Brenda Louise Lawrence, age 67, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at her home. She was born May 14, 1958, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of John Edward Chastain and Betty Louise Rupert Chastain. Brenda married Jack William Lawrence on December 23, 1974. She had worked for Peerless Products in Ft. Scott for many years. Brenda enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and listening to music as well as spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Brenda was a member of the Bethel Community Church.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Lawrence (Kerri) and Keith Lawrence, all of Ft. Scott; five grandchildren, Sabree, Tydas, Zyler, Dylan, and Zachery and four great-grandchildren, Kamdyn, Kylee, Kruze and Khenzo. Also surviving are three brothers, Jim Chastain, Randie Glover and Ronnie Glover. Brenda was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Lawrence, on October 29, 2011. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Robbie Glover.
Pastor Ben Heffernan will conduct funeral services at 12:30 P.M. Friday, October 3rd at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Bethel Community Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Looking for a college that gives you options? At Fort Scott Community College, students can choose from associate degrees in Arts, Science, Applied Science, and General Studies, along with a variety of certificates that lead straight to rewarding careers. Whether you’re interested in healthcare fields like Certified Medication Aide, Nurse Aide, EMT, Home Health Aide, Manicuring, or Phlebotomy, or want to take on a technical challenge with certificates in Ag Technology (John Deere), Construction, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Environmental Water Tech, Farm & Ranch Management, Harley-Davidson Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation, HVAC, Masonry, or Welding we’ve got you covered!
But college isn’t just about the classroom. FSCC offers plenty of ways to get involved through music and performance opportunities (band, choir, theater), student clubs and organizations (like Collegiate Farm Bureau, Phi Theta Kappa, SkillsUSA, STEAM Club, FSCC Media Team, and more), and even competitive judging teams in livestock and meat.
If athletics is more your thing, FSCC is home to intercollegiate sports for both men and women. Compete in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, rodeo, track & field, or cross country, all while building friendships and representing the Greyhounds.
And the best part? We’re still growing. New programs, degrees, certifications, and athletic opportunities are on the horizon! There’s never been a better time to join FSCC!
JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System’s Dr. Derek Miller was named one of America’s most talented knee surgeons working in the field today by New York-based news magazine Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista.
The accolade, the board-certified surgeon admitted, caught him off guard.
“I first found out when my office notified me that I was ranked the number 19th knee surgeon in the United States,” Dr. Miller said. “For sure it’s quite an honor, given that there are more than 25,000 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the U.S.”
Dr. Miller said it’s always good to receive affirmation for the quality care he and his team provide daily to their patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Joplin.
“Especially when you consider the metrics that they use; complication rates, ER visits, unplanned re-admissions and doctor performance data from Medicare claims,” the board-certified surgeon said. “I think these are the things that people really care about – optimizing patient outcomes.
“To be honest, it takes a team to get results like we have,” he said. “I’m blessed with an incredible office staff that is both thorough and detail-oriented, and OR (operating room) personnel who are really good at their jobs and just truly care about people.”
Dr. Miller specializes in primary and revision knee and hip replacements, performing 500-plus surgeries each year.
“Joint replacement is a rewarding surgery,” he said. “And often, it’s truly life-changing for so many of my patients. Their quality of life has suffered as they become so debilitated and disabled from arthritis, or maybe they’ve had a terrible injury in the past. I have the privilege of helping relieve their pain and ultimately improve quality of life.”
Dr. Miller, who has been at Freeman for 18 years, is a primary user of the CORI robotic-assisted total knee system, a technological wonder that allows greater precision than traditional knee instrumentation of the past, increasing both patient satisfaction and long-term outcomes. He also utilizes lovera injections, which freezes the nerves to a patient’s knees, providing immediate, non-opioid pain relief for up to 90 days.
“It’s technology like these combined with a competent, compassionate team that makes Freeman the leader in knee surgery and gets us this kind of national recognition,” he added.
Dr. Miller is currently accepting new patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, 3105 McClelland Blvd. in Joplin. Call 417.347.5400 to make an appointment.
