Stories from Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Dollie Maxine Brown, 63, of rural Fulton, Kan., died June 13, 2011, due to a fatal stroke at her home. She was born Sept. 30, 1947, at Nevada, Mo., the daughter of Walter H. and Viola P. Phillips Hopkins. She attended school at Hume, Mo., until the fifth grade...

Julie and Fred Lillich and sibling Olivia Aiden, Louisburg, Kan., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister Addelynn Grace Lillich on Monday, June 13, 2011, at 12:29 p.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott. Addelynn weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces...

Melinda and Richard Ferguson Jr. along with siblings Christopher Lee and Mason Ryan Ferguson, Moran, Kan., are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister Clara Jane Ferguson on Monday, June 13, 2011, at 3:53 p.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott. Clara weighed 8 pounds...

Tegan and Cody Strickler along with sibling Remington Strickler, Iola, Kan., are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister Avery K. Strickler on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at 11:53 a.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott. Avery weighed 6 pounds, 14.5 ounces...

Ashley Nicole Owen, 24, 106 W. 7th, Pleasanton, Kan., was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on June 13 at 7:03 p.m. on a Bourbon County warrant for arson and is still being held.

The first Kid's Day on June 6 in Arcadia Christian Church was well attended by both children and teachers. The lesson subject was Joseph. Dream catchers were made along with handprints of each child. A luncheon, prepared by David and Carole Bridgewater, was served at the noon hour...

Elsmore Ruritan Club will sponsor a spaghetti supper Saturday at the Elsmore community building from 5 to 7 p.m. Club members will serve spaghetti, bread, dessert and a drink for a free-will donation. Profits will go to purchase fireworks. The club sponsors an Independence Day celebration annually. On July 3 the club will serve hamburgers, hot dogs and polish sausages, plus homemade ice cream, starting at 6:30 p.m. At dusk the club will have a free fireworks display...

The Bourbon County Attorney's Office on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint in Bourbon County District Court charging Ashley Nicole Owen with arson involving a May 26 fire at the home of Wesley Goodbody in rural Bourbon County, a news release said. Owen is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, the release said...

The American Red Cross is giving residents in the Bourbon County area a chance to show they have country in their blood. The Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive from 1-7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Community Christian Church, located at 1919 S. Horton...

Bobbi Kemna was one of more than 50 Kansas and Missouri artists honored at this year's Governor's Choice Award. Kansas first lady Mary Brownback recognized the artists by saying that the "real guest of honor for the night were the artists" in the Art is Ageless display at the Overland Station in Topeka...

The USD 234 Board of Education approved two employments during a special meeting Tuesday. Following a brief executive session, the board approved hiring Jared Martin as a physical education teacher at Fort Scott Middle School, and Kelsey DeMott as a paraeducator at Winfield Scott Elementary School for the 2011-12 school year...

A building that formerly housed a local CIGNA office, vacant for about a year, will be the home of a new business coming to Fort Scott next month. The EPOCH Group, a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, will open a medical claims and call center operation July 5 in the building located at 2801 S. Horton. Initially, the company plans to hire 20 claims examiners and two data-entry positions to adjudicate claims for its parent company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City...

Despite concerns raised by Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc., about 1,400 items not on exhibit at Fort Scott National Historic Site are being boxed up this week in preparation for a trip to a climate-controlled National Park Service facility in Independence, Mo...

Luke Brown's 2-run, 2-out home run in the seventh inning tied to score and gave Fort Scott American Legion Post 25 the chance to win in the 8th inning of a doubleheader against Baldwin Post 228 at Ty Cullor Field Tuesday night. But Baldwin pounced on five Fort Scott pitchers in the second game and took a 11-3 victory to salvage a split...