News

Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks will take a step back in his job functions after the Bourbon County Commission on Tuesday approved a new work agreement for Meeks. Following a 20-minute executive session to discuss Meeks’ contract under the justification for employer-employee negotiations, commissioners approved an engagement letter that outlines the details of the new work agreement. Meeks told the Tribune Tuesday he will be a “1099 employee” and will not receive county benefits...

The coronavirus pandemic remains a topic of discussion for the Uniontown USD 235 board of education. On Monday, that discussion included emergency funding and whether safety precautions are working. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract for a newly-created position designed to help the county with financial matters. After a discussion, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the city of Fort Scott and Bourbon County to hire Susan Bancroft, the current director of finance for the city of Fort Scott, as the new business/finance director for Bourbon County. The vote was not unanimous as new Commissioner Jim Harris abstained...

Bourbon County Commissioners will make some changes to address violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act concerning executive sessions. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The Fort Scott City Commission on Jan. 5 took action to assist a local manufacture in an expansion. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County health care entities have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and officials heard more information Thursday about a state plan for distribution. Krista Postai, president and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, said the health organization received 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine as part of the first phase of distribution, which includes healthcare associated workers, hospital staff and local health department staff. ...

Fort Scott Tourism and Community Development Manager Allyson Turvey provided a recap tourism and community development projects of the past year and upcoming events. She said since the departure of Robert Uhler as community development director, she has “absorbed” his duties. ...

WASHINGTON — The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced Jan. 5 that Navy Fireman 3rd Class William L. Barnett, 21, of Fort Scott, killed during World War II, was accounted for on Sept. 14, 2020. On Dec. 7, 1941, Barnett was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. ...

A charter ordinance dealing with reserve funds in the city of Fort Scott’s sewer and storm sewer funds will not go into effect after a question on a special election ballot failed to pass Tuesday. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott has a new mayor, as the city commission held its annual election. But the decision on who would be mayor – and commission president – did not come without debate. The motion to elect Josh Jones as mayor passed 3-1-1. Kevin Allen, Lindsey Watts and Randy Nichols voted yes, Pete Allen voted no and Jones abstained...

Local anglers have opportunities to enjoy the sport through a program offered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. On Monday, about 300 trout were stocked in Fern Lake inside Gunn Park as part of an annual process that occurs under the Community Fisheries Assistance Program...

Fort Scott City Commissioners held a special meeting Tuesday morning to consider accepting two quit claim deeds from Flint Hills Holdings for the Union Block Project. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Although much attention was drawn to COVID-19, other stories helped shape Bourbon County in 2020. From debate on a wind farm project, to discussion on the future of health care in Bourbon County and elections that changed the face of several area boards and commissions, the following is a snapshot of other news in Bourbon County as the Tribune looks back on an unusual year:...

Three new Fort Scott city commissioners were sworn into office during the Jan. 7 commission meeting, but that wasn’t the only change the city would see during the year. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The COVID-19 pandemic dominated news headlines in 2020, and affected government, schools, businesses and other aspects of life in Bourbon County. See the print or online edition for a month-by-month look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bourbon County the past 12 months...

Advance voting for a special Fort Scott city election began Monday at the Bourbon County Courthouse. Hours for voting are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Advance voting ends at noon on Monday, Jan. 4. Community Christian Church and Grace Baptist will be open for voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5...

The concept of a medical mall in the old Mercy Hospital building is still on the table, Bourbon County Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah confirmed Tuesday. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a quote to address a bad motor on one of the county’s rock crushing machines. Commissioners approved a $27,181 quote from Berry Tractor of Wichita for a replacement engine. The price includes a re-manned engine, parts and accessories, labor and travel expenses...

On Tuesday, Dec. 15, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran made a virtual stop at the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club meeting. Much of the discussion focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, but Moran also spoke about other issues. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Seventy volunteers, working in groups of 10 each hour, placed a wreath at each grave site in the cemetery Thursday. The section of cremains is currently having new sod laid. Those sites will also have wreaths placed as soon as the work is completed, Tim Lopez with the U.S. National Cemetery, said...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to begin the process for refinancing the county’s 2015 general obligation bonds with a goal of saving money. Greg Vahrenberg, managing director of Raymond James Public Finance, met with commissioners via telephone to discuss the possibility of refinancing the bonds. ...

As it does every year, The Beacon helped make Christmas brighter for several Bourbon County families through its annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas program. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong gave the USD 234 Board of Education a glimpse of COVID-19 in district schools Monday, and the board approved an update to the district’s return-to-school plan concerning policy for quarantine of close contacts of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19...