###
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center, the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services, as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
In postwar Ohio, a stolen moment between Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt reverberates through generations, as a small town’s buried secrets and a wife’s spiritual gift expose the longing for love and goodness.
Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore is getting by as a private investigator and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.
“From the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell comes a dazzling new thriller. June, 1975. The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets. Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she’s offered a job to ghostwrite her father’s last book. What she doesn’t know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it’s not another horror novel he wants her to write. After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975”
Clemi, a broke 26-year-old book lover, lands her dream job at a literary nonprofit only to face absent leadership, legal scrutiny, and a collapsing gala, leading her to question whether the literary life is worth the chaos it brings. Original.
Prickly textile artist Sadie comes home to Pea Blossom, Indiana, to care for her father’s beloved pumpkin patch until the Indiana State Fair pumpkin contest, but wild hogs destroy the patch; tech-millionaire-turned-farmer Josh offers his help, and a storm-fueled kiss proves there’s something between them. Original.
Clio’s mother Alex lost custody of Clio and her sisters when Alex wrote a book saying their house was possessed; after Alex’s sudden death, the house passes to the sisters, and as the home makeover begins and Clio finally reads the book, the presence in the house becomes real and sinister.
“Nesi is desperate to earn the patronage of one of the Ninety-Nine Pillars of Heaven. As a child with godly blood in her, if she cannot earn a divine chaperone, she will never be allowed to leave her temple home. But with ninety-six failed auditions and few options left, Nesi makes a risky prayer to T’sidaan, the Fox of Tricks”
In 1938, 11-year-old Lisavet Levy becomes trapped in a mysterious library of memory called the time space, where her path intertwines with American timekeeper Ernest Duquesne, whose 1965 death compels his niece Amelia to uncover buried truths amid shifting histories and shadowy CIA intrigue.
Cruising Carbon’s lonely backroads one night, the quiet Hal witnesses both beauty and horror in his troubled hometown, where a catastrophic chain of events threatens his fragile bond with his compassionate friend Cody John and shatters their world.
U.S. Army Captain Billy Boyle investigates a murder tied to World War II radio espionage at an English airbase, uncovering secrets from the White Cliffs of Dover to war-torn Yugoslavia, in the latest addition to the long-running series following The Phantom Patrol.
Two more tales from Johnstone Country: in “Brutal Night of the Mountain Man,” Smoke Jensen helps a saloon owner defend her family and business against the ruthless Silas Atwood and his army of killers, while “Venom of the Mountain Man” sees Smoke boarding a train east to rescue his wife from Gabe Briggs and his bloodthirsty gang
On a clear October day, the American skies empty after hundreds of pilots refuse to fly, triggering a complete ground stop as authorities seek to explain an act of baffling coordination that the pilots insist was anything but planned. The pilots received disturbing, middle-of-the-night calls from their mothers, and each mother had a simple and urgent request: do not fly today. There are a few concerning elements to the calls. None of the mothers remember making them—and some of the mothers are dead. While the nation’s military chiefs and artificial intelligence experts mobilize in search of answers, a sixteen-year-old girl named Charlie on the coast of Maine watches a strange, silvery balloon drift across the water and toward her home—a place she loathes. Her father’s dream of opening a craft brewery on an old airfield has been a disaster, and all she wants is an escape back to Brooklyn. She’s about to get much more than that. Her new home is ground zero for a story that begins at a remote naval base in Indiana during the winter of 1962, when a physicist named Martin Hazelton discovered something extraordinary—and deadly. All Hazelton wanted was time to seek an explanation, but pressure from both American and Russian actors forced him into a perilous race.
For the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand–brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.
When the greatest magician in the world, Professor Jacob Grimes, dies, two of his graduate students put aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save his soul. Alice and Peter have only the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them across Hell, but Hell is nothing like what the storybooks say.
These are the origin tales of all of the Reacher novels written solely by Lee Child, chock full of colorful anecdotes and intriguing inspirations; one by one, they expand upon each novel and place it in the context not only of the author’s life, but of the world outside the books.
Filled with smart, empathetic guidance, this volume is a road map for discovering what drives you and a playbook for translating those drives into opportunities — a book to help us satisfy our ambitions and our souls.
