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Landmark Bancorp, Inc. to Acquire Freedom Bancshares, Inc.
(Manhattan, KS and Overland Park, KS) Landmark Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: LARK) (“Landmark”), the holding company of Landmark National Bank, and Freedom Bancshares, Inc. (“Freedom”), the holding company of Freedom Bank, jointly announced this week the execution of a definitive agreement under which Landmark will acquire Freedom and Freedom Bank for cash consideration valued at $33.350 million, subject to potential adjustment as more fully described in the agreement.
The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions. Upon closing of the acquisition, Freedom Bank will be merged with and into Landmark National Bank.
Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of Landmark. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of our management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this press release, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and Landmark undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its effects on the economic environment, our customers and operations, as well as changes to federal, state or local government laws, regulations or orders in connection with the pandemic; (ii) the strength of the local, national and international economies; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning banking, securities, consumer protection, insurance, monetary, trade and tax matters; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of our assets; (v) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi) timely development and acceptance of new products and services; (vii) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (viii) our risk management framework; (ix) interruptions in information technology and telecommunications systems and third-party services; (x) changes and uncertainty in benchmark interest rates, including the elimination of LIBOR and the development of a substitute; (xi) the effects of severe weather, natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics, or other external events; (xii) the loss of key executives or employees; (xiii) changes in consumer spending; (xiv) integration of acquired businesses; (xv) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation; (xvi) changes in accounting policies and practices, such as the implementation of the current expected credit losses accounting standard; (xvii) the economic impact of armed conflict or terrorist acts involving the United States; (xviii) the ability to manage credit risk, forecast loan losses and maintain an adequate allowance for loan losses; (xix) declines in the value of our investment portfolio; (xx) the ability to raise additional capital; (xxi) cyber-attacks; (xxii) declines in real estate values; (xxiii) the effects of fraud on the part of our employees, customers, vendors or counterparties; and (xxiv) any other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of reports filed by Landmark with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning Landmark and its business, including additional risk factors that could materially affect Landmark’s financial results, is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Becky Tourtillott
Vice President, Marketing
Landmark National Bank
Office: 620.223.1200 x2321 Fax: 620.223.1336
200 S Main, PO Box 899, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Obituary of Leona Garrett
Leona Maxine Garrett, 91, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away early Thursday morning June 30, 2022, at the Oak Pointe Nursing Home in Carthage, Missouri. She was born March 2, 1931, in Cato, Kansas, the daughter of Wesley Curtis and Leona Florence (Coonrod) James. She married Jack Herbert Garrett August 26, 1950, in Arcadia, Kansas, and he preceded her in death January 7, 2001.
Maxine was a Red Hat Lady, and she loved to spend time with her family, particularly her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed fixing big family dinners, and all of her grandchildren think she makes the best macaroni and cheese, chicken and noodles, and spaghetti and meatballs.
Survivors include her children, Jack Garrett and wife Deborah, of Carthage, Missouri, Sandra Moore, of Monterey, California; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, Jack, she was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Tracy Coe; and a great-grandson.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 1:30 p.m. at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with a visitation prior to services at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 7, 2022. Burial will follow at Large / Pleasant View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Cradling Memories, Milo James Coe Foundation at cradlingmemories.org, or may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Bronson Day Has Been Re-energized
Bronson Day, a local community event of this small town in western Bourbon County, has been revamped.
Bronson Day has typically been held yearly in the spring and led by the Bronson Ruritan, said Kelly Perry.
Perry is part of a new organization in Bronson.
The town held an open town meeting seeking volunteers for the new organization, called the Bronson Pride Committee.
“In the past, we had a larger Ruritan group and several locals realized this was a big task to put on just one or two people in the Ruritan,” Perry said. “After speaking to Terry Johnston, head of the Bronson Ruritan we agreed to all work together to help promote the event.”
Elected to head the organization are Kayla Greenway-president, Michael Stewart-vice president, Danielle Minor-treasurer and Perry as secretary.
The event, moved from the spring to the summer, starts as 9 a.m. with a horseshoe tournament hosted by Terry Johnson.
“Bronson is the home of the first world horseshoe tournament,” she said. “This event is free.”
“We have a huge day of events planned, from free bounce houses to a mini horse pull, a parade, a color run, Kale Nelson’s State Farm Car Show, a three-on-three basketball tournament,a horseshoe tournament, a cornhole tournament, kids games, over 25 vendors, several food trucks, a street dance, a live DJ, a beer garden and of course our fireworks display,” she said.
“This year we created a bit more buzz by creating not only the committee, but allowing food trucks, doubling the fireworks budget, and bringing back the street dance,” Perry said. “Board members and volunteers were able to get sponsors and received a grant from Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. The funds are not all spent on one single event but are going to be used for overall community improvement and morale which includes The Bronson Day Celebration.”
“Bronson Day is just part of the vision the entire board has for the Bronson Pride Committee,” she said. “In the future, we will continue to meet and grow and make this yearly event better and bigger. We want to unify our community through ideas, efforts, and solving problems and needs. If we can motivate others we can change the community morale and continue to thrive together,” she said.
