News

Nine students and three coaches from Fort Scott High School were among those evacuated during an incident at the National Speech and Debate Tournament Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa. Thursday afternoon, an unidentified attendee entered the stage during the tournament’s Humorous Interpretation Finals, interrupting the speech, USD 234 Superintendent Destry Brown said in a news release Thursday...

If vehicles could tell stories, a 1920 Model T owned by Jim Fewins of Fort Scott would have a few to share. Fewins shared the story of the origins of the Ford Model T Touring car, aptly named Daisy after his step-grandmother, Daisy Rice Ashby Boler, who lived from 1876 to 1961 and is buried in Bronson cemetery...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday moved forward with establishing a Certified Local Government and historic preservation and resource commission. The commission approved by a 4-1 vote a motion by Commissioner Matthew Wells to proceed with adoption of an ordinance adopting a seven-member historic preservation commission and to eliminate an item in the draft of the ordinance concerning the interior of buildings, and to move forward to register as a certified local government...

The last two finalists for the position of president at Fort Scott Community College discussed their backgrounds and goals for the college during public forums Monday on the college campus. Dr. Jack Welch and George McCrary were among the four finalists identified by the FSCC Board of Trustees, which is receiving assistance from the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush in the presidential search process. ...

The public had a chance to meet and ask questions of the first two finalists for the position of president at Fort Scott Community College during forums Friday afternoon at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. The forums took place after the FSCC Board of Trustees conducted two special meetings earlier Friday concerning the presidential search in the Hedges Administration Building. ...

The Bourbon County Republican Party unanimously appointed Samuel Tran as the new county commissioner for the First District during a convention Thursday evening at Fort Scott Community College. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

Fort Scott City Commissioners on June 3 outlined the timeframe for their work on setting the city’s 2026 budget. After Ben Hart with BakerTilly discussed the upcoming budget timeline, commissioners agreed to keep a similar schedule as last year with workshops planned for August...

The Bourbon County Commission will form an advisory committee to help commissioners through budget season. On Monday, commissioners approved a motion by Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee to form a committee that will be called the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners Advisory Board. The committee will operate under a set of bylaws and commissioners will accept letters of interest until June 16...

Interviews for the Fort Scott Community College president applicants will begin this week. FSCC received 32 applications for the position and reviewed the resumes and CVs of each candidate. From this group, the board and Greenbush selected seven semifinalists who participated in a one-way interview process, submitting recorded responses to a series of predetermined questions...

The Bourbon County Republican Party will conduct a convention to appoint a new First District county commissioner following the recent resignation of Brandon Whisenhunt. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

The Fort Scott City Commission is in the early stages of a process that would establish a Certified Local Government concerning historic preservation. After a discussion Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Matthew Wells to move forward with drafting an ordinance to establish a certified local government using an ordinance for the city of Independence, Kan., as a template. ...

The Bourbon County Courthouse is in need of various repairs that have not been addressed in several years, according to information presented by county employees during Monday’s county commission meeting. Bourbon County Chief Operations Officer Shane Walker and Maintenance Supervisor David Neville talked to commissioners about the need for repairs to the aging building which include washing, tuck pointing, waterproofing, sealing of windows and repairs to the elevator. ...

Fort Scott City Commissioners approved the purchase of equipment for the purpose of asphalting during a special meeting Monday evening. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

The Bourbon County Commission faces its second vacancy in recent months after former Commission Chairman Brandon Whisenhunt announced his resignation Monday evening. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

An effort by one Fort Scott City Commissioner to shorten the window for shooting fireworks in the city failed by a 3-2 vote during the commission’s May 20 meeting. Commissioner Kathryn Salsbury said she researched policies of other cities and counties in the region, including Southeast Kansas and Missouri, and discussed shortening the window for discharging fireworks for the benefit of pets, veterans and other people with PTSD...

The city of Fort Scott Public Works Department has been making improvements to a downtown public parking lot. See the print or online edition of the Tribune for complete story.

Bourbon County and state officials are trying to work together to address ongoing issues with the dam at Elm Creek Lake. On May 19, Bourbon County Commissioners allowed Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks District Fisheries Biologist Don George to speak during public comments as the topic was not on the meeting agenda...

