Stories from Tuesday, November 20, 2007

WILLARD, Mo. -- If you attended last year's Willard Tri-State Classic, you already know the schedule for this year's, which will be held Nov. 29-Dec. 1. That's because the schedule will be the same as last season as the entire field from 2006-07 -- Fort Scott High, Shiloh Christian (Ark.), and Greenwood, Ark. -- all return. The Tigers will play those opponents in the same order as last season...

UNIONTOWN -- Beverly Russell knows when kids need help, because she's seen it firsthand. Russell, a parent volunteer at West Bourbon Elementary School for the last 17 years, was chosen earlier this month as one of six district candidates from across the state for the Kansas Association of Elementary School Principals Friend of Education Award...

COULTER -- Jeremiah Deanndre Coulter, a boy, was born at 2:48 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, 2007, at Mercy Health Center to parents Mitchell Coulter and LaKeisha Cline, Fort Scott. He weighed 7 pounds, 7.8 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Ruby Cline, Fort Scott, and the late Rodney (Petey) Cline, Sedalia, Mo.; and Lawanda and John Rice, Sedalia, Mo. ...

Carolyn Beth Austin passed away suddenly at home in Lynnwood, Washington on November 13, 2007.  Carolyn was born December 13, 1952, in Parsons, Kansas, to Kirk Brough and Barbara (Pyle) Austin.  She was a graduate of Parsons High School, Labette Community College, and Emporia State University, class of 1974.  Carolyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Art.  ...

The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Department of Transportation will focus efforts on a safe Thanksgiving holiday travel weekend, according to a KHP statement Monday. KHP and many other law enforcement agencies will participate in the KDOT-sponsored Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), which continues through Sunday, to help keep traffic-related fatalities and injuries low...

Nov. 18-24 is National Family Week. It is a week to call attention to the important role families play in communities and society. I recently heard a researcher, Dr. John DeFrain, speak at an extension conference about the importance of strong families in a society...

The Arcadia Community Center was the site for the second monthly Community Gospel Sing held on Nov. 10 with around 60 in attendance. Carl Goodwin served as master of ceremonies for the evening event. Singers from the area included Donna Rickman, Girard; Willie Maples, Minden Mines, Mo.; Larry Ray DeOrnellis, Pittsburg; Janelle Bunney, Liberal, Mo.; Carl Goodwin, Franklin; Paul Starne and Bonnie Hines, Arcadia...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) The police of this city rightly complain of too much tardiness on the part of people in reporting any offense where an officer of the law is required. Perhaps the worst case of tardiness is that of old man Thompson, whose robbery on Barnum-Bailey show day was just made known last evening. ...

Each weekday morning, three Tri-Valley Developmental Services clients and a staff member knock on doors of new friends, announcing that Meals on Wheels is here. According to Tri-Valley officials, the organization's clients are serving as volunteers with the meals program in Fort Scott...

For local people who have fallen under the weight of poverty and have landed with no place to live and no means to make ends meet, help may soon be on the way. Jay Preston, the director of My Father's House Community Services in Paola, has developed a program, which he hopes to develop in the local area and surrounding counties as an outreach for rural homelessness. ...