Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government, History

Immerse Yourself in America’s History at the Fort On July 4

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Join Fort Scott NHS for the Sights and Sounds of American Independence

Fort Scott, Kan. – Celebrate American independence with the sounds of cannon fire and immersion in America’s history while honoring the men and women who have defended the United States through the growth of our nation.

 

On Saturday, July 4th, we will fire artillery, lead Fort tours, and honor all those who have fought for our freedom.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 4

10 a.m. – Artillery Demonstration

11 a.m. – Artillery Demonstration

1 p.m. – Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort

2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration

3 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration

 

Visitors and community members are reminded that fireworks are not permitted on the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

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About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.

 

Credit Photo as: NPS Photo of an artillery firing.

 

 

Submitted by Carl Brenner
Program Manager for Interpretation and Resource Management
Fort Scott National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/fosc)

National Park Service, DOI Region 5

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

2026 LMC Fellow: Jennifer McMunn

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Jennifer McMunn Named

2026 National 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 Jennifer McMunn, a humanities enrichment teacher at Mansfield Middle School in Connecticut. Jennifer will arrive in Fort Scott on June 28th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

 

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.

 

Jenn McMunn is a humanities enrichment teacher from Mansfield Middle School in Connecticut. As an enrichment teacher, Jenn aims to provide challenging, relevant learning extensions for all students. She leads the school’s National History Day program, and this year she’s focused on developing local history units for America 250.

 

Jenn enjoys seeking opportunities to grow as an educator. She’s a Fulbright Fellow and a Connecticut Writing Project Teacher Consultant. In 2024 and 2025, she participated in the Young People’s Continental Congress, sponsored by National History Day and Carpenters’ Hall, both as a participant and as a teacher-mentor. She recently attended the Teaching 250 Convening in Philadelphia to help develop curricular materials for America 250.

 

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Jennifer’s experience with project-based learning and research, using primary and secondary sources, will greatly benefit the LMC Fellowship.”

 

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating 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.

 

 

1 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Thespians Compete at National Level

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FSHS Thespians attend International Thespian Festival. From L: Angie Bin, Lily Brown, Clark Uttinger, Levi Fairchild, Grace Walker, Gianna Gorman, Junie Fisher, Ava Johnson.

 

Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe #7365 competed at the International Thespian Festival (ITF) at Indiana University June 21-26.

FSHS Thespians attend performances at the International Thespian Festival.

 

FSHS sent more Thespy (individual event) competitors to this year’s Festival than ever before. 2026 graduates Levi Fairchild and Junie Fisher and junior Gianna Gorman competed in Musical Solo. Senior Ava Johnson performed Contrasting Monologues. Graduate Lily Brown competed in Short Film and graduate Grace Walker in Stage Management. Senior Clark Uttinger and Fairfield also performed in Duet Acting. The students qualified for nationals by receiving a Superior rating at the Kansas Thespian Festival in January.

 

Three of the students received a Superior rating at ITF, the highest honor of the Thespy rating system. These include Fisher and Fairchild in Musical Solo and Walker in Stage Management.

From L: Grace Walker, Levi Fairchild, and Junie Fisher receive Superior ratings on their Thespy (Individual Event) performances.

 

The troupe enjoyed opening festivities with 4,000 other Thespians including appearances by Huey Lewis and Thespian alum in the Savannah Bananas. They saw award winning productions of Urinetown, Suffs, Dear Evan Hansen, Shrek, The Night Witches, Kimberly Akimbo and The Prom. They finished the week with a Thespy Awards Ceremony and Showcase.

 

Throughout the week, the group attended workshops by theatre professionals and Broadway stars from across the country. This included a Legally Blonde dance Master Class with original Broadway cast member Paul Canaan.

 

The Thespian troupe is directed by Angie Bin. The next performance for FSHS is a production of Legally Blonde Jr. in November at FSHS.

Bourbon County, Government

Bo Co Bridge Repair Bid Approved on Hwy. 69

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KDOT announces approved June bids

The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place on June 17 in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

Statewide ‑ 106 KA‑7454‑02 – Statewide, special, Phillips Southern Electric Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $461,200.00.

