Stories from Friday, December 5, 2025

Sue Hoskin, age 84, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., and more recently of Olathe, Kan., passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at the Olathe Medical Center.  Services for Sue Hoskin will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan. ...

Bonnie Geiger, 93, of Garland, Kan., passed away Thursday morning, Dec. 4, 2025, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott, Kan. She was born Oct. 4, 1932, on the homestead in Redfield, Kan., the daughter of Ralph A. Bolinger and Janie Frances (Asher) Bolinger. She married Dale Geiger Nov. 16, 1952, in the Petersburg Presbyterian church, and he preceded her in death Oct. 13, 2020, after almost 68 years of marriage...

John S. "Shadow" Farr, Jr., age 56, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.  There was cremation and no services are planned at this time. Memorials are suggested to the John S. Farr Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Christopher John Bartelsmeyer, age 48, passed away unexpectedly from cardiac complications at his home in Newport News, Va., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. He was born on Dec. 18, 1976, in Fort Scott, Kan., and was adopted by Marianne Crane and John Bartelsmeyer. ...

Melvin Eugene Barker, age 83, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.  Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Community Christian Church. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery. ...

City Manager Brad Matkin’s report to the Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday included planned discussions on items ranging from the budget to trains, as well as updates on the statuses of downtown buildings. Matkin said Ben Hart with BakerTilly, the city’s financial advisor, plans to discuss a budget amendment, as well as increases in water and stormwater rates with the commission Dec. ...

Bourbon County Commissioners plan to review resolutions that could be a solution to ongoing litigation with solar developers. On Monday, Commission Chairman David Beerbower reviewed talking points that would be part of new agreements as parties work toward settling the case outside of court...