Stories from Thursday, July 24, 2008

For several local residents, an urge to help out in the community could not be ignored. Since Monday, dozens of local volunteers have been participating in the Good Neighbor Blitz, a coordinated week-long effort by area churches, youth groups, organizations, businesses, and individuals to work on homes in the area that are in need of repair...

Local residents who usually access the Fort Scott Post Office by way of the handicapped accessible ramp on the north end of the building have been unable to do so for the last few weeks. When administration at the local post office discovered large chunks of limestone had begun to fall off of the north east end of the post office building, they immediately closed the ramp, ensuring the safety of their customers, according to Fort Scott Post Office Postmaster Robert Vacca...

There will be a work session of the Fort Scott City Commission held on Wednesday, July 30 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room, 1 E. 3rd St., Fort Scott. The meeting will be held to discuss the 2009 city budget.

During a recent fundraising event, area residents helped raise money to benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocates organization. On July 11, supporters of the Bourbon County CASA program assembled at the residence of Matt and Gayla Mason for "An Evening Under the Stars." The annual fund-raising event generated more than $6,500 for CASA, a program which provides trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the courts of Bourbon County...

Jana and Aaron Hailey, of Webb City, Mo., are proud to announce the birth of their son Cian Michael Hailey. Cian was born at 9:09 a.m., on Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at Freeman Hospital, Joplin, Mo. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. Maternal grandparents are Larry and Paula Howard, of Arcadia, Kan...

Katie Oharah and Justin Hueston, of Mapleton, Kan., and big brother Colby Michael, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister Paityn LeAnn Hueston. Paityn was born at 10:57 a.m., on July 23, 2008, at Mercy Health System, Fort Scott. She weighed 8 pounds, 8.2 ounces and measured 21 inches...

Jennifer Marie Pippen and Burt William Hawkins, of Fort Scott are proud to announce the birth of their daughter KenDra Ann Hawkins. KenDra was born at 2:11 p.m., on July 22, 2008, at Mercy Health System, Fort Scott. She weighed 6 pounds. Maternal grandparents are Melissa and Scott Pierce of Kansas City, Robert and Debbie Pippin, of Adrian, Kan., and the late Jim Pippin...

Donald Eugene Lowry, age 60, a resident of Chanute, Kansas, was pronounced dead on Friday, July 18, 2008, near Garland, Kansas. He was born Aug. 31, 1947, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Donald Eugene "Gene" Lowry and Rose Proctor Lowry. Don married Debra Long on April 15, 1976. They later divorced. He was retired from the United States Army and had served three tours during Vietnam...

Madge Wynona Hawkins, age 75, of Fort Scott, died Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at Mercy Health Center. She was born May 8, 1933, in Fort Scott the daughter of John Wesley Cady and Nellie Matilda Gross Cady. She married Donald Lee Hawkins on July 3, 1950. He preceded her in death on April 20, 1991...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) It is an interesting sight to watch the excavations being made on East Wall Street. One big plow that is operating over the stony street is drawn by four big mules and a giant span of horses. Four men today piled on top of the plow to hold it in the earth while the six animals bent their backs in pulling it through the streets. The combined strength of these big animals is nearly equal to that of a small locomotive...

Beverly Davis, Lavone Page, Dora Page, Clara Brewer and Pastor Mary Akins enjoyed attending a brunch at the Farlington W.M.C., on July 10. Judy Tripp gave a birthday offering and Joe and Ann Ludlum and Mabel and Elmer Miller gave anniversary offering at worship July 13. Pastor Mary's sermon was titled "Knock knock." Scripture was read from Psalm 37 and Samuel 3:1-20...

Twenty-three seniors met in Bronson at the Methodist Annex for a brunch. Tables were decorated in red, white and blue, for the occasion. A scrumptious meal of breakfast casseroles and coffee cake was made by hostesses Hope Holoman, Elizabeth Lunberg, Retta Smith and Mary Louise Wilson; these ladies also made muffins, fresh melon, a pizza of fruit, coffee and orange juice...

A check of the calendar confirms that it is past mid-July already. Independence Day celebrations are concluded, and the hot summer days commonly associated with the month of July are upon us. That means the annual chore of filing a complete acreage report of crop and land uses with USDA's Farm Service Agency is again at hand. Commonly, the deadline is August 1 in Kansas, but August 15 has been set at for the conclusion this year in all states...

Have you ever thought about how your actions may affect those downstream of you, in a positive or a negative way? Grass waterways, crop rotation, terraces, following label directions and composting all have positive affects on the Marmaton Watershed...

On July 28, treasurers for candidates running for state and county offices will file their pre-primary election campaign reports. In addition, on July 31, a report of last minute contributions will also be filed by any state or local candidate who receives any contributions in the amount of $300 or more...

On July 28, treasurers for candidates running for state and county offices will file their pre-primary election campaign reports. In addition, on July 31, a report of last minute contributions will also be filed by any state or local candidate who receives any contributions in the amount of $300 or more...

The Fort Scott Hurricanes, the local swim team, won their eighth straight Southeast Kansas Swimming League regular-season season championship when it defeated Erie at the Fort Scott city pool July 16. Saturday, the Hurricanes -- who have not lost a single meet in these past eight years -- will attempts to win their eighth straight championship meet when they travel to Coffeyville for the SEKSL championship meet...