News

Bourbon County Commissioners have approved a resolution outlining the district from which a replacement commissioner will be appointed in January. On Monday, commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee, who represents the third district, to sign resolution 37-25 concerning the district “in which a vacancy appointment shall be made during the transition from three to five commission districts,” according to the resolution...

The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday approved a bid for a rehab project at the Davis Lift Station but want to look at other financing options for the project. Commissioners approved a bid of $2,509,499.59 from Jeff Asbell Excavating & Trucking, Inc., of Carl Junction, Mo., for the project to redo the city’s main lift station. The bid involves work on the station’s extraneous flow pump and force main...

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces that Steve and Pat Harry will be honored as Grand Marshals at the Christmas Parade, themed “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday in downtown Fort Scott. This year’s theme invites a fun, music-inspired celebration featuring any genre or decade – 80s glam holiday, country Christmas, classic carolers, and more. ...

During their Nov. 18 meeting, Fort Scott City Commissioners discussed the status of several allegedly unsafe and dangerous structures. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

Several city street projects have been completed or are nearing completion as the city prepares to enter the winter season and 2026. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County employees could receive a bonus in their pay after the Bourbon County Commission approved about $50,000 in longevity pay during a special meeting Nov. 18. Commissioners passed by a 2-1 vote a motion by Commissioner Samuel Tran to move $305,000 from the jail sales tax fund into the sheriff’s operational fund, then move $55,100 in ad valorem tax to the general fund for longevity pay. The move would leave $250,000 in the sheriff’s operational fund, Tran said...

Although the process has been delayed, taxpayers can expect their tax statements soon, according to Bourbon County Treasurer Jennifer Hawkins. On Tuesday, Hawkins told the Tribune tax statements were mailed last week using a third party vendor. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story...

Edward L. LaRue, age 79, a resident of Bronson, Kan., passed away Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. He was born Dec. 19, 1945. Ed grew in the Xenia area where he was raised by his grandparents, Tom and Myra Johnson. Ed graduated from Bronson High School. ...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday discussed an ordinance concerning a limit on the number of dogs per household within the city. City Manager Brad Matkin said four citizens have recently brought up the topic, and several in recent years have asked about the amount of dogs permitted for a household. Matkin said he talked with the previous animal control officer and city staff had not been able to find a limit in the current ordinance...

The Bourbon County Board of Canvassers conducted a final canvassing of results from the Nov. 4 election prior to their regular meeting Monday evening. According to the final election results, there were 2,262 ballots cast in the election, which featured races for seats on city and school boards and a city sales tax question. A canvassing board reviewed 36 provisional ballots Nov. 10...

Bourbon County Commissioners plan to have a draft of a noise resolution reviewed by legal counsel before it is brought back to the commission. During their Monday meeting, which ran for more than six hours, commissioners heard suggestions from citizens John Speight and Michael Hoyt, which will be incorporated into a proposed draft of a resolution concerning “noise limitations in the unincorporated areas of the county.”...

An annual Thanksgiving event at the Elks Lodge No. 579 is not in the works this year. Hundreds of free meals were served to community members during the annual Thanksgiving Day feast, which was organized by Marjorie Schwalm for more than two decades. Schwalm stepped down last year to focus on a private holiday dinner with her family...

Bourbon County Commissioners and citizens Monday questioned representatives of a company conducting a bitcoin mining operation as work continues to find a solution to noise concerns. Commissioners have discussed a possible noise resolution and company officials have said measures have taken place to reduce noise and the impact on citizens who live in the area of the operation. ...

Local veterans were recognized Wednesday during a program similar to one that took place about 30 years ago at Fort Scott Middle School. The school’s Veterans Recognition Program was based off a 1996 program in which staff and students honored World War II veterans and student advisory groups met specific veterans. FSMS Principal DJ Brown recalled that program, which took place during his second year as a teacher...

