Stories from Friday, December 30, 2016

"Transition" seems to be a word heard a lot lately as one president prepares to leave the White House and another takes office in January. Bourbon County had its own transition Thursday as one Bourbon County Commission chairperson made room for another. It all happened quickly -- within a half an hour -- and quietly -- except once when several papers from a desk drawer crashed to the floor...

The Tribune continues its look back at some of the more noteworthy stories of 2016 Work continued throughout 2016 on the $40.8 million USD 234 school bond projects voters approved in late 2014. Hundreds of workers worked over the summer on projects at all four district schools. ...

Gloria Marie Martone, age 92, resident of Fort Scott, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, at Mercy Hospital. The family will receive friends from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 3 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. The Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. following the visitation. Memorial are suggested to the St. Jude's Hospital, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main Fort Scott, KS...

Emilie Ann Ravnikar, age 77, La Cygne, Kan., passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016 at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Burial will be in the Richland Cemetery. Rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. ...

Paul Francis Kurtz, age 86, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016. Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial will be in the Pleasanton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. ...

William Robert "Bill" Schilling, age 85, a former resident of Fort Scott and more recently of Nyssa, Ore., passed away Dec. 9, 2016, in Boise, Idaho. He was born Sept. 18, 1931, in Deerfield, Mo., the son of William Louis Schilling and Alice Messick Endicott Schilling. ...

Janet Marie Short, 64, of Fort Scott, Kan., formerly of Pittsburg, Kan., passed away at 11:20 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, at the Fort Scott Manor. She was born Oct. 16, 1952, at Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Ian Austin and Mary Fern (Armstrong) Howell...

Farrell E. "Gene" Patton, age 90, rural Hume, Mo., passed away on Monday Dec. 26, 2016 at his home. He was born on Dec. 29, 1925 to William Kelly and Opal Truelove Patton in Phillipsburg, Mo. Gene was one of five children, graduated from Phillipsburg High School on May 19, 1944. ...