Stories from Tuesday, July 14, 2009

After more than two years of riding steers, 14-year-old Lane Allmond has taken on an even bigger challenge. Following the example of some family members who are bull riders, this year Allmond decided to take up the sport too. "My uncle Rick's boy rode bulls and his daughter's husband rode bulls," Allmond said. "I thought it was cool. I wanted to try it, and I liked it."...

PITTSBURG -- Pittsburg State University has hired a new director to oversee its Kansas Polymer Research Center and Business and Technology Institute. Andrew Myers, a scientist and project manager with TDA Research, Inc., a Colorado-based chemistry and engineering research company, will begin his new appointment Aug. 12...

After a severe thunderstorm tore through the western portion of Bourbon County on Wednesday afternoon, area residents were left with the responsibility of cleaning up the aftermath. The city of Bronson, which suffered a lot of damage from the storm, received a little help with their storm clean up, according to Bourbon County Sheriff Ron Gray and Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center Director of Security and Jail Administrator Jimmy Nichols...

Several new events and attractions are planned for the Bourbon County Fair which began Sunday and continues through Saturday. One new event this year is a ranch rodeo scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 2102 Huntington Blvd., where a majority of fair events will take place. The rodeo will include 10 four-person teams who will compete in several events that are typically part of routine life on a horse ranch...

Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services partners and stakeholders are invited to participate in a state-wide teleconference to be held by SRS Secretary Don Jordan July 24. SRS and Kansas Department on Aging will be holding a joint public hearing regarding long-term care programs at 10 a.m. The teleconference will begin at 2 p.m. to gather input for the development of the 2011 fiscal year budget...

Editor's Note: The following story took place several years ago. For Father's Day we were invited down to daughter Susie and son Rob's for the weekend. The weather cooperated. It was great summer weather. We had a big picnic lunch at Susie's out on their screened porch. There was a breeze, very conducive for eating, visiting, reading or napping, not necessarily in that order. Not everyone was there, but those that could be there made for a lively get-together...

Fort Scott's 9-year-old and 10-year-old Cal Ripken Baseball teams have both advanced to State tournaments this weekend after winning district tournaments at Don Hewitt Field last week. Both teams came from the loser's bracket in order to advance. The 9-year-olds will go to Lakin and play their first game Thursday at noon against Paola. The 10-year-olds are on their way to Wellington. They play their first game at 4 p.m. Friday. Both tournaments will conclude Monday...