Stories from Tuesday, April 7, 2020

In a news release issued late Tuesday morning, the Bourbon County Health Department announced the first death in Bourbon County related to COVID-19. "It is with our deepest regret that we need to announce the loss of our first resident of Bourbon County, KS (elderly male), due to COVID-19, plus other health conditions. ...

Three more Bourbon County, Kan., positive COVID-19 tests were confirmed Sunday morning, bringing Bourbon County’s total number of cases to seven, according to a news release issued Sunday by the SEK Multi-County Health Departments. The testing was confirmed through a reference laboratory that was used. ...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday approved an amended resolution regarding declaration of a local state of emergency. Director of Finance Susan Bancroft said language was changed on the resolution, which failed to pass during the commission’s March 31 meeting...

Marilyn Kay McCutchen, age 74, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, April 6, 2020, at K.U. Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. There was cremation. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Marilyn Young, age 88, a resident of Leawood, Kan., passed away Saturday, April 4, 2020, at the Glenwood Village of Overland Park. She was born November 19, 1931, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Elmer Phillips and Marjorie Eagon Phillips. Marilyn graduated from the Fort Scott High School and the Fort Scott Junior College. ...

John Thomas Durbin Jr., 54, died suddenly on Monday, March 30 from complications related to illness. John was born on May 21, 1965 in Salinas, Calif., to John Durbin, Sr. and Mary Durbin, the youngest of five children. John is survived by his wife, Kelli Durbin (Long), his four children: Micheal Murphy, John, Micheal, and Jeffery Durbin; two step-daughters and a step-son: Katelyn, Ladonna, and Dylan Long; his three older sisters: Kathy Biggert, Dee Anna Poole, and Faith Durbin; six grandchildren: Taylor, Rebecca, Ayden, Jorden, Knox, and Waylon; and one great-grandchild: Vincent, as well as four nephews and a niece: Jimmy Poole, Jr., Brandon Poole, Matt Brown, Jessica Brown, and Daniel Durbin.. ...

Rev. James O. Johnson, age 74, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

Even though the Bourbon County courthouse remains closed to the public, all county employees are back to work, as of midnight Sunday. County Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said a meeting with department heads took place Sunday afternoon. “They (employees) are either at their offices or at home,” Oharah said...