News

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. ...

Two Bourbon County positive COVID-19 tests were confirmed Monday morning, according to a news release from the SEK Multi-County Health Departments. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. The individuals are out of different households, but both are symptomatic. ...

Businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic will have an opportunity to receive federal funds through a Community Development Block Grant. On Tuesday, Fort Scott City Mayor Jolynne Mitchell was given approval to sign documents relating to the CDBG, which provides funds through the federal CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees on Monday approved the purchase of technology designed to benefit instructors in the classroom. The board approved a $16,737 quote form CDWG for the purchase of various equipment and accessories, including two HoverCam Pilot 3 Plus mobile podiums that feature built-in computers and screens, three projectors to help update classrooms that are not currently compatible with HoverCam requirements, and two combination or hybrid tablet/laptops...

The first show of the season for the Friday Night Concert Series will start at 7 p.m. Friday at Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall St. The featured entertainment will be Rick Hite on vocals and guitar. Hite has been a regular contributor to the weekly concert series, which is sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce...

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has added three states to the quarantine list: Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas, and removed six states from the list: Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. This is effective for persons returning today, June 17, and moving forward. The state will review/update this list on July 1...

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced she signed an Executive Order Monday that will help make renewing driver’s licenses easier for people across the state. Executive Order #20-46 offers temporary relief from age restrictions that prohibit applicants 50 years of age or older from applying to renew their driver’s license online. Under the new order, all drivers under the age of 65 are permitted to use the online renewal system...

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 an out-of-state reference laboratory that was used on the symptomatic individual. ...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a resolution that states the county will go through procedures to close a potion of Indian Road to accommodate a Fort Scott Municipal Airport runway extension project. Fort Scott Financial Director Susan Bancroft, who presented the resolution to the commissioners, said this is a revised resolution as the first presented to the Federal Aviation Administration was rejected due to some wording. ...

Fort Scott Community College officials are moving forward with planning for the fall semester and have put in place changes to help potentially mitigate the spread of COVID-19. During the Monday meeting of the FSCC Board of Trustees, trustees heard administrative reports on plans for the fall semester, and approved a revised calendar for the 2020-21 academic year...

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that its Vital Statistics Office lobby, which has been closed due to COVID-19, is open for will call pick-ups only beginning. The lobby continues to remain closed for walk-in services...

TOPEKA – Low income and recently unemployed Kansans may qualify for phone service discounts of up to $17.02 per month with the Lifeline program. Currently more than 10 million low-income Americans, including 35,000 Kansans, are benefiting from Lifeline discounts on home and wireless phones as well as broadband...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced a nationwide extension of another key flexibility for USDA’s child nutrition programs. This waiver allows local partners, who have been working overtime serving meals to kids during the health crisis, the ability to continue serving free meals to all children – regardless of where they live – for the remainder of the summer. ...

VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System (EKHCS) plans to move forward with phased approach for reintroducing services at both the Topeka and Leavenworth VA medical centers and select Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). As COVID-19 positive cases continue to decline throughout the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System (EKHCS) footprint, the organization has made the decision to implement their Move Forward and Increase Operation Plan officially on June 15, 2020...

All Uniontown city facilities are now open. There will be some additional cleaning and social distancing requirements when renting the Community Center until the reopening phases have been completed. The library is open 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. When books are returned, they will be placed in a sealed container for a minimum of three days before being returned to the shelves...

Fort Scott National Cemetery will resume committal services for families who are interring their loved ones on June 9. “We are pleased to resume committal services and military funeral honors at Fort Scott National Cemetery,” Cemetery Director Konrad Tolai said. ...

A Bourbon County positive COVID-19 test was confirmed Wednesday afternoon, making Bourbon County’s total number of positive cases eight, according to a news release from the SEK Multi-County Health Departments. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. ...

A city of Fort Scott director and her husband were arrested Wednesday by the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office for alleged drug activity. According to a release from the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office and information on the BCSO arrest report, Rachel Mae Pruitt, 48, currently the Fort Scott Director of Economic Development, and her husband, Christopher Joseph Pruitt, 38, were taken into custody, processed and charged with the following crimes: distribution of marijuana (one count,) possession of drug paraphernalia (two counts) and endangering a child (four counts.) The suspects were arrested at 8:02 p.m. ...

The City Commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously to open the aquatic center on June 22, with a limit of up to 250 patrons at one time. Chastity Ware, aquatic center director, spoke during the commissioners’ meeting about plans for reopening the aquatic center and still maintain safety precautions for the coronavirus pandemic...

Citizens in Fort Scott and Bourbon County on Sunday and Monday evenings joined thousands across the country in protest. The protests follow the death 46-year-old George Floyd, who on May 25, died after a white Minneapolis, Minn., police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes. During that time, Floyd pleaded with the officer, “Please. Please. Please. I can’t breath.”...

As Bourbon County Commissioners prepare to dive into budget season, they received a budget request Tuesday morning from Rebecca Johnson, administrator of the SEK Multi-County Health Departments and Bourbon County health officer. The meeting took place outside on the front steps and lawn of the Bourbon County Courthouse, with social distancing guidelines in place...