Stories from Wednesday, March 26, 2008

100 YEARS AGO (1908) Following is the report of Catt School, Dist. No. 44, for the sixth month ending March 20, 1908: Number of pupils enrolled--boys 8 and girls 6. Those neither absent nor tardy were Gladys and Pearl Carson. Bertha and Otto Marsh were tardy but once. Visitors during the month were Bessie and Harmie Carson, Nathan, Mary and May Harris and Homer Query. Parents and fiends are cordially invited to visit us and inspect our work.--Mabel Wood...

CHEROKEE -- The Pleasanton High School junior varsity track team got its season underway here Tuesday with a freshman-sophomore meet at Southeast High School. Blu-Jay boys won eight events while the girls won three. In all, Pleasanton's boys brought back 21 medals as they won the meet with 149 points. Northeast-Arma was second with 137 points while Pittsburg Colgan was third with 50...

PITTSBURG -- Fort Scott High School's junior varsity tennis team has added a couple of dates to its schedule. One of those extra outings took place Tuesday. The other will be held Monday at the FSHS tennis courts starting at 3 p.m. as the Tigers will take on Chanute in a dual...

President Retta Smith welcomed 23 seniors at the Bronson Senior Citizen luncheon March 21 in the Methodist Church Annex. Tables were decorated with an Easter theme. Barbara Woodward and Betty Camac served as hostesses. A March anniversary was celebrated by Glenn and Retta Smith. ...

The March meeting of the Goodluck 4-H was held March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Bethel community building. Pres. Haley Melton called the meeting to order. Roll call was answered with spring break plans. The members received blue ribbons earned at regional 4-H days in Iola for a novelty number presented in competition...

COFFEYVILLE -- Fort Scott Community College's baseball team kept it's hold on third place in the Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division with a 6-4, 13-3 sweep of Coffeyville here Tuesday. The Greyhounds (7-3 in the East, 15-10 overall) are ahead of fourth-place Independence (9-5, 14-10) on percentage points. Cowley (11-3, 14-11) leads the East with Johnson County one game behind (10-4, 14-9)...

The annual Plus 5 dinner was held in the Fort Scott High School commons on Tuesday, March 25. Fifty students qualified to receive invitations to the dinner. This program began in 1991 to recognize students who were able to raise their third quarter grade .5 or above their cumulative grade point average. ...

Mae Watt enjoyed the special attention she received from her family at Easter time. Tom and Phyllis Watt came from Lee's Summit to take Mae to her church Sunday morning, fixed special dinner for her and helped in many ways. That afternoon, they received phone call greetings for the Easter season from Tom's son and grandson, Tommy and Dawson Watt; Delton Watt Jr. and Billi, Bill and Karen, Allen and Linda and Douglas Watt...

Fort Scott High School's track season begins Friday afternoon with a combined varsity/junior varsity meet at Labette County Friday afternoon. Tiger head coaches Don Epps (boys) and Tracey Bogina (girls) will be doing a lot of evaluating at this meet, which will begin at 2 p.m. and quite possibly end somewhere around 10:30. Epps plans to use 17 athletes on the varsity level at this meet while Bogina, at least for now, intends to use 14 girls...

Ideal Chapter met March 13 with Effie and Dean Mitchell presiding in the East as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron. Regular business was conducted and the annual election of officers was held with the following results: Worthy Matron, Beverly Davis; Worthy Patron, Charles Gift; Associate Matron, Joyla Croan; Associate Patron, Dean Mitchell; Secretary, Clara Brewer; Treasurer Margaret McDermed; Conductress, Lynda Foster and associate Conductress, Agnes Armstrong...

On certain days, the Bourbon County District Court lobby area and courtroom proceedings can become loud, and emotions can reduce people to tears and occasional outbursts. That prompted the judges of the district court to come to a consensus that a security bailiff was needed, someone to sit in on court hearings and monitor traffic in the lobby...

The current status of the agricultural economy is "interesting" to say the least as we move into the growing season of 2008. The high market prices for commodities are one story, but also the soaring input costs like fertilizer and fuel are another part of the developing scenario. In my experience, these are uncharted waters for most agri-business folks -- we have not been here before...

With the busy spring planting season fast approaching, now's the time to inspect farm machinery for safety and to make repairs and upgrades as necessary. Pay particular attention to safety signs and emblems -- especially those stickers containing important safety messages the manufacturer puts on equipment. Over time, they become difficult to read...

The SEK TeleCom Pioneers will meet for lunch Sat. April 12, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. at the Sirloin Stockade in Parsons. Past or present telephone employees and guests are welcome. -- Submitted by Joann Goedeke

FORT SCOTT -- John Woodrich, president and CEO of Mercy Health System of Kansas, is pleased to welcome Prem Parmar, MD, a general orthopedic surgeon with an emphasis in sports medicine. Dr. Parmar will have consulting privileges at Mercy Health Center and will provide orthopedic services on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Mercy Medical Plaza, 902 S. Horton...

For the first time in its history, the Bourbon County Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans organization will host the DAV spring state meeting and conference that takes place this weekend, chapter officials said Monday. Nearly 100 local DAV members, officers and their spouses are expected to participate in a number of planned activities in Fort Scott that begin Friday and conclude on Sunday. ...

A group of young business leaders who share a vision for the betterment of Fort Scott are taking strides to make that vision come true. About 25 people flocked to Main Street Tuesday night with brooms and dust pans in hand in order to take part in the Young Professionals League's Sweep the Streets Project. ...