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Obituary of Arleen Louise Wilson
Arleen Louise Wilson, 89, of Iola, Kansas, passed away at her home early Friday morning, October 17, 2025, surrounded by her daughters and granddaughters. She was born in Walnut, Kansas, the daughter of Wayne and Pearl Blanche Wright Geiger. She graduated from High School in Hepler, Kansas.
She married Ira E. Wilson in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 8, 1957, he preceded her in death in June of 2014. Their first date was to the American Royal Rodeo. They lived in Kansas City, Kansas for six years before moving the family to Fort Scott, then three years later, they moved to Porterville where they lived until they retired and moved to Iola, Kansas to be closer to family. She retired from the Western Insurance Company after 30 years. Their Last vacation was to Niagara Falls.
Arleen is survived by her three daughters, Connie and Carey Lockwood of Fort Scott, Debbie and Keith Phillips of Shawnee, Kansas, and Karen and Robert McKarnin of Iola, Kansas, a brother, Frank Geiger of Erie, Kansas, six grandchildren, Cody Phillips, Kimberly and Lee Pierce, Timothy and Maria Lockwood, Stacy Lockwood, Emily, Casey and Brandon McKarnin, eight greatgrandchildren, Rayce and Conner Pierce, Tyson and Addyson Lockwood, Parker and Abigail Kaifes and Emmette and Eowyn. In addition to her husband Ira, she was preceded in death by her parents, and her two sisters, Maxine Watkins and Wanda Wilson.
Graveside services will be at 11:00am, Friday, October 24, 2025 at the Rosedale Cemetery near Porterville with Pastor Dusty Drake Officiating. Memorials may be given to the Allen County Animal Rescue Foundation. Contributions may be sent to or left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
$25,000 Awarded to HBCAT Bronson For City Park Project
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team/Bronson, KS was recently awarded $25,000 to complete Rural Champion Community Project on Bronson City Park.
Earlier this summer The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, in collaboration with The City of Bronson, was awarded $25,0000 for an implementation grant for the City of Bronson as part of the Office of Rural Prosperity Rural Champions grant program announced last year in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation for a placemaking project specifically a Bronson City Park renovation.
Bourbon County’s Rural Champion, Kelly Perry, led efforts to address safety concerns and challenges within Bronson city park. This funding will support the implementation of the Bronson Park Placemaking and Renovation Project. During the first six months of their 1-year program, Rural Champions were busy connecting with their communities, gathering volunteers, engaging local organizations, and building connections with resource partners around their unique challenges. This work was used in developing the project implementation plan to utilize the $25,000 grant to assist in the next steps for their project.
These grants will fund park renovations that are slated to be completed in the Summer of 2026. As the Champion works through this final phase of implementation, they will develop a comprehensive guidebook that documents their experiences, resources and strategies – and serve as a valuable resource for other communities to implement similar strategies. The Office of Rural Prosperity will continue to support this cohort of projects, ensuring that the Rural Champions have the resources and guidance needed. To view the other awardees or to learn more about the Rural Champions and stay updated on their progress, visit the webpage here ( https://www.kansascommerce.
From Kelly Perry:
” The need for the Rural Champions program was identified in the Power Up & Go report through surveys and interviews of more than 400 rural Kansans under the age of 40 as something that would “move the needle” toward success. Many of those individuals wanting to make a difference are volunteers who are passionate about their communities but unable to take on a community improvement project without receiving appropriate resources, training and compensation.
“The Rural Champions program removes the funding gap for those passionate rural dwellers by connecting them with resources that will help them accomplish their critical community project. That’s when in early 2024, The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team applied for and was awarded a $20,800 grant for the Rural Community Champion Grant program and HBCAT provided $5,200 cash and in-kind match. HBCAT contracted with Kelly Perry to serve as the Rural Champion for a Bronson Placemaking Project. The time for the initial grant work started a year ago October 2024 and her contract was up in September 2025. In September 2025, The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team was awarded the $25,000 to then implemented the placemaking project.”
When will the project start?
“The project is currently under way with work from the Professional Engineers taking place right now. All Rural Champion projects must be completed by the end of 2026. The Bronson project is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2026.”
