Obituary of Jim L. Scott

Jim (James) L. Scott, age 79, a former resident of Fort Scott, peacefully passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025, in Excelsior, Minnesota of heart failure.

Jim was born on November 18, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Lucille Smith. He was raised by his mother, Lucille, his Grandma Eva, and later his stepfather, Gene Smith. Some of his fondest childhood memories were spent swimming, boating, and water-skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks. In school, he was an avid basketball player and proudly represented Raytown High School, graduating in 1964.

Following graduation, Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force with hopes of seeing the world. He volunteered for three tours of duty in Vietnam, beginning a long and honorable military career.

In November 1969, Jim went on a blind date that would change the course of his life. He and Martha danced the night away, bonding over a shared love of Benson & Hedges Menthol cigarettes and their favorite Beatle, George Harrison. The very next day Jim visited Martha at Crown Drugstore, where she worked, and asked for a second date. She invited him over for dinner—an unforgettable meal that sealed their future. Just two weeks after meeting, they eloped at Kansas City’s City Hall on November 26, 1969, timing the wedding for Thanksgiving weekend so they’d have four days off to meet each other’s families.

Jim and Martha made their first home in Kansas City before moving to Nevada, Missouri, in 1972. There, Jim was active in the Jaycees, their church, and the National Guard. The young couple loved the outdoors and spent weekends camping, canoeing, and trout fishing. In 1976, Jim embraced one of his most cherished roles: Dad, when their daughter Sarah was born.

The family moved to Fort Scott in 1988, where Jim and Martha opened Scotty’s Wine and Spirits. They operated the business for more than 15 years and were honored with the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award for their contributions to the community. Jim was also proud to serve as past president of the Kansas Liquor Dealers Association. In 2006, he retired as a highly decorated Master Sergeant with more than 25 years of combined active duty and National Guard service in both the Air Force and Army.

In 2013 and 2015, Jim became “Poppy” to his beloved granddaughters, Lucy and Piper, a role he cherished and embraced wholeheartedly.

Jim was deeply rooted in the Fort Scott community and was active in numerous organizations. He took great pride in his time as a Rotarian, helping organize countless fundraisers—from potato and spaghetti feeds to hosting Oktoberfest for 19 years, one of the club’s most celebrated events. Working alongside Martha, he also helped coordinate, fundraise for, and build the dog park at Gunn Park. For their extraordinary commitment to Fort Scott, Jim and Martha were jointly awarded the Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award—one of Jim’s proudest honors.

After losing Martha in 2022, Jim faced one of the hardest chapters of his life. At his daughter’s insistence, he moved to Minnesota, where he found renewed community at Presbyterian Homes in Spring Park. There, he sang in the choir, attended church, participated in the Veterans Association, and spent peaceful afternoons on the shores of Lake Minnetonka—often with a cigar in hand.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Sarah (Andrew) Punch, and their daughters, Lucy and Piper, of Excelsior, Minnesota. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Templeton of Independence, Missouri, and his nephew, Nathan Templeton.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, December 5th, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 PM Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting an organization meaningful to Jim, including Trinity Lutheran Church, VFW, or DAV and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

New Books To Explore at SEKnFind

The SEKnFind Newsletter
November 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Wild Dark Shore: Reese’s Book Club Pick (a Novel)
by Charlotte McConaghy

A novel about a family living alone on a remote island, when a mysterious woman washes up on shore–

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife
by Martin Edwards

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to an all-expenses-paid Christmas holiday at Midwinter, a remote hamlet in the North Pennines in Yorkshire, England, to play a murder mystery game. Joining you are a has-been mystery author infamous for copycatting the classics, an out of work publicist, a disgraced influencer whose off-the-record remarks have come back to bite her, a true crime podcaster who’s been sued for every penny, a former hotshot literary agent who’s been sued for sexual harassment, and a publisher who used AI to plagiarize bestsellers–and was sued by Netflix. Oddly, the contestants also share a lack of any next-of-kin who might notice or care if they disappear. But no matter! There are cash prizes for all who see the game through to the end, and of course a high-stakes Grand Prize for the winner that no one is allowed to discuss. But it’s promised to be life-altering. And then one by one, people start dying…–

The Fix
by Mia Sheridan

Eleven years ago, Cami Cortlandt’s mother and sister died cruelly in a violent home invasion. The trauma and notoriety still linger, but Cami has managed to build a life in her hometown despite everything she’s lost.Then one day it all comes rushing back.A distorted voice on the phone: Would you like a do-over? A disturbing video of a room with bars on the window, trapping a young boy inside who looks achingly, impossibly familiar. Four days to find him.With the help of Rex Lowe, an old classmate whose past is inextricably tied to her own, Cami races to uncover everything she can about the boy–where he is, who he is, and why she’s the only one who can save him.But as Cami and Rex unravel one clue after another, the past and present converge in an explosion of secrets they never saw coming…and a truth they never could have imagined.

