News

Terry and Jean Cadenbach of Rolla, Mo., right, get their horses, Outlaw Jesse James and Smoke, acclimated to the Fort Scott National Historic Site Friday afternoon while talking with fellow reenactor Eddy Cox in preparation for the annual Civil War Encampment. ...

The Fort Scott National Historic Site is offering area youth an opportunity at a summer job with a historical twist. Tiffiny Durham, museum technician at the site, spoke to the Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday about the Youth Conservation Corps Summer program, an internship opportunity at the fort that runs from June 18 to Aug. 11...

A recently released syllabus detailing an opinion by the Kansas Supreme Court explains the reversed decision in a 2012 murder trial prosecuted by current Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling. Former Topeka resident Dana Chandler was convicted in 2012 by a Shawnee County District Court jury of premeditated first-degree murder following the 2002 shooting deaths of her ex-husband Michael Sisco and his fiancee, Karen Harkness, both of Topeka. ...

With a second-place finish in their home tournament Monday at Woodland Hills Golf Course, Fort Scott High’s golf team moved into second place in the Southeast Kansas League following the second of four designated tournaments. Three-time defending SEK champion Chanute won the team title with a four-man score of 334, which was actually their highest of the season. The Blue Comets have been below 320 as a team routinely so far this season...

Ann Clarkson, left, and Kim Schwab clean a cabinet Tuesday inside an evidence room at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center. Clarkson works in the evidence department of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office while Schwab is serving as an intern with the BCSO through a program at Fort Scott Community College. Staff at the BCSO and Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center packed and moved boxes to offices and other areas of the new facility in recent weeks...

The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information that would lead toward a suspect or suspects involved in a March 21 fire at Pearson’s Towing. According to a news release issued Friday, the BCSO is offering a $10,000 reward “for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons responsible for the fire at Pearson’s Towing.”...

The USD 234 Board of Education on April 9 approved payment for the remainder of work to be completed as part of the district’s $40.8 million school bond projects. Robby Manthei, project manager for Nabholz Construction Services, was present for the meeting to update the board on completion of several items on a punch list related to the bond projects...

KOMB 103.9 is hosting the 7th annual Home, Sport, Farm and Garden Show, which began Friday and continues from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. The event features more than 56 vendor booths and is scheduled to include a variety of prize giveaways.

A source of help for many in Fort Scott is quietly tucked away in an upstairs office in a corner building at 26 N. Main St. Just because Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Outreach Center is out of sight doesn’t mean it’s not bustling. The center is an outreach ministry of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene. Allen Schellack serves as the director and chaplain and is also the sole volunteer staff person...

The case of a local youth accused of making a threatening comment at Uniontown High School in March has been set for a preliminary hearing in June. Seth Alexander Shore, 19, made his first court appearance Wednesday morning in Bourbon County District Court. Bourbon County Magistrate Judge Valorie Leblanc and attorneys in the case, Tiana McElroy of Columbus, representing the prosecution, and Burton Harding, defense attorney from Mound City, set a preliminary hearing for 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 11...

Several emergency responders, city and county officials and representatives of other groups assembled Tuesday to discuss a plan for an event similar to a devastating March 2005 fire in downtown Fort Scott. Bourbon County Emergency Manager William Wallis wrote and coordinated the mock tabletop exercise, which took place inside the Emergency Operations Center at the Bourbon County Courthouse...

When Bourbon County Commissioners meet Tuesday, April 17, they are expected to adopt a resolution to allow voters to decide if drinking establishments can sell liquor by the drink without any food sales requirement. Commissioners met with city officials Tuesday to discuss language for a question to be placed on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot...

Staff at the Fort Scott Public Library are getting teens involved at the library and in the community. The Teen Advisory Program, held each Wednesday afternoon at the library, was created in order to allow teens a chance to help “shape their library to better serve their age group,” Youth Librarian and Assistant Director Valetta Cannon said...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday learned of an upcoming campaign designed to save lives and homes from fires. Deputy Fire Chief Dave Bruner updated commissioners on the American Red Cross’ “Sound the Alarm, Save a Life” campaign, which runs from April 28 to May 13. The campaign will involve teams of volunteers who plan to install 100,000 free smoke alarms in more than 100 cities throughout the U.S...

