News

Dozens of people turned out in support of the agriculture program at Fort Scott High School during Monday night’s meeting of the USD 234 Board of Education. Nine of those people spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The USD 234 Board of Education has hired a new principal for Fort Scott High School, and approved the resignation of another school administrator. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

ommunity Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is following guidance from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control to temporarily pause the distribution of Johnson & Johnson’s (Janssen) single-dose coronavirus vaccine, according to Dr. Linda Bean, Chief Clinical Officer for the health center...

The county will move forward with formation of a citizen’s advisory board for human resources concerns, as well as a committee to look into shared services. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

When the Fort Scott City Commissioners met Tuesday, they continued a discussion of changing some fees for city services and approved fees for mowing, airport rentals, Buck Run Community Center, Aquatic Center and redemption of dogs. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County Commissioners elected Tuesday to keep a mask mandate in place for the Bourbon County Courthouse. Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah referenced a recent vote by Kansas lawmakers to revoke Gov. Laura Kelly’s statewide mask mandate. Commissioners and County Counselor Justin Meeks discussed enforcement of masks, vaccinations and the current state of the pandemic...

Bourbon County Appraiser Clint Anderson talked to county commissioners on Tuesday about the reasons behind recent increases in property valuations. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners continued discussion Tuesday about the possible creation of a human resources director position for the county. County Counselor Justin Meeks brought some talking points to the commission as they consider how to address some concerns county officials have encountered in handling HR issues, as there is no such person working in that capacity...

Bourbon County officials have made some alterations to a plan to fully open the Bourbon County Courthouse on April 5. Bourbon County Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah told the Tribune Tuesday the northeast doors to the courthouse will be open to the public as the main entry to the building. Other doors to the courthouse will only be used as exits...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to hold off on consideration of a lease agreement between the county and city of Fort Scott for space that would house the city-operated 911 center. Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks presented the lease to commissioners for review. Commissioners and other county officials held a discussion prior to the matter being moved to the commission’s April 6 meeting agenda...

The Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc., will start from scratch in its search for a full-time economic development director. Gregg Motley, president of the BEDCO Board of Trustees, told the Tribune Monday that Mark Vaux, a candidate who was offered the position, did not accept the offer of employment...

Discussion during a portion of Tuesday’s Bourbon County Commission meeting centered on the type of rock to be used on county roads for the Jayhawk Wind energy project. Patrick Clift, representing Nelson Quarries, a Bourbon County business, talked to commissioners about the type of rock the company produces. He said he learned county officials had decided to go with a different material for the wind farm project...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees on Monday approved tuition and fees for the 2021-22 academic year. Tuition and fees per credit hour at the college, as well as most program, course and miscellaneous fees, will remain unchanged. There will be some adjustments to program fees and other fees...

Members of the Fort Scott Land Bank Board of Trustees learned Tuesday an out-of-county developer is interested in renovating the Eagle Block building at 10 N. National Ave. Trustee’s approved sending requests for proposal for the interior demolition of the building to the city commission...

Bourbon County Commissioners learned Monday the county will receive close to $400,000 as a project to document damages from 2019 flooding in the county wraps up. After Bourbon County Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah asked about the status of the disaster declared in 2019, Bourbon County Emergency Manager William Wallis outlined the details of Disaster DR-4449-KS, which involved flooding between April and May 2019...

Fort Scott Community College officials are moving forward with the purchase of an apartment complex to address a need for student housing. Following a 20-minute executive session for preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property, the FSCC Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved a motion to move forward with the $400,000 purchase of the Garrison Apartments, 1731 Horton St...

City of Fort Scott officials are working on updating fees for city services. Some of those fees were changed with city commission approval on March 16. City Manager Jeremy Frazier said it has been several years since the city has had a fee and rate adjustment for its services. Those services are the animal shelter, aquatic center, court, golf course, community center, license and fees for mowing assessments and airport...

A familiar face will return to provide services to the city of Fort Scott. On Tuesday, city commissioners voted 3-2 to terminate the contract for legal services with Lauber Municipal Law of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and enter into a contract with Bob Farmer of Fort Scott...

The Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc., hosted a meet-and-greet for Mark Vaux, candidate for BEDCO’s economic development director position, Thursday evening at the River Room event center. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County officials plan to take a deeper look at the feasibility of moving the city of Fort Scott offices to the Bourbon County Courthouse. City and county officials have continued preliminary discussions on ways to share space and services, with a goal of saving taxpayer dollars...

Fort Scott City Commissioners unanimously approve a conditional use permit, which will allow a micro meat processing plant to be located on 47 acres south of the Kansas Department of Transportation Building. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

An offer has been made to a candidate for a full-time economic development director for the Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc. Gregg Motley, BEDCO Board of Trustees president, told the Tribune Tuesday the search for an economic development director yielded close to 20 potential candidates from the local area, across the country and globe...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday gave official approval for a move of the county’s communications center from the Hawkins Public Safety building to space inside the Bourbon County Courthouse formerly used as the Bourbon County jail. After a discussion, commissioners approved Commissioner Jim Harris’ motion to move forward with the intent of the dispatch center moving into the old jail area, as well as for review of an interlocal agreement between the city and county, and to make the dispatch center a secure facility.. ...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to fully open the Bourbon County Courthouse to the public, with safety precautions still in place, on April 5.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list to include two states – New York and New Jersey. Two countries have also been added - State of Palestine and Estonia while one has been removed, Seychelles. Several countries remain on the list including Mayotte, Czechia, San Marino, Montenegro and Seychelles...

