County Government

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Services has released the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kansas.

Bourbon County Commissioners recently heard from two elected officials regarding a salary increase for all but one elected official in 2020. Sheriff Bill Martin said he does not agree with the increase and when commissioners were working on the budget, he was told the county had no money...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a letter of intent supporting a move toward repurposing the old Mercy Hospital building. Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener said discussions have continued on repurposing the former Mercy building after the hospital closed Dec. 31, 2018. The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and Ascension Via Christi, which now occupy portions of the building, have discussed plans for building new facilities on the Mercy property...

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...

Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin said Tuesday there is no truth to a rumor he has heard in the community regarding the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center project running out of money. Martin met with the Bourbon County Commission during their regular meeting to address the rumor, which he said he heard several months ago. He brought Greg Vahrenberg, a consultant with the Piper Jaffray firm, to the meeting to show data from an analysis of sales tax projections for the jail project...

The residency status of a candidate for the Bourbon County Commission First District seat was the focus of a hearing Monday morning before the county’s objection board. The issue before the board was to determine whether to accept the filing of Robert Query, a Republican who filed May 29 for the seat currently held by incumbent Lynne Oharah, also a Republican, after Bourbon County Public Works Director Jim Harris filed an objection to Query’s candidacy shortly after. ...

Four people will vie for the Bourbon County Commission First District seat in the August primary election. According to information from County Clerk Kendell Mason, the following candidates filed for the seat by the June 1 filing deadline: Lynne Oharah, a Republican from Uniontown; Clinton Walker, a Democrat from Mapleton; Matthew Crystal, a Republican from Fort Scott; and Robert Query, a Republican from Fort Scott...

On Tuesday, Bourbon County Commissioners discussed the idea of adding a microphone system throughout most of the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, which is nearly completed. Second District Commissioner Jeff Fischer asked about the status of a potential change order for the project, which would add a recording system throughout most of the facility...

A group working with the local Healthy Bourbon County Action Team unveiled a list of priority projects in a bike and pedestrian plan for Fort Scott during a presentation Nov. 14 at City Hall. Abby St. George, a representative of the PedNet Coalition, a nonprofit based in Columbia, Mo., and Jody Hoener with the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, spoke to a small group of people about a proposed plan to create improvement projects geared toward a healthier community. ...

The Bourbon County Commission on Tuesday signed off a a slightly-revised 2018 county budget. During a public hearing on the budget, local CPA Terry Sercer met with commissioners to present them with the final budget for their consideration of approval. Commissioners have spent several weeks working with Sercer, receiving budget requests from various departments, and discussing issues such as saving money, as well as salaries and wages as they worked on budget drafts...

Bourbon County Commissioners had some questions answered Wednesday regarding a planned expansion of U.S. Highway 69 south of Fort Scott. Commissioners and Public Works Director Jim Harris met for a work session to talk with Darrin Petrowsky, an engineer with the Kansas Department of Transportation, about the highway expansion project. ...

vere weather preparedness during a storm spotter class Wednesday evening at Fort Scott Community College. Representatives of Bourbon County Emergency Management, city and rural fire departments and other first responders attended the class, which took place in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus. Steve Runnels with the National Weather Service office in Springfield, Mo., led the class...

The Bourbon County Commission had a light agenda for its first meeting of 2017 as they discussed some end-of-year reports and conducted other routine business. Southeast Regional Correctional Center Major Bobby Reed provided commissioners with a year-end report that included figures on bookings for 2016...

A jury trial in the case of a local man facing charges of felony murder and child abuse began Monday with jury selection and testimony from two witnesses. Most of the day was taken up by the jury selection process as attorneys in the case of Anthony M. Anderson whittled a jury pool down to the 13 needed for the case. The jury consists of 12 jurors - six men and six women - and one female alternate...

The Bourbon County Sheriff's Office will continue using Pearson Towing of Fort Scott any time there is a vehicle that has to be seized and impounded. On Tuesday, Sheriff Bill Martin presented bids he received for the county's towing service for seized vehicles...

Sheriff Bill Martin, Undersheriff Ben Cole, and Jail Administrator Bobby Reed met with county commissioners for an update on the status of the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant and the subsequent new employee that would be hired if the grant is approved...

Bourbon County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn told the commissioners Tuesday at the commission meeting she has discovered the county should not be collecting sales tax at the county landfill. "If someone brings goods to the landfill, they pay sales tax to leave it with us," Dunn said. "We should not be collecting sales tax at the landfill. We do not sell any goods. We sell services. Services are not taxable."...

