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Ad: Josh Jones — Proven Leadership

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I’m Josh Jones, and strong leadership means bringing people together.

Joshua Jones, Republican for Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3 — Proven Leadership

I’m Josh Jones, a lifelong resident and small-business owner, and I’m running for Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3.

One of the most important parts of being a county commissioner — and honestly, of life itself — is learning how to work with other people. No single commissioner has all the answers. The job isn’t about proving you’re right or making sure your ideas always win. It’s about listening, respecting different perspectives, and finding common ground that benefits the people we serve.

Right now there’s too much arguing at the county and not enough working together. When commissioners can’t function as a team, the county falls behind — opportunities get missed and good projects stall. And the people who pay the price aren’t the commissioners around the table. It’s the citizens who count on their leaders to solve problems.

Working together doesn’t mean avoiding the hard conversations. Sometimes you have to have the courage to stand up to someone who’s being disrespectful or trying to force their own agenda. But even then, the goal is never to create more conflict — it’s to steer the conversation back toward solutions and keep our county moving forward. I’ve sat in that seat: nearly three years on the Fort Scott City Commission, chosen by my fellow commissioners as mayor and later commission president, and I learned how to run a meeting that actually gets something done.

Because strong leadership isn’t measured by who talks the loudest or wins the most arguments. It’s measured by who can bring people together, earn respect, and leave Bourbon County better than they found it.

Vote Josh Jones — Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3. Bring the calm. Get it done.

Paid for by Joshua Jones for County Commissioner, Josh Jones, Treasurer.

Learn more and get in touch: Josh Jones on Facebook

Fort Scott, Government, Health Care

Fort Scott’s dialysis clinic: Reopening is still in the works

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Late in 2025 the Fort Scott City Commission approved a property tax break of up to ten years for the vacant dialysis clinic at 2526 S. Main, to help a Joplin kidney specialist reopen it. Fort Scott has had no dialysis center since 2019. Patients drive to Pittsburg or Chanute, three times a week.

This week, FortScott.biz checked with those involved. City officials say their part is finished. The commission awarded the abatement, the bond paperwork is complete, and nothing more is pending at City Hall. The reopening is now in the hands of the physician who will run the clinic.

The building itself is quiet for now. A July 25 visit found no signage or activity yet, and county records show the property’s 2025 tax bill of $65,343.80 was paid in full. That fits the timeline in the city’s documents, which say the exemption cannot appear before the 2026 tax statement.

Where the building is

Most people know it as the low brick building in front of Walmart.

Map showing 2526 S. Main between the Walmart Supercenter parking lot and South Main Street in Fort Scott
2526 S. Main sits between the Walmart Supercenter parking lot and South Main Street (US 69/K-7). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
The entrance canopy at 2526 S. Main with the Fort Scott Walmart Supercenter behind it
The building sits directly in front of the Walmart Supercenter, visible in the background. FortScott.biz photo, July 25, 2026.

 

Bourbon County’s tax record for the parcel (tax ID 002-FS10762B, in the Wal-Mart Plaza Pointe subdivision) answers the abatement question directly.

The building did change hands. The county lists Moka Rentals LLC as the current owner and taxpayer of record. That is the company named in the city’s bond documents as the tenant. Before Moka, the record shows Phoenix Fort Scott LLC, and before that Wal-Mart Stores and Wellington Ft Scott Ltd.

The 2025 taxes were paid in full, with no exemption. For tax year 2025 the county appraised the property at $1,400,000 ($193,790 in land, $1,206,210 in building) for an assessed value of $350,001. At a mill levy of 186.696 that produced a bill of $65,343.80, paid on December 18, 2025.

Tax year Owner of record Assessed value Total tax
2025 Moka Rentals LLC $350,001 $65,343.80
2024 Phoenix Fort Scott LLC $377,331 $72,397.38
2023 Phoenix Fort Scott LLC $422,346 $80,914.32
2022 Phoenix Fort Scott LLC $413,983 $79,080.28
2021 Phoenix Fort Scott LLC $395,233 $78,653.34
2020 Phoenix Fort Scott LLC $389,186 $77,981.20
2019 Phoenix Fort Scott LLC $396,485 $80,160.54

So when does the abatement take effect? By the terms of the city’s own documents, the earliest it can apply is tax year 2026. Both the resolution and the ordinance say the exemption runs for ten years “commencing in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Bonds are issued.” The draft bond documents date the bonds December 23, 2025. If they were issued on schedule, the first year the exemption could show up on a tax bill is 2026. Kansas tax statements for 2026 don’t go out until November.

