Michael David Kent, age 72, a resident of rural Mapleton, Kansas, passed away Thursday, June 5, 2025. There was cremation and no services are planned at this time. Arrangements were under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
June is Jumping at Lowell Milken Center
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2025 Discovery Award – Submission Deadline: July 1
Questions? Call 620-223-1312 or email 
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Visitors are raving:
“Truly inspiring—an experience that will change you.”
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Obituary of Karen Salsbury
Karen Salsbury, a woman of extraordinary musical talent, keen intellect, and unwavering determination, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2025, with her family at her side. Born on June 29, 1944, in Mauston, Wisconsin, her early passion for music blossomed into an illustrious career and a lifelong devotion to education.
A consummate musician, Karen was the first chair violist for a combined 20 years, gracing the stages of both the Atlanta Ballet Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Her love for music extended beyond performance; she was a private instructor for many years, beginning even before high school graduation and continuing through her retirement until 2020. Her academic journey reflected her deep value for music and learning, culminating in a Bachelor’s degree from Kansas State College of Pittsburg in 1966, a Master of Music from Florida State University in 1971, and her earlier graduation from Fort Scott High School in 1962.
Karen’s professional life was also marked by significant contributions to academia. She served as the Coordinator of the Emory University College Honors Program and Political Science Department from 1980 to 1999. Later, she was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Cottey College from 2000 to 2006, a Studio Instructor at Fort Scott Community College from 1999 to 2016, and a Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Music at Emory University for seven years.
A devoted, active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Karen’s faith was a guiding light. She served faithfully as the organist for many years and held numerous leadership roles, including treasurer and stewardship. Her contributions to the church’s music ministry were immeasurable, continuing actively until her passing.
Karen possessed a uniquely sharp wit and dry humor that illuminated every interaction. She was incredibly precise, discerning, and determined, leaving no room for doubt about her thoughts or intentions. While there was little mystery to Karen’s preferences, there was true magic in her presence, her devotion, and her mastery of deadpan humor. Her absence will be profoundly felt.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Gretchen Salsbury, two brothers, Donald and David Salsbury, and one great-nephew, Alden Kiwan. Karen is survived by her sister, Zandra Hood; nieces Kathryn Salsbury, Victoria Hood, Dawn Salsbury, and Erica Salsbury; nephew Ryan Salsbury; and great-nephews Patrick Fox, Kaden Kiwan, Jessden Kiwan (and wife Jorden), and Boden Kiwan.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 11th at the Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor Michael Apfel officiating.
Graveside services will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church 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.
Seeking Applications to Replace Commissioner Whisenhunt
For immediate release:
Brandon Whisenhunt, Bourbon County Commissioner District 1 has resigned.
The Bourbon County Republicans will accept email applications to appoint a replacement beginning today, June 3rd, until 5pm on Tuesday, June 10th. Please email your intent for consideration to [email protected]. A follow up questionnaire will be sent to you after confirmation.
We will hold our replacement convention on Thursday, June 12th. Time is TBA.
To be considered, you must be a registered Republican residing within the OLD District 1 boundaries. Questions or concerns? Email us at the email printed above.
Obituary of Margie Haynes
Margie S. Haynes, age 88, a resident of Cavalry Crossing Apartments in Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born January 14, 1937, in Graettinger, Iowa. She grew up in Nevada, Missouri and was united in marriage to John Franklin “Frank” Haynes on May 29, 1954, in Nevada.
Margie had worked as a waitress. She later provided childcare out of her home for many years. In her spare time, Margie enjoyed reading.
She was a member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
Margie is survived by three sons, Arthur Franklin Haynes (Lydia) of Arlington, Kentucky, Rickey J. Haynes of Coffeyville, Kansas and Michael E. Haynes (Nicole) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, on May 2, 2012. She was also preceded in death by her parents and eighteen brothers and sisters.
Father Yancey Burgess will conduct Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, June 10th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Ronald McDonald House 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
Apprehended: Minimum-Custody Resident Anthony Mansfield
~Mansfield was taken into custody by US Marshalls in KCMO~
KANSAS CITY, MO. – Anthony Mansfield, a minimum-custody resident of the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JCDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) has been apprehended.
Mansfield was taken into custody Wednesday night, June 4, 2025, by U.S. Marshalls in Kansas City, Missouri. He was arrested without incident.
Mansfield was placed on escape status after not returning to the facility Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
No other details are being released as the investigation is ongoing.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 5
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 4
Anne Frank Exhibit will be at the Lowell Milken Center June 2nd-26th
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Bourbon County Zoning Meeting Tonight at 6 p.m.
