The West Bourbon Elementary School is located on Fifth Street in Uniontown. The junior high and high school, and board office are located north, across the street.
Uniontown School District, U.S.D. 235 students start school on Wednesday, August 19.
Open house for the district is August 18 from 4-6 p.m.
Enrollment is currently online, but anyone needing assistance can come to the board office for the appropriate paperwork, according to Superintendent Vance Eden.
“We are excited for a great 2026-27 school year,” Eden said.
There are six new teachers this year:
Kristy Beene, is the new preschool teacher.
Ransom Pflieger is the new West Bourbon Elementary School Music Teacher, and Bralynn Sutterby is the new first grade teacher.
Tori Hathaway is the new Uniontown High School Special Education Teacher, Mike Main is the new high school math teacher and
Ryan Jarboe is the new high school social studies teacher.
The new pre-kindergarten building is located on the southeast side of the main elementary school building.
There is a new building and repurposing of an old building at West Bourbon Elementary School.
The new building will provide a learning space for the 35 currently enrolled pre-kindergarteners starting this school year, according to a school employee, Regina Cagle.
The new pre-k as seen from the east parking lot of the school.
There was a need to replace the modular building that formerly housed the pre-kindergarten learning space in the district, according to Superintendent Eden.
The old modular building on the west side of the school, the one on the north, will be the new custodial storage building.
“It was near the end of its life for use as a classroom,” Eden said. “A new building ensures that the district has a safe and quality learning environment for years to come.”
“Two old modulars were sitting where the new PK has been built. Those modulars were offered free to the public. One was claimed, and the other was demolished after no one expressed interest in it.”
The old pre-k school room is on the north, the former custodial storage building is on the south. Both are located on the west side of the elementary school campus.
There are two other modular buildings, pictured above, where the PK classrooms were previously. The location at the elementary school is on the west side of the campus.
“Our intention is to use the old PK as custodial storage… and get rid of the old modular that has been used as custodial storage.”
The following is the USD 235 Calendar for the new year:
PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will celebrate the grand opening of Lehigh Portland State Park on Wednesday, Aug. 12, officially opening the newest Kansas state park.
The grand opening celebration will include remarks from KDWP leadership, local officials and project partners, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The public is invited to tour the new visitor center during an open house from 2 to 3 p.m. at 1578 Montana Rd., Iola. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet park staff and learn more about the park.
Lehigh Portland State Park is built on the site of a former limestone quarry that provided stone for the Lehigh Portland Cement Company, which helped build roads and cities across Kansas in the early 1900s. Today, the former quarry has been transformed into a destination that blends the area’s industrial heritage with outdoor recreation, offering towering limestone cliffs, clear waters, wooded trails and scenic overlooks unlike anywhere else in Kansas. The park features approximately 15 miles of trails for hiking, trail running and mountain biking, along with new camping opportunities and amenities for both day-use and overnight visitors.
“Lehigh Portland State Park offers visitors the opportunity to experience a landscape unlike any found at other Kansas state parks,” said Kansas State Parks Director Conner O’Flannagan. “Whether visitors come for the day or spend the weekend camping, we look forward to welcoming them to Kansas’ newest state park.”
Reservations for the park’s 27 campsites open Aug. 13. Campsites can be reserved at campitks.gov or through the CampIt KS mobile app.
All visitors entering the park are required to have a Kansas State Park vehicle permit. Daily permits are available for purchase at the park office for $5, or $3.25 for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Annual permits, which provide unlimited entry to all Kansas state parks during the calendar year, are available for $25.
“The opening of Lehigh Portland State Park reflects KDWP’s commitment to expanding outdoor recreation opportunities while preserving Kansas’ unique natural and cultural resources,” said KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “The park’s distinctive setting adds character to an already exceptional outdoor experience. We’re excited to welcome visitors to experience this unique destination for years to come.”
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. KDWP manages 29 state parks, 177 lakes and wildlife areas, more than 300 public waterbodies, and 5 nature centers. Other services include management of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, law enforcement, and wildlife habitat programs. For more information about KDWP, visit ksoutdoors.gov.
