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The recent administration shifts at Fort Scott Community College have not been easy.
FSCC President Dr. Jason Kegler was put on paid administrative leave on May 20 and Sara Sutton was promoted to interim president. No reason was given by the college trustees for putting Kegler on leave.
To view a prior story:
FSCC Will Name Interim President: Dr. Kegler Placed on Administrative Leave
Sutton was selected by the FSCC Board of Trustees to be the interim president, on May 23.
At that same meeting, the trustees resolved to suspend men’s golf and women’s golf, e-sports, and flag football and will honor those student scholarships for the 2024-25 school year, they announced.
Sutton began duties as the new interim president on May 24.
Sutton has been an instructor at the college since 2018, then promoted to vice president in February 2024.
Sutton earned an Associate of Science degree from Fort Scott Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Kansas State University, a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Pittsburg State University, and was appointed as the FSCC Vice President of Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development in February 2024. Sutton was to begin her official duties in the role on July 1, 2024, according to the college website.
Her duties have now shifted to leadership of the community college.
“This transition has had its challenges to navigate,” she said. “The change in leadership on Friday, May 24th not only brought about my Interim role but also a new athletic director.”
Liza Erwin is the newly appointed FSCC Athletic Director.
“With the board’s decision to suspend the three sports programs, the new athletic director had to properly inform the National Junior College Athletic Association of the changes and then gain access to the Letter of Intent (LOI) system,” she said. “That did not take place until early in the following week. Then, it was a series of approvals with all LOI’s released by Saturday, June 1st from FSCC.”
“The Athletic Director was in contact with coaches and personally contacted each student,” Sutton said. “While we wish this process was faster on our end, we were at the mercy of the challenges of the transition of a new Athletic Director and Interim President all in the same time frame. We tried our best to complete the release in a timely manner so students could move forward.”
“All students who were impacted by these changes have been given the opportunity to be on scholarship next school year,” she said. “Those who have paid any fees for the 2024-2025 school year and wish to not attend FSCC will be refunded.
“This decision was not taken lightly and the educational future of those impacted is important to Fort Scott Community College,” Sutton said.
ATTENTION: Concerned Citizens of Bourbon County and Fort Scott. By state rules we had to post the following information, but many are reading it wrong (it is very hard to read). Michael Rogers is NOT constructing a feedlot on his property 2555 Locust Rd. Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. He is constructing erosion barriers on his property.
The City of Fort Scott is not responsible for any of the information written in the document and since it is outside of the 3-mile radius does not have Code Enforcement jurisdiction.
The City of Fort Scott is required to post this document per the State of Kansas request.
Sorry for any confusion this may have caused to residents close to 2555 Locust Rd. and to Michael Rogers.
Brad Matkin
City Manager
City of Fort Scott
For information on Public Notice No. KS-AG-R-24-010. Visit our City Clerk page, https://www.fscity.org/206/City-Clerk
Brad Matkin
City Manager
City of Fort Scott
Maurine McCalment, age 96, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, and more recently of Moore, Oklahoma, passed away Thursday, May 30, 2024, at her home in Oklahoma. She was born October 6, 1927, in Fredonia, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph Stroud and Anna Kunkel Stroud. Maurine graduated from the Fredonia High School. Maurine first married Maurice O’Dell and together they had two sons, Jon and David. Maurice was tragically killed in a hit and run accident. Following his death, Maurine moved to Ft. Scott to attend the Mercy School of Nursing. This is where she met and married Richard McCalment on June 20, 1950. Together they had a son, Patrick. Maurine became a registered nurse and was licensed in Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Colorado. While in New Mexico, Maurine and her husband, Richard, who was a lab tech, helped to organize a mobile lab which brought health care to rural areas of the state. She later returned to Ft. Scott and retired. Richard passed away on November 28, 2014. Maurine later relocated to Moore, Oklahoma to live near her son, Patrick.
Maurine is survived by her two sons, Jon O’Dell of Chanute, Kansas and Patrick McCalment of Moore, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Michael O’Dell, Achim Dorner and Petra Ring and numerous great-grandchildren. In addition to her husbands, Maurine was preceded in death by a son, David O’Dell; three brothers and three sisters.
There was cremation. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 19th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Private burial will take place in the Clarksburg Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
This year’s annual Fort Scott High School Tiger Drama Camp performs Sleeping Beauty by Kathryn Schultz Miller on June 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium.
