On behalf of the USD 234 School District, we would like to invite you to the 2026 Early Childhood Spring Fling. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, April 23rd from 5:00-6:30 PM at the Fort Scott Preschool Center. All children ages birth-six years old and their families are invited to attend.
For this event, we are asking family resource providers and community partners to bring an interactive activity for students and families. We will provide space and a table for your activity. During the event, you will also have an opportunity to visit with families and distribute flyers, handouts, giveaways, etc. Our goal is for children and families to interact, be active, and learn about the resources available in our community. If you are a preschool or childcare provider, please share the attached flyer with your families. We also welcome you to set up an activity and table for your program.
If you plan to attend our event, please complete the short form below by Friday, April 17th so we can have a table reserved for your organization. If you have questions, please let me know.
This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to the community, network with other local entrepreneurs, and enjoy a day dedicated to empowerment and connection.
Lindsay Madison is the executive director of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce staff have been working to provide educational, financial, and marketing opportunities for businesses.
Kansas Main Street
At the Feb. 20 Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet at the Courtland Hotel, President and CEO Lindsay Madison said that the City of Fort Scott passed a resolution to apply for Kansas Main Street. The Kansas Main Street Program is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts. Currently, Fort Scott is listed as an affiliate. She is waiting for the new Kansas Department of Commerce/Kansas Main Street training. This training is provided to equip participants with knowledge, skills, and strategies to effectively engage with decision-makers and drive meaningful change, according to information she passed out.
Legislators In Town at Chamber Coffee on Saturday
This Saturday, February 28, the Chamber is having a Capitol Update over coffee with Kansas legislators, which will be held at the Kansas Renewal Institute, at 401 Woodland Hills. It will be in the McAuley Center from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The public is invited.
Guests should enter through the main east doors; the meeting room is located down the hallway on the right. KRI will sponsor coffee and light refreshments provided by Common Ground Coffee Co. Tours of the KRI facility will be offered immediately following the event. according to a press release.
Kansas Senator Tim Shallenburger and State Representative Rick James are confirmed to attend. The legislators will provide an update on the current legislative session, share information about the committees on which they serve, and address questions and issues presented by attendees. Bryan Holt will serve as moderator for the event, according to the release.
Other items from the meet and greet meeting:
A Destination Creation course will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 13. This one-day course will help towns to work towards becoming a tourist destination. The cost is $50, including lunch. Contact the Chamber at 620.223.3566.
There are two upcoming business builder workshops: March 10 at 1.30 p.m. for creating a smarter social media strategy for small businesses, and March 31 at 1.30 p.m. for Google Business 101.
There is a Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks state-wide leadership training on March 7 at the River Room, with approximately 100-150 people attending.
The Fort Scott Community College Rodeo is March 13-15.
The 2026 Schedule of Events, a community guide, is almost complete. There will be 10,000 copies available for distribution.
The Fort Scott Downtown Clean-up will be in April or May, with Craig Campbell leading. The Elks have provided a grant for clean-up supplies for the event. Businesses are requested to send notices of clean-up needs to the Chamber.
Grants Available
An E-Community Grant is available at .networkkansas.com Grants are for $5,000 to $50,000 at 6% for 10 years.
Grow KS maximum grant for $100,000 at 4% for five years and 6% for 10 years.
There are technical assistance grants available for up to $1,000 to current loan participants.
The next Meet and Greet is Tuesday, May 5 from 8-9 a.m. at City State Bank.
Nancy Ann Stewart, 79, of Fort Scott, went to be with the Lord on February 22, 2026.
Nancy was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts to Lillian and Bjame Haugland, and grew up and went to school in San Diego, California.
She married Chuck Stewart, December 3, 1964, while he was in the Navy in San Diego. Before their marriage she wrote to his parents conveying that she was “taking good care of their son and not to worry”.
Upon discharge from the Navy, they moved to Kansas.