The two sides in former Bourbon County chief information officer Shane Walker’s federal lawsuit have told the court they reached an agreement to settle it. On August 3, the court closed the case with a one-page order that begins: “The parties have advised the Court that they have reached an agreement settling this case in its entirety.”
That report is the basis for the closure. The order gives no other information about the agreement: no dollar amount, no terms. A settlement is not an admission of liability, and the court did not rule on the merits of any of Walker’s ten claims. The complaint’s disputed allegations were never decided in court.
Closed, but not dismissed
An administrative closing is not a dismissal, and an agreement reported to the court is not the same as a final dismissal. The order directs the clerk to “administratively terminate this action without prejudice” and gives the parties until September 3, 2026 to file a stipulation of dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a). Until then, the parties may ask to reopen the case for good cause. If September 3 passes with no stipulation and no request to reopen, the order says it “shall constitute the Court’s entry of final judgment of dismissal with prejudice” under Rule 41(a)(2); a dismissal with prejudice generally bars refiling the claims.
By September 3, one of three things happens: the parties file dismissal papers and the case ends; someone asks to reopen it; or neither happens and the closure becomes a final dismissal automatically.
How far the case got
The county and the individual defendants answered the complaint on June 23 and never filed a motion to dismiss. On July 8, Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell put the case on a scheduling track: the two sides were to confer by July 24 about, among other things, “the possibilities of settling or resolving the case,” submit a proposed scheduling order by August 3, and appear for a scheduling conference on August 13. No scheduling order was ever entered. On August 3, the court closed the case instead. No discovery filings appear on the docket (initial disclosures are exchanged between the parties rather than filed).
What the suit alleged
Walker worked for the county from December 2005 until July 9, 2025, when the commission voted unanimously to eliminate his position. His complaint alleged he was on approved FMLA leave when it happened, and that the real reason was retaliation for discrimination complaints that he and his wife, County Clerk Susan Walker, had filed against the county. The elected Register of Deeds rehired him that November, at $16 an hour, down from a salary of $88,616.84, according to the complaint. His ten counts spanned breach of contract, the Kansas Wage Payment Act, four Title VII retaliation counts, First Amendment free-speech and association claims, Fourteenth Amendment due process, and FMLA retaliation and interference; he sued the Board of County Commissioners, Commissioners Sam Tran, Mika Milburn-Kee and David Beerbower, and HR contractor Dr. Steve Cohen. The defendants denied the retaliation claims, describing the job elimination as a lawful layoff, and raised defenses including qualified immunity. Our earlier coverage: the complaint, and the county’s answer.
The case is Walker v. Bourbon County, Kansas, Board of Commissioners et al., No. 6:26-cv-01057, U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The closure order is posted here; the scheduling order is here.
A Smarter, Cost-Effective Path Forward for Fort Scott’s Residential Streets
To the Editor,
For decades, Fort Scott residents have watched our street repair cycle repeat itself: mill the surface, apply a costly asphalt overlay, and watch potholes and cracks reappear just a few seasons later. Nowhere is this clearer than on historic corridors like Wall Street (Highway 54), where early 1900s brick rests on active, unstable clay soils without subgrade stabilization. We are spending taxpayer dollars over and over on surface symptoms without addressing the foundation beneath.
It is time to adopt a proven, modern approach: Full-Depth Reclamation (FDR) with mechanical stabilization, paired with a renewable double chip seal surface.
Right-Sizing Infrastructure for Neighborhood Streets
Mechanical subgrade stabilization is an ideal solution for Fort Scott’s residential and collector streets—roads that carry everyday passenger cars, school buses, and delivery vans rather than constant heavy freight trucks. By removing the shifting brick-on-sand layer, blending crushed aggregate (AB-3) with recycled asphalt, and mechanically stabilizing the top 12 inches, we create a strong, uniform base designed to handle neighborhood traffic for decades.
The Power of a Renewable Double Chip Seal
Instead of laying expensive Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) over an unstable base, capping a stabilized foundation with a double chip seal provides a tough, weather-resistant, and easily renewable riding surface.