That makes this November’s statement for 2526 S. Main the first place the exemption can appear in the public record.

The county’s appraisal record still lists the structure under its old name, “Fresenius Medical Care Dialysis,” a 7,992-square-foot medical office building put up in 2014.

The deal ran through taxable industrial revenue bonds. Despite the name, the city borrows nothing and owes nothing; it acts as a pass-through so a private project can reach two state-level tax breaks, a property-tax exemption and a sales-tax exemption on construction.

On November 18, 2025, after a public hearing, the commission voted 5-0 to move forward with Resolution 40-2025, declaring it advisable to issue about $800,000 in bonds to acquire, renovate, furnish and equip the building and lease it to Moka Rentals LLC (resolution; minutes).

Dr. Nadine Aboul-Magd, a kidney specialist with Joplin Nephrology Consultants who the minutes say served Fort Scott from 2015 to 2019, told the commission the abatement was essential to the project. The minutes record her saying the reopened clinic would employ at least seven people initially and would add two kidney physicians (minutes).

Steve Robb of Municipal Consulting LLC, who prepared the cost-benefit study Kansas requires before a city grants this kind of exemption, told commissioners the deal would return $9.67 for every dollar the city gave up, well above the 1.3 he called the cutoff for a worthwhile deal, mostly because a dialysis clinic uses a great deal of city water (minutes).

On December 16, 2025, the commission took up Ordinance No. 3792, which authorizes the bonds (ordinance). “There were no changes from what was discussed,” Mayor Tim Van Hoecke said as he introduced it (video, 2:07:39). A staff member called it “just procedural.” The commission voted and the mayor moved on. The city has not posted approved minutes for that meeting, so the exact tally is not on the public record.

Two details in the paperwork are worth knowing:

  • The break covers the bond-funded share of the property. The exemption applies only to the part of the property paid for with bond money, and it must be applied for. The one levy it cannot touch is the school district’s capital outlay levy, under the statute the resolution cites, K.S.A. 72-53,113 (resolution, § 4). For USD 234 that levy is 7.998 mills (about 4.3% of the 186.696 total on this parcel). Everything else can be abated, including Bourbon County’s share. This parcel sits in tax unit 002, which is made up of the state, Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College, the city of Fort Scott, USD 234 and the Southwind Extension District (2025 Bourbon County levy sheet). The minutes record the city’s consultant telling commissioners that most taxing entities come out ahead, with minimal impact on the extension district and the community college (minutes).
  • The break is tied to actually running a dialysis center. The lease says that “[s]ubject to the Project being continually operated as a dialysis center,” the city will make the filings needed to keep the exemption alive for the full ten years (project lease, § 7.4).

What the city, the county and the doctor’s office said this week

On July 29, Mary Wyatt, Fort Scott’s Planning, Housing and Business Development Director, told FortScott.biz the city’s part of the deal is done. The commission voted to award the ten-year abatement, and the paperwork between the city’s bond counsel and the owner has been completed. “It’s all in the hands of the owner at this point,” she said. “The ball is just in their court to get their operations up and running.”

Wyatt said she had not heard from the owner recently. In their last conversation, she said, the owner told her that opening a dialysis clinic is a legally involved process, lining up physicians in particular, and that she wants to go about it carefully, given the building’s history of closing.

Bourbon County Appraiser Matt Quick confirmed that no exemption yet appears in county records. Once the remaining paperwork is complete, he said, the property goes into exempt status for ten years. Quick described the city as the lead on the bond arrangement.

Wyatt said the approval that mattered came from the city commission, because the city is the entity abating the taxes locally. The state’s remaining role, as she described it, is a document that “has to be acknowledged at the state level.”

Quick also sent FortScott.biz pages from the state Division of Property Valuation’s guide to these exemptions, which fills in the steps between the city’s vote and a smaller tax bill. After the bonds are issued, the applicant files an exemption application, called the IRBX form, with the county appraiser, who forwards it with comments to the Board of Tax Appeals. The exemption is deemed approved unless the board schedules a hearing within 30 days of receiving all the information. The break is not automatic once granted. The owner must file a claim with the county appraiser by March 1 each year of the ten; miss the filing, and the property goes back on the tax roll. Those filings square with what the city describes. Under the lease, keeping the exemption in place is tied to the building operating as a dialysis center.

At Joplin Nephrology Consultants, practice manager Heather said there are “no updates as of right now” on the Fort Scott clinic, which she described as Dr. Nadine’s project, and confirmed the reopening is still in the plans.

