Fort Scott, Fort Scott Police Department

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – October 6–7, 2026

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Fort Scott Police Day Sheets

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – October 6–7, 2026

Fort Scott police, fire and EMS logged 122 calls for service on October 6 and 7, 2026.

October 6, 2026

Traffic Stop — 12:05 AM, 11th St, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-01609FS. Disposition: RPTG.

EMS — 1:59 AM, 2401 S Horton, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: AMBU.

Check Vehicle — 3:04 AM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Fire / Alarm — 4:06 AM, 715 Burke, Fort Scott. Disposition: 22.

Fire / Structure — 5:37 AM, 2322 S Main St. Disposition: FIRE.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 6:27 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Accident / Non-Injury — 8:09 AM, Hwy 31. Complaint No. 26-0948BB. Disposition: RPTG.

27,28,29 Checks — 8:15 AM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: 22.

Traffic Complaint / Other — 8:19 AM, 135th. Disposition: HBD.

Traffic Stop — 8:32 AM, 175th. Disposition: 22.

Check Vehicle — 9:01 AM, 2104 215th. Disposition: HBO.

Runaway — 9:25 AM, 802 S Margrave St, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-01610FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Seeking Advice/Info — 9:58 AM, 201 S National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: 77.

Juvenile — 11:10 AM, 802 W 18th St. Disposition: RPTS.

Theft — 11:23 AM, 915 S Horton, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01612FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Assault — 11:24 AM, 915 S Horton, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Fire / Other — 11:47 AM, 2229 S Main St. Disposition: FIRE.

Follow-Up — 11:56 AM, 303 Washington St. Disposition: HBO.

Fire / Alarm — 12:21 PM, 1486 215th. Disposition: FIRE.

Harassment — 12:50 PM, 107 N Eddy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBD.

Seeking Advice/Info — 12:56 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: 77.

911 / Hang Up — 1:30 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBD.

Lost Property — 1:33 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01615FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Traffic Stop — 1:38 PM, 75th. Disposition: WW.

Fire / Grass — 1:48 PM, 600 Ivy Ln. Disposition: FIC.

911 / Accidental — 1:52 PM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: HBD.

Theft — 1:53 PM, 2011 S Main St. Complaint No. 26-01613FS. Disposition: 77.

Theft — 1:53 PM, 2011 S Main St. Complaint No. 26-01614FS. Disposition: 77.

Lost Property — 2:02 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

EMS / Medical Alarm — 2:19 PM, 1527 Beech, Fort Scott. Disposition: AMBU.

Remove Subject — 3:42 PM, 16 N Ransom, Fort Scott. Disposition: 77.

Traffic Stop — 3:57 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Complaint / Livestock — 4:23 PM, 245th. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control — 4:33 PM, National Ave. Disposition: 77.

Vehicle Unlock — 5:04 PM, 1521 S Eddy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info — 5:34 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 5:36 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 5:41 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 5:58 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 6:12 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Follow-Up — 6:36 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 6:45 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Harassment — 6:59 PM, 2500 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01616FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Traffic Stop — 7:02 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Seeking Advice/Info — 7:06 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 7:20 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:27 PM, 1920 S Main St. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:43 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Accident / Hit and Run — 7:58 PM, 735 S Scott, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01617FS. Disposition: RPTA.

Traffic Stop — 7:58 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:10 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Complaint — 8:27 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: HBD.

Check Vehicle — 8:29 PM, Beech, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 8:54 PM, 5th St. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:03 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:06 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:12 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:14 PM, National Ave. Disposition: WW.

EMS — 9:16 PM, 2515 Deer Rd. Disposition: AMBU.

Traffic Stop — 9:19 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:26 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:57 PM, 6th St. Disposition: WW.

EMS — 9:58 PM, 802 Shepherd St #4, Fort Scott. Disposition: AMBU.

Traffic Stop — 10:00 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 10:07 PM, 1411 E Wall, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 10:08 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: * Multiple.

Traffic Stop — 10:18 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Check Vehicle — 10:52 PM, 2204 S Main St. Disposition: HBO.

Public Assist — 11:09 PM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 11:22 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Other Agency Assist — 11:30 PM, 7 S Crawford #1. Disposition: HBO.

EMS / Transfer — 11:48 PM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: * Multiple.