Sorry for the late notice. There will be a zoning meeting tonight at 6pm in the commission room.
Susan Walker
County Clerk
Bo Co Meeting June 2, part 2
The remainder of the Bourbon County Commissioner meeting of June 2 included discussion of repairs to the courthouse and the awarding of opioid fund money to Path of Ease for the purchase of a vehicle.
Mission Statement
Commissioner Mika Milburn read two sample mission statements and asked for feedback from the community. The commission will revisit a county mission statement on June 16.
Worker’s Compensation
Commissioner David Beerbower moved to withdraw a motion from a previous meeting to consider additional pay with workmen’s compensation claims. Moved to add it to the next budget work session.
Zoning Discussion
Beerbower moved to give the zoning advisory committee a one-week extension, at their request, to present their recommendations to the committee at the June 9 meeting. Commission approved.
Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
June Bench, Bourbon County resident, spoke to the commission about a member of the sheriff’s department that she claimed lied about her in a police report, leading to her arrest. She expressed concern that this person is still in the employ of the sheriff’s department, “Just because you have a badge, you shouldn’t be allowed to break the law,” she said.
Bench is not in a lawsuit with the sheriff’s department, she took a $75,000 settlement to drop it. She doesn’t want any more money. She claimed she went to the sheriff for help before litigation, and he wouldn’t help her, she said through tears. She is concerned and feels that the person who did that to her is dishonest, and others are suffering as she did. She asked the commissioners to investigate the situation.
“You guys have the right to know that there’s some unethical things going on,” she said.
Bob Johnson, the county attorney, said her lawsuit was her form of redress, and the commissioners aren’t the right place to come with this issue.
Clint Walker publicly thanked the public works department for their good work after the storms and said the assessor’s office staff was very professional when they came to his home.
New Business
Path of Ease Association
Jennifer Simhiser, the founder of Path of Ease Association, a women’s and children’s recovery house came to ask the commissioners to award her organization some of the opioid settlement fund allocated to Bourbon County to purchase a van. Simhiser gave her personal history of depression and addiction. After rehab in Lawrence, KS she learned about transitional housing and was then able to live on her own.
“The recovery community is almost non-existent [in Fort Scott]. The drug problem, on the other hand, is horrible,” she said.
She asked fro $30,000 from the Municipal Kansas Fights Addiction Fund to purchase a recovery transportation van to get the women to their recovery meetings, as well as to and from work, church and events that build the recovery community.
The county has $81,000 in that fund currently, earmarked for addiction recovery purposes. None of Bourbon County’s fund is allocated at this time.
Several members of the board for the Path of Ease home spoke to the commission, commending Simhiser and the home, and attesting that it is meeting a need in Bourbon County.
Beerbower moved to allocate $50,000 from the opioid settlement fund to the Path of Ease (End Addiction Stigma Everywhere) for travel expenses and other expenses through the clerk’s office.
Motion carried.
Tri-Valley Developmental Services 2026 Budget Request
Bill Fiscuss CEO of Trivalley Developmental Services said his organization is requesting $55,000 from the county, which has been their budget request for the last several years. They provide services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities in eight counties, at their centers, as well as services in homes.
Courthouse Repairs
Two county employees spoke to the commission about the courthouse’s need for serious repairs over last 18 years. “It’s deferred maintenance,” said one.
The building needs washing, tuck pointing, waterproofing, window sealing, and elevator repair. It is a contributing building to the national historic district of Fort Scott, therefore, it has to meet certain standards.
Jason Dickman from Earl’s Engineering created the current bid document and will come discuss it with commission in the June 23rd meeting.
“We’re not going to kick the can down the road,” said Beerbower.
Commissioner Comments
Beerbower said, “It’s unfortunate that we’ve lost another member.” He then mentioned that citizens in the old first district are eligible to serve as the next commissioner.
Milburn read a statement:”It was recently brought to my attention that the position of commissioner is ever-changing in our county…what can we do to gain some stability?” She went on to point out that the county many have to strategically spend a little bit of money to save money, referring to Dr. Cohen’s Human Resources services mentioned in yesterday’s county commission story.
Letter to the Editor: Monte Carriker
I am writing this letter to weigh in on the current debate about zoning in Bourbon County. For full transparency, I must disclose that I do not reside within Bourbon County. My wife and I live just an eighth of a mile into Allen County on land that has belonged to her family since the 1800s. Our cattle ranch is situated across both Bourbon and Allen Counties in nearly equal portions. Additionally, I should note that we are participating landowners in the Hinton Creek solar project.
