Stories from Friday, December 26, 2008

For about the last two weeks, the Dolly HollyDay tours have brightened up the holiday season for several area residents. The tours, which began Dec. 15 and continue through Dec. 30, take guests aboard Dolly the Trolley on an evening tour of area homes decorated for the holidays. Tickets for the nightly tours have been selling very well recently, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Director Cynthia McFarlin said...

A previously familiar sight will be returning to downtown Fort Scott thanks to a donation by John Bartelsmeyer. In addition to the new street lights, benches and potted plants added to Fort Scott city streets through the StreetScape project, the downtown area will be receiving a street clock. The clock was located downtown for about two years when Bartelsmeyer operated his jewelry store before relocating in Jan. 2006...

Michael Lee Ragsdale, Sr., age 72, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went to walk with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born Aug. 16, 1936, in Gallup, New Mexico, the son of James Ragsdale and Hazel Gibson Ragsdale. He was a 1954 graduate of Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas...

Kirk and Christa Holt, Mound City, and siblings Jenna, Hunter and Callie, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Tanner Aaron Holt. Tanner was born Dec.16, 2008, at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan. He weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces...

Angela Putman, Independence, Mo., and Clint Johnson, Bronson, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Hunter William Johnson. Hunter was born at 10:18 a.m., Dec. 5, 2008 at Centerpoint Medical Center, Independence, Mo. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 and a half inches at birth. Maternal grandparents are Gary and Paul Putman, Independence, Mo. Maternal great-grandmother is Alice Brashears, Kansas City, Mo...

The regular monthly meeting of the Pawnee 4-H club was held Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. at the 4-H building in Fort Scott. The meeting was called to order by Meredith Hill, Historian. Drew Sinn and Jacob Pemberton led the 12 members present in the pledges. Roll call was "Name one of Santa's Reindeer." Minutes of the meeting were read and approved. ...

The Uniontown 4-H clubs Jr. Leaders Seth Bartlett, Cole George and Drew George rang the bell for the Salvation Army to help raise money Saturday Dec. 20, 2008. The weather was very cold about 25 degrees with the wind blowing, but the club stayed out for 2 hours ringing the bell. ...

Shalom aleichem, often shortened simply to 'Shalom', is the Hebrew word for peace. It's the term used to greet others in the same way that we say "hello." It actually means "well-being be upon you" or "may you be well" and it covers all areas of life -- health, prosperity, security, friendship and salvation. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) There are now 300 men working at the Missouri Pacific shops and every day Master Mechanic Carberry is employing additional workmen. The prisoners of the county jail were all treated to a banquet yesterday. It was Christmas Day and Sheriff Hesser always makes it a point to give his inmates a touch of high life on that day. ...

For some people Christmas is a magical time, but for others, the holiday season can produce feelings of depression and anxiety. According to local counselor Margaret Humphrey, the holiday season can be taxing on people for various reasons. Humphrey said she has noticed financial concerns have become more prevalent this year. ...

After Christmas has ended people are faced with a tough decision -- what to do with the tree. For those who have an artificial tree, the decision is as simple as putting it in the box and storing it away for the next year. However, those who have a live tree have some choices...