The judge in a civil lawsuit involving Bourbon County Commissioners and solar energy companies granted a motion for partial dismissal of the plaintiffs in the case during a hearing May 19 in Bourbon County District Court. District Court Judge Richard Fisher heard oral arguments from attorneys in the case, which included defense attorney Jacob Bielenberg and attorneys representing Hinton Creek Solar LLC, Kingbird Solar Energy LLC and Tennyson Creek Solar LLC. ...

Fort Scott City Commissioners plan to wait until they receive more information on the wording of a sales tax ballot question before voting on a proposal. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday discussed the proposed separation of the public works and landfill departments, eventually voting to not vote on the separation during the meeting. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Severe thunderstorms that swept through Bourbon County dumped several inches of rain as storm sirens blared throughout the county Monday evening. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

A zoning advisory committee discussed its purpose and role and heard concerns from the public during the first of three forums Wednesday evening at the Uniontown Community Center. Six of the nine members of the advisory board were present; Brian Wade, Mary Pemberton, Pete Owenby, Jason Yount, Jim Banwart and Mike Hueston. About 40-50 people attended the forum...

A large variety of plants and flowers continue to flourish under the watchful care of Tri-Valley Horticulture Director and Therapist Austin Bolinger. New species and projects are regularly introduced at the Fort Scott greenhouse to provide residents with hands-on experience in planting and maintaining the foliage and blooms on a year-round basis...

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly has signed a proclamation approving updated drought declarations for Kansas counties. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County Commissioners have assigned human resources duties, at least temporarily, to the county clerk’s office. During a special meeting Monday afternoon, commissioners passed by a 2-1 vote a motion by Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee to assign the clerk the “additional duty of employee relations pertaining to the workplace.” Milburn-Kee and Commission Chairman Brandon Whisenhunt voted yes, while Commissioner David Beerbower voted no...

Bourbon County Commissioners Monday agreed to extend the timeframe for a zoning advisory board to present its recommendations to the commission. Commissioner David Beerbower said the board was set to conduct its regular meeting Tuesday evening at the courthouse, and a series of public forums have been scheduled. Beerbower said he will not be available Tuesday and needs another commissioner to sit in on the meeting...

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...

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...

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...

The Bourbon County Commission plans to conduct more research before deciding on a direction for the area of human resources. On Monday, commissioners discussed the topic of human resources after Commissioner David Beerbower said last week he wanted more clarification on what the duties of former commissioner Leroy Kruger were as the commission’s HR liaison. Commissioners have not named a replacement for Kruger...

The city of Fort Scott will officially pursue a Community Development Block Grant application for a project to make repairs to Memorial Hall. The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Matthew Wells to apply for a CDBG grant as presented during the commission meeting...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday discussed policy and procedures for employees and elected to wait on naming a new liaison for human resources. The commission voted unanimously to approve a motion by Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee to adopt a resolution that will be added to the employee handbook...

After a discussion on funding, Bourbon County Commissioners Monday decided to use money from the jail sales tax fund for the purchase of a new vehicle for the sheriff’s department. All commissioners voted in favor of Commission Chairman Brandon Whisenhunt’s motion to spend $66,914 from the jail sales tax fund to purchase a 2025 vehicle which will replace a 2014 vehicle involved in a two-vehicle accident April 4 in Allen County...

Al Niece, center, and his wife, Luanna, of Niece Products of Kansas, were presented with the 2025 Mayor’s Citizenship Award during the annual Chamber Dinner and Awards Celebration Thursday night at the River Room event center. See Wednesday's print or online edition for full story...

Bourbon County Commissioners are putting together plans for delving into the 2026 budget. During a lengthy commission meeting Monday, commissioners and County Clerk Susan Walker discussed a schedule and timeline for budget work as they plan to begin seeking budget information from department heads...

Bourbon County Commissioners have decided to table a request from Sheriff Bill Martin for the purchase of a new vehicle for the sheriff’s department. See Saturday's print or online edition for full story.

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday discussed the public hearing process for zoning. On April 14, commissioners appointed a nine-member zoning advisory board which will assist the commission in developing a zoning resolution. Commissioners also discussed the board’s proposed bylaws, which were to include a change in the number of members on the board...