Stories from Friday, May 9, 2025

TOPEKA – The Kansas Supreme Court will hear an appeal from a Fort Scott man who was convicted of killing his mother and stepfather in 2021. Oral arguments for Appeal No. 127,721: State of Kansas v. Dawson James Mitchell will be heard during the Supreme Court sessions which begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 15 on the third floor of the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. All Supreme Court oral arguments are also live-streamed at youtube.com/KansasSupremeCourt...

Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin on Tuesday presented the Fort Scott City Commission with various proposals for a potential sales tax ballot question later this year. After discussing the proposals, a motion by Commissioner Tracy Dancer was approved to table discussion until the commission’s May 20 meeting. There was also discussion on conducting a possible town hall meeting before that date to inform and hear input from citizens...

The vote was not unanimous, but Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday approved a resolution to waive landfill fees for cities in the county with populations of less than 400 people. After a discussion, a motion by Commission Chairman Brandon Whisenhunt to adopt the resolution passed by a 2-1 vote, with Whisenhunt and Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee voting in favor, and Commissioner David Beerbower voting against...

Jean Marie Skidmore, 79, of Belton, Mo., died at 1:21 p.m.. Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Fox Springs at Raymore, Mo. Mrs. Skidmore was born July 29, 1945 at San Antonio, Texas, the daughter of James and Mildred Grizzle Cowan. Jean was a retired banker at First State Bank in Pittsburg, Kan., where she was a loan officer. ...

Kenneth Lee Peterson, age 101, a longtime resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went home to Heaven Wednesday, May 7, 2025, just a few weeks shy of his 102nd birthday. He was born May 31, 1923, the son of John Lemuel Peterson and Florence Edith Farmer Peterson. ...

Sharon Kay Miller, 81, of Fort Scott, most recently Tallahassee, Fla., passed away on Feb. 4, 2025. There was cremation. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at the funeral home...