Government, Kansas

KS Youtube Wildfire Risk and Utility Readiness workshop is April 24

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TOPEKA – A virtual workshop on Wildfire Risk and Utility Readiness will be hosted by the Kansas Corporation Commission on Friday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

House Bill 2107, passed by the Kansas Legislature during its 2025 session, requires the KCC to hold a workshop addressing the topics of general wildfire risk, mitigation strategies, wildfire emergency response, and managing cost recovery.

This comes at a time when, according to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, wildfires are increasing in frequency, destructiveness, and cost. Wildfire-driven financial risks affect all types of electric utilities, including investor-owned, cooperative, and public.

The virtual workshop will feature a series of presentations from national and local experts, each followed by a Q&A session and discussion. View the agenda.

The workshop can be accessed on the agency’s YouTube channel. No preregistration is required.

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Bourbon County

Summary of April 20, 2026 Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda

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The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda

April 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM

04.20.26 Agenda

I. Call Meeting to Order II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Prayer IV. Introductions V. Approval of Agenda VI. Approval of Minutes 04.13.26 VII. Approval of Accounts Payable 04.15.26 ($6,590.70), 04.16.26 ($345.96), 04.17.26 ($286,279.61) VIII. Hay Bid Opening 5:35 PM IX. Department Updates

  • Jennifer Hawkins X. Public Comments XI. Old Business

  • Planning Commission – Milburn

  • Juvenile Detention – Sheriff/Angie Eads

  • Vacation & Sick Leave Resolution – Beerbower

  • Meeting Resolution – Milburn-Kee XII. New Business

  • Kanren 2025 Invoice

  • Maintenance Supervision XIII. Future Agenda Topics

  • Audit Presentation 05.04.26 XIV. Commission Comments XV. Adjournment

Information Packet Summary

Approval of Minutes and Financials (Page 2-3) The commission reviewed minutes from March 31 and April 6, 2026. Accounts payable totaling $445,485.34, tax corrections, and February 2026 financials were all approved unanimously.

Public Comments and Economic Updates (Page 3)

  • Forensic Audit Request: Micheal Bryant requested the commission revisit the forensic audit of the Sheriff’s Department, citing a lack of documentation and inaccurate information provided previously.

  • Economic Development: Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin reported the sale of the Value Merchandisers building (expected to bring up to 350 jobs over three years) and the Timken building (expected to bring 200 jobs).

Legislative and Technology Updates (Page 4)

  • Legislative Report: Senator Tim Shallenberger provided updates on state bills affecting county operations and noted that he receives more inquiries from Bourbon County than his other two counties combined.

  • IT Infrastructure: Stronghold Data reported that county systems are stable. Current projects include network segmentation and preparing for the mandatory Windows 11 transition by 2027.

Emergency Services Sales Tax (Page 4) The oversight committee reported that 2025 sales tax receipts totaled over $705,000. These funds were successfully directed to the Freeman Fort Scott Hospital for emergency room services as intended.

Payroll and Personnel Policy Disputes (Pages 4-6) A significant portion of the meeting involved approximately 40 county employees addressing the commission regarding payroll and leave policies.

  • Policy Concerns: County Clerk Susan Walker highlighted that 21 employees had their hire dates changed in the system without notice, affecting retirement and benefit calculations.

  • Employee Testimony: Several employees expressed frustration over losing years of service credit and being locked out of viewing their own leave balances.

  • Commission Action: The commission voted to restore employee access to view and manage their time entries and leave balances.

Juvenile Detention Membership (Pages 6-7) Michael Walden, Director of the Southeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Center, urged the county to maintain its membership. He warned that upcoming legislative changes (House Bill 2329) will likely increase admissions and stay lengths, potentially overwhelming state facilities.

Old and New Business (Pages 7-8)

  • Equipment Auction: The commission is waiting for final confirmation from contractors before proceeding with an auction for remaining building equipment.

  • Special Improvement District: A proposed $135,018 project for 190th Street was tabled until June to assess county equipment capacity.

