News

A variety of aircraft and many school children converged on the Fort Scott Municipal Airport Thursday as part of the Air Kansas Tour sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation Division of Aviation. The tour began at Wellington, with Fort Scott as the second stop. After Fort Scott, pilots and their crew and passengers fly into Iola, then to Lawrence where they spent the night...

Fort Scott High School officials have recently dealt with a social media trend which caused disruptions in the school day. The viral trend, in which students post videos of themselves stealing, vandalizing or showing off items they stole, primarily from schools and typically from bathrooms, has since been banned by the social media platform, TikTok...

The Fort Scott City Commissioners are close to signing an agreeemebnt to partner with Bourbon County Regional Economic Development, Inc. On Tuesday, commissioners held a work session to discuss becoming part of the organization, which provides county-wide economic development services...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees on Monday approved the college’s 2021-22 budget, which will exceed the property tax levy’s revenue neutral rate. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

To give the public another opportunity to comment on the USD 234 budget, the USD 234 Board of Education conducted special meetings Monday afternoon on the budget and the district’s intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Several Vietnam veterans and members of the Big Red One, the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, reunited Saturday, Sept. 11 in Fort Scott. The group, which didn’t gather in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consists of veterans from across the country who meet periodically in Kansas to catch up on each other...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a motion by Commissioner Jim Harris to re-open commission meetings to the public. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Fort Scott National Historic Site officials have made some early discoveries following a geophysical survey of the site grounds in August. A four-person crew from the Midwest Archaeological Center, an office of the National Park Service in Lincoln, Neb., used modern technology to survey various areas on the fort grounds. The crew spent about two weeks at the site using technology that includes magnetometry, resistance, conductivity, ground-penetrating radar and magnetic susceptibility...

USD 234 USD 234 staff and students will continue to be required to wear masks, at least for another month, after action Monday night by the USD 234 Board of Education. USD 235 The Uniontown Board of Education on Monday night approved a change in the district’s policy for COVID-19 mitigation...

On the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 2001 terrorist attacks, the Tribune captured some thoughts and memories of that day that forever changed America. See Saturday's print or online edition for complete story.

The Bourbon County Republican Central Committee has appointed Ashely Shelton, currently an employee in the county clerk’s office, as the new Bourbon County clerk. Shelton was chosen to replace current county clerk Kendell Mason during a meeting of the committee Thursday night at the Empress Event Center. Mason sent a letter of resignation to the governor’s office on Aug. 13. Monday is Mason’s last day in the position...

Fort Scott City Commissioners are giving the owners of eight residences another chance day to bring their property up to code or tear it down or the city will condemn those properties. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

A criminal case against the city of Fort Scott’s former economic development director has been dismissed, according to Bourbon County court records. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

As it currently sits, Bourbon County’s 2022 budget would see a 2.5 mill decrease, During a Thursday morning budget work session, Business Manager Susan Bancroft highlighted the main increases in the proposed budget. See Saturday's print or online edition for complete story...

When the Fort Scott City Commissioners meet Tuesday, they will give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed 2022 budget. The state has set revenue neutral rates for all taxing entities. The RNR is the mil levy entities would have to set in order to generate the same amount of tax revenue as in 2021. The RNR is determined by the assessed valuation in each entity...

The view of the horizon in the southwestern portion of Bourbon County is changing. Construction is underway on several wind turbines that make up the Jayhawk Wind energy project, which is expected to become operational later this year. The project consists of 70 wind turbines totaling an installed capacity of more than 190 megawatts...

Next month, the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold hearings on the college’s proposed 2021-22 budget, one of which concerns the college’s intention of exceeding the revenue neutral rate. During their Aug. 23 meeting, trustees approved holding a hearing for the proposed 2021-22 budget at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20 in the Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall on the FSCC campus...

Although it wasn’t unanimous, Bourbon County Commissioners voted Tuesday to go out for bid on a new excavator. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Although no action was taken, USD 234 Board of Education members heard more input Wednesday evening on the divisive issue of wearing masks in schools. During a special meeting, which was held to discuss and consider approval of the district’s 2021-22 budget, the mask issue was revisited as the board heard from a guest speaker, Dr. Doug Shane, a research scientist and school board member in Louisburg...

Bourbon County officials are moving forward with investigation of an alleged employee wrongdoing. On Wednesday, county commissioners approved Clifton Beth’s motion to allow Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah, Business Manager Susan Bancroft and County Counselor Justin Meeks to investigate a “possible employee malfeasance matter, and if they see fit, to move forward with an outside firm to do that investigation, and to investigate an HR issue.”...

Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason has submitted her resignation. Mason told the Tribune Thursday she submitted a letter of resignation to the governor’s office on Monday, Aug. 23. She said her last day as county clerk will be Sept. 13. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Many people can say they have traveled across Kansas. But not everyone can say they have traveled the state like Bruce Furman of Fort Scott. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Fort Scott Community College Athletic Director Tom Havron on Monday reported to Board of Trustees the death of a 19-year-old FSCC football player on Aug. 20. Havron said Tirrell Williams, a student-athlete from Louisiana, collapsed during a workout the evening of Aug. 4 on the practice field on the FSCC campus...

A Gardner man was killed Saturday morning when the motorcycle he was driving crossed into the path of a vehicle on U.S. Highway 69 in Fort Scott. The wreck occurred at about 7:40 a.m. just north of the U.S. 69 and South National Avenue intersection...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday reviewed bids received for five street projects. Of the five, one project bid was accepted, action on two project bids was tabled, and a bid for one project was rejected. Jason Dickman of Earles Engineering and Inspection Inc., presented the bids to the commissioners. The city contracts with Earles Engineering and Inspection, Inc. for engineering services...

Demolishing the Eagle Block building on North National Avenue has cost the city $81,675, not including inspection fees or the cost for the remaining work. On Tuesday, the city commission approved a bid to seal the below-grade walls of Sharky’s Pub & Grub and the former Hammons building. The commission also voted to pay American Wrecking Services, LLC, for work it has done to date. After restoration of the walls is completed, American Wrecking will return to backfill the Eagle Block basement...

Bourbon County Business Manager Susan Bancroft updated commissioners on the use of federal funds the county is receiving through the American Rescue Plan Act. Bancroft said she has been researching different ways to use ARPA funding. She provided commissioners with a condensed version of rules and regulations concerning the funding...

State education officials collected local input during a community conversation about the future of education in Kansas Monday night at the River Room Events Center. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Fort Scott City commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously on a plan to search for a new city manager. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County officials are looking to address continued problems with leaks and other issues at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center. On Thursday, Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Undersheriff Ben Cole, Lt. Leroy Kruger and BCLEC Capt. Alvin Metcalf appeared before Bourbon County Commissioners to discuss concerns at the facility...

A recent surge in cases of COVID-19 in the county has pushed Bourbon County Commissioners to return to only live-streaming commission meetings and closing meetings off to the public, at least for the foreseeable future. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott City Commissioners held a work session Tuesday to discuss street maintenance. Mayor Josh Jones said Commissioner Pete Allen requested the meeting and had compiled some information. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott Community College has released its updated COVID-19 guidance as of Wednesday, Aug. 11. The following guidelines are in effect, according to fortscott.edu: • The guidance will be reviewed every two weeks, or more frequently, as needed. • Masks are expected of all unvaccinated individuals...

Dennis Lee “Denny” Quick, age 86, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, at Country Place Memory Care in Fort Scott. He was born June 3, 1935, in Mapleton, Kan., the son of Fred Quick and Angie Dennis Quick. He married Eleanor Lucile Endicott on Jan. 23, 1960, in Fort Scott. Denny loved spending time with his family. He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather...

During a special meeting on Thursday, Fort Scott city commissioners approved bid dates for projects on Cooper and Horton streets and National Avenue. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

During a special meeting Tuesday evening, city commissioners approved a contract with Mark McCoy to serve as interim city manager. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The Uniontown Board of Education on Monday approved the operational guidelines for the upcoming school year as it relates to continuing coronavirus cases. The plan was approved 6-1 with board members Josh Hartman, Mike Mason, Jason Sutterby, Sally Johnson, Troy Goodridge and Brian Stewart voting yes and Tyler Martin voting no...

With the start of a new school year approaching, the debate on whether USD 234 students and staff should wear masks came to the forefront during the school board’s monthly meeting Monday night. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

With the demise of the Eagle Block building on North National Street, city commissioners have been discussing inspecting other buildings and enforcing codes ordinances. During the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Bill Downy, newly appointed to oversee animal control and the codes department, spoke about code enforcement, training and adherence to the International Property Maintenance Code...

Mark McCoy will likely become the interim city manager for the City of Fort Scott. During a special meeting Thursday, commissioners voted unanimously to enter into contract negotiations with McCoy, a Fort Scott businessman who is retired but remains active in the community...

A team of experts is taking a look beneath the surface of the grounds at the Fort Scott National Historic Site. A four-person crew from the Midwest Archaeological Center, an office of the National Park Service in Lincoln, Neb., is conducting a geophysical survey of the site to get a better idea of how the fort looked in the 1840s, when it served as a frontier military garrison...

Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier submitted his resignation Monday, six months after taking the job. Following two executive sessions to discuss non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, the city commission voted 4-1 to accept Frazier’s resignation...

On Tuesday, Fort Scott city commissioners heard a report on the demolition of the Eagle Block building and agreed to obtain quotes for preserving and sealing he adjoining building walls. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

USD 234 officials plan to keep the district mill levy flat for 2021-22, but will need to hold a hearing to exceed the revenue neutral rate as outlined by new state legislation concerning property tax revenue. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

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...