Ad: Use FortScott.biz To Reach Local Customers
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Mt. Carmel Foundation Grants Application Period Starts
CFSEK Launches Annual Mt. Carmel Foundation Legacy Grant Cycle
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to announce the opening of the 2026 Mount Carmel Foundation Grant Cycle, with an application period from February 1-28, 2026.
On April 14, 1903, the Mount Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg opened its doors. For over 100 years, the hospital was a cornerstone of healthcare in the Southeast Kansas community. The Mount Carmel Foundation (MCF) was formed in 1983 to ensure everyone in Southeast Kansas had access to quality healthcare. That mission continues today through the Mount Carmel Foundation Legacy grants through CFSEK.
“The success of our inaugural cycle last year proved that the spirit of the Mount Carmel Foundation is still very much alive in Southeast Kansas,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “Being able to facilitate the largest grant cycle in CFSEK’s history was a proud moment for all of us. We are eager to keep that momentum going in 2026, partnering with nonprofit providers to strengthen healthcare throughout our region.”
The Mount Carmel Foundation Legacy Grant Cycle through CFSEK is open to nonprofit healthcare providers in Southeast Kansas that share the vision of the Mount Carmel Foundation: to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare for SEK residents.
Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App, and more information about the granting fund is available at SoutheastKansas.org/MtCarmel.
Ad: What FSCC Offers
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!
Fort Scott Community College; where opportunity meets possibility.
Bridge on Bourbon County road to be replaced
Post Date:01/29/2026 9:00 AM From the KDOT Facebook page
Starting the week of Feb. 2, a portion of 60th Street in western Bourbon County will be closed for a bridge replacement project, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
The project to replace the bridge 5.9 miles south of Uniontown and 1 mile west of K-3 will start Monday, Feb. 2, conditions permitting. This section of the gravel road will be closed throughout the project, which is expected to be completed by fall, conditions permitting.
The new bridge over the tributary of Hinton Creek will be 80 feet long and 24 feet wide. B&B Bridge Company LLC, of St. Paul, is the contractor for the $701,404.10 project.
Governor Laura Kelly and KDOT Secretary Calvin Reed announced $42.3 million in funding for this and 34 other bridge projects through the KDOT Off-System Bridge and the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement programs. The programs target improvements to city and county bridges not on the state highway system and in need of replacement and repair.
KDOT urges motorists to stay alert and follow posted signs in all work zones. Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.gov, for more highway condition and construction details. For updates on construction projects in southeast Kansas, visit ksdot.gov/southeastnews.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Jan. 29
Kansas 165th Birthday is Today
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Bo.Co. Coalition Meets Feb. 4
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Agenda
February 4, 2026 1:00 PM
Scottview Conference Room
315 S. Scott Ave
- Welcome:
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Program: Teresa Davenport, Care to Share
- Open Forum:
- Adjournment: The next General Membership meeting will be March 4, 2026.
Weekly Chamber Coffee Hosted by Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Group
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City of Mapleton Receives Community Block Development Grant for $202,600
Commerce Awards Over $4 Million in CDBG Grants to Kansas Communities
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that more than $4.1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has been awarded for 12 projects across Kansas. The investments will strengthen infrastructure, housing and economic opportunities in rural and low- to moderate-income communities.
“Our small and rural communities are rich with talent, aspirations and opportunity,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Investing in these projects through the CDBG program gives these communities the tools, resources, support and funding they need to address specific challenges and increase their ability to attract more visitors and residents.”
The 12 awardees will receive a total of $4,125,316 in federal funds, which was matched by $9,158,623 in local investments. The result was a combined total of $12,283,939 to be used for public improvements in communities across the state.
Projects awarded in this round:
- City of Arkansas, $628,728 – Adding new playground equipment at Wilson Park
- City of Burden, $300,000 – Rehabilitating nine homes and demolishing four dilapidated structures to address unsafe housing conditions
- City of Centralia, $650,000 – Improving the sanitary sewer system, including manhole rehabilitation and lift station upgrades
- City of Clifton, $160,000 – Installing a new playground surfacing and equipment
- City of Holyrood, $300,000 – Rehabilitating eight homes and demolishing three dilapidated structures through a citywide housing program
- City of Lyons, $650,000 – Upgrading the wastewater treatment plant, including monitoring system, lift stations, headworks, grit system, process basin improvements, motor center, press system, and electrical and site upgrades
- City of Mapleton, $202,600 – Adding a 1,200-foot ADA walking path, parking area, ballfield lighting, fencing, bleachers, dugouts, bathroom improvements and new park amenities at Mapleton Park
- City of Moscow, $51,525 – Installing an above-ground storm shelter in City Park that serves up to 50 people
- City of Mulvane, $181,205 – Resolving ADA barriers in downtown business districts along Main Street and East Mulvane Street
- City of Paola, $300,000 – Renovating a downtown building at 110 E. Peoria St., converting a former church into a wedding venue with exterior improvements and roof replacement
- Dickinson County (Abilene), $298,000 – Improving exterior façade to the historic “post office block” at 109 NW 3rd Street, supporting new commercial rental space
- Doniphan County, $403,258 – Improving courthouse accessibility, including new ADA-compliant ramp
“Through programs and funding opportunities like CDBG, we’re able to grow our support for small communities, creating sustainable solutions and growth in rural parts of Kansas,” Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Matt Godinez said. “These awards are more than just providing financial resources to communities — it’s about making these places attractive, appealing and places where people are excited to live, work and play.”
The funded projects are tangible results of how CDBG dollars help communities support economic development and develop spaces that improve the lives of Kansans.
To learn more about the Community Development Block Grant program and view awardees, visit here.
About the Kansas CDBG Program:
The Kansas Community Development Block Grant program provides funding to cities and counties to improve the lives of low- and moderate-income Kansans. Administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, the program supports projects in housing, community facilities, and economic development.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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Black History Month Tribute
Gordon Parks Museum Celebrates Black History Month with
Tribute Panel Exhibit and Daily Quotes
Fort Scott, Kan. Jan. 28, 2026 – The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College is proud to celebrate Black History Month with a powerful and educational Black History Month Tribute Panel Exhibit, on display February 1–28, 2026, in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
The exhibit features more than 100 posters, photographs, and informational panels highlighting influential Black innovators, leaders, artists, and change-makers whose contributions have shaped history and continue to inspire future generations. Visitors will also encounter a thoughtfully curated selection of inspiring and moving quotes that encourage reflection, dialogue, and deeper understanding.
In addition to the exhibit, the Museum will present a Black History Month “Quote of the Day” throughout February. Each daily quote will spotlight a different historical figure or contemporary voice, offering moments of inspiration and learning for visitors.
“This exhibit and daily quote series provide meaningful opportunities to highlight untold stories, celebrate achievement, and connect history to the world we live in today,” said Kirk Sharp, Executive Director of the Gordon Parks Museum. “It invites thoughtful discussion about the relevance of Black history in our daily lives and shared future.”
The Black History Month Tribute Panel Exhibit is free and open to the public during regular building hours.
For more information about the exhibit and contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext.5850 or by email at [email protected].
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day
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