The Tortoise’s Tale
by Kendra Coulter

Snatched from her ancestral lands, a giant tortoise finds herself in an exclusive estate in southern California where she becomes an astute observer of societal change. Her journey is one of discovery, as she learns to embrace the music of jazz and the warmth of human connection. The tortoise’s story is enriched by her bond with Takeo, the estate’s gardener, who sees her as a being with thoughts and feelings, not just a creature to be observed. The tortoise’s mind and heart are further expanded by Lucy, a young girl who names the tortoise Magic and shares a friendship that transcends species. Together they witness the estate’s transformation into a haven for industry titans, politicians, and rock stars, each leaving their mark on the world and on Magic’s heart–

Soyangri Book Kitchen
by Kim Jee Hye

With good books, good food and companionship, the Book Kitchen fills people’s tired souls. Yoojin, who grew up in Seoul, opened the Book Kitchen by chance in Soyangri, a village two hours from Seoul by car. The Book Kitchen functions as a bookshop and cafe. The second function of the Book Kitchen is a Book Stay, where one can stay overnight in one of the building’s four complexes. Over the course of one year, multiple characters each find comfort and hope at Yoojin’s Book Kitchen. From a music idol facing an identity crisis, to a promising lawyer beset by an unsettling medical diagnosis, to a young, failed music director who has had to rein in his dreams, they happen upon Soyangri at pivotal moments in their lives–

Revolve
by Bal Khabra

“The road to redemption is far from smooth as ice in this sweeping romance between a figure skater and a hockey player. Sierra Romanova was an Olympic figure skater before a life-altering accident on the ice left her with panic attacks every time she enters the rink. Now, back for her final year at Dalton University, she’s ready to reclaim the spotlight with all eyes on her . . . including those of hockey player Dylan Donovan, whose audacious words goad her back into her skates to prove him wrong. After getting kicked off his hockey team for his reckless behavior, Dylan is left with slim chances of making it to the NHL draft. But Dylan’s whole world revolves around the ice, and if hockey is forbidden, well, at least there’s figure skating. Even better, it means more time at the rink with Sierra. Sure, he’s helping her rebuild her confidence, but pushing her buttons along the way? That’s a bonus. As the figure skating world awaits Sierra’s comeback, she finds herself in need of a new pairs partner. The only person she knows who can match her skill on the ice is none other than the cocky hockey player who refuses to cut her any slack. Dylan’s a wild card, Sierra’s a seasoned pro, but together, they might just be the perfect match on the ice”

The Hong Kong Widow
by Kristen Loesch

Hong Kong, 1953: In a remote mansion, witnesses insist a massacre took place. The police see nothing but pristine rooms and declare it a collective hallucination. Until decades later, when one witness returns…from the Edgar(R)-nominated author of The Last Russian Doll. In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation–to take part in a competition in one of the city’s most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges–she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei’s entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house–even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . .

The Second Death of Locke
by V. L. Bovalino

Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier. She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector. The deep well of raw power inside her is Kier’s to wield. They are bound together by blood and magic, but there is one truth Grey dare not reveal . . . not even to Kier. When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into a dangerous mission, Grey will need to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to protect her secret. For Grey is no ordinary magical well, and if she dies, all magic dies with her–

Sunward
by William Alexander

Captain Tova Lir chose a life as a courier rather than get involved in her family’s illustrious business in politics. Set in humanity’s far future, hiring a planetary courier is essential for delivering private messages across the stars. Encouraged by friends, Tova begins mentoring baby bots, juvenile AI who are developmentally in their teens, and trains them how to interact within society essentially becoming their foster mom. Her latest charge, Agatha Panza von Sparkles, named herself on their first run from Luna to Phoebe station. But on their return, they encounter a derelict spaceship and a lurking assassin, igniting a thrilling chase across the solar system. Tova and Agatha’s daring actions leave Agatha’s mind vulnerable, relying on Tova’s former AI pupils for help. As Tova starts gathering her scattered family around her, she is chased through the solar system by forces who want her captured and her family erased.–

Midnight black
by Mark Greaney

The Gray Man, aka assassin Court Gentry, must face miles of frozen wasteland and the Russian police state to free his lover, ex-spy Zoya Zakharova, from Penal Colony IK22.