Kayla Greenway has lived in Bronson for many years and raised her four children here.
“I’ve helped with Bronson days in the past, but this year‘s planning has been ramped up by our new Bronson Pride Committee,” Greenway said. “It’s a committee we started to help clean our town up, bring awareness to community development, and come together in unity with the same goal of helping one another in our town.”
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Greenway said. “I am excited to see what our future holds. We are always accepting new members and our next meeting is July 6 at 5 p.m. at the city park.”
Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/BronsonPride
Who Inspires You by Patty LaRoche
In a recent Instagram post, I wrote this: “Heroes do not wear capes.” We all know that. Recently, I watched a newscast which aired our Speaker of the House making a guest appearance on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” and told the drag queens they “inspired” her. “My honor to be here to say to all of you, how proud we all are of you. Thank you for the joy and beauty you bring to the world,” she said. “Your freedom of expression of yourselves in drag is what America is all about.” The drag queens beamed. I groaned.
As a college assignment, my granddaughter recently was asked to write an essay about the person who most inspired her. She wrote about a woman she met on a missionary trip who taught her the importance of loving others…not in a fake, self-serving way but in the same way Jesus loved. One person inspired by freedom of expression, another by loving Jesus.
Who inspires you?
The movie “Maverick” is a blockbuster hit. Tom Cruise returns to lead a group of Top Gun specialists in a heroic, edge-of-your-seat-type spectacular. Who of us can watch that without feeling an enormous sense of pride in the U.S. military, not only for their phenomenal piloting skills but also for the design and capabilities of the planes they fly?
The Fourth of July will be celebrated this weekend. Many of us will have family get togethers, roast hot dogs and shoot fireworks. For that day, we might even play patriotic songs on our iPhones, and when we hear Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to be an American,” we will sing along. Yet, we who never served in the military cannot begin to understand just what heroes our soldiers are.
Adam and Jenn, my son and daughter-in-law, regularly host PTSD veterans at their ranch. These heroes come to heal, to team with others who have suffered as they have, and to share their experiences with like-minded veterans. Once recovered (as much as humanly possible), some return to mentor the newbies who come for the first time. Statistics are alarming for those who are not helped. According to U.S.O. reports, “In 2021, research found that 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who served in the military after 9/11 have died by suicide – compared to the 7,057 service members killed in combat in those same 20 years.”
This week, Adam and a team of heroes are in Ukraine. Yesterday, our family received a rare text from him, describing his mission. A friend in Moldova had called him, asking if his team could bring aid to a church in Ukraine accessible by only two bridges. One had been blown up two months ago, but the second, hit by a missile a few days previous, was still passable. The church where they delivered the goods had a pastor who had acted on faith and built a large church, praying that people would come.
Adam wrote, “His first service in the new church was Feb. 20. Russia invaded on the 24th. His church now has 1500-2000 who attend daily, evening services…we (E3 Foundation) had bought seven tons of food for his church. Shortly after buying it, I got a random text from a friend in the states who wanted to make a donation to E3 for just shy of the amount we just spent.” He ended with this: “God continues to open doors and we continue to see His light overpower the darkness here!”
Let’s remember that the reason we (including drag queens) have the “freedom of expression” to celebrate the 4th of July has nothing to do with us. It is because of the eternal Hero making that possible by blessing those who fight for that right.
We should all remember that this Independence Day!
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July 1
Fort Scott City Offices Closed July 4
The City of Fort Scott Administration Offices will be closed on Monday, July 4th, 2022 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, July 5th, 2022.
The City’s tree and brush dump will also be closed on Saturday, July 2nd, 2022. It will reopen on Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Obituary of Gladys Rexroad
Gladys Arlene Rexroad, age 98, resident of Tulsa, OK, died Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at her home.
She was born June 26, 1924, in Arcadia, KS, the daughter of Harry and Annie Elizabeth Watkins Smith. She married Basil E. Rexroad on December 18, 1955, in Arcadia. He preceded her in death
on November 1, 1978.
Gladys will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her son, Max Rexroad and wife Linda, Tulsa, OK, whom Gladys lived with; a niece, Ruth Arlene Waring, Garland, KS; a nephew Donnie Smith, Miami, OK; as well as several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a
daughter, Karen Browning; a brother, Tommie Smith; a nephew, Glenn Smith; and a great niece, Sheryl Waring.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 6th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.
Burial will follow in the Large Cemetery, south of Ft. Scott.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 until service time at the funeral home.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Union State Bank Expands
Union State Bank, the Fort Scott Branch, is in the final stages of an addition of 1,200 square feet to its building.
“We were running into problems with space,” CEO and President Bryan Holt said. “We looked at every way possible to not expand the foot print.”
But the bank administration decided to add a 20 by 60 foot addition for its growing support staff and also to upgrade security.
The lobby was shortened and reconfigured to have more space for employee work stations, and the addition added five new offices and two new bathrooms.
In October 2021 the project was started.
“It will be 99 percent completed in 30 days,” Vice President of Information Technology Dustin McClure said on June 23. McClure was also the project manager of the expansion.
“We’ve got pods, like cubicles, to build,” McClure said. “This will seat a total of eight people.”