Bronson City Park Placemaking Project
“The Bronson City Park Placemaking Project focuses on revitalizing the city’s park to create a safer, more vibrant, and family-friendly gathering space for the community. With support from the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Champion Grant, the project includes upgrading playground equipment, improving accessibility and safety. The goal is to strengthen community pride, encourage outdoor activity, and enhance the overall quality of life in Bronson.
The office of rural prosperity shows this on their site for all the 2024-2025 Rural Champions. Bronson is the only Placemaking Project in the 2024-2025 Rural Champions.”
Wetmore Community Development Champion – Analyssa Noe
Cheyenne Housing Champion- Lisa Krull
Herrington Downtown Revitalization Champion – Lisa Schlesener
Comanche Regionalization & Grant Writer Champion – Julie Lyon
Grinnell Downtown Revitalization Champion- Stacy Tholen
Harvey County Childcare Champion – Melissa Bogunovich
Bronson Placemaking Champion – Kelly Perry
Hodgeman County Housing Champion – Michelle Walters
Dighton Food Access Champion – Carrie von Leonrod
Cowley County Food Access Champion – Amy Jo McWhirt
Rooks County Workforce Recruitment Champion – Kandie Morain
Stafford County Childcare Champion – Sarah Hampton
TBC Community Development Champion – Beth Ann Falstad
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports October 21
Social Media Can Drive Sales: Nov. 5
Childrens Business Fair is October 25
Uniontown dominated at the South East Regional Eco Meet at Greenbush.
Eco-Meets are competitions that test high school students’ knowledge of Kansas’ wildlife and plants, rewarding the most naturally-qualified students with scholarships. Students are tested in four areas, which are updated annually: a particular habitat, a focus group (of animals), an outdoor scavenger hunt (to assess identification skills), and a fun interpretive event, according tohttps://www.kansasecomeet.org/faqs/
Uniontown High School students participated in Southeast Kansas Regional Eco-Meet at Greenbush, KS on October 22, according to https://www.kansasecomeet.org/southeast-kansas-regional-eco-meet/
Team A, consisting of Aryonnah Beaton, Mathew Knight, Payton McAfee and Ziggy Barbour took 1st place overall.
Team C, consisting of Liliyan Robinson, Ash Sporleder, Lexie Irsik and Scarlett McCullough took 2nd place overall. Both of those teams will advance to the State competition held at Rock Springs Ranch in Junction City on November 6.
In addition to taking the top two team awards, Uniontown captured the four top individual awards!
Aryonnah Beaton placed 1st in Aquatics and Payton McAfee placed 2nd.
Lilian Robinson placed 1st in Invertebrates and Ty Shelton placed 2nd.
Team B, consisting of Austin Maycomber, Ty Shelton, Braydon Russell and Chandler Hall and Team D, consisting of Macy Hueston, Karsyn Woods, Cristian Gonzalez and Catherine Cox also did a fantastic job yesterday but unfortunately did not qualify for State.
Uniontown brought home the traveling trophy and since 2019 Colgan has been the winner. For 2025, the trophy will stay in Uniontown High School!
Submitted by
Christal Martin
Alyson Weston
Brad Johnson
Carrie Sutcliffe
From row: (left to right)Karsyn Woods, Macy Hueston, Cristian Gonzalez, Lillyan Robinson, Lexi Irsik, Ash Sporleder, & Scarlett McCullough.
Back row: (left to right) Payton McAfee, Mathew Knight, Ziggy Barbour, Aryonnah Beaton, Chandler Hall, Austin Maycumber, Braydon Russell and Ty Shelton.
