News

A group of citizens brought their concerns with control over local health protocols to the Bourbon County Commission on Tuesday. Richard Goldston, citizen and parent, said he was representing a group of parents of students in the USD 234 district. He said more than 180 people have signed a petition regarding who makes health decisions in Bourbon County...

Fort Scott Community College currently has three confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, FSCC officials confirmed on Monday. During the FSCC Board of Trustees meeting, FSCC Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Havron updated trustees on the college’s current COVID-19 figures, as well as how college officials are managing operations during the pandemic...

Fort Scott City Commissioners held a special meeting Monday morning to take care of business rescheduled from the Tuesday, Sept. 15 meeting, which was cancelled due to lack of a quorum. The cancellation drew discussion from Commissioner Kevin Allen, who said he had attended a public hearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at City Hall. The regular commission meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. at Buck Run Community Center...

With students in both county school districts back in classes, some are facing quarantine either due to contact or having a confirmed case of coronavirus. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Not only are students and teachers at Uniontown USD 235 settling in to a year of changes due to the coronavirus pandemic, junior and senior high students and staff are also entering the launch of the Kansas Can School Redesign project. On Monday, Junior and Senior High School Principal Mike Reith reported on the redesign project...

Continued improvement of the county’s infrastructure was a much-discussed topic during Tuesday’s Bourbon County Commission meeting. Bourbon County Emergency Manager William Wallis provided a progress report for commissioners on the status of flooding that took place in April through July 2019 in the county, and Federal Emergency Management assistance. Wallis and Commissioner Jeff Fischer talked about work that has already been completed, as well as creating a mitigation plan for the future...

A Fort Scott City Commission meeting planned for Tuesday night was cancelled due to a lack of quorum. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. One attendee said the meeting was called 10 minutes later. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County officials are not yet in the stage of dispersing money from the $2.9 million in CARES Act funds the county has received to help businesses and organizations with relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

A body found in Lake Fort Scott Monday afternoon is suspected to be that of a missing Fort Scott man, according to the Fort Scott Police Department. On Sunday, information was given to responders indicating Raymond Harper, 19, had been kayaking in the lake and could not be found. Harper’s kayak was recovered by friends, however they had not been able to locate Harper, the release said...

A large U.S. flag hangs off the ladder of a Fort Scott fire truck, which is parked next to a Fort Scott Police Department squad car and Bourbon County EMS ambulance in recognition of Patriot Day on Friday. Patriot Day is held each year in remembrance of the 2,977 people killed in the Sept. ...

A campaign to raise awareness and funds for masks in USD 234 and USD 235 kicked off Sept. 8. During a community COVID-19 task force meeting in August, a request was made by Kayla Stewart, RN at Ascension Via Christi, to organize a mask awareness campaign. The campaign, called Bourbon County Strong, is a collaboration between both school districts and Via Christi. It includes fund raising and awareness efforts designed to provide students with their own masks...

USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong updated the USD 234 Board of Education on the district’s return-to-school plan and first day of school during a special board meeting Wednesday evening at Fort Scott Middle School. “The first day of school overall went pretty well,” Hessong told the Tribune Thursday. “I’m glad we had the time to get ready, with postponing the date.”...

The Fort Scott City Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday evening to discuss the proposed Fort Scott Municipal Airport expansion project. The hearing, which begins at 5 p.m., will be held at City Hall. The regular city commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Buck Run Community Center...

Bourbon County Commissioners have filled two open county positions and look to begin interviews this week for two positions in the public works department. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Comments made by a citizen during Tuesday’s Fort Scott City Commission meeting opened the door for a lengthy discussion on legal fees and demand letters. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The Bourbon County Republican Central Committee appointed Clifton Beth to fill a vacant seat on the Bourbon County Commission during a special meeting Thursday evening at Gunn Park. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

According to officials who spoke at the Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday night, the city has done nothing wrong in regards to paying for the demolition of the Stout Building at 1st Street and National Avenue in 2019. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

A motion to expand the boundaries of the Jayhawk Wind Energy project died during Tuesday’s Bourbon County Commission meeting. Following a discussion with project representatives, Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah made a motion to amend the road use agreement the county has for the project to include the proposed expansion areas. After a pause, the motion died for lack of a second...

The inclusion of a payment from the city to demolish the Stout Building at East 1st and National Avenue as part of the Union Block Lofts project was the topic of lengthy discussion at the Fort Scott City Commission meeting Tuesday evening. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The Kansas Attorney Genera’s Office has decided former and present Fort Scott city commissioners did not violate the Kansas Open Meetings Act when they signed their names to a letter challenging Kevin “Skitch” Allen’s residency when he ran for office in 2019...

Discussion of 17 acres of city-owned property at Lake Fort Scott continued during the Fort Scott City Commissioners’ Aug. 18 meeting. That discussion focused on confusion of a motion made on July 21 – who would meet with the Lake Advisory Board, if there would be a meeting with the board, whether the property should be sold and if so, placing restrictions on the deed...

Third District Bourbon County Commissioner Nick Ruhl submitted his resignation letter during a special commission meeting Wednesday morning. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The City Commissioners held a special meeting Thursday morning to discuss and approve payment of an invoice for concrete work on Andrick Street. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to table a request to expand the boundaries of the Jayhawk Wind Energy project approved in March. Julianna Pianelli, Jeff Spangler, Alan Anderson and Chris Rutherford, project representatives, attended the commission meeting to provide an update on the project and request approval of expansion of the project’s boundaries. The expansion would allow participation by additional interested landowners in Bourbon County...

Even in the midst of a pandemic, the three sons of Don and Jean Tucker, as well as their families, found a way to celebrate a set of anniversaries. The Tuckers, who live in the Lake Fort Scott area, are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They hosted an anniversary dinner on Sunday, Aug. 9 at their home. The guest list included the Tuckers’ sons and daughters-in-law who are also celebrating wedding anniversaries...

Fort Scott Commissioners on Tuesday approved the 2021 budget as published. The approval followed a public hearing and much discussion. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

During a special meeting Thursday, the USD 234 Board of Education unanimously approved the $30,847 purchase of temperature scanners to be used during the 2020-21 school year. The purchase from CDW-G includes 13 Creative Realities 8-inch thermal mirror displays at a cost of $2,188 per unit, and 13 display stands at a cost of $184.81 per unit...

City Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance to allow Sunday liquor sales. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

When students return to school at Uniontown Thursday, Aug. 27, they will not be required to wear masks. The USD 235 Board of Education on Monday voted 4-3 to accept an amended reopening plan, changing the requirement of students and staff wearing masks to the district recommending masks be worn...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved memorandums of understanding between the county and several businesses and organizations slated to receive a portion of $2.9 million in CARES Act funding the county has received to help with COVID-19 relief...

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. ...