Stories from Thursday, February 18, 2010

My mom used to watch a midday program on television that started with the expression "like sands through the hourglass, . . ." and most readers will be able to complete this phrase. That is one of those "kind of strange" things that have stuck in my mind since childhood...

In 1790 the first US Census took place as a means to determine where people lived, the number of seats each state would have in the US House of Representatives, and as a way to track the patterns of settlement. Established in 1902, the Census Bureau now conducts more than 200 annual surveys in addition to administering the population and housing census. A national census is required every 10 years by the US Constitution and this is the year...

Representatives from the Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) at Pittsburg State University will be in Fort Scott, on Thursday, March 11, 2010, for free individual counseling sessions from 9 am to 3 pm. The sessions will be held at the Fort Scott Community College, Administration Building, Room E-112, 2108 S. Horton St., at selected times during the year. Please contact the KSBDC at PSU (620) 235-4921 for future dates and times...

Deere & Co. boosted its outlook for 2010 Wednesday after an unexpected increase in agricultural orders helped drive first-quarter profit 19 percent higher. Deere said lower costs and a roughly $75 million benefit from favorable currency rates also helped offset the "stubbornly weak" economy and 6 percent lower revenues...

J. Scott Gander, Fort Scott, a managing partner with the Modern Woodmen of America, recently attended the first Modern Woodmen Leadership Career Institute which took place at the organization's home office in Rock Island, Ill. Regional directors and managing partners were invited to attend the institute, which is designed to motivate attendees as leaders, help them learn from eliter industry speakers and exchange management practices with peers. ...

Lester Valentine Sinn, 84, of Fort Scott, died Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, 2010 at his home. He was born Feb. 14, 1926 in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Fred Gottfred and Elsie Sophia (Eberle) Sinn. He married Shirley Ann Turner July 26, 1957 in Fort Scott. She preceded him in death March 13, 2003...

There will be a Free Will Chili Feed, at Buck Run Community Center, Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds will go to support local cancer patients. Carry-out orders will be available. Please contact Teresa Davenport at (620) 362-3042, Lavetta Simmons at (620) 224-8070, or Joy O'Neal at (620) 224-6174 with questions...