The Hitchhikers
by Chevy Stevens

On the remote Canadian highways in 1976, Tom and Alice set out to heal their fractured marriage. An RV, a new beginning, and the hope of recovery after a devastating tragedy. Then they meet two young hitchhikers, Ocean and Blue-a seemingly innocent couple who aren’t who they seem. They are Jenny and Simon. And they have left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them. Now Tom and Alice are trapped-prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. But as the tension builds and the lines blur, the question becomes: in whose heart does evil truly lie?–Provided by publisher.

The Unkillable Frank Lightning
by Josh Rountree

Catherine Coldbridge is a complicated woman: A doctor, an occultist, and, briefly, a widow. In 1879, Private Frank Humble, Catherine’s husband, was killed in a Sioux attack. Consumed by grief, she used her formidable skills to resurrect him. But Frank lost his soul after the reanimation, and disappeared after a killing spree. Unable to face her failure and its murderous consequences, Catherine fled to grieve. Twenty-five years later, Catherine has decided she must make things right. She travels back to Texas with a pair of hired killers ready to destroy Frank. But Frank has remade himself as the Unkillable Frank Lightning, traveling with the Wild West Show. Reaching for a last chance at redemption, Frank and Catherine are at an impasse. As time runs out, their final choices may result in considerable bloodshed–

New Audiobooks

Cry Havoc: A Tom Reece Thriller
by Jack Carr

1968. A time of division. A time of civil unrest. A time of war. Just before the Tet Offensive changes the dynamic in Vietnam, before President Johnson announces he will not run for reelection, before the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, as riots and protests rage across the nation, a spy ship, the USS Pueblo, is captured by communist forces off the coast of North Korea. The crew thought they had destroyed everything of intelligence value. They were wrong. As a KGB ‘illegal’ elicits information from a high-ranking CIA official, and teams of special operators infiltrating into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam disappear without a trace, an ambitious Soviet advisor launches an ingenious plan with consequences that reach far beyond the battlefields of Southeast Asia, one that will forever alter the world balance of power. Tom Reece, a SEAL operator attached to the highly classified and shadowy MACV-SOG is about to be thrust into a bloody battle to discover the truth. From the Kremlin to the White House, from the streets of Saigon to the rugged A Shau Valley, along the paths of Ho Chi Minh Trail and into the secret war in Laos, Navy SEAL Tom Reece has an official mission assigned by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group, but it’s his unofficial mission that might get him killed.

The King’s Ransom
by Janet Evanovich

Gabriela Rose, recovery agent extraordinaire, can find just about anything. Too bad she can’t seem to lose her gorgeous-but-infuriating ex-husband Rafer Jones. And now he needs her help. His cousin Harley is in trouble — big trouble. As the president of a too-big-to-fail bank, he invested an astronomical amount of money in insuring some of the world’s most priceless artifacts at the urging of his board. It seemed like a low-risk, high-reward business move, so he jumped in with both feet. But recently, these insured pieces started going missing — and worse, there’s no paper trail of Harley being directed to make these risky investments. Unless the artwork can be recovered soon, it looks like Harley is going to be heading to jail as the fall guy for an ingenious crime. Gabriela knows what she must do: travel around the world with Rafer to find the missing works of art, keep Harley out of jail, and save both his skin and his bank. Along the way, she’ll encounter corruption, threats, murder, mysterious dark forces behind a global conspiracy to destroy the world’s wealth, and a nefarious villain who will stop at nothing to bring the world to the brink of ruin.