District One — Northeast

Johnson ‑ 35‑46 KA‑7668‑01 – Southbound I‑35, located 0.18 mile north of Johnson Drive in Johnson County, signing, Phillips Southern Electric Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $654,869.00.

Statewide ‑ 106 KA‑7635‑01 – Highways K‑9, K‑63, K‑71, K‑87, K‑88, K‑110, K‑178, K‑187, K‑236, K‑246, U.S. 75 and U.S. 36 in Nemaha, Brown, Jackson, Pottawatomie and Marshall counties, signing, KOMO Construction LLC /DBA A&H CO., ELKO New Market, Minnesota, $671,222.00.

District Two — North Central

Geary ‑ 70‑31 KA‑7706‑01 – I‑70, I‑70/K‑177 junction, lighting, Phillips Southern Electric Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $828,854.00.

District Four — Southeast

Bourbon ‑ 69‑6 KA‑7621‑01 – U.S. 69, bridge #059 carrying U.S. 69 southbound lanes over Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad located 7.87 miles north of the U.S. 69/U.S. 54 north junction, bridge repair, PCI Roads LLC, Maple Grove, Minnesota, $438,969.97.

Miami ‑ 68‑61 KA‑2373‑04 – K‑68, from U.S.169 east 6.8 miles to 0.8 mile west of U.S. 69 at Louisburg, grading, bridge and surfacing, 6.8 miles, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $59,986,178.61.

Statewide ‑ 106 KA‑7646‑01 – Highways K‑31, K‑58, U.S. 59, U.S. 169 and U.S. 169B in Anderson, Franklin, Linn, Allen and Coffey counties, signing, Cooper Construction LLC, Emporia, Kansas, $593,557.00.

District Five — South Central

Cowley ‑ 77‑18 KA‑4137‑01 – U.S. 77, from 1.86 miles north of the north U.S. 77/U.S. 166 junction past the south Winfield city limits to the south edge of wearing surface of the Walnut River Bridges #009 and #074, grading, bridge and surfacing, 8.6 miles, Pearson Construction LLC, Wichita, Kansas, $67,798,669.93.

Statewide ‑ 106 KA‑7641‑01 – Highways K‑44, K‑49, U.S. 81, U.S. 160, U.S. 166 and U.S. 177 in Sumner, Sedgwick, Cowley and Harper counties, signing, Jon Fulsom Construction LLC, Wellington, Kansas, $615,715.35

District Six — Southwest

Seward ‑ 54‑88 KA‑6280‑01 – U.S. 54, located at U.S. 54 and South Western Avenue in the city of Liberal, traffic signals, TLS Group Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, $504,635.30.

Statewide ‑ 106 KA‑7647‑01 – Highways K‑27, U.S. 160 and U.S. 400 in Hamilton, Greeley, Kearny and Stanton counties, signing, Red Line Signing LLC, Victoria, Kansas, $338,449.80

 

 

The following projects were approved from the May 20 bid letting.

Lyon ‑ 99‑56 KA‑7274‑01 – K-99, geometric improvements in Emporia from Soden Bridge to Kansas Avenue, grading and surfacing, 0.6 mile, Killough Construction, Inc., Ottawa, Kansas, $1,826,160.61.

Thomas ‑ 97 C‑5361‑01 – Bridge over South Fork of Saline River, located 8.4 miles south and 3.0 miles west of Mingo, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, Wildcat Construction Co., Inc., & Subsidiaries, Wichita, Kansas, $256,736.70.

Pawnee ‑ 73 C‑5357‑01 – Bridge over Ash Creek located 3.0 miles north and 2.5 miles east of Larned, bridge replacement, 0.1 mile, L & M Contractors, Inc., Great Bend, Kansas, $529,495.50

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Opinion

Opinion: Reflection On Friday’s Hearing

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On Friday, the hearing in the election-interference case against Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee brought something to Bourbon County that we often don’t see in Bourbon County. The hearing had intelligent people disagreeing in a respectful way while working through a process that keeps moving forward toward a resolution. This progress wasn’t because the two sides agreed on the desired outcome — far from it — but the lawyers on both sides and the judge all agreed on the procedure and decorum needed to respectfully work through the legal process.

