Chamber Coffee Hosted by the City At Memorial Hall on Sept. 4
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Obituary of David Michael Harney
David Michael Harney was born on 7 March 1935 in Winchester, Massachusetts, one of nine children of the late Edward Francis “Ted” Harney and Mabel Garland, of Arlington. In the late 1950s, David served in the US Army in Korea. He then studied to be a landscape architect and started a successful landscaping business in southern California.
In the 1970s Dave moved to Fort Scott and went into the truck-transport business. While Dave spent years traveling throughout the United States he maintained a home in Fort Scott, Kansas, where he had many close friends that he considered family. He enjoyed his friends, enjoyed life, and always had his many projects to work on.
In 2007 Dave built his dream home in Fort Scott and held a family reunion for his brothers and sisters and their offspring in 2008, including his “favorite nieces”. He received many offers to purchase his dream home and later sold it and moved into a smaller home which he then landscaped beautifully so that it became a showplace. In retirement David continued landscaping which he loved.
His family was important to David, and over the years he amassed a large collection of family photographs from the 1890s to present, as well as family letters, which he organized and digitized in preparation to creating a family book or video. David’s work on this project will be continued by his sister Linda and his niece Susan “Suki” Vierra.
David is survived by his brothers Richard Harney, Oregon; Peter Harney, Washington; and sister Linda (Harney) MacDonald, Wyoming; as well as his many “favorite” nieces and nephews on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, and West Coast.
There was cremation. Private burial will take place at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Arrangements were under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Edward Lee Ramsey

Edward Lee Ramsey, age 60, went to meet his Lord and Savior on August 28, 2025. Ed was born in Independence, Missouri on May 2,1965. He was the beloved son of Leonard Roscoe Ramsey and Mary Louise Ramsey and nephew of Martha Ann Gentry. He was the proud and loving father to Garrett and Rebecca Ramsey, Tanner Ramsey, and Yheana Josol.
He was an even prouder Granddad to Grady Ramsey, Emery Ramsey, Remington Ramsey and Waylon Ramsey. Ed was the loving brother to Dana Ramsey, Bob Padgett and Terry Fritz. He was a loving uncle to Ross and Brenna Nolan, Spencer Nolan, and Brook Roberts. Ed was married to his beloved and caring wife IanLou Matanod Ramsey and loved and appreciated all of his family here and in the Philippines.
Ed was a loving husband and good father. He preached the family motto “Family over everything”. Ed (Eddie) graduated from Uniontown High School in 1983 and then continued his education and football career at Ottawa University where he earned the name “Big Ed”. Ed was a passionate lifelong teacher, coach and mentor to many. One his favorite motivators was to say “Pin your ears back and go”. His entire life Ed loved spending his time hunting (especially with Max, Chip, Gunner and Molly), fishing, and riding his ATV. There were many memories made enjoying the great outdoors.
After retirement, Ed was fortunate enough to be able to return home to the Uniontown community where he worked as a bus driver and served First Missionary Baptist Church as a deacon. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
Following cremation, services will be held for Ed at the First Missionary Baptist Church (100 5th Street) in Uniontown, Kansas on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. After the service, we will lead a procession to Ed’s favorite spot on the hill- we will have a prayer fire and fellowship for all who wish to attend. If you feel led to give, your donations will go towards an education fund for Ed and Ianlou’s daughter Yheana. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
Obituary of Kenneth Bradley Hart

Kenneth Bradley Hart age 88 of rural Garland, quietly slipped away on August 30, 2025 at his home. He was born September 1, 1936, the son of Merle Franklin Hart and Martha Lou (Bradley) Hart at the end of a long, hot summer at the home of his grandparents Henry and Louisa (Corn) Bradley in Chetopa, Kansas.
He spent his early years in Kansas City, Missouri playing in the woods, climbing trees, shooting wasp nests with a slingshot, flinging mudballs at clean cars on the highway and annoying his older brother and baby sister.
Halfway through his 8th grade year, His parents sold their house in Kansas City and purchased Hart’s Shoe Shop on Wall Street and the family made their home in the back of the shop. Kenneth graduated from Fort Scott High School as part of the Greatest Class of 1954. He attended Fort Scott Community College and Pittsburg State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1960 and completing a master’s degree in secondary school administration later.
Seeing Vietnam on the horizon, he joined the local National Guard unit, serving 6 months in Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and 6 years in the National Guard with training in survey and artillery. During basic, without knowing it, he won the medal as Battalion marksman.
He held several jobs during his lifetime starting with the soda fountain next to the shoe shop, assistant manager of the Fox Theater, a short stint on the railroad, and Bruce Marble and Granite Works. It was while he was at Bruce’s that he was hired by the Metz, Missouri superintendent to teach English, Business, and Social studies. After seeing the class of 1964 through their high school years, he accepted a position at Fort Scott High School teaching English and sponsoring the Crimson yearbook, the junior class and the Junior-Senior Prom. While the community college was housed in the same building as the high school, he also sponsored the Maroon yearbook and taught some classes there.
