News

Bourbon County Commissioners made some adjustments in the county attorney’s office on Tuesday, one of which includes a boost in the new county attorney’s salary. Tiana McElroy, a former assistant Bourbon County Attorney who was chosen by the Bourbon County Republican Central Committee on July 1 to be the new county attorney, appeared before commissioners with two requests...

Moments after receiving the notice to proceed from the city of Fort Scott, workers from American Wrecking Services of Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday began the preliminary work to demolish the Eagle Block building at 10 N. National Ave. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

As of Tuesday, Bourbon County active COVID-19 cases have risen to 84, according to the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.

Bourbon County Commissioners appointed a new county appraiser on Tuesday. Following a 15-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel to protect their privacy rights, commissioners adopted a resolution to appoint Matt Quick, formerly the county’s deputy appraiser, as county appraiser for six months. Quick will replace Clint Anderson, whose contract was not renewed in June, officials said...

A Florida woman was killed and another man was reportedly seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon on Kansas Highway 7. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the accident took place about 2 p.m. Tuesday on K-7 about two miles south of U.S. Highway 69...

City and county leaders have signed off on an agreement with a Kansas City, Mo.-based health care company for a study to determine the feasibility of bringing a hospital back to the area. Both entities have agreed to sign a cooperative agreement with Noble Health Corporation for a feasibility study that will explore the possibility of reopening an acute care hospital facility in Fort Scott...

Demolition of the Eagle Block building could begin as early as the first of the week, according to the contractor awarded the bid for the project. During a special meeting Wednesday, Fort Scott City Commissioners approved a $148,500 contract with American Wrecking Services of Kansas City, Mo., to demolish the Eagle Block building and, if necessary, the CDL building...

A piece of Historic Downtown Fort Scott will fall to the ground in the near future. Fort Scott City Commissioners have agreed if the forces of Mother Nature and gravity doesn’t do the job first, the Eagle Block building will be taken down by the hands of man and machine...

During a special meeting Friday morning, Fort Scott Land Bank Trustees agreed to vacate some businesses and block off a portion of North National Avenue until the integrity of the Eagle Block Building can be determined. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

It has taken the effort of several groups to preserve a 158-year-old structure that served a key role at Fort Scott during the Civil War. A ceremony was held Saturday, July 3, to recognize those efforts and officially turn the Lunette Blair over to the Fort Scott National Historic Site...

Ronda Hassig has combined her love of reading and a classic film to offer a free service to the community. Hassig, who lives with her husband, Rob, in the Lunt House at 512 S. Judson St., has built a tiny library in her front yard in an effort to share her passion for reading and the 1939 film with ties to Kansas, “The Wizard of Oz.” Part of the famed Yellow Brick Road leads to the library in H...

The Fort Scott City Commissioners voted Tuesday to proceed with soliciting bids for several projects on the books. Those are Cooper Street, the alley behind the Union Block, and Horton Street from 6th to 8th Street. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County is now officially the owner of the former Mercy Hospital building. On Tuesday, Bourbon County Commissioners and Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks discussed finalization of the donation agreement between the county and Mercy Health Southwest Missouri/Kansas Communities that will transfer ownership of the former hospital building and $600,000 to the county...

Fort Scott City Commissioners held a work session Tuesday afternoon to discuss the possibility of relocating city offices to the Bourbon County Courthouse. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

After four hours of deliberation Thursday night, the Bourbon County Republican Central Committee chose Tiana McElroy, former assistant Bourbon County Attorney, as the new Bourbon County Attorney. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County Commissioners must grapple with how to fund county departments and services as they continue to receive budget requests for 2022. On Tuesday, commissioners received requests from road and bridge, the county attorney, Bourbon County Fair Board, register of deeds, county treasurer, and Bourbon County District Court...

Thomas Charles Toepfer, age 74, rural Galena, Kan., passed away Sunday, June 27, 2021. He was born May 25, 1947 in Fort Scott, Kan., to the late Ellsworth Charles Toepfer and Laura Irene Logan Toepfer. He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Kelly Jo Brewer...