“This will improve accessibility and privacy needs of our customers,” Senior Loan Officer Katie Casper said.
“New offerings with debit card capabilities, improved customer experience and improved card experience are on the horizon for the bank,” Holt said.
The bank building, located at 1009 S. Clark, was completed in 1992, when Union State Bank opened the branch in Fort Scott.
The headquarters of the two banks is in Uniontown, where the business started in 1901.
The bank listed the following businesses who have provided services/products for the expansion:
Project General Manager: Bo Casper (owner of Casper Enterprises)
Casper Enterprises LLC
Alpha Roofing
Big Sugar Lumber and Home Center
Craw-Kan Telephone
Davis Drywall
Geiger Plumbing
Greenwood Plaster Company
Jeff Allen Electric
LACO Guttering
Norris Heating & Air
Peerless Products Inc.
Phillips Flooring
Redbud Farms and Nursery
Ruddick’s Furniture
Stoughton Inc
Thomas Concrete & Construction
Trysta Asche Named 2022 Lowell Milken Center Fellow
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in
Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non–profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Trysta Asche, an 8th –12th grade Language Arts Instructor for Loup City Public
Schools in Loup City, NE.
Trysta arrived in Fort Scott on June 26th for a week of collaboration
with LMC staff.
The LMC Fellowship is a merit–based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project–based learning. The Center
selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
Trysta Asche was honored in 2020 with a national fellowship to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Her strong involvement with Holocaust education and National History Day
competition has provided her students with valuable and life–changing experiences.
One such experience was her work in arranging an Anne Frank traveling educational exhibit for students in Loup City schools, who were given tours by trained high school juniors and seniors.
With degrees in Language Arts and Instructional Technology, experience as a Language Arts instructor and Library Media Specialist and a vast array of certifications and leadership training
experiences, Trysta is able to share a wealth of knowledge with both her students and fellow educators.
Her involvement as a sports coach, sponsor for many organizations and organizer of many student trips and experiences demonstrates the value she places on close relationships with her students, as she seeks to make learning come alive for them.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “We are so thrilled to have Trysta as a member of our 2022 team of Fellows. Her strong knowledge of language arts, history, research and analysis,
combined with her proficiency in a wide range of technology skills make her an invaluable resource for our Fellowship.
While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning through the creation of projects that initiate positive
change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.
K-State Master Gardener Training Offered
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786
Master Gardener Training Offered This Fall
Area plant lovers have a great opportunity this fall to participate in an outstanding horticulture program! The Extension Master Gardener training will be held September 1 through December 15 on Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Classes will be a combination of on-line and in person training. The Master Gardener program is a volunteer program in which K-State Research and Extension “trades” classroom training for volunteer time.
Master Gardener training consists of 40 to 50 hours of instruction in all aspects of horticulture. Instructors include state specialists from Kansas State University, local extension agents and local experts. After training is completed, volunteers will donate an equivalent number of hours of service as was received in instruction.
Topics that will be covered in the training include:
- Plant Growth & Development
- Soils, Water and Fertilizer
- Vegetable Gardening
- Insect Diagnosis & Management
- Growing Fruit
- Annuals & Perennials
- Woody Ornamentals
- Turfgrass
- Landscape Maintenance
- Plant Disease Diagnosis & Management
- Pesticide Use and Safety
- Wildlife Management
Although the Master Gardener program is a volunteer activity, there are some requirements that must be met prior to the selection process. Each individual wishing to participate in the Master Gardener training must meet the following requirements:
- Participants need to be available for about 40 hours of community horticulture service during the first year. The number of hours to be donated is equal to the number of hours of training received.
- Participants must have access to the internet, a computer/device with microphone and camera capabilities, an actively monitored email account, and be willing to travel to the in-person training site (Iola, KS).
- Enjoy sharing your love of gardening with others through various Extension Master Gardener projects.
The Southwind Extension District currently has an active Master Gardener program consisting of 25 individuals. The Master Gardeners have completed volunteer projects such as demonstration flower beds, vegetable research trials and various other projects in Erie, Chanute, Iola, Humboldt, Moran and Fort Scott. In addition, educational tours and activities are also planned.
Applications are available now and are due to the Southwind Extension District by August 10th. Applications can be found on the Southwind website www.southwind.ksu.edu or can be mailed to you. The fee for the course is $125 which covers the cost of the Master Gardener resource notebook. For more information about the Master Gardener training, please contact the Extension office.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Fort Scott Fireworks Ordinances Explained
“With fireworks sales and the Independence Day holiday upcoming we are issuing a press release regarding fireworks ordinances and fireworks safety tips,” said Fort Scott’s Public Relations and Tourism Director said.
“The major amendment to the fireworks ordinance is that it is lawful for fireworks to be discharged from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. (Midnight) of July 3rd and July 4,” he said. “In the past the ordinance stated that fireworks could be shot on July 4th only. The other points are a good reminder of what residents can and can’t do.”
PRESS RELEASE – CITY OF FORT SCOTT
ORDINANCE NO. 3585 | ORDINANCE NO. 3602
Thursday, June 30, 2022