Exploring the hidden force of social status, this analysis reveals how invisible hierarchies shape our decisions, behaviors and opportunities and amplify inequality through small advantages while influencing everything from health and careers to innovation, culture and technology.
Daughter. Duhitár-. Dustr. Dukte. Listen to these English, Sanskrit, Armenian and Lithuanian words, all meaning the same thing, and you hear echoes of one of history’s most unlikely journeys. All four languages-along with hundreds of others, from French and Gaelic, to Persian and Polish-trace their origins to an ancient tongue spoken as the last ice age receded. This language, which we call Proto-Indo-European, was born between Europe and Asia and exploded out of its cradle, fragmenting as it spread east and west. Its last speaker died thousands of years ago, yet Proto-Indo-European lives on in its myriad linguistic offspring and in some of our best loved works of literature, including Dante’s Inferno and the Rig Veda, The Lord of the Rings and the love poetry of Rumi. How did this happen? Acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney set out to answer that question, retracing the Indo-European odyssey across continents and millennia.
Recounts the perilous expedition into the Himalayas to find the elusive panda undertaken by the two eldest sons of Theodore Roosevelt in 1928, chronicling their scientific achievements, physical hardships, and the broader impact of their journey on Western conservation efforts. Illustrations.
Features practical gardening advice and seasonal cooking techniques to help readers grow and prepare their own produce—regardless of space—while providing tips on preservation and reflections on the deeper value of cultivating and cooking food at home. Illustrations.
Rooted in the dietary habits of the world’s longest-lived communities, this collection of 100 plant-based recipes emphasizes one-pot, one-pan, and sheet pan meals made with accessible ingredients, offering fast, longevity-focused options for breakfasts, mains, snacks, and sides suited to busy home cooks. Illustrations.
Features 15 amigurumi patterns inspired by well-known male celebrities, offering step-by-step instructions for creating collectible figures, along with bonus content like fun facts and a personality quiz, appealing to crafters and pop culture fans alike. Original. Illustrations. Index.
Determined to navigate the treacherous Northwest Passage solo, an internationally certified mountain guide and Air Force Pararescuemen trainer embarks on a pulse-pounding journey to both complete this rare feat and investigate the 250-year-old mystery of Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition. Illustrations.
This posthumous collection of essays from the legendary historian looks at subjects such as the character of American leaders, the influence of art and mentors and the importance of understanding the past to better navigate the present and future.
Even more reading suggestions
NextReads Sneak Peek
Looking for something else to read? Try NextReads!
Newsletters are divided into genres and topics. Get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox.
If we don’t yet own a suggested title, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about interlibrary loan. Here’s a sneak peek of titles from the latest issue:
Historical Fiction
More Newsletters…
If you would like to unsubscribe to this newsletter, use the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this message.
Want even more book suggestions? Subscribe to this and other newsletters using the “Subscribe here!” button below:
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Approval August Financials
Commissioner Samuel Tran asked for a detailed explanation of parts of the quarterly financial statement. County Clerk Susan Walker answered several of his questions.
Executive Session pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency, which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
County Counselor Bob Johnson stepped in to update the commission on pending litigation in place of the insurance attorney, Forest Road. The commission returned to session, no action.
Old Business
Budget Discussion
“We approved a budget last Friday,” said Commissioner David Beerbower.
Tran asked Ben Hart for an audit report on the budget. Hart said that it looked good and nothing stood out to him as problematic.
County Clerk Susan Walker asked to speak. She said she went back through and refigured the wages and the employee benefit fund. She has concerns about having sufficient funds for employee health insurance. Open enrollment is upcoming in October.
Walker asked for a $100,137 increase in the employee benefit fund, which will take the mill to almost revenue neutral at 57.45.
“We’ve actually done something that no other commission has done in…seven years,” said Tran about the county’s 2026 budget. He expressed concern about the “budget creep” that last-minute changes represent.
“We’re trying to reset the paradigm,” by only taxing for what the county needs and making a plan for the future said Tran. “We can what-if this to death.”
