Stories from Friday, July 19, 2013

Bourbon County Sheriff Ron Gray has announced his resignation, effective Aug. 9.

Sheriff tenders resignation By Laurie Sisk The Fort Scott Tribune An emotional Ron Gray stood before Bourbon County Commissioners Friday to announce he will be stepping down as Bourbon County Sheriff effective Aug. 9. Gray, who is six months into his second term as sheriff, told commissioners he has accepted a position elsewhere, but chose not to make that information public...

Everett Guder, age 86, of Bronson, Kan., passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, Kan. Everett was born Aug. 6, 1926 on the family farm near Bronson, the son of, Roy and Edna (Garrison) Guder. He grew up in the Bronson area, graduating from high school there. ...

Howard M. Ham, 73, of Fort Scott, formerly of Arcadia, died at 11:08 p.m., Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at his home in Fort Scott, Kan. Mr. Ham was born Oct. 29, 1939, at Montgomery City, Mo., the son of Floyd M. and Geneva Chrystal Blackburn Ham. Howard worked for Hall's Gas Station in Fort Scott. ...

Tomato lovers can rejoice as the Fort Scott Farmers' Market's Fifth Annual Tomato Festival nears. Plenty of types of the popular red fruit will be available at the event, set to take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 27 at Skubitz Plaza near the Fort Scott National Historic Site...

Bourbon County will now be included in a state Department of Commerce program aimed at restoring population growth throughout the state. The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced that the Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) program will expand during Fiscal Year 2014. The expanded program will include 23 additional counties approved to participate in ROZ by the Kansas Legislature during the 2013 session...

4-Hers at the Bourbon County Fair showed swine Thursday and also competed in the Round Robin Showmanship competition. The Fashion Revue show was held in the evening on the Fort Scott Community College Campus, where a concert also was held. Today's features include the Livestock Judging competition at 9 a.m., History of the Bourbon County Fair in the Meyers Building from 10 a.m. ...