A majority of Fort Scott Community College’s Board of Trustees may be present at the Foundation’s President’s Dinner this Thursday, September 18; however, no official board business will be conducted during this celebration.
Submitted by
Juley McDaniel
Director of Human Resources
Fort Scott Community College
KEEP MOVING FORWARD
Wreaths Across America adopts a new theme each year as we work to fulfill our commitment to Remember, Honor and Teach, in conjunction with the annual wreath placements at Fort Scott National Cemetery. This year’s theme is “Keep Moving Forward”. Something we each need to do, although it is not always easy. Our lives are often filled with joy, commitment, busy schedules, as well as loss and disappointment. None the less, as we who remain, we must keep moving forward.
Diann Tucker, location coordinator at our local Fort Scott National Cemetery, wants to remind the community of the need for additional wreath sponsorships to fulfill the goal of providing a wreath for each of the over 7000 honorary stones at the cemetery. If you know someone, have a friend or loved one buried here, please honor them with a wreath this year. Perhaps you just want to honor a soldier who didn’t know you but was willing to give his or her life for your freedom. Wreaths are $17.00 each and a donation can be made by check, cash or credit/debit card. Checks can be made payable to Wreaths Across America and mailed to “Wreaths Across America”, c/o Diann Tucker, 746 215th St., Fort Scott, KS 66701 or drop your donation by Stewart Realty Co., 1707 S. National, Fort Scott. To donate with a debit or credit card please call Diann or Mika at 620-223-6700 or 620-224-7054. You can also tell us if you have a grave specific site to be dedicated for your wreath purchase. All donations must be received no later than November 20 and are tax deductible.
We appreciate your past and current support and ask that you share this event with your friends, family, email friends, and Facebook friends. The annual ceremony and wreath remembrance placement is scheduled for December 13, 2025. We always need and appreciate volunteers.
Register by Friday, October 24 |
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Registration for the 2025 Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas is open. The conference will take place on Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. The conference will feature the latest policy and research developments on water issues in Kansas, including presentations on: Registration closes on October 24. For more information, including the draft conference agenda and speaker bios, visit the Governor’s Water Conference page at kwo.ks.gov under the News & Events section. This event is open to the press. Press badges are available for one or both days. When you arrive, visit the late registration desk to get a badge. |
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As the state’s water office, KWO conducts water planning, policy coordination and water marketing as well as facilitates public input throughout the state. The agency prepares the KANSAS WATER PLAN, a plan for water resources development, management and conservation. KWO in coordination with the KWA also reviews all water laws and makes recommendations to the Governor and Legislature for needed legislation.
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Untold Stories of African American History
Fort Scott, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is hosting author, historical researcher, and Civil War reenactor Calvin L. Osborne on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the East Infantry Barracks, where he will share an epic story of a once-enslaved man who fought for freedom, helped shape a nation, and unknowingly laid a foundation for generations to come.
The pre–Civil War South story follows Osborne’s great-great-grandfather’s journey from bondage to the battlefield, through the Battle of Westport, the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, into his new life in Kansas.
Mr. Osborne explores the world of African Americans labeled as “contraband,” freed slaves who were neither fully free nor protected. Osburne brings to light the triumphs and tragedies of a people caught between bondage and liberation, family and fate, heartbreak and hope.
By day, Osborne is a practicing real estate attorney and has more than two decades of experience in law and real estate development. He is a student of African American military history and heritage, participating in reenactments to honor the courage and sacrifice of black soldiers. His research into genealogy and primary documents unearthed the real-life love story between his great-great-grandparents, William and Lucinda Lacy.
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
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Erie, KS – Area Homeschool families are invited to participate in a day of hands-on science learning at the upcoming STEM Discovery Day for Homeschoolers on Friday, October 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Neosho Valley Event Center, 321 N. Wood St., Erie, Kansas.
This free event is designed to spark curiosity and excitement about science, technology, engineering, and math through interactive, age-appropriate sessions led by experienced educators and professionals. Students will rotate through engaging stations that encourage exploration, problem-solving, and discovery.
