown as is by accepting offer of $1,000 plus all closing costs
NEW BUSINESS
SEED Grant – We can apply for a $10,000 to $25,000 grant to make improvements to the library/clerk’s office/park amenities.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 4-0 to apply for grant.
Councilman Ervin will write the grant with the assistance of Clerk Johnson.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 4-0 to hire Christina Miller to replace Clerk Johnson
Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 4-0 to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss non-elected personnel position, the open meeting to resume at 8:07
Open meeting resumed at 8:07. No action from executive session.
Moved by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 4-0, to adjourn at 8:08PM