The Bourbon County arts Council would like to invite you to join them in celebrating creativity in our community at this year’s “Bad Art by Good People” Fundraising Event and Auction, this Thursday Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center in Fort Scott...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday were able to hear more information on bitcoin mining and the operation of a company currently underway in the northwest portion of the county near Xenia. In recent weeks, citizens have raised concerns about constant noise and the use of gas wells for an operation run by Evolution Technology LLC, or Evotech, to run computers that mine for bitcoin in the county. ...

A canvassing board met Monday morning at the Bourbon County Courthouse to review provisional ballots as the county clerk’s office works to finalize results from the Nov. 4 general election. During the canvassing, the board verifies provisional ballots and reviews reasons why ballots are challenged or provisional and decide whether to count them. The board consisted of Bourbon County Commissioners David Beerbower and Samuel Tran, and Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin...

Pastor Larry Stevicks of Fort Scott has a lifetime of experiences and adventures that has taken him from a young man of 18, who enlisted in the United States Air Force, to his current positions as the local VFW Chaplin and head of Emmanual Baptist Church. Originally from S.E. Nebraska, Stevicks moved here in 1997 to accept a pastoral position, bringing his wife Glenda with him to begin yet another chapter of service and dedication that helps others...

The 2025 election came with hurdles for Bourbon County Clerk Susan Walker and her staff. From issues with ballots affecting the USD 235 school district area, to problems with equipment and a large number of write-in votes, Walker said she and her staff worked to ensure accurate results were provided during the process...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Monday discussed the City Connecting Link Improvement Program and improvements to U.S. Highway 54 and Wall Street. Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin has said the Kansas Department of Transportation will begin the first two phases of the (CCLIP) Wall Street improvement project in the summer of 2026. He said all of Wall Street will be redone from near the area of the chamber building to Caldwell Street...

The following are the unofficial results of the Nov. 4 city/school general election, as provided by the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office at 5:16 a.m. Wednesday: Bronson City Council (vote for two) Kelly Perry, 30 votes Sherri Tibble, 13 votes Lysa Long, 8 votes...

Bourbon County Clerk Susan Walker released a statement Wednesday concerning Tuesday's city/school general election. The following is Walker's statement, which was posted to the county's website, www.bourboncountyks.org: "2025 City/School General Election...

The Bourbon County Clerk’s Office has reported an error with ballots heading into Election Day. In a news release emailed Monday, County Clerk Susan Walker said the release was for residents living in the USD 235 school district area only. The Tribune reached out to Walker by email for comment Tuesday morning, but did not receive a response by press time...

The Fort Scott City Commission took no action following an executive session during a special meeting Saturday morning. According to unofficial meeting minutes, the commission recessed into executive session for 30 minutes for the purpose of discussion pursuant to the attorney-client privilege exception in K.S.A. ...

Bourbon County Commissioners plan to consider an amendment to the budget for the county attorney’s office after a discussion during a work session Monday evening. County Attorney James Crux said he had a “few concerns” on the published budget. He said his budget for 2026 is listed at $470,284, a decrease from $471,880 budgeted for 2025. ...

County leaders continue to discuss ongoing concerns with conversion to a new payroll system. On Monday, Bourbon County Commissioners heard from Tim Emerson Jr., managing member for Emerson and Co., the company contracted by the county to help with payroll, as well as Cassie Johnson representing Pay Entry, the new system being used for the county’s payroll...

Members of the public urged Bourbon County Commissioners to take action Monday as the commission considers a noise resolution in the county. Commissioners are reviewing a proposed resolution drafted by citizen Michael Hoyt, which is aimed at “regulating unreasonable, excessive and disturbing noise within the county, and providing penalties for violations,” according to the document...

The races for city and county commissions include some new and familiar faces. During a candidate forum Oct. 22 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, attendees heard from four of the five candidates running for three open positions on the Fort Scott City Commission and two candidates looking for seats representing new districts on the Bourbon County Commission...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday discussed, but ultimately took no action on a proposed noise ordinance presented for review last week. The proposed draft of the ordinance, created by citizen Michael Hoyt, is based on examples from Atchison and Douglas counties. The ordinance outlines definitions, prohibited acts, exceptions, enforcement and penalties related to “unreasonable, excessive and disturbing noise within the county.”...

