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The SEKnFind Newsletter
August 2025
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Back to the Land: Traditions & Innovations in Small-Scale Farming

Fort Scott, KS – The Southwind Extension District invites the public to attend Back to the Land: Traditions & Innovations in Small-Scale Farming, a free educational series designed for anyone interested in homesteading or small-scale agriculture. The program begins Wednesday, October 1st, and continues weekly through December 10th at the Fort Scott Community College Ag Building, with one special session at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on December 10th.
This hands-on series, led by Southwind Extension District agents and Kansas State University specialists, will explore practical topics to help participants build knowledge and confidence in self-reliant living, farming, and food production.
Session topics include:
- October 1 – Plot Perfect: Garden Planning for Abundant Harvests
- October 8 – Pests, Predators, and Protection
- October 15 – Backyard to Barnyard: Small Farm Poultry Essentials
- October 29 – Deep Roots: Soil and Forage Strategies for Resilient Farms
- November 5 – Homestead Herds: Practical Livestock for Everyday Farmers
- November 12 – Pantry Power: Food Preservation for Self-Reliant Living
- December 10 – Harvest and Butcher: A Whitetail Processing Program (Bourbon County Fairgrounds)
All sessions begin at 6:00 p.m. and are free to attend.
“This series is designed for anyone from beginners to those needing a refresher on certain topics,” said Hunter Nickell, Livestock Production Agent. “Whether you want to grow more food, care for livestock, or preserve your harvest, you’ll walk away with practical skills you can put to use right away.”
To register or RSVP for meal count, call 620-223-3720.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer, dedicated to serving Kansans through research-based education, resources, and support for agriculture, families, and communities.
Agenda for the FS City Commission on Sept. 2
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
September 2, 2025 – 6:00 P.M.
- Call to Order/Roll Call
- Pledge of Allegiance
III. Invocation
- Approval of Agenda
- Consent Agenda
- Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1391-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of August 13, 2025 – August 26, 2025 – $1,554,438.30
- Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of August 19, 2025
- Request to Pay – Invoice No. 527851 – Olsson – Project No. 024-06580 – FSK RSA Grading and Runway Lighting Project – AIP Project No. 3-20-0022-024/025-2025 – Design and Bidding (services rendered through February 1, 2025) – $41,850.00
- Approval of Resolution No. 20-2025 A RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY, THE PROPOSITION OF LEVYING ONE-HALF PERCENT (0.5%) RETAILERS’ SALES TAX IN THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS.
- Public Comment
VII. Appearances
- Zac Crumby – Request for Temporary Street Closure – Motorcycle Benefit Ride for KRI/Ride 4 Kids – September 13, 2025 – National to W. Oak from W. Wall St. – 3:00PM – 11:30PM – Last stop at Sharky’s.
- 2. Jack Welch – CHAMPS (H.O.T.) Heart of Texas Football Bowl
VIII. Unfinished Business
- New Business
Public Hearing:
- Consideration of Resolution No. 21-2025 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 102 N. BARBEE – L. Kruger
- Consideration of Resolution No. 22-2025 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 602 S. BARBEE – L. Kruger
- Consideration of Resolution No. 23-2025 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 505 CLARK – L. Kruger
Action Items:
- Consideration of Olsson proposal to perform the design and bidding phase services for KDOT-KAIP (Project No. AV-2026-16) – Olsson Project No. 025-04135 – M. Wyatt – Patrick Barnes/Olsson.
- Consideration to purchase 24” High Flow Planer for skid steer – $18,759.84 – B. Matkin
- Overview of MIH Grant Application as it relates to the proposal advertised for qualified residential developers (Applications due September 20, 2025) – L. Dillon
- Discussion of the Sale of Lake Lots – L. Dillon
- E. Consideration of Resolution No. 24-2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS AUTHORIZING THE REDEMPTION AND PAYMENT OF ITS TAXABLE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS, SERIES A, 2014 AND SERIES B, 2014 (SLEEP IN AND SUITES HOTEL PROJECT) AND THE SALE AND CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY TO FS HOSPITALITY GROUP, LLC
- Consideration of Chip Seal Payment
- Consideration of 99-Year Land Lease Agreement – M. Wells
- Reports and Comments
- Adjourn
The Benefit of the Doubters by Patty LaRoche

Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
The sophomore sat in my class, day one, and shared that when she tried out for middle school track, a teammate told her that she was fat. Another spoke about how classmates treated her after social services visited her home, and the claim of negligence spread throughout the community. Both girls were judged for falling short. But short of what?
We understand their pain, but what about the ones who had offended them? Aren’t we all guilty? Oh, maybe we don’t say it out loud, but we sure say it to ourselves. We fail to understand that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night might be a single mother who was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and run back to her night job. We forget that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested man who cannot make change correctly is a stressed, 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. As for that weird-looking bum? The one begging for money in the same spot every day (I mean, seriously! Why doesn’t he have a job? Everyone is looking for employees.). Do we stop to consider that he might be a slave to heroin, an addiction we can imagine only in our worst nightmares?
We roll our eyes at the old couple walking slowly through the store aisles, blocking our hurried-shopping progress, and we fail to recognize that maybe, just maybe, they are savoring this moment because, based on the biopsy report she received last week, this will be the last year they go shopping together. We stare at the obese, secretly wondering why they don’t walk instead of using the store’s mobile device, not even considering that perhaps they eat for emotional comfort due to the abuse they received as children.
The point is, it doesn’t matter what makes people different from us; what matters is that we arrogantly dare to look at them differently than God looks at them. Only if we never have judged someone can we claim innocence.
The other evening, Dave and I were with another couple, and we were talking about difficult people. The husband (“Ron”) shared a story about delivering a package to a company in which a sourpuss woman worked. Sure enough, Ron showed up near closing time and got an earful from the employee who was ticked that she had to process the package.
Instead of responding in an equally hateful manner, the next morning, Ron picked up a special coffee drink he found out the woman liked and surprised her with it. He said that he assumed she had had a bad day and might enjoy a pick-me-up. Every time he saw her after that, she greeted him with a smile and a hug.
Ron could easily have judged her attitude. After all, she had judged him, and he was just doing his job and didn’t deserve to be treated so hatefully. She had no right to unload on him when he had done nothing except what his job required. He chose not to pay back. He chose not to judge.
Deciding to give someone the benefit of the doubt is the way Jesus would have us handle this situation. Every situation. 1 Peter 3:8 is a verse we all should remember: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
Not a bad place to start.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports August 29
National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union’s 152nd Convention

Frances E. Willard “Rest Cottage” Home
Larry and Loreta Jent of rural Fort Scott have recently returned from the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union’s 152nd Convention on August 18, and the World 42nd Convention August 19-23, 2025. National WCTU followed their convention by hosting the World WCTU Convention at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in Chicago-North Shore, Skokie, Illinois.
National WCTU President Merry Lee Powell challenged USA members to be “Mountain Movers” as she referred to Matthew 17:20. “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” Everyone was given a mustard seed on a mountain necklace as a reminder that we are capable of moving mountains and a force to be reckoned with as long as we have faith. WCTU continues to work to make known the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, along with other social concerns.
Fourteen countries entered the World WCTU Convention carrying their nation’s flag. More countries wanted to attend but were denied visas because of the current lack of world peace concern. The theme for the 42nd World Convention was “Fulfilling our Mission”. A special event during the convention was a trip to nearby Evanston, IL, to tour the NWCTU campus, including “Rest Cottage”, the beloved home of Frances E. Willard, a long-time president of National WCTU, founder of World WCTU, an American educator, women’s suffragist, and the first woman who’s statue was erected in Statuary Hall, Washington D.C.
The keynote speaker for World Convention was Professor of Psychobiology Bertha K. Madras of Harvard Medical School. The address included “What are the most effective ways of promoting prevention?” Strengthening families must be a priority! Resolutions, special awards, and elections closed out the week. Elected as the new World WCTU President was Dr. Sheela Lall of India.
What’s Happening in Fort Scott August 28 Edition
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Bourbon County Special Meeting is August 29
BOURBON COUNTY,
KANSAS
Bourbon County Special Meeting Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
August 29, 2025, 4:00 PM
I. Call Meeting to Order
• Roll Call
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Prayer
II. Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect
their privacy
III. Budget Discussion-Publication date will be September 3rd for a Budget Hearing Date on 9/15/25
IV. Freeman Agreement
V. Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect
their privacy
VI. Technology Discussion
VII. Payment Invoice
VIII. Adjournment
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS – FORM OF MOTION
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency which would be deemed
privileged in the attorney-client relationship
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in
consultation with the representatives of the body or agency
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations,
partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of acquisition of real estate
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at
an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures
The subject to be discussed during executive session: ________________________________________
State persons to attend
Open session will resume at _____ A.M./P.M. in the commission chambers.
Revised Bourbon County Commission Meeting, August 28
County Commissioners to Attend Republican Meeting This Evening
There may be two or more Bourbon County Commissioners attending the Republican Party meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m., located at Uniontown City Hall.
No county business will be conducted.
submitted by:
Selena Williams
Deputy Clerk
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports August 28
KS Dept. of Commerce Awarded Economic Development Award
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