Beerbower said he sees them handling the employee insurance decision in the way they did the county’s budget, with detailed analysis to stay within the spending limits set by the budget.
Tran and Commissioner Mika Milburn both wanted to keep the budget as is. Beerbower agreed and no action was taken.
Roads Discussion Lynne Oharah – 95th & Unique
Oharah has found the mylar maps from 1987-89 that were used to inform the county maps until 2011.
He reiterated his request for all documentation for closing the 1056 feet of Unique Road on his property using statute 68.
“All I’m asking for is that that road be declared still open,” said Oharah. He also said they want minimal maintenance on the road.
County attorney Bob Johnson said he watched the video of meetings held during Covid masking (possibly 2020 or 2021) where a Mr. Meeks made a long explanation of the situation and the need to find the 1986 resolution from when they had the public hearings about the roads.
Johnson plans to talk to Mr. Meeks to see what the follow-up was.
Oharah said the county has maintained the road in perpetuity, including the installation of a culvert this year.
Tran took issue with the culvert. He also pointed out that Oharah was a commissioner at the time of the meeting referred to by Johnson, and he did nothing to help his neighbors who came and spoke at that meeting. Tran then pointed out that Oharah stands to gain financially from the sale of the property.
“We’re trying to do something that’s legal,” said Tran. He said they cannot speed things up, and that the current commission has to repair damage from the past commissions and ensure these same types of things don’t happen in the future.
He said he has empathy for Oharah’s plight, but he will not rush his decision.
Beerbower ended the discussion at that point.
North National,
There are new speed limit signs on North National. Citizens are requesting that the four-way stop where 218th meets N. National be made a two-way stop, with traffic open from east to west, but still stopping north and south at that intersection.
Tran asked if changing the stop signs would cause traffic problems. Sheriff Bill Martin said as long as the vegetation is cleared and visibility is good, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Beerbower made a motion to remove the stop signs going east and west on North National at the 218th street intersection. The commission approved.
Eagle Road
Eagle Road, going to Garland, east of 69, was repaved in the last 2 years after 4 or 5 years as gravel. The speed limit was lowered while it was gravel, and folks are requesting that it be raised back up to 55 now that it’s paved.
Tran recommended talking to an engineer from KDOT to determine what the speed limit should be. No official action was taken.
190th Street Benefit District
County Counselor Bob Johnson said benefit districts are typically done through an HOA, but it is still feasible for the county to set one up without that. The agreement would include an increase in ad valorem taxes for those in the district to cover the cost of the road maintenance. He offered to visit with the owners and send proposal documents to the commissioners.
Beerbower asked if the Public Works Department could give an assessment, and the county would proceed from there.
Kenny Allen from public works said the road needs a good deal of work done before it can be paved.
CIC Access
Milburn said they are working to get view-only access for the commissioners and the sheriff.
Walker said that her office enters all the bills, as it is her responsibility by statute, and no other departments should be entering bills.
Tran said they need a standard operating procedure from either the clerk’s office or the sheriff’s office on how things are entered into the system.
Johnson will review the statute and advise next week.
Courthouse Elevator
Milburn said the current elevator company will not give a certificate of compliance because the elevator doesn’t meet requirements. They are looking for bids on repairing the elevator.
Tran offered to help by reviewing the contract for repair if needed.
108 W 2nd
Milburn had no updates for that. The county paid $162,700 in 2013 for the building. The plan was to build a parking lot out of the lot behind it as well. They are waiting to decide what to do with the building until it is emptied by moving the sixth judicial and driver’s license department.
Crawkan
Tran asked about adding a “termination with convenience” clause for the county to the contract, and Johnson said he’d look into it.
Planning CommissionTerms – Beerbower
Beerbower announced that Planning Commission members with one-year terms are Pete Owenby and Jeremy Milburn; two-year term members are Brent Smith and Bo Casper; three-year term members are Kyle Parks, Brian Ashworth II, and Seth Tucker.
Bob Johnson said he would work to get the first planning commission meeting up and going.
Resolution 1125 Review
Beerbower wants to “scratch the whole thing and start over.”
He handed out notes on changes, and they will bring it up again at the Oct. 6 meeting.
