News

Bourbon County Commissioners have decided to table a request from Sheriff Bill Martin for the purchase of a new vehicle for the sheriff’s department. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday discussed the public hearing process for zoning. On April 14, commissioners appointed a nine-member zoning advisory board which will assist the commission in developing a zoning resolution. Commissioners also discussed the board’s proposed bylaws, which were to include a change in the number of members on the board...

Bourbon County Commissioners plan to look into policies concerning coverage of injured county employees after hearing from a longtime employee Monday evening. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Rain and thunderstorms that moved in last weekend caused some flooding due to several inches of rainfall throughout the county. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County Commissioners plan to review the county’s 2025 asphalt plan after an April 7 work session with representatives of the public works department. Public Works Director Eric Bailey and Assistant Public Works Director Dustin Hall provided commissioners with a plan for each district, including potential extra chip and seal and asphalt projects, as well as information on road ratings, numbers of asphalt produced and sales tax figures...

Fort Scott is a destination place for students from around the world through the efforts of Greenheart Exchange and local volunteers who offer their homes, support and friendship. Maya Gevrey from France and Brittanny Ledezma from Bolivia are two of three students enjoying the opportunity to travel abroad to this community and experience American life at Fort Scott High School and through local and area activities...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees on Wednesday received an overview of the process being used to find the college’s next president. During a work session, the board met with representatives of the team that is helping to facilitate the presidential selection process, but took no official action...

City and county leaders provided updates on projects and plans during a Community Connection Panel Luncheon April 9 at the Empress Event Center. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday chose individuals to serve on a zoning advisory committee, which will now consist of nine members. After Commission Chairman Brandon Whisenhunt read the names of the 17 people who submitted letters of interest to serve on the board, Whisenhunt and Commissioner David Beerbower discussed the board’s proposed bylaws and spent several minutes reviewing each other’s choices before a motion was made to appoint the members...

The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday voted to move forward with the purchase of a rescue fire truck and will wait to obtain more information before proceeding with the purchase of a pumper truck for the Fort Scott Fire Department. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story...

The USD 234 Board of Education on Monday approved the hiring of a new assistant superintendent. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Big changes are coming to the Fort Scott Public Library, which recently received a $20,000 grant from the American Library Association, in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, through its Round Three of Libraries Transforming Communities Program...

Topics ranging from spring school activities and projects to street projects, zoning and other issues were highlighted during a Community Connection Panel Luncheon Wednesday at the Empress Event Center. Updates were provided by USD 235 Superintendent Vance Eden, USD 234 Superintendent Destry Brown, Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees Chairman Bryan Holt, Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin and Bourbon County Commissioner David Beerbower...

A statement read by Bourbon County Commissioner David Beerbower spurred further discussion during Monday’s commission meeting on zoning and an advisory board the commission plans to implement as efforts continue to find a plan that works for the county...

A Bourbon County Republican committee appointed a new Third District county commissioner during a convention Saturday morning at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Precinct committee members nominated and heard remarks from four candidates before moving to closed session for deliberation and interviews of candidates. Kaety Bowers, chairwoman of the party, said after a tie in the first round of voting, candidate Mika Milburn won the vote in a second round of voting...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday again discussed federal cuts that could have local impacts, and not all commissioners were in agreement on whether the issues are city business. After a discussion, commissioners approved by a 4-1 vote a motion by Commissioner Matthew Wells for commissioners to sign a letter which would be sent to U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt requesting the Institute of Museum and Library Services be reinstated...

Bourbon County Commissioners seek to form a committee of citizens to research zoning as work continues to create a plan for the county. On Monday, Commissioners Brandon Whisenhunt and David Beerbower approved Beerbower’s motion to request letters of interest to form a panel to discuss “zoning research and review proposals for zoning for Bourbon County.” Commissioners said letters must be received by Monday, April 14...

The Bourbon County Republicans are preparing to fill a vacant seat on the Bourbon County Commission created by the recent resignation of former commissioner Leroy Kruger. “Due to the recent vacancy of the Bourbon County Commissioner District 3 seat by Leroy Kruger, the Bourbon County Republicans will be accepting applications to fulfill this important role,” according to Kaety Bowers, chairwoman of the Bourbon County Republican Party...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday discussed funding for a future project to make improvements on East National Avenue. The commission also approved a resolution, as presented by attorney Garth Herrmann with GilmoreBell, the city’s bond counsel, that would authorize construction of improvements on East National Avenue from National Avenue east to approximately the railroad tracks. Herrmann said the total estimated costs of improvements is $3,560,000...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will receive assistance in selecting the institution’s next president. During a special meeting Monday, the board voted unanimously to approve a proposal for the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush in Girard and the Education Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas (ESSDACK) in Hutchinson to facilitate the presidential search. The proposal comes at no cost to the college...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees approved several policies during the board’s Monday meeting. The board approved the following policies as part of a schedule which will “allow each policy to be examined at least once a year,” according to FSCC information: facility naming opportunities, campus closings due to weather, bonded employees, sabbaticals, conferences and visitations, buildings and grounds management, maintenance program and student activity fund management...

A high speed pursuit that began Wednesday morning, March 26, in El Dorado Springs, Mo., where a child was abducted at gun-point, concluded in Fort Scott, Kan. The pursuit and arrest of the suspect involved law enforcement from seven agencies. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story...

Fort Scott Community College officials are reviewing strategic plans focused on the college’s future. During Monday’s meeting of the FSCC Board of Trustees, FSCC Interim President Sara Sutton presented the board with information on a revised strategic plan for spring 2025, as well as a financial strategic plan. Trustees and Sutton discussed both plans but took no action...