What the building looks like now

The vacant former dialysis building at 2526 S. Main, Fort Scott, with an empty parking lot
2526 S. Main on the afternoon of July 25, 2026. FortScott.biz photo.
The covered patient drop-off entrance at 2526 S. Main, with no signage on the building
The covered patient drop-off at the entrance. There is no signage on the building. FortScott.biz photo, July 25, 2026.

The lot was empty on the afternoon of July 25. There is no signage on the building or at the street, the blinds are drawn, and the covered patient drop-off, the giveaway that the place was built as a clinic, sits unused.

Fort Scott has been losing health care since 2018. Mercy announced that October that it would close the hospital it had run in town since 1886 (FortScott.biz, Oct. 3, 2018). The dialysis center closed the following September. Fresenius did not publicly give a reason for the closure. “I have talked to Fresenius,” then-City Manager Dave Martin said at the time. “They haven’t made money to the point of, they can’t stay open” (FortScott.biz, Aug. 30, 2019). Ascension Via Christi closed the emergency department in December 2023 (FortScott.biz, Dec. 18, 2023). Freeman has been working toward a hospital and emergency department here (FortScott.biz, Jan. 8, 2025).

The building has been empty since Fresenius Medical Care closed it on Sept. 30, 2019. As late as May 2023, its owner at the time said it was still looking for a tenant (FortScott.biz, May 2, 2023).

If the project comes together, that vacancy — and the three-times-a-week drives to Pittsburg or Chanute — would end.

Sources: Bourbon County tax and appraisal records for parcel 002-FS10762B, retrieved July 25, 2026; City of Fort Scott agenda packets and minutes for Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, 2025; city meeting recordings for Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, 2025. Notices ran in the Fort Scott Tribune on Nov. 8 and Dec. 20, 2025. Telephone interviews July 29, 2026, with Bourbon County Appraiser Matt Quick, Fort Scott Planning, Housing and Business Development Director Mary Wyatt, and Joplin Nephrology Consultants; pages from the Kansas Division of Property Valuation’s property-tax exemption guide provided by the appraiser’s office. Photos and map by FortScott.biz; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Bourbon County

Commission declines to pursue hospital donation agreement

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The Bourbon County Commission on Monday rejected a proposal to set aside $300,000 in the 2027 budget to pursue enforcement of the hospital donation agreement against KRI and Legacy, and, Commissioner Motley who brought it said he would stop the attorney work already underway.

Motley, who has led the enforcement effort, laid out a detailed case that the agreement governing the donated hospital building has gone unmet on every front.

“Every aspect of the donation agreement has been violated, every aspect of it,” Motley said.

$2 million pledged, $200,000 documented

His central claim concerned money the agreement required be spent on the building. Motley said a review of records covering 2021 through 2024 — including receipts Legacy was obligated to provide — came back far short of the commitment.

“We’ve gone through all of the documents from 2021 to 2024, including receipts that Legacy was to provide to document the spending of the $2 million,” he said. “Those receipts total $200,000. Legacy did not spend the $2 million on that building. And hence we have deferred maintenance.”

Motley described the resulting condition of the property in concrete terms, citing roof leaks and HVAC problems among the maintenance issues, and pointing to the grounds — dead trees, weeds, Johnson grass at the hospital entrance, a burn barrel and piles of logs.

He said the obligation had been communicated: KRI had “certainly” been informed of its responsibility on maintenance, “and it’s not been done.”

Motley also said the property has generated no property tax revenue: “They’ve owned it since 2023, and they have not paid a dollar of taxes on that property either.”

“We gave these entities a $35 million cost building, and we gave them $2 million, and we’re going to give them $3.5 million with the sales tax. That’s over $40 million at stake. The risk of $300,000 is pretty small compared to that,” stated Motley.

The 10 beds and a $1.44 million hole

A second dispute involves 10 beds contemplated in the lease between Freeman and KRI. Motley said the lease had KRI engaging Freeman to manage those beds at $12,000 per bed per month — and that state approval will not come.

“KRI did not get approved for those 10 beds. And the state says they will never be approved for those 10 beds,” he said, adding that the state has not explained why.

By his account that leaves “a $1.44 million budget hole in Freeman that they don’t have any way to plug,” which he characterized as beyond negotiation: “It’s a static fact that can’t be changed through conversation.”

Motley argued the donation agreement takes precedence over subsequent transactions on the property: “The donation agreement is supreme in this case. And so everybody who touches that property, who files a document on that property, it’s subject to the donation agreement and the clawback provisions thereof.”

