Stories from Friday, July 27, 2007

Richard Nienstedt announced he will leave his position as Fort Scott 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 decision at a special meeting Thursday evening at City Hall. At the beginning of the meeting, they went into executive session and returned 10 minutes later to announce that Nienstedt has resigned effective Dec. 31...

Fort Scott Community College administrators are looking at re-evaluating the college's commercial truck driving program after it lost money last year, forcing college officials to close one of its trucking facilities in Kansas, FSCC officials said. The FSCC truck driving program brought in a little more than $641,000 last year, but college officials spent a little more than $1 million, which created about a $410,000 deficit in the program's budget, according to FSCC financial records. ...

The USD 234 Board of Education will operate on a nearly $12 million dollar budget during the 2007-08 school year, according to financial documents provided by school officials. The capital outlay fund, the fund that provides for repairs, remodelings and purchasing of needed equipment, will be allotted $958,000...

Charles Grayson Lowry, 88, a resident of Fort Scott, strode through the pearly gates of heaven July 25, 2007, at 7:37 p.m., where he was met by the many family and friends that preceded him. Among them are his mother and father, Cora Blanche and Louis Edward Lowry, his daughter Cindy Lou Lowry, two ex-wives, Shirley A. ...

Lawrence A. "Bud" Branstetter, 82, a resident of 1302 S. Main, Fort Scott, died unexpectedly Thursday, July 26, 2007, at the Mercy Health Center Emergency Room following an apparent heart attack. He was born March 20, 1925, at Harding, Kan., the son of Harrison Branstetter and Delia Thiebaut Branstetter. ...

CASIDA -- Adrianna Sue Casida, a girl, was born at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott, on Thursday, July 26, 2007 to parents Bradley and Jonna Casida of Fort Scott. She weighed 6 pounds and 6 ounces and measured 19 and 3/4 inches at birth. Maternal grandparents are Richard and Kandy Falkin, Hepler. Paternal grandparents are Zo and Donnie Moore, Fort Scott, and Don Casida, Prescott...

Helen Maxine Bell, 90, entered eternal rest Thursday, July 26, 2007. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 30, 2007, at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Burns Funeral Chapel with the Rev. John Collins officiating. Inurnment will be conducted at a later date in Neosho County Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute. Memorials can be made to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and left at the funeral home...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) Frank Waddle, a Timber Hill Township farmer, had an experience with a monster American Eagle the other day. The bird swooped down upon Mr. Waddle's barn yard and caught an old hen in the grasp of its talons. The farmer sent to the house for his shotgun and upon arming himself with the fowling piece, walked in the direction of the national bird which still held a close grasp on the hen and refused to be frightened away. ...

Gary McSpadden, a well-known Christian gospel singer, will be performing in concert at 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St. Tickets are $10 in advance,$12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Country Cupboard, UMB bank and Liberty Theatre...

First Church of the Nazarene and Westpark Church of the Nazarene are joining together for Vacation Bible School, "The Game of Life." Crafts, music, snacks and outdoor activities will center around different games such as Sorry, Scrabble, Dominoes, the Fishing Game, and Red Light/Green Light. VBS will be held at Westpark Church of the Nazarene, 1728 Horton, from 6:30 - 8:45 p.m. on Aug. 6-10, Ages 4-12 welcome. Transportation is available by calling (620) 223-2911...