October 7, 2026

Check Subject — 12:04 AM, 1135 E Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Fire / Alarm — 3:07 AM, 401 Woodlandhills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: 22.

Vehicle Unlock — 6:54 AM, 260 Limestone Rd, Moran. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 7:22 AM, 6th St. Disposition: WW.

Burglary — 7:38 AM, 510 Andrick St. Complaint No. 26-01618FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Animal Control — 7:48 AM, Crawford. Disposition: 77.

Battery — 8:49 AM, 1105 E 12th, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01619FS. Disposition: RPTC.

Suspicious Activity — 9:01 AM, 299 Ivory Rd. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info — 9:10 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info — 9:34 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

27,28,29 Checks — 9:56 AM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: HBD.

Traffic Complaint / Livestock — 11:24 AM, 125th, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info — 11:42 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 11:51 AM, 215th. Disposition: WW.

Domestic / Verbal — 12:36 PM, 1st St. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / County — 12:36 PM, 215th, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 1:08 PM, 1920 S Main St. Disposition: NTA.

Domestic / Verbal — 1:21 PM, 121 N Washington St. Disposition: HBO.

911 / Accidental — 1:24 PM, 1604 S National Ave, Fort Scott. Disposition: 22.

Follow-Up — 1:50 PM, 904 E Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 2:21 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Complaint / Other — 2:32 PM, 165th, Fort Scott. Disposition: 77.

Traffic Complaint / Livestock — 2:37 PM, 500 Holly, Fulton. Disposition: HBO.

Fraud — 3:18 PM, 293 E 20th St, Fort Scott. Complaint No. 26-0949BB. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 3:56 PM, 808 Shepherd St #10, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Juvenile — 4:35 PM, 900 E 3rd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / County — 5:21 PM, 293 E 20th St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 5:33 PM, 101 Old Fort Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 6:21 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Follow-Up — 7:17 PM, 293 E 20th St. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 7:39 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:02 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Lost Property — 8:13 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: 22.

Traffic Stop — 8:15 PM, 1819 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: WW.

Check Vehicle — 8:22 PM, 902 E Wall, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Stop — 8:24 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:25 PM, 902 E Wall, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:44 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:50 PM, Shep’s Curve, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:55 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Disturbance — 8:55 PM, 121 N Washington St. Complaint No. 26-01620FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Traffic Stop — 9:25 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:34 PM, Shep’s Curve. Disposition: WW.

Other Agency Assist — 9:47 PM, 1010 Park Ave, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBD.

Seeking Advice/Info — 10:18 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Trespassing — 10:22 PM, 2152 Native Rd, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Complaint — 10:25 PM, 6th St. Disposition: HBD.

EMS — 10:37 PM, 206 N National Ave. Complaint No. 26-01621FS. Disposition: * Multiple.

EMS — 11:26 PM, 802 Shepherd St #4, Fort Scott. Disposition: AMBU.

Traffic Stop — 11:27 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Total Calls for Service: 122

Documents:

Kansas

Drive To Zero Coalition launches award, webinar series

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The Kansas Drive To Zero Coalition is expanding its efforts to engage communities and strengthen transportation safety across the state through a new community recognition program and webinar series.

The Drive To Zero Community Award will recognize city, county and tribal governments for their efforts to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.

“Communities across Kansas are taking meaningful steps to improve safety on their roads, and we want to recognize and share those efforts,” said Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “The Drive To Zero award and webinar series provide opportunities for communities to learn from one another, share successful strategies and continue building a culture of safety across the state.”

Applications for the award will be accepted from Nov. 2 through Dec. 18. Award recipients will be recognized during the 2027 Kansas Transportation Conference, March 9-10 in Wichita. Visit www.ksdot.gov/DTZ-Community for more information about the award.

The Kansas Department of Transportation administers the award program with support from the League of Kansas Municipalities, Kansas Association of Counties, Kansas Department of Commerce and AAA Kansas.

The coalition also has launched a webinar series to help communities strengthen local transportation safety efforts and advance the coalition’s vision of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

Upcoming webinars will feature lessons learned from transportation safety projects, funding opportunities, the Safe System Approach, behavioral safety initiatives and other resources that can help communities develop and implement effective transportation safety strategies.

The next webinar, “Building an Authentic Commitment to Safety,” will be held Oct. 13 from noon to 1 p.m. Community partners and others interested in learning more about local transportation safety efforts can register at https://kutc.ku.edu/drive-zero-webinar-series.

