Stories from Friday, September 16, 2011

During the summer of 1861, southern Kansas was in a bit of a turmoil, especially after the Confederate victory at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on Aug. 10, 1861. The citizens of Fort Scott and southeast Kansas feared an attack by a Confederate force of the Missouri State Guard commanded by Gen. Sterling Price as it moved north from the Wilson's Creek Battlefield toward Lexington and the Missouri River...

"List one thing about your appearance you would change if you could," I challenged my Bible study teens. "Just one?" they responded in unison. Each of the seven had her own complaint: high forehead, crooked nose, too fat, too fat, too fat, thin hair, too short...

Gene Cowan with his wife, Peggy, surrounded by his children and his grandchildren, had a full day of playing ball on Aug. 27. Four generations of the Cowan family played most of the day to support a cause that is dear to them and an organization that has helped their family...

On Sept. 25, the Hammond United Methodist Church will hold a revival at 4 p.m. It will feature Rev. January Kiefer from LaCygne, Kan., the New Lancaster United Methodist Church's pastor, giving the message and "From the Heart" praise singers of LaCygne sharing special music...

Joshua Allen Warner, 26, 254 W. Osage, Metz, Mo., was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office at 3:02 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, and returned for court. He is still being held. James Edward LaRoche, 21, 1086 85th St., Uniontown, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office at 7:50 p.m. Wednedsay, Sept. 14, for burglary and is still being held...

John Michael "Mike" Lair, 79, died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, at the Guest Home Estates, 737 Heylman, Fort Scott, Kan. He was born Oct. 20, 1931, in Piqua, Kan., the son of Otto Lair and Anne Josephine Bux Lair. Mike graduated from Kansas State University in 1955 where he played baseball for the Wildcats. He married Barbara Decker in 1965. She preceded him in death in 1982...

Winfred "Win" Jent, 94, of Fort Scott, died Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 13, 2011, at the Medicalodges Nursing Home. He was born June 17, 1917, in Hume, Mo., the son of Edward Raymond and Donnie Leona (Bloomfield) Jent. He married Florence Marie Plain Aug. 16, 1940, in Fort Scott, Kan. She preceded him in death March 4, 1999...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) An eight-inch rainfall last night has resulted in the worst flood in years in Fort Scott. North Fort Scott is flooded and many lives and much property has been endangered there. Early this morning the work of moving families out of the flooded district was started and it has continued for much of the day. ...

Seems we have a new custom at some area shopping malls -- dog-friendly environs. In fact, about 14 states now have malls, mainly outdoor shopping venues, that have extended a welcome mat to "man's best friend." Both Florida and California have the market on this trend. To make Fido feel welcome, some stores have even placed water dishes by the entrance door; some offer treats to the doggies while some have erected relaxing, fenced-in areas for Rover and friends to wander and get acquainted...

Fort Scott National Historic Site will be offering special interpretive programming in conjunction with the Downtown Fall Festival and Townwide Garage Sale, Saturday, Sept. 17. A guided tour of the site will be given at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. The hour-long activity stops at several locations on the fort grounds and provides information about the fort's history...

Taylor Bailey has been selected to sing the Star Spangled Banner to open the 4-H Dog Show at the Kansas State Fair Saturday, Sept. 17. The dog show is open to all Kansas 4-Hers who have received blue or purple ribbons at their county fair or 4-H-sanctioned dog show...

W. Ralph Eubanks, director of publishing at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., will be one of the guest speakers for the 8th annual Gordon Parks Celebration Oct. 7-8 in Fort Scott. Eubanks will speak at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, in the theater of the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton. His presentation, "Fields of Vision: The Photographs of Gordon Parks," is free and open to the public...

With an early breakfast and motivational words from this year's campaign chairman, the United Way of Bourbon County kicked off its annual fundraising campaign Thursday at the Fort Scott Community College cafeteria. This year's campaign chairman is local educator and coach Pechone Stepps, who knows a little bit about this year's theme, "Adding More to Life Every Day."...

Fort Scott High School senior Pamela "P.J." Self was one of nearly 16,000 students named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist, according to a list released Wednesday. Despite being in the running for what Fort Scott High School Gifted Facilitator Diana Endicott calls "one of the highest academic honors," Self is unfazed...

A local museum and center and a local arts council will see funding cuts due to a decision made earlier this year by Gov. Sam Brownback to eliminate the Kansas Arts Commission. The Gordon Parks Celebration of Culture and Diversity, a component of the Gordon Parks Museum and Center, and the Bourbon County Arts Council, a group that promotes and supports the arts in Bourbon County, will be affected by the elimination of the KAC, which funded 200 arts organizations and artists statewide...

IOLA -- Fort Scott community College's volleyball team won its 10th match of the season here Wed-nesday night defeating Allen County in five games in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play. The 'Hounds came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 10-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-10, 17-15. FSCC improved to 3-2 in the East and 10-4 overall...