Stories from Friday, January 26, 2007

The United Way of Bourbon County recently exceeded its monetary goal for 2006, something the organization had not previously achieved within the last five years, officials said. Mike Lakeman, the president and board chairman of the local organization, said Thursday during a United Way Board of Directors meeting that the agency brought in $103,331 through its "Focus on the Future" campaign in 2006. Lakeman said the last year the organization had met or exceeded its annual financial goal was 2002...

Larry Martin, owner of the Fort Scott Livestock Market, said keeping the fescue and native prairie grass that he grazes his cattle on healthy is essential to his business. "Grass is what we use as our main source of feed for our livestock," Martin said. "If you don't have grass, it's pretty hard for them (cattle) to gain any weight."...

Ever since she was a young woman, growing up in Bourbon County, Mary Lou Davis Margrave has known the importance of land conservation. It was a lesson she learned growing up on her parents' farm in northwest Bourbon County. And though she now resides in Bellaire, Texas, and has since 1963, she still remains active in maintaining that same Davis-Margrave Farm, which she now owns...

Dr. Alice Hickey Peterson, age 90, recently of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, at her daughter's home in Fort Scott. She was born October 24, 1916, in Vivian, Minnesota, the daughter of John Hickey and Mary Jo Kotitza Hickey. She earned her Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota in 1950 and her M.D. from the Creighton Medical School...

MITZNER -- Mason Clare Mitzner, a boy, was born Tuesday, January 23, 2007, at Olathe Medical Center to parents Jerome and Lesli George Mitzner, LaCygne. He weighed 9 pounds, 14 ounces at birth. He joins two siblings, a brother, Spencer and a sister, Marissa Mitzner, LaCygne. ...

NEUENSWANDER -- Makinsey Ann Neuenswander, a girl, was born at 1:33 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to parents Ben and Sarah Ann Myers Neuenswander, Lawrence. She weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was 18.5 inches long at birth. ...

ARD -- Kailyn Marie Ard, a girl, was born at 7:52 a.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott, to parents Mark and Sarah Ard, Moran. She weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces at birth. She joins two siblings Aubrey and Wyatt Ard. Maternal grandparents are Shane and Sheri Smith, Moran and David and Carol Ericson, Richmond. ...

GEORGE -- Cooper Thomas George, a boy, was born at 8:27 a.m. Thursday, January 25, 2007 at Mercy Health Center to parents Tommy and Kristi George, Fort Scott. He weighed 8 pounds, 10.5 ounces at birth. He joins siblings Draven, Landry, Kody and Jaci. Maternal grandparents are Joyce Stephenson, Fort Scott and Joyce and Frank Peterson, Fort Scott. Paternal grandparents are Allan and Edith George, Oswego...

DUROSSETTE -- Wyatt Thomas Durossette, a boy, was born at 11:01 a.m. Thursday, January 25, 2007 at Mercy Health Center to parents Melissa and Frankie Durossette, Fort Scott. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces at birth. He joins one sibling, Cody James Durossette. Maternal grandparents are Jim and Darlene Blaufuss, Richmond. Paternal grandparents are Frank and Mary Durossette, Fort Scott...

Lindsey Strawder and Eric Peterson were united in marriage on January 13, 2007, at Clearwater Beach in Florida.Parents of the bride are Bob and Kirn Strawder, of Lebo, Kansas. Grandparents of the bride are Charles Powers and the late Phylis Powers, of Detroit, Michigan and Nancy Strawder and the late Jim Strawder, of Waverly, Kansas. ...

Dewaine and Beverly Geiger attended funeral services for George Bolton in Kansas City on Jan. 5. George's wife, Rose Bolton, was a Grand Officer for the White-Geiger Grand Chapter year. Heavy snow and ice storms have crippled the area causing the cancellation of school and other activities. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) Mr. and Mrs. John Gillies will tonight give an entertainment in honor of the birth of Robert Burns, the Scot, whose fame in literature will live forever. Burns' birth anniversary is by rights tomorrow but local conditions make it necessary for the celebration to be given tonight. All the Scotch of the city have been invited...

ALTAMONT -- Fort Scott High's wrestling team may be on the brink of something that's only been done once in school history. And the Tigers put themselves in position to achieve this feat by sweeping Independence and Labette County in a Southeast Kansas League triangular here Thursday night...