The Drive To Zero Coalition encourages communities and transportation partners across Kansas to participate in the new programs and use available resources to help make transportation safe for everyone.

For the latest updates on road closures and conditions, visit KanDrive.gov, call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas. Travelers who need assistance on the highway can dial *47 for the KHP or *582 while on the Kansas Turnpike. If it’s an emergency, call 911.

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Hosts Customer Service Workshop Oct. 20

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Join us for an upcoming Hospitality & Customer Service Training Workshop focused on turning good customer service into memorable hospitality!

ELEVATE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Hospitality & Customer Service Training Workshop
with Tim Norrell, Founder of Passion Hospitality

Elevate the Customer Experience flyer

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

⏰ 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Empress Event Center
7 N. Main St. | Fort Scott, KS
☕ Light refreshments will be provided!

Turn good customer service into memorable hospitality!

Join Tim Norrell, founder of Passion Hospitality, for an engaging and practical workshop focused on creating experiences that make customers and visitors feel seen, valued and appreciated.

This training will provide practical takeaways that you and your staff can begin putting to work immediately.

BRING YOUR TEAM!

This workshop is great for:

Business Owners | Managers | Frontline Employees | Retail | Restaurants | Lodging | Attractions | Professional Services | Anyone who serves customers or visitors

Whether you’re working directly with customers, managing a team, welcoming visitors or representing your organization, this workshop will offer useful ways to strengthen the experience you provide.

COST

$29 | Chamber Members
$39 | Non Members

REGISTER TODAY!

RSVP by Thursday, October 15

fortscott.com
620-223-3566

We hope you’ll join us and take advantage of this opportunity to bring your team, strengthen your customer service, and elevate the experience you provide!

Hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
Supported by Network Kansas

Government, Kansas

6th District Nominating Commission to Meet Oct. 7

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TOPEKA—The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 7, to review applications for a district judge vacancy.

The judicial vacancy will be created when District Judge Mark Ward retires October 9.

The 6th Judicial District is composed of Bourbon, Linn, and Miami counties.

Applicants

  • Joshua Albin, Andover, attorney, Adams Jones Law Firm, P.A.; city attorney, Burden
  • James Crux, Pittsburg, Bourbon County attorney
  • Madeline Jensen, Spring Hill, assistant county attorney, Bourbon County
  • Jacklyn Paletta, Paola, municipal judge, Louisburg; county counselor, Linn County, Pascolo Law LLC
  • Terra Tecchio, Ft. Scott, attorney, Tecchio Consulting, LLC and Baseley Law Office

Public access

The meeting is open to the public. It will be by videoconference and livestreamed on the Kansas judicial branch YouTube channel.

To comment:

  • Call 1-845-361-8917
  • Enter Conference Code 3872788
  • Press #

Accommodation

Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible: ADA@kscourts.gov, 785-296-2256, TTY at 711.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for district judge, a nominee must be:

  • at least 30 years old;
  • a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and
  • a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

Appointment process

The nominating commission seeks nominations and then meets to interview the nominees. Interviews are open to the public. The commission selects three to five people whose names are submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements.

The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.

Term of office

After serving one year in office, a new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

Nominating commission

The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Larkin Walsh as the nonvoting chair; Mark McCoy and Zackery Reynolds, Fort Scott; Patton Apple and Ronald Wood, Louisburg; Todd Schneider, Mound City; and Mary Stephenson, Paola.

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – Oct 7, 2026

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Bourbon County Sheriff’s Report

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – October 7, 2026

Arrested

Dalager, William Paul (Age 29) — Arrested 10/6/2026 11:47 AM by Douglas County. Charge: Other Agency Hold. Bond: $0.00 No Bond.

Courter, Nicholas (Age 22) — Arrested 10/6/2026 11:47 AM by Douglas County. Charge: Other Agency Hold. Bond: $0.00 No Bond.

Clatterbuck, Jeremy (Age 48) — Arrested 10/6/2026 11:48 AM by Douglas County. Charge: Other Agency Hold. Bond: $0.00 No Bond.

Released

Garrison, Julian — Released 10/6/2026 10:33 AM via Transferred Out (DGCO).

Lewis, Melvin — Released 10/6/2026 10:33 AM via Transferred Out (DGCO).