The background to the hearing is the Attorney General’s case against Milburn-Kee, charging her with entering a restricted voting area containing ballots and causing a disturbance rather than leaving when she was asked to move to the adjacent office. The case was scheduled for a jury trial starting July 6. The Attorney General’s office says it had told the defense there was enough evidence for an additional felony count as well, but left it off the charges in hopes that the defense would first propose a plea deal or diversion agreement.

The day before the hearing, according to the Attorney General, the defense had not proposed any agreement, so the state filed to add the felony charge of intimidation of voters based on the same evidence it had for the misdemeanor charges. The defense objected to the late change, and the judge had to weigh whether to allow the addition or deny it.

The process was beautiful to watch. If you’ve endured the middle-school theatrics of the Bourbon County Commission meetings, watching the polite presentation of these different points of view might have brought a tear of happiness to your eye. The judge asked both sides for their input before making his decision. He gently chided the state for a pattern of late additional charges in other cases, while recognizing that this wasn’t the doing of the particular lawyer on the call. The defense and the state went back and forth over whether the felony charge had been previously discussed — all of it respectful. There was no talking over each other, no cursing, and no absurd requests that leave everyone baffled.

The state made it clear that it had hoped to resolve the matter with a plea (a conviction) or a diversion (no conviction) that would let Milburn-Kee keep her seat. But it believed it had all the evidence needed to convict on the felony and felt it was important to include if the defense wanted to pursue the trial. So if the judge denied the addition of the felony, the state would ask to dismiss the case and refile. This wasn’t the state’s attorney threatening the judge or throwing a fit; she was simply laying out the logical course of action. After making sure neither side had anything else to add, the judge decided not to allow the addition of the felony for the trial scheduled next week, and then immediately worked with the lawyers to set a preliminary hearing for the case the state said it planned to file with all the charges. Once again, there was no huffing, no cursing, and no loudly sliding papers around in front of the mic. No one suggested moving the trial to the county appraiser’s office just to make it inconvenient. It was all the calm, rational, and even boring turning of the legal wheels — the polite back-and-forth of adversarial sides working together through the process that creates what we rely on as justice in our country.

It was a beautiful reminder of what it looks like when a government process is carried out by rational, educated people applying logic to respectfully work together, even when they are trying to achieve different ends — a reminder that stands in stark contrast to much of the irrational flailing we routinely see in the county commission.

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].

Opinion

Laundry on the Porch by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Laundry on the Porch

Country music artist, Sara Evans had a #1 hit recording in 2004 with her song, “Suds in the Bucket.” It’s about an 18-year-old girl in the backyard hanging the family’s laundry on the clothesline when her boyfriend drives up in a white pickup truck. She made a quick decision: “She left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hangin’ out on the line.” I used to have a clothesline, but I don’t anymore. We disposed of it years ago because it was in the way of the truck when my late husband unloaded the wood. Since I don’t believe in drying my clothes to death in the dryer, I will air-dry my lingerie on a multi-layer hanger on the front porch in warm weather. Because my house faces south, whatever I do on my porch isn’t typically seen by anyone other than grazing cattle and mangy coyotes.

However, one warm laundry day, my propane man came to power wash my tank. No, he didn’t call first, so I didn’t know he was coming. Had I known, I would have gathered up my underwear that was flapping in the breeze before he arrived. (I had actually forgotten about them.) We had a cordial visit; I have no idea what he thought of my porch décor.

It’s one thing to forget that my underwear was gaily waving to the propane man, but it’s another thing to forget about the goodness of God. Committed believers have continual   assurance that God’s goodness is available 24-7 to comfort, protect, guide, provide, heal, and strengthen us. His goodness covers all of our needs for today and tomorrow. His storehouse is always full of His enduring goodness.