  • Meeting Schedule: A proposal to move to bi-weekly formal meetings with alternating work sessions is under review.

Accounts Payable Detail (Pages 10-20) The packet includes a full breakdown of invoices by department. Notable entries include card services for training expenses, fuel, and supplies for the Sheriff’s department, as well as payroll clearing accounts for employee benefits and taxes.

Opinion

Opinion: When Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction

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April 1st has long been an important date in journalism. From the BBC’s “Bumper Spaghetti Crop” story in 1957 to the ads saying that Taco Bell had bought and renamed the  Liberty Bell to Taco Liberty Bell in 1996, the date has always offered a fun diversion — and a good opportunity for self-reflection. Just how gullible am I?

FortScott.biz publishes a few April Fool’s posts each year. Past stories have included everything from a new snake pit going into Gunn Park to an alligator petting zoo that organizers pointed out would help keep the local emergency room in business. This year, we had a resolution against light pollution in which commissioners said they would outlaw any light source stronger than “a jar of lightning bugs with a towel draped over it.” Another described efforts to build a new monument where important events could be inscribed. Originally, the plans called for it to be 15 feet tall, but to accommodate the many lawsuits, organizers were now trying to raise trillions of dollars for a 4.5-mile-tall monolith.

(Archive of FortScott.biz’s April Fool’s posts.)

Usually, I feel we do a good job of including enough absurdity that any reader paying attention will quickly catch on to the joke. This year, though, we reached a new milestone. On April 3rd, I started getting messages that KOMB was reading our April Fool’s stories as part of their news segment — without mentioning they came from FortScott.biz or that they had been published on April 1st.
I’m not sure how you read stuff like this with a straight face:
“We have lost touch with the natural darkness that is a vital part of Bourbon County’s attractive quality of life,” one commissioner said while holding a printed chart no one could read because the room lights had already been turned off in anticipation of the vote.
And yet, here we were. What should be an obviously absurd joke was being read as actual news. I called the radio station and explained that while we’re happy to have them share content from FortScott.biz, it would be nice if they mentioned the source — and suggested they might want to exercise a bit of caution with absurd stories published on April Fool’s Day.
We find ourselves in a situation where a “photograph” of nothing but a black rectangle — purporting to show the commissioners signing an ordinance that would require nighttime driving to rely on “moonlight” and “quiet-instinct” — doesn’t seem far-fetched enough. (Commissioner Allen texted me to say thank you for capturing his “good side” in the blank “photograph.”)
On one hand, maybe I’m losing my ability to think of things that are truly absurd. Maybe that’s a faculty that diminishes with age, and statements like this just reveal my waning capability to conjure up silliness:
Commissioners said the new rules are necessary to preserve residents’ God-given right to see every star in the heavens, including several “fainter ones that have historically been none of our business.”
On the other hand, maybe the absurdity of what is actually happening has simply caught up with fiction. Consider the following:
  1. A good number of the past few Bourbon County commissioners launched a lawsuit against their own official positions, then once seated, rescinded a motion by the county’s lawyer to have the lawsuit dismissed, then flipped county resources to attack the co-defendants.
  2. Bourbon County Commissioners have literally outlawed the level of noise produced by many relatively subdued evening conversations — meaning any impassioned discussion of politics or sports is an offense punishable by a fine. Also banned: the operation of most home air-conditioning units. Based on the text of the actual ordinance, the commissioners’ willful continuation of road maintenance appears to put them on the hook for $500 for each road grader operated each day in the county. We have commissioners who carefully reviewed payroll, voted to approve it, and then claimed they had approved an illegal payment.
  3. An elected official had her agenda item removed, then had her 3-minute public comment cut short when the commissioners terminated the entire meeting. While the audio recording is sometimes hard to hear, it captured the crystal clear sound of her calling them “chicken shit” as she left the room.

Any of these things would pass as a fine April Fool’s story. Unfortunately, these are the things that are actually happening in our community.