King Sorrow
by Joe Hill

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill comes a chilling tale of modern-world dangers, dark academia, and the unexpected consequences of revenge as six friends dabble in the occult and are tragically, horrifyingly successful… calling forth an evil entity that demands regular human sacrifice.Arthur Oakes is a reader, a dreamer, and a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters, exceptional library, and beautiful buildings. But his idyll–and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot–is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner corner him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the college library.Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for comfort and help. Together they dream up a wild, fantastical scheme to free Arthur from the cruel trap in which he finds himself. Wealthy, irrepressible Colin Wren suggests using the unnerving Crane journal (bound in the skin of its author) to summon a dragon to do their bidding. The others–brave, beautiful Alison Shiner; the battling twins Donna and Donovan McBride; and brainy, bold Gwen–don’t hesitate to join Colin in an effort to smash reality and bring a creature of the impossible into our world.But there’s nothing simple about dealing with dragons, and their pact to save Arthur becomes a terrifying bargain in which the six must choose a new sacrifice for King Sorrow every year–or become his next meal.

New Nonfiction

In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur
by Karen Walrond

From Karen Walrond, author of The Lightmaker’s Manifesto and Radiant Rebellion, comes a joyful jaunt into doing the things you love even if you’re not any good at them. Learn the Seven Attributes of Intentional Amateurism: curiosity, mindfulness, self-compassion, play, zone-stretching, connection, and awe. Resist grind culture and learn to dabble.

Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away
by Coltan Scrivner

The leading expert on the science behind morbid curiosity explains our spooky, gory, and macabre fascinations– Provided by publisher.

Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
by Michael Brownstein

An argument that individual action vs. structural change is not a zero sum game, as if often portrayed in the popular media, but is symbiotic and can be successfully navigated–

The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind
by Simon Winchester

“The Breath of the Gods is an urgently-needed portrait across time of that unseen force–unseen but not unfelt–that respects no national borders and no vessel or structure in its path. Wind, the movement of the air, is seen by so many as a heavenly creation and generally a thing of essential goodness. But when it flexes its invisible muscles, all should take care and be very afraid.”–Provided by publisher.

What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters
by Marion Nestle

An updated classic on nutrition and food, Marion Nestle’s What to Eat Now is a straightforward and comprehensive guide to cutting through the marketing and half-truths in order to make healthy, delicious, and sustainable food choices at the grocery store–Provided by publisher.

The Science of Pets
by Jay Ingram

In the tradition of The Inside of a Dog, top science writer and TV personality Jay Ingram shares new insights into the hearts, minds, and bodies of the animals who love us (or do they?). More than one billion pets live in homes around the world, sleeping on dog beds, clawing at cat trees, swimming in bowls, crawling around in aquariums. Canada, the United States, Brazil, the EU, and China make up half of those households, with half of the world’s population owning a pet of some sort. Yet despite the ubiquitous animals that lick our faces and steal food off the counter, we really don’t know a lot about the scientific side of their existence: why do dogs spin around when excited, do our cats really love us, do lizards make good pets, can single-celled organisms be considered pets (you can cut the hydra in two and have two pets!), what are parrots thinking, and can a horse be considered a pet? Or pigs (even those sent to market)? Or praying mantises? Or how about robot pets in Japan, caring for the elderly? Veteran science broadcaster and journalist Jay Ingram, author of twenty popular science titles, including the bestselling Science of Why series, has researched the latest science behind our beloved furry, and not-so-furry, creatures that sleep on our sofas and eat our pizza crusts. Along the way, he discusses the myths and misconceptions about our companions: do dogs always do their business facing north? Why are we seeing a rise in exotic pets such as tigers and bears? Are the deer and foxes we see rescued on Instagram considered pets and could they be domesticated? Did dogs entirely evolve from wolves, and why? Can you communicate with a turtle? Do highly intelligent octopi make good pets? And why are baby animals, like baby humans, so darned cute: have they evolved to be born cute as a survival mechanism, and would that cuteness matter to others of their own kind who might consider them their next lunch? Full of fabulous insights, humorous asides, and the wisdom of decades in science reporting, The Science of Pets will elucidate as it entertains. You will never look at your pets the same way again (but be sure they’re watching you closely).

Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America
by Sean Sherman

Discover the multifaceted story of the foods that have linked the environment, traditions, and legacy of Native American tribes for millennia through over 150 ancestral and modern Indigenous recipes from three-time James Beard Award-winning Sioux chef Sean Sherman. Sean … is a leading figure in the Indigenous food movement–serving as the go-to source for stories on Indigenous food, Indigenous food issues, and recipes. In Turtle Island, he explores the diverse Native foodways of this continent, spotlighting the foods that have nourished, both physically and spiritually, the North American peoples for generations. Organized by regions, this book highlights the unique culinary traditions of Turtle Island–the name for this land across multiple Indigenous cultures–that are as varied and rich as the landscapes from which they arise–

Color Curious: Find Color Inspiration All Around You for Art, Design, and Life
by Ana Bianchi

A creative guide on how to use color– Provided by publisher.

The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry
by Walt Hunter

An ode to America’s people, land, and spirit, this stunning collection features a breadth of contemporary and historical poetry from the Atlantic magazine’s 168-year archive. The poetry of The Atlantic has, from the magazine’s first issue in 1857, called attention to the unfinished project of the nation. The magazine’s verse has featured odes to American leaders and landscapes, laments for the dead, and calls for change, appealing to the enduring ideals of Atlantic readers. This one-of-a-kind collection selects poems of rousing optimism, clear-eyed realism, and moving lyricism–poems infused with the language of America’s songs, myths, and history, from the Civil War up through the present in three rich parts: National Anthems, Natural Lines, and Personal Mythologies.

Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters
by Edward J. Larson

On the 250th anniversary of American independence, with the history of our founding a political battleground, this study of the ideas and battlefield sacrifices of 1776 by a Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar could not be more timely.

Even more reading suggestions

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The Running Man by Stephen King
Hamnet (Movie Tie-In Edition) by Maggie O'Farrell
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218 E. Madison Ave.
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Inclement weather possible: KDOT crews stand ready

Early weather forecasts from different weather services are showing the possibility of inclement weather affecting parts of Kansas as well as several northern and western states this holiday weekend.

If inclement weather does impact the highways, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is ready to treat roadways as needed. KDOT employees have been preparing since September: Salt, sand and brine materials have been ordered, trucks and other equipment have undergone preventive maintenance and crews have completed training courses.

“Whatever the obstacle, KDOT crew members work together and find a way to get the job done,” said Director of Field Operations Ron Hall. “Our crews always do their best to serve the public in their efforts to clear the highways.”

Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed shared a reminder for all travelers: “Check on road conditions and weather forecasts in advance and possibly delay travel plans. It’s important to stay informed, plan ahead and travel safe.”

Resources and safety reminders for motorists:

  • Road conditions: Before traveling, check KanDrive.gov, KDOT’s road condition website, which is available 24/7 and provides camera views to see current conditions. Travelers can also download the KanDrive app in the App Store or Google Play.
  • Keep an eye on forecasts: Forecasts will change up to and throughout the holiday weekend. Check weather sources for updated forecasts.
  • Emergency kit: Motorists are reminded to travel with a stocked emergency kit in their vehicle.
  • Emergency contacts: Travelers who are stranded or need assistance can call the Kansas Highway Patrol dispatch at *47 or the Kansas Turnpike Authority at *KTA if using the turnpike. If it’s an emergency, call 911.

Kansas maintains about 9,500 miles of highways, including more than 25,000 total lane and ramp miles. Clearing snow from these highways takes time, especially while the snow is still falling.

Secretary Reed emphasized the importance of safety for the crews working to keep roads open.

“KDOT employees work challenging 12-hour shifts to remove snow and ice from the highways,” said Secretary Reed. “Don’t drive in their blind spots and give them space to work so they can focus on the job.”

###

Judicial branch launches new district court public records search tool

Judicial branch launches new district court public records search tool
TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch has launched a new tool to search public district court records, and it will replace the current Kansas District Court Public Access Portal.

 

The new tool, CaseSearch, allows visitors to search public district court case information and documents online. It is active now, as is the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal it will replace. Both will remain active until next week, after which only CaseSearch will be available.

 

This change does not affect the Kansas Appellate Courts Public Access Portal.

 

Building from centralized case management

 

Amy Raymond, chief of district court operations and research, said CaseSearch was built in house to deliver on the opportunity to enhance how search works and the information it displays.

 

“Since completing the project to move all district courts to a centralized case management system, we’ve been alert for ways to harness greater benefit from this new technology,” Raymond said. “Rather than use an out-of-the-box solution, our case management team and developers built CaseSearch to pull data from the case management system to more effectively answer searchers’ information needs.”