Sheridan, Caleb C — Released 10/6/2026 10:08 AM via Transferred Out (DGCO).

Wolford, John Ross — Released 10/6/2026 10:07 AM via Transferred Out (DGCO).

Total Inmates Released: 4

Documents:

Bourbon County

Backhoe bids die without a second; personnel motion fails after three closed sessions

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FORT SCOTT — Five motions to buy a backhoe for the county transfer station died without a second at Monday night’s Bourbon County Commission meeting, and a personnel motion that came out of more than an hour of closed-door discussion failed with three commissioners opposed.

Chairman Gregg Motley presided, with Commissioners Joe Allen, David Beerbower, Mika Milburn-Kee and Samuel Tran, County Counselor Bob Johnson and County Clerk Ann Clarkson. The posted agenda listed a 6 p.m. start; the meeting began at the commission’s usual 5:30.

Routine business

The board approved the agenda, the Sept. 28 minutes, accounts payable and the August financials. The packet lists an accounts-payable batch of $463,336.56 due Oct. 2, about $302,000 of it in Blue Cross Blue Shield medical and dental premiums for August through October. The board also approved corrections to the Sept. 18 accounts payable and a set of tax roll corrections. (On Sept. 28 the board had approved $15,421.96 that was left off that week’s accounts-payable report.) Motley noted that documents executed the previous week were in the agenda packet. No public comment cards were turned in.

Three executive sessions, then a failed motion

The agenda listed an executive session on employee performance, requested by Tran, to include Dr. Cohen of HR Solutions On Call, the county’s human resources contractor, Johnson and the commissioners. On Sept. 28 the board had given Tran authority to ask Cohen to come handle personnel matters in person.

Tran moved three executive sessions in a row under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1), for non-elected personnel matters dealing with job performance, each including the five commissioners, Johnson and Cohen. The first lasted 25 minutes and the second 20, and the board came back from both with no action.

Returning from the third, 20-minute session with action, Milburn-Kee moved to “give that authority to Dr. Cohen to make those changes.” Tran asked her to “define the changes a little bit more.” Milburn-Kee said several changes had been suggested, and the motion meant “the very last one that let Mr. Allen work with Cohen to make the payroll change forms.” Tran seconded. The motion failed on a voice vote, with Allen, Beerbower, and Motley opposing.

Under future agenda items, Milburn-Kee asked whether the personnel matter would come back. “To me, it’s until it’s resolved,” Tran said, and asked that it go on the agenda.

No budget update; asbestos results pending

The agenda had financial consultant Matt Lawn down for a budget update, with the certified 2027 budget in the packet. Lawn was not at the meeting, so that item was skipped. The board adopted the 2027 budget, not to exceed 56.678 mills, on Sept. 28.

On the asbestos inspection and courthouse move, Beerbower said the inspection has been done but he has not received the results. He said crews would start IT and window work at the new court location Tuesday morning.

Transfer station: Allen reports KDHE answers

Under Tran’s transfer station item, Tran called Kevin “Skitch” Allen, a local commercial hauler who uses the transfer station, to the table. At the Sept. 28 meeting Allen had suggested buying a pressure washer for the station’s equipment, and Beerbower had raised concerns about state rules on wash-water runoff.

Allen said he had emailed his report to four commissioners and had tried several times to call Beerbower. Beerbower said he had not gotten a phone call. “On my personal phone, you’re blocked,” he told Allen. After Allen asked him to repeat it “for the crowd at home,” Beerbower added, “because it’s my personal phone.”

Allen then reported on two questions he had put to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He said KDHE told him the station can use a pressure washer, because the grate at the municipal solid waste area already drains to a catch basin and what he understood to be a 1,500-gallon sludge tank, and that it would only need an addition to the county’s state permit. He said two roll-off dumpsters at the top of the construction-and-demolition hill, one for tires and one for trash, would also only need a permit addition, as long as the trash is brought down and emptied once a week. He said the county owns about six roll-off boxes, two of them now full of tires, and that KDHE suggested 20-yard boxes, whose shorter sides make it easier to throw things over the top.

Beerbower said he had found the same thing about the wash rack: the tipping floor meets the standards for one. He called the roll-off idea “a very good and doable suggestion,” said it should be passed on to Public Works, and suggested starting with at least one dumpster. Allen said landfill employees had been led to believe the roll-offs were illegal: “So it’s not illegal. It’s good to go.”

