Stories from Saturday, February 6, 2010

GARLAND, Kan. -- The Garland Rural Fire Department District No. 2 is proud and happy to announce that they have been awarded a grant in the amount of $219,450 for the purchase of a new vehicle. United States Senators Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., informed the department last week of the funds they would be receiving as part of a $1.24 million effort through the 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program under the U.S. ...

Six months after her first inquiry about the Rotary International Youth Exchange, Kelly Clow received confirmation that she will be going to Germany to live for the coming school year. Clow's interest in foreign study began while in St. Louis on vacation during the summer, Clow read a book about a woman and her daughter who had both experienced exchange programs and had recommended the Rotary exchange as a worthwhile and meaningful program...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Tickets are going fast for a performance by a well-known dance company later this month at Fort Scott Community College. Organizers of the performance by the Alvin Ailey II Dance Company, which is set to take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the FSCC Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton St., said tickets for the event have been a hot item since going on sale just a few weeks ago...

On Thursday, Feb. 4, Roy Allen Slates, 55, of Nevada, turned himself in to the Vernon County Sheriff's Office in response to two felony complaints filed in the Circuit Court of Vernon County relating to the Nov. 9, 2009, home invasion in northern Vernon County and the Jan. 8, 2010, kidnapping of a New Jersey man...

Tom and Sally Thorpe, of Nevada, were guests recently at a surprise celebration honoring their 40th wedding anniversary on Feb. 7, 2010. The event was hosted by their children and spouses: Tom and Amy Thorpe of Lincoln, Neb., Tracy and Daniel Barmann, of Nevada, and Craig and Annie Thorpe, also of Nevada...

Tiffany Phillips and Michael Fisher announce their engagement to be married on Sept. 19, 2010, in Stone Harbor, N.J. Their home is in Independence, Mo., where Michael works for the Missouri Mavericks Hockey Team, although they met in Prescott Valley, Ariz., while working together...

Glenn LeRoy Smith, age 68, Mound City, Kan., died Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, at Olathe Medical Center. Graveside funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 8, at the Richland Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel in Mound City. The family suggests contributions to the Mayo Clinic, Leukemia Research. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.coffelschneider.com. Arrangements are by Coffel-Schneider, Mound City, Kan...

Jimmie R. Dowell, a self-employed subcontractor, passed away on Feb. 5, 2010, at the age of 45. He was preceded in death by his father, Toney Dowell, brother-in-law Timothy Carver, and niece Chasity Dowell. He is survived by his mother Huleta Dowell, of Wichita, brothers, Bill, Gene, Richard (Shelia), and Mike (Patricia) Dowell, all of Wichita; sisters Rita Hawkins, Wichita, Joyce (Duane) Mikesell, Derby, Patricia Brustrom, Cave City, Ark., Theresa (John) Dowell, Atlantic Beach, Fla., Barbara (Martin) Reents, Hope Well, Va., Carolyn (Charles) Goodson, Tonya (Michael) Carver, Wichita; 39 nieces and nephews; 48 great nieces and nephews; one great-great niece; and Goddaughter Kalyn Graves. ...

Viola Frances Urner, 88, Nevada, passed away Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. She was born Sept. 15, 1921, in Nevada, the daughter of Frank Sterling Vaughn and Dexia Asenath Biggs Vaughn. She was married March 27, 1940, to Anthony M. Urner and he preceded her in death July 29, 1966...

Margaret Ellen Shade Branstetter arrived in Heaven at 5:55 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. She had been ill since Christmas Day. She was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her beloved husband, Lawrence A., "Bud"; the twins she miscarried in 1958; her parents; brother; three sisters, Eva, Fay, and Gertrude; many other family members and friends...

For some months now, I've come to believe I'm now -- and have been since I retired from teaching, some six years ago -- living in a new world. Not quite, mind you, a "brave new" world, like Aldous Huxley's drug-altered landscape in the mid-1930s, but a changed one to which I've got to get accustomed, nonetheless...

Hi neighbors. You probably already know Phil the groundhog saw his shadow. That is supposed to mean six more weeks of bad weather. On the other tip of the country General Beauregard Lee of Georgia did not see his shadow, so I guess that part of the country is going to have more spring like weather early...

At times you just know that things happen for a reason. Old dog Jake, the German shorthair, was heading for his 13th year. I knew somewhere in the near future he wouldn't be with me. I'd been out of town all of last week and as usual the neighbor boy just up the hill tended to the three dogs while I was away. ...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's girls second-quarter defense propelled the Tigers to a 53-33 Southeast Kansas League victory over Independence at the FSHS gymnasium Friday night for their second win by at least 20 points in as many nights...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- One incident changed the way Fort Scott High's boys played in the fourth quarter of Friday night's Southeast Kansas League contest against Independence. But the Tigers were able to adapt and hold off the Bulldogs, 55-50, in Southeast Kansas League play at the FSHS gymnasium...