At approximately one-fourth the cost of traditional asphalt, a double chip seal isn’t a temporary patch—it is an engineered, sealable surface layer. When the top layer eventually wears down after 7 to 10 years, it doesn’t require multi-million-dollar milling; crews simply apply another protective seal coat to extend its life indefinitely at minimal expense.
Cost Comparison: Double Chip Seal vs. 2-Inch Hot-Mix Asphalt Overlay
Across Kansas municipalities and county road projects, the financial contrast between these two options is stark:
Feature / Metric
2-Inch Hot-Mix Asphalt Overlay
Renewable Double Chip Seal
Initial Surface Cost
$12.00 – $18.00+ per sq. yard
$3.00 – $4.50 per sq. yard (~1/4th the cost)
Foundation Requirement
Requires rigid, fully stabilized structural base
Works seamlessly with mechanically stabilized FDR base
Maintenance Strategy
Expensive mill & overlay cycle every 8–12 years
Low-cost re-sealing cycle every 7–10 years
Subgrade Failure Risk
High reflective cracking over clay/brick
Flexible surface absorbs minor ground movements
Local Fleet Compatibility
Requires specialized asphalt pavers & compaction teams
Can be executed using city crews & county equipment
Interlocal Cooperation: City & County Working Together
Capturing these savings relies on smart collaboration. By leveraging county reclaimer equipment and experienced operators alongside city crews, Fort Scott can complete these neighborhood street modernizations efficiently—stretching public dollars four times further than traditional asphalt paving.
Continuing to throw expensive asphalt over unengineered clay foundations is simply not sustainable. By combining city-county cooperation with mechanical base stabilization and a renewable double chip seal, Fort Scott can break the pothole cycle, save millions in tax dollars, and give our community streets that truly last.
Sincerely,
Pete Allen
Note: FortScott.biz publishes letters to the editor from a variety of perspectives. If you would like to share your opinion, please send a letter to news@fortscott.biz.
My daughter and family live 1 ½ hours north and my son and his wife live 50 minutes south from me. My daughter has a hobby farm and, after the piglets were born and ready to be sold, she mentioned that her brother wanted one of them. Since I was at her house at the time, without thinking it through, I volunteered to deliver the little pig. It would be no problem since Aaron was doing dirt work at my place that day. I’m fond of pigs, as Dad had a few sows with litters of piglets when I was a kid.
Well, when it was time for me to head home, Mariam said, “I’ll go catch the pig.” Obviously, she had taken me serious. So I said, “OK,” and off she went. She was gone quite a while, but eventually got to my car with the piglet. She put him in a nylon and mesh crate and set it in the trunk. I put down one side of the backseat so he could have access to the air conditioning. I told her I thought he would squeal all the way home and she said, “Oh, I don’t think it’ll be a problem – he’ll be fine.” Famous last words.
As I approached the I-49 on-ramp, he was squealing bloody murder. I thought, “What have I done? This is all my fault and I have 1 ½ hours of this ahead of me.” He had four different languages. When he was upset he’d let out an ear-piercing squeal. When he wasn’t upset, he’d oink. When he was annoyed by a rough patch in the highway, he’d let out a high-pitched squeak once. When he was off balance because of a curve, he’d grunt once. His favorite songs on the Tucker Family Band CD were “Peace in the Valley” and “Jesus on the Main Line.” I was nervous thinking that he could chew a hole in the material and get loose. I was speeding on purpose trying to shorten the trip as much as possible without getting pulled over by a state trooper. And if that did happen, I didn’t know if he would understand that I was merely a speeding, stressed-out uber for a pig and let me go with only a warning.
The stress, mingled with laughter, actually balanced out my emotions which prevented me from loosing my marbles on the way home. This epic situation taught me that I need to thoroughly consider all commitments before making them. My parents taught me to live with integrity and trustworthiness, and be a person of my word. “The one who makes a promise and does not break it, even though he is hurt by it” (Psalm 15:4 GW). Believers must stand by their word even if there’s a chance of temporary insanity while fulfilling the promise.
“When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to Him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NLT). God considers us to be fools if we don’t follow through with our commitments! Therefore, we are not to make promises we know full-well we can’t keep. It’s better to be honest and say, “No.”
