Obituary

Obituary of Wanda Dunn

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Wanda June “Jay” Dunn, age 85, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2025, at the home of her daughter in Spring Hill, Kansas.

Jay was born July 10, 1939, in Oskaloosa, Missouri, to Bill and Carrie Guss Carpenter and was the fourth of their six children. She graduated with the Class of 1957 from Liberal High School. After graduation, she moved to Fort Scott, where she worked at Key Work Clothes and the White Grill.

On May 14, 1961, in Fort Scott, Jay married William “Bill” Dunn, whom she met on a blind date. They were married nearly 55 years before Bill’s passing in 2016. Together, they built a life grounded in family, hard work, and shared purpose. The couple founded several successful ventures including Bill Dunn Auction Service and Dunn’s Moving and Storage, earning a respected name in the southeast Kansas community.

Jay lived a life of quiet strength and generous spirit. Whether through her work, her friendships, or the warmth of her home, she touched countless lives with her kindness and extraordinary cooking skills.  She was an amazing mother, grandmother and aunt and made a significant impact on their those around her.

She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Dunn, Spring Hill, her son, Mike Dunn (Clara) of Fort Scott, and her granddaughter, Hannah Dunn also of Fort Scott.  Her oldest son, Gary, preceded her in death in 2006.

She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know her.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, June 27th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

2025 Lowell Milken Center Fellows Receive Keys to the City

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2025 Lowell Milken Center Fellows Receive Keys to the City

The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, has awarded its 2024 National Fellowship to 12 educators. As part of their week-long experience in Fort Scott, the six
fellows for June 22 – 27 were given the keys to the city on Tuesday, June 24th, by Lindsay Madison, Tourism and Chamber Director. (Six other Fellows were in Fort Scott last week.)

Upon the presentation of the keys, Madison said, “Fort Scott has a legacy of honoring heroes since the Fort was first established in 1842.  As each of you are presented with a key to the city of Fort
Scott, may it serve as a symbol that you are now part of the legacy as we recognize the extraordinary difference you are making in the lives of students. On behalf of the City of Fort Scott and the Fort
Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, it is our honor to welcome you to our community as a 2025 Lowell Milken Fellow.”

The Fellows honored this week were Sandra Hutton from Canada, Jennifer Klein from Connecticut, Jordann Lankford-Forster (Bright Trail Woman) from Montana, Meredith Reid from Kansas, Brian
Skinner from Kansas, and Graeme Stacey from Canada.

LMC Director Norm Conard praised these outstanding individuals, saying, “We are so honored to be able to network and collaborate with these exemplary educators and provide them with an opportunity to reflect, reenergize, and strategize with
each other as they seek to find new ways to inspire their students.”

Every summer, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes awards its Fellowship to national and international award-winning educators from America and around the world. As National LMC Fellows, they deepen their understanding of Unsung Heroes and project-based learning in preparation for developing Unsung Heroes projects with their students. They also learn the stories of powerful role models who have helped to change the world and can be life-changing examples for students today.

Along with the time spent deepening their professional skills at the LMC, the Fellows enjoy visiting the Fort Scott area.

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Government

City of Fort Scott Ordinance on Fireworks

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To view the ordinance:

Ordinance 3781 – FIREWORKS sales and discharge(2)

 

Here is a shortened version:

Only Class C fireworks, common ones, are allowed to be discharged within the city limits of Fort Scott.

The sale of fireworks started on June 20 and will stop on July 7.

They can be discharged from June 27 to July 2 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

From July 3 to 4, from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. and on

July 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The city manager, fire chief, or designated authority may change the dates due to severe weather conditions, etc.

It’s illegal to discharge fireworks within 1,000 feet of a hospital, 50 feet from where they are sold, 100 feet from a gas pump, filling station, or bulk fuel storage facility, Fort Scott Community College campus/grounds, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, or city-owned parks.

No fireworks are allowed from 18th to 23rd Streets on Horton Street on the day of the city’s fireworks display.

It’s unlawful to throw any kind of fireworks at a person, group or vehicle.

Bottle rockets are illegal in the city.

 

Art, Business, Exercise, Fort Scott

New Self Defense Classes Offered in Fort Scott

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Brandon Pfannenstiel and Noah Terry. Submitted photo.
For those interested in learning self-defense techniques, a new business has opened for teaching those techniques.
The Fort: Bjj and Self Defense co-founders and owners, Noah Terry and Brandon Pfannenstiel, opened to the public on May 8.
“We offer Jiu Jitsu classes for both kids and adults,” Terry said. “We also offer MMA and striking classes as well. All with an orientation towards self-defense.”
For those unfamiliar with these martial arts, here are explanations.
“Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills from a mixture of other combat sports to be used in competition. The rules allow the usage of both striking and grappling techniques while standing and on the ground. Competitions allow athletes of different disciplines of martial arts to compete under a set of unified rules,” according to https://www.ufc.com/intro-to-mma
“Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a predominantly ground-based martial art, using the principles of leverage, angles, pressure, and timing, as well as knowledge of the human anatomy, to achieve a non-violent submission of one’s opponent. Unlike other martial arts that focus on strikes and/or kicks, jiu jitsu focuses on close-contact grappling holds and techniques, and the application of chokes and joint manipulations,” according to https://www.essentialbjj.com/about-us/what-is-jiu-jitsu/
“I started training four years ago out of a desire to better myself through discipline and technique,” Terry said. “Brandon started training his sophomore year of high school at a gym called Mid-America Martial Arts. He walked in untrained and eager to learn at the age of 15. This was about 2003. He gathered an 11-1 amateur and 7-1 pro MMA record, and received his black belt in February 2025.”
Lessons are taught at 123 S. National Avenue at a converted church building.
‘