We find ourselves here because of a lack of leadership — not a lack of difficult, cerebral, highly abstract leadership ideas, but much more mundane leadership skills. Basic things like having enough curiosity and general knowledge to ask, “How loud is the 45 dB noise level that we are talking about banning?” Enough trust of employees to ask, “How much trouble will it cause if we stop letting you edit your own timesheets?” And even just leaning a tad more toward self-preservation than hubris — enough to move five feet to an adjacent room as soon as you discover your presence might be violating election laws.

Maybe this can change. There have been a few recent, small glimmers of common sense. Three of the five commissioners took feedback from employees and voted to let them edit their own timecards, as they had always done in the past. Taking months to change a trivial payroll setting to fix a problem of the commissioner’s own making is hardly something to celebrate as progress. However, without the two new commissioners, the vote would have failed. Maybe the county is starting to see some return on investment in those two additional seats.

For better or worse, that is where we are as Bourbon County — a place where even the most outrageous April Fool’s stories can pass for actual news on the radio. But maybe we are starting to turn in a better direction. Maybe, just maybe, by next year, Bourbon County’s reality will be different enough that April Fool’s articles will sound enough like fiction to not pass for news on the radio.

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]. 

Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

Boil Order for Water Will Be In Effect For Days

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Bourbon County with Township designations, from the Bourbon County KS website.

Bourbon County is still under a boil advisory, following the mainline water break in Fort Scott on April 18.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a boil water advisory for the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County Rural Water District # 2C, and City of Uniontown public water supply systems located in Bourbon County on Saturday.
The city of Fort Scott experienced a mainline water break on Burke Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets at around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18, said Scott Flater, Public Utility Director.
“It wasn’t reported until  6 a.m,” he said.
“I’m collecting water today that will be sent back to the lab,” Flater said.
As soon as the city sends the water sample, it has to incubate for 24 hours. Then the Rural Water District #2 will get notifications to take water samples, to send in to KDHE, which must be incubated for 24 hours as well. Once the samples are cleared, the boil order will be lifted, according to Mark Pollmeir, RWD#2 spokesman.
This advisory does not affect customers of the City of Fulton, nor Bronson, who are both in separate water districts, but does affect all the other small rural towns and rural residents in the county.
City of Uniontown Clerk Haley Arnold said she has put notices up at Union Station (gas station), the Uniontown Post Office,  City Hall, and her personal Facebook page asking others to share the news, to help get the word out about the boil order.
Communicating to residents in rural areas about these events is difficult, and Arnold is open to suggestions for getting the word out, she said.
Lou Howard, Bourbon County Emergency Manager, said she called the local radio station to help get the word out and published it on the Bourbon County website.
Both receiving and delivering communication has been difficult regarding the boil advisory, Howard said.
“While communicating the boil water advisory presented some challenges, we will continue working to improve how important information is shared with the public,” she said.
“Residents can receive emergency alerts and general community information through several sources, including local television and radio stations, wireless cell phone alerts, official websites, and other online resources. Important updates are also often shared through friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers,” Howard said.
“Community members are encouraged to help ensure information reaches everyone. If you know someone who does not regularly use the internet or a cell phone, please consider sharing important alerts and updates with them so they can stay informed and prepared,” she said.
Emergency alerts are transmitted through:
or for this specific boil order for rural residents:
Consolidated RWD2 website to register for their alerts – Home | Consolidated Rural Water Dist. 2.
Jack Ripper, Bourbon County Water District #4, which serves Bronson and the surrounding area, said he had not heard of the boil order for the rest of the county.
“We have our own lake for our water supply,” he said. “So we are not affected at all.”
According to the KDHE notification sent out by the City of Fort Scott on its Facebook page, customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
1) Boil water for one minute before drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
2 ) Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
3) If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
4) Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
5 ) Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on April 18, 2026 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.
KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break in the city of Fort Scott’s distribution system, resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination, according to the press release.
The City of Fort Scott water system provides water to Bourbon Co RWD 2C, which distributes water to Bourbon County.
Only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, contact the City of Fort Scott water system at 620-223-5160, or Bourbon Co RWD 2C water system at 620-223-1110, or the city of Uniontown water system at 620-756-4742, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
Government, Kansas

KDWP Hosts Meetings On Turkey/Water Fowl

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KDWP Office of the Secretary Letterhead

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to Host Public Meetings on Turkey Seasons and Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will host two public meetings this spring to discuss the possible re-establishment of a fall turkey season and proposed regulations affecting non-resident waterfowl hunting on public lands. Both meetings will include time for questions and public feedback.

