Stories from Tuesday, December 21, 2010

It's the season for eggnog, holiday baking, and leftovers! The last thing anyone wants this time of year is to be sick -- especially if it could have been avoided. Food borne illness is often disguised "a tummy ache" or "a bug." And often it's caused by careless actions on the part of people. Still, it can disrupt holiday plans and enjoyment of spending time with family and friends...

Before I begin my column for this week, I must confess I have a little bit to add to my column that I wrote last week. This is in regard to the story that I wrote about my sister Darlene's Christmas coat. After reading my column in the Fort Scott Tribune, I got a call from Darlene. To which she said "Marilyn, I guess you never heard the end of that story, so straight from the horse's mouth, my sister said this is the "rest of the story." (What does a 5-year-old know or remember?)...

The Sunday before Christmas, the Arcadia Christian Church had as their guest speaker a former pastor of our church, Bob Cable, son of present Pastors Willa and Charles Cable. With him was his family. Not only did he preach, but he was the pianist and, with his dad, sang a duet, How Great Thou Art before sermon time...

Joshua J. Berry graduated from the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Daleville, Ala., and was appointed to the rank of warrant officer one. Berry is the son of Lisa A. and stepson of James M. Bugner of Fulton. He has served in the military for less than a year. He graduated in 2002 from Fort Scott High School and received his associate's degree in 2009 from Kansas State University in Salina...

On Dec. 8, the Barnstormers 4-H Club held a Christmas dinner and members brought a side or dessert to go with the ham provided by Mitch and Kelli Crystal. Members then wrapped presents for the seven adopted children for Christmas. On Dec. 12, the club went caroling at Fort Scott Manor. They sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" and "Jingle Bells." Chance Hoener sang a solo while playing guitar. The song was "Hallelujah."...

BELL -- Michelle Shipman and Matt Bell, Pittsburg, and siblings Austin, Autumn, Anthony, and Madison, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Sophia RoseAnn Bell. Sophia was born at 7:37 a.m., Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott...

The world lost a joyful voice on Dec. 17, 2010, when Anna Lou Aberle passed away at the Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott, Kan. Anna Lou was born Oct. 21, 1919, at Gridley, Kan., the daughter of Henry and Lydia (Ott) Bahr. Her parents provided a loving family where she grew up with her sister, Wilma, and four brothers, Arnold, George, Roy, and Jim, in Gridley...

Charles "Chuck" Leonard Sport, age 56, of Wheatland, Mo., died Saturday December 18, 2010 at the Miami County Medical Center in Paola, Kan. There was cremation and a visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday Dec. 21, 2010 at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home LaCygne, Kan...

Eugene Leo "Gene" Weber, age 42, resident of Bronson, Kan., died early Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, as the result of a home fire. Funeral arrangements for Gene Weber will be announced by Cheney Witt Bronson Chapel.

The Bourbon County Courthouse and Transfer Station will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 for the Christmas holiday and Friday, Dec. 31 for New Year's. The county wishes everyone a merry Christmas and happy and safe holiday season.

The Kansas Board of Regents last week approved new standards for admission to the state's six universities. The standards, which will apply to freshmen entering high school in 2011, represent more than a year's worth of work by the regents and an Admission Task Force comprised of community and education leaders, and input from a variety of statewide stakeholders...

Tribune Staff Report Mark and Monhmany "Mo" McCoy said Friday they were deeply honored and humbled by being accorded the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Ozark Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. About 75 people were expected at a dinner in the McCoy's honor at the Liberty Theatre. "We're deeply honored to be thought of for the ward. We're so proud and pleased to be nominated for it," McCoy said...

More than 240 people from various faiths and backgrounds attended the first-ever Carols of Many Nations Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. The event was meant to raise awareness that there are many different cultures among the people of Fort Scott. The program included carols in Spanish, German, French, Kikuyu (from Kenya), Persian and English. The reason for the gathering, according to the program, was to worship "The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace."...

Today's meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission will begin at 5 p.m., rather than its normal start time of 6 p.m. Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin said the meeting time was changed to accommodate for holiday events taking place later that evening...

A group of former Fort Scott Community College players voiced concerns about the school's football program during Monday's board of trustees meeting. Meanwhile, college officials say they had not heard about these issues until the past week. Three former players and one of the player's parents were present to speak to the board in open session about incidents that occurred in July and August. ...

BRONSON -- The cause of a fire that killed a Bronson man early Sunday morning has not yet been determined. The name of the victim also has not been released by authorities. At 2:25 a.m. Sunday, Bourbon County fire units were dispatched to 914 Clay in Bronson in reference to a structure fire. Bourbon County Sheriff Ron Gray said that while attempting to put out the blaze, firefighters were notified of a possible victim inside the structure...