KS Governor Asks Legislature to Talk to Constituents About Redistricting
Governor Kelly Calls for Public Meetings Prior to Circulation of Redistricting Special Session Petition
TOPEKA – In light of rumors circulating that Republican legislative leadership may call a special session of the legislature to do the bidding of D.C. politicians and enact mid-decade redistricting, Governor Laura Kelly issued the following statement:
“I do not agree with mid-decade redistricting based on old data and a clearly partisan agenda. According to public reporting, Republican legislative leadership is seriously considering calling a special session of the legislature to enact new congressional district maps.
“A special session may be called by the governor or by the signing of a petition supporting the call by a two-thirds majority in each chamber. As I will not call a special session for mid-decade redistricting, Republican leadership would have to rely on a petition.
“A special session to draw new maps without new data would be an unprecedented departure from the normal post-Census process. For Kansans to have any faith in these new maps, they must be afforded opportunities to speak directly, in person, with their legislators.
“As imperfect as the last redistricting process was, legislative leadership held 18 public meetings. Then House Speaker Ron Ryckman said at the time, ‘It’s important to remember that redistricting is a multi-year process that starts with these town halls to get a gauge on what Kansans want.’ Senate President Ty Masterson said in January 2022, that Johnson County is the ‘core’ of the 3rd Congressional District.
“Any efforts to institute an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting must offer a robust public comment period with both online and in-person options, especially in Johnson County.
“That is why I am calling on legislative leadership to host town halls prior to circulating a petition for a special session. Kansans must be offered the opportunity to express their opinions directly to their representatives, as they have during previous redistricting processes.
“Discussions about a special session and redistricting must be brought out from behind closed doors and into the public domain.”
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Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony
The Gordon Parks Museum will host a grand opening event and dedication
ceremony for the Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Commemorative Park on
Thursday, October 2, at 4:30 p.m. as part of the Gordon Parks Celebration events.
The commemorative park is located at 301 S. Lowman Street in Fort Scott, on the historic site that was once
home to the oldest Black church in Fort Scott. The land, formerly the property of Wayman Chapel AME
Church, was generously donated to the Gordon Parks Museum by Fort Scott resident Josh Jones, through the
Fort Scott Community College Foundation.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation
(left to right) Josh Jones, Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum, and Sarah Smith, Fort Scott Community College Foundation. Submitted photo.
The church was regularly attended by Gordon Parks and his family, and was even featured in a scene from
Parks’ acclaimed film, The Learning Tree.
Originally established in 1866, the church moved to its final location at Third and Lowman in 1885, where it
stood for more than 115 years as a spiritual and cultural cornerstone of Fort Scott’s Black community.
Declining membership and unsafe building conditions eventually led to its condemnation and demolition in the
early 2000s.
While the building is gone, its legacy endures: two original stained-glass windows, two pews, and
other archival objects from the church are now preserved in the Gordon Parks Museum’s permanent collection.
The property has since been transformed into a commemorative, low-maintenance park honoring the legacy of
the church.
AME Church
Gordon Parks, 1950.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation. Submitted photo.
The new display signage includes four large storyboard panels (76” x 27”) featuring photos,
graphics, and text that highlight the church’s rich history and its vital role in the local Black community. These
panels are installed on a concrete slab beneath a pergola structure (12’ x 20’). In addition, a large 4’ x 3’
welcome sign will greet visitors at the park entrance.
The commemorative park is funded in part by Kansas Tourism and made possible with generous support from:
Armstrong Pressure Washing, LLC, Bourbon County Historical Association, City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Area
Community Foundation, Fort Scott Community College Foundation, The Healthy Bourbon County Action
Team’s Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), Josh Jones, Rick Mayhew, My One Stop, Marbery
Concrete, Inc. and McKenney Masonry, LLC.
Fort Scott National Historic Site to Host National Public Lands Day Event Sept. 27
Volunteers are needed for a day of helping remove weeds from Fort Scott National Historic Site on National Public Lands Day, September 27.
