News

The Fort Scott National Historical Site will host the second evening of the 38th annual Candlelight Tour beginning at 5 p.m. today. This year visitors will “enlist” as dragoon soldiers, be “assigned duties along the way” and receive their pay. About 100 volunteers assisted with the event as actors, behind the scenes personnel, greeters, guides and tour group followers to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable evening, according to Carl Brenner, chief of interpretation at the fort.

Sewer customers in the Lake Sewer District No. 1 at Lake Fort Scott will see rate hikes next year. After hearing remarks from City Manager Dave Martin Tuesday, Fort Scott City commissioners approved increasing the user rate for lake sewer customers from $15.77 per month based on 3,000 gallons for each residence, to a base rate of $22.79 per month per 2,300 gallons of water metered, and $2.12 for water metered beyond the base rate per 750 gallons...

Fort Scott City Commissioners took another step Tuesday in saving money for the city on energy costs. Commissioners approved a resolution for an energy services contract with Schneider Electric as well as an ordinance establishing a lease purchase transaction with the company. According to a Dec. 4 news release from Schneider Electric, the city-wide infrastructure revitalization project will “drive economic development and enhance city buildings.”...

The annual Christmas Parade was held Tuesday evening in Downtown Fort Scott. The parade was sponsored by Briggs Auto Plaza and organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Following the parade, Mayor Jeannie Parker lit the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, then children were invited to meet with Santa at Papa Don’s...

Bourbon County will take advantage of an opportunity for additional grant funds to promote a healthier community. On Tuesday, Bourbon County Commissioners voted to allow Economic Development Director Jody Hoener to apply for an additional Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Communities grant...

The city of Fort Scott plans to move in a different direction for its legal representation. During Tuesday’s meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission, City Manager Dave Martin said city officials wish to move forward with the services of Lauber Municipal Law LLC, a law firm based in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Martin said Burton Harding, the current part-time city attorney, “has a full-time practice” and is not able to devote the time needed for city business...

Tristen McClure, 10, of Fort Scott, baits his hook Monday afternoon at Fern Lake inside Gunn Park. McClure and his mother, Aimee McClure, took advantage of a 60-degree day for Tristen to do some fishing at the park.

As she has done every year for the last two decades, Marjorie Schwalm is gathering the troops in an effort to serve Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of people for the holiday. The 21st annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, which Schwalm coordinates with the assistance of dozens of volunteers, is scheduled to take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Elks Lodge, 111 W. 19th St...

Bourbon County Commissioners agreed on Nov. 19 they would adopt a resolution for guidelines for economic development incentives. Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener presented the guidelines and asked commissioners if they would make a motion to adopt the guidelines. Commissioners agreed they would need a resolution for the guidelines and asked County Clerk Kendell Mason to place the resolution on a future agenda...

Dr. F. Wayne Stark, 79, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at his home. He was born Dec. 25, 1939 in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Ernest Lloyd Stark and Lillie Elizabeth Davis Stark. He served the Church of the Nazarene in several capacities from 1960-2015. On March 25, 1963, Wayne married Alice Garner Stark...

Work to remove debris that accumulated after waters receded from the May flooding has been completed days sooner than expected. Bourbon County Emergency Manager William Wallis, who served as the debris removal monitor, said work began Monday and was completed by Wednesday afternoon...

A representative of a newly-formed citizen group shared the group’s vision for city parks with the Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday night. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Marvin Ray Gates, 95, formerly of Uniontown, Kan., cherished husband, father, grandpa, and retired agricultural mechanic with International Harvester Co., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. Marvin served his country with the U.S. Navy during World War II and was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, June Gates; parents, Albert and Grace Gates; and sister, Viola Bowers. ...

Fort Scott Community College officials are taking steps toward a more safe and secure educational environment. During the FSCC Board of Trustees meeting Monday night, FSCC Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletic Director Tom Havron provided a demonstration of security cameras employed by the college on and off campus...

The Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday night tabled a proposed 3 percent increase in rates for sewer customers at Lake Fort Scott. Commissioners tabled the matter after hearing from lake residents who are concerned about the proposed increase, and remarks from city staff about the reasons for the rate hike...

The top three vote-getters for three spots on the Fort Scott City Commission remain the same after Bourbon County Commissioners conducted an official canvass of provisional ballots Thursday morning. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Life changed forever for William Galloway one day in 2005 when a drunken driver smashed into his vehicle. He doesn’t remember any details. He’s been told his head struck a fire hydrant. And for a long time, he was angry at the driver and the legal system...

New seating will be coming to the Fort Scott High School gymnasium. The USD 234 Board of Education on Monday approved the $226,233 purchase of four banks of telescopic bleachers from Heartland Seating Inc., based in Shawnee. The purchase includes two scorer’s tables and 12 ADA-compliant notches located among the four lower banks. ...

The top three vote-getters for three spots on the Fort Scott City Commission remain the same after Bourbon County Commissioners conducted an official canvass of provisional ballots Thursday morning. According to results of the Nov. 5 election, which are still unofficial, the top three vote-getters are Harold “Pete” Allen with 727 votes, Kevin “Skitch” Allen with 702 votes, and Lindsey Watts with 681 votes. ...

The Veterans Day Weekend was filled with several activities, beginning with a parade downtown Saturday, followed by the 1800s Grand Ball, hosted by the Friends of the Fort at Memorial Hall. On Sunday, the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene hosted a Veterans’ Sunday Service. In the evening, veterans could attend an Elvis impersonator concert for free...