“And why are you troubled about clothing? See the flowers of the field, how they come up; they do no work, they make no thread” (Matthew 6:28 BBE). Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount covered all the bases regarding how much God cares for His children.

If we’re experiencing a blue day, an off day, a discouraging day, remember the goodness of God: “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation” (Psalm 100:5 NLT).

When we’re afraid, we can go to God for safety, comfort, and assurance. “How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who (reverently) fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world” (Psalm 31:19 NLT). God’s goodness shows up in the OR, the waiting room, the storm cellar, the new job, the cemetery, the court room, the penitentiary, etc.

The goodness of God is found in His miraculous ability to restore emotional brokenness and sorrow. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…” (Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV). I remember the night in 2021 when I received the beginning process of the restoration of my soul. I knew He would be true to His Word. I will never forget God’s goodness in taking my broken heart and restoring it to it’s original condition of happiness and peace.

The Key: Don’t forget to remember the everlasting goodness of God.

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken Center Introduces Fellow Elizabeth Metts

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Elizabeth Metts Named

2026 National 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 Elizabeth Metts, a 9th-grade history teacher at Excel Academy Charter High School in East Boston, MA. Elizabeth will arrive in Fort Scott on June 28th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

 

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.

Elizabeth, a National Board Certified history teacher originally from Texas, was recognized this past February as a Massachusetts Milken Educator. History is a popular subject at Excel Academy Charter High School, as Elizabeth empowers her students to succeed and excel through a flipped, self-paced ancient world history classroom rooted in hands-on learning. Students engage in gallery walks, debates, individualized student work, and research projects, with frequent feedback and learning pods that promote ownership of their progress. Since her arrival, student participation in AP World History has doubled—developing a vibrant group of learners who not only immerse themselves in the evolution of civilizations, cultures, and social advances around the world, but also gain an appreciation for their place in it.

At her school, Elizabeth is a 9th-grade team leader, serves on the hiring committee, mentors new teachers, leads professional development, coordinates the National Honor Society, and leads a homework club after school. Committed to preparing the next generation of teachers, Metts coaches through Excel’s Teaching Fellowship program. Additionally, she has broadened her reach as a Teach Plus Massachusetts Policy Fellow and CURATE Fellow for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Elizabeth’s commitment to research projects and hands-on learning, along with her passion for creating a differentiated classroom, will add to the 2026 Fellowship.”

 

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County

Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda Summary for June 29, 2026

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Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda Outline

Agenda 06.29.26

  • Meeting Date & Time: June 29, 2026, at 5:30 PM (Page 1)

  • Location: 210 S National Avenue, Fort Scott, KS 66701 (Page 1)

Agenda Items

  1. Call Meeting to Order (Page 1)

  2. Pledge of Allegiance (Page 1)

  3. Prayer – Commissioner Motley (Page 1)

  4. Introductions (Page 1)

  5. Approval of Agenda (Page 1)

  6. Approval of Minutes (Page 1)

    • a. June 15, 2026 (Page 1)

    • b. May 11, 2026 (Revised) (Page 1)

    • c. April 13, 2026 (Revised) (Page 1)

  7. Approval of Accounts Payable (06/18/26): $83,374.82 (Page 1)

  8. Approval of Accounts Payable (06/26/26): $453,809.91 (Page 1)

  9. Approval of May 2026 Financials (Page 1)

  10. Special Appearances (Page 1)

  11. Public Comments (Page 1)

  12. Department Updates (Page 1)

  13. Old Business (Page 1)

    • a. Jarred Gilmore Phillips 2026 Audit Engagement (Page 1)

    • b. SEK Juvenile Detention Center Discussion (Page 1)

    • c. American Flag Purchase (Page 1)

    • d. Procedures for Adopting Resolutions (Page 1)

  14. New Business (Page 1)

    • a. Statement/Discussion – Commissioner Allen (Page 1)

    • b. Fund Resolution – Commissioner Milburn (Page 1)

    • c. Resolution 25-26: Cancellation of Warrant Checks – Walker (Page 1)

    • d. Heartland Business Licenses Annual Billing (Page 1)