All materials are provided, but participants are asked to bring a sack lunch. Parents must accompany their children.
Registration is required by October 10. To register or for more information, call 620-244-3826.
STEM Discovery Day is hosted by K-State Research and Extension, Southwind District, Wildcat District, and Cherokee County.
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta (PHF) is an annual Bourbon County event that takes place this year from October 3-5 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street in Fort Scott.
The event showcases rural American culture in an earlier time period.
To learn more: https://pioneerharvestfiesta.com/
The event kicks off with a parade of antique and classic farm implements and more, through Fort Scott’s historic downtown on Thursday, October 2, at 6 p.m., according to the PHF website.
One can experience educational and historic exhibits, refreshments, and live musical entertainment all weekend.
All three days showcase steam engines, blacksmiths, food and Flea Market vendors, drag saw demonstrations, Tractors and Gas Engines on display, Baker Fan demonstrations, arts and crafts, straw baling, wheat threshing, corn husking and shelling, sorghum making, rock crushing, saw mill operation, Car Show, Tractor Pull (Antique & Classic), Garden Tractor Pull, and many more.
This year’s full weekend admission is only $5 per person and includes a collector button and the Friday Bean Feed at 5 PM. Children under age 12 are free.
Free admission does not include a collector button. Prior year’s collector buttons are available for purchase for $1.
One of the new additions to the event is a fiber arts show in conjunction with the annual quilt show.
New Craft Added
The PHF quilt show has a new name this year and a new direction. The Quilt and Fiber Arts Show will feature beautiful quilts as usual, and will also showcase examples of various fiber arts, according to a press release from Linda Rogers, a local quilter.
Fiber art is work done with thread, yarn, fiber, or fabric, according to Rogers. Examples of fiber art include weaving, rug hooking, spinning, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, cross-stitching, tatting, needle felting, macramé, and more.
Area quilters and fiber artists are invited to enter items for the show to be held October 3-5 at the Myers Building at the Bourbon County Fairground during the annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta. This event is free to the public.
“Anyone may enter items not previously shown at this show, no limit on the number of items, and the public is invited to view the entries at NO COST! (There is an entry fee for the machinery show.)” said Linda Rogers, this year’s quilt and fiber arts organizer at the annual event.
In addition to the exhibits, fiber artists will be present at various times during the show, working on their current projects. The public is invited to drop in, view the exhibits, talk to the artists, and bring their needlework projects to work on, according to Rogers.
“Generations ago, quilting and needlework were necessary skills,” she said. “These traditional crafts continued to be kept alive by many of our grandmothers and mothers who, although they no longer needed to make things, nevertheless enjoyed filling their spare time with creative pursuits.”
Recently, quilting and traditional crafts have been “rediscovered” by new generations of enthusiastic fans and are sometimes referred to as “granny crafts” or “Grandma Core”, she said.
“In our hyper-connected, technology-driven world, both adults and youth are finding the simple joy and calm that comes from working with colors and textures to create something tangible with their own hands, according to the press release.”
“A quilt and fiber arts show is a wonderful place to come be inspired, encouraged, and tempted,” said Rogers.“You will see some fantastic quilts, some showcasing new techniques and contemporary colors, as well as more traditional quilts. And if you are thinking about taking up a new craft, or if you are in the middle of a needlework project and have hit a roadblock, maybe one of our quilters or artisans can make suggestions to help you.”
The “take-in” time to enter quilts and items for exhibit is Thursday, October 2, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no fee to exhibit items. The only award that will take place is a “People’s Choice Award”. Items can be picked up on Sunday, October 5, from 2:30 to 3:00.
The Quilt and Fiber Arts Show will be open for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 3, and Saturday, October 4, and on Sunday, October 5, from noon to 2:00. Admittance to the quilt show is free. For more information, contact Rogers at 620-215-4905.
Rogers is entering a quilt that was pieced by an ancestor of hers, and gives the details:
History of Linda Ramsey Roger’s Family Vintage Quilt
Quilts often become heirlooms, taken care of and handed down to generations after their creation. Such is the case with Linda Ramsey Roger’s quilt, which was created in 1864.
