News

The Aug. 4 primary election was finalized Thursday with no change in the outcome of any race after Bourbon County Commissioners, serving as the canvass board, went through provisional ballots. See Saturday's print or online edition for complete story...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Thursday approved the 2021 budget for publication. A public hearing has been set for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25 in the county commission room on the first floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse. See Saturday's print or online edition for complete story...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday decided on a phase one funding plan for $2.9 million in CARES Act funds the county received to help businesses and organizations with relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. Monica Murnan, representative of the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush, outlined the process for allotment of funds into different areas. ...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees evening approved a lease agreement with Mercy Health Southwest Missouri/Kansas Communities to house nursing students at the former hospital building. The agreement was part of the board’s consent agenda that was approved during their regular meeting Monday...

During a special meeting Thursday night, the USD 234 Board of Education voted 4-3 to move forward with a 5-days per week onsite learning model, with a remote learning option, when the 2020-21 school year begins Sept. 9. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County has recorded its second death due to COVID-19. The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department issued a news release Wednesday on the death. “It is with our deepest regret that we need to announce the loss of a resident of Bourbon County, KS (elderly female) due to COVID-19. We would like to extend our sympathy to the family and friends of this individual during this difficult time and encourage the public to do the same as her family and friends mourn her loss.”...

The Fort Scott City Commission meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight will not be held in public due to an outbreak in coronavirus at City Hall, a city news release said Tuesday. Citizens can call (620) 724-9910 and use participant code 515698# to listen to the meeting, which will be held through phone conferencing...

The Bourbon County Commission will see two new faces in January and several incumbents for county offices will keep their offices, according to unofficial primary election results from the Bourbon County Clerk’s office Tuesday night. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

A lack of quorum means the Fort Scott City Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening will be rescheduled. Due to a coronavirus outbreak at City Hall, the meeting was to be held as a conference call and also streamed live on the city’s social media page. The meeting was adjourned before any business took place because one of the three commissioners on the call hung up due to difficulty hearing the discussion...

The USD 234 Board of Education will conduct a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the gymnasium at Fort Scott High School. There will be two items on the meeting agenda; a public forum to give district stakeholders the opportunity to provide comments to the school board, and a follow-up discussion from the board’s special meeting on July 27 regarding the district’s return to school plan. Each member of the public will be given three minutes to address the board...

Verna Louise Bright, age 84, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial will be in the Woodfin Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 at the Schneider Pleasanton Chapel. Contributions are suggested to the Pleasanton Presbyterian Church. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com...

Many of the local positions will be decided in the Tuesday Primary Election. Most of the candidates running for those offices spoke during the candidate forum held July 20 and sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. The following are responses from candidates in the two county commission races...

Bourbon and Anderson counties each have one new confirmed positive case of COVID-19 Monday morning, according to an update from the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments. Allen County — current positive cases, 6; total hospitalizations, 2(one remaining in hospital); current recovered cases, 8; total positives since testing, 14 (one removed out of state and to remain there); deaths, 0...

The Bourbon County Public Health Officer recommends that people who purchased food from Nu Grille, 24 N. National Ave., on the dates of July 20-24 to please quarantine in their home and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, through Aug 7. Symptoms of COVID-19 are:...

Leo E. “Al” Turner, 93, of Keosauqua, Iowa, and formerly of Kansas, passed away on July 25, 2020 at Keosauqua Health Care Center. He was born on Feb. 25, 1927 in Fort Scott, Kan., to McAger and Hope Garrison Turner. He graduated from Uniontown High School and joined the Army shortly thereafter. ...

The USD 235 Board of Education on Monday discussed plans for reopening the school district for a new school year after Gov. Laura Kelly signed executive orders delaying schools and implementing mitigation procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Superintendent Bret Howard shared with the board a document titled “USD 235 Return to School Plan,” which he said is the “start of a reopening plan” and is “based on community spread.” The document contains guidelines recommended by the Kansas State Department of Education to all Kansas school district. ...