“A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do” (Numbers 30:2 NLT). Once we commit, we must do it – whether to God or man. We’re all familiar with the colloquialism, “…the Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” Remember, your commitments impact your relationships with others. If you’re supposed to be there at noon, don’t show up at 12:30.
The Key: Be careful what you promise and then deliver it. (No pun intended.)
General Membership Meeting Minutes — August 5, 2026
Welcome: Fourteen members from twelve agencies attended the meeting in the Scottview Apartments Conference Room.
Coalition Board News: There is an open seat on the Coalition Board. Reach out to Nick if you are interested.
Member Introductions and Announcements
Aslee Reeder – Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center
Rene Hibdon – CHC SEK, Patient Resource Specialist. Rene was previously working with young clients and their families. She is now working with clients of all ages.
Henry Coronado – SER Corporation. The SER Corporation facilitates grants for students in the tech field, especially agriculture. They work frequently with the John Deere and welding programs at FSCC.
Amanda Portwood – Ward Kraft Recruiter
Alyssa Hess – Safehouse Crisis Center. Alyssa can provide presentations on healthy relationships to students in grades 6–12.
Janelle Tate – Early Childhood Block Grant. The grant is starting up the school year and getting ready to serve multiple counties in Southeast Kansas.
Michelle Stevenson – Early Childhood Program Coordinator. Michelle works with families who have children prenatal through age 6. She works with families to encourage a child’s development and track progress toward milestones.
Star Culp – Parents As Teachers. Star serves USD 234 Fort Scott, USD 235 Uniontown, and USD 256 Marmaton Valley.
Shelby Moore – FAST Program. Shelby works with families providing special education assistance.
Kathy Romero – Manager, Angels Care Home Health. Angels Care offers PT, OT, speech, nursing, and education services. Angels does not accept Medicaid but will help find services.
Theresa Amershek – Child Exchange & Visitation Center (CEVC). CEVC provides services for anyone who needs visitation with their kids. They have security available to assist with difficult visitation situations and work with the domestic violence center.
Shelby Blagg – Victim Advocate at Safehouse Crisis Center. The Safehouse provides shelter and advocacy for domestic and sexual violence victims.
Program
Dr. Zach Johnson, Superintendent, USD 234 Fort Scott
Dr. Johnson is beginning his fifth year at USD 234. Previously, he was the middle school principal for three years and Assistant Superintendent for one year. He has also taught, coached, and been an administrator in the Springfield area and Coffeyville school district. Dr. Johnson’s wife is a clinician at KRI.
USD 234 is beginning a strategic planning process to develop a mission and vision. Four community events will be held this fall. The school district is inviting community members to participate in these strategic planning sessions to learn more about the school district and provide input into the planning process. Surveys will also be available for the community. Dr. Johnson is working to develop partnerships between the school district and community through this process. The plan will guide the district for the next 3–5 years.
School begins Friday, August 14. Staff will return to work Monday to prepare classrooms and attend professional development sessions, including a guest speaker, Dave Burgess, who will speak to staff the following Wednesday.
Strategic Planning Sessions (all held at FSHS Commons Area, 5:00–8:00 PM):
August 27, 2026
September 17, 2026
October 8, 2026
October 29, 2026
Amanda Portwood, Ward/Kraft Recruiter
Ward/Kraft has developed a priority of recruiting within a 30-mile radius of Fort Scott. Amanda was hired to lead this recruiting initiative. She has been working with churches, schools, teams, and organizations to identify potential employees and help them begin the application and interview process.
Ward/Kraft has a paid apprenticeship program for some jobs — apprentices can earn $15 per hour while learning a new job. Multiple positions are currently available, ranging from IT and Account Managing to entry-level jobs, including housekeeping, machinist, production worker, and account manager. The production division runs three shifts Monday–Friday and rotates every three weeks. Office jobs are 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday–Friday. Ward/Kraft will work with people who have had difficulties in the past.
K-7 will be closed to through traffic from the K-39 junction south one mile to Cavalry Road in Bourbon County for excavation work starting the week of Aug. 10, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
The work is a continuation of the K-7 improvement project that is rehabilitating pavement, adding 6-foot shoulders, extending box culverts and conducting other work on the corridor from near U.S. 69 to near Farlington south of K-39.