After leaving teaching in 1982, he worked at Lincoln National Insurance processing claims and working in the mail room until the company left Fort Scott. He formally retired from there New Year’s Eve 1992 and was a full-time father and cattleman.
In 1957 he married Pauline Sue Coonrod with whom he traveled to 49 of the 50 states. He never made it to Michigan but he circumnavigated it so he didn’t care that he never made it there. He and Pauline also traveled internationally to Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Grand Cayman, Great Britain and Ireland (where he ate some terrible peas).
After he and Pauline divorced, he hung up his travel bags and focused on his relationship with God, family, and hunting.
On April 20, 1983 he married Evangeline Faith Simpson in Pittsburg, Kansas and began a new adventure. Late that summer he received Jesus as his savior and began attending church and singing in the choir at Independent Bible Baptist Church in Pittsburg. He later served as song leader, Sunday school superintendent and VBS director.
Kenneth and Evangeline became interested in genealogy tracing their family histories for several years until their sons were born then he focused on raising his sons, playing video games and watching movies with them and rewriting the story books they tossed in his lap. He introduced them to really good music from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. He often sang along to the radio much to his son’s chagrin.
As part of that focus, he moved his growing family to worship closer to home at Cherry Grove Baptist Church and later moving with them to Freedom Spirit Church. He stopped attending church when his hearing failed but continued to support the church his wife called home which is presently Faith Church.
He spent his retirement taking over his father-in-law Stanley Simpson’s cattle operation, deer hunting with his brother Merle Jr and reading and listening to books. He also loved target shooting and was a proud member of the National Rifle Association. He often lamented that he hadn’t purchased a lifetime membership when he was only $50 away from it.
He loved watching birds and over the years he put up houses and feeders for Carolina wrens, bluebirds, Cardinals, Purple Martins and hummingbirds. He was especially pleased with the number of Cardinals and hummingbirds he attracted.
In the last decade or so of his life he became a fan of Royals and Cardinals baseball, football (he thought college was more interesting than the NFL) and NASCAR (for the crashes).
Survivors include his wife of 42 years Evangeline of the home, five sons Keegan, Trevor, Justin, and Dalton Hart of the home and Zachary Hart of Fort Scott. His sister June (Gene) Christy of Girard, his sister-in-law Dolores Daum Hart of Fort Scott, one nephew Mark (Angela) Christy, five nieces Candice Hart (Craig Dunn), Kimberly Hart-McBride (Ron McBride), Kelly Hart (John Lane), Gina Christy, Samantha Christy-Dangermond (Tom Dangermond), nine great nieces and nephews, seven great grand nieces and nephews and his lifelong best friend Don (Mim) Carlson and his devoted cat Perce Blackborow.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved brother Merle Hart Jr and all his first cousins. He was also preceded in death by his good friends Howard Kivett, Hubert Leonard, and Norman Cross and his beloved dogs, Patrice Lamumba, Boromir, Butterrum, Codi, Galadriel, and Rommel Panzer and cats Chubby and Ash Chippy.
The family extends their thanks to everyone at Gentiva Hospice for their care, especially Christina, Treva and Michelle. You are superstars!
Memorial services will be held at 4:00 PM Tuesday, September 9th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:00 PM Monday the 8th at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Pleasant View Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the National Rifle Association, the Fort Scott Public Library, or Faith Church building fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
FSCC Trustees Meet at noon on Sept. 4 to Review Budget Items
The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a board workshop on Thursday, September 4 at 12:00 pm in the Cleaver-Boileau-Burris Agriculture Building to review budget items. No action will be taken at this meeting.
Submitted by
Juley McDaniel
Director of Human Resources
Fort Scott Community College
Ft. Scott Fire Dept. 9/11 Stair Climb / 5K / Walk Challenge Is September 6
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Sept. 3
Letter to the Editor: Deb McCoy
Policy vs Procedures vs Codes Enforcement
In the 1/24/25 Tribune two article titles are next to each other, “Another Historic building is on the Brink” and “City, Building owner still discussing repairs for 118 E. Wall St.” We have had seven buildings in our Historic Downtown District since 2017 that have been demolished or have had structural issues that have made the building inhabitable. There have been seven different ways that the process was handled. The burden of those demolished seems to always fall back on the taxpayers in our community in some way or another. Why aren’t there policies and procedures that go step by step in dealing with these building issues.
The City paid an organization to come into our community in 2017and make recommendations to improve our community. The Fort Scott Planning Commission reviewed the findings and
came up with a proposal based off of the recommendations put forth. The Planning Commission met with the City Commission in a public hearing on October 29th, 2018 and presented a proposal for the updated 2018 Comprehensive Plan. The comprehensive plan and future land use was adopted and approved by the governing body on November 20th, 2018, creating Ordinance 3542.