New Business Credit App for Enterprise – Bill Martin and Ben Hart
Sheriff Martin took a moment to recognize Sergeant Scott Hillman of Hays, Kansas, who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend.
Martin said he is awaiting information from the clerk’s office to fill out the Master Equity Lease Agreement with Enterprise. He is also awaiting word back from legal counsel regarding agreement.
He plans to come back to the commission with the completed documents at the next meeting.
Resolution – Law Enforcement
Johnson, Hart, and Martin addressed the commission regarding a resolution that would fix the unidentified fund discussed in a previous meeting.
Milburn expressed displeasure with the resolution, and a discussion about the use of funding from the housing of out-of-county prisoners followed.
Beerbower and representatives of the sheriff’s department were in favor of using those funds to help with the purchase of bigger-ticket items the department needs, such as replacing vehicles and upgrading radios.
Tran said those funds fluctuate a great deal and cannot be used to build the sheriff department’s budget. He also pointed out that Sheriff Bill Martin is the CEO of his department and is fully responsible for his department’s budget.
Tran asked Martin what he expects in the future regarding payment for housing at the county jail. Martin said he hopes it will stay the same. They only fill the jail to 85% capacity with out-of-county inmates to make sure they always have the necessary space.
Martin went on to say he would not spend from the fund without bringing it before the commissioners first.
“We’re just trying to capture the revenue that’s already there in a resolution form, not create a different fund,” said Hart.
“You guys have been doing this” since 2019, said Johnson.
Beerbower said they would bring it back in two weeks.
Motion to move normal meeting from the 13th of October to the 14th. Passed.
Department Updates Public Works – Kenny Allen and Dustin Hall
Tran thanked the department for patching North Union in Mapleton.
KDOT Grant – Bridge 19.2-Q.0. The grant is for 2027. The plan is to set aside some of the expected FEMA money to help with the county’s 10% of the $82,000 cost to rebuild the bridge.
Tran asked how their meeting went with Enterprise. Hall said the meeting went well, but they want to test it out before committing. If it works out, they would work to replace a third of their fleet each year until they were fully enrolled in the program.
“For us, I think it would work out in the long run,” said Hall. The two trucks they are replacing are mowing trucks. The department has two broken-down trucks now, which they will trade in.
Milburn said she would love to have them figure it up both ways, leasing, and continuing to purchase vehicles on their own.
Hall said it is a lot easier for Enterprise to sell used vehicles than it is for Public Works as a department.
They discussed leasing equipment like graders and dump trucks as well.
Transfer of Thomas Quarry
The commission approved the signing of reclamation paperwork for the quarry, transferring it to the new company that took over from the county.
Commission Comments
Milburn: “I want to acknowledge that the recent changes, while not easy, were both necessary and effective,” she said of the budget process. She believes the changes made will position the county for a better future.
Tran: “I’m happy that we got the budget through.” He learned a lot, and the vast majority of the county officials and department heads are willing to tighten their belts and do what’s needed. He’s cautiously optimistic about 2026. He anticipates the work on the insurance to be a challenge, but that the commission will rise to the occasion.
Beerbower thanked the commission for their work on the budget and looked forward to the strategic planning and insurance work coming up.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, October 2nd at 8am hosted by the Gordon Parks Museum, 2108 S. Horton, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.
The Chamber Coffee will kick off the 22nd Annual Gordon Parks Celebration to be held this weekend for which the full schedule of events may be found on gordonparkscenter.org. The Celebration is in honor Fort Scott native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker. Kirk Sharp, Executive Director of the Museum, and the committee work throughout the year to bring in artists, speakers, programs, and events that have enriched our community and world for all ages.
This year’s event features two meaningful dedications. On Thursday, October 2, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., there will be a tribute to the historic Wayman Chapel AME Church at 301 S. Lowman St., established in 1866, with a ribbon–cutting to inaugurate the new commemorative park and honor its enduring legacy. The next day, Friday, October 3, from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., the community will gather for the unveiling of the mural “No Place Like Home” by Cbabi Bayoc. This mural celebrates Gordon Parks and his strong connection to his hometown of Fort Scott, and it will be displayed on the Wilder House building at 18 E. Wall Street.