K-7 remains closed to through traffic from K-39 northeast to near U.S. 69. Work on this section of K-7 is expected to be completed in September, conditions permitting.
After that, work will fully transition to K-7 between K-39 and 700th Avenue north of Farlington. This work also includes pavement, shoulder and box culvert extensions. In addition, the culvert for Second Cow Creek drainage will be replaced.
The next phase will improve K-7 from Farlington to K-47 in Girard and is scheduled to be let for bids in September.
The official detour around the construction zone remains. A signed detour follows K-3, K-47, K-7, U.S. 69 and U.S. 54.
KDOT awarded the primary K-7 construction contracts totaling $20.4 million to APAC-Kansas Inc., Shears Division, of Hutchinson.
KDOT urges motorists to stay alert, follow posted signs and refrain from hand-held mobile device use in all active work zones. 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.
The USD 234 Fort Scott Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Monday, August 10, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. at the Board Office, 424 South Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Agenda Summary – Public
Call Meeting to Order — David Stewart, President
Flag Salute
Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes – 07-13-26
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – July 17, 2026 – $1,824,919.22
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
4.7 Extended Trip Applications
4.8 Fundraising Applications
4.9 Resolution 26-07 – Bank Signers – High School
4.10 Resolution 26-08 – Bank Signers – UMB
Skills USA Students
Administration Overview
Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Items)
New Business
8.1 Preschool Building Project Bid Updates – Bidding Proposal
Southern Rust Makes Its First Appearance in Kansas Corn
After a relatively slow start to the growing season, southern corn rust has officially arrived in Kansas.
The disease was recently detected at trace levels in Stafford County on July 20, 2026, marking the first confirmed report of southern rust in the state this year. While southern rust often appears in Kansas by early July, the 2026 season has developed much more slowly than normal, and disease levels remain lower than what we typically see by late July. The first confirmed test of southern rust in southeast Kansas was in Bourbon and Crawford on July 22, 2026.
Unlike several other common corn diseases, including tar spot and gray leaf spot, southern rust does not survive Kansas winters. Instead, the fungus is carried north each year on wind currents from tropical and subtropical regions. Once it arrives, however, favorable weather can allow the disease to spread rapidly.
Warm temperatures near 90 degrees, humid conditions, and warm nights create the ideal environment for southern rust development. As summer heat settles across Kansas, growers should begin paying close attention to their corn fields.
Fortunately, much of the corn in eastern Kansas has already reached or passed the optimum fungicide application window, reducing the likelihood of significant yield losses. The situation is different for later-planted corn in central and western Kansas, where fields remain vulnerable and should be scouted regularly over the coming weeks.
One question many producers ask is whether they should apply a fungicide before finding the disease. The answer is generally no. Preventive fungicide applications specifically for southern rust are not recommended before the disease has been detected. Instead, regular field scouting is the best management strategy. Once the characteristic orange pustules appear on leaves, the disease can reproduce quickly under favorable weather conditions.
When deciding whether a fungicide application is warranted, growers should consider several factors, including hybrid susceptibility, the number of infected plants, and the crop’s growth stage. Early infections on susceptible hybrids during favorable weather present the greatest risk for yield loss.
There is good news for producers who have already applied a fungicide at tasseling or silking for diseases such as tar spot or gray leaf spot. Most products labeled for those diseases also provide effective control of southern rust and typically offer about three weeks of residual protection. Even so, continued scouting remains important because disease pressure can increase after fungicide protection begins to decline.
Identifying southern rust is relatively straightforward. The disease produces bright orange pustules that are usually found on the upper surface of corn leaves. If you rub your finger across the pustules, the orange spores will easily come off onto your hand—a simple field test that distinguishes southern rust from many other leaf diseases.
To help producers stay informed, the Kansas Corn Commission and K-State Plant Pathology have developed an online Corn Disease Resource Center that allows growers to monitor diseases affecting corn across Kansas. The interactive map highlights where diseases have been confirmed and can help producers determine what threats may be approaching their area.
State specialists are also asking for growers’ assistance in tracking southern rust. If you suspect the disease is present in your field, contact your local K-State Research and Extension office or submit a sample to the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab. Reports from across the state help researchers monitor disease movement and provide timely recommendations to Kansas corn producers.
