Stories from Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Area students shared their knowledge of historical events on March 1 by competing in the district Kansas History Day competition conducted at Fort Scott Community College. Several area schools were represented at the competition, which included a variety of history related events. FSCC officials said about 50 students from eight different schools participated in the history day activities...

The recent defeat of legislation in Topeka that would have modified certain portions of the state school finance formula is positive news for his school district, USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold said. "House Bill 2605 would have had a very negative impact on Uniontown," Rockhold said. ...

Many older Americans experience some form of memory loss as they age. However, senior citizens can take measures that will keep memory loss from becoming a major disruption to their lives. HelpGuide.org, www.helpguide.org, an online non-profit resource created to provide a free, non-commercial resource for people in need, said that although memory loss may be a normal part of aging, it is not a sign of mental deterioration...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) The farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dikeman, 1 1/2 miles east of the Maple Grove School, burned to the ground Sunday morning (March 9), said Fire Chief Sam Ayers who went to the scene. About $1,200 had been spent recently for redecorating the $10,000 home. ...

On Feb. 29 I attended Washington Days activities in Topeka and helped Bourbon and Crawford County Democrats host a hospitality room. The evening banquet was well attended and the keynote speaker was the governor from Virginia. Following the banquet and awards presentations an auction was held. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) The farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dikeman, 1 1/2 miles east of the Maple Grove School, burned to the ground Sunday morning (March 9), said Fire Chief Sam Ayers who went to the scene. About $1,200 had been spent recently for redecorating the $10,000 home. ...

The Kan-Mo Jolly Circle Club met with Hazel Gulliford, Feb. 28. The Club opened with the pledge to the American Flag led by the president, Hazel Gulliford. The theme song "The More We Get Together" was sung. Seven members answered roll call with a "did you know". ...

St. Louis, Mo.- Travis Wayne Proctor of Fort Scott, was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2007 semester at Washington University in St. Louis. Proctor is a graduate of Fort Scott High School and is currently enrolled in the university's College of Arts and Sciences. To qualify for the Dean's List in Arts and Sciences, students must earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 or above and be enrolled in at least 14 graded units...

Bethany Blubaugh was the hostess to the Union Bend Birthday Club on March 4th. The meeting started with President, Linda Center, reading an article called "Deer Hunting" and "My Dog Ate It". They had eleven members answer to roll call by naming their favorite flower...

Bronson Chapter #65 Order of the Eastern Star met February 27,2008 at the Masonic Hall for a regular meeting with sixteen members present. Edna Marie Jackson was Worthy Matron and Louis Poolworthy Patron in the East. Introductions were: Julia Ann Rhoton: Special Page to Janice Olson, Grand Ruth...

This spring, outstanding high school students from across the United States will take part in a unique leadership development confrence in our nation's capital. During the six-day program, the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) will provide scholars with the opportunity to interact with a variety of personnel who operate within the three branches of government, the news media and the international community...

Oklahoma City University has named Natalie D. Magee of Fort Scott to the Vice President's List for the fall 2007 semester. Founded in 1904, Oklahoma City University is a private United Methodist University located near downtown Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mack Comstock, 88, of Fort Scott, died Monday morning, March 10, 2008 at the Mercy Health Center. He was born November 27, 1919, in Redfield, Kansas, the son of Mack and Edna Lena (Smith) Comstock. He married Pansy Pearl Harris December 7, 1939, in Stockton, California. ...

Paul "P.D." Weston, age 77, resident of rural Moran, Kansas, died early Monday, March 10, 2008, at Allen County Hospital in Iola, Kansas. He was born July 1, 1930, in Bourbon County, Kansas, the son of Charles Weston and Wilma Stradley Weston. He married Mary Frances Holeman on April 28, 1951, at the Dry Ridge Baptist Church. ...

Norman H. Fitzsimmons, 75, of Littleton, Colo. He was the husband of Shirley and the father of Deborah Taylor, Steven, Kelly and Alan. He was the grandfather of four and the great-grandfather of four. He was the brother of Richard Fitzsimmons and Marjorie Cunningham. ...

Cora Lucille Culbertson, a girl, was born at 7:16 a.m. Friday, March 7, 2008, at Mercy Health Center to parents Adam and Melita Culbertson, Mound City. She weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces at birth. She joins three siblings: Felicity, Nevaeh, and Addam. Maternal grandparents are Norma Scarborough and Douglas Scarborough, Odessa, Mo. Paternal grandparents are Timmy and Dianna Culbertson, Mound City. Paternal great-grandfather is Billy Hendry, Fredonia...

Shawn and Samantha Reinecke are the parents of a baby girl, Layla Josephine, born at Neosho Regional Medical Center in Chanute at 3:05 p.m. March 4, 2008. She weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces at birth.Maternal grandparents are David and Carolyn Hibbs. Great-grandparents are Richard and Alma Bernard and Dean and Kathy Hibbs. ...

Mercy Health Center's new Spirit of Women initiative is not only helping to educate women about their own health status, but has already identified more than 100 women, through screenings and assessments at the Spirit events, who exhibit significant risk factors for heart disease. With this information, Mercy is working with each of these women to help them reduce or control their risk factors...

A 19-year-old Fort Scott man was placed on one year probation for leading local law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase last Halloween. Bourbon County District Court Judge Mark Ward Monday placed Curtis D. Moreland on the probation after he pleaded guilty to felony flee to elude and driving with suspended license...

A Fort Scott woman Friday pleaded no contest to molesting an 11-year-old child and will await sentence at the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center. Kerri Cassett, 31, pleaded no contest to aggravated indecent liberties with a child, a severity level 3 person felony on the Kansas sentencing guidelines grid...

With winter sports seasons finally completed, the Southeast Kansas League released its All-League basketball and wrestling squads over the weekend. Fort Scott High ended up with three athletes on the wrestling and girls' basketball teams and two on the boys' basketball team...

Gloria Madeline Thomas Hazelbaker, 90, of Pleasanton, Kan., died Monday, March 10, 2008, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, Kansas. She was born March 11, 1917, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Ernest E. and Mary Florence Esler Thomas. She moved with her parents to Pleasanton at three years of age and attended Pleasanton Schools and graduated in 1935. ...

You can see how much better Fort Scott Community College's softball team is than in previous seasons if you look closely when they play. But the Greyhounds are also a very young team -- only two players were on the FSCC roster last season -- and sometimes, that can also be apparent...