News

Bourbon County Commissioners on Wednesday signed an agreement to accept a donation of four ambulances from Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. The contract was then sent to Mercy for a signature and to the county’s insurance carrier, Kansas County Multiline Pool...

Fort Scott Police Department Capt. Shaun West will soon be hanging up his badge. West, who has worked with the department for more than 25 years, is retiring Friday, Dec. 21. West worked his way up through the ranks of the department after beginning his career at the FSPD as a reserve officer in 1990...

As the buzzer signals the end of the Fort Scott High School Tiger basketball game Tuesday, night, it will also signify the end of a 23-year career for Fort Scott Tribune Sports Editor Scott Nuzum. After Tuesday, Nuzum plans to leave the area to pursue other opportunities in the Wichita area...

Children and their parents made their way through Santa’s Workshop held at Buck Run Community Center. Children could make their own Christmas ornament, get a face decal and decorate sugar cookies. Fort Scott Middle School students assisted during the event, which was free to children...

The Uniontown board of education learned from one patron they have the support and appreciation of many in the community. Several patrons attended USD 235 Board of Education meeting Monday, but board members heard from only one who spoke “Many of us are here to tonight simply to just encourage administration and the board of this Unified School District 235,” Kyle Perry, patron, said...

Bourbon County Commissioners met with their accountant Tuesday to discuss 2018 budget amendments that need to be made before the end of the year. A public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, to complete the amendment process for four of the county’s funds: noxious weed, road and bridge sales tax, county jail sales tax and landfill...

The 37th annual Candlelight Tour at the Fort Scott National Historic Site continues tonight with tours taking place between 5 and 8:45 p.m. This year’s tour features audience participation and focuses on how Fort Scott and the nation grew and developed in the 1840s. ...

Some changes have been made to a proposed improvement project at the Fort Scott Municipal Airport. The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday approved measures that will revise the layout plan for the airport as well as an environmental assessment for a project that would extend and widen the current airport runway...

To honor the passing of President George H. W. Bush, the U.S. Post Office will not deliver mail Wednesday. The Tribune will be delivered Thursday.

The Christmas season was officially kicked off Tuesday in Fort Scott with the annual Christmas Parade.

County Commissioners Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday signed an agreement with the City of Fort Scott to provide an ambulance service. Prior to signing the agreement, Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks said many people have been involved in the process of organizing a county-city ambulance service...

Final preparations were underway Friday morning for Christmas in the Park, which begins at 5 p.m. today at Gunn Park. Dolly the Trolley will pick up visitors at the Fort Scott Community College Nursing parking lot and former Newman Young Clinic parking lots...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees showed support for the college president during the board’s Monday meeting. Following a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel, the board returned to open session and Trustee Bernita Hill motioned to offer a 2-year contract extension to Alysia Johnston, who has been president of the two-year college since 2015. Trustees unanimously approved the motion. Johnston’s current contract expires in June...

Several people voiced support for the former executive director of the Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College during Monday’s meeting of the FSCC Board of Trustees. Six local residents addressed the board regarding the Oct. 9 separation of Jill Warford from her position at the college. Trustees on Oct. 15 approved a consent agenda which included the acceptance of Warford’s separation as executive director of the museum, the day after the annual Gordon Parks Celebration concluded...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday briefly discussed, then discarded the idea of offering a free recycling service to county residents. Public Works Director Jim Harris said 4 States Sanitation will move its solid waste business to Arcadia. He said the company will continue using the Bourbon County Landfill on “emergency holidays.”...

uesday’s meeting of the Bourbon County Commission brought discussion on spending, revenue and budget amendments for some county departments. Terry Sercer, CPA with Diehl, Banwart Bolton CPAs of Fort Scott met with commissioners to discuss some end-of-year figures and ending balances for the county’s 2018 budget. Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said commissioners had requested to meet with Sercer to review budget figures and determine whether amendments are needed...

cognized individuals and groups involved with coordination of a Veterans Day weekend celebration in Fort Scott. During the Fort Scott City Commission meeting, Tourism Director Larry Gazaway presented certificates of recognition to several people for their efforts in planning and carrying out activities for the event, the first of its kind in Fort Scott...

