Stories from Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Nola Marie Graham, age 89, former resident of the Devon Community and more recently of Pleasanton, Kan., died Sunday, May 4, 2008 at Mercy Health Center Emergency Room. She was born November 28, 1918 in Garland, Kan., the daughter of Rufus Ezra Pellett and Lola Mary Carson Pellett. ...

RYKEN-- Emilie Lynn Ryken, a girl, was born at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott at 7:49 p.m. on Monday, May 5, 2008, to parents Stephanie L. Cook and Shane N. Ryken, Fort Scott. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Kenneth D. Cook, Fort Scott and Gail Jacques, Kansas City, Kan. Paternal grandmother is Christina L. Ryken, Fort Scott...

KHP Turner, Rickey E.,45, Mound City, was arrested at 12:52 a.m. May 5 by Kansas Highway Patrol for driving under the influence and released the same day on $500 bond. Craven, Phillip R.,35, Pittsburg, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. May 3 by KHP for flee to elude, reckless driving, driving under the influence, failing to report an accident and parole violation...

Many people are anxiously waiting for their economic stimulus payment. More than 130 million households will begin receiving their payments this month. The amount people will receive depends on the information contained in their tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a plan to issue the payments based on the last two digits of Social Security numbers. ...

Christie and Wayne Parrish with Jenny and Ryan Dugan recently took a trip to Las Vegas in celebration of the Dugan's first wedding anniversary. While there, they visited many sights of interest including the Cirque Du Soleil to see "LOVE". They enjoyed dinner with Ryan's sister who lives in Las Vegas...

We had another good attendance at the senior dance at Buck Run Community Center Monday night. The band was in good shape, however, our horn player, Clarence Nation, says he is having more trouble getting around each day and that his legs just won't work anymore. He does very well getting in and out of his car and coming in on his cart. He uses a cane and also a chair on the stage to get to his place. He does a good job playing and has a book full of songs to play...

Pet problems To the Editor, Animal Control was called recently to my neighborhood. While there, my dog, Rollo, was noticed in a large dog pen in my backyard bothering no one. He is part Staffordshire Terrier, which many people confuse with pit bulls. Helen Keller owned a Staffordshire, to give you an idea how vicious they can be. All Pit-type dogs used to be accepted until bad people started exploiting them for personal gain. The Our Gang kids had a pit-type dog as well...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) The most important meeting of the school board held this year was conducted in Supt. Bowen's office last evening when teachers for next year were employed. There will be few changes in the teaching corps next year. Principal's and their salaries include J.B. Stokesberry, $1,500; John Hughes, $870; Gabriella M. Pratt, $675; Isa Green, $675; Lucy Ware, $675; Mary D. Stevens, $675; Grace Redfield, $675; E.J. Hawkins, $675...

Several downtown businesses are once again joining forces this year in an effort to help spruce up the community. A group of 10 businesses located in the North Main street area are planning to participate in the 2008 Clean Sweep program, a volunteer effort to clean up trash in the downtown area that begins this month and continues throughout the year...

Skateboarders are tearing up Skubitz Plaza and Laura Dunfee has pictures to prove it. At Tuesday's city commission meeting, Dunfee said she regularly sees skateboarders at the plaza, jumping off picnic tables via homemade ramps. Dunfee operates a business on the plaza and has a clear view of the supposed activity...

Borrowing a line from the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams," one local school administrator told the USD 234 school board members, "If you build it, they will come." At Monday night's monthly board meeting, Fort Scott High School Tennis Coach Lynn Barr and Fort Scott High School Activities Director Larry Fink appealed to local board members for approval to begin researching the possibility of constructing new tennis courts...

Seedings were announced Wednesday for Regional baseball and softball tournaments which are slated to begin Monday throughout the area. Fort Scott High School baseball is the No. 3 seed in the Chanute Class 4A Regional. All the games in the tournament will be played in Chanute with the first day's play split between CHS' Katy Park and Neosho County Community College's Hudson Field...

Lauren Sigwing, Fort Scott Community College's second-year head softball coach, was recently honored by her peers as she was named Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference-Eastern Division coach of the Year. Sigwing's Greyhounds had a 17-25 overall record this season, which included an 8-10 record in conference play. They were also 11-9 against district opponents...