First and foremost, I would like to urge Commissioner Beerbower and his cadre of busybodies to stop pretending that the push for zoning is motivated by reasons other than stopping solar development. If that’s not the case, I challenge him to state specifically what type of unregulated industrial growth he aims to protect the rural areas of the county from. I see no industries of any kind eager to establish themselves in the rural sections of the county. Why would they? The infrastructure is lacking: many areas in the western townships do not have water, sewer, or electrical services. The majority of the roads are unpaved or in poor condition. Our youth are leaving due to the scarcity of job opportunities. There is no compelling reason for anyone to want to develop the western part of the county. So, apart from solar development, what industries are you trying to shield us from, Mr. Beerbower?
Given that the entire zoning initiative is clearly centered on the singular issue of solar development, let’s examine the tactics employed thus far by Whisenhunt, Beerbower, and their associates. Since becoming aware of the debates surrounding our contracts, I have witnessed this county commission disregard the interests of the entire county to cater to a small, vocal group that regularly attends commission meetings. For the sake of brevity, I will refer to this group as Busybodies, Inc.
The commission formed a committee comprised of these individuals to investigate the alleged “dangers” posed by solar farms. There was never an opportunity for anyone to present counterarguments, as the committee was not genuinely seeking the truth. The conclusions drawn from the so-called “research” were easily discredited, and I would have welcomed the chance to address them, and still would if given the opportunity. Their amateurish and biased research served as the basis for a moratorium on solar development, aimed at nullifying legal contracts between landowners and developers.
The commissioners and others attempted as individuals to sue themselves as the commission (still trying to wrap my head around that one) to overturn these contracts, while cleverly shifting the burden of individual legal expenses onto the taxpayers. Busybodies, Inc. distributed flyers and made social media posts claiming that 45,000 acres of Bourbon County would be covered with solar panels, a blatant falsehood. They circulated petitions demanding what they claimed were reasonable concessions. One of their demands was a one-mile setback from all residences for both solar panels and transmission lines, effectively rendering most of Bourbon County off-limits. When solar companies proposed 350-foot setbacks, BB Inc. insisted on a minimum of 600 feet, not only from homes but also from property lines, making any parcel smaller than 640 acres impractical for development. When the solar developers offered to plant trees as a visual barrier, they insisted on constructing berms to ensure they wouldn’t be inconvenienced by even the sight of a solar panel. They were well aware that these and all their other demands were unrealistic. Their true goal was never to negotiate or reach a compromise; it was to completely halt any solar development. They claimed to be protecting farmers and ranchers from “greedy developers,” as if we entered our contracts under coercion or lacked the acumen to hire attorneys to review them. How disingenuous, insulting, and patronizing!
Here’s a fact that the Solar Committee conveniently overlooked: No one has ever died due to a solar farm fire. Not a single instance. Conversely, there are numerous fatal incidents involving railroad fires, manufacturing facility fires, or even grassfires on cattle ranches. Yet, none of the members of Busybodies Inc. are actively campaigning on social media to stop those occurrences. Why not? Because they understand that the only legal and ethical justification for restricting someone’s property rights is if those rights are causing direct harm to others. Consequently, Busybodies Inc. has consistently spread alarmist rhetoric via social media from the outset to persuade you all that we “absentee landowners” are endangering you.
I apologize for the lengthy recounting of this issue’s history, but I feel it is necessary for you to consider this: BB Inc. has thus far been willing to spread blatant untruths, burden their fellow citizens with legal fees, deprive local schools of funding, and hinder economic growth in a financially struggling county. They have done all this simply to dictate to me how I may affect THEIR view of MY property. Now they want you, the residents of Bourbon County, to trust that they will be fair and just in how they wield this zoning authority?! I wonder what any of you might wish to construct on your property that wouldn’t meet their approval. I also wonder, due to the rate of resignations within the commission, which member of the busybodies will be hand-selected to make those decisions for you.
I wish I were a resident of Bourbon County. If my wife’s ancestors had settled just a bit further east, I would have a vote in electing these officials. Fortunately, I still have a voice. I hope you will use yours as well, unless you wish to have this particular group of busybodies involved in every business decision you make moving forward. I fear that ultimately, it may not matter. Commissioner Beerbower has made it clear that he intends to implement zoning in the county, regardless of the wishes of the majority. He seems willing to obstruct industrial development and the economic benefits it brings, drown the county in legal fees, and add further layers of costly bureaucracy to appease a handful of vocal, bullying busybodies. I genuinely hope they do not prevail.
Sincerely,
Monte Carriker
Owner/Operator, Wolfpen Creek Cattle Co.
Chief Operations Specialist, US Navy (Ret)