 

Among the enhancements are more search types, a filter to search within case events, and more data in the financial details. The enhancements are responsive to feedback shared with the judicial branch during implementation of the centralized case management system in district courts, which is when case searches were first offered through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal.

 

Another change involves using the identity verification tool ID.me for people who are approved to have expanded access to case information. Attorneys and justice system partners described in Supreme Court Rule 25 and in a temporary rule adopted by Administrative Order 2025-RL-139 are eligible for expanded access to case information.

 

Some public records only at courthouse

 

Public district court records are both case data and case documents. What is available through CaseSearch is described in Supreme Court Rule 22: Access to Public Electronic District Court Case Records.

 

Public records not available through CaseSearch are available at the courthouse using a courthouse terminal. Each district court has a computer reserved for public searches of court cases and court records.

 

Sealed cases and sealed records are not public and are not available through either CaseSearch or a courthouse terminal.

Kansas Judicial Branch

Office of Judicial Administration

301 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

785-296-2256

kscourts.gov

 

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The Bourbon County Coalition Agenda for December 3

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Agenda

 

December 3, 2025 1:00 PM

Scottview Conference Room

315 S. Scott Ave

 

 

  1.  Welcome: 

 

 

  1.  Member Introductions and Announcements:

 

 

  1.  Program:  Stephanie England, Prevention Services Supervisor, KVC Kansas

 

 

  1.  Open Forum:

 

 

  1.  Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be February 4, 2026.

 

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall Newsletter

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Senator Marshall: Happy Thanksgiving From My Family to Yours!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, families across Kansas will come together to enjoy delicious food, the company of loved ones, and hopefully watch our Chiefs beat the Dallas Cowboys.

Thanksgiving gives us a moment to pause and reflect on what we’re grateful for. If your family is like mine, you probably take a minute to go around the table and share what you’re most thankful for.

I’m thankful for my beautiful family, my faith, and the privilege of serving you in the Senate. My family and I never take that honor for granted, and every day I’m reminded what a blessing it is to stand up for you and represent Kansas.

So, from my family – and all of my staff in Washington and Kansas – to you and yours: Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 107:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Click HERE to sign up for my newsletter!

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Topeka
800 SW Jackson Street, Suite 600
Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: 785-414-7501
Overland Park
7011 W. 121st Street, Suite 100
Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: 913-879-7070
Pittsburg
402B North Broadway
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-404-7016
Salina
204 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Suite 1
Salina, KS 67401
Phone: 785-829-9000
Garden City
921 Lareu Street, Suite C Garden City, KS 67846
Phone: 620-765-7800
Wichita
100 S. Market, Suite 102 Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: 316-803-6120
Kansas City
400 State Avenue
Suite 1006
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Phone: 913-549-1570
Washington D.C.
Russell Senate Office Building Suite 479A
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4774

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Bourbon County Commission Agenda Packet for December 1

BOURBON COUNTY,
KANSAS
Bourbon County Commission Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
Monday, December 01, 2025, 5:30 PM

To  view the entire packet:

12.1.25 Agenda

I. Call Meeting to Order
 Roll Call
 Pledge of Allegiance
 Prayer
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes (unofficial until approved) 11.17.25 & 11.18.25
IV. St. Luke’s Award – EMS
V. Consent Agenda
 Approval of 11.21.25 Accounts Payable (sent 11.21.25) $93,276.25
 Approval of 11.26.25 Accounts Payable (sent 11.26.25) & Payroll (sent 11.25.25) $327,304.73
VI. Executive session pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected
personnel to protect their privacy – Jennifer Hawkins
VII. Public Comments
VIII. Old Business
 Sale Tax – Susan Walker
 2026 Benefits – Susan Walker
 HSA
 FSA
 COBRA
 Longevity – Susan Walker
 Lines of Communication – Susan Walker
 Road Closure Application – Patricia Daniels
 Schwab-Eaton Engineering Services Agreement – Dustin Hall/Kenny Allen
 190th Street Benefit District – Johnson
 Sanitation Discussion – Beerbower
 Handbook Discussion – Tran
 BBCO Planning Commission Moratorium
IX. New Business
X. Build Agenda for following meeting
XI. Commission Comments
XII. Adjournment _____________

Wandering and Wondering by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

A Day in the Life of an Israelite

Sometimes, I think about how the wandering Israelites did what they did.  God asked them to sacrifice…if they wanted to be blessed. You and I have Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy at our fingertips, and I can’t even graph on paper on what occasions they were to offer up their unblemished bull or sheep or bird.  (Trust me, I tried.)  And without fences or branding, how did they separate their animals from the other kajillion mammals running free?