“These conversations are an important part of how we manage wildlife and hunting opportunities across Kansas,” said Jake George, KDWP’s wildlife division director. “We want to hear directly from hunters and others who care about these resources as we consider potential changes and make informed decisions moving forward.”

Regulations remain unchanged at this time; any adjustments would require approval by the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission before they are implemented.

Meeting Schedule:

April 22 | 6:00 p.m.
Great Plains Nature Center Auditorium
6232 E. 29th St N
Wichita, KS 67220

May 6 | 6:00 p.m.
Kansas Highway Patrol Training Center (Small Auditorium)
2025 E. Iron Ave
Salina, KS 67401

Attendees at the Salina meeting are asked to park in the lower parking lot. Parking is not permitted in the lot east of the main drive.

These meetings are open to the public, and all interested individuals are encouraged to attend.

Those unable to attend in person may submit comments through the KDWP public comment form at ksoutdoors.gov/contact.

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The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. KDWP manages 29 state parks, 177 lakes and wildlife areas, more than 300 public waterbodies, and 5 nature centers. Other services include management of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, law enforcement, and wildlife habitat programs. For more information about KDWP, visit ksoutdoors.gov.
Bourbon County, Health Care

Boil Advisory for Fort Scott and Uniontown As Of April 18

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Boil Water Advisory Issued for the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon Co RWD 2C and City of Uniontown, Bourbon County (Taken from the City of Fort Scott’s Facebook page)
TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon Co RWD 2C, and City of Uniontown public water supply systems located in Bourbon County. This advisory does not affect those customers of city of Fulton nor those of city of Prescott.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on April 18, 2026 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break in the city of Fort Scott’s distribution system, resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination. The City of Fort Scott water system provides water to Bourbon Co RWD 2C, who provides water to city of Uniontown.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, please contact the City of Fort Scott water system at 620-223-5160, or Bourbon Co RWD 2C water system at 620-223-1110, or the city of Uniontown water system at 620-756-4742, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
Consumer Information Regarding a Disruption in Water Service | KDHE, KS
kdhe.ks.gov
Consumer Information Regarding a Disruption in Water Service | KDHE, KS
Uncategorized

Far-out Prayer for a Wife by Carolyn Tucker

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Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Far-out Prayer for a Wife

As a young girl, I remember the congregation of my childhood church gathering around the altar to pray for the healing of a newborn baby girl. She was born without soft spots (fontanelles) on her head. As the adults fervently poured out their hearts before God, baby Cynthia was precious and content. Her parents,
Leo and Geneva, returned her to the doctor’s office a few days later and she was deemed completely healed and whole. Because I was there for this special prayer and experienced the entire situation, I have never doubted that God answered our prayers. And I have a lifetime of answers to prayer.

I think God actually enjoys answering bizarre prayers just to prove He’s a listening all-powerful God. In the Old Testament, Abraham’s senior servant, Eliezer, was told to go back to Abraham’s home country and get a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham told Eliezer, “God will send His angel ahead of you to get a wife for my son.” So Eliezer took ten camels loaded with gifts and headed to the city of Nahor. Just outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well and he prayed a far-out prayer: “O God, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day… Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink say,’‘Drink and let me also water your camels’ – let her be the woman You have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I’ll know that You’re working graciously behind the scenes” (Genesis 24 MSG).

Eliezer wanted to make sure he brought home the right wife for Isaac, so he prayed very specifically. And we know Eliezer’s prayer was answered exactly as he prayed. When Rebekah offered to water all the camels (at least 11), that was the clincher. A normal woman wouldn’t offer to water any of the camels, a considerate woman might offer to water Eliezer’s camel, but only the right woman would offer to water all the camels! It’s been roughly estimated that one camel can drink 25 gallons of water after a long journey. Rebekah sure wasn’t lazy or puny – she drew approximately 275 gallons of water for all the camels. If I had been Rebekah I guess I’d have remained unmarried.