“Information below is taken from a handwritten note, written by my great-grandmother, Alice Ann (Hinton) Konantz, concerning the quilt, other death dates of my family, and an email sent to me from my 1st cousin, who gifted the quilt to me.
*1864 – Charlotte (Hinton) Hinton (great-great-grandmother), age 23, pieced and appliqued the quilt while living in Iowa. Her daughter, Alice Ann, recalls in a note remembering her mother working on it when she was 7 years old. Charlotte died later that year, and shortly after, she and her dad moved to Bourbon County, Kansas.
*1923 – Alice Ann (Hinton) Konantz (great-grandmother), age 66, had it hand quilted by the Methodist Episcopal Ladies Aid, which Rogers reckons is the United Methodist Church of Uniontown.
1933 – Alice Konantz wrote the *note telling the above information.
1940 – Alice Konantz died at 83 years old. “Most likely the quilt passed to my grandmother, Grace Miriam (Konantz) Griffith.”
1982 – Grace Miriam Griffith died at age 84. “Most likely the quilt passed to her oldest living daughter, my aunt, Betty Jane (Griffith) Perry, while living in Montana.”
1999 -Her Aunt Betty gifted the quilt to her oldest daughter, Kathleen (Perry) Martinell, Roger’s first cousin, who still resides in Montana.
2024 – Kathleen gifted the quilt to Rogers, who lives in Bourbon County, Kansas.
I was recently in another state visiting a county, not all that different from Bourbon, and looked at their taxes. Property taxes were double what I pay in Bourbon County for a house with a similar appraised value. As high as taxes seem locally, there are places that have grown the size of their government to where they are much higher.
When confronted with the fact that other people are paying twice as much in property taxes, you probably had one of two reactions. If you like bigger government, you might think, “Wow, think how much more our county could spend if we could double property taxes!” If you like smaller government, you probably think, “Wow, how do we keep our county from becoming like that?”
A few months before George Washington took office, Jefferson wrote, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.” Whether you fall into the “bigger government is better” camp, or you are aligned with “smaller is better,” Jefferson’s quote gives you a blueprint. If you want a bigger, more powerful government, you simply have to let government take its natural course and undermine efforts by anyone who wants to prioritize liberty that would constrain government growth and spending.
On the other hand, if you want a small government, you have a much harder job. Why is it so much harder? You have to be willing to give up having control of some things that you consider good, in exchange for keeping government small.
For example, if Bob built his house right next to his neighbor’s property line and the neighbor decides his life goal is crossing roosters, guineas, and emus to try to set a world record for the world’s loudest bird, Bob might be inclined to support some type of county-wide noise ordinance.
If Jane really wants a county-run indoor skydiving facility, she might be inclined to support a new sales tax so she can get other people to pay for it. If John feels that the ~$20,000 spent on his little Johnny in the public school is half as much as he’d like to see spent, he might support dramatic increases in property taxes to drive it up to $40,000—especially if John doesn’t own much property and thinks the burden will fall more on his neighbors.
While those may seem like silly examples (though I have heard people supporting the school spending one), they illustrate the fact that everyone has things they would like to see the government demand of or take from their neighbor.
This is the natural progression that Jefferson describes. Citizens that think controlling or taking money from their neighbor is more important than keeping government small will end up with a very large government and a large tax bill. Citizens that feel that their neighbor’s liberty is more important than their own personal convenience have a shot at keeping government small and their tax bill constrained.
This is one of the reasons I am opposed to Bourbon County exceeding the revenue-neutral rate. Spending has grown by 11.2% over the last two years. If we start by asking “What do we want to pay for?” the budget will always go up. If we start by saying, “Here is how much we have to spend,” then careful prioritization will make sure we retain the most important functions while constraining the growth of government.
This is also one of the reasons I’m opposed to the commissioners’ current efforts to implement zoning in Bourbon County. While I can see some ways that zoning might be beneficial, even some things that would benefit me personally, making the county government even bigger in our current situation comes with a cost, both in dollars and loss of freedom, that far outweighs any benefit.
