Popular Stories

County officials questioned about recent salary hikes (1/14/20)

Bourbon County Commissioners recently heard from two elected officials regarding a salary increase for all but one elected official in 2020. Sheriff Bill Martin said he does not agree with the increase and when commissioners were working on the budget, he was told the county had no money...
Commissioners lend support for "health care mall" concept for former Mercy building (1/14/20)

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a letter of intent supporting a move toward repurposing the old Mercy Hospital building. Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener said discussions have continued on repurposing the former Mercy building after the hospital closed Dec. 31, 2018. The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and Ascension Via Christi, which now occupy portions of the building, have discussed plans for building new facilities on the Mercy property...
Multi-use facility found to be viable (1/10/20)

Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener reported to county commissioners Tuesday the initial study conducted to determine whether a multi-purpose events center is viable in Bourbon County is positive. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story...
Change (1/10/20)

A topic of the Fort Scott City Commission meeting Tuesday evening was change. And change began shortly after the meeting began. The three outgoing commissioners were recognized by City Manager Dave Martin and the three new members were sworn in by City Clerk Diane Clay...
CHC/SEK not pursuing "medical mall" option (1/17/20)

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) Board of Directors took no action Jan. 16 toward establishing a “medical mall” within the former Fort Scott Mercy Hospital. Prior to finalizing plans for the construction of a new primary care clinic, CHC/SEK had spent the past month assessing the feasibility of remaining in the existing building...
Drug cases continued (1/7/20)

A judge granted continuances for co-defendants in a Bourbon County drug case Friday morning in Bourbon County District Court. Sixth Judicial District Judge Richard Smith presided over separate hearings for Cassi Melinda Farmer, 39, and Jerry Michael Wright, 30, who were present with their attorneys. ...
Commissioners hear from supporters, opponents of wind farm project (1/17/20)

Controversy is spinning around a proposed wind development project in a portion of Bourbon County. Bourbon County officials and several county residents packed the third floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse for an informational meeting Tuesday night concerning the proposed Jayhawk Wind turbine project in Bourbon and Crawford counties. ...
County to ask for continuation of hard surface roads sales tax (1/10/20)

Bourbon County Commissioners are gearing up to promote the continuance of a 1-cent county-wide retail sales tax. The sales tax currently in place funds hard-surface roads projects and expires at the end of the year. If passed, this would be the third time the tax has been placed on the ballot with each sales tax in effect 10 years each time...
Bodie goes to school (1/7/20)

Fort Scott native Trevor Swim and Katie Thoe of Eau Claire, Wis., along with their canine campanion Bodie, shared one of their children's books with students at Eugene Ware Tuesday morning. The books is part of a series aimed at teaching children about each state in the U.S. ...
Ballou begins retirement (1/7/20)

After a nearly 30-year career, Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou signed off for the last time Friday. The city held a retirement reception for Ballou, fire chief since 2008, Friday at Buck Run Community Center. The reception was attended by several city and county officials, as well as several of Ballou’s friends, family members and colleagues...