Some Christ followers might think, “Well, I’m not going to ask for anything from God, that way I won’t be disappointed.” That’s a strange way to think about your heavenly Father. I’ve heard it said this way: “I’d rather ask God for a lot and receive half of it than not ask for anything and get all of it.”

God’s Word tells believers to ask for what they need. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). “I always pray, I don’t faint, quit or give up” (Luke 18:1). “Because of my faith in Him, I dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear)” (Ephesians 3:12 AMP). The definition of “Amen” is the end of a prayer and the beginning of an answer.

“You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it” (James 4:2 GNT). I double-dog dare you to ask God for what you need and then step back and watch Him work.

The Key: Never underestimate the power of a far-out prayer to an awesome God.

Fort Scott, Government

What is a Certified Local Government (CLG)?

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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

Sending on behalf of Platinum Chamber Champion Member

City of Fort Scott

The City was recently designated as a Certified Local Government (CLG) through a partnership with the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office. This designation reflects Fort Scott’s commitment to preserving its historic character while supporting thoughtful growth and development.

What is a Certified Local Government (CLG)?

A Certified Local Government is a city that has met state and federal standards for historic preservation and participates in a larger partnership between local, state, and federal programs.

This designation allows the City to:

  • Participate in preservation planning at the local level
  • Apply for historic preservation grants
  • Provide local review of projects affecting historic properties

Programs like this are designed to help communities protect historic resources while also encouraging economic development and revitalization.

What does this mean for downtown property owners?

For properties located within designated historic districts or individually listed properties, certain exterior changes may require a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) before work begins.

This may include:

  • Window and door replacements
  • Exterior materials or siding changes
  • Demolition or new construction
  • Significant exterior alterations

The purpose of this process is to help maintain the historic character of downtown Fort Scott while still allowing property owners to invest in and improve their buildings.

Quick Checklist: Do You Need a COA?

Property owners are encouraged to contact the City before starting work if they answer YES to any of the following:

  • Is the property located in the downtown historic district or individually listed?
  • Are windows, doors, or exterior materials being changed?
  • Is the exterior appearance being altered?
  • Is an addition or new construction planned?
  • Is demolition (partial or full) being considered?

If there is any uncertainty, City staff are available to help determine next steps.

Government

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall Weekly Press Overview, April 13-17, 2026

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Senator Marshall Calls for Full Funding of Drug Trafficking Prevention Program

 

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), released a statement asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to sufficiently fund the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program following the release of President Trump’s FY27 Budget, which calls for a 35% reduction in HIDTA funding, as well as the transfer of the program from the Office of National Drug Control Policy to the Department of Justice.

 

Should this transfer and funding reduction occur, the Midwest HIDTA branch would lose significant resources and its ability to efficiently work with state and local law enforcement offices across Kansas to foster collaboration, share resources, and leverage expertise to keep communities safe. Both consequences would undermine the program’s mission to effectively reduce the impact of drug trafficking in HIDTA classified counties in Kansas: Barton, Cherokee, Crawford, Finney, Franklin, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Miami, Saline, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, and Wyandotte.

 

“With fourteen Kansas counties classified as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, I am determined to make sure our local, state, and federal law enforcement have all the resources they need to protect Kansas families. The HIDTA program is a proven tool that puts resources directly in the hands of local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking in our communities,” said Senator Marshall. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to ensure this program has the funding it needs to continue that mission.”

 

Click here to learn more.

 

Senator Marshall: Americans Are Keeping More of Their Earnings

 

Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), questioned Frank Bisignano, CEO of the Internal Revenue Service, at the Senate Finance Committee. The hearing focused on IRS operations and the 2026 tax filing season.

 

Senator Marshall noted that Mr. Bisignano is a graduate of Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, and his questions were centered around tax savings Americans are seeing this year, the new no tax on overtime legislation, and the improved efficiency of the IRS.

