News

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...

As Bourbon County Commissioners begin to delve into budget season, they have begun to receive requests from various departments. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday received a list of the five streets deemed top priorities by the Street Advisory Board. But that doesn’t mean work will begin any time soon.See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The Bourbon County Commission will divert funds from the Jayhawk Wind energy project to parks and recreation and other quality of life issues. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to continue to be part of Project 17, a 17-county regional economic development initiative in Southeast Kansas focused on improving the economic prosperity and health of the region. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County is looking at more federal funding coming in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Bourbon County Business Manager Susan Bancroft told Bourbon County Commissioners she has participated in several conference calls to determine how counties can use funding through the American Rescue Plan...

Bourbon County Commissioners on May 18 heard about a tax relief program that was reviewed in late 2019 but never materialized. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The USD 234 Board of Education on Friday approved an application for federal grant funding and hired a new principal for Winfield Scott School. During a special meeting, the board approved an application for Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ESSER) II funds to the Kansas State Department of Education...

Almost 80 years after his death at Pearl Harbor, Navy Fireman Third Class William L. Barnett is coming home. On Jan. 5, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that Barnett, a 21-year-old sailor from Fort Scott, was accounted for on Sept. 14, 2020...

Fort Scott City Commissioners got a history lesson on sales tax Tuesday night. Director of Finance Susan Bancroft provided commissioners with a breakdown of the city’s current sales taxes and their purposes, as well as the history of sales taxes in Bourbon County through the use of a PowerPoint presentation that includes graphs, charts and research on the topic...

Fort Scott Community College officials will make some changes to the college’s COVID-19 mitigation policies after action Monday by the FSCC Board of Trustees. Following a recommendation from the college’s COVID-19 mitigation committee, masks or face coverings will be recommended, but not required, according to an FSCC statement...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday learned about changes to the budget process due to new state legislation concerning property taxes. Business Manager Susan Bancroft presented commissioners with information from The League of Kansas Municipalities that outline the basics of Senate Bill 13 and House Bill 2104...

Two county officials brought back concerns with salaries and retention of employees to the Bourbon County Commission on Tuesday. Sheriff Bill Martin and Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center Major Bobby Reed spoke to commissioners about losing employees to higher pay elsewhere, and issues with setting wages...

County officials continue to debate the pros and cons of county-wide zoning. On May 4, Bourbon County Commissioners and County Counselor Justin Meeks discussed flood plains, free will, and the differences between zoning and codes enforcement.

An open house will be held beginning with the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee at 8 a.m. Thursday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Billiard Hammer Hartman lnsurance Agency at 20 S. National Ave. The open house will continue throughout the day...

After four months in operation, the owners of the Star Emporium Downtown General Store have decided to shut the business’ doors. Owner Bill Michaud told the Tribune the store, located on the first floor of the old Kress building at 17 S. Main St., will soon close and a sale is planned to liquidate all grocery and deli items inside the store...

Bourbon County Commissioners and other county officials held a lengthy discussion Tuesday on the issue of zoning in the county. Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said he had previously asked County Counselor Justin Meeks to research zoning and bring information back to the commission. Meeks and commissioners discussed procedures for zoning as well as the differences between zoning and codes enforcement...

Restaurant and other business owners in the downtown district who have designated parking spaces for pickup orders during the coronavirus pandemic will now have to apply for a temporary 15-minute parking sign from the city of Fort Scott. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc., has hired Robert Harrington, a Missouri native, as the corporation’s new executive director. Harrington, currently the director of economic development for the city of Houston, Mo., has 13 years of economic development experience and more than 10 years of civil investment experience in the Midwest, primarily in Missouri...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to have further discussion on a noise compliant concerning a shooting range located at 195th Street and U.S. Highway 54. Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said he has spoken to county resident Jesse Pohlmann about concerns Pohlmann has with noise caused by the nearby shooting range...

The Fort Scott Police Department is currently investigating two separate theft attempts at two banks within the city. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Discussion during a portion of Tuesday’s Bourbon County Commission meeting centered on incentives for new development in the county. Property owner Robert Coon talked to commissioners about a piece of property he owns at 1708 E. Wall St., which he plans to rehabilitate by building a new spec home...

One of the health care providers located in the former Mercy Hospital Fort Scott building has announced it has purchased a building with the intent to renovate. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to resend requests for proposals for the interior demolition of the Eagle Block building at 10 N. National Ave. According to Community Development Manager Allyson Turvey, the RFPs were due Tuesday, but the city did not receive any response...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to lift a mask mandate for the courthouse and other county buildings, with the exception of the courthouse’s third floor where the Bourbon County District Court is located. Other entities such as private businesses and schools in the community can maintain mask mandates if they choose...

Those involved in the creation and operation of the LaRoche Baseball Complex met during a Fort Scott City Commission work session to discuss the original inter-local agreement, finances, how responsibilities have changed since the complex opened and ideas for the future...

Fort Scott city staff have already begun working on the upcoming budget. During the city commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Jeremy Frazier reported said he met with Earles Engineering to determine which projects will be the focus for the upcoming fiscal year...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees on Monday approved updates to audio and visual equipment inside the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the college’s main campus. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...