A Fort Scott man was sentenced Monday for his involvement in a 2023 vehicle crash that claimed the life of a Hutchinson man. Present for the sentencing hearing before Bourbon County District Judge Mark Ward were the defendant, Daniel Evan Blake and his attorney, Kyle Fleming of Pittsburg, and Bourbon County Attorney James Crux representing the state in the prosecution...

When the class of 2025 were freshmen, they lost a classmate to suicide. That prompted some of the students to do something to help others. Caroline Barnes, Kendal Armstrong and Annabelle Gorman attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference their sophomore year and learned of an option to help their school at a local level...

Fort Scott City Commissioner Matthew Wells on Tuesday presented three letters concerning various local and national issues, one of which involves an appeal to Congressional representatives regarding recent cuts to the National Park Service, which includes the Fort Scott National Historic Site...

Bourbon County Commissioner on Monday discussed policies for transfers, promotions and pay raises within some county departments. Commissioner David Beerbower said he made motions for two separate executive sessions during the commission’s March 10 meeting; one dealing with policies regarding transfers, promotions and rate increases, and the other involving pay for employees who work during a disaster declaration. ...

When the Nevada City Council meets again, it will have a change in the meeting format. On Tuesday, March 18, council members adopted an ordinance that allows them to begin using a consent agenda as part of the regular meetings. For complete story, see the print or online edition of the Nevada Daily Mail...

Representatives of Fort Scott Community College provided updates on various programs during a community forum March 12 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Updates were given on music and nursing. FSCC Dean of Students Vanessa Poyner and FSCC Vice President of Finance and Operations Missy Scott also provided updates on their departments...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday approved a lease agreement and monetary agreement concerning a new baseball franchise slated to begin play in 2026. In separate motions, commissioners unanimously approved a lease agreement for the LaRoche Baseball Complex between the city of Fort Scott and the Mid-America Baseball League, and a monetary partnership agreement between the city and the league...

Bourbon County Commissioner Leroy Kruger stepped down from his position during Monday night’s commission meeting. Kruger, who was elected as District 3 commissioner in 2024, participated in votes on business items early in the meeting. Following public comments, Kruger said he wished to speak...

Bourbon County Commissioners have begun the process for delving into the 2026 budget. During a work session Monday evening, commissioners and County Clerk Susan Walker discussed an overview of the county’s budget, as well as the responsibilities of the commission and other county staff concerning the budget and a projected timeline for the process...

A technical education center in Pleasanton is reportedly seeking separation from Fort Scott Community College. The board of the Southeastern Technical Academy for Rural Students (STARS), which offers high school students the opportunity to take dual-credit college-level courses through FSCC, voted in February to separate from FSCC for the 2025-26 school year, the Linn County News reported Feb. 19...

Fire officials are investigating a structure fire early Monday morning at a house located at 301 Steen St. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County officials reviewed the county’s end-of-year finances during the March 3 meeting of the Bourbon County Commission. County Clerk Susan Walker said since there are two commissioners who are new to the budget process, she highlighted the county’s budgeted funds and explained the county must follow budget and cash basis laws. She said most of the budgeted funds were “double checked” to make sure no budget laws were violated, “however, we have some cash things to go over.”...

Bourbon County employees will receive additional pay related to recent winter weather after action taken Monday by the Bourbon County Commission. After a discussion and a 10-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel, commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Chairman Brandon Whisenhunt to pay employees who worked during a Feb. 18 snowstorm five hours of “straight time additional pay” for the hours the courthouse was closed that date...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday outlined their recommendations for projects that could be funded through grant opportunities. During a discussion on options for grant applications, Fort Scott Planning, Housing and Business Development Director Mary Wyatt asked commissioners if they had made a decision on which projects to seek grant funding following a recent review of project options through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Kansas Department of Transportation...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday approved transfer of money from the sheriff’s fund as officials work to close out finances for 2024. During an end-of-year financial review, commissioners voted to move $31,130.25 from the sheriff’s fund to the general fund. County Clerk Susan Walker said cash from those funds remained at the end of the year and will help cover partial expenses from a previous transfer...

A $1.2 million bond issue to fund improvements to district facilities in USD 235 in Uniontown passed, according to unofficial results from a special Tuesday election. A total of 317 ballots were cast, with 211 yes votes (66.98%) and 104 no votes (33.02%.) There were two undervotes, according to the results from the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office released Tuesday night...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday voted to vacate an alley in the 1400 block of East Wall Street to accommodate a potential new business. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Due to time constraints, Bourbon County officials are working to expedite a process for an onsite auction of medical equipment housed at the former Mercy Hospital building. On Monday, Bourbon County Commissioner Leroy Kruger said he had a tentative date for the auction, but was not yet ready to make an announcement. He said he has spoken with staff from Freeman Health Systems, who have indicated the need to move the old equipment soon...

Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Inc. has formally appointed an inaugural board of directors, a significant milestone in developing the new Bourbon County-based hospital to best serve its residents and the surrounding communities. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story...

During a special election Tuesday, voters in the Uniontown School District will be asked whether they support a $1.2 million bond issue to fund improvements to district facilities. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

As Bourbon County Commissioners prepare their lists of topics to address in 2025, one of those topics is the hot-button issue of zoning. Commissioners discussed the topic during their Monday meeting, ultimately voting to allow Commissioner Leroy Kruger to lead a research team on zoning and special use permits...