Stories from Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Tonja Lynne Stockton, previously of Odessa, Mo., died on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Centerpoint Medical Center, Independence, Mo. She was 56. She was born on Aug. 12, 1968, in Northridge, Calif., and later adopted in 1974 by Ronald and Barbara Albright. She attended Fort Scott schools, graduating from Fort Scott High School in 1987...

Darrell Stephen “Steve” Houston, 75, of Fulton, Kan., passed away March 11, 2025, at Advent Health in Shawnee Mission, Kan. He was born July 18, 1949, in Nevada, Mo., the son of Willard Lafayette Houston and Margaret Ann (Barnes) Houston. He married Aleen, and they have been married for over 51 years...

James Anthony “Jimmy” Houdashelt, age 60, resident of Fredonia, Kan., passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Candle Rock Nursing Home in Fredonia. There was cremation. The family will receive friends from 1 until 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Cheney Witt Carriage House, 301 S. ...

Rosemary Hambric, 92, passed away in Joplin, Mo., March 9, 2025. Following cremation, private family services will take place at a later date. Services are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

William “Bill” D. Hall, age 83, of Fort Scott passed away on March 14, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. He was born on March 25, 1941, in Fort Scott the son of Bill Hall and Margie Lyons. Bill graduated from Fort Scott High School, Fort Scott Community College and Pittsburg State University. He also proudly served four years in the United States Navy. His working years were that of a carpenter...

Arthur McCammon “Mac” French, 75, of Fort Scott, passed away early Tuesday morning, March 11, 2025. He was born Oct. 7, 1949, in Pittsburg, Kan., the son of Arthur McCammon French and Patricia Ruth (Bicknel) French. He married Nema Burton and together they had two children, Tommy and Courtney. They later divorced, and Mac moved to the Dallas, Texas area to work. He married Shawn Murphy later in life, and she preceded him in death on Jan. 9, 2021...

Viola May Campbell, 92, of Fort Scott, passed away Friday morning, March 14, 2025, at Guest Home Estates. She was born Sept. 17, 1932, in Pleasanton, Kan., the daughter of Harley Otis Johnson and Pearl May (Shaffer) Johnson. She married Fred Campbell, Jr. Sept. 2, 1951, in Fort Scott, and he survives of the home...

Faye Cowan, 106, a resident of Mapleton, Kan., passed away Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Guest Home Estates in Fort Scott. She was born Sept. 3, 1918, in Franklin Township in Bourbon County, Kan., one of 10 children to Samuel Fredrick Brillhart and Lillie (Tyler) Brillhart. She married Floyd A. “Buck” Cowan Dec. 14, 1941, in Mapleton, and he preceded her in death in 2003...

Bourbon County Commissioner Leroy Kruger stepped down from his position during Monday night’s commission meeting. Kruger, who was elected as District 3 commissioner in 2024, participated in votes on business items early in the meeting. Following public comments, Kruger said he wished to speak...

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday approved a lease agreement and monetary agreement concerning a new baseball franchise slated to begin play in 2026. In separate motions, commissioners unanimously approved a lease agreement for the LaRoche Baseball Complex between the city of Fort Scott and the Mid-America Baseball League, and a monetary partnership agreement between the city and the league...

Representatives of Fort Scott Community College provided updates on various programs during a community forum March 12 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Updates were given on music and nursing. FSCC Dean of Students Vanessa Poyner and FSCC Vice President of Finance and Operations Missy Scott also provided updates on their departments...