He framed the effort as a duty of the office, citing the statutory obligation of Kansas commissioners to contract for the protection and promotion of public health and welfare.

The motion fails

Motley moved to reserve $300,000 in the 2027 budget to enforce the agreement, and said plainly he expected to lose. His stated reason for forcing the question was that he could not keep authorizing legal work without knowing the county would act on it.

“I can’t in good conscience continue to ask our attorney to grind through those documents and for us to pay for that without assurance that we can enforce this agreement,” he said.

He added that if a suit were filed, he would seek an agreement from Freeman beforehand to reimburse the county’s legal fees, while acknowledging the underlying risk: “the risk would be we file a lawsuit and we don’t win. And that’s a real risk.”

Commissioner David Beerbower seconded, describing the set-aside as insurance: “We don’t even know if we’re going to have a lawsuit yet, but if you don’t have that money available and it does come around that we do have the legal grounds to safeguard our community, we’re throwing it away.” He went on to describe the detrimental affects to the community of not having a hospital, citing businesses choosing not to locate in Bourbon County and people choosing to leave: “this will go into a decline and you know then budgets will be a moot thing.”

The motion failed with Tran, Milburn, and Allen opposed.

Chairman Samuel Tran objected to committing money without a defined path: “We’re being asked to sign a blank check for $300,000 with no clear avenue to one, progress, two, what’s the end goal? There’s not a plan of action, there’s not a litigation plan.” He said he wanted KRI and Freeman brought to the table first. Commissioner Joe Allen cited hearsay and tight finances; Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee called it a gamble.

In public comment, Anne Dare argued the money would be better spent elsewhere: “If Bourbon County truly has an additional $300,000 available, I believe those dollars should be directed toward preserving essential services, not expanding investigations. Keeping an emergency room in our community is essential.”

Courthouse elevator failure threatens jury trials

District Court leadership told the commission the courthouse elevator, out of service repeatedly since June 16, is forcing jury-trial continuances and raising the risk of speedy-trial dismissals, along with ADA access and inmate-transport concerns. Commissioners were told the failure has also trapped an employee.

After being told the elevator was fine the previous week, “I got an email from Melissa that said, ‘Judge, the elevator doesn’t work,'” Chief Judge Amy Hart told the commission. “So we’re very up and down , and that just, under federal finding, is not an operational elevator. I’m not getting in it. I walked up the stairs today.”

Hart said a decision on elevator repair is needed by August 9 regarding the next jury trial. She said they have asked the fire marshal’s office to help, as it is responsible for elevator safety in the state of Kansas.

Beerbower raised the post office’s third-floor courtroom as a possible alternate venue and proposed weekly updates.

“Honestly, not to get off on a different tangent, but what we need here in this county is a justice center,” said Tran. “All the other counties in America are building justice centers. I like this grand old building. I don’t have an issue with the building. But in order to facilitate the modern judiciary function, we need a justice center.”

The court presented an otherwise flat budget, supported in part by a $50,000 no-match audiovisual grant.

Old landfill enrolled in walk-in hunting program

The commission voted to enroll the county’s 24-acre former landfill site in the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Walk-In Hunting Access program, over two dissents.

Justin Harbit, district wildlife biologist for KDWP, described the program as walk-in access for hunting only — no vehicles or camping — with the state posting and patrolling the property, paying roughly $10 per acre annually and covering liability. He said the City of Fort Scott owns an adjacent parcel of similar size and has indicated willingness to enroll it as well. The only weapons allowed would be archery and shotgun. There is also a nearby 45-acre parcel owned by KDOT that he is attempting to get enrolled.

Milburn-Kee opposed, saying the land should be sold and returned to the tax rolls, and objected to voting without public input. Tran also opposed, saying he wanted to hear from constituents first.

During public comment, Pete Owenby pressed on why the site has not been sold: “That’s county land. The county owns that. Why does the county own it? That should be on the market.” Staff said a Kansas Department of Health and Environment restriction bars disturbing the soil until 30 years have passed, cited in the meeting as 2039.