Thirty three students in 1st through 9th grade spent two weeks at camp preparing for the production.
The character of Aurora is played by 8th grader Celia Hamilton and Morgana (the Bad Fairy) is played by freshman Isis Patton. Other notable characters include King Alfred, played by freshman Beowulf Carpenter; Lilac (the Head Good Fairy), portrayed by fifth grader Audrey McNutt; and Prince Ferdinand, played by seventh grader Adam Perry.
The camp and show are directed entirely by FSHS Thespians. Recent graduate Regen Wells and senior Cooper George are the Directors.
George said, “I have been enjoying the technical aspect and working one on one with the designers. I have loved working on set dressing and learning how to use materials for what they weren’t designed for. But overall, I have loved seeing the different personalities and energies from the kids. I truly hope the kids will see what theatre is and all the different possibilities they can find in it, and the possibility of them returning for more shows or being involved with theatre during their high school and college years.”
Technical staff include: senior Mykael Lewis – Stage Manager, senior Kiara Thompson and junior Garrett Arvidson – Assistant Stage Managers, graduate Casey Gomez – Choreographer, sophomore Allie Wards – Costume Designer, graduate Natalie Woods – Sound Designer, graduate Lizzy Moore and junior Junie Fisher – Music Directors, junior Charlie Chaplin and sophomore Abby Szczepanski – Lighting Designers, junior Tobi Larrabee and senior Molly Hoyt – Arts Directors and senior Milo Donnelly – Props Master. Many other Thespians serve as acting coaches and leaders and Thespian Director Angie Bin serves as show producer.
During the two week camp, students learn about most technical theatre areas such as lighting, sound, costuming, stagecraft, and make-up. They also help to create the artistic set decor.
“We are very lucky to have an amazing group of recently graduated seniors working on this staff in the areas that they are going to be majoring in in college. They are really experiencing on the job training right now in the careers they plan to pursue in the future,” Bin said.
“This is my fourth time working on directing the children’s summer play through the FSHS Tiger Drama camp. I find that this program is one of the most valuable things the high school runs. This year alone, I have received so many kind words from parents about how much their children love and enjoy these shows. Because of Tiger Drama Camp, I discovered my passion for directing and Stage Management. I’m pursuing theatre as a career in college. I hope you’ll all come out to support these amazing kids and see the work they’ve put into making this show spectacular!” Wells said.
Tickets for the show are $5 for reserved seats and are available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the doors. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.
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The Bourbon County Primary Election Day will be on August 6.
“Early voting will begin on July 29, to give everybody a week to come in early to vote,” Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins said.
Five Bourbon County Government officials are seeking re-election this year.
And there is a shift in elected personnel.
Patty Love, the current Bourbon County Treasurer, has decided to retire and will not seek re-election this year, according to Hawkins.
“After much consideration, I have decided to run for Bourbon County Treasurer,” she said. “I spent five years working in the Treasurer’s Office and feel my knowledge and experience are needed in that office.”
Love, Hawkins, and Bourbon County Chief Financial Officer Susan Walker have worked closely on county issues over the past few years, Hawkins said.
“We are making great progress within the organization, as evident by the good audits, however; I feel there is still more to accomplish, and I can help accomplish this by being Treasurer,” she said.
“Susan Walker, CFO, has played an integral part in my success as County Clerk and I feel she would be an excellent Clerk as she has 20 years of experience in human resources and municipal finance and government,” Hawkins said.
“Many do not know that Susan is a Certified Municipal Clerk through Wichita State University,” Hawkins said. “Given how well our offices have worked in the past I feel this will make for a smooth transition. Our plans are to create policies and procedures to ensure financial controls are in place for future elected officials.”
“By working together and developing policies and procedures there will be checks and balances in place and the need for a Chief Financial Officer can be eliminated potentially saving the wages of the CFO or reallocating the wages to other needs,” Hawkins said.
The following are the other incumbents and their challengers, with a short explanation of the duties of the office.
Commissioners
All three of the commissioner seats are up for re-election.
The current three County Commissioners, Clifton Beth (District 3), Jim Harris ( District 2), and Brandon Whisenhunt (District 1) have thrown their hat in the ring to serve again.
Those running against them are Clinton Walker, David Beerbower, Steven Houston, and Leroy Kruger.
The county commissioners are the chief elected officials of the county, according to the county’s website. They set policies and procedures for running the courthouse and set the budgets for all Bourbon County departments.