In an effort to beat predicted rain, wind, cold, and even snow in the forecast, Fort Scott High School has changed the schedule for the Adam LaRoche Baseball Tournament. The first day of play will be Thursday with four games slated on a day that's predicted to be sunny with a high in the mid 60s. ...

On Feb. 15, Mary Gonzales was in the right place at the right time. That day, Gonzales, an employee in the Bourbon County Driver’s License office on the second floor of the county courthouse, was performing her regular job duties when a customer experienced a health emergency. That customer, local resident Curt Shankel, had come in to renew his driver’s license, which consisted of a vision test and questions...

After a nearly two-month process, the USD 234 Board of Education has chosen a Fort Scott native to lead the school district as its next superintendent. During a special meeting Tuesday afternoon, board members voted unanimously to approve the hiring of Ted Hessong, currently superintendent of schools for Marais des Cygnes Valley USD 456, Melvern, to a 2-year contract starting July 1...

A small crowd turned out to help thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War during a 50th anniversary commemoration ceremony Thursday afternoon at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. The ceremony included remarks from local historian and keynote speaker Arnold Schofield, a U.S. Army veteran, who shared wartime memories; posting of the colors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1165; remarks from Timothy Lopez, cemetery technician; and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance...

When the Bourbon County Commissioners meet Tuesday, they are expected to discuss whether to ask voters to approve a change in the liquor-by-the-drink ordinance. If passed, microbreweries would not be required to sell food. On Tuesday, commissioners met with several representatives of the City of Fort Scott and Brian and Barbara Ritter, owners of the Boiler Room Brewhaus located at 102 S. National Ave...

An estimated 200 children attended the annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at Gunn Park, where plastic eggs awaited them with candy. There were also 36 plastic eggs that contained special prizes.

Fort Scott Community College officials are considering a different option for a proposed student housing project. During discussion on the topic Monday, the FSCC Board of Trustees heard from President Alysia Johnston, who said college officials are looking into another option involving a proposal to address a need for student housing...

The USD 234 Board of Education is meeting this week to potentially choose the school district’s next superintendent. The board scheduled special meetings for 3 p.m. Monday and today to hold executive sessions to consider employment for the 2018-19 school year “pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under the Kansas Open Meetings Act.”...

Jennifer Sampson of Fort Scott saw a need to help advocate for children and has stepped up to help. Sampson is a volunteer for the Bourbon County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which for nearly 30 years has provided trained volunteers who advocate for children involved in juvenile court proceedings as a result of abuse, neglect or divorce...

A disagreement between the city and the owners of a recently-closed business may be headed to litigation. Prior to hearing public comment on the Feb. 16 closing of the Beaux Arts Centre and Vinedo del Alamo winery outlet at 102 S. National Ave., Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday heard from City Attorney Bob Farmer. He advised commissioners not to speak on the matter as “there is now a claim against the city...

Local first response agencies teamed up Tuesday to get educated and trained for a possible situation involving an active shooter in a school. Representatives of the Fort Scott Police Department, Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, Mercy EMS and Fort Scott Fire Department attended an active shooter training event held at Fort Scott Middle School. ...

The Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday signed a resolution that consolidates two volunteer fire departments. The resolution means there is no longer a Redfield Fire Department that stands on its own. Instead, that department, formerly identified as District 4, is now combined with Bourbon County Fire District 3...

Fort Scott Community College’s softball team scored 23 runs in a sweep of Dodge City in non-conference play at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex Thursday afternoon. The Greyhounds won game one 13-5 and the second 10-2, both in just five innings due to the run rule...

Many Fort Scott High School students participated in a national walk out at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Frary Field. The national event was to be a show of student unity against gun violence in schools and was in response to the Feb. 14 killing of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Nikolas Cruz, 19, was arrested after he was seen leaving a McDonald’s restaurant following the shooting...

Jim and Connie Banwart, right, are winners of this year’s Keystone Award presented during the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration held Thursday at Liberty Theatre. The award is presented annually to longtime Fort Scott residents who as an individual or couple have made an outstanding contribution to the community. The award was presented by Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison, left...

