Stories from Wednesday, June 24, 2009

MULBERRY -- A Mulberry man was injured in a one-vehicle accident late Friday near Girard. At 11:56 p.m. Friday, Christopher Davidson, 27, was injured when the 2001 Honda 400EX all-terrain vehicle he was driving overturned and landed on top of him as he was attempting to go up a creek embankment on private property west of Girard, according to the Crawford County Sheriff's Office...

Children who spend time reading during the summer months can be ready to start the new school year in the fall with improved reading levels. Those who do not spend time reading could actually start the school year with a little lower reading abilities than they had in the spring, according to Education.com. The Web site offers readers several tips to help children enjoy reading through the summer months...

While thoughts of summer often lead to playing in the pool or riding a bike, unintentional firearm injuries to children occur most frequently during the months of June to August and during the holiday season from November to December, according to the Safe Kids Kansas organization...

Drywood Township trustees hope the third time is a charm as they continue to seek funding for a storm shelter. A public hearing was held at June 19 by the Bourbon County Commission for the application for a Community Block Development Grant to the Kansas Department of Commerce for a 1,800 square-foot storm shelter and community building in Garland, in Drywood Township...

Fort Scott City Commissioners approved the resurfacing of several alleys during the June 16 meeting. According to Fort Scott Public Works Director Eric Bailey, seven of the nine alley were approved by the last commission however the project was never completed due to time and budget restrictions...

UNIONTOWN -- There will be plenty of entertainment for everyone during a returning Fourth of July celebration at Uniontown City Park. The fourth annual "Independence Day Bash," a popular local event that is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, will include food, refreshments, and a variety of games and activities for children. The event will conclude with a fireworks display later that evening. Attendees will also be able to view several recent park improvements...

Despite frequent rain showers and heat that have passed through the local area, members of the Fort Scott Public Works Street and Park departments have been working diligently to finish construction on a new accessible fishing dock at Fort Scott Lake...

As the mercury rises, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reminding Kansas residents to protect themselves in hot summer temperatures. "When temperatures start to rise, it's important to know how to protect yourself and others, especially those who are at greater risk of heat-related illness," KDHE Health Director and State Health Officer Jason Eberhart-Phillips said. ...

The Kansas Highway Patrol responded to an accident at 10 p.m. Tuesday on 240th Street, two miles east of U.S. Highway 69, which killed one local teen and injured two more. According to KHP, Parker Lea McKenney, 15, was driving a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria northbound on 240th Street when she was unable to maneuver an eastward curve in the road. ...

A number of local Independence Day celebrations will be available to area residents July 3-4. The 2009 Gunn Park Freedom Fest, which is scheduled to take place from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Gunn Park, 1010 Park Ave., features a full day of games and activities, food and refreshments, fun contests, children's rides and attractions, music, and other events. The event is coordinated each year by the Fort Scott Gunn Park Committee and the City of Fort Scott...

On Wednesday afternoon, with the help of concerned citizens, the Fort Scott Police Department was able to apprehend two juveniles on charges of arson. Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the FSPD received a call from a witness informing dispatch the public restrooms located next to Heritage Park at the corner of First and Main streets were on fire...

Editor's Note: The following article is the first of a two part series detailing the requirements of volunteer firefighters as well as what volunteer firefighters give up in order to serve their neighbors. Residents in Bourbon County who experience a house or grass fire will come in contact with a unique group of local individuals...

According to a press release from the State of Kansas Office of the Fire Marshal, June has been declared Home Safety Month by the Home Safety Council. Kansas State Fire Marshal Dan McLaughlin said in order to keep homes and the people living in them safe from fire, he is joining with the National Association of the State Fire Marshal's and the Home Safety Council to promote fire safety practices by paying particular attention to activities associated with the summer months...

The Workman Bluegrass Band is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Heritage Park Pavilion near the corner of First and Main streets. The five-member band includes vocalist Brian Workman, Springfield, Mo., bassist Steve Workman, Joplin, Mo., Randy Brasuell, Fort Scott, who sings and plays the mandolin and fiddle, Russ Brasuell, Bella Vista, Ark., who sings and plays the dobro, and Jerry Bahr, a guitarist and vocalist from Fort Scott...

During the summer months, many area residents take part in various fun outdoor activities that can turn tragic if certain safety precautions are not followed. According to a press release from the State of Kansas Office of the Fire Marshal, area residents should take several precautions when camping or cooking outdoors...

A crew from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway were in Bourbon County Tuesday and Wednesday to clean up the damage of a coal train which went off the tracks on 230th Street just South of Hackberry Road. Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers said he was notified of the derailment at approximately 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, by Bourbon County Sheriff Ron Gray. He added the crews had the damaged rail cars off the tracks by 2 a.m. and had the tracks back open by Wednesday afternoon...