  15. Future Agenda Topics (Page 1)

  16. Commission Comments (Page 1)

  17. Adjournment (Page 1)

Note: A public works budget work session will take place immediately following the commission meeting. (Page 1)

Detailed Summary of Information Packet

1. Past Meeting Minutes Summaries

June 15, 2026 Meeting Minutes

  • Attendance & Logistics: Chaired by Samuel Tran. Commissioners David Beerbower, Joe Allen, Gregg Motley, and Mike Milburn-Kee were present alongside County Clerk Susan Walker. (Page 1)

  • Agenda Modifications: The agenda was rearranged to address time-sensitive items, adding KDWP to Special Appearances, a Hidden Valley Road item, and removing an MOU Grant discussion. (Page 1-2)

  • Accounts Payable & Payroll: Approved batches for June 5 ($184,461.59, withholding two disputed vendor checks) and June 12 ($833,269.76). Supplemental payrolls were also approved to correct a supervisor hours-entry error. (Page 2, 4)

  • Hidden Valley Road Resolution: Public Works Director Kenny Allen and County Counsel verified that the Hidden Valley subdivision roadways are private infrastructure, do not meet county safety or engineering standards, and have never been formally accepted by the county. Resolution 23-26 was passed to formally decline taking over road network maintenance, capping substantial liability concerns. (Page 2-3)

  • Public Comments: INA Alert presented a security and facial-recognition camera system breakdown with free site evaluations. Local resident Mark Warren raised localized standing water and missing side ditch drainage issues near Uniontown and Redfield. (Page 3-4)

  • Minutes Formatting Debate: Chair Tran critiqued current AI-generated minutes for subjective language (e.g., “push back gently”). Clerk Walker defended that she runs raw long-form formats to meet detail requests without adding editorial slant. (Page 4)

  • Elm Creek Lake Grant: The commission passed a motion to formally terminate a stagnant five-year-old Elm Creek Lake renovation grant. Biologist Don George (KDWP) noted the original $121,000 cost estimate to repair the dam hole inflated massively, requiring an engineer re-evaluation before a target May 2027 grant cycle. (Page 4-5)

  • Comprehensive Plan: Following competitive interviews, the Planning Commission recommended hiring Confluence for a total of $152,000 ($105,500 for the Plan; $46,500 for Zoning Code regulations). The motion passed 4-0 (Motley abstained). (Page 5-6)

  • Election Request Dispute: A motion by Commissioner Milburn-Kee to deny the Clerk’s use of the Commission Room for 2026 election cycles failed (3-2). A subsequent motion to approve the space use and transit support passed 3-2. (Page 6)

  • Moratorium Resolution: The board passed Resolution 24-26 (3-0, Allen and Motley abstained) enacting a 365-day freeze on utility-scale power setups, crypto mining, data centers, and waste sites, grandfathering three previously exempted solar facilities. (Page 7-8)

May 11, 2026 Meeting Minutes

  • Public Comments (Meals on Wheels): Michael Hoyt warned that federal defunding hit regional aging agencies hard, freezing new enrollments for standard mobile meal deliveries. He urged local budget steps to preserve safety checks for senior populations. (Page 10)

  • Check-Signing Authority Clash: County Attorney James Crux publicly cited late employee pay cycles caused by a communication breakdown over unsigned checks. Seeking rules accuracy, Chair Tran shifted checking signatures to Commissioner Allen moving forward. (Page 10-11)

  • Clerk Software Lockout: An internal dispute arose after Clerk Walker had her “SecureView” payroll report access revoked due to administrative over-exposure concerns. Intermediary data sharing was labeled inefficient by dissenters, and a motion to restore direct read-only access failed 3-2. (Page 11-12)

April 13, 2026 Meeting Minutes

  • Economic Development: Fort Scott City Manager updated the board on manufacturing building sales projected to create hundreds of jobs starting in early 2027. (Page 13)

