Stories from Friday, July 1, 2022

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday heard more information on the purpose and impact of a transient guest tax in the county. Citizens Mark McCoy and Mary Pemberton appeared before commissioners to explain how a transient guest tax works and how it could potentially impact Bourbon County. Later in the discussion, commissioners elected to have the topic placed on the meeting agenda in a couple of weeks as Commissioner Clifton Beth was not present...

During a June 20 work session, county officials compared payroll expenses for county departments over a five-year period. Bourbon County Chief Financial Officer Susan Bancroft said she pulled all payroll expenses from 2017-21 to make comparisons. County leaders are continuing to discuss possible solutions to address staffing shortages at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center after concerns were recently raised by Sheriff Bill Martin and BCLEC Major Bobby Reed...

Leona Maxine Garrett, 91, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Thursday morning June 30, 2022, at the Oak Pointe Nursing Home in Carthage, Mo.. She was born March 2, 1931, in Cato, Kan., the daughter of Wesley Curtis and Leona Florence (Coonrod) James. She married Jack Herbert Garrett Aug. 26, 1950, in Arcadia, Kan., and he preceded her in death Jan. 7, 2001...

Alfred Heinrich Basel, 86, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Monday morning, June 27, 2022, at the Girard Medical Center. He was born June 3, 1936, in Hanau, Germany, the son of Otto and Elisabeth (Froschhauser) Basel. After moving to the United States as a young man, Alfred married his first wife Brigitte whom he met in Germany, and together they had a daughter, Sonja. ...