Mark Shead
Note: FortScott.biz publishes opinion pieces with a variety of perspectives. If you would like to share your opinion, please send a letter to [email protected].
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Location: Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
“I Wanna Talk About Me”
In 2001, country music artist Toby Keith released a comical music video perfectly illustrating selfishness. The song, “I Wanna Talk About Me,” is about a man’s huge frustration in his inability to pleasantly converse with his girlfriend/wife who only wants to talk about herself. Being selfish is natural — just watch a two-year-old pitch a fit to try and get his/her way. Little people learn this all on their own; no one has to teach them how to throw a tantrum. With both of my kids, I discovered what the parenting books called the “terrible twos.” My son was probably the best worst example of the “TT” simply because his fits were thrown in public and my daughter’s were hurled at home. Aaron wasn’t too bad to shop with until we got to the checkout counter where the candy was displayed. Of course he wanted all of it, and of course he couldn’t have any of it. So the selfish fit began and all I could do was pretend to be deaf while he continued on and on even as we exited the building. However, his life took a different direction once we got home. He finally learned that he didn’t like what happened when we got home.
Selfishness is a real problem in our culture today. Many people seem to have little regard for other individual’s feelings. The entire push in the world today is “self.” But being selfish is not all it’s cracked up to be! Jesus was a lot of things and selfishness was never anything He exemplified. Christ followers say we want to be like Jesus, walk like Jesus, love like Jesus, and think like Jesus. And that’s exactly right — He’s our example. So can we put our money where our mouth is?
To be a follower of Jesus, we have to dethrone ourselves and enthrone Christ. God can’t do all He desires with us if we’re still calling the shots. If we’re still pitching fits and wanting our own way, we really need to grow up spiritually. One day Jesus called the crowd to join His disciples and said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34 NLT). Jesus made it plain that we must follow Him, smash selfishness to smithereens, shoulder our own cross, and humbly follow His leading.
Those who live a life of self-indulgence are basically wasting their life away. “Don’t think only of yourself. Try to think of the other fellow, too, and what is best for him” (1 Corinthians 10:24 TLB). It’s simply not possible to have yourself on your mind all the time and be happy. Happiness comes from being good to others — it’s a ricochet effect.
“Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another” (Romans 12:10 TPT). Competition often brings the worst out in people, but this scripture would be an exception to that thought. Getting caught red-handed in doing loving acts of kindness would be something to celebrate!
Selfishness has been a huge problem since Adam and Eve. God warned them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they disobeyed and ate it anyway. Their selfishness brought sin into the world, introduced suffering and death, and severed their close and beautiful relationship with God.
The Key: It’s time for believers to pitch a final fit and smash selfishness once and for all.
Fort Scott National Historic Site to Host Special Naturalization Ceremony on Constitution/Citizenship Day Sept. 17
Fort Scott, Kan. – Media outlets and the general public are invited to Fort Scott National Historic Site on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, for a Special Naturalization Ceremony at the parade ground here.
Check-in for ceremony participants begins at 9 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. The Honorable Holly L. Teeter, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Kansas, is scheduled to preside.
Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent Jill Jaworski and Fort Scott Mayor Tim Van Hoecke plan to provide opening remarks. John K. Burchill, Emeriti Professor of Criminal Justice, is scheduled to provide the keynote address. The Fort Scott High School Orchestra is scheduled to perform.
Seating will be provided for ceremony participants. Friends, family, guests, and the public are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets for seating. In case of rain or inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to Fort Scott’s Memorial Hall.
Media attending the ceremony are requested to RSVP and be in place by 10 a.m. at Fort Scott National Historic Site, 1 Old Fort Blvd., Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701.
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
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Admission is FREE, and all donations go directly to support the Care to Share Cancer Support Group. Help us celebrate community, music, and giving back at this special 25th anniversary event.
Friday Night – Sept 26
Saturday – Sept 27: Packed with Events!
Please note: No pets are allowed at the event.
