Stories from Wednesday, December 30, 2015

From road and building projects to broadband internet and business expansion and other upgrades, the city of Fort Scott showed several signs of growth and development in 2015. The following are projects that are part of economic development in Fort Scott, some of which started this year and others that will carry over into 2016...

Another deputy will be added to the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office roster, sometime in 2016. Bourbon County Commissioners voted 2-0 Tuesday to accept a $125,000 U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant, which will pay a portion of one additional deputy over the next three years...

Doris Ilene Kyle (Linnebur) Kramer, 78, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Dec. 28, 2015. Doris retired from Cessna after 20 years of employment, she was a wonderful cook, avid collector, race fan, and could out fish everyone. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother; she will be dearly missed...

Walter L. Buffington, 100, passed away on Dec. 29, 2015. He was born on Nov. 10, 1915 in Golden City, Mo., to Leonard and Lucille Buffington. After graduating from high school in Golden City, he and his identical twin brother, Fred, relocated to Kansas City in 1938. ...

As the 2015 fiscal year drew to a close, Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday took a detailed look at the county's finances. Treasurer Rhonda Dunn provided the commissioners with detailed financial reports dated Dec. 23. After reviewing the reports, she recommended a thorough analysis be conducted of the employee benefits fund. She also agreed with commissioners that it might be time to consider hiring an additional employee possibly part-time to take care of day-to-day budget...

The Fort Scott Police Department received reports Wednesday of the possible circulation of counterfeit money. Fort Scott Police Chief Travis Shelton said officers are investigating the suspected use of counterfeit bills in at least two different local businesses. Businesses that had reported to police the possible use of fake money were McDonald's Restaurant, 2224 S. Main St., and two Pump 'n Pete's store locations at 1920 S. Main St., and 1135 E. Wall St...

Throughout the year, the Bourbon County Commissioners were faced with several large projects. Perhaps the biggest project is the construction of a new county jail, named the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center. In April, voters were asked to approve a .4 percent county-wide retail sales increase to fund a $6.8 million bond issue for the jail. The issue passed by 16 votes, perhaps once again proving every vote counts...