Other business

  • Accounts payable of approximately $483,656 was approved, along with minutes from the July 13, July 20 and July 22 meetings and the June and second-quarter financials.
  • The commission entered a 15-minute attorney-client executive session with counselor Bob Johnson and returned with no action.
  • Beerbower flagged decentralized Verizon and commodity purchasing as potential budget savings.
  • Michael Hoyt raised new state laws, including cell-phone and school-zone provisions. Kyle Parks, comprehensive plan and zoning committee member, urged the commission to keep the comprehensive plan and zoning effort moving.
  • Matt Lawn with Baker Tilly went over the initial draft of the county commission’s general fund budget including juvenile detention, courthouse maintenance, IT, fair board, economic development, health board, soil conservation, and other categories.
  • EMS Director Terry Halsey presented the board with detailed information in response to commissioner Milburn-Kee’s comment in last week’s meeting about possibly going to one ambulance for the county, which “opened up a Pandora’s box on Facebook,” said Halsey.
  • Public Works Director Kenny Allen sought a new CAT 420 backhoe for the transfer station (4.99%, funded through existing fees) after the old one’s frame cracked; the commission approved it contingent on Matt Lawn confirming budget, over Motley/Milburn-Kee requests for competing bids.

The commission also signed the Jared Gilmore Phillips audit engagement, approved wiping all Stronghold security-camera credentials removing all access for employees outside of Stronghold, and tabled the planning/zoning department, forensic RFP, opioid-fund application, commission policy, and an election-office space swap (which failed on a vote to defer). Beerbower closed with a pointed statement defending decisive, change-oriented leadership.

Art, Entertainment, Submitted

BCCT Performs Willy Wonka TYA Aug. 7–8 at FSHS

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Bourbon County Community Theatre presents Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka TYA — Aug. 7 & 8 at FSHS Auditorium

Bourbon County Community Theatre (BCCT) performs Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka (TYA – Theatre for Young Audiences), the organization’s first ever musical.

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Aug. 7 and at 2 and 7 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium, 1005 S. Main.

“The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder, and new songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka TYA is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone’s sweet tooth,” according to Music Theatre International.

Over twenty adults and children from Fort Scott and Nevada portray Dahl’s iconic characters.

The show is directed by Angie Bin with musical direction by Taylor Jones, choreography by Abby Stepps, and stage management by Christina King. Chris Griffetts is designing the sets, sound design is by Tyler Slinkard, and lighting is by Sage Hill. Mark Bergmann is assisting with projections and Danette Popp is assisting with stage management.

“This production of Willy Wonka is a kind of milestone for me, as it is my 60th production as a Director,” Bin said. “Working with all of these other extremely talented adults to design a magical show is such a joy.”

“It has been an incredible experience to be part of the creative team,” said Stepps. “Working alongside such talented children, teens, and adults has been truly inspiring. The energy, imagination, and dedication everyone has brought to this production is a reminder that when a community comes together through the arts, the possibilities are truly endless.”

“Willy Wonka has been such an amazing learning experience for me, especially since I’m one year away from earning my Speech/Theatre Education degree,” King said. “Having the opportunity to fine tune my technical skills has been incredibly enriching. I hope our community welcomes us with open arms and connects with our story about the power of telling the truth and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.”

The production is sponsored by Bourbon County Cars, After Effect Salon, Nevada AT&T, Museum of Creativity, Hedgehog Books, Marsha’s Deli, The Artificers, Riggs Chiropractic, Animal Care Center, Flowers by Leanna, and Liberty Savings. Hedgehog Books is giving away a copy of Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at each performance.

Special Golden Tickets are hidden at Hedgehog Books, Marsha’s Deli, After Effect Salon, Flowers by Leanna, The Artificers, and the Museum of Creativity. Those who find a Golden Ticket at these businesses win a free ticket to the show.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children. All seating is reserved seating through bcct.ludus.com or tickets can be purchased at the door. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka TYA is adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen Mcdonald. It is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, www.mtishows.com.

Contact: Angie Bin, 620-719-9622, angela.bin@usd234.org

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – July 29, 2026

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Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – July 29, 2026

Arrested

Freeman, Gracie Ann (Age 24) — Arrested 7/28/2026 3:30 AM by Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Charges: Criminal Damage to Property (Misdemeanor), Disorderly Conduct (Unknown Circumstance), Warrant – Out of State. Bond: $2,500.00 Cash/Surety.

Baldwin, Charles Robert Jr (Age 37) — Arrested 7/28/2026 11:41 AM by Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Charge: Warrant – Bourbon County (Failure to Appear). Bond: $0.00 (No Bond).

Released

Bump-Carpenter, Gabriella Heaven — Released 7/28/2026 5:39 PM via Transferred Out (Vernon County).

Collins, Wesley — Released 7/28/2026 9:13 AM via Transferred Out (Douglas County).

McCarty, James — Released 7/28/2026 9:10 AM via Transferred Out (Douglas County).