Who pays for the transfer station raise?

Beerbower then took up his item on the 5% wage increase in the 2027 budget. Transfer station employees are paid from fees, not property tax, he said, so their 5% in the 2027 budget has to come from the station’s existing budget, from a rate increase, or not at all. On Sept. 28 his motion to raise station rates and give station employees 15% died without a second.

Beerbower said the budget figures showed a 2025 carryover of about $96,000 for the station that “sure didn’t go back into the transfer station.” (On Sept. 28, Motley reported that the audit showed a $96,000 surplus for the station in 2025.) If it had, he said, “we wouldn’t be talking about” the backhoe, “because we had $96,000 we could have purchased it.” Beerbower also pointed to $35,000 that he said had been applied to the bond, and Tran asked what happens to the $35,000 the station is no longer paying toward its building; Motley said that had been accounted for in the budget. Motley said the carryover stays in the station’s cash reserve and that fee increases could pay for the raise.

Tran said his understanding was that the 5% was already in the station’s budget. “If it’s in their budget, they can do whatever they want with their budget, not come back to the table and ask for more money,” he said. Rather than ask the public to pay more, he said, the county should look internally for the money. Beerbower agreed to ask Lawn how the raise will be paid. No action was taken.

The packet for the item also included a written memo from Milburn-Kee calling for a formal compensation survey and a structured pay plan, a 1.5 to 2% cost-of-living increase plus a performance-based pool of up to 5% in total, before wage decisions are made position by position. The memo was not discussed. The packet also included a Linn County job listing for an equipment operator at $15.09 to $18.91 an hour.

HR proposals close Wednesday

Allen said the county’s request for proposals for human resources services closes Wednesday, Oct. 7; he said he had mistakenly written Oct. 5 as the deadline. He said he believed there were three responses so far, two from corporations and one from an individual, and that the board would decide next Monday.

Milburn-Kee asked whether applicants must meet the RFP’s requirements, and said changing them afterward would be “setting yourself up to make deviations” for someone already chosen. Motley and Allen said no one had been selected; Allen said he had not read the responses, on purpose. Milburn-Kee said she had seen them. She and Beerbower said the board had not used an RFP when it hired an HR provider a year ago. Tran said he brought the RFP idea from the contracting world he works in. “If you put out an RFP, that’s your guidepost. That’s what you should use,” he said, warning that deviating for one bidder could open the county to a protest or a lawsuit. Johnson recommended the board “look at them and deal with it next Monday because you don’t know what you have yet.”

After the vote to adjourn, Tran asked where the RFP had been advertised. Allen said it ran in the Tribune; from the exchange that followed, it appears to have been placed in the Help Wanted section.

Backhoe bids get no second

The backhoe bids had been held over from Sept. 28 while Public Works confirmed the quotes were still current. Beerbower said the public works director had gathered five bids, as the board had instructed, and that the vendors had re-dated them to Monday at the same prices. He moved to accept the bid from Foley Equipment for a new 2026 CAT backhoe. The motion died for lack of a second, as did his motions for the 2025, 2024, 2022 and 2018 machines. Beerbower said the transfer station was getting by with an excavator borrowed from Public Works at this time.

Joe Allen said that when he talked to Public Works Director Kenny Allen the week before, the director planned to ask Murphy Tractor for a bid as well. Beerbower said nobody had told him that and the board had given no such direction.

When future agenda items came up, Beerbower objected that Murphy could now see the competing price: “They know Foley’s bid. So it’s real easy to underbid.” Milburn-Kee replied that the bids had not been sealed. Beerbower said the board had approved a backhoe bid, then repealed it, then asked for five bids and done nothing with them. Johnson advised that “if you’re going to re-bid them, you should probably have everybody re-bid them, and not add a bid to an existing RFP.” Tran suggested a market analysis, which he said is not binding, before going out for a formal bid. Beerbower asked that the backhoe go back on next week’s agenda.

Letter of support for tobacco distributor

Dr. Roger K. Harris asked for a county letter of support, which he said the state requires because he plans to distribute cigars from his lake home through his company, Eagles and Osprey LLC. He said his state application and bond had already been submitted; the packet includes a $1,000 Kansas tobacco products distributor’s tax bond for the company. Harris said he set up the company in the county because it is a federal HUBZone, and offered to help the county pursue HUBZone contracting, saying a contracting company he worked for had half a billion dollars in government contracts, 5% of each of which had to go to small-business set-asides. On a motion by Milburn-Kee, seconded by Beerbower, the commission authorized Motley to sign the letter on behalf of the board.

