Stories from Wednesday, February 18, 2009

By Jason E. Silvers The Fort Scott Tribune The annual Beacon Soupline would not be a success without a tremendous effort from several area volunteers, according to organizers of the event. "It's a very vital part of it," event organizer Joy O'Neal said. "We'll have well over 100 (volunteers) working in different shifts."...

By Rayma Silvers The Fort Scott Tribune An Amish family near Devon escaped uninjured from a fire which engulfed the backside of their house on Tuesday morning. Just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Bourbon County District 3 Fire Department was dispatched to Quail Road near Devon for a fire at a house occupied by Sam and Mary Ann Yoder...

The Fort Scott Tribune PITTSBURG -- The Mount Carmel Foundation is paying tribute to its proud history and celebrating its bright future at this year's "25th Silver Anniversary Gala." This milestone Gala will take place on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Pittsburg's Memorial Auditorium...

By Michael Pommier The Fort Scott Tribune The Fort Scott City Commission met Tuesday night in a regular meeting to consider items ranging from the closing of Gunn Park to building codes to building demolition. Diana Mitchell was in attendance to request the city's permission to close Gunn Park for the preparation of Freedom Fest, Halloween in the Park and Christmas in the Park. ...

The Fort Scott Tribune A release from the Crawford County Sheriff's Office Tuesday reports two individuals have been arrested for the burglary and theft of SEK Recycling. On Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. the Crawford County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding a possible burglary and theft that occurred in an unknown location in Crawford County...

By Michael Pommier The Fort Scott Tribune Fort Scott City Commission candidate Tom Raciti has announced he will no longer be campaigning but will remain on the ballot. Raciti said the reason for his decision is based on two factors. He said he doesn't feel he is the best qualified for the position. He also said he may be leaving the area this summer which would make him ineligible for office...

From Tribune Staff and AP Reports TOPEKA -- A budget impasse holding up Kansas income tax refunds and threatened to delay state employees' next paychecks ended Tuesday when Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a budget-balancing bill. The signing fulfilled a key demand from Republican legislative leaders who had blocked the Democratic governor's plan to transfer $225 million into the state's main bank account from other accounts across state government. ...

Fort Scott High's girls jumped out to an 11-0 lead on their way to a 56-28 whitewashing of Parsons in Southeast Kansas League play at the FSHS gymnasium Tuesday night. Seniors Kori Page Rienbolt, Brittany Bingesser, Jamie Collins and Monica Dikeman started in their final home game -- save for an upcoming first-round Sub-State game -- with Collins getting her first start after missing much of the early part of the season with a knee injury. ...

Senior Night couldn't have been more perfect for Fort Scott High's boys Tuesday night. Brandon King and Cory Schenkel joined Jake Clements, Paul Norris and Alex Barner in the starting lineup and helped the Tigers jump out to a 13-3 lead as Fort Scott rolled to a 63-43 Southeast Kansas League victory...

Fort Scott Community College's baseball season is off to a 2-3 start after five games. The Greyhounds split at Carl Albert, Okla., Sunday, then were swept at Hesston Tuesday before winning at Crowder (Mo.) Wednesday. All five games were on the road...

Ayriell Robinson's buzzer-beating layup sent the game into overtime and Samantha Ludwig scored eight of her 22 points in the extra session as visiting Labette rallied from behind to beat Fort Scott Community College's women, 80-72, at Arnold Arena Wednesday night...

Victories are not always pretty. Fort Scott Community College's men won a kay game toward Region VI Tournament seeding against Labette at Arnold Arena Wednesday night, 83-67. But what was shaping up to be a blowout at halftime was turned into a tense affair when the Cardinals got within six points with five minutes remaining...

Gerri Lynn Hofmann, age 62, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died late Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at the Mercy Health Center Emergency Room. She was born November 14, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Calvin Jaro and Irene Robb Jaro. She married Fred Hofmann on Nov. 30, 1975, at Reno, Nev...

Audrey Rosebrough, age 82, former resident of Fort Scott and more recently of Topeka, Kan., died Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, at the St. Francis Health Center in Topeka. She was born Dec. 8, 1926, in Aurora, Mo., the daughter of William George Emlet and Blanche Gillespie Emlet...

Helen Yvonne Kelley, age 69, resident of 729 S. Little Street, Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, at the Mercy Health Center Emergency Room. She was born July 8, 1939, in Chester, Ark., the daughter of Henry Allen and Carlyn Lane Allen. She was a graduate of Springdale High School and attended business courses at Fort Scott Community College...