County Attorney
Tiara McElroy is not running again for Bourbon County Attorney and James Crux has filed for that position.
The county attorney is the prosecuting attorney for the county.
Register of Deeds
Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge has filed for the position again and no one filed to run against her.
The register of deeds keeps and records all deeds to property located in the county, according to the county’s website. He/She maintains military discharge records and school records as well.
County Treasurer
Jennifer Hawkins and Michael Hoyt are running for county treasurer. Hawkins is the current Bourbon County Clerk.
According to the county’s website, the county treasurer collects and distributes all real and personal property taxes and is an agent for the Kansas Division of Vehicles for vehicle and title registrations.
County Clerk
Susan Walker, the current Bourbon County Finance Director, has filed for the Bourbon County Clerk position.
The county clerk is the county’s chief election officer who maintains voter registration and conducts all elections in the county, according to the county’s website. He/she sets the tax roll and keeps records for the county as Freedom of Information Officer.
Sheriff
Sheriff Bill Martin filed to run again and is being challenged by Nelson Blythe.
The county sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county, according to the county’s website.
To view all the state and other county filings provided the county clerk:
2024 Primary Election Candidates – Copy
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Judith Ann Beal, age 65, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Friday, May 31, 2024, at home surrounded by family. She was born on May 28, 1959, in Castro Valley, CA, the daughter of Walter and Geraldine Murrel Hanks. Judith enjoyed arts and crafts, including coloring. She was a huge Dr. Pepper fan. Her true love was spending time with family, especially the grandkids. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints in Fort Scott.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Beal, Sr., West Plains, MO; 3 sons, Robert Beal, Jr. (Crystal), Columbus, KS, Robert Olan Beal, West Plains, MO, and Dalton Beal (Dorris), Somonauk, IL; 2 daughters, Brandy Garner (Jason), Fort Scott, KS, and Christal Beal (Danny Lagud), Mayview, MO; 2 brothers, Raymond Mosley, NY, and Walter Hanks (Wendy), OR; a sister, Kathy Breiding (lee), CA; 11 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren with 3 on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Graveside services will be held at 12:00 PM Friday, June 7th, at the West Liberty Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:30 until 11:30 AM Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel before leaving for the cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Judith Beal Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

The Sleep Inn – Fort Scott Wins Prestigious 2024 Platinum Award from Choice Hotels.
The Sleep Inn – Fort Scott has been recognized with Choice Hotels’ prestigious 2024 Platinum Award. The designation is awarded to the top 3% of hotels within the brand, representing a tremendous accomplishment. As one of the top tier properties operating under the Sleep Inn flag, the hotel has demonstrated an exceptional focus on guest satisfaction and dedication to superior service. Award criteria are evaluated by Choice Hotels through its official property ranking reports. The Sleep Inn – Fort Scott was recognized as the Sleep Inn of the Year as the best Sleep Inn hotel in the U.S. in 2017 and in 2022 received the Ring of Honor Award as among the top 1% of all Sleep Inn brand hotels. Each other year since the hotel opened in 2014 the hotel has been awarded the Platinum Award recognizing their performance among the top 3% in the system. The Sleep Inn – Fort Scott will celebrate its 10th anniversary in October of 2024.
“We are so proud of our team here at the Sleep Inn as we are only able to achieve this award by their hard work and consistent delivery of sincere hospitality. Our staff drives our hospitality culture and guests frequently recognize our service and cleanliness as noticeably extraordinary. The commitment of our entire team to maintain this culture is what has allowed us to remain in the top 3% all 10 years since we opened in 2014” said Bill Michaud, Managing Partner.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the 2024 Good Ol’ Days Parade winners. The Chamber would like to thank everyone who entered and participated in the parade. The Chamber would also like to thank the many volunteers who judged, marked the line-up, or otherwise assisted with the event.
Category Winner
Float Tie between Fort Scott Nazarene Church and Community Christian Church
Foot Unit Clark Street Lights
Tractor N/A
Horses Fort Scott Livestock Market
Classic Car Grand Marshall – Lavetta Simmons, car owned by Cory Bryars
Golf Cart Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic
Antique Car Niece Products
The Chamber organizes the Good Ol’ Days Parade, Halloween Parade and the Christmas Parade; If you have feedback or suggestions for future parades, you may contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566 or email [email protected].