Next week

There is no county commission meeting scheduled for next week, Oct. 12, because it is a public holiday.

No commissioner had comments. Items named for future agendas were the backhoe, the transfer station pay raise, the HR proposals, the personnel matter from the executive sessions, an auction, Becky Gray letter of support for transportation. The posted agenda’s future-topics list also included insurance and the purchasing policy. The meeting then adjourned.

Editor’s note: The county’s video stream of this meeting malfunctioned and showed a still image for its duration; this story is based on the meeting audio.

Business, Fort Scott, Government

A Strong Downtown Provides Benefits Beyond Storefronts

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Drew Simpson speaks to attendees of the Downtown Meet and Greet on October 6. Lindsay Madison is in the center of the photo.

The quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet event was hosted by Cohn’s Cafe, 110 S. Main, on October 6.

A special welcome was given to Drew Simpson, Director of Kansas Main Street, a part of the Kansas Department of Commerce.

“Main Street is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts through the development of a comprehensive strategy.” -according to the website: http://www.KansasCommerce.gov/Main-Street

“You are a designated Main Street…you will see more traffic,” Simpson told the group of mostly business owners.

“Business owners, residents and property owners are…impacted.”

When a downtown is healthy, the benefits ripple outward, strengthening businesses, property, public revenues, community pride, quality of place, and future opportunity, according to a fact sheet provided by Kansas Main Street.

He outlined the long process to move forward on the Main Street Program, and commended the Chamber of Commerce CEO Lindsay Madison for “running the show; we are to provide the guardrails,” he said. “She is the face of Main Street in Fort Scott.”

There are a few grants available for businesses: ROOMS and HEAL. One can contact Madison at the Chamber office for more details.

The next Kansas Main Street Training is November 17-18 in Independence.

Other comments from attendees:

Kathy Dancer, owner of four downtown businesses cuts up quiche in preparation for the attendees of the Downtown Meet and Greet on October 6.
  • Kathy Dancer, owner of Cohn’s Cafe, 110 South Main Mercantile, Green Lantern Speakeasy and Bourbon County Handcrafted Spirits, all located at the former Scottish Rite Temple, gave a brief overview of all her businesses and provided a sampling of her quiches she makes daily in the cafe.

She also announced that the Old Fort Genealogical Society of Southeastern Kansas will be renting the southernmost storefront at 114 S. Main soon.

  • Jill Jaworski, Superintendent of Fort Scott National Historic Site, announced that the site is now open seven days a week, and some parts of the campus is undergoing remodeling. The Friends of FSNHS received a $10,000 grant to help with the 50th Anniversary celebration in 2028. The site is part of the Murder and Mayhem Tour for Halloween, and the annual candlelight tour is Dec. 4-5.
  • Mary Wyatt, business development with the City of Fort Scott, noted that many new businesses have opened, some businesses have expanded, and a few new businesses are on the horizon for the city. There will be a tax sale soon, she said.

Mid-Continental Restoration is currently working on Memorial Hall.

  • Rachel Carpenter, City of Fort Scott Human Resources person, introduced the new tourism contact Natalia Varzea. Varzea said she would “love to meet with businesses” in the community.

 

The October 6 Downtown Meet and Greet event met at Cohn’s Cafe.
Business, Fort Scott, Government

Alley In 100 Block of South Main: Attention Needed

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The alley in back of the former Scottish Rite Temple on South Main Street, Fort Scott.

Kathy Dancer owns the former Scottish Rite Temple on the 100 block of South Main in downtown Fort Scott.

New Life For The Former Scottish Rite Temple

She purchased the decade-long vacated 12,000-square-foot building in January 2022 at a Bourbon County Tax Sale.

The former Scottish Rite Temple has been transformed into four new businesses in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown.

Since then, they have started four businesses after investing a lot of money in the infrastructure, said Kathy Dancer. They are Cohn’s Cafe, 110 South Main Mercantile, Green Lantern Speakeasy and Bourbon County Handcrafted Spirits.

In an interview about those businesses, Kathy said the Dancer’s drainage issue that has caused flooding in the building has been slow to be resolved.

