Stories from Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Beginning July 1, Kansas residents will pay a little more money to renew their vehicle tags. Bourbon County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn said a new fee of $3.25 law enforcement fee will be added, but none of that money will remain in Bourbon County. Kansas legislators passed two Senate bills which allows for the increase. The bills were combined into House Bill 2696, which was signed by Gov. Sam Brownback on May 12...

Cowboys and cowgirls prepare for the steer-roping round at the fifth Fort Scott Summer Series Junior Rodeo Tuesday night. The rodeo is a series of eight youth rodeos held each Tuesday night through July 12 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. There are about 215 entries each week with contestants from Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. A story about the rodeo will appear in a future edition of The Tribune...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday approved moving forward with demolition of a set of dilapidated properties on North National Avenue. Commissioners discussed the future of buildings at 118 and 120 N. National Ave., during their June 7 meeting. At that meeting, they elected to hold off on demolition of the properties until they saw a written plan from local business owner Kevin "Skitch" Allen regarding specific proposals for the properties, which continue to sit condemned...

On Tuesday afternoon, Bourbon County Commissioners toured the new solid waste transfer station, which went into operation Monday. Pictured moving solid waste to a trailer in a pit below is Diana Ballou in the backhoe purchased this year. Watching are Public Works Director Jim Harris and Third District Commissioner Harold Coleman. The three-sided structure replaces the aged hopper system and includes a small office where staff can fill out paperwork for customers...