  • Employee Rights Outcry: Nearly half the county workforce attended to protest retroactive adjustments to tenure dates and altered leave records after a December 2025 platform shift. Employees described losing up to 16 years of recognized service credit. In response, the commission ordered immediate employee system visibility features to restore transparency. (Page 14-15)

2. Financial Documents & Open Invoice Summaries

Accounts Payable Ledger – Due June 18, 2026

A grand total of $83,374.82 across 70 invoices was processed for this cycle. Significant breakdowns by department include:

  • District Court (Dept. 10): $17,054.00, anchored by a 40% initial deposit ($15,324.00) to McClelland Inc. for a Courtroom A audio infrastructure upgrade. (Page 8)

  • Courthouse General (Dept. 43): $13,379.74, including building utility bills from Evergy and a $7,503.36 regular elevator service fee to Kone Inc. (Page 12)

  • Road & Bridge Sales Tax Fund (Fund 222): $12,455.80, heavily driven by an $11,257.15 charge from Kunshek Chat and Coal Co. for sand hauling. (Page 3)

  • Juvenile Detention (Dept. 18): $11,347.00, matching fixed monthly detention system expenses paid out to the SEK Regional Center. (Page 10)

  • Landfill (Fund 108): $10,652.41, paid entirely to Allen County Public Works for regional waste operations. (Page 2)

Accounts Payable Ledger – Due June 26, 2026

This batch notes a larger volume of operational entries, totaling $453,809.91, primarily tracking payroll runs, clearing accounts, and equipment support:

  • Employee Benefits (Fund 064): $35,424.17 allocated across employee social security withholdings ($14,685.08) and comprehensive KPERS retirement pools ($19,375.17). (Page 4)

  • County Sheriff & Correctional (Fund 120): $81,313.55, tracking department base wages alongside distinct items like building contract needs, Vertiv system components ($6,581.12), and regional inmate health expenses ($7,966.27). (Page 6-7)

  • Mental Disability Support (Fund 116): A $13,750.00 regular quarterly funding appropriation assigned to the Tri-Valley Developmental Center. (Page 6)

  • Road and Bridge Machinery (Fund 220): Detailed hardware invoices from Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co. covering heavy motor, hydraulic drives, and custom equipment maintenance. (Page 7-8)

Advertisements

Ad: La Cygne Auction – Saturday, June 27 – Semper Fi Auction

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Mike and his family are moving and Cindi is purging her inventory, and they are selling it all at an in-person, public auction. Two John Deere tractors, two zero-turn mowers, a horse trailer, vehicles, an ATV, farm equipment, tools, furniture and a whole lot more. Come spend the day with us!

  • When: Saturday, June 27, 2026 – starting at 10:00 AM
  • Where: 19863 Valley Road, La Cygne, KS 66040
  • Terms: Cash, check or credit card (5% credit-card processing fee). No buyer’s premium!
  • Bonus: Free hot dogs while they last. Come support our 4-H, selling drinks, desserts and snacks.

Featured Video — John Deere 730

John Deere 730 Diesel: factory weights, straight sheet metal and dual hydraulics. Runs (needs batteries).

Auction Headliners

John Deere 730

John Deere 730 RUNS factory weights, straight sheet metal and dual hydraulics. Needs batteries. See the featured video above.

John Deere 420

John Deere 420 RUNS. See video.

Simplicity 60″ Zero-Turn Mower

Simplicity 60″ commercial cut, 27 hp zero-turn mower. See video.

John Deere Z225 Zero-Turn Mower

John Deere 42″ cut EZ Trak Z225, 18.5 hp, w/ bags. See video.

Two-Horse Livestock Trailer

Two horse livestock trailer. This trailer has an attached air conditioning unit which comes on. It may need some maintenance. Also is equipped with electrical outlets and light. Selling with bill of sale, no title. See video.

ATV

Honda 4×4 ATV.

2018 Jeep Renegade

2018 Jeep Renegade 160,000 miles more or less. Daily driver, great gas mileage. Slight damage a couple years ago hitting a deer.

2005 Volvo

2005 Volvo 540 high mileage, runs and drives. See video.

Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker

Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker.

Priefert Headgate

Priefert Headgate.