The public had a chance to get a look at a newly-remodeled agriculture building at Uniontown Junior Senior High School Thursday night. The district hosted an open house to allow community members to view the changes to the building, which serves agriculture and FFA classes at the high school. The original structure was built in the late 1960s...

Candidates for positions on local school boards and commissions fielded questions during a candidate forum Wednesday night at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. The forum, hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, featured candidates for seats on the USD 234 Board of Education, Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees, Fort Scott City Commission and Bourbon County Commission...

Bourbon County Commissioners reviewed a proposed noise ordinance during a special meeting Thursday night, ultimately agreeing to have the county counselor review the ordinance and discuss the matter further during their regular meeting Monday. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday approved a contribution of $40,000 to support Fort Scott Community College with a grant program that will see the construction of new housing. After a discussion, Mayor Tim VanHoecke amended his original motion to support FSCC in the Fostering Residential Advancement through Mentoring and Education (FRAME) grant, which is geared toward construction trades and addressing housing needs. The motion later passed 4-1 with Commissioner Dyllon Olson voting no...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday continued discussion on a bitcoin mining operation, with one resident calling for further action from the commission. The commission initially removed the topic of bitcoin mining from the meeting agenda and replaced it with another topic, but discussed concerns with citizens during the public comment section of the meeting...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday discussed concerns such as setting precedence and the potential for litigation regarding a moratorium on the mining of cryptocurrency. The commission later approved the 12-month moratorium, which takes effect after its publication in the Tribune and only applies to new mining activity in the county. County Counselor Bob Johnson said the moratorium would stop future expansion of mining operations until the commission can adopt regulations...

The Bourbon County Clerk’s office is gearing up for the Nov. 4 general election, which will include several school, city and county races. During Tuesday’s Bourbon County Commission meeting, County Clerk Susan Walker presented an election schedule to commissioners and discussed a need for volunteers to help with equipment needed for the election...

The Fort Scott City Commission on Oct. 7 approved engineering and surveying services for repairs to a city waterway system. City Manager Brad Matkin said the waterway was damaged during flooding earlier this year. He said city officials have been in contact with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since the damages occurred and were advised to hire an engineer. He said FEMA will reimburse the city for the cost of engineering services and repairs...

Calvin L. Osborne recounted portions of the journey of his great-great-grandfather, William Lacy, from slavery to the battlefield in the Civil War-era south. Osborne, an author, historical researcher and Civil War re-enactor, shared stories during a Sept. ...

Bourbon County Commissioners have put in place a moratorium directed at the mining of cryptocurrency in the county. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday discussed and later voted to disapprove a presented ordinance on food trucks. On Sept. 16, commissioners directed City Manager Brad Matkin and City Attorney Bob Farmer to draft an addendum to the city’s solicitors, canvassers and peddler’s ordinance to address food trucks, and tabled the issue until October. The changes would require food trucks to obtain a license...

During Monday’s Bourbon County Commission meeting, Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin shared his concerns and the involvement of his department regarding a Bitcoin mining operation in the northwest part of the county. Martin said affidavits from citizens have been turned into his office regarding the company, Evolution Technology LLC, which he said is licensed to operate in Kansas. ...

Bourbon County Commissioners are looking into possible action concerning a Bitcoin mining operation in the county. Commissioners on Monday heard further concerns from county resident Derek Raines, who first brought the issue to the commission in September, as well as other residents. Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin also spoke on the involvement of his department and his concerns with a resolution and enforcement. Commissioner Sam Tran was not present for the meeting...

The Fort Scott City Commission was approached again on Tuesday regarding the city providing support for Fort Scott Community College in a grant program geared toward growing construction trades programs and addressing housing needs. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story...