Nancy was a graduate of Madison High School in San Diego and attended Fort Scott Community College while tutoring her husband in College Algebra.
They are the proud parents of three sons: Charles Jr., Michael, and Len, five grandchildren: Tracy, Katie, Bobby, Mary, and Johnny, and 2 great grandchildren: Henry and Simon.
She was a stay- at-home mom making sure her children had the very best in care in their younger years. Since she loved to work with children, she bought a preschool in Eldorado, KS having 62 young students. Later, she accepted a position as Children’s Director at First Baptist Church in Fort Scott.
Nancy was a very intelligent person and gifted in crafts and interior decorating. She loved her old Victorian House and held open house about every year displaying many of her homemade crafts and sewings.
She was a very loving person and loved to be around people. She loved the lord and expressed that through holding a weekly bible study in her home.
Nancy was preceded in death by their son, Len, who was in an automobile accident at the age of 20.
She will be cremated and family will privately gather in El Dorado, Ks to place her ashes at Len’s gravesite.
She will be SO MISSED by her husband who lovingly took care of her for the last 12 years of her life while she was suffering from Frontal Temporal Dementia.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.
Marilyn M. Gilmore, 74, formerly of Garnett, Kansas, passed away at her home in Fort Scott, Kansas on February 20, 2026. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 26, 1951, the daughter of Arthur Ray and Alice Maissa Matthews. She married Arthur Earl Gilmore on May 27, 1989, in Sacramento, California, he preceded her in death in 2018.
Marilyn was a nurse for many years and served in the United States Air Force for 3 years.
She is survived by three daughters, Tanya Lowe of Fort Scott, Kansas, Pamela McSwane of Gardner, Kansas, and Robin Gilmore of Chico California, a son, David Gilmore of Ash Flat, Arkansas, a brother, Robert Matthews of Fort Scott, Kansas, 13 grandchildren, Kaycee, Cooper, Matthew Mullin Jr., Mitch McSwane, Mike McSwane, Marcus McSwane, Bryan Gilmore, Aaron Gilmore, Jocelyn Wells, Shawn DuChene, Erin DuChene, Kelly DuChene, Ronnie Camilari, and Jamie DuChene, great granddaughters, Rakelle and Kaiden Brown, as well as many other great and great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Services and burial will be in California at a later date.
This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to the community, network with other local entrepreneurs, and enjoy a day dedicated to empowerment and connection.
Commission Chair Samuel Tran asked that the clerk’s office include invoices with the checks he’s required to sign. Susan Walker, County Clerk, agreed to change her office’s procedures to fulfill his request.
Citizens Comments
Kevin Allen about the landfill
Allen thanked the commission for taking his calls. He said his company hauls a lot of garbage to the county transfer station. He asked that the commission consider keeping the it open on minor holidays.
His business used to haul trash out of county, but about 10 years ago, they switched back to Bourbon County, “to help support the community,” even though it cost more than hauling it out of county.
“We’re just trying to get in and give you more money,” he concluded.
Clayton Miller about the landfill
Miller said that the county transfer station has only recently started closing on minor holidays such as President’s Day. It makes it hard for trash haulers to do their jobs.
Commissioner Joe Allen said that in his past he worked hauling trash and he agrees that it is difficult to haul trash when the transfer station is closed.
Old Business
CIC — Tran
Tran asked to add Laura Crom to the CIC (the county’s accounting software) to give her access so she can do her job. Currently, two elected officials have access.
“Even if it’s read-only she needs access to there because she’s generating reports for people,” he said.
Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee said that in the past Sheriff Bill Martin has asked for access as well.
Tran said he’s been getting push-back on granting access to Crom.
There was a heated discussion about the reports that Tran said Crom had asked for. Tran saying she asked for them on Feb. 9, and County Clerk Susan Walker denying that she ever received the request.
Crom had asked Walker to do the payroll audit.
“Regardless, I’m going to ask you to give Laura Crom access to CIC,” said Tran.