On another matter, were there mirrors, or did that even matter?  Think about their clothing and possessions. They had one pair of sandals.  One outfit that, according to Deuteronomy 8:4, did not wear out.  Never did they wake up and have to decide what color they were in the mood to wear that morning.  Or look longingly at the rack of clothes that no longer fit…but sometime, might. Their kiddies did not have stuffed animal collections (like my grandkids do) that rival any carnival offering.  There were no books or DVD’s, no newspapers or meteorologists or political rivals. What in the world did they discuss?

The Israelites’ Sabbath rituals centered around tabernacle worship and rest.  No golf courses or Kansas City Chiefs to pull them away from their creator.  No Sunday school classes for the children.  No Sharkys or Lucci’s for lunch. No Walmart “shop-til-you-drop” outings for the family.  Had I been the matriarch of a family back then, I pity any relatives dependent upon me daily kneading loaves of bread unless, of course, it was in remembrance of Passover. (Yeast and I are not friends.)

On a moment’s notice, they were to pack up their tents, animals, families and belongings (as few as they were) and leave for…well, wherever the cloud (by day) or fire (by night) led them.  Not a big deal when they started out from Egypt because within a couple of weeks, they would be at their final destination.  But because of their disobedience, there they were, 40 years later, still comin’ ‘round the mountain with no Promised Land in sight.  Just wandering…and wondering, I imagine.

That being said, when I think of the things that fill my schedule (and my life), I sort of envy those who lived eons ago who had none of the entanglements we have.  Their life was all about teaching their children about God, setting up the portable tabernacle, and waiting on God.

The choices that consume my day like “What shall we have for dinner?” weren’t even part of the Israelites conversations.  Manna and quail and water from a rock.  Manna and quail and water from a rock.  Manna and quail and water from a rock.  Every day.  Every meal.  And they didn’t even have to provide it.  God did.

As I sit here this morning, scrolling through mashed potato recipes on my computer (and, of course, writing this article), I realize that my life is complicated because I make it that way.  God expects from me what He expected from the Israelites: that no matter what I do, I follow Him, care for what He was given me, and teach others about His provision.  And somewhere, in the middle of all of that, I think He wants me to clean out my closet and let those “too small” clothes be a blessing to someone else.

Christmas on the Bricks Free Concert

As part of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Christmas on the Bricks” weekend, Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 East Wall, presents Mariam Tucker Self in concert. Known as Kansas City’s only female Elvis tribute artist, Self will perform a “Christmas from Memphis” show featuring Christmas songs and other hits. The free concert is set for Saturday, December 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Obituary of Garin Richard Williams

 

Garin Richard Williams, 50, died on November 19, 2025. He was born on January 4, 1975, in Fort Scott, the oldest child and only son of Steve and Marci Williams—parents whose steady love shaped him, grounded him, and was returned to them a thousandfold. From an early age, they nurtured in him a deep devotion to family, a lifelong passion for sports, and a profound love for his heritage. He cherished the stories, the family history, and the land that tied generations together, holding those connections close throughout his life.

Garin grew up just north of Redfield, where his childhood was spent with a cowboy hat and a six-shooter, even sneaking his gun in his boot on the first day of kindergarten. After the West was won, he graduated to a dirt bike, pedaling hundreds of miles with his cousins and sister between their houses and their grandparents’—only a mile apart.

He was (at first) a reluctant sibling—he had his heart set on brothers—but quickly became an adoring and protective big brother to his two little sisters, Jayci and Kelci. He loved spending time with them, inventing new “Williams games” like Stuffed Animal Carry and Deck Ball, or refusing to let them beat him in checkers or, frankly, any other game on the planet. When he left for college, he regularly sent long letters and cards for every occasion to his family, and once even hid in a cardboard box to surprise Kelci after sneaking home from Sterling. His family never had to wonder if he loved them; he told them often and without hesitation.

Garin attended school at Uniontown from kindergarten through graduation with the class of 1993. Being mischievous enough to keep his friends laughing, yet mindful that his Grandma Carol was the grade school secretary, required a delicate balance.