Local historian Arnold Schofield was called into the Bourbon County Commission room to answer questions regarding the 1921 Thompson sub-machine gun that Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin is thinking about selling. Bourbon County Commission Chairwoman Barbara Albright received a call from a local television reporter during the meeting regarding the gun, and Commissioner Harold Coleman noticed that Schofield was on the second floor of the courthouse for other business...

Bourbon County Commissioners are considering selling a piece of county-owned property along U.S. Highway 69 north of Fort Scott. Neal Burckart representing Wall Street Properties appeared before commissioners Friday to discuss the company's interest in purchasing a strip of property - about 23.8 total acres - along U.S. ...

Will Wallis, Bourbon County Emergency Manager, came to the Bourbon County Commission to discuss CodeRED, the county-wide emergency information system that was to be tested Friday at noon for the first time. The system would notify Bourbon County residents for boil water notices, criminal activity, road closures, fires, floods and missing person cases...

Bourbon County residents will receive a test alert on their cell phones at noon Friday, Oct. 10, as part of the new CodeRed alert system. Following an extensive and thorough evaluation and review of alerting systems, Bourbon County has implemented the CodeRED system, a high-speed emergency notification service provided by Emergency Communications Network, based in Ormond Beach, Florida. ...

William Wallis, Bourbon County's Emergency Manager gave a report to the county commissioners on duty Friday morning. Commissioner Allen Warren is on vacation. Wallis told Second District Commissioner Barbara Albright and Third District Commissioner Harold Coleman of the progress of a new emergency system, Code Red, the county is working toward...

During the Bourbon County Commission meeting Friday morning, County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn reported to commissioners the results of a required quarterly statement of county funds. The line-item report provided an overview of balances, receipts, disbursements, and ending balances for every fund in which the treasurer's office is responsible for. According to Dunn, the report essentially details the balances within those funds. Dunn said the quarterly report ran through the end of April...

Rural residents who want to lower the dust from passers-by vehicles will get a chance from Bourbon County Commissioners. The commissioners worked on information to be released about the Dust Palliative Program at Mondays's commission meeting. The program, through the Public Works Department is making "user fee" dust control available to interested property owners. ...

With a fleet of road equipment and in order to maintain the county's 155 miles of hard surface roads, the Bourbon County Commissioners work to replace older equipment every year. At Friday's commission meeting, Commission Chairman Allen Warren opened bids from three local banks to finance a new 12 M Caterpillar motor grader for road maintenance. The cost for the grader is $122,875...

Formal charges were filed Friday against a Fort Scott woman accused of stealing funds from Bourbon County while she was employed in the County Clerk's Office. Angela Marie Timi, 28, is charged with one count of misuse of public funds, two counts of forgery, 16 counts of making false information, 20 counts of criminal use of a financial card, and 20 counts of theft...

Bourbon County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn was extremely pleased with the results of the most recent tax delinquency sale, held Tuesday. Dunn said 53 of 55 properties up for bid sold, totaling $37,014.50. During the sale, 41 bidders were present. The previous delinquency tax sale held in August netted only about $1,800...

Fort Scott's City Manager Dave Martin, Fire Chief Paul Ballou and Bourbon County Deputy Emergency Manager Shane Walker approached the Bourbon County Commission during the regular Friday meeting to work on the task of getting emergency sirens to those entities that currently need them...

Candidates gunning for open seats on local school boards and the Fort Scott City Commission in April will share their views with the public during a candidate forum Tuesday, March 5, in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center auditorium, 2108 S. Horton...

During Monday's Bourbon County Commission meeting, Public Works Director Marty Pearson informed commissioners that trucks were loaded and ready to go in preparation for a large winter storm that began to hit Fort Scott early Monday afternoon. Pearson said that with this storm, drifting of heavy snowfall will be the biggest challenge...

Bourbon County Commissioners met Wednesday this week because of no meeting on President's Day Monday and announced that they have sent a revised bill to Chain Electric for $8,250 for gravel they said was taken from windrows by the Heartland Electric subcontractor last September...

Three-day weekends will be the norm - at least through the summer months - for Bourbon County Road and Bridge workers after commissioners voted to reinstitute a 10-hour, four-day work week for the department's workers during their regular Monday meeting. The change will not affect front office personnel in the department...

Bourbon County commissioners decided Friday during their regular meeting to have further discussions with Chain Electric regarding money they say the company owes the county. Several months ago, commissioners sent a bill for $16,500 to Heartland Electric to replace two miles of gravel they say the company's subcontractors, Chain Electric, took from windrows while replacing utility poles last Fall...