A highlight this year is the “Celebration Dance Party” featuring The Full Flava Kings at the River Room, 3 W. Oak St. on Friday, October 3rd starting at 8pm. The Full Flava Kings, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, are one of the best party bands in the region.
Tickets are available at the Gordon Parks Museum, online at gordonparkscenter.org, or call 620-223-2700 ext. 5850.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System’s Dr. Todd Twiss was named one of America’s most talented shoulder surgeons working in the field today by New York-based news magazine Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista.
“It certainly is a privilege to be recognized by Newsweek with some of the best shoulder surgeons in the country, and I think it speaks volumes to the team we work with in both clinic and the operating room at Freeman to provide high-level care to our shoulder patients,” Dr. Twiss said.
In all, 2,845 specialists across 15 medical fields, from hearts to hips to hands, were named by the magazine from a pool of more than 1 million specialists nationwide. Dr. Twiss admitted the recognition came out of left field.
“An out-of-town professional colleague forwarded the article to me, and I was surprised to see our name on the list,” Dr. Twiss said.
His recognition comes from the excellent results from two of his primary shoulder surgeries – rotator cuff repairs and total shoulder replacements.
“These would be the two most common operations we performed, and the lion’s share of any shoulder surgery practice,” the board-certified surgeon said.
Additional shoulder surgeries he performs regularly include reverse total shoulder replacement, labral repairs, instability repairs, fracture fixation, arthroscopic bone resection, open shoulder reconstruction, and biceps tenodesis.
Dr. Twiss gravitated to orthopedics as a medical subspecialty for one primary reason – he simply wanted recreational and occupational athletes alike to get back into the game they enjoyed playing.
“I enjoyed treating the various traumatic and degenerative conditions with targeted interventions to relieve pain, restore function, and improve quality of life,” he said. “I chose to pursue a year-long fellowship after residency in the shoulder because of a love for the complex pathology and evolving treatments being developed during my training.”
Dr. Twiss also treats a large spectrum of shoulder disorders, including rotator cuff pathology, Instability and labral lesions, frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, sports injuries, fractures, dislocations, post traumatic abnormalities, and generalized shoulder pain with both surgical and non-surgical treatments.
“I think all of the physicians and staff members at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine strive to provide high-level, musculoskeletal care for the people of the four-state area,” Dr. Twiss said. “For myself, to be recognized for the shoulder, the recognition validates those efforts and motivates us toward continued improvement.”
Dr. Twiss is currently accepting new patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, 3105 McClelland Blvd. in Joplin. Call 417.347.5400 to make an appointment.
FSHS Head Coach Johnathan Stark invites you to join the
Fort Scott Tiger
Quarterback Club
What is the Quarterback Club?
The FS QB Club is a 501c3 organization formed to provide support to eh FSHS Football Team. Quarterback clubs are common in other communities and help provide financial support and resources to the team. We operate separate from the school district, and anyone is welcome to join. We need your help to build a strong football program now and for the future.
Why become a member?
Financial Support for the Football Program — Your membership helps purchase equipment, camp fees, team meals, and other team related expenses approved by our board that are not covered by the school district.
Exclusive Access & Perks — Your membership gets you insight into the football program and season updates from Coach Stark.
How much is a membership?
An individual membership is $25 for the year, and a Corporate Membership is $100. we recognize the Corporate Memberships on our Facebook Page.
How to Join:
Fill out your name, address, and email address, and send payment via Venmo or Check.
We are now just hours away from the September 30 midnight deadline to pass a bill to keep the federal government open. While the House passed a bill more than a week ago to keep the federal government open and funded, unfortunately the Senate has not yet passed that bill. Instead of a “clean” continuing resolution, which temporarily maintains current funding levels while negotiations continue on the 12 full-year appropriations bills, House and Senate Democrats are instead trying to push through a $1.5 trillion wish list.