Tens of thousands of volunteers across the country will join in trail maintenance, planting projects, trash pick-up, and other activities aimed at restoring and caring for public lands to celebrate the 30th Annual National Public Lands Day.
On the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands, Fort Scott National Historic Site plans to remove invasive and exotic woody plants from the tallgrass prairie starting at 9:00 a.m. The first 50 volunteers will get a free one-day entry pass to federal public lands, valid for up to one year after the event. Tools, gloves, and other equipment will be provided by the park; volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and layered clothing. Sunscreen and insect spray are also encouraged. Kids under the age of 12 must stay with their parents, and pets are not allowed on the project. Entry is free to all National Parks on Public Lands Day, September 27th, 2025.
National Public Lands Day promotes shared stewardship of public lands through a variety of programs, activities, and volunteer work projects. In the last 10 years, NPLD has had more than 1,000,000 volunteers and generated more than $133 Million in volunteer service.
Fort Scott National Historic Site’s exhibit areas and visitor center are open Friday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.
Fort Scott National Historic Site is a free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc, on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS and Instagram www.instagram.com/fortscottnps
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
-NPS-
Credit Photo as: NPS Photo
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Sept. 23
Parent Empowerment Circle September Meeting Is September 28
Parent Empowerment Circle September Meeting:
Is Your Child Struggling in School?
Learn the Real Differences Between IEPs and 504 Plans
🔹 What’s the right plan for your child?
🔹 How do you get one?
🔹 What are your rights as a parent?
🔹 How do you get one?
🔹 What are your rights as a parent?
Join us for a free, informative session with a Special Education Specialist who will walk us through the key differences between 504 Plans and IEPs, how to start the process, and how to advocate for your child effectively.
👨👩👧👦 Open to all parents and caregivers of children with special needs (any physical or behavioral difference)— whether you’re just starting out or looking to better understand the system.
📅 Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
🕕 Time: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
📍 Location: First Southern Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS
🕕 Time: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
📍 Location: First Southern Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS
🎤 Guest Speaker: Tonya Barnes, USD 234 Special Education Director
Cherri Walrod
Community Health Worker
K-State Research and Extension Southwind District
WORK CELL PHONE: 620-945-9081
Bourbon County Arts Council Presents Emily Hollingshed on October 17
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The Gordon Parks Museum to Host Mural Dedication
Fort Scott, Kan. Sept. 22, 2025 – The Gordon Parks Museum will host a dedication ceremony for a new mural
honoring Gordon Parks on Friday, October 3, at 4:15 p.m. as part of the Gordon Parks Celebration events.
The mural will be located on the north side of the Wilder House Building at 18 East Wall Street (home of the
Sunshine Boutique) in downtown Fort Scott.
Renowned St. Louis–based visual artist and illustrator Cbabi Bayoc designed and painted the mural. Bayoc is
internationally known for his vibrant and thought-provoking works and is also the artist behind the First Kansas
Colored Infantry Mural, completed in 2023 on the north downtown building at 9 South Main Street near Skubitz
Plaza, facing the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The Gordon Parks Museum received a $6,874 grant from the Kansas Arts Commission Public Art and Murals
Grant Program to support the project. Funding for Kansas Arts Commission grants is provided by the Kansas
Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional support for the project is provided by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and Fort Scott
Forward.
For more information, please contact The Gordon Parks Museum at (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850 or
[email protected]
Parents: Learn the Real Differences Between IEPs and 504 Plans
Is Your Child Struggling in School?
Learn the Real Differences Between IEPs and 504 Plans
What’s the right plan for your child? How do you get one? What are your rights as a parent?Join us for a free, informative session with a Special Education Specialist who will walk us through the key differences between 504 Plans and IEPs, how to start the process, and how to advocate for your child effectively.
Open to all parents and caregivers of children with special needs (any physical or behavioral difference)— whether you’re just starting out or looking to better understand the system.
