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Newsletter of Lowell Milken Center for March 25, 2026
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Discovery Award project deadline: July 1
Learn more and access submission information:
620-223-1312
Do you know an educator or student who would love this opportunity?
Inspiring educators visiting inspiring stories.
Higher Learning Commission Commends FSCC Faculty for Academic Assessment
Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) is pleased to announce that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) recognized the college’s efforts in improving the academic assessment process. HLC is an accreditation agency for over 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States. Following a comprehensive peer review in October 2025, HLC commended FSCC for implementing a “systemic, integrated, organized, collaborative and structured approach to academic assessment.”
FSCC faculty transformed academic assessment into a robust, data-informed process for improved student outcomes. Another key to success is the innovative use of a data analytics program and the Learning Management System (LMS) as a centralized repository for collaborative assessment reports, which provide insights guiding instructional strategies for improved student learning outcomes.
The HLC Peer Review Team noted the scope of FSCC’s strategy that ensures quality across student learning experiences. Per HLC’s report, “FSCC developed a comprehensive assessment plan which describes the process for assessing student learning outcomes at the institutional, general education, program/department, course, and co-curricular level.”
The HLC Institutional Action Council (IAC) continued and reaffirmed the accreditation of Fort Scott Community College with interim monitoring with the next Reaffirmation of Accreditation in 2035-2036.
HLC’s recognition confirms FSCC’s commitment to providing high-quality, affordable education, meeting the needs of students and community through academic, technical, and occupational programs to prepare students for a global workforce.
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FSCC Expands Commercial Driver’s License Training to Miami County Campus
Fort Scott, KS – Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) is expanding its Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program to the FSCC Miami County Campus, with the first class scheduled to begin in March 2026. Enrollment is now open.
The expansion follows the successful re-establishment of the CDL program at the Fort Scott campus in 2025 and is part of the college’s continued commitment to workforce development and addressing the regional and national shortage of professional truck drivers.
The six-week training program prepares students to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License and enter high-demand careers in the transportation and logistics industry. Students receive classroom instruction, range practice, and behind-the-wheel driving experience using industry-standard equipment while meeting all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements.
“This expansion allows us to bring career training directly to more students and employers in our service area,” said J.D. Handly, CDL Instructor. “The trucking industry is essential to our economy, and employers need safe, well-trained drivers. Our goal is to remove barriers and provide a clear pathway to a strong, well-paying career.”
Graduates of the program may qualify for positions in local, regional, and over-the-road trucking, as well as employment with construction companies, agriculture operations, and municipal fleets. Many employers offer tuition assistance, sign-on bonuses, and immediate job placement opportunities.
The FSCC CDL program emphasizes safety, compliance, and real-world driving skills. Students train on modern tractor-trailer equipment and receive instruction from experienced industry professionals. The FSCC CDL Training Program offers a variety of options: Class A or Class B CDL, Manual or Automatic transmissions, as well as additional training options with Passenger, School Bus, HazMat, Tanker and Doubles/Triples endorsements.
The Miami County expansion increases training accessibility for residents of Paola, Osawatomie, Louisburg, and surrounding communities while supporting regional employers seeking qualified drivers.
Classes are limited in size to maximize behind-the-wheel training time. Interested students are encouraged to enroll early.
For enrollment information or to apply, contact Fort Scott Community College at (620) 223-2700 or visit www.fortscott.edu.
Fort Scott Community College to Host 49th Annual Aggie Day on March 27
Fort Scott Community College will welcome nearly 1,500 high school students from across the four-state region for its 49th Annual Aggie Day, taking place on Friday, March 27, 2026.
This long-standing tradition remains one of the largest and most impactful agriculture education events in the region.
Students representing Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas will compete in a variety of Career Development Events (CDE) designed to build leadership skills, technical knowledge, and career readiness. These contests include entomology, agricultural speech, floriculture, meat evaluation, livestock judging, poultry evaluation, milk quality and products, veterinary science, food science, farm management, and nursery landscape.
Registration for the event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in Arnold Arena on the west side of the FSCC campus, with competitions running throughout the day across multiple campus locations.
“Aggie Day is more than just a competition—it’s an opportunity for students to experience agriculture at a higher level and see the many career paths available to them,” said Conner Vernon, FSCC Agriculture Instructor and Livestock Judging Coach. “We enjoy watching students apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios and take pride in creating an environment where they can grow, compete, and connect with others who share similar interests.”
Sara Sutton, FSCC Agriculture Department Chair, emphasized the broader impact of the event. “Aggie Day is one of the most rewarding days of the year for our department. Hosting nearly 1,500 students on our campus provides a unique opportunity to showcase not only our agriculture programs, but the college as a whole. These students represent future leaders in many different fields, and we are proud to give them a hands-on, high-quality experience that reflects what FSCC has to offer.”