Bourbon County Commissioners spent approximately 50 minutes of their three-hour session behind closed doors Monday in executive session dealing both with matters affecting attorney/client privilege and non-elected personnel. The first of four executive sessions was a five-minute meeting under attorney client privilege and possible litigation with the commissioners, Clerk Kendell Mason and County Attorney Terri Johnson. No action was taken...

Republican Rhonda Dunn, Fort Scott, has filed for the office of Bourbon County Treasurer, according to county clerk and election officer Joanne Long. The filing deadline for all offices is today at noon.

Nearly two months have passed since a host of concerned citizens packed the Bourbon County Commission meeting will allegations of tax interest manipulation and questionable tax practices by Bourbon County Treasurer Susan Quick. As the allegations were being made the information was flowing quickly, however once Terry Sercer of Diehl Banwart Bolton CPAs, was instructed by the commission to conduct an audit into Quick's office, progress seemed to hit a wall. ...

Last year, the Bourbon County Budget was approved with no mill levy increase, however, this year is quite the opposite. The Bourbon County Commissioners approved the 2011 budget Monday morning, complete with a 3.6 mill increase, bringing the total to about 57.5 mills. Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long said that the county received less tax dollars in 2010 than in 2009, which added to further decreasing valuation, which was the cause for the hike...

The Bourbon County Attorney's office filed a Criminal Complaint Monday in the Bourbon County District Court, charging Amanda Renea Lickteig with one count of felony theft, one count of felony criminal use of a financial card, and seventy eight counts of misdemeanor criminal use of a financial card involving theft from a Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center's account containing non-public funds...

Local governments could have to choose between cutting road improvements or increasing property taxes if the countywide sales tax is not renewed later this month during a special election. The 1-percent sales tax which was established in April 2001 is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2011. ...

Local voters are no longer able to use vacation as an excuse for not voting in next month's special election. The Bourbon County Clerk's Office opened up early voting May 20 for the special election on a county wide sales tax renewal which is scheduled for June 15. Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long said the early voting is ideal for those who are going to be on vacation on the day of the election, those who are over-the-road drivers, or those who just might want to get it done early...

Rural resident Lynne Oharah of Uniontown has filed to run for the District 1 County Commissioner position. Oharah, a Republican, is seeking to replace outgoing commissioner Terry Graham. Oharah stated in a press release announcing his candidacy that the conditions of county rural roads and bridges, the county's declining population and the loss of business and job opportunities is very concerning to him. ...

Bourbon County has been awarded an additional $3,599 in federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The money is used to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area. The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities, USA, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and United Way of America which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. ...

Bourbon County is continuing the process of developing a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. This mitigation plan will be the blueprint for reducing property damage and saving lives from the effects of future natural disasters in Bourbon County. ...

Recent rain has not improved conditions

It may not be London Bridge, but it a bridge in rural Bourbon County is falling down. Nearby resident Bob Collins noticed a hole in the asphalt on Maple Road (Old 54) near his home between 145th and 155th streets near Redfield. According to Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers, the hole in the bridge which passes over Cedar Creek, was a result of the underground structure collapsing. ...

Fort Scott and Bourbon County officials have opposing views on Kansas Senate Bill No. 405 which would change the way governing bodies publish legal notices. Introduced into the Committee on Ways and Means on Jan. 21, the bill was created to help relieve some of the financial burden some cities and counties face across the state concerning the publishing of legal notices in the newspaper by offering the alternative to post notices on the city's, county's, or school district's Web site...

The Bourbon County Commission has already begun looking at the county's future financial situation. Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long informed the commission earlier this month that a one percent countywide sales tax is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2011 and would need an election to renew...

As the snow continues to melt away and the amount of damage increases, funding assistance is being made available. The Kansas Department of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency will have representatives in Bourbon County Wednesday to meet with public agencies regarding damages sustained during the recent winter storms. ...

Two local citizens have already filed to replace Bourbon County Commissioner Terry Graham. Charley Ballou and Frank Shelton have both filed this week to fill the 1st District County Commission seat which will be left empty after Graham's term has ended...

Throughout 2009, the Fort Scott Tribune covered a wide range of events. From the passing of local icons to the community coming together for a common cause, The Tribune was there to tell the story. The staff of The Tribune has put together these summaries of the top 10 stories of 2009 in Fort Scott and Bourbon County....

The Bourbon County Commissioners are working hard to get signals installed at a dangerous railroad crossing. Since earlier this summer, the commission has been working on getting signals installed at the railroad crossing on 225th Street, one-quarter of a mile south of Hammond...