Even though some Fort Scott City Commissioners said they hated to see it happen, the vote to approve an ordinance that will raise water fees was unanimous. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Due to instruction from the Bourbon County Health Department, the Bourbon County Treasurer’s Office and Motor Vehicle Tag Department will be closed to the public until Monday, Dec. 28, according to a news release issued Monday afternoon. Property taxes are due Dec. ...

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly Monday announced that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine began arriving in Kansas Monday morning. The vaccine has been received in several ultra-cold storage locations across the state, with delivery anticipated to continue through tomorrow. A total of about 24,000 doses is expected...

Due to instruction from the Bourbon County Health Department, the Bourbon County Treasurer’s Office and Motor Vehicle Tag Department will be closed to the public until Monday, Dec. 28, according to a news release issued Monday afternoon. Property taxes are due Dec. ...

A five-day disciplinary hearing involving Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling and allegations that she lied in court and violated other professional standards to obtain convictions concluded Friday. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Rules surrounding when county commissioners can talk to elected officials outside of commission meetings was the focus of a discussion during Tuesday’s meeting of the Bourbon County Commission. Sheriff Bill Martin addressed some concerns about communications with commissioners. Martin was on Tuesday’s meeting agenda to talk about salaries...

A company that applied for a conditional use permit to construct a telecommunications tower at 910 S. Burke St. has withdrawn its application, according to Fort Scott City Clerk Diane Clay. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is now releasing weekly updates on its website regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The following is the update from Wednesday, Dec. 9. The next step is for the vaccines to gain Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration. ...

TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday announced she has signed Executive Order #20-69, requiring COVID-19 testing in certain adult care homes, to enhance efforts to keep COVID-19 from entering and spreading through nursing homes. “By implementing uniform testing guidelines for nursing facilities statewide, we create clarity on the testing practices that will protect adult care home workers, residents, and communities from the spread of COVID-19,” Kelly said...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved amendments to the 2020 budget to account for additional expenditures that occurred late in the year. Terry Sercer, CPA with Diehl, Banwart and Bolton, appeared before commissioners to explain the need for the budget amendment. Sercer said he had previously looked through the county’s financial figures through October, but he recently received county numbers through November from County Clerk Kendell Mason...

Fort Scott City Commissioners held a work session Tuesday to help the director of finance decide the language for a ballot question to renew a half-cent sales tax. The half-cent sales tax currently in place will sunset on June 30. Voters will be asked to go to the polls in March to decide whether the tax should be renewed...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved spending money left over from a Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) grant the county received on needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott City Commissioners were asked Tuesday to consider a 5 percent increase in water fees to pay a debt service for the water intake project. “Because we have a large temporary note right now for the water intake, we are needing to raise rates over the next two years,” Fort Scott Director of Finance Susan Bancroft said...

Bourbon County Public Health Officer Rebecca Johnson issued a statement Thursday regarding a recent announcement by the CDC to shorten COVID-19 quarantine periods. Johnson took action to reduce the quarantine period for people exposed to COVID-19 to 10 days...

A new Fort Scott city commissioner was sworn in Tuesday afternoon during the commission’s regular meeting. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Nov. 24 approved distribution of gift certificates to employees in lieu of a holiday dinner, and to further research the matter of longevity pay for county employees. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

In a 5-2 vote Tuesday night, the USD 235 Board of Education voted to support Gov. Laura Kelly’s recent executive order requiring masks in public places, and to revisit the policy in February. Board members and other district officials discussed the importance of masks as a measure to return students to a normalized learning environment...

A wanderer drifted into Fort Scott to stay for a couple of weeks before heading south for warmer weather. Actually, he rumbled in. Scotty Kekeres, known as Scooter “Tramp” Scotty, travels by a Harley-Davidson and lives in a tent. He stopped at Bobby Kemna’s farm to set up his tent in her shed for a few days. On Oct. 18, Kemna told the Tribune Kerekes preferred staying in his tent in her shed...

Bourbon County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to support a recent executive order issued by Gov. Laura Kelly establishing a statewide face-covering protocol in an effort to curb spread of COVID-19. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott City Commissioners held a special meeting Friday afternoon to discuss a deteriorating building at 10 N. National Ave. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

State officials on Friday discussed the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and called for help from counties in tamping down an increase in positive cases, hospitalizations and death rates. During a biweekly conference call with Gov. Laura Kelly, Dr. ...

Fort Scott City Commissioners approved the resignation of the mayor during a special meeting Thursday morning. JoLynne Mitchell submitted her resignation effective immediately. Commission President Randy Nichols led the meeting in Mitchell’s absence...

Due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Bourbon County and a shortage of substitutes, USD 234 officials have made decisions regarding the learning plan at Fort Scott High School. USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong on Wednesday issued an update on the district’s website. The update states Fort Scott High School students will be in remote learning on Thursday and Friday...