 

 

Click here to learn more.

 

Senator Marshall Joins Letter Backing American Ag Under USMCA

Washington – This week, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined a bipartisan letter led by Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, emphasizing their support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ahead of the Agreement’s six-year joint review and urging expanded market access and certainty for American producers.

In the letter, the Senators wrote:

“The United States is currently the world’s largest agricultural exporter, with total agricultural exports valued at $176 billion in 2024. Since the Agreement’s entry into force, U.S. agricultural exports have increased substantially, particularly to Canada and Mexico. 

…American family farmers and ranchers depend on the certainty afforded by a stable Agreement. The integrated supply chains facilitated by streamlined compliance requirements, effective rules governing food safety measures, and intellectual property protections have allowed the U.S. to build a fortified trading network here in the Western Hemisphere.

…As preparations begin for the upcoming joint review process, we encourage continued engagement with Congress, farmers, and ranchers to ensure the agreement is improved to support U.S. agriculture and maintain strong market access for American producers.”

 

Click here to learn more.

 

Senator Marshall Introduces President Trump’s Nominees for U.S. District Courts of Kansas

 

Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), introduced Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi, Great Bend attorney Jeffrey M. Kuhlman, and Kansas Solicitor General Anthony J. Powell during their nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The three nominees, selected by President Trump, are being considered to serve as United States District Judges for the District of Kansas.

 

Senator Marshall highlighted the nominees’ strong Kansas roots, integrity, and commitment to public service, while emphasizing the thorough effort behind their selection alongside Senator Moran. He underscored the importance of the federal judiciary and expressed confidence that the nominees will serve Kansans with fairness and distinction.

 

 

Click here to learn more.

 

Senator Marshall: Investing in All of America Act Passes Senate

 

Washington – This week, the U.S. Senate passed the Investing in All of America Act, bipartisan legislation led by Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and co-sponsored by Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) that would direct more private investment into rural communities, low-income areas, American manufacturing, and critical technology sectors. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

 

This bill strengthens the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program, which allows private investment firms to combine their own money with SBA-backed funds to invest exclusively in American small businesses. In 2024, SBIC created 9,280 jobs and supported 98 small businesses in Kansas, and in the last two decades it has invested $505.4M in Kansas companies.

 

Click here to learn more.

 

Senator Marshall: PBMs Are Squeezing Community Pharmacies Out of Business

 

Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), questioned witnesses Dr. Brian Miller, Associate Professor of Medicine at John Hopkins University, and Dr. Ryan Long, Director of Congressional Relations and Senior Research Fellow at the USC Schaeffer Institute at the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing focused on making medicines more affordable through competition.

 

Senator Marshall’s questioning focused on concerns over the growing financial strain on community pharmacists driven by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and called for meaningful PBM reform to bring down prescription drug costs for patients.

 

 

Click here to learn more.

 

Senator Marshall: Republican Tax Wins Mean More Money for Families This Tax Day

Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Senate Republicans, including Finance Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) in a press conference on Tax Day 2026.

The Senators emphasized that this year’s Tax Day looks different for millions of Americans, as families are now able to keep more of their hard-earned income due to the Republican-passed Working Families Tax Cuts. Senator Marshall specifically highlighted provisions he fought for, including no tax on overtime and the 45Z clean fuel production credit.

 

 

Click HERE for the press release or on the image above for Senator Marshall’s full interview.

 

Senator Marshall: President Trump Continues to Fight for Our Farmers

 

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Suzanne Alexander on RFD TV’s Market Day Report to discuss the increased benefits farmers are receiving this tax season, how President Trump has fought for farmers, how international events have affected input prices, and solutions for relief from high production costs.

 

 

Click HERE for the press release or on the image above for Senator Marshall’s full interview.

 

Senator Marshall: President Trump is Keeping Americans Safe

 

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Sharla McBride and Marc Lotter on Newsmax’s Wake Up America to discuss the blockade of Iran and an end to the conflict, President Trump’s work to make the cost of living affordable for Americans, and the Republican plan to fund ICE and DHS.

