Stories from Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Although work on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget for Bourbon County is far from complete, preliminary information shows the budget is teetering on a 3.067 mill levy increase. That means nearly every line item is under scrutiny as commissioners continue to hold budget work sessions...

The USD 234 Board of Education on Tuesday approved a 2016-17 budget with no mill levy increase. Board members met for a special meeting that included a budget hearing, consideration of the proposed 2016-17 budget, and a handful of employment items. In a brief presentation to the board, USD 234 Business Manager Gina Shelton outlined some highlights of the 2016-17 budget, which included mill levy and assessed valuation comparisons, as well as impact of utilities and recent state funding cuts on the budget.. ...

Tuesday was the first day of enrollment for new student at USD 234. Physical enrollment will also be offered from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the middle school.

Ava L. Gibson, 69, of Fort Scott passed away Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016 at her daughters home in Olathe, Kan. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at Emmanuel Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church 2215 Native Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701 or Hospice of Olathe Medical Center, South Park Medical Plaza 20920 W. 151st St., Suite 204 Olathe, KS 66061...

Dale Leroy Koopmann, 72, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Aug. 14, 2016 at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. Dale was born June 29, 1944 to Fritz and Leola (Breiburth) Koopmann in Deerfield, Mo., where he spent most of his childhood and early adult life. He graduated from Nevada High School in 1962. For many years he operated Koopmann Cattle Company and was later known as "Junk Man" in the Nevada and surrounding areas...

Margie Emeline James Williams, age 90, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born Dec. 31, 1925, on the Snyder farm near Harding, Kan., the daughter of Marion Hudson James and Tallie Lilly Snyder James. ...

Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team is ranked 14th in the NJCAA pre-season poll, released Tuesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Greyhounds were picked to finish fourth in Division II of the Jayhawk Conference behind defending champion Johnson County, Coffeyville and Cowley in a poll of circuit coaches...

Fort Scott High School's football team has been working out at Frary Field early on in this preseason as some of the work on the USD 234 bond project has made parts of the practice field unusable temporarily. Roughly 60 players -- a total that includes 20 freshmen -- have reported as fall practices begin in Kansas. Tuesday was the second day allowed under Kansas State High School Activities Association rules...