A gifted athlete, Garin played football, basketball, and track. Though small in stature, he ran the football with fearless intensity, lowering his head to fight for one more yard. His real legend, however, was on the track. In grade school and junior high, he competed in AAU and the Hershey Track program, qualifying for three national track meets. He earned numerous state and regional championships, along with two third-place medals and one fourth-place medal at the national level. Forty years later, he still holds state and regional AAU records.

In high school, he won three individual state championships and still holds four school records—including all three distance events. Following graduation, he attended Pittsburg State University for one year, running track and cross country. He transferred to Sterling College in 1994 to follow his love of football. He continued to wear #20, just like his dad before him and his sisters after him, graduating in 1998 with a degree in History Education.

Garin married Treva Russell on December 20, 1997. They later divorced.

Garin’s greatest joy in life was being a father to his two children, Shayd and Finean. In 1998 Garin and his family moved to Lexington, Kentucky, returning to Kansas in 2001 so he could take a teaching job.

He taught high school history and was the head football and track coach at Crest High School for two years. In 2003, Garin and Treva moved to Fort Scott, where Garin stepped into the role he was truly made for – a stay-at-home dad and homeschool teacher to Shayd and Fin. He poured his whole heart into raising them and they were the center of his world. He was immensely proud of them and loved them fiercely. The family moved to Charleston, South Carolina in 2012 and Garin returned home to Kansas in 2022.

Garin was also a beloved uncle to six nephews – all of whom considered him the funniest person who ever lived. Garin had a rare gift for humor, turning any situation- no matter how ordinary-into something worth laughing about. People who knew him remember the same thing: if you were with Garin, you were laughing.

Garin grew up in the First Missionary Baptist Church, where he was baptized at the age of 8 by Reverend Deane Endicott. He was later a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott, where he was part of the youth group ministry. The foundation laid in his childhood never left him. We trust in the God who knew him fully, loved him completely, and held him even on the days when Garin felt far away.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jack and Doris Williams and Don and Carol Mix. He especially loved his grandmothers—visiting them often, sending them cards and handwritten letters, going with them to concerts, plays, and movies, and spending plenty of time playing card games. He delighted in making them laugh: one summer he even carried out a months-long practical joke involving a stuffed animal gorilla that Grandma Doris found endlessly funny. And when Grandma Carol decided the squirrels had declared war on her birdhouses, she hired Garin as her squirrel bounty hunter, paying him ten dollars a squirrel. He carried out the job with enthusiasm and capped it off by taping a stuffed animal squirrel to her birdhouse just to get one more laugh. It was classic Garin—equal parts helpful, mischievous, and full of heart.

Garin is survived by his parents, Steve and Marci Williams; his children, Shayd Williams and Finean Williams; his sisters, Jayci (Chad) Cosens and Kelci Ebrecht; his nephews, Dryden and Cal Cosens, Kreedyn Smith, and Colby, Cameron, and Boden Ebrecht. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who cherished him.

Garin leaves us with a thousand memories that make us smile through our tears. His love and humor will live on in the family who adored him.

Private family services were held Tuesday. Memorials are suggested to the Uniontown First Missionary Baptist Church Summer Youth Camp or Ft. Scott’s Community Christian Church Playground Fund 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.

Wreaths Across America 2025 Goals Are Met

We are pleased to announce that we have met our sponsorship goal for the 2025 Wreaths Across America event that will be held December 13 at Fort Scott National Cemetery, said Diann Tucker, location coordinator at Fort Scott National
Cemetery.

We are so grateful to everyone who has sponsored wreaths and made this possible again. Every veteran at Fort Scott National Cemetery will receive a remembrance wreath. This is only possible through the generosity of many and hard work in fundraising. If you did not sponsor a specific dedicated wreath this year but still want to do so, we can still include your dedication. Just contact us so
we can help you with that. Any funds received now will be held for the 2026 campaign. It takes fundraising all year long to accomplish this goal.

Our ceremony will begin at 10 AM on December 13, immediately followed bylaying of wreaths. There will be some limited golf cart transportation available to assist in getting volunteers and guests into the cemetery prior to the ceremony and immediately following. Our guest speaker this year is Pat Proctor, retired United States Army colonel. Volunteers are requested to help with wreath

Bourbon County Local News