 

 

Click HERE for the press release or on the image above for Senator Marshall’s full interview.

 

Senator Marshall: More Americans are Getting a Tax Refund This Year

 

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Dave Anthony on The FOX News Rundown to discuss tax refunds being larger this year, the Democrats’ continued shutdown of DHS, how the Iran war is affecting the economy, and more.

 

 

Click HERE for the press release or on the image above for Senator Marshall’s full interview.

 

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Obituary

Obituary of Jackie Keating, Sr.

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Shawn Gerard Keating Sr. “Jackie”, age 62, a resident of Fort Scott KS passed away Friday April 17, 2026 at home surrounded by his family. He was born May 25, 1963 in Fort Scott KS to Edward and Patricia (Warzel) Keating.

Shawn graduated from Fort Scott High School class of 1981 where he was a member of the Tiger Football Team. He then attended Newman University and graduated with the class of 1986 with bachelor’s degrees in business management and marketing. After graduation, he returned to Fort Scott to work in the family business, K&K Auto Parts. He married Sandi Hobbs June 12, 1998 in Fort Scott, KS at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. She survives of the home. Shawn’s greatest blessings in life were his children, whom he loved with all his heart. He was an avid Chiefs fan and enjoyed watching the games and grilling out. Shawn also helped serve lunch to the kids at St. Mary’s School for over 20 years. He was the kind of man people will remember for being friendly and sincere. He carried himself with a steady kindness. That left a lasting impression on every one he met.

Also surviving are sons Vincent (Courtney), Jesse, Andrew, Shawn II, and Connor. Daughters Grace (Eli) and Faith (Gage). Granddaughters Maeve and Margo. Siblings Eddie, John (Charlene), Mary Lowry (John), Beth Anne Graham (Daryl), and Patty Kramer (Mike) and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Shawn was preceded in death by sister-in-law Janet (New) Keating, mother and father-in-law Nancy and Joe Decker.

Father Yancey Burgess will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary’s Catholic School and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at Cheneywitt.com

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott

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What’s Happening in Fort Scott April 17th Edition!

🚎 Historic Trolley Tours

Ride Dolly the Trolley and explore Fort Scott’s history

with a narrated tour.

Fridays & Saturdays – Now Boarding!

Spring Town-wide Garage Sale

Click below on the image to RSVP
2026-Spring-Town-wide-Garage-Sale-1200x400-Website-Size.png

SAVE THE DATE!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffees

Every Thursday at 8am

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

________________

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Visit your National Park! Visitor Center and historic buildings are open Friday through Tuesday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The grounds continue to be open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset

Click HERE to visit the website.

Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes for ALL ages!

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall. (Taking the month of August off for BINGO & will start again in September)

KANSASWORKS in Fort Scott

Every Tuesday 9am-4pm

Office located at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, 104 N. National Ave.

620-231-4250

FS Public Library

*Wednesday Writers every Wed. @ 1:30-3pm

201 S. National Ave.

$3 Tuesdays at Fort Cinema!

Follow their Facebook Page HERE for updates!

Kansas Small Business

Development Center

at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.

Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month 9am-3pm

Want more details or updates Community, Chamber, and Member events?

You can find full dates, times, locations, and links on our community calendar on the Chamber’s website at:

👉 fortscott.com/events/calendar/

RECURRING EVENTS

Bartelsmeyer Jewelry Estate Sale

25% off April 21st to May 2nd

50% off May 5th to May 16th

Mother’s Day Giveaway!

📍22 N. Main St.