 

The current schedule is:
JIU JITSU: Monday through Friday from 6-7 a.m.
Sparring class: Tuesday is  6:15 – 7:15 p.m.
Open mat: Saturday from  7 to 8 a.m.
KIDS CLASS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
MMA: Monday is from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.
STRIKING CLASS: Thursday, 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.
 Contact: (913) 475-4321 + www.thefortfs.com
Bourbon County

Local Grief Support Group Starts on July 1

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A 13-week Grief Support Group will begin on Tuesday mornings starting July 1-September 23.
“Each time we gather from 10:00 until 11:30 in the small classroom at Mary Queen of Angels church,” said facilitator Laura Meeks.  “The group is non-denominational, focused on helping rebuild your life after losing a loved one. The group is led by professionals through videos and guided discussion.  A helpful guidebook is provided and there are no costs to attend.”
For questions or interest in this group please call Laura Meeks at 740-317-6379 or email [email protected].  You can also directly enroll through griefshare.org/find a group where this Fort Scott session is listed.

Bourbon County, Government

Road closing considered by Bourbon County Commissioners

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

 

To all persons concerned,

 

You are hereby given notice that the Board of County Commissioners of Bourbon County, KS, through a petition filed by Bradley Plaster, propose to vacate the following:

 

Vacation of 60’ road of 128th between Lot 5 Sub of Lot 1 Block 8 and Lot 2 of Block 8, Hiattville, Kansas.

 

This road closing will be further considered by the Board of County Commissioners of Bourbon County, Kansas at a public hearing scheduled for 5:35 PM July 7, 2025, during their regularly scheduled commission meeting located at 210 S National Avenue, Fort Scott, Kansas, in the Commission Chambers.  Any person with an interest in this proposed road closing is invited to speak for or against this matter.  Said road closing will then become effective upon the formal resolution of the Board.

 

Susan E. Walker

 

Bourbon County Clerk

Government, Kansas

KS Supreme Court accepting public comment on updates to child support guidelines 

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TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on proposed updates to child support guidelines.

 

The court will accept written comment by email to [email protected] until 5 p.m. Sunday, July 23. The subject line must read “Child Support Guidelines.”

 

A strikethrough version of the guidelines with the proposed updates is on the child support guidelines webpage on the Kansas judicial branch website.

 

The updates are proposed by the Kansas Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee based on 2025 House Bill 2062 enacted on April 10.

 

The bill, which takes effect July 1, amends K.S.A. 23-3002 to modify how individual retirement accounts are treated in statutes that govern child support. The bill also amends K.S.A. 20-165 to include a mother’s direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses among the factors the Supreme Court must consider when adopting child support guidelines. It also prescribes rules for ordering that type of support.

Kansas Judicial Branch

Office of Judicial Administration

301 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

785-296-2256

kscourts.gov

 
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Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Gordon Parks Museum

Kansas Tourism Announces 2025 Sunflower Summer Attraction Lineup

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Editor’s note: Fort Scott National Historic Site and Gordon Parks Museum are on the list!

TOPEKA – Kansas Tourism today announced that more than 230 tourism attractions across the state are participating in the 2025 Sunflower Summer program. The lineup includes something for every interest and region of the state —  museums and historic sites, zoos, arboretums, art centers and more.

“With such a wide variety of exceptional attractions participating this year, Sunflower Summer continues to open doors for Kansas families to explore and connect with every corner of our state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This program not only creates unforgettable memories for students and parents — it also fuels local economies by drawing visitors to main streets, museums and hidden gems across Kansas.”

The 2025 Sunflower Summer program will run from July 12 to August 3. During this period, eligible students and one accompanying adult are granted free one-time access to each participating attraction, once per season. Passes can be claimed through the free Sunflower Summer app and redeemed at the attraction upon arrival. Kansas students from pre-K through 12th grade — including those in public, private and homeschool settings — are eligible to participate. The program is exclusively available to Kansas residents.

“We’re thrilled to bring back Sunflower Summer for another year,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “This program is a wonderful celebration of the incredible experiences Kansas has to offer. The variety and quality of attractions participating this year truly are outstanding — and we can’t wait for the season to begin.”

For the complete list of participating attractions and full program details, go to SunflowerSummer.org.

Families are encouraged to share their Sunflower Summer journeys on social media using #ToTheStarsKS and #SunflowerSummer. For more Kansas travel ideas and inspiration, click here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

About Kansas Tourism:

The mission of Kansas Tourism is to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas to maximize the positive impacts that tourism has on our state and local communities. Kansas Tourism works hand in hand with other Commerce community programs to elevate and promote Kansas as a tourist destination. Kansas Tourism oversees all tourism marketing and PR for the state, produces travel publications and advertising, manages state Travel Information Centers, manages both the Kansas By-ways program and the Kansas Agritourism program, approves tourist signage applications, produces the KANSAS! Magazine, and provides financial and educational support to the tourism industry in Kansas through grants, education and support.

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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Visit the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes during the All-School Reunion to learn about Local Unsung Heroes!

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Lowell Milken Center

Visit the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes during the All-School Reunion to learn about Local Unsung Heroes!

Exclusively for the reunion, the LMC will feature 10 role models in history who are from Fort Scott. Other Unsung Hero exhibits feature projects created by students from the Fort Scott area.

Open Monday-Friday 10:00-5:00 and Saturday 10:00-4:00 at 1 S. Main St.

Click HERE for the LMC website!

Click HERE for the LMC Facebook Page!

Reminder:

The Anne Frank exhibit will only be at the

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

until Thursday, June 26th.

Monday-Wednesday: 10am-5pm

Thursday – Only part of the day

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

Bourbon County Local News