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The city of Fort Scott will keep its city manager. During Tuesday’s meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission, commissioners approved by a 3-2 vote a new contract for City Manager Brad Matkin, who has elected to stay in the position. Commissioners discussed the new five-year contract before voting...

The Fort Scott Design Review Board on Tuesday approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for a planned farmers market pavilion project to be built in the parking lot on the west end of Skubitz Plaza. Fort Scott Mayor Matthew Wells appeared before the board with photos and other information related to the proposed 70-by-150-foot structure, which will be constructed with iron supports and a metal roof. ...

The Board of County Canvassers met Monday evening to break a three-way tie for seats on the Mapleton City Council, and to finalize results of the Nov. 7 general election. Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins appointed two county employees – Tim Barrett, maintenance, and Jimmy Kemmerer, information technology – to serve on the canvassing board with County Commissioner Jim Harris. The board drew names out of a box to break the tie...

A Fort Scott woman was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation for her involvement in felony theft and forgery from a local law firm. During a sentencing hearing in Bourbon County District Court, Judge Nancy Parrish sentenced Alexa Leigh Metcalf, who formerly worked for the Mason & Clark Law Office, LLC in Fort Scott, to 24 months probation, as well as a restitution fee of $40,000 due on or before Dec. 31...

Elected officials in Bourbon County are slated to receive longevity pay after recent action by Bourbon County Commissioners. During a Nov. 13 discussion, commissioners approved a motion to give elected officials longevity pay for their time as regular county employees, prior to being elected into their positions. The motion excludes commissioners Jim Harris and Nelson Blythe...

A Fort Scott man accused of murdering his mother and step-father nearly two years ago now faces a potential of life imprisonment with a chance of parole after he plead guilty Monday in the 6th Judicial District Court. During an arraignment hearing before 6th Judicial District Court Judge Mark Ward, Dawson James Mitchell, 24, entered a plea of guilty to two counts off-grid person felonies of murder in the first degree – premeditated, for the Dec. ...

Fort Scott firefighters kept busy battling two recent house fires which are currently under investigation. The Fort Scott Fire Department was dispatched late Saturday night following a report of a structure fire at a house in the 200 block of South Horton Street. Firefighters were also called out to a fire that broke out early Tuesday morning in a house located in the 300 block of South Eddy Street...

Bourbon County Commissioners have signed off on an alternative energy project that would result in the installation of solar panels on several properties in the southwest portion of the county. On Monday, commissioners unanimously approved Commissioner Clifton Beth’s motion to adopt a development agreement, a road use agreement, a decommissioning agreement and a contribution agreement with Hinton Creek Solar LLC, a limited liability company based in Delaware. ...

Bourbon County law enforcement officers were able to recapture an inmate who walked away from duty in a work release program Wednesday morning. According to a news release from Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Melvin Foley, 54, an inmate in the Bourbon County Jail, walked away from the work release program while on detail duty Wednesday morning. The inmates and correctional center staff supervisors were working in the 2100 block of South Horton Street in Fort Scott...

Fort Scott City Commissioners have signed off on a plan designed to provide incentives for local small businesses and spur growth. On Nov. 21, commissioners conducted a work session prior to their regular meeting to discuss revisions to the Small Business Incentives Program, review the program and address questions and concerns. The commission voted unanimously to approve the program during their regular meeting...