While rooted in agriculture, Aggie Day attracts a diverse group of students with interests that extend beyond the agricultural industry, including science, business, communications, and technical fields. The event provides students with exposure to a college campus environment while highlighting Fort Scott Community College’s commitment to hands-on learning and workforce development.
The success of Aggie Day is made possible through the collaboration of FSCC agriculture faculty and students, college employees, and area FFA advisors, extension agents, and 4-H leaders who assist in coordinating and hosting the contests.
Fort Scott Community College is proud to continue this 49-year tradition and remains committed to supporting the development of the next generation of leaders through experiential learning opportunities.
For more information about Aggie Day or FSCC Agriculture programs, please contact the Fort Scott Community College Agriculture Department.
Small Business Grants For Registered Apprenticeships Awarded
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Bids & Dibs Recognized as Family-Friendly Workplace in Fort Scott
Bids & Dibs, the largest resale boutique in Kansas, will be recognized as a Family-Friendly Workplace during a special event on Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m.
“Dana Book from the Kansas Children’s Service League will be at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee in the morning,” said Angela Simon, owner Bids & Dibs. “I believe he is also going to present information on some grant funding opportunities for local businesses. This might be something of public interest.”
The Family-Friendly Workplace recognition is presented through the Kansas Power of the Positive (KPOP) coalition and Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL), honoring employers who are committed to creating supportive environments for employees and families across Kansas, according to a press release from Simon.
Founded in 2012, Bids & Dibs has grown into a thriving community-centered business offering consignment, retail, and online sales while fostering a welcoming and supportive workplace culture.
“Family-friendly workplaces are essential to building strong businesses and strong communities,” said Simon. “Bids & Dibs exemplifies what it means to value employees not just as workers, but as people with families, responsibilities, and lives beyond the workplace.”
Through participation in the Family-Friendly Workplace initiative, Bids & Dibs has demonstrated a commitment to listening to employees and implementing practices that support work-life balance, employee well-being, and a positive organizational culture.
The Kansas Power of the Positive, supported by KCSL and partners across the state, promotes strategies that help organizations build safe, stable, and nurturing environments—both at home and in the workplace.
Community members, partners, and local leaders are invited to attend the recognition event and celebrate this milestone with the Bids & Dibs team.
About Bids & Dibs
Bids & Dibs is a Fort Scott-based consignment boutique offering clothing, accessories, home goods, and more for the whole family. Known for its strong community focus and customer-centered approach, the business has become a leader in retail resale across Kansas.
About Kansas Power of the Positive
Kansas Power of the Positive is a statewide coalition focused on strengthening communities by promoting positive experiences, supportive environments, and prevention-based strategies that improve outcomes for children and families.
About Kansas Children’s Service League
Kansas Children’s Service League is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the well-being of children and families through education, prevention, and community-based services.
HAPp Now: Heart Health Starts Here
HAPp Now: Heart Health Starts Here
Did you know that Hypertension, or high blood pressure, often has no symptoms? Left unmanaged, it can lead to serious health concerns such as heart disease and stroke. April’s K-State Extension OWL Hour will provide practical, easy-to-understand information to help you take charge of heart health!
HAPp Now is part of the Hypertension Awareness & Prevention (HAPp) initiative. This educational program is designed to help adults understand their blood pressure numbers, why hypertension matters, and what steps they can take to protect their heart health.
During the session, participants will:
• Learn what blood pressure is and what the numbers mean
• Discover simple lifestyle strategies for heart health through the art of ‘habit stacking’
• Learn how to accurately measure blood pressure at home
Small changes can make a big difference, and this session gives participants the tools and confidence to get started!
April’s sessions will be:
• Yates Center: 4/13 at the 4H Community Building.
• St Paul: 4/14 at the Graves Memorial Public Library.
• Fort Scott: 4/15 at the Fort Scott Public Library.
• Iola: 4/16 at the Southwind Iola Extension Office.
There is no cost to attend. All sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. For more information, contact Hollie Yoho at 620-625-8620 or [email protected].
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports March 25
Bourbon County Commission Attempts to Tackle Sewage Issue, March 23, 2026
BOURBON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
Public Comments
Clint Walker: Walker said he has been attending county commission meetings for decades and is distressed by the condition of the flags at the courthouse. They are in shreds.
“You all set the standards. You all let me down,” he told the commission.
County Clerk Susan Walker: Walker addressed the commisison about personnel records. Citing Attorney General Opinion 94121 on whether an individual commissioner has statutory authority to look at “otherwise discretionally-closed personnel records,” she said that the authority to do so is given to the board as a whole, but not to individual members. The opinion continued by saying that elected officials in the state of Kansas have the right to keep their own personnel files, which are “often exempt from public disclosure requirements.”
