Stories from Thursday, July 3, 2008

...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) In a report for the weather for June there were no hot days during which the temperature rose to 90 or above. The total rainfall was 10.57 inches, which is 5.83 inches above the average rainfall for June, and which is the greatest rainfall of any June in our 41 years' record. Only 10 days of the month were without precipitation. The nearest approach to this June's record is that of 1888 which was 8.31 inches...

The implementation of the first of the programs authorized by the latest farm bill has now started -- as of June 25. The Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) survived the farm bill debate structured similarly to the former program as well as retaining the same program label. With few changes, this part of the farm bill offerings is now available for enrollment at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices...

Farmers getting ready to cut alfalfa should keep a sharp eye out for blister beetles that can potentially cause toxic contamination of their hay. Species vary in size and color, but are recognized by elongated, narrow, cylindrical, soft bodies. When viewed from above, blister beetles have an accentuated neck...

WICHITA, Kan. -- Fifty-seven United Methodist churches in the eastern one-third of Kansas will have new pastors, July 1. Pastors and the churches they will serve through next June were formally announced by United Methodist Bishop Scott J. Jones, June 7, at the Kansas East Annual (regional) Conference of The United Methodist Church. The conference met June 4 through June 7 at United Methodist related Baker University, in Baldwin City...

LONGWOOD -- When we know and understand who God is, we grow to know who we are and where we're going by facing squarely where we came from. In her book "God, Who Are You? And Who Am I? -- Experiencing God by His Hebrew Names, author Ann Morgan Miesner guides readers through the stories of real women and men as they experience God in their daily lives, so that they too might commit themselves 100 percent to Jesus Christ. ...

Most everyone in Fort Scott is aware of the efforts being given to raise "Pennies for the Park." That effort has been going on for quite some time now and is headed towards some special events the week of July 7 - 11. Two different world records are hopefully going to be broken. The YAT team is wanting to lay 40 miles of pennies, and also, they would like to lay the fastest mile of pennies...

Nashville, Tenn. -- Drew Lorimer, Fort Scott, graduated from Belmont University with a B.S. Administration in Music Business on May 10, 2008, during the Nashville school's spring commencement ceremony. Drew is the son of Lee Lorimer and the grandson of Martha McBride, both of Fort Scott...

Karlene Brumback, Fort Scott, of Jungle Cubs Learning Day Care, has been awarded a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children. The credential was awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, DC, which represents the early childhood education profession...

A Maryland couple visited Kansas for the first time this week -- and drove off in a brand new truck, pulling a fifth-wheel camper. Eleanor and Charles Oursler, Jessup, Maryland, are the winners of the vacation rig given away in an annual drawing by the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation...

Patty Horgan, D-Pittsburg, has been formally endorsed by the Kansas National Education Association in her campaign for election to the 13th District of the Kansas Senate, a statement from Horgan said Wednesday. "In a citizen legislature such as ours, it's important to elect candidates to the Kansas Senate who are committed to improving the quality of public education," Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said. ...

Shirley Palmer was recently recognized for achieving perfect attendance for the two years she has served in the Kansas Legislature as 4th District State Representative. Palmer, Fort Scott, achieved both perfect attendance and a 100 percent voting record this session...

On Monday, the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees voted to terminate the contract of FSCC teacher Berna McLeod. McLeod, a teacher in the FSCC School of Cosmetology in Pittsburg, was terminated for various instances of recent insubordination, including failure to comply with several directives outlined in a May 7 letter to her from FSCC administrators, according to an FSCC document...

Each year on July 4, people all across the nation take time out of their busy lives to celebrate the freedoms we have as Americans; however, if caution is not used, these celebrations could end unpleasantly. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, www.kdheks.gov, at least 136 children 14 years of age and younger in Kansas were treated in emergency rooms or hospitalized for injuries involving fireworks during fireworks celebrations during the last two years. ...

A group of students are spending their summer completing much needed maintenance projects at the Fort Scott National Historic Site. Since May 27, 18 college students from different colleges in the United States and two high school students have been working at the fort this summer to help with the up keep of the grounds as well as yearly maintenance projects, FSNHS Facility Manager Jackie Messer said...

Last week, the big circular wood table on Charlie Rose's PBS late-night talk show was occupied, as it often is, by writers: Vanity Fair's chief editor Graydon Carter, the two head honchos of the once hip Rolling Stone, and a handful of other popular wordsmiths...