The City of Fort Scott directed the Dancers to do some repair work, and then the city would fill in the ditch at the base of the building in the alley on the west side of the building, she said.

“The trench is still there,” she said. “When it rains, it goes into the basement and the main floor.”

According to Dancer’s records, they hired someone to start digging out along the building’s foundation in the alley at the end of June.

“On July 13th we had an excavator come in so that we could get deeper to do additional repair work on the foundation. The city blocked off the alley on July 14th. We are approaching the three month mark on the alley being in disarray.”

“Their contractor has been in contact with the person who is going to install a curb for the city,” said Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin.

“This concrete contractor is working on another job and will get to that area as soon as they are done. We have tried to work with the Dancers on this for the past few years, but our engineers said there were things they had to do before the city would do any work.”

Kathy Dancer said she shared a video  with the city commission showing the water flow from the city parking lot, northwest of their building. And also the water flow from the portion of the alley that is already concreted, in back of the apartment building north of 110 N. Main.

The apartment building, the Dancer property, and the former Moody Building on the 100 South Main block are the only buildings that have basements on that block, she said.

The ditch is the lowest place in the alley.

The apartment’s alley is concreted; their alley portion is not, she said.

“We had a contractor go in and seal it in (at the base of the building in the alley),” she said. “He had to go back in after the rains and did more.

“To be honest, the city is not responsible for the curb we are installing, but I agreed to do it,” Matkin said. “The water is not coming from the alley; it is coming from the building owner’s guttering and roof. Hopefully, that is taken care of as well.”

“We did a lot of gutter work already,” Mrs. Dancer said. “There is another spot that opened up.”

“When we had solar installed, some of the roof gravel moved into the guttering,” she said. “We can’t get in to fix the guttering problem because the alley is not accessible.”

Dancer said alley maintenance is “100 percent, the city’s job.”

She said at the moment, all four of the businesses remain open for business.

Moody Building

While taking photos of the alley, Al Niece, who is trying to purchase the Moody Building on Main Street, stopped by to look at the building.

He said the basement at that building also gets flooded.

Niece was looking at the property before the city meeting this evening, where the Moody Building will be discussed, he said.

Niece was frustrated at the slow process to acquire the building

The Moody Building is located across the street from Fort Scott City Hall on South Main.

 

“We cannot do anything extensively to the alley until the poles holding up the west side of the Moody Building are removed,” said Matkin.

“Our city attorney is working on the deed with the owner of the building, and we are really close to getting this done,” Matkin said. We have also worked with the IRS to remove the lien that is placed on the building so Mr. Niece will not have to worry about any of this.”

“Mr. Niece has permission to do whatever he wants with the building due to the city getting a letter from the owners for him to do so, Matkin said. “I for one, appreciate Al taking on this project and am working with him to get this building going in the right direction.”

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Police Department

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – October 5, 2026

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Fort Scott Police Day Sheets

Fort Scott Police Day Sheets – October 5, 2026

Fort Scott police, fire and EMS logged 68 calls for service on October 5, 2026.

Reports and Arrests

Check Vehicle — 12:38 AM, 1920 S Main St. Complaint No. 26-0945BB. Disposition: RPTG.

Fire / Structure — 12:46 AM, 524 N Shute St. Complaint No. 26-01604FS. Disposition: * Multiple.

Warrant Service / Arrest — 10:21 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01606FS. Disposition: ARRC.

Juvenile — 10:25 AM, 1105 E 12th, Fort Scott, KS. Complaint No. 26-01605FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Theft — 10:30 AM, 204 5th St, Uniontown. Complaint No. 26-0946BB. Disposition: RPTG.

Pursuit / Foot — 10:31 AM, 2nd St. Complaint No. 26-01607FS. Disposition: 77.

Warrant Service / Arrest — 1:46 PM, 293 E 20th St. Complaint No. 26-0947BB. Disposition: ARRC.

Threat — 9:12 PM, 1416 S Broadway. Complaint No. 26-01608FS. Disposition: RPTG.

Fire and EMS

EMS — 4:06 AM, 1807 Indian Rd. Disposition: * Multiple.

EMS — 1:32 PM, 804 3 Hwy. Disposition: AMBU.

Fire / Other — 6:49 PM, Walnut Dr. Disposition: FIRE.

EMS / Transfer — 9:15 PM, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: * Multiple.