City and county officials have established a date to have a contract finalized for a new city-county ambulance service. After spending time in two separate executive sessions Tuesday morning, Bourbon County Commissioners held brief discussion on the ambulance service, which will be called Bourbon County Emergency Medical Services...

A Girard man was injured in a one-vehicle accident Monday morning on U.S. Highway 69. Austin Ray Hood, 19, was driving a 2003 Ford F150 pickup south on U.S. 69 when he fell asleep and drove off the west side of the roadway, striking a fence and trees, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol...

The USD 234 Board of Education heard various reports and approved some personnel moves at the board’s Nov. 12 meeting. Business Manager Gina Shelton reported on a sealed bid process to take place for the disposal of the data center at 213 Scott Ave., which currently houses the district’s IT department. She said the building will be sold under sealed bid as the technology center is moving back to the board office at 424 S. Main St...

The number of physicians committed to continuing health care services in Fort Scott is growing. Dr. Larry Seals, OBGYN, has announced he will continue his prenatal and gynecology practice in Fort Scott with Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK). He has applied for privileges to deliver babies at both Nevada Regional Medical Center and Via Christi Pittsburg...

City and county officials on Friday continued discussions on details surrounding creation of a city-county ambulance service. During a special meeting Friday afternoon, Bourbon County Commissioners talked about aspects of the service, and approved motions authorizing Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener to move forward with the process for acquiring billing and tax ID numbers as well as other criteria needed for licensing, owning and operating the ambulance service...

The results of the Nov. 6 election won’t change after an official canvass of provisional ballots Thursday, although some township races were decided by write-in votes. Bourbon County Commissioners conducted a canvass of the election during a special meeting, and are expected to officially sign off on the election making the results final at their regular Tuesday meeting. ...

Along with the annual Veterans Day Memorial Service, which was held Sunday, the holiday weekend also included a Veterans Day Program, a parade, and an 1800s Grand Ball on Saturday.

As Bourbon County Commissioners continue to sort out details for a new ambulance and EMS service, they received a tool on Tuesday to help guide their discussions. Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks provided commissioners with a copy of a joint agreement between the city of Iola and Allen County for emergency medical services provided in that county. Meeks said “nothing is set in stone” but county officials can use the agreement as a guideline for structuring the service in Bourbon County...

The first snow of the season falls near the Veterans Memorial and Civil War Blockhouse on Skubitz Plaza Thursday afternoon, but melted by Friday.

With the closing of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott due to take place Dec. 31, the Tribune reached out to Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott president, to learn more about the future of health care in Bourbon County and the hospital building. Baker has provided the following information:...

The trial date in the case of a local man facing a criminal threat charge has been continued, with another hearing in the case set for Dec. 3. On Thursday, Bourbon County District Judge Mark Ward presided over a pretrial motions hearing in the case of Seth Alexander Shore, who faces a felony charge for an alleged threatening comment Shore made at Uniontown High School in March. Shore graduated from UHS in May...

A liquor-by-the-drink ballot question passed by more than 1,200 votes and an incumbent Bourbon County Commissioner kept his seat, according to unofficial results of Tuesday’s general election. The ballot question, which deals with requirements for food sales in public drinking establishments, passed with 2,949 “yes” votes and 1,725 “no” votes tallied. The question passed 63 percent to 37 percent...

In preparation for the transition of clinic services to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and the closure of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott, facility work within the building will begin this week. On display at the hospital is a collection of Gordon Parks’ artwork and poems. Parks made the donation as a gift to Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott in 2002...

Sandy Areu waits on her porch as trick-or-treaters Reegan McDaniel, Landon McDaniel and Avery McDaniel approach her decorated house Wednesday night. The home of George and Sandy Areu at 502 S. Eddy St., featured a display that included skeletons, ghosts and a variety of Halloween-Themed artwork and spooky creatures...