As we move deeper into the growing season, regular scouting remains the best defense. Early detection, combined with timely management decisions, can help protect yield potential if southern rust continues to spread across Kansas.
Lonnie Mengarelli is a Kansas State University Extension Agriculture agent assigned to the Southwind District. He may be reached at mengo57@ksu.edu or 620-223-3720.
*The use of trade names is for clarity and educational purposes only and does not imply endorsement by K-State Research and Extension. Always read and follow current pesticide label directions.
CFSEK Awards $185,000 in 2026 Community Impact Grants
Since 2001, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) has been making a difference in the region through its Community Impact Grants (formerly known as the General Funds Grants). This year is no different, with $185,000 granted to 73 projects in the focus areas of Arts & Culture, Basic Human Needs, and Youth Activities. Since 2001, the CFSEK Community Impact Grants have awarded over $2.2 million in competitive grants throughout Southeast Kansas.
“This year was particularly competitive, with over $770,00 requested from 100 applicants,” said Kara Mishmash, CFSEK Program Coordinator. “It was really humbling to see the deep need in our communities, and it’s motivating us to keep growing our capacity to say ‘yes’ more often.”
The 2026 recipients are:
Arts & Culture – $10,000
Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc. – Art in the Garden
City of Pittsburg, Memorial Auditorium – Music Under the Stars (Hispanic Music Festival)
First Baptist Church Riverton – BE THE ART
Gordon Parks Museum Foundation – Historic Yearbook Preservation, Digital Access, and Exhibit Enhancement Project
Josiah Fletcher Foundation – Scholarships for Jazz Camp
Pittsburg State University Foundation, Inc. – 2026 Hispanic Music Festival
USD 250 Pittsburg – Dragon Academy Global Explorers, Spanish Immersion Program
Basic Human Needs – $75,000
Building Health, Inc – CareVan: General Public Transportation
Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry – Hygiene for Hope (Hygiene Outreach Promoting Equity)
Catholic Charities Inc. – Housing and Homeless Services
Catholic Diocese of Wichita, The Lord’s Diner, Pittsburg – Healthy Bodies, Healthy Living: Ensuring Essential Nutrition in Every Meal Served
City of West Mineral Kansas – Encouraging Physical Activity and Hydration for Healthy Families
CLASS LTD – AED Access for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation – Caring Through Communication
Community Food Pantry – Milk Money
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas – Baby’s Basic Needs
Crosstimbers Food Pantry Association – Pantry Pathways
DBLO Association – Restoring Comfort and Rest for Children in Southeast Kansas
Dream Center of the 4 States – Help and Hope: Food Pantry Expansion
Erie Area Community Christmas Basket Fund – Christmas Basket Program
Erie Senior Center – Heart Safe Senior Center Initiative
Families and Children Together Inc. – Essentials for Stability 2
First Baptist Church Riverton – SHARE WITH LOVE FOOD PANTRY
First United Methodist Church Wesley House – Cold Weather Survival Items for Those Experiencing Homelessness
Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries – Restore
Foster Adopt Connect, Inc. – Family Stabilization Assistance
Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church – Community Food Pantry
Humanity House Foundation – Assisting Allen County residents
Labette County Emergency Assistance Center – Investing in our neighbors in Labette County
Live Healthy Montgomery County, Inc. – Laundry Love
Mosaic – Ensuring Quality of Life for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States – Meeting Basic Human Needs for Families with Hospitalized Children
Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc – Home Essentials for Survivors
SE Kansas Women Helping Women – “Smile Again” Dental Assistance
SEKMA Thrift Store and Food Pantry – Bridging the Gap: Supporting Local Food Access and Family Needs
Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging – TC Fund all counties
SparkWheel – Sparking Success for Students in Uniontown
Stay Strong Live Long Wilson County – Wilson County FREE Community Baby Shower
The Foster Closet, Inc. – Personal Care Items for Teens in Foster Care
Youth Activities – $100,000
Bourbon County Core Community – New Class for Core Community
Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc. – Backpack Program
Cato Historical Preservation Association, Inc. – Cato Celebration for Kids (Also called Cato Kids’ Day)
Cherry Street Youth Center, Inc. – Gaga Pit
City of West Mineral Kansas – Encouraging Physical Activity in our Youth
Compass Academy Network Inc – ICAN and iLead at Compass Academy Network in SEK, 2027