We must get our fiscal house in order and begin to reverse the trends that have led to our $37 trillion national debt. We made a good start in the policies that were in the reconciliation bill passed this summer, which included $1.2 trillion in spending reductions over the next 10 years. The funding bills that have passed out of the House Appropriations Committee build on this effort by decreasing spending by $30 billion from FY25 levels. We can’t go back to business-as-usual and leave our children and grandchildren saddled with these massive debts.
I spoke with KVOE radio in Emporia on Friday about our efforts to keep the government open. 🔉 Listen here.
Supporting Victims of Violent Crime
Sadly, our news feeds recently have been filled with horrific instances of violent crime, from the assassination of Charlie Kirk to the stabbing incident on the train in Charlotte, North Carolina. In Kansas, we have had four law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the past four months.
This morning, the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight, on which I serve, held a field hearing in Charlotte to hear directly from crime victims and their families on the impact the rise in violence has had on their community, and discuss policy solutions to begin to reverse these troubling trends.
Expanding Health Savings Accounts
One of the lesser-known provisions in the reconciliation bill passed earlier this summer was a big expansion in the number of individuals and families who are eligible to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to save and pay for medical expenses tax-free.
Effective January 1, 2026, all Bronze and Catastrophic plans purchased through the ACA Exchange will qualify as HSA-eligible plans. Bronze plans are selected by approximately 30% of enrollees. This change, coupled with changes in eligibility for Catastrophic plans, led the Council of Economic Advisors to estimate an additional 10 million Americans will be eligible for HSAs next year. Kansas families who are enrolled in these plans can now save hundreds of dollars by using pre-tax money to pay their healthcare expenses.
Last week, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) released a new graphic novel featuring Kansas Medal of Honor recipient Fr. Emil Kapaun. The novel is part of AUSA’s ongoing series of graphic novels featuring Medal of Honor recipients.
Fr. Kapaun, a native son of Pilsen in Marion County, is the most decorated chaplain in Army history. He was known for his courage and spiritual guidance in a prisoner of war camp during the Korean War. He gave his meager rations to fellow soldiers and led clandestine prayer meetings. Fr. Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013. In 2021 — 70 years after his death — Fr. Kapaun’s remains were identified thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). He is now interred in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita, and is under consideration for sainthood in the Catholic Church. The Kansas Legislature has passed a bill to install a statue of Fr. Kapaun in the State Capitol in Topeka, and efforts are underway to bring that to fruition.
I. Call Meeting to Order
Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Prayer
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Consent Agenda
Approval of 09.19.25 Accounts Payable Totaling $250,084.75
Approval August Financials
IV. Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency which
would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
V. Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
VI. Old Business
Budget Discussion
Roads Discussion
i. Lynne Oharah – 95th & Unique
ii. North Crawford Street
iii. Eagle Road
iv. 190th Street Benefit District
CIC Access – Milburn
Elevator – Milburn
108 W 2nd – Milburn
Crawkan – Milburn
Planning Commission announce terms – Beerbower
Resolution Review – Beerbower
i. Commission Meetings & Commissioner Conduct
VII. New Business
Credit App for Enterprise – Bill Martin
Resolution – Law Enforcement
Motion to move normal meeting from the 13th of October to the 14th
VIII. Department Updates
Public Works – Kenny Allen and Dustin Hall
i. KDOT Grant – Bridge 19.2-Q.0
ii. Transfer of Thomas Quarry
IX. Build Agenda for following meeting
X. Commission Comments
XI. Adjournment _____________
FUTURE 10/6/2025 10/14/2025 10/20/2025 10/27/2025
Vehicle Lease Program Credit Cards – Milburn Culverts Bitcoin Mining
Economic Development Gov. Deals – Beerbower 2025 Tri-Valley Agreement Noise Resolution
Juvenile Detention Contract Road Closure 140th Moratorium
Sanitation Worksession
Benefits Committee Letters
Elm Creek Quarry
Phone System
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS – FORM OF MOTION
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to
protect their privacy
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency which
would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether
or not in consultation with the representatives of the body or agency
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of
corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of acquisition of real estate
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of
such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures
The subject to be discussed during executive session: ________________________________________
State persons to attend
Open session will resume at _____ A.M./P.M. in the commission chambers.