A student who was interviewed about a threatening comment he was accused of making at Uniontown High School has officially been charged in the District Court of Bourbon County. Seth Alexander Shore, 19, was arrested at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, on charges of criminal threat, cause terror, evacuation, disruption. ...

Two candidates to replace outgoing USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham were chosen during a special meeting held Friday. The USD 234 Board of Education opened a statewide search for candidates to replace Beckham on Feb. 6, according to information provided by board president Jamie Armstrong Friday...

Concerns from a local contractor brought about discussion Monday on work left to complete the school district’s $40.8 million bond projects. Patrick Wood appeared before the board at its regular meeting to talk to them about building procedures and inspections. He said he talked with USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham and Business Manager Gina Shelton and has asked about soliciting “more contractors for bids.” He also mentioned possibly forming a committee to look at work in buildings...

The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a comment made by an 18-year-old Uniontown High School student Monday that some considered a threat to other students. The comment, which was not provided to the Tribune, and how the district handled communication with staff and parents have left many parents in the district shaken...

Flags on Skubitz Plaza near the 20th Century Veterans Memorial flap on a windy Tuesday afternoon. Wind gusts from the west to northwest Tuesday reached speeds of between 45 and 55 mph. A wind advisory and Red Flag Warning were in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service...

First of a two-part series About 50 people attended the annual Legislative Coffee Saturday at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott, where legislators said it’s time to shift the funding focus from education to other areas. The event, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Landmark Bank, McDonald’s and City of Fort Scott, was an opportunity for the public to address members of the Kansas State Legislature...

The USD 234 Board of Education will use the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush to assist in the search for a new superintendent. During its Monday meeting, the board approved a contract with Greenbush to assist with the search for a replacement for Superintendent Bob Beckham, who announced his early retirement in February...

Avery Johnson, left, of Pleasanton, plays with Maverick, a full-blooded German Shepherd Friday afternoon at the dog park located inside Gunn Park. Johnson and Madison Slinkard, also of Pleasanton, took advantage of sunny weather and temperatures in the 50s to get some play time in with Maverick. Johnson said they are training Maverick to be a service dog...

Bourbon County Comission Chairman Lynne Oharah said Tuesday he’s received a lot of questions about why the county is mowing ditches during the winter. “We have neglected our right-of-ways for many years,” Public Works Director Jim Harris said. “We’re playing catchup.”...

Fort Scott Community College plans to acquire two local properties in hopes of addressing a need for student housing. Following lengthy discussion at their Monday night meeting, the FSCC Board of Trustees voted 5-1 to approve a resolution that is the first step toward acquiring and renovating the Sycamore Grove Apartments at 401 W. 10th St., and the Red Ram Motel, 701 N. National Ave., into apartments for college students. Trustee Bernita Hill represented the only “no” vote...

The owners of the Beaux Arts Center and Vinedo del Alamo winery outlet have some concerns about the circumstances that ultimately led to the closing of their business. Bob and Denise Duncan, who own the arts and entertainment venue located at 102 S. National Ave., talked with the Tribune Monday about a document called a code footprint that was done for their building, as well as other issues they believe led to their decision to close the business Feb. 16...

The opening of a new exhibit focused on waterways in Fort Scott and Bourbon County was celebrated Saturday with music, history and education. City and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce officials attended the opening of the “Waterways – Past, Present and Future – Marmaton River, Mill Creek and Buck Run” exhibit Saturday at the Fort Scott Convention and Visitors Bureau...

The Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe staged “Alice vs. Wonderland” Thursday night in the high school auditorium. The play, adapted by Brendon Shea, is described in submitted information as “Lewis Carroll meets Lady Gaga in this psychedelic update of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. ...

Concerns about the closing of a local business came to the forefront at Tuesday’s meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission. The reasons behind the recent closing of the Beaux Arts Centre and Vinedo del Alamo wine outlet, an arts and entertainment venue located at 102 S. National Ave., were up for discussion as two citizens addressed the closing with commissioners and city staff...