Editor’s note While searching the Tribune archives for Items “From the Past,” Jason E. Silvers, reporter, found a letter written by his grandfather, Wally Powell. Many years before he shared stories of his war experiences with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Wallace E. “Wally” Powell shared stories of his travels with his parents...

The city of Fort Scott will have three new commissioners, according to results from Tuesday’s election. But the names of who those three won’t be a sure thing until after provisional ballots are counted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday learned of a potential development project involving a structure owned by the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County. Brian Allen, president of the HPA, appeared before commissioners with a request by the association to transfer ownership of the city-owned parking lot where the historic MK&T depot sits on Wall and Scott streets to the HPA...

Donned in their costumes, kindergarten students from Winfield Scott Elementary braved the cold Thursday morning to visit Country Place Senior Living. There, students paraded down hallways and through the dining and parlor areas.

Voters got a chance to know candidates running for seats on the USD 234 Board of Education, Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees and Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday night. The candidates spoke during a forum sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday night at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus...

The trick was on residents in Bourbon County Thursday morning as overnight snow left a skiff, covering decorations on a cold Halloween morning and fallen leaves. After the trick, Mother Nature’s treat was sunshine, followed by warmer temperatures on Friday and through the weekend...

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Halloween Parade and festivities. Activities included face painting by the Fort Scott High School Thespians, music by The Hull Experience, and photos with a “spooktacular” backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main Street. ...

The Fort Scott Police Department has found a threat made Monday to Fort Scott High School to be not credible. USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong said Tuesday district officials were informed of a criminal threat made toward FSHS at the end of the school day Monday. The threat was posted anonymously through a third-party social media site...

On Monday, the Kansas Department of Transportation announced the award of $5 million to 27 counties that applied for KDOT’s Local Bridge Improvement Program. Bourbon County, with two “fracture critical” bridges, was not among those counties because officials did not submit an application for the funding. Those two bridges are the railroad overpass on 215th Street, also known as Old U.S. 69 Highway, and a bridge on 250th Street over West Fork Dry Wood Creek...

Visitors to Robert Williams’ house at 711 S. Crawford St., will encounter a pirate-themed Halloween display that features various pirate scenes, as well as lights, sounds, a spooky graveyard, and a tunnel trick-or-treaters walk through to get to the house. Williams said he and his wife began putting the display together Oct. 1...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees is moving forward in the realm of technology. On Monday, board members continued a discussion with FSCC Director of Information Technology Jason Simon on the use of technology for future board meetings and agendas...

Early voting got underway Wednesday at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office. These voting booths are located on the first floor at the northeast entrance of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave. Ballots can be obtained, then cast in the machines inside the clerk’s office across the hall from the booths. All voters must show a photo identification. Early voting is available from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and ends at noon on Monday, Nov. 4...

Even though Saturday began with rain, that didn’t dampen the activity at the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta held on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. The 63rd Annual Pioneer Harvest, held Thursday through Saturday, featured demonstrations of antique farming equipment and methods, a flea market, quilt show and arts and crafts show...

Bourbon County Commissioners have had some discussion on a decline in sales tax revenue. One portion of that revenue funds the construction of the Bourbon County Law Enforcement and another portion funds maintenance on the county’s hard surface roads...

Fort Scott Community College officials are looking to save money through refinancing of debt service. The FSCC Board of Trustees and college administrators on Monday discussed the benefits of refinancing certificates of participation used to fund the building of the Boileau dorm on the college campus...

The 63rd Pioneer Harvest Fiesta kicked off Thursday night with the annual parade, which featured antique tractors and other machinery. The Fiesta continues this weekend, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and includes and antique tractor pull.

Additional trails could be coming to the Riverfront Park on North National Avenue. During Tuesday’s meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission, Jerry Witt, chairman of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority, updated commissioners on the status of projects at the park, and talked about grant funds that are potentially available for trails inside the park...

The USD 234 Board of Education on Monday received a report on progress of replacement of roofs on district buildings. Gary Elliott, representing Benchmark, Inc., a third-party consultant the district hired in 2018 to evaluate roofs on all district buildings, provided an update and timeline for board members. USD 234 Business Manager Gina Shelton said Wednesday Benchmark is overseeing the roof project...

This year’s Tri-Yak-A-Thon was moved from Saturday to Sunday to allow rain-dampened trails longer to dry out for the race. The race consisted of three legs; a 5K trail run, a 5K river kayak, and a 10K mountain bike race. Proceeds from the event benefit the Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation, a shelter and animal adoption organization...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday elected to install school zone signs and speed warnings on Indian Road near the St. Martin’s Academy. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Jeff Fischer made a motion to direct Public Works Director Jim Harris to install the signs, and Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah seconded. Both commissioners voted in favor. Commissioner Nick Ruhl was not present for the meeting...

The city of Fort Scott will use a local bank to finance the purchase of a new pumper truck for the Fort Scott Fire Department after action was taken Tuesday by the Fort Scott City Commission. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The Fort Scott Public Library hosted a Star Wars Reads Celebration Thursday. A room at the library was dedicated to “Star Wars” activities that included books, games, toys, movies and treats. Valetta Cannon, youth librarian, said the library hosts special themed events throughout the year. Cannon is a fourth grader at Eugene Ware School...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday gave a nod of approval for a group to proceed with researching the feasibility of a new multi-purpose event center. Commissioners met with Rod Markin of Markin Consulting in Maple Grove, Minn., and Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener, who explained the goal...

The 2019 Uniontown High School Homecoming King and Queen were crowned Friday night.