News

A new Fort Scott city commissioner was sworn in Tuesday afternoon during the commission’s regular meeting. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Nov. 24 approved distribution of gift certificates to employees in lieu of a holiday dinner, and to further research the matter of longevity pay for county employees. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

In a 5-2 vote Tuesday night, the USD 235 Board of Education voted to support Gov. Laura Kelly’s recent executive order requiring masks in public places, and to revisit the policy in February. Board members and other district officials discussed the importance of masks as a measure to return students to a normalized learning environment...

A wanderer drifted into Fort Scott to stay for a couple of weeks before heading south for warmer weather. Actually, he rumbled in. Scotty Kekeres, known as Scooter “Tramp” Scotty, travels by a Harley-Davidson and lives in a tent. He stopped at Bobby Kemna’s farm to set up his tent in her shed for a few days. On Oct. 18, Kemna told the Tribune Kerekes preferred staying in his tent in her shed...

Bourbon County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to support a recent executive order issued by Gov. Laura Kelly establishing a statewide face-covering protocol in an effort to curb spread of COVID-19. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott City Commissioners held a special meeting Friday afternoon to discuss a deteriorating building at 10 N. National Ave. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

State officials on Friday discussed the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and called for help from counties in tamping down an increase in positive cases, hospitalizations and death rates. During a biweekly conference call with Gov. Laura Kelly, Dr. ...

Fort Scott City Commissioners approved the resignation of the mayor during a special meeting Thursday morning. JoLynne Mitchell submitted her resignation effective immediately. Commission President Randy Nichols led the meeting in Mitchell’s absence...

Due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Bourbon County and a shortage of substitutes, USD 234 officials have made decisions regarding the learning plan at Fort Scott High School. USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong on Wednesday issued an update on the district’s website. The update states Fort Scott High School students will be in remote learning on Thursday and Friday...

USD 235 officials have made the decision to move Uniontown Junior/Senior High School to remote learning due to the impact of COVID-19 on the school. Mike Reith, principal, said Tuesday school officials made the decision Monday, and UHS students began remote learning Tuesday...

City Commissioners on Tuesday night approved a contract for an interim city manager. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

A motion to expand the boundaries of the Jayhawk Wind Energy project passed with two commissioners voting in favor during Tuesday’s meeting of the Bourbon County Commission. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston updated the college’s board of trustees Monday night on the college’s continuing plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

The story of two abandoned African-American cemeteries in Fort Scott was brought to life during a presentation given Nov. 7 by two women who have researched the topic. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

While the national presidential election may not yet be final, Bourbon County finalized its Nov. 4 General Election numbers during a canvass of provisional ballots Thursday. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Laurence “Larry” Lyons will be the grand marshal for the third annual Veterans Day Parade, which will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday. Parade participants are to line up along Main Street from Sixth Street south to the high school. The parade will proceed north on Main Street to Wall Street, then west to National Avenue and south...

Following two executive sessions during a special meeting Monday, Fort Scott City Commissioners voted 3-2 to offer a contract to Jeff Hancock of Camdenton, Mo., as the interim city manager. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin and Bourbon County Law Enforcement Major Bobby Reed urged Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday to consider putting a policy in place dealing with county employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

The annual Halloween parade and other activities sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce on Saturday may have drawn the event’s largest-ever attendance. The event included some activities prior to the parade, which went down Main Street as costumed youth and their families trick-or-treated at retail stores and other businesses along Main Street. Following the parade, hot dogs, chips and drinks were served to costumed participants...

On the night of the general election, the Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday voted to place a call for a special election to ask citizens to decide the future of reserve funds in the sewer and storm sewer funds. The election will be held Jan. 5. If the question is passed by voters, the charter ordinance will go into effect...

Incumbents in several Bourbon County races will keep their seats, and a question on the ballot to continue a 1-percent countywide sales tax passed, according to unofficial election results released Tuesday night. See Wednesday's print or online edition for complete story...

Citizens were able to voice their concerns on Sept. 15 during a public hearing to discuss city of Fort Scott’s plan to extend the existing runway south of Indian Road. That means the road would be closed and a new route would be established. The meeting was led by Diane Hofer and Tony Baumert, representing Olsson and Associates, the engineering firm hired to conduct the planning study for the project. ...

County officials and health professionals from the region discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the local health system during a special meeting of the Bourbon County Commission on Wednesday. The meeting took place in the county’s emergency management building. ...

Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin announced his retirement during a special Fort Scott City Commission meeting Wednesday. His last day will be Oct. 30. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Changes in economic development for Bourbon County are in the works. According to Gregg Motley, member of the Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc., board of trustees, the nonprofit organization’s board is restructuring and expanding, and has several goals to help improve economic development efforts in Bourbon County...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to amend its parking limit ordinance for Main street. The ordinance will be drafted and ready for final approval at the Nov. 3 meeting. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Fort Scott Community College students with concerns about how their scholarship money was handled took the issue to the FSCC Board of Trustees Monday night. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Candidates for the U.S. Congress, state legislature and local offices in the Nov. 3 election gathered at Memorial Hall Thursday evening to participate in the candidate forum sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

An update on the COVID-19 situation in Bourbon County spurred discussion on health protocols and recommendations during a special meeting of the Bourbon County Commission on Thursday. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Advanced voting will begin Monday at the Bourbon County Courthouse. Voters may cast their ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Advanced voting will end at noon Monday, Nov. 2. The polls will open for voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3...

The investigation of current and former city of Fort Scott employees continues and, according to Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, is a slow process. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday boosted the ambulance fleet for the Bourbon County Emergency Medical Services. Commissioners approved the purchase of a new ambulance, and also heard an update on financials for the EMS service, which officials with the county and city worked to put together after the closure of Mercy Hospital in December 2018. The service began operating in early 2019...

When a need arose for the Fort Scott Fire Department, several community volunteers — including two with a spiritual message — stepped up to help. In recent weeks, volunteers from the community have been working to re-paint fire hydrants within the city. Deputy Fire Chief Michael Miles said there are about 600 hydrants located within the city limits and the Fort Scott Industrial Park. Work to re-paint the hydrants began in September and will continue until the weather gets colder, Miles said...

The Beacon has faced its share of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but staff have been working to make changes to adapt and grow for the future. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Grants were a topic of several discussion items during the Fort Scott City Commission meeting Tuesday evening as the commission approved participation, application, award and acceptance of various grants. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...

Bourbon County announces 33 confirmed cases at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center. This includes 24 inmates and 8 correctional officers and one deputy. Testing for all residents and staff was completed Tuesday. The Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center officials have been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps were implemented:...