There will not be a Board of County Commissioner meeting on Monday, September 2, 2024 due to the Labor Day holiday.
by
Jennifer Hawkins
Bourbon County Clerk
There will not be a Board of County Commissioner meeting on Monday, September 2, 2024 due to the Labor Day holiday.
by
Jennifer Hawkins
Bourbon County Clerk

An aging man, living in New Jersey, annually planted a tomato garden, his pride and joy. His only son, Vincent, helped him till the soil, but this year, Vincent was in prison and not there to help. The father wrote his son.
“I am afraid that I will not be able to have my garden this year because I am unable to till the ground. After relying on you for years to help me with this, and knowing you were happy to help, I am sad you are not here. Love you.”
Not long afterward, the father received a letter from his son. “Dear Papa,” he started, “Please do not dig up the yard. That is where I hid the bodies.” The next day, the F.B.I. and local police showed up at the elderly man’s home. They came with excavating machines and immediately dug up the back yard, finding nothing.
A few days later, the dad received another letter from his son. “Dear Papa, go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I can do under the circumstances.”
Last week I wrote about the Olympics and mentioned that there was a good chance none of us would ever compete at that level. Most of us are not destined for stardom. We will not pastor a mega-church, become a best-selling author, star on Broadway or perform in the Boston Symphony. We will not hit three-pointers like Stephen Curry, sing like Celine Dion, vault like Simone Biles, throw a backward pass like Patrick Mahomes (Was that not impressive?), find the cure for cancer or even be as clever as this imprisoned son.
Actually, we might not even win the grand prize for the best pie at the county fair or be recommended as a church deacon or have our kids compete to care for us in our old age.
If we all were renowned celebrities, life would be boring. God knows that. So, He creates us to use our giftedness in other ways, and yes, we all have gifts. The ones lacking fame are all around us, and in my mind, they make life so much easier. This past week, Dave and I relied on people who changed and balanced our minivan tires and others who replaced a windshield and an antenna that had broken off deep inside the truck.
I needed a chipped tooth repaired and Dr. Patterson, as usual, did his magic. Left to my own ability, a Chiclet would have substituted. Pilots flew me to KCI, and the flight attendants…well, let’s just say that they were there in case of an emergency. (How times have changed since I had that job years ago!) Sonic employees served my hamburger well done with pickles and ketchup only, just like I ordered it. Famous? No. A blessing? Yes.
While talking to Judy, the woman organizing a ladies’ retreat in Iowa where I will be speaking next month, she filled me in on the details of the theme, the organizational plan and her design for table decorations: pumpkins and autumn leaves in plaster of Paris with lights running through them. (I cannot tell you how gaudy that creation would be, had I been entrusted with those three ingredients. No doubt hers will be spectacular.)
She shared that she had been her husband’s caretaker after a disease left him unable to speak or walk, so daily she looked for ways to brighten his day. After he died three years ago, God encouraged her to use the gifts He had given her to bless other people…which is why she loves “making the women of her community feel special.”
This past week, Judy, and the other “less famous” people in my life, made me rethink my definition of the word “celebrity.” After all, in God’s eyes, anyone who uses the gifts He has given them deserves that label. I just need to do a better job of recognizing it.
Fort Scott High School is holding auditions for students in ninth through twelfth grade for Disney’s Frozen Jr. musical.
Auditions are from 6:30-9 p.m. on either September 3 or 5 in the FSHS Auditorium. Students only need to attend one night of auditions. Rehearsals are Monday through Thursday from 6:30-9 p.m. Performances are Nov. 12, 14, and 16 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
A separate audition for female students at Eugene Ware Elementary for the roles of Young Anna and Elsa is 6-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 in the FSHS Auditorium.
The music and lyrics for Frozen Jr. are by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez with a book by Jennifer Lee. It is based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.
Frozen Jr. is directed by Theatre Director Angie Bin, Music Director Taylor Jones, Choreographer Abby Stepps, and Assistant Director Mesa Jones.
Students who want to audition for a solo role need to prepare a song ahead of time. Sheet music and accompaniment are available from Bin at the high school.
Technical crew members are needed in the areas of sound, lighting, set design, costuming, make-up, stage management, and stagecrew. Applications are available from Bin at the high school.
For additional information, please contact Bin at [email protected] or 620-719-9622.
# # #
Thomas Clark Johnson, age 90, resident of Bronson, KS, died Friday, August 23, 2024, at the Allen County Regional Medical Center. Services for Thomas Johnson will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.
Lois Ann (Query) Bunn, 83, resident of Hallsville, Missouri, passed away Monday evening, August 26, 2024, at The Stuart House Nursing Home in Centralia, Missouri. She was born on September 8, 1940, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the only child of L.B. “Dick” Query and Ida Mae (Wolf) Query. She married Phillip Ross Bunn in March of 2015 at the Clarksburg Valley Chapel (Clarksburg Church of God Holiness) in Fort Scott, Kansas, and he survives of the home.
Lois Ann was passionate about her missionary work and her work as an educator. She spent many years in the mission field from 1968 through 1981, teaching and ministering. She served in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 70’s and 80’s. She also taught Bible School in Fort Scott. She later focused her efforts on the Clarksburg Church, and she and Phillip served there for many years.
In addition to her husband Phillip, Lois Ann is also survived by her step-children, Edlyn Fay Donnovan of Hallsville, Missouri, and Gregory Bunn of Ava, Missouri; three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, and many cousins on both the Wolf and Query sides of her family. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Rev. Harold Martin and Rev. Kevin Allred will officiate funeral services for Lois Ann at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the Clarksburg Valley Chapel under the direction of the Konantz Cheney Funeral Home.
The visitation is at 1:00 p.m. at the church prior to services. Burial will immediately follow funeral services at the Clarksburg Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Clarksburg Valley Chapel and may also be left in the care of the Konantz Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
The annual Fort Fest is September 27-29 at Riverfront Park on Fort Scott’s North National Avenue.