Cinnamon Roll Class
Oct. 20 Bo Co Commission Meeting Agenda Summary
Bourbon County Commission Agenda Outline: October 20, 2025
10.20.25 Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave. | Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:30 PM
I. Opening
- Call Meeting to Order
- Roll Call
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Prayer
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes (unofficial until approved)
- September 15, 2025
- September 16, 2025
- September 22, 2025
- September 23, 2025
- September 26, 2025
- September 29, 2025
- October 6, 2025
- October 7, 2025
- October 14, 2025
IV. Presentation
- Casey Brown – SEK-Cap Public Transportation
V. Executive Session
- Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b) (1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
VI. Resolutions Brought for Signature
- Law Enforcement Fund Resolution returned for signatures
VII. Consent Agenda
- Approval of October 17, 2025, Accounts Payable ()
- Approval of October 17, 2025, Payroll ()
VIII. Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
IX. Old Business
- 108 W 2nd
- Bitcoin Mining
- Noise Resolution
- Gov Deals
- Technology Discussion
- Meeting Resolution
X. New Business
- SOP Public Works
- Culverts
- Sanitation Discussion
- Resident Complaint
XI. Department Updates
XII. Build Agenda for following meeting
XIII. Commission Comments
XIV. Adjournment
Detailed Summary of Information Packet
The rest of the packet consists of minutes from past meetings, a draft Executive Session form, future agenda items, and financial/support documents.
Future Items and Forms (Page 2)
The packet includes a standardized form for Executive Sessions, listing various statutory reasons such as personnel matters, attorney-client privilege, and security measures. Future agenda items listed include the Vehicle Lease Program, Economic Development, the Elevator, and Elm Creek Quarry.
Past Meeting Minutes Summary
September 15 & 16, 2025 (Pages 3-11)
These minutes focus heavily on the budget and financial decisions.
- The Commission held a public hearing on the budget (Page 3).
- Approved funding Phase One of the First Responder Radio System Upgrade with Tusa Consulting for $32,680 from the jail sales tax fund (Page 7).
- Approved the Sheriff using $10,884 from the jail sales tax fund to upgrade jail phones (Page 7).
- Authorized the Clerk to apply for an elevator variance to continue current operations while exploring modernization options (Page 7).
- The special meeting on September 16 finalized a proposed mill levy of 59.391, which would result in approximately $451,000 in cash reserves (Page 10, 11).
September 22 & 26, 2025 (Pages 12-22)
These meetings covered budget review, appointments, and other administrative matters.
- The Commission discussed a potential $106,000 shortfall in the Sheriff’s 2026 budget (Page 12).
- Heard a presentation on the Enterprise Fleet Management Vehicle Leasing Program (Page 12).
- Appointed individuals to the newly formed Bourbon County Planning Commission (Page 13, 16).
- On September 26, the Commission adopted a budget with a final mill levy of 54.678, which is below the revenue neutral rate (Page 22).
September 29, 2025 (Pages 23-26)
Key decisions made during this meeting:
- Decided to proceed with a full modernization of the courthouse elevator (Page 23).
- Agreed to seek bids for either repair or demolition of the 108 W 2nd Street building (Page 24).
- Approved signing a grant application for Bridge 19.2Q on Jayhawk Road, with a county contribution of $82,000 (Page 25).
October 6 & 7, 2025 (Pages 27-35)
Topics included administrative oversight and financial access.
- The Commission voted to take no action on the 140th Street road closure application (Page 27).
- The Commission gave the Clerk direction to provide the Treasurer immediate access to payroll and accounts payable systems (Page 29).
- The Commission moved to allow only the Commission to give direction to the Public Works department (Page 29).
October 14, 2025 (Pages 36-41)
This meeting involved the formal adoption of a key resolution.
- The Commission signed the Law Enforcement Fund Resolution, which establishes the legal framework for the fund’s operation (Page 40).
Financial and Supporting Documents (Pages 42-133)
- Accounts Payable/Invoices (Pages 42-108): Detailed invoices make up the largest portion of the packet, supporting the $377,595.70 Accounts Payable amount listed in the agenda. Expenditures cover various funds including General Fund, Landfill, Road & Bridge Sales Tax Fund, and Ambulance Service.
- SEK-Cap Public Transportation Data (Pages 109-110): This section provides ridership statistics and a written plea for increased local financial support to ensure the sustainability of public transportation services.
- Supporting Images (Pages 111-133): The final pages contain numerous images, likely consisting of forms, site evaluations, request forms, and installation photos, which typically serve as supporting documentation for agenda items such as culvert installations or other Public Works projects.
Pulling Together For The Common Good
The U.S. Federal Government shut down is affecting areas not thought of previously.
During a city supervisor’s meeting last week, it was brought up in conversation that the Fort Scott National Historic Site’s lawn had not been mowed as usual.