MIG Welder

Mig Welder.

Shop Smith Table Saw / Wood Lathe

Shop Smith table saw / wood lathe.

Air Compressor

Rolltop Desk

Rolltop desk.

Display Case

Display case.

Full List of Auction Items

Here is a list of some of what will be selling:

Tractors & Farm Equipment

  • John Deere 730 (runs)
  • John Deere 420 (runs)
  • Land Pride 6′ blade
  • Homemade 5′ blade
  • Post hole digger
  • Antique plow
  • Road grader
  • Tiller
  • Scrap metal & batteries

Mowers, Cars & ATV

  • Simplicity 60″ commercial zero-turn (27 hp)
  • John Deere Z225 42″ zero-turn (18.5 hp, w/ bags)
  • 2018 Jeep Renegade
  • 2005 Volvo
  • ATV

Trailers

  • Two-horse livestock trailer (w/ AC, bill of sale)
  • All-metal trailer (bill of sale)
  • Trailer w/ hand winch, wooden floor

Tools & Shop

  • Stihl MS 170 chainsaw (runs)
  • MIG welder
  • Portable welder on wheels
  • Shop Smith table saw / lathe
  • Air compressor
  • Little Giant ladder
  • Step ladder
  • Sockets & small tools
  • Old-time fire extinguishers

Livestock & Outdoor

  • Priefert headgate
  • Dog grooming table
  • Big bale feeder
  • Hay feeders
  • Stock tank
  • Heaters
  • Saddles
  • Fuel tank & fuel cans
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Metal lawn furniture
  • Bicycles
  • Hoses
  • Moving dolly & carts
  • Craftsman pole saw / weed eater
  • Windmill

Grills & Fishing

  • Oklahoma Joe’s smoker
  • Charcoal smoker & grills
  • Propane bottle
  • Fishing poles & reels
  • Tackle

Household & Appliances

  • Ice cream maker
  • Sausage grinder
  • Microwave
  • Blender
  • Mixer
  • GF lean machine
  • Pots, pans & dishes
  • Bed linens
  • Misc. household

Furniture

  • Display case
  • Queen bed w/ mattress
  • Dresser w/ mirror
  • Rolltop desk
  • Futon love seat
  • Beds
  • Chairs
  • Kitchen table w/ chairs
  • End tables
  • Curio cabinet

Electronics

  • T-shirt screen maker
  • Wii console, controllers & games
  • PS4 / PlayStation games
  • Like-new laser printer
  • Cameras
  • Apple Watch
  • New-in-box home security system
  • Super Soakers

See You There!

Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM — 19863 Valley Road, La Cygne, KS 66040.
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Government, Kansas

Ks Dept. of Agriculture Announces Photo Contest

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MANHATTAN, Kansas — The beauty of Kansas agriculture can’t be captured by a camera, but we encourage you to try in the annual Kansas Department of Agriculture Photo Contest. KDA is now accepting photo entries, and will continue accepting entries through August 16.

This year’s KDA Photo Contest categories were selected to celebrate the hard work that happens all year long in Kansas agriculture by recognizing the seasons: Spring into the Fields, Life in the Summer, Fall on the Farm, and Winter at Work. These categories allow you to showcase Kansas agriculture in many ways — from spring planting through fall harvest, from the intense heat of summer to the bitter cold of winter. As always, there is a separate Youth division, for young photographers age 18 and under. And a video category will welcome drone footage, harvest videos, or other short clips of under 30 seconds that showcase Kansas agriculture. Prizes will be awarded to the top two winners in each of the six categories.

KDA serves to advocate for agriculture, the state’s largest industry and economic driver. Photos which best capture the categories will be used throughout the year as we tell the story of Kansas agriculture. After submission, KDA is granted permission to use any photograph for publications, social media, websites, displays, etc. without payment or other consideration from the photographer.

Photo entries should be sent in .jpg format to [email protected]. Videos should be sent in .mp4 or .mov format. Entries must include a title and brief description, where and when the photo/video was taken, the photographer’s full name and age, entry category, hometown, and email address.