As Bourbon County Commissioners work to organize a new ambulance service to operate after Mercy Hospital closes its doors Dec. 31, they have encountered issues. Commissioners addressed some of those issues Thursday afternoon, when they met for a special meeting to discuss an ambulance service in the city and county...

On Tuesday, voters will be asked to decide whether Bourbon County’s law regarding food sales in alcohol establishments should be required. The question for Bourbon County reads, “Shall the sale of alcohol liquor by the individual drink in Bourbon County, Kansas, be allowed in public places without a requirement that any portion of their gross sales be from the sale of food?”...

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the annual Halloween Parade Saturday. Several businesses handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters. The Fort Scott High School PRIDE club led the parade, provided traffic control and helped serve free hot dogs to the children after the parade...

Various city officials assembled Monday to meet and welcome the man who will soon take over managing operations at the Fort Scott Municipal Airport. Members of the Airport Advisory Board, Fort Scott City Commission and other city leaders met for an informal gathering to meet Seth Simpson, who is currently spending time at the airport and will officially start in the position by the end of the year. Simpson, who lives in Fort Scott, will replace longtime airport manager, Kenny Howard...

VFW members Staff Sgt. Tyler Martin, retired 1st Sgt. Justin Lewis and retired Lt. Col. Lori Lewis salute Wednesday as the hearse carrying the remains of Pvt. 1st Class Leslie Shankles arrives at the VFW Post 1165. Shankles family gathered at the VFW prior the funeral service at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott. Shankles was killed Oct. 14, 1944 in Germany, but his remains were only recently identified.

Candidates for state offices weighed in on issues such as school funding, health care and infrastructure improvements during a candidate forum Monday night in the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Candidates for the Kansas House of Representatives Dist. ...

Proponents of a liquor-by-the-drink ballot question say the measure could be a benefit to economic development in Bourbon County. The question for Bourbon County on the ballot for the Nov. 6 election reads, “Shall the sale of alcohol liquor by the individual drink in Bourbon County, Kansas, be allowed in public places without a requirement that any portion of their gross sales be from the sale of food?”...

Members of the Bourbon County Young Professionals League met Saturday morning for a community service project at the Riverfront Park. The group met to paint over graffiti that covered the interior of the U.S. Highway 69 underpass inside the park. YPL members who took part in the project were Laura Agee, group leader, Chris Petty, Devin Tally and Allyson Turvey. Petty’s son, Garrett Petty, helped the group in the project...

Bourbon County officials said Tuesday they have moved beyond the fact-finding stage and now are in the planning phase of retaining an ambulance service. On Oct. 1, Mercy announced it would close Mercy Hospital Fort Scott on Dec. 31, which means the county is now responsible for providing an ambulance service to its citizens...

Voters got the change to know where candidates for local and state offices stand on key issues during a public forum Monday night at Fort Scott Community College. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the forum, which took place inside the Ellis Fine Arts Center. Candidates spoke on a variety of issues ranging from roads and infrastructure to budgets and health care...

Leslie Shankles is coming home. A Missing in Action soldier from World War II, Shankles’ remains will be returned to Bourbon County, where he will be buried following a graveside service at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the U.S. National Cemetery at Fort Scott with full military honors...

Developments continue on a proposed multi-million dollar project to expand and extend the runway at the Fort Scott Municipal Airport. City officials have applied for a federal grant through the Federal Aviation Administration to fund a project that would expand the current runway an additional 2,500 feet and widen it an extra 12 feet on each side. State and federal grants have been sought as engineering and survey work continues on the project...

Fred Moulton, 95, of Thayer, shows a group of youngsters how to use an antique corn shelling machine Friday afternoon at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. The demonstration was part of activities in the annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, which began Thursday night with a downtown parade and continues through Sunday. The event includes antique farm equipment demonstrations, a quilt show and an arts and crafts show, as well as vendors and a music...