“She will not have the information that she needs to create the work comp report because you have payroll in both systems,” said Walker. She created the report with the Payentry group by tweaking the report to include all wages.
“The work comp report is actually in the system,” said Walker. She went on to point out the problems with communication that are continuing between the commission’s administrative assistant and her office.
“There’s been a bottleneck of information since I’ve been here,” said Tran. “Either you work with us or you don’t work with us.”
The commission voted unanimously to give read-only access to Crom.
Auction
Allen and Commissioner David Beerbower talked about the process for getting rid of unneeded items in the county’s inventory. They plan to contact all the departments and have them mark the items in the courthouse basement they still want, contact an auctioneer, and proceed to get rid of the unneeded items.
Noise Resolution
Milburn-Kee said that she has concerns about the resolution, particularly the complaint form. She wants to go over it with the county attorney and lay out the process from start to finish.
“To make sure that it’s going to work,” said Milburn.
She is concerned about enforceability. “We’ve learned that we can’t complete the process on our own,” she said, referring to sanitation codes the county has.
Beerbower agreed with her efforts. The resolution was tabled until the next meeting.
New Business
Payentry — Joe Allen
Allen said he has taken some calls about issues that county employees are having with Payentry.
Undersheriff Davidson was invited to speak. He went into detail about the problems the new system is causing his department.
Sheriff Bill Martin asked if he and his department heads could have a conversation with Payentry to learn about how to make the system work for them and how other public safety departments use the system.
Martin said they are also having problems with vacation time not showing up. Other department heads agreed.
Milburn said she would send the contact information to him.
Tran thanked the department heads for being willing to work with the commission on this issue. The county is going through growing pains as they adjust to the Payentry system.
He suggested developing a different procedure for the sheriff’s office and the EMS department than the rest of the county employees.
Beerbower offered to facilitate the meeting with Payentry that the sheriff had requested.
Cemetery & Township Financial Reports
Commissioner Gregg Motley pointed out that some of the cemeteries are running on razor thin budgets.
Milburn said that the reports have been signed by people in various offices. Walker said there are no legal ramifications if the signatures are improper.
The commission approved the reports.
Unclaimed Property — Allen
Allen brought to the commission’s attention a list by the Kansas State Treasurer’s office of unclaimed property belonging to Bourbon County. Walker said she would ask the County Treasurer to look into it.
Commission Comments
Allen: “I just want to say that it seems like some of these meetings get a little tense…We all have the same goal…to make our community better.”
“I think we’re on the right road, for the most part,” he said.
Tran: Agreed with Allen’s statement. He said he wants to help the county government members do their jobs.
FSCC Rodeo Building
(small building to the south of
Arnold Arena by the cattle pens)
2108 Horton St.
We hope to see you there!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend a Chamber Coffee on Thursday, February 26th at 8am, hosted by Fort Scott Community College’s Rodeo & Ag Departments. The coffee will take place in the Rodeo Building, which is the small building to the south of Arnold Arena, next to the cattle pens, on FSCCs campus, 2108 Horton St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.
The Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) Rodeo Team continues its tradition of excellence in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Central Plains Region, with 15 Men’s Team Championships and alumni competing professionally. The team trains in the Arnold Indoor Arena, focusing on skill development, teamwork, and leadership.
The 47th Annual FSCC Spring College Rodeo will be Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m
Sunday, March 15 at 1:00 p.m.
at the Arnold Indoor Arena, showcasing top collegiate rodeo competition.
FSCC’s Agriculture Department offers competitive Livestock and Meat Judging teams, giving students hands-on experience evaluating animals, meat quality, and presenting oral reasons—preparing them for careers in agriculture.
Following the rodeo, Aggie Days will be held
March 28, 2025, welcoming FFA and 4‑H members for contests in livestock, public speaking, and judging events—highlighting FSCC’s commitment to student development and agricultural education.
For more information, please contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations.