Drywood Township trustees are one step closer to making their storm shelter a reality. The Bourbon County Commission held the opening of bids on Nov. 23 and accepted the bid of Home Center Construction, of Pittsburg, during their regular Monday meeting...

As the holiday season approaches so does the threat of dangerous winter weather. Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers said Bourbon County could see a fairly mild winter this year. "It is supposed to be about normal," Jeffers said. According to the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center, the current predictions for Bourbon County are average to slightly above average temperatures, with normal to above normal precipitation. ...

USD 234 and USD 235 schools, as well as the Fort Scott Community College campus, will be closed Wednesday-Friday for Thanksgiving vacation. Classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 30. City of Fort Scott offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving. The offices will be open again on Monday, Nov. 30. The city's brush dump site will also be closed on Thursday but will be open Saturday...

The City of Fort Scott offices will be closed on Wednesday in observance of Veterans Day as will the Bourbon County Courthouse and transfer station. All will reopen Thursday for normal business.

Bruce Fisher with Blue Valley Public Safety Inc. was at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds Wednesday to host a demonstration of a new storm siren. The siren demonstrated is produced by Federal Warning Systems and features live voice capabilities, Fisher said. This capability allows a microphone to be connected to the siren so it may be used to make announcements...

The Bourbon County Commission signed a proclamation Friday morning to designate the month of September as United Way Month in Bourbon County. The proclamation stated not only that the commissioners encourage the residents of Bourbon County to continue their generous support of the Untied Way of Bourbon County's 2009-10 Campaign to raise $101,000 to benefit the residents of the county throughout the 2010...

Discussions are underway as Bourbon County Commissioners and Fort Scott City Commissioners talk about concerns with a sewer system at Lake Fort Scott. Both commissions agreed that a sewer system is needed at the lake, however the city commissioners had some concerns. ...

Fort Scott and Bourbon County commissioners will meet Tuesday to discuss the installation of a sewer system at Lake Fort Scott. Tuesday's meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in the Commission Room at City Hall, 1 E. 3rd. The meeting is a result of discussions that took place during the city commission meeting held Aug. 18 in which Mark Pressly, representing Lake Fort Scott residents, expressed concerns that the city was not fully aware of what they were about to agree to...

Bourbon County has avoided pouring salt on the wounds of residents by successfully avoiding an increase in the mill levy. The Bourbon County Commission will host a public hearing at 10 a.m., August 17, at the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National, for final approval of the budget which has been drastically cut in order to avoid adding to the mill levy which is already over 53 mills...

Bourbon County residents approached the Bourbon County Commission in support of the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America at Monday morning's meeting. Local residents Jack and Jess Black addressed the commissioners with a few requests. They asked the commission to write a letter in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1615 and to pass a resolution to "protect and defend the citizens of Bourbon County from martial law and tyranny ..."...

Bourbon County will be hosting a planning meeting for the purpose of developing a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, August 5, in the Heritage Room at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. This meeting is for Bourbon County public agencies, city and township officials, school and school districts, non-profit agencies and public utility agencies representatives...

Bourbon County Emergency Management will host a Preliminary Damage Assessment Meeting at 11 a.m., August 3, in the Emergency Operation Center located in the basement of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave. Representatives of the Kansas Department of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency will be present for representatives of local public safety departments, city officials, school districts, certain non-profit agencies, and public utility agencies to present preliminary information regarding damage estimates and cost of repairs from the storms which took place July 1-4.. ...

After a severe thunderstorm tore through the western portion of Bourbon County on Wednesday afternoon, area residents were left with the responsibility of cleaning up the aftermath. The city of Bronson, which suffered a lot of damage from the storm, received a little help with their storm clean up, according to Bourbon County Sheriff Ron Gray and Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center Director of Security and Jail Administrator Jimmy Nichols...

Just one month following the Kansas Highway Patrol's "Click It Or Ticket" campaign, the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office is participating in a localized seat-belt awareness effort. Bourbon County, along with Allen, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties, is using special federal grant money to increase seat-belt awareness from July 1-7...

Drywood Township trustees hope the third time is a charm as they continue to seek funding for a storm shelter. A public hearing was held at June 19 by the Bourbon County Commission for the application for a Community Block Development Grant to the Kansas Department of Commerce for a 1,800 square-foot storm shelter and community building in Garland, in Drywood Township...

Bourbon County Sheriff's Office was dispatched at 9:29 a.m. Tuesday in response to an accident in rural Bourbon County. Bourbon County Sheriff's Deputy Bob Jackson responded to the two vehicle accident at the intersection of 175th Street and Tomahawk Road and found one vehicle laying on the passenger's side...