Shields, Edward — Released 7/28/2026 9:12 AM via Transferred Out (Douglas County).

Total Inmates Released: 4

Documents:

Obituary

Obituary: Mary Margaret Brown, Age 84

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Mary Margaret Brown

Mary Margaret Brown, age 84, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born October 2, 1941, in Garland, Kansas, the daughter of Albert Waring and Annie Dobelbower Waring. Mary was united in marriage to Earl D. Hull, and together they raised their four sons. Mary had been employed in the housekeeping department at Mercy Hospital for nearly forty years. Mary was gifted in crochet and made many blankets throughout the years. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandkids. Quiet times at home were spent reading, coloring or doing word searches. Mary was a member of the Community Christian Church.

Survivors include her sons, Orville Harris and Ronald Harris, Jr. both of Ft. Scott, Earl Hull, Jr. of Ottawa, Kansas and Kevin Hull and wife, Peggy, also of Ft. Scott; eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Effie Mitchell and Barbara Kellogg and husband, Ronny all of Ft. Scott and a sister-in-law, Ruth Waring of Garland, Kansas. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald and Lester Waring.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 4th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Community Christian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Uncategorized

Sen. Moran Now Accepting 2026 Service Academy Applications

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U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced that applications are now open for Kansas students to apply to a United States Service Academy for the Class of 2031.

Senator Moran noted that one of his favorite duties as a U.S. Senator is appointing Kansans to the following academies:

  • U.S. Military Academy — West Point, New York
  • U.S. Naval Academy — Annapolis, Maryland
  • U.S. Air Force Academy — Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • U.S. Merchant Marine Academy — Kings Point, New York

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on September 18, 2026. After applications are reviewed, applicants will be notified of interviews with Senator Moran’s Service Academy Selection Board.

For the full list of requirements and to apply, visit Senator Moran’s website.

Contact Senator Moran’s offices:

Washington, D.C.
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 521
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6521 | Fax: (202) 228-6966

Pittsburg
306 N. Broadway, Suite 125
P.O. Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: (620) 232-2286 | Fax: (620) 232-2284

You can also contact Senator Moran by email through his website: www.moran.senate.gov.

Bourbon County, Elections

Clerk Drops Recall Lawsuit, Waives Any Future Challenge to the Petition

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Bourbon County Clerk Susan Walker has dropped the lawsuit she filed in May to invalidate the petition seeking her recall, ending the case hours before a hearing that had been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

A Stipulation of Dismissal was electronically filed at 9:48 a.m. on July 28 in Bourbon County District Court, and District Judge Richard M. Fisher Jr. signed it the same morning. The case, Walker v. Crux (BB-2026-CV-000048), is dismissed with prejudice, meaning Walker cannot bring it again.

A motion hearing had been set for 1:30 p.m. that same day. Court records now show it canceled.

Walker sued on May 22, arguing the recall petition circulated against her was invalid because County Attorney James Crux never issued the written legal-sufficiency determination that K.S.A. 25-4322(b) requires. Her position was that Crux reviewed and rejected an earlier draft but never independently reviewed the amended version that was actually circulated for signatures. She asked the court to declare the petition invalid and to block any recall election based on it.

She originally named Crux along with three recall committee members, Kyle R. Parks, Kevin Wagner and Lyle K. Owenby, then narrowed the case to Crux alone. The three members were dismissed on May 29 and spent June asking the court to let them rejoin.

By July the case had three fully briefed motions waiting on the judge: the committee members’ motion to intervene, Wagner’s motion to set aside the order dismissing the committee, and Crux’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, which asked the court to rule the petition legally sufficient and let it go to the voters. Walker had filed her response to that motion on July 8.

The stipulation was filed under K.S.A. 60-241 by all parties who had appeared in the case. It sets out four terms:

  • Walker agrees to pay the proposed intervenors eight hundred dollars.
  • Walker waives all future legal claims challenging the Petition to Recall Susan E. Walker or process related to it.
  • The proposed intervenors agree to withdraw their motion to intervene.
  • The proposed intervenors waive all claims against Walker for attorney’s fees.

The document is signed by Jonathan L. Ehrlich for Walker, Jacob D. Bielenberg for Crux, and Patrick B. Hughes for the three committee members, who are represented by both Patrick B. Hughes and Quinn M. Hughes.

None of the three contested motions was ever decided.

That distinction matters. Crux’s motion for judgment on the pleadings asked the court to hold that the recall petition was legally sufficient, which was the central legal question in the case. The court never reached it. A judge did not uphold the petition; the challenge to it was withdrawn and waived by the person who brought it.