The event is an entertainment weekend that features Blues Music and brings in donations for a local cancer survivor group, Care to Share.
Care to Share/ Sharing Bucket is a grassroots volunteer organization providing support to members of the community impacted by cancer, with financial or emotional support, and even driving individuals to and from doctor appointments out of town.
(620) 238-0902

Music begins at 6 p.m. on September 27 with Two Lane Highway, Linn County; and at 8 p.m. with Tim Hoggard and the Two-Legged Rooster, Jonesboro, AR.
On Saturday, singing starts again with Big Luke and the Soul Disciples at 1 p.m.; Alyssa Galvan, from southwest Missouri at 3 p.m.; Hamilton Loomis from Louisiana and Texas at 5 p.m., and the Divas on Fire from northwest Arkansas at 7 p.m.
In addition, there will be food and art/craft vendors, a corn hole tournament, and an ax throwing area around the park.
“There is also a MUCH IMPROVED Kidz Korner including the train that Lavetta Simmons (one of the founders of Care to Share) used to have at her house, bouncy houses, the petting zoo again, giant jenga games, a cakewalk, face painting, and much much more,” Cory Bryars said. “We did a poor job last year, and we want the community to know that we are taking huge steps to have a great kid component of the event, We have a dedicated volunteer already rounding everything up and a PLAN!!! Last year we slipped in the kid area, and we would love the community to know that we know it and are correcting it.”
The organizers are asking that no pets be brought to the festival.
Please bring chairs/blankets/bug spray/small coolers for the event and there will be shuttles to the parking areas nearby.
New this year is the addition of another day with a switch of music genre.
“Sunday is a Gospel celebration and car show, Cory Bryars, spokesman for the Care To Share organization
Starting at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 29, there will be biscuits with gravy, donuts, coffee, juice, pop, and water available until 1 p.m.
At 1 p.m. the gathering will hear local choir musicians, soloists, and piano musicians along with prayers, a Scripture reading, a speaker and testimonies of cancer survivors interspersed in the event.
The event will end at 2:30 p.m. and the car show will start in the park at 3 p.m.
The car show was Saturday last year, and there was no Sunday activity, Bryars said.

Warehouse Employees
Looking for ambitious and hardworking individuals who can pay careful attention on the job, follow instructions precisely, and double-check his or her work before completing a task.
Click for job description and instructions on how to apply.
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
1st District Commissioner
2nd District Commissioner
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
August 30, 2024 9:00 a.m.
A special meeting of the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners will be held on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commission meeting room of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the
attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the
representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting
would jeopardize such security measures.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is hosting a free Nonprofit Marketing Workshop on Thursday, September 19th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. With presentations from Andra Stefanoni, Director of Media Relations at Pittsburg State University, CFSEK is offering this free workshop for nonprofit staff and volunteers to help increase their marketing capacity and skills.
“We are so excited to offer this for our nonprofit partners around the region,” said CFSEK Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Matthew Buck. “Andra Stefanoni has so much experience and insight, and I think it will be really valuable to everyone who attends!”
Some of the topics being discussed are:
The free Workshop will take place via Zoom on Thursday, September 19th, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Registration is available online at SoutheastKansas.org/npm24.
For questions or more information, contact Matt at (620) 231-8897 or at SoutheastKansas.org/Contact/Matthew.
|
The SEKnFind Newsletter
August 2024
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||