Stories from Thursday, July 26, 2007

A Crawford County judge has decided to allow prosecutors from the Kansas Attorney General's Office to use Albert E. Richmond's previous drug-related involvement in the Pittsburg area in his upcoming murder trial. Eleventh District Court Judge Donald Noland on Monday accepted Richmond's prior criminal drug record to be brought up at the hearing, but he denied the state's motion to allow into evidence Richmond's alleged threatening remarks directed at a Fort Scott police detective in 2004...

The rising costs of health care and medical insurance are a major concern across Kansas and the nation. Area business owners who want more information on health care and health insurance costs, the cost of other types of medical debt, and the availability of health care in Kansas other states will have that opportunity during a Kansas Health Policy Authority-sponsored conference scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 2 at Mercy Health Center, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd...

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced on Tuesday that the department will pay for costs associated with tetanus vaccines delivered to Greensburg and areas in Northeast and Southeast Kansas impacted by recent flooding. Tetanus has long been identified as a top health concern for people who work in disaster recovery areas where there has been significant damage to homes, businesses and other structures, a KDHE statement said...

The local musical group, Jammin' with Jim, is scheduled to perform a free concert Friday evening in downtown Fort Scott. The group, which consists of local residents Jim and Darlene Shoemaker, Arnold Schofield, Carolyn Tucker, Brendan Russell and Floyd Feezell, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Heritage Park and Pavilion located at the corner of First and Main streets. The concert is part of the ongoing concert series sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division...

Ethys May Miller, 97, formerly of Fort Scott, died Sunday, July 22, 2007, at the Aberdeen Village Nursing Home in Olathe, Kan. She was born Nov. 14, 1909 in Brookhaven, Miss., the daughter of Metticus W. and Lena (Clark) May. She married Henry Blonn Miller Oct. 8, 1933, in El Dorado Springs, Mo. He preceded her in death May 19, 1990...

Hayden Williamson Good, 101, was born June 11, 1906 to Al and Willa Williamson at Parker, Kan. She died July 23, 2007 at Prescott Country View Nursing Home, Prescott, Kan. She graduated from Washburn University in 1930. She taught school in the Mound City grade school and high schools for several years and also was county Superintendent of schools in Linn County. ...

Charles Grayson Lowry, 88, resident of 103 Steen, Fort Scott, died Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at his home. Funeral arrangements for Charles will be announced by Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Lawrence Alvin Branstetter, 82, a resident of Fort Scott, died unexpectedly Thursday, July 26, 2007, at the Mercy Health Center Emergency Room. Funeral Arrangements for Lawrence Alvin Branstetter are incomplete and will be announced by Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main...

The descendants of Ralph and Lottie Singmaster had their first reunion July 14 and 15 at the Hob-Nob on Jayhawk Road. Approximately 70 met for a carry in dinner Saturday. The afternoon was spent taking pictures, visiting and viewing pictures from a laptop prepared by Janet Singmaster Barker. Five states were represented. Sunday morning 40 attended services at the Diamond Community Church...

In Kansas we have two races of the fall webworm, each associated with different tree species. The blackheaded webworms are often seen in elm, mulberry, and osage orange trees; while walnut, pecan, flowering crab and sweetgums are often infested with the redheaded species. But either species will feed on almost any tree that isn't an evergreen. They particularly like isolated shade rather than trees surrounded by other trees...

This has been a year with some frustrations for most farmers around the area trying to plant crops this spring and summer. Daily rainfall seemed nearly omnipresent during the planting season as fields stayed wet for many days. Then the floods came, too. And, oh yes, the July drought did set in -- it hasn't rained now for almost three weeks...

Jennifer Lowe recently joined the local office of the financial-services firm Edward Jones as a branch office administrator (BOA) trainee. Lowe joins Tedena Tucker, a BOA in the office for 17 years. The title of branch office administrator was adopted for this position at Edward Jones because of the wide range of responsibilities associated with the job...

UNIONTOWN -- Local resident Delta George was recently recognized as a top consultant with AtHome America, Inc., an Internet business that allows customers to purchase home decor and other accessories from the comfort of their own homes, a company statement said...

Fort Scott resident Melissa Hulbert was also recently recognized as a new independent saleswoman with AtHome America, a direct seller of home-decorating accents. Hulbert recently started her own home-based business selling the company's products. "I am so excited to join the AtHome America Family as a HomeStyle specialist," Hulbert said. "It is a business that will support my family's income needs, my goals and career achievement plans."...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) Dr. Harrar declares that the thermometer reached 114 degrees in the shade yesterday. He says that the instrument hangs on one of the pillars of the Masonic Building in front of his office and that it reached that point. Best sweet milk and cream and buttermilk in the city at the Fort Scott Butter Company, 18 North National Avenue...

Richard Nienstedt announced he will be leaving his position as city manager by Dec. 31 and, as a result, the city commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a severance agreement with Nienstedt. Commissioners made the vote at a special meeting Thursday at City Hall. To kick-off the meeting, they went into executive session and returned 10 minutes later to announce Nienstedt has resigned effective Dec. 31...