The motion to intervene was likewise never granted or denied. The committee members withdrew it themselves as part of the agreement. Wagner’s motion to set aside was never decided either.

One note for readers who look the case up themselves: the state’s public case-search portal lists the July 28 disposition as “Dismissed for Lack of Prosecution.” That label does not match the signed order, which is a stipulated dismissal agreed to by every party and entered while the case was actively briefed and set for hearing. The filed document is the authoritative record.

Timeline and documents

For readers who want the fuller history, here are the key filings and our prior coverage, in order:

Background: the recall petition and the clerk’s public statement on the recall.

Read the newest filing: Stipulation of Dismissal (PDF), filed and signed July 28, 2026 in Bourbon County District Court, Case No. BB-2026-CV-000048.

Being named in a lawsuit is not a finding of wrongdoing, and the filings described here reflect each party’s arguments, not the court’s conclusions. FortScott.biz will continue to follow the recall.

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Ad: Josh Jones — Run It Like a Business

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I’m Josh Jones, and I’ll treat your tax dollars like they matter.

Joshua Jones, Republican for Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3 — Value for Every Dollar

I’m Josh Jones, a lifelong resident and small-business owner, and I’m running for Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3.

I believe the county should be run like a business — and the first thing any good business owner knows is who the boss is. In county government, that’s you. The citizens are the real owners, and every dollar spent is yours.

Running it like a business doesn’t mean everything has to turn a profit. A park may not, and that’s fine. It means nothing gets wasted, and every decision comes down to value versus cost. It also means taking care of the people who do the work — employees are the backbone of any organization, and you don’t build anything good by forgetting that.

When you’re told it’s “cut services or raise taxes,” that isn’t always the whole truth. On the Fort Scott City Commission, we showed there’s a third way:

  • Cut about half a million dollars from the budget in my first six months
  • Raised our lowest-paid workers from $8 an hour to $12
  • Lowered the mill levy three years running while holding the budget at or near revenue neutral

I’ll bring that same taxpayer-first discipline to the county:

  • Stay truly revenue neutral — don’t automatically keep every extra dollar that rising property valuations bring in
  • Push for a clear cap (say, 3% or inflation) so any increase past it goes to a vote of the people, not just a hearing that changes nothing

Your tax dollars, your county, your call.

Vote Josh Jones — Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3. Value for every dollar.

Paid for by Joshua Jones for County Commissioner, Josh Jones, Treasurer.

Learn more and get in touch: Josh Jones on Facebook

Uncategorized

Get the Scoop on Senior Living at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village

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Get The Scoop: The Sweet Side of Senior Living

Fort Scott, Kan. – Curious about what life is really like inside a senior living community? Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is serving up the inside scoop — with sprinkles on top.

Residents, families, and community members are invited to Get The Scoop on Senior Living, a lively ice cream social designed to showcase the warmth, connection, and everyday joy that fill the halls of the community.

The event will feature residents and team members who will share their personal experiences and insights.

Join us from 4–6 p.m. on Monday, August 24 at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton St. in Fort Scott.

Guests can enjoy a variety of ice cream flavors from Lu’s Ice Cream, 523 S. Main, Fort Scott – a new sweet spot in town – while mingling with residents, chatting with staff, and discovering what makes senior living at Presbyterian Manor feel like home.

RSVP by August 17 by calling Angela Carpenter at 620-223-5550 or emailing acarpenter@pmma.org to reserve your spot.

Whether you’re exploring options for yourself, a loved one, or simply want to enjoy a sweet summer afternoon, come for the ice cream — stay for the stories.

Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, a Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America community, has been offering independent and assisted living apartments for seniors from southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri since 1994. Learn more at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org.

Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with 15 locations in Kansas and Missouri, a new community opening soon in Colorado Springs, and a hospice in Farmington, Missouri. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

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Elections, Kansas, Uncategorized

Nexstar Kansas Stations to Air Live Democratic Governor’s Debate

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Nexstar’s Kansas Television Stations to Air Exclusive Live Debate Between Candidates for the Democratic Party’s Nomination for Governor of Kansas

Debate Will Take Place on July 31 at 7 p.m. CT

KANSAS CITY, MO (July 23, 2026)—Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), today announced that its television stations serving Kansas will air an exclusive live, multi-market telecast of a debate between candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for Governor of Kansas. The debate, titled “Debate Night in Kansas,” will take place on July 31st from 7 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT, and originate from WDAF-TV FOX4 in Kansas City.