The purpose of the plan cited a number of characteristics. A physical plan, a long range comprehensive design that included the city and the county, a statement of policy, and a plan to help guide the decision making process.
Chapter Eight in the comprehensive plan references the Role of Code Enforcement or “police power” to help ensure that the health and safety of residents is not adversely affected by property conditions. (8.2) “Lack of maintenance, and sometimes willful acts, can create blighted neighborhoods, and substandard dwelling units.” Property values as well as community self-image is affected by blight and lack of maintenance. The role of a Code Enforcement
program rests upon each citizen acting as a good neighbor and also implies responsibilities.That coupled with lack of investment in infrastructure such as improved streets or sidewalks breeds an aura of negativism which impedes a desirable “community spirit.”
(8.3) “One of the main goals of any code enforcement program is to bring attention to code violations which could have a negative impact on the neighborhood or community. Through identification and education many times cooperative, responsible property owners will themselves eliminate the issue. If cooperation fails, formal enforcement including tickets or fines and/or removal of the offensive item may be necessary.”
(8.6) Some of the goals and strategies suggested an “increase code enforcement activity in order to help protect neighborhoods from decay, decline and disinvestment.” This can be accomplished with a review of all “city laws to ensure their adequate scope and coverage and appropriate penalties for lack of compliance.” Secondly, “consider strategies of direct communication with the community for notification of code violations.” Third, “schedule neighborhoods for inspections annually, and respond more timely to code violations.” Lastly, continue commitment of greater City financial resources to demolition and removal of housing and other structures which are unsafe and dangerous.
My questions are whether or not we have policies and procedures for the codes department and are they listed on our City Website? Does the City Codes department have established guidelines and processes to follow when there is an infraction. How often does the Codes Officer visit the historical buildings that are being remodeled? Is the demolition that is taking place compromising the structure and the outer walls of the building? In the historical district of the city when a building is being seriously considered to purchase, does the codes officer meet up with the individuals and go through the entire building with the codes book educating and
instructing them on what a person can and cannot do when renovating the building, giving the buyer the options of renovations and costs. This is done in other cities.
A statement was made that we do not have policy and procedures for a building that has been red tagged. Kansas State has a process for local authorities to declare a property as a public nuisance due to being vacant and/or abandoned. The timeline for their recommended action to declare a property as a public nuisance is not a drawn out process. Can we adapt these policies and procedures for our community?
This brings me to the building that had a gas leak on August 13th, 2025. The Quit Claim Deed took place on July 27th, 2023. Demolition had taken place on the inside of the building. Did the demolition compromise the outside walls of the building causing a weakness of the structure. Broken windows continued to expose the building to the conditions of outer environmental elements. This building has been under radar for more than two years. Why did the city not take a moreproactive role in the deterioration of this historical building that is right across the street from theCity hall? The excuse was that they could not get in touch with the owners. And yet in the articleprinted on January 24, 2025, the owners of the building were revealed. I am thankful that we didnot have a major catastrophe that could have caused major damage to multiple buildings.
Policies? Procedures? Enforcements? Citations? A City Court who enforces the Citations? As quoted in the 2018 Comprehensive Plan, (8.1) “While in many communities the subject of code enforcement would not command its own chapter in a Comprehensive Plan, the leaders in Fort Scott feel strongly that the current situation be clearly identified so that the community can improve in the areas of nuisance and inadequate property maintenance that are found
throughout the community. This perception by community leaders of the importance of code enforcement seems to be well supported by citizens.”
That was in 2018. We are in 2025. It has been seven years. What are the intentions to achieve and sustain a higher level of this standard of living?
Deb McCoy
8/31/25
Bourbon County Coalition Meets on Sept. 3
The next Bourbon County Coalition General Membership meeting will be this Wednesday, September 3rd at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference room at the Scottview Apartments, 315 S. Scott Ave.
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Agenda
September 3, 2025 1:00 PM
Scottview Conference Room
315 S. Scott Ave
- Welcome:
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Program: Kansas Renewal Institute
- Open Forum:
- Adjournment: The next General Membership meeting will be October 1, 2025.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Sept. 2
Old Settler’s Picnic Parade 2025: Remembering the Past, Planning the Future
The 120th Old Settlers’ Picnic festivities in Uniontown culminated with the parade on September 1.
Rain threatened, but did not happen for this annual picnic, which was much appreciated by participants.
Vendors lined the sidewalk in the town’s square, and children and their loved ones lined the streets waiting for the anticipated candy that is traditionally thrown to viewers of the parade.
The theme this year was Remembering the Past-Planning the Future.
The parade grand marshals were the Bill and Doris George family, with four generations on the haywagon, representing the legacy of this local farm family.
Other activities from August 29 to September 1 included a street dance, a 5K run/walk, a kids’ fishing derby, rodeos, a community church service, a car show, a baby contest, and numerous games and prizes, along with the annual recognitions.



























