Stories from Wednesday, October 4, 2006

By Brett DaltonFort Scott High School students and community members filled the school's commons area on Monday and Tuesday to give "the gift of life." For two days, American Red Cross employees conducted a blood drive at the high school with the target goal of obtaining 160 units of blood. Patty Gorman, Fort Scott United Way/American Red Cross director, said the final count easily exceeded the goal...

The City of Fort Scott is encouraging residents living on Broadway and surrounding neighborhoods to attend a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the First Church of the Nazarene at 801 E. Third St. The meeting will be held in the church's Fellowship Hall by entering on the east side of the church at the furthest door north door...

The City of Fort Scott might be moving toward creation of a policy outlining how commissioners will determine whether to provide taxpayer-funded improvements to residential housing developments. Commissioners John Keating and Barbara Wood said at Tuesday's meeting they would like seeing a clear policy spelling out exactly what the city would do for developers and what criteria would have to be met...

The third annual Gordon Parks Celebration of Culture and Diversity kicked off Wednesday on a musical note. Renowned jazz singer Queen Bey gave a special presentation for Fort Scott Middle School students concerning the topics of music and mutual respect. Bey, an accomplished singer who has performed in concert halls and theaters throughout the world, sang a few tunes and taught students about the variety of music styles that exist today and the origins of some of those styles...

Howard Paul Schmidt, age 93, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, died Monday, October 2, 2006, at the Mercy Health Center. Paul was born July 6, 1913, at the family farm west of Mound City, Kansas, the son of William Otto Schmidt and Emma Pearl Osborn Schmidt. ...

Harold C. Elsken, 83, passed away Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006, in Fort Worth. Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 1201 S. Cherry Lane. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Vigil: 7 p.m. Monday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to James L. West Care Center and Community Hospice, 1111 Summit Ave., Fort Worth 76102; or St.Peter the Apostle Catholic School, 1201 S. Cherry Lane, Fort Worth 76108...

The last weekend in September, a group called BROFUGE, Brotherhood and Refuge Retreat, was held at the Shead farm with 12 ladies and 12 men from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. Late Friday night there was a hay ride and praise and worship. Saturday was spent helping on the farm and study and rest period. After devotions on Sunday morning the group left for their school and back to classes...

100 YEARS AGO (1906) This afternoon at 4 o'clock in the spacious parlors of the Goodlander Hotel was formally announced the wedding of Mr. John E. Else and Miss Nina Lee Barnett, two of Fort Scott's most popular young people. The Rev. Father J.B. McKernan of the Catholic church solemnized the morning wedding. ...