More than 100 people attended a candidate forum Monday night at Memorial Hall to listen to candidates for the Aug. 4 Primary Election. The forum, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, featured U.S. congressional, state and local candidates. Each candidate was given one minute to introduce themselves, then were given 90 seconds to answer two to three questions and two minutes for closing remarks...

TOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly on Monday signed Executive Order #20-59 and shared the details for Executive Order #20-58. Executive Order #20-58 can only be signed if the Kansas Board of Education votes to approve her order. Executive Order #20-58 delays schools from beginning any student instruction from August through Sept. 8. Executive Order #20-59 outlines mitigation procedures schools must take to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Kansas students and teachers...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a flat hook-up charge of $6,000 for new residents in Sewer District No. 1 at Lake Fort Scott. Fort Scott Director of Finance Susan Bancroft and City Manager Dave Martin met with commissioners regarding the sewer district. Bancroft presented a letter requesting permission to “deviate from the sewer agreement signed by commissioners on Jan. 18, 2011 as the Sewer District No. 1 board...

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced that on Monday, she will sign an executive order to delay opening schools until after the Labor Day holiday. “I can’t in good conscience open schools when cases in our state are at an all-time high and continuing to rapidly rise,” Kelly said. “Every action I have taken throughout this pandemic has been done to keep Kansans healthy, keep our state open for business and get our kids back in school.”...

The Bourbon County Fair kicked off Friday with a two-night rodeo. The weekend fair events also included the annual dog show and horse show.

Uniontown High School graduates toss their caps in the air at the conclusion of Saturday night’s graduation ceremony at the high school football field. The ceremony, originally planned to take place in May, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

USD 234 Board of Education members and school officials on Monday discussed preparing for the upcoming Fort Scott High School graduation ceremony and the upcoming school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, Bourbon County Commissioners approved the use of a business consulting firm to help the county comply with guidelines for the distribution of $2.9 million the county has received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law March 27...

As of Monday morning, Bourbon County has four new positive COVID-19 cases and Allen County has two new positive cases, according to the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments. Of Bourbon County’s new cases, two are presumptive positive, Bourbon County Health Officer Rebecca Johnson said...

A campaign to recall two Fort Scott City Commissioners is underway. Citizen Michael Hoyt, who spoke during the Tuesday commission meeting, said he currently is working on the recall of commissioners Randy Nichols and Lindsey Watts. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

USD 234 vehicles are ready to transport students if needed for the 2020-21 school year. Kansas Highway Patrol troopers were in Fort Scott on Wednesday to inspect district buses and other vehicles in preparation for the upcoming new school year. USD 234 Transportation Director Joe Allen said Thursday 28 district buses and 25 other district vehicles such as vans and passenger cars passed inspection...

After a lengthy discussion, Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a motion to sign off on a $118,892 grant the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office received from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Police Serving hiring program...

Bourbon County Commissioners and a small group of citizens held a lengthy discussion Tuesday about the effectiveness of wearing masks in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19 after a recent increase in positive cases. Commissioner Jeff Fischer said he recently received an email from Rebecca Watson, an emergency physician at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center and the medical director for the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments. ...

Bourbon County has a total of 37 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases since testing began, Bourbon County Public Health Officer Rebecca Johnson said Tuesday. The county has 22 current positive cases, one presumptive case, 14 current recovered cases, and one death, according to a weekly update released Monday by the health department...

City Commissioners on Tuesday voted to allow the fee for the aquatic center to include two hours of swimming – unless changes occur with local coronavirus pandemic restrictions. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners and a small group of citizens held a lengthy discussion Tuesday about the effectiveness of wearing masks in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19 after a recent increase in positive cases. Commissioner Jeff Fischer said he recently received an email from Rebecca Watson, an emergency physician at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center and the medical director for the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments. ...

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly Tuesday announced that her administration, and officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, recommend that most local communities again do not move into Phase Out of “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas” at this time, and instead stay in Phase 3...

Bourbon County has a total of 36 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases since testing began, according to the SEK Multi-County Health Departments. The county has 22 current positive cases, one presumptive case, 14 current recovered cases, and one death, according to a weekly update released Monday by the health department...