Other Calls for Service

27,28,29 Checks — 6:17 AM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control — 7:05 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBD.

Motorist Assist — 7:20 AM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: HBO.

Alarm / Burglary — 8:03 AM, 1508 S National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBD.

Check Welfare — 8:25 AM, 403 N Shute St, Fort Scott. Disposition: 77.

Traffic Complaint / Livestock — 8:33 AM, Quail Rd. Disposition: HBD.

Court — 8:50 AM, 210 S National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Court — 8:52 AM, 210 S National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Public Assist — 9:30 AM, Pine St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBD.

Theft — 9:36 AM, 204 5th St #11, Uniontown. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Complaint / Livestock — 9:58 AM, 1778 Locust Rd. Disposition: HBO.

Paper Service — 10:40 AM, 121 N Washington St. Disposition: 77.

Traffic Complaint / Livestock — 10:46 AM, Jayhawk. Disposition: 77.

Paper Service — 10:59 AM, 2241 Fern Rd. Disposition: 77.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 11:03 AM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 11:11 AM, 116 S Crawford. Disposition: 77.

VIN Inspections / County — 11:17 AM, 293 E 20th St. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 11:15 AM, 102 State St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Follow-Up — 11:19 AM, 416 S Margrave St, Fort Scott. Disposition: 77.

Animal Control — 12:10 PM, Margrave St, Fort Scott. Disposition: 77.

Juvenile — 12:15 PM, 116 S Crawford. Disposition: RPTG.

Runaway — 12:25 PM, 802 S Margrave St, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Vehicle Unlock — 12:37 PM, 4100 Liberty Bell Road. Disposition: HBO.

Animal Control — 1:02 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Alarm / Burglary — 1:47 PM, 1197 39 Hwy. Disposition: HBD.

Vehicle Unlock — 2:42 PM, 1005 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

911 / Hang Up — 3:12 PM, 1604 S National Ave. Disposition: HBD.

Animal Control — 3:15 PM, 2322 S Main St. Disposition: HBO.

Traffic Complaint / Dead Animal Pickup/Debris — 3:22 PM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: HBO.

911 / Accidental — 3:24 PM, 804 3 Hwy. Disposition: HBD.

Juvenile — 3:48 PM, 1105 E 12th, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Harassment — 3:55 PM, 323 S Broadway. Disposition: HBO.

911 / Child Playing With Phone — 4:11 PM, 1394 Marble Crest Dr. Disposition: HBO.

SRO — 4:25 PM, 1105 E 12th, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 4:27 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Civil Standby — 5:59 PM, 1416 S Broadway, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Civil Standby — 6:26 PM, 2241 Fern Rd. Disposition: HBO.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 8:16 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: HBO.

Juvenile — 10:00 PM, 1516 S Main St. Disposition: 22.

Seeking Advice/Info / City — 10:09 PM, 1604 National, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: 77.

Alarm / Burglary — 10:49 PM, 684 Maple, Uniontown. Disposition: 22.

Check Vehicle — 10:55 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: HBO.

Check Vehicle — 11:14 PM, 732 E Wall, Fort Scott, KS. Disposition: 22.

Traffic Stops

Traffic Stop — 12:14 AM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 2:49 AM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:00 AM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: NTA.

Traffic Stop — 7:15 AM, 54 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 4:52 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 7:45 PM, 3rd St, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:04 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:09 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:37 PM, 5th St, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:38 PM, 69 Hwy, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 8:51 PM, 69 Hwy. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 9:01 PM, Wall St, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Traffic Stop — 11:13 PM, 1st St, Fort Scott. Disposition: WW.

Total Calls for Service: 68

Documents:

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – Oct 6, 2026

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Bourbon County Sheriff’s Report

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report – October 6, 2026

Arrested

Cox, Zachary Issac (Age 21) — Arrested 10/5/2026 10:28 AM by Fort Scott Police Department. Charge: Warrant- Fort Scott Municipal. Bond: $500.00 Cash.

Smith, Andrew Todd (Age 29) — Arrested 10/5/2026 1:17 PM by Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Charge: Warrant Bourbon County (Probation Violation). Bond: No Bond, $0.00.

Released

Mayes, Christopher Brian — Released 10/5/2026 5:10 PM via Surety Bond (Able).

Total Inmates Released: 1

Documents:

Bourbon County Local News