Bourbon County Commissioners hope to close soon on the donation of the old Mercy Hospital building and money to the county. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners and a small group of attendees got a breakdown of the county’s budget and property taxes during a special budget meeting Monday night at the River Room Events Center. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott City Commissioners had an opportunity Tuesday evening to ask questions and share concerns or ideas for the 2022 budget. A budget work session was held to give Director of Finance Susan Bancroft feedback on the projected numbers for 2022. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County Commissioners have engaged in a cooperative agreement with a Kansas City, Mo.-based health care company to look at the feasibility of bringing a hospital back to Fort Scott and Bourbon County. During a special meeting Friday, commissioners discussed the recent donation of the former Mercy Hospital building to the county, as well as contractual services between Mercy Kansas Communities, Inc., and the different providers for that facility, and an agreement between the commission and Noble Health Corporation for a feasibility study.. ...

A project to highlight one of Fort Scott native Gordon Parks’ most notable films is moving forward after an important step took place Wednesday at the Gordon Parks Museum on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. The museum received a delivery of signs that will be used for the “Learning Tree Film Scene Location Trail” project. In the project, a series of signs will be placed at various locations where Parks’ 1969 film, “The Learning Tree” was filmed...

On Tuesday, the city of Fort Scott filed a response to a complaint filed on March 12 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas by one of its employees. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County officials plan to delve more into health care and details of a recent donation of the former Mercy Hospital building to the county. After a 30-minute executive session Tuesday to discuss preliminary acquisition of real property, Bourbon County Commissioners voted to conduct a special meeting at 10 a.m. Friday...

Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling has submitted her resignation, effective June 30, amid allegations of misconduct. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners have approved formation of a lease agreement to move city of Fort Scott offices to the Bourbon County Courthouse. On Tuesday, commissioners approved a motion to allow County Counselor Justin Meeks to move forward with creation of a lease agreement, which Meeks said will likely have a 10-year term...

The future of the old Mercy Hospital building was placed in Bourbon County’s hands Tuesday. After a 15-minute executive session to discuss preliminary acquisition of real property, Bourbon County Commissioners voted unanimously to accept donation of the Mercy building and property to the county...

City commissioners approved a resolution to accept recommendations made by the Street Advisory Board for the 2022 budget. The recommendations were presented during the June 1 commission meeting by Advisory Board member Brian Allen. He said the board members’ recommendations were based on a list compiled by former Public Works Director Chad Brown and former Engineer Nate Stansberry. Board members also added to the list...

A three-member panel of the Kansas Board for Discipline Attorneys has recommended Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling be disbarred for prosecutorial misconduct in two high-profile trials. Panelists John Larson, Darcy Williamson and William Jeter, who presided over a five-day disciplinary hearing for Spradling in December, submitted the report for consideration by the Kansas Supreme Court...

Fort Scott Codes Manager Allyson Turvey asked the city commissioners on June 1 to consider rescinding the bid award for mowing neglected and abandoned residential properties and give the work to the next lowest bidder. Justin Uhler was awarded the bid of $17.50 for 6,000 square feet or less and $20 for more than 6,000 square feet. The next lowest bid was from Doug Miller for $18 and $25. Clayton Miller submitted a bid of $19 and $38...

A citizen urged Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday to issue a vote of no confidence for Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling. Michael Braim spoke to commissioners on the heels of a June 3 recommendation by a three-attorney panel to the Kansas Supreme Court that the high court disbar Spradling for knowingly making false statements to juries during two high-profile trials and for misleading claims about her prosecutorial misconduct to justices of the state’s highest court...

The list of candidates for the Nov. 2 General Election became complete with the June 1 filing deadline. There will not be a primary election. See a partial list of candidates in Saturday's print or online edition.

Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin on Tuesday reported a recent sweep of registered sex offenders in the county was “successful.” Martin reported to Bourbon County Commissioners the U.S. Marshals, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Scott Police Department and Bourbon County correctional officers conducted the operation last week to ensure the offenders are compliant with the terms of their registration...

After a nearly 40-year career as the agriculture instructor at Fort Scott High School, Kyle Parks said he feels it’s time to walk away. Parks, 60, whose contract ends this month, is retiring after teaching at the high school since the 1983-84 school year. The 2020-21 school year was his 38th year in teaching...