“With the government shutdown the FSNHS, staff has not been allowed to work at the Fort, but the grass continues to grow,” said Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager on the city’s Facebook page. “So I reached out to the FSNHS superintendent to see what kind of hoops we needed to jump through to enable us to mow the property. After a few days of government work we were given the OK to proceed with mowing, Knowing the weekend is going to be nice and visitors will be wanting to see the Fort in it’s beauty, the Parks Department and Chief Bruner took time out of their regular daily duties to go mow and weedeat the grounds. Thank you guys for your dedication.”
Norman Mackley, Fort Scott Park Department Supervisor, said “At a supervisors weekly meeting, I think, (Fort Scott Fire Chief) Dave Bruner volunteered. Then Dave contacted me.”
Thursday afternoon, October 16, Mackley and Parks Maintenance employee Paul Ballou, each took a 72 inch city lawn mower and spent about three hours mowing the Fort Scott National Historic Site lawn.
“I found out, there is more to mow than I thought,” Mackley said. “I estimate seven acres.”
On Friday, Bruner trimmed weeds and overgrown grass with a with a weed eater to keep the Fort lawn looking neat, and manicured, with trimming also from Mackley and Ballou.
KS Department of Agriculture Crop and Livestock Research Grant Opportunity
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the FY26 Crop & Livestock Research Grant Program. Funds for the program are appropriated to the agency by the Kansas Legislature from the State Water Plan Fund.
The grant funds are in turn awarded to projects and organizations based on their alignment with the State Water Plan and their potential impact on the Kansas agriculture industry. Areas of particular interest include improving the performance and marketability of drought-tolerant crops; improving the ability of farmers to reduce input requirements, increase effectiveness, and reduce nutrient runoff; and agriculture innovations that reduce water use, improve water quality, or improve drought resilience.
This is a competitive, reimbursement-based grant program. Applications will be evaluated by a technical review committee. The recommendations of the committee will be submitted to the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, who will make the final award determination.
Applications are due to KDA no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 25, 2025. For more information, please download and carefully read the FY26 Request for Applications document from the KDA website: agriculture.ks.gov/grants.
The funding appropriation for the FY26 Crop & Livestock Research Program is $450,000. Applicants may request up to $100,000 per project, and projects can be up to two years in duration.
The vision of the Kansas Department of Agriculture is to provide an ideal environment for long-term, sustainable agricultural prosperity and statewide economic growth. The agency will achieve this by advocating for ag sectors at all levels and providing industry outreach.
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Wreaths Across America Prepares For the Annual Remembrance Wreath Laying on December 13
ANNUAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Fort Scott National Cemetery
Plans are being confirmed for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony and laying of remembrance wreaths, according to Location Coordinator Diann Tucker. She, together with assistant Mika Milburn-Kee, wish to thank everyone for their sponsorship of wreaths this year and said, “each day the goal grows closer to completion”. Sponsorships are still needed to cover the nearly 7000 military sites that need to be honored with a wreath at Fort Scott National Cemetery. Wreaths are $17.00 each. To send a check, deliver a check or use a credit/debit card to sponsor, you can call Diann at 620-224-7054 or Mika at 620-223-6700. All sponsorships for this year should be received by November 20. The brief ceremony will begin at 10 AM on December 13, immediately followed by placement of wreaths by volunteers.
Tucker said the local ceremony will be honored this year to have speaker Pat Proctor, a retired United States Army colonel. Upon retirement from the Army he settled in Leavenworth, Kansas. Proctor is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies, was deployed to Jordan as a battalion commander, and deployed in 2009 as the operations officer for Task Force Patriot (2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery) to Saddam Hussei’s hometown of Tikrit, Iraq. In 2007, Proctor worked as part of the Joint Strategic Assessment Team, comprised of diplomats, military theorists, and intellectuals assembled by Gen. David Patraseus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker and led by Col. H. R. McMaster to develop the strategy for post-surge Iraq. Retired Colonel Proctor currently serves as an assistant professor of Homeland Security at Wichita State University.
We want to thank everyone for their current and past support of this event, and ask that you share with your friends, family, email friends, and Facebook friends, said Tucker. We invite you, look forward to seeing you, and welcome the many volunteers, on December 13. You are each appreciated.