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly Thursday issued Executive Order #20-52 requiring that most Kansans must wear a mask while in public spaces, and in places where individuals are unable to maintain social distancing of six feet. Executive Order #20-52 takes effect beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 3, and will remain in place until rescinded or until the current statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires – whichever is earlier...

Bourbon County Public Health Officer Rebecca Johnson issued an update Tuesday afternoon on COVID-19 figures for Bourbon and Woodson counties. Johnson said both counties reported new cases on Tuesday. Seven new cases were confirmed in Bourbon County...

A presentation on two grant awards during the Tuesday Bourbon County Commission meeting prompted a discussion between a Bourbon County Commissioner and Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin about funding a school resource officer position in Uniontown...

City commissioners on Tuesday voted to allow each city-owned facility to continue to operate under their own management under the county public health officer’s order to maintain the number of people gathering to 45 or less. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

One new positive case of COVID-19 in Bourbon County was confirmed Monday morning, according to Bourbon County Public Health Officer Rebecca Johnson. Johnson said the individual is a contact of a positive case confirmed last week. As of Monday, there are 12 current positive cases, one presumptive case (listed on KDHE’s website, tested negative,) 10 current recovered cases (includes presumptive case,) 21 total positive cases since testing began, and one death in Bourbon County, according to the SEK Multi-County Health Departments' weekly update released Monday.. ...

Gov. Laura Kelly on June 29 announced that she will sign an executive order requiring that most Kansans in a public space must wear a mask, beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 3, according to a news release from Kelly’s office. “This is a simple, proactive step we can take to keep Kansans at work, get our kids back to school, and keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy,” Kelly said. “Wearing a mask is not only safe – but it is necessary to avoid another shut down...

The Fort Scott City Commission will conduct a special meeting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 30 to discuss opening of city facilities, the opening of city commission meetings and the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting will take place in the commission meeting room at City Hall, 123 S. Main St. The meeting, which will not be open to the public, will be broadcast on the city's YouTube channel at City of Fort Scott...

No action was taken by Bourbon County Commissioners Wednesday after three consecutive executive sessions that included the public health officer. Following the sessions, Public Health Officer Rebecca Johnson asked commissioners to adopt a resolution stating that anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or had close contact with anyone diagnosed with the virus to quarantine for 14 days in their home or other suitable location...

Due to a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases, the Bourbon County Public Health Officer has issued new orders this week. One of those orders is directed towards customers of a local coffee shop and another emphasizes the need for those who have been ordered to quarantine to remain so...

After a discussion on criteria for closing public entities, Fort Scott City Commissioners on Wednesday approved a measure to close the Fort Scott Aquatic Center and Buck Run Community Center for seven days due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Bourbon County...

Bourbon County Public Health Officer Rebecca Johnson recommends customers who were served at Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall St., on June 16 between between 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., or June 17 between 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., to please quarantine in their homes and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 through July 1, according to a release from the SEK Multi-County Health Departments...

The Fort Scott Aquatic Center and Buck Run Community Center will be closed for the next seven days due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. The closures, which began Wednesday, will be re-evaluated after seven days, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the city of Fort Scott...

Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday, Bourbon County has had four more positive COVID-19 cases, according to a release issued Wednesday by the SEK Multi-County Health Departments. All four individuals are symptomatic, are isolated at home at this time and their families are in quarantine. These cases may have been related to large gatherings and most are related to travel outside of county. Bourbon County has had nine new cases since Monday, June 22...

A Bourbon County positive COVID-19 test was confirmed Tuesday afternoon, according to a release from the SEK Multi-County Health Departments. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. This case is a contact of a positive case that was confirmed Monday. The Bourbon County Public Health Department is diligently working to complete the investigation at this time, the release said...

Three more positive COVID-19 cases in Bourbon County were confirmed Monday afternoon, bringing the county’s total for positive tests to 14, according to a news release from the SEK Multi-County Health Department. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. ...