The Fort Scott City Commission met with Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt during a work session Tuesday to discuss economic development. Commissioner Randy Nichols said he has been “begging” for this discussion so commissioners can determine what direction they would like the city to take, what they would like, as a city, to accomplish and what their goals are as a city...

The USD 234 Board of Education on Thursday took final action on the nonrenewal of the contract of Fort Scott High School Principal Amber Toth. During a brief meeting to consider Resolution 20-10 Final Action on Nonrenewal of Contract of an Administrator with Two or More Years Employment as Administrator in the District, board members unanimously passed a motion See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The results of a March 2 special election concerning a Fort Scott citywide sales tax did not change after the Bourbon County Commission canvassed provisional ballots Thursday. According to official election results from the County Clerk’s office, there were 312 yes votes (60.23 percent) and 206 no votes (39.77.) Of the 6,716 registered voters in Bourbon County, 519 ballots were cast for a voter turnout percentage of 7.73...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on March 2 unanimously voted to approve moving the 911 center, currently at 1604 S. National Ave., to space in the Bourbon County Courthouse formerly used as the Bourbon County Jail located at 207 S. Judson. Traci Reed, communications manager, spoke to the commissioners about the proposed move. ...

Along with a move of the county’s dispatch center to the Bourbon County Courthouse, officials representing the county and city of Fort Scott are also discussing a move of city offices to the courthouse. Following the Bourbon County Commission meeting Tuesday, County Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah, County Counselor Justin Meeks and Susan Bancroft, the city’s director of finance and business manager for the county, led City Manager Jeremy Frazier on a guided tour of the courthouse...

On Monday, USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong updated the USD 234 Board of Education on several topics, including a second wave of federal grant funding to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. See Saturday's print or online edition for complete story...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday made some changes concerning access to the Bourbon County Courthouse. See Saturday's print or online edition for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday learned more details surrounding a recent announcement by Apex Clean Energy that two energy companies have purchased the Jayhawk Wind project. (See page 5 of today’s Tribune.) Juliana Pianelli, development manager for Apex, spoke to commissioners via video conference to share the details of the development...

When Fort Scott City Commissioners meet on March 16, they will be asked to accept a recommendation to allow a mini meat processing facility a conditional use permit. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

A Fort Scott city-wide sales tax will be continued for another five years. Voters passed a special election ballot question that asked if a half-cent retail sales tax should be continued. The issued passed with 312 voters (60.35 percent) saying yes and 205 (39.65 percent) saying no...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday agreed it might be time to review the city’s policy for shutting water off for unpaid bills. Director of Finance Susan Bancroft provided commissioners with a list of unpaid water accounts. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott Community College will continue to not allow use of college facilities by outside groups through July 31 after action Monday by the FSCC Board of Trustees. During their meeting, Board Chairman John Bartelsmeyer read a document titled “FSCC’s Role in the Public Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which outlines the college’s policy for campus events and community meetings...

County officials held discussion Tuesday on procedures for county road closures as research is being conducted into county records from more than 30 years ago. During the Bourbon County Commission meeting, county resident and landowner Jesse Walker informed commissioners he had learned county officials were reviewing road closures and he “wanted clarification.” Walker also posed several questions to commissioners and County Counselor Justin Meeks...

Advance voting at the courthouse began Monday, Feb. 22. and will end at noon Monday, March 1. Voting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Bourbon County. Commission meeting room on the first floor of the courthouse. This election is for voters residing in the city limits of Fort Scott...

No injuries were reported in a two-vehicle accident involving a USD 234 school bus and semi-trailer Monday afternoon at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and 12th St. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The Bourbon County Commission on Monday said farewell to one of its directors as the county moves in a new direction for economic development. Commissioners amended the meeting agenda to replace a planned executive session to discuss personnel matters with open discussion on the county’s economic development position, which is held by Jody Hoener...

Thomas Edward Gage II, age 53, a resident of Granby, Mo., passed away unexpectedly early Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at his home. He was born Jan. 1, 1968, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Thomas E. Gage and Hope E. Hall Gage. Tom graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1987. ...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Wednesday approved a resolution that could help the city of Uniontown address issues with natural gas following a winter storm that saw an increase in gas usage. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday voted to send out requests for qualifications for a city attorney. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Due to the road conditions, the Countryside will not be delivered today. We apologize.

A winter storm that impacted much of the U.S. over the weekend brought several inches of snow, as well as sub-zero temperatures and wind chills to Bourbon County and other parts of the region. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Due to changes in the academic calendar, USD 234 will use remote learning days in place of snow days for the remainder of the current school year. USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong said several adjustments have been made to the academic calendar. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...