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Location: First Southern Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS
Guest Speaker: Tonya Barnes, USD 234 Special Education DirectorSubmitted by
Cherri Walrod
Community Health Worker
K-State Research and Extension Southwind District
Workers Comp Seminar Sept. 23-24
Kansas Department of Labor to Host 51st Annual Workers Compensation Seminar
TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) will host its 51st annual Workers Compensation Seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 23-24, 2025, at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan.
The two-day event provides legal, medical and case management professionals with the latest updates on workers compensation and the opportunity to earn continuing education credits.
This year’s seminar features a variety of educational opportunities, including morning general sessions and three focused tracks: Legal, Management and Medical.
Event Details:
- Dates: September 23–24, 2025
- Location: Overland Park Convention Center
For more information about the seminar agenda, please visit dol.ks.gov/wc/seminar
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Sept. 22
Growing with 4-H by Kendal Henson
Growing with 4–H: September as a Season of Reflection and Renewal
September is a month of transition. The long, warm days of summer give way to crisp mornings and evenings, school buses resume their routes, and the first hints of autumn colors begin to appear in the trees. For many, September feels like both an ending and a beginning. In 4–H, this sense of change is particularly significant—it is a time to reflect on past accomplishments with pride and to look forward with excitement to what is yet to come.
Celebrating Summer Successes
For 4–H members, summer is typically the busiest season of the year. They spend countless hours caring for livestock, tending to gardens, practicing demonstrations, working on sewing projects, and preparing entries for the fair. County and state fairs serve
not only as showcases of hard work but also as celebrations of dedication, perseverance, and growth.
As September arrives, many members take time to reflect on their summer experiences. They remember the early mornings in the barn, the nerves they felt before stepping into the show ring, the satisfaction of completing a project, and the joy of hearing their names called during the awards ceremony. These experiences teach valuable lessons that go beyond what ribbons can represent. They instill a sense of responsibility, time management skills, resilience, and pride in a job well done.
A Fresh Start for a New 4–H Year
September is not just a time for reflection; it’s also a season of renewal. For many clubs, the start of September marks the approach of a new 4–H year. New members are welcomed, officers are elected, and goals are set for the upcoming months. This season represents fresh starts, allowing young people to choose new projects, explore different areas of interest, and challenge themselves to grow in exciting ways.
Just like the harvest season that September brings, 4–H teaches us that growth occurs when seeds are planted with care and nurtured with time and effort. The lessons learned in barns, gardens, kitchens, and meeting rooms extend well beyond 4–H. They help shape members into leaders, problem solvers, and responsible citizens in their schools and communities.
Looking Ahead: National 4–H Week
September brings excitement for National 4–H Week, which occurs in early October. Clubs start brainstorming ideas to showcase their projects, promote 4–H to new audiences, and highlight the positive impact 4–H has on their communities. This is a time for members to share their pride, invite friends to join, and tell their personal stories about how 4–H has made a difference in their lives.
This preparation goes beyond mere publicity; it serves as a reminder of the vital importance of outreach and service. 4–H is not just about the individual benefits members receive, but also about the contributions they make to their communities. By getting ready
for National 4–H Week, clubs reinforce the connections they share with their schools, neighborhoods, and counties.
for National 4–H Week, clubs reinforce the connections they share with their schools, neighborhoods, and counties.
September’s Message: Making the Best Better
Ultimately, September reminds us of the pledge every 4–H member knows well: “I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”
As we transition from one season to the next, our pledge takes on a deeper significance. It encourages us to use our talents and energy not only to improve ourselves but also to strengthen the world around us. September marks the start of fall and signifies the beginning of another year of growth, leadership, friendship, and service in 4–H.
As the leaves begin to change, let’s welcome the opportunities that lie ahead. We should take the lessons we’ve learned from the summer fairgrounds and apply them in our classrooms, communities, and homes. Let’s continue to embody the mission of 4–H: to make the best even better.
Kendal Henson is a Kansas State Extension 4–H & Youth Development agent assigned to the Southwind District. He may be reached at [email protected] or 620–625–8620.