Guidelines for the KDA Photo Contest, including deadlines, categories and prizes, can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/PhotoContest. Voting to select finalists will begin on KDA’s social media sites in mid-August. For more information, contact Heather Lansdowne, KDA director of communications, at [email protected] or 785-564-6706.

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Entries Now Open for KDA Photo Contest.pdf
Bourbon County

Judge Rejects Late Felony Charge Against Commissioner Milburn-Kee; State Will Refile All Counts

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A judge has rejected the Kansas Attorney General’s bid to add a felony charge against Bourbon County Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee on the eve of her trial, and the State responded by dismissing the case so it can refile all of the charges together.

At a June 26 pretrial conference, Senior Judge Merlin G. Wheeler denied the State’s motion to amend the complaint to add a third count, Intimidation of Voters, a severity level 7 nonperson felony. The State had filed that motion, with several others, the afternoon before the hearing. Milburn-Kee has faced only two misdemeanors since March. FortScott.biz reported the felony motion when it was filed June 25.

Assistant Attorney General Olivia Higdon said the State has evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to support the felony, and that the person it alleges was intimidated is,a witness (who is already on the witness list), Brandi Ross. The State said the charge rests on the original probable-cause affidavit filed when the case began, which already referenced voter intimidation. All of the counts stem from an Oct. 25, 2025 incident at the county commission room while it was being used as an early-voting polling place.

Milburn-Kee’s attorneys, Tricia and Thomas Bath, objected that the motion arrived too late to answer, that a substantive charge should be argued in person rather than over Zoom, and that adding a felony now would prejudice her rights. They cast the move as pressure tied to her decision to demand a jury trial.

Wheeler said this was not the first time the Attorney General’s office had brought last-minute charges in his courtroom, and he made clear he did not blame Higdon personally but the principals in her office. Because a felony would entitle the defense to a preliminary hearing that could not be held before the scheduled July trial, he denied the amendment.

Rather than go to trial on the misdemeanors alone, the State moved to dismiss the case and refile all three counts together, which Wheeler allowed. The July 6 through 8 jury trial is off. The case will restart under a new case number, and a first appearance and preliminary examination is set for Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. in Fort Scott, where the State must show probable cause for each count.

Speedy-trial clock

Wheeler was careful to lock in one point. Dismissing and refiling does not buy the State a fresh clock. Under Kansas’s speedy-trial law, K.S.A. 22-3402, a defendant who is out on bond must be brought to trial within 180 days of arraignment, not counting delays the defense causes. Wheeler ordered that the time already elapsed, which he dated to April 15, keeps running in the refiled case rather than starting over at zero. By that measure the State has until roughly mid-October to bring Milburn-Kee to trial.

Why no plea deal has materialized.

The Attorney General’s office does not make the first plea offer, so it would be up to Milburn-Kee’s lawyers to approach the State with a proposed plea or to apply for diversion, a stance Judge Wheeler called consistent with the standards for prosecutors. The Attorney General stated that the defense had not pursued any type of plea deal or diversion and indicated that, since it looked like the case was going to go to a jury trial, the state wanted to bring all the charges it believes it has enough evidence to convict on, including the felony it hadn’t filed previously.

Higdon cast the timing as an effort to give Milburn-Kee a way to resolve the case without losing her position. The State, she said, had hoped Milburn-kee’s defense would bring a plea that would let her keep her seat rather than take the case to a jury.

“Our intention with the filing was hopefully to be able to give her a plea offer where she would not have to leave office, with the Class A misdemeanor moving forward and dismissing the Class B,” Higdon said. “However, if this case was going to receive a trial, we wanted to be able to try the whole thing.”

Judge Wheeler also noted that the courthouse elevator is broken and not expected to be fixed in time, that he had been arranging an accessible location, and that he expected a large turnout given the political tension between the county commission and the county clerk.

A charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt, and Milburn-Kee is presumed innocent unless and until a jury decides otherwise. FortScott.biz will report on the Aug. 3 hearing.

Bourbon County Local News