The debate will be moderated by FOX4’s John Holt, who has deep experience covering Kansas politics and statewide issues. The debate will focus on topics most important to voters, including economic growth, education, and healthcare.

Participating candidates include Kansas State Senator Ethan Corson, Kansas State Senator Cindy Holscher, and Overland Park, KS, Mayor Curt Skoog.

“This is Nexstar’s second live statewide debate in Kansas, reaching a potential audience of two million registered voters, offering them an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates running for the Democratic party’s nomination for Governor,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. “Nexstar is pleased to offer this debate as a public service to the voters of Kansas, just as we have done in several other states across the country.”

The debate will be carried live on four Nexstar television stations serving Kansas, including FOX 4, WDAF (Kansas City), KSN 16, KSNF (Joplin, MO), KSNT 27 (Topeka), and KSN News, KSNW (Wichita).

The event will also be streamed live on Nexstar’s digital platforms, with excerpts airing nationally on NewsNation and The Hill.

The following television stations will carry the debate live on July 31:

Station Network Market Website
WDAF FOX Kansas City FOX4KC.com
KSNF NBC Joplin, MO FourStatesHomepage.com
KSNT NBC Topeka KSNT.com
KSNW NBC Wichita KSN.com

About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. For more information, please visit nexstar.tv.

Media Credentials

https://ksdebate.wufoo.com/forms/qt2kwdz0lxge5m/

Media Contact

Chris Berg
VP/Local Content Development
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
cberg@nexstar.tv

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Opinion

The Big “U” by Carolyn Tucker

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The Big “U”

Mark Chestnutt, American country music artist, had a big hit in 1994 when he recorded and released his song, “Goin’ Through the Big D” (and don’t mean Dallas). The lyrics tell the story of a man going through the emotional and financial aftermath of a divorce that rocked his world. It would be astounding to know how many born-again Christians are going through the “Big U” (unforgiveness). Actually, statistics indicate that most aren’t going through, but are stuck and wallowing in unforgiveness. And I’m not just referring to divorce but everything from A to Z. Individuals living year after year after year with no satisfying end in sight. I’ve heard it said that harboring unforgiveness in your heart is like taking poison and hoping it will kill someone else.

Jesus desires that His followers live the abundant life – that’s why He came to earth. Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). No one is going to have a rich and satisfying life with unforgiveness choking their blessings. We have to do our part in order to receive the promised blessings of the abundant life. Jesus also said, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings, and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings” (Mark 11:25,26 AMP).

Jesus’ words are not hard to understand but they’re often ignored. It doesn’t change the fact that knowing, but stubbornly ignoring, His Word is disobedience. When Christians refuse to forgive others for their failings and shortcomings toward us, we’re letting the devil steal, kill, and destroy our lives. This pleases him greatly. The crafty enemy of our soul wants to keep us whipped up into a frenzy over something that happened yesterday, a decade ago, or longer. Satan is thrilled to see believers walking in misery and living in disobedience to God’s Word. Do yourself a favor and forgive – drop it, leave it, let it go to hell with the devil. Living in peace can only come when you kiss unforgiveness good-bye forever. Be the bigger person and make the first move toward reconciliation.

In reference to Jesus’ own words, none of us can afford to harbor unforgiveness in our heart. When I fail and fall short of God’s commandments, I am in need of His forgiveness when I repent. I’d be in big trouble if God refused to forgive me simply because I have refused to forgive someone that had wronged me. Please, do not let unforgiveness stand in your way of living in right relationship with God and man. Bitterness and unforgiveness do not look good on you. You can stay stuck or you can move on.

One reason why prayer isn’t answered among Christians is unforgiveness. Jesus bluntly told His disciples that if they didn’t forgive, neither would their heavenly Father forgive them their sins. Jesus didn’t hem-haw around and “suggest” we forgive because He knew what a huge stumbling block unforgiveness is to the our spiritual lives.  A heart full of unforgiveness and bitterness toward others will short-circuit God from answering our prayers. All of our relationships should be flourishing with goodwill toward others. If you have an ax to grind with someone, I suggest you throw it in the river.

Born-again Christians cannot do life in a Christlike fashion when we have hardened our hearts with unforgiveness. We must extend forgiveness, mercy and loving-kindness to others, just like God does for us.  God forgave us…and will continue to forgive us as long as we forgive others.

The Key:  Believers need to think twice about disobeying Jesus’ command to forgive.

Bourbon County Local News