UPCOMING EVENTS

📅 SATURDAY – April 18, 2026

Civil War Encampment Weekend

(Saturday & Sunday)

📍Fort Scott National Historic Site,

1 Old Fort Blvd.

SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

 9 a.m. Raising the Colors (Garrison Flagpole)

 9:30 a.m. Infantry Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

 10 a.m. Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (meet at Visitor Center)

 10:30 a.m. Cavalry Program (next to Stables)

 11 a.m. Civil War Medicine (next to Post Hospital)

 11:30 a.m. Artillery Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

 11:30-1:30 p.m. Cooking Demonstration (North of Dragoon Barracks)

 Noon Second Hand Strings Musical Performance (Hospital Porch)

 1 p.m. Guided Tour of the Fort (meet at Visitor Center)

 2 p.m. Infantry Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

 3 p.m. Cavalry Program (next to Stables)

 4 p.m. Flag Retreat (Garrison Flagpole)

 4:30 p.m. Artillery Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

 9 a.m. Raising the Colors (Garrison Flagpole)

 9:30 am Historic Church Service (Dragoon Barracks)

 10 a.m. Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (meet at Visitor Center)

 10:30 a.m. Infantry Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

 11 a.m. Civil War Medicine (next to Post Hospital)

 11:30 a.m. Artillery Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

 1 p.m. Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (meet at Visitor Center)

 1:30 p.m. Infantry Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

 2 p.m. Civil War Medicine (next to Post Hospital)

 2:30 p.m. Cavalry Program (next to Stables)

 3:30 p.m. Artillery Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

 4 p.m. Flag Retreat (Garrison Flagpole)

 4:30 p.m. Artillery Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)

Mental Health First Aid & Training

📍 First United Methodist Church,

320 S. National Ave.

in the Fellowship Hall

FSHS PROM
⏰6:30pm
📍 The River Room

📅 SUNDAY – April 19, 2026

Civil War Encampment Weekend

(Saturday & Sunday)

📍Fort Scott National Historic Site,

1 Old Fort Blvd.

Pat Harry Students’ Piano Recital

⏰2:30pm

📍 First United Methodist Church,

320 S. National Ave.

📅 WEDNESDAY – April 22, 2026

Senior Care Coalition at Credi Senior Living

⏰7:30-8:30am

📍Credo Senior Living & Memory Care

820 S. Horton St.

Downtown Cleanup hosted by the Chamber

⏰Check-in: 3:30-4pm

⏰Clean-up Event 4-7pm

📍Downtown Fort Scott

Free pulled pork meal for the first 150 confirmed volunteers following the event

Click HERE to register!

Par-Tee Girls Pre-season Golf Lesson

⏰5:30-6:30pm

📍Woodland Hills Golf Course

$20/lesson

FSHS FFA Banquet

⏰6-9pm

📍The River Room Event Center

📅 THURSDAY – April 23, 2026

Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott Public Library

⏰8am

📍FS Public Library

Murder Mystery Dinner by Cohn’s Cafe 110 S. Main St.

⏰5:30pm

📍Cohn’s Cafe, 110 S. Main St.

Paint & Sip: Coneflower Edition

⏰6-8pm

📍The Artificers, 8 N. National Ave.

FSHS Spring Music Program

⏰6:30-8pm

📍Ellis Fine Arts Center

📅 FRIDAY – April 24, 2026

Winfield Scott Color Run

⏰5:30pm

📍Riverfront Park

Rug Paint Workshop

⏰6pm

📍Papa Don’s Pizza, 10 N. Main St.

📅 SATURDAY – April 25, 2026

Nicole Brown’s Breast Cancer Benefit Ride

⏰9:30am Registration

11am Kickstands up

📍5 Corners Gas Station

Independent Bookstore Day

⏰10am-5pm

📍Hedgehog Books

Princess Tea Party at BRCC

⏰10am

📍Buck Run Community Center

Paint & Pizza – April Showers Bring May Flowers

⏰11am-2pm

📍Papa Don’s Pizza

Documentary Film Premiere “Fort Scott Stories” (Red Carpet Event)

⏰7-9pm

Doors open at 6:30pm

Film Starts at 7pm

📍Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton St.

Free Event!

MUST RSVP – RSVP by clicking HERE!

✅ See more events & details:

https://fortscott.com/events

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
In This Issue
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.

Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?

Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!

Seeking a job/career?

We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.

Many opportunities available!

Housing needs?

Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.

Click here for our rental listing.

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER CHAMPION MEMBERS!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
231 E. Wall Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
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