In addition, Attorney General Opinion 2003-15 talks about the authority of county commissioners to adopt budgets, but says that they should not be allowed to micromanage the employees of other elected officials, which would render those officials’ authority meaningless. If the commissioners target the pay of an individual employee in elected office, intending to improperly affect the employment status of the particular employee, it would exceed the county commissioners’ authority, per the Attorney General’s opinion.
Walker then requested that all past and present personnel records be forwarded to her office. She will send any payroll changes to the payroll clerk.
Sheriff Bill Martin: Asked for permission to speak to Payentry directly about issues with his employees.
Department Updates
EMS Update: Teri Hulsey, EMS Director
KRI has removed what they want from the building that EMS is supposed to have access to. It still has a lot of stuff that needs to be moved out to make it usable. Commissioner David Beerbower said there are plans for an auction forthcoming.
Cintas
A representative from Cintas came to discuss providing the hygiene products in the courthouse bathrooms. He said he can save the county 10 percent over the current provider, Osborn. This would be in addition to the mat service Cintas already provides for the courthouse.
Commissioner Mika Milburn said she would be in favor of letting the building maintenance crew make the decision.
Vending Machine
Bernard Streeter, operator of SNS Vending in Fort Scott, manages vending machines on the second floor of the courthouse near the county attorney’s office. He said he is loosing more products on them than he is making money. He wants to pull them and suggested putting a combination machine on the first floor instead.
The commission decided to collect information and work on the issue in the next meeting.
Old Business
Sewer issue
Kaety Bowers spoke with the commission about the communication she has received for the state of Kansas regarding sewage seeping into and in some cases being drained directly into the lake. She represents an HOA spanning two counties, Bourbon and Lynn, at the lake.
Bowers said there is only one septic pumping service on the lake. There are 30-40 homes in the neighborhood that are not getting pumped. At least one is draining directly into the lake. KDHE is pushing the HOA to do something about it, but they have no authority to assess code violations. Because of their bylaws, the soonest they can make any changes is 2033.
KDHE is adamant that Bourbon County needs to prosecute, she said.
Based on the $200/day fine currently in place, there is potentially $7,000 per day in fineable sewer violations in Bowers’ neighborhood alone. She said that adds up to $2.5 million over the course of one year.
Commissioner Gregg Motley said that the solution is for the commission to ask the county attorney to enforce the state statute.
Bower ssaid she recognizes the challenge of enforcing codes in the county.
Tran confirmed Bowers’ information regarding the unpumped homes.
“As county officials, we need to make sure that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing to safeguard the lives of people in this county,” he said.
“Sounds like we need to work on our resources, quickly,” said Beerbower.
“We will try to do something about it,” said Tran to Bowers.
Audit RFP
Tran passed around a draft of an RFP (Request for Proposal).
Motley and Beerbower each requested to table it for a week to evaluate it and make the decisions about details of the RFP. The point of contact is the commission’s administrative assistant.
They voted to table it until next Monday.
Salary Resolution – Gregg Motley
There was a transposed number on one of the salaries. The correction was made.
CIC Hardware Support
Computer Information Concepts provides the accounting software for the county. The commission approved paying the cost of $2,500 annually to cover the installation and maintenance on all machines at the county that need it.
Auction update
Commissioner Joe Allen said he is planning to come through the county building and confirm with everyone that they have marked the items currently stored in the basement that they want to keep for their departments. Then he will look at ways to auction the remaining items.
“I’m assuming that by doing this auction, we’re going to open up space,” said Allen.
“I need to identify how much stuff we have to do an auction,” Allen said.
New Business
ADM Agreement
Public Works Director Kenny Allen said the transfer station doesn’t have the equipment to turn the beans and cover the trash. The tractor has been at the repair shop since last June, and they have been making do with a backhoe.
Allen suspects that they are being given more beans then they need. Allen said they loose money when transferring tires.
The commission discussed changes that need to be made to the county’s contract with ADM and updates the landfill needs.
Allen will come back next Monday with information for the commission about the suggested changes and updates.
Property Tax Relief – 1111 Beech
Voted to approve 100% of the value of the structure for abatement.
Title IV-E County Reimbursement Opportunity
Commission moved to have Motley look into it and report back at the next meeting.
Commissioner Comments
Mika Milburn thanked the board for their willingness to work together.
Joe Allen said he thought communication went well this week within the county.
Samuel Tran thanked everyone for working together to get the county’s business done.
Google Business 101 Is March 31
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“State Employees Deserve Better Than Table Scraps”
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