Cornerstones of Care – Connected Kinds, Stronger Families: Youth Activity Support Fund for Family Preservation Families
Crawford County Fair Association – Thanking 4-H Youth
Families and Children Together Inc. – Healing through Play at the FACT Nature Preserve
Family Resource Center, Inc. – AAC Playground Communication Boards
Fostering Connections – Adoption Celebration Program
Girard Lions Club – Disability-Friendly Musical Playground Area
Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland – First Aid and Safety Fair
Integrated Behavioral Technologies, Inc – Sensory-Friendly Community Inclusion Events
K-State Extension Council – Money Habitudes
Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush – Career Exploration Tools: Clay Anatomy Models
Miners Hall Museum Foundation – Franklin Community Park: Enhancing Community Spaces for Youth and Families
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish/St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools – Photography
Ozark Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America – Cub Scout Pack Enhancement and Recruitment Initiative
Partnership for all Cherokee County Children – Empowering Cherokee County Students to be Vape-Free Through Art and Education
Pittsburg Area Chamber Foundation: Pittsburg Area Young Professionals – PAYP Bike Drive
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States – More Comfortable Play for Youth
SEK Running Camp – SEK Running Camp
Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center – Ready, Set, Regulate!
Special Olympics Kansas – Unified Sports in Southeast Kansas
Spring River Mental Health and Wellness – Building Strong Foundations: A Lifespan Approach to Youth Behavioral Health
For the past few weeks, Dave and I have been entrusted with the partial care of four children under the age of six. It has been one of the most challenging times of my life (including skydiving, a near-fatal car accident and raising three A.D.D. sons). Holding a baby while walking up and down stairs (will my knees hold out?), keeping an eye on a 15-month-old who delights in stuffing bugs and rocks and large crumbs in her mouth, consoling a sobbing three-year-old because there are no horses in sight (do toddlers have hormones?), trying to learn a hip-hop dance my six-year-old wants to teach me (much to her frustration…and mine), and repeating these actions for days on end makes me wonder how I ever did it as a mother.
Oh, I know how I did it. I was thirty, not seventy-six. And they were my children, not my child’s kiddos.
Still, the blessings of grandparenting far outweigh the worries. Scripture reminds us of the difference a godly grandparent can make: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5
Quietly, as I hugged or held these little ones, I was given a chance to thank God for their individuality and to ask His grace on their lives. Their innocence, their smiles, their ability to giggle at tickles and funny faces and “This little piggy went to market,” their “I love you, Mammy” greetings, made me realize what a privilege it is to spend time with these little blessings from God. No longer could I be their bucking horse or carry two of them at one time, nor could I copy their worm wiggles on the floor. I could, however, be a great audience when they wanted to perform their rendition of the National Anthem while riding their stick ponies and holding their miniature American flags or encourage them when they tried to skip.
I marvel how God could make such individual personalities within one family (Dave and I are blessed with eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren under the age of six) and are in awe at how they all were designed uniquely by God in their mothers’ wombs. Brunettes. Blondes. Redheads. A vociferous reader and one who says she never will learn her letters. A sweet, loving sibling and one who frequents the time-out chair. One who smiles constantly and one who screams non-stop. Each unique and each being prayed over to grow up to love Jesus.
When I taught high school, one of my roll questions each year was “What is your favorite memory?” Most of my students answered that it was something they did with a grandparent. Over my 20+ years of teaching, that answer never changed.
Dave and I are the fortunate ones. Many of my elderly friends now are raising their grandchildren because their children are not able to do so. I don’t know how they do it. When I say goodbye to my little ones, I need a spa day and some Tylenol. These grandparents do not have that luxury. So, the next time you see an elderly person pushing a stroller or a grocery cart with youngsters tagging along, a word or two of encouragement could go a long way.
A gift certificate to a local spa would go a lot further.
