Stories from Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Redfield Ruritan Club observed Family Night April 12 with 11 members and three visitors present. Skeet George led the club in singing "America" and Letha Johnson voiced the table grace. A carry-in meal was served with the club funishing fried chicken...

The Walk Kansas program is in full swing across the state with 3,100 teams and 18,600 participants. In the Southwind Extension District, 118 teams involving over 700 individuals are in the fifth week of the eight week program. Several teams have already logged 423 miles, the distance across the state. Some teams opted for a more difficult challenge of logging 1,200 miles, or the distance around the perimeter of the state...

When we went to the old City, we went through the Jaffa Gate and came out at the Dung Gate. Other attractions included the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Before going in, we had to remove our shoes and leave everything outside, and we also had to wear dresses. This Mosque can be identified by its black dome...

Billy Ray Graddy, 62, Pleasanton, Kan., died Friday, April 13, 2012. He was born on June 27, 1949, at Cayce, Ky., the son of Raymond and Vivian Graddy. He worked as an electrician. Billy was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the American Legion in Olathe, Kan...

Harold Mathias "Harry" Kemna, 78, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, April 14, 2012, at Mercy Hospital Emergency Room. He was born Aug. 17, 1933, in West Bend, Iowa, the son of John Henry Kemna and Helen Zeimet Kemna. He married Bobbi Sapp on August 29, 1959, at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Fort Scott...

Amber Gene Kirkland passed away at 12:15 a.m. on Monday, April 16, 2012, at Via Christi Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kan., following her battle with breast cancer. She was born Jan. 29, 1956, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Hugh Don and Shirley (Pagano) Crawford who preceded her death...

Ruth Audiss, 87, of Chanute passed away Sunday, April 15, 2012, at Heritage Nursing Home in Chanute. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, at Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel in Chanute. Burial services will be held at Highland Cemetery in Iola, Kan...

Randie Lauren Schlichting, 25, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Fort Scott Police Department at 2:06 p.m. Sunday on a warrant out of Crawford County. She is still being held at this time with no bond. Billy Minor, 22, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office at 11:46 p.m. Sunday for criminal damage. He has a bond of $1,250 and is still being held at this time...

State Rep. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, welcomed Fort Scott Senior Lyle Brittan to the Kansas Statehouse. Brittan visited the state capitol in Topeka to serve as page for the day in the Kansas House of Representatives. Lyle is the son of Bill and Michele Brittan of Fort Scott, Kan. ...

BRONSON -- Jayhawk-Linn took a 15-5 verdict in the first game of a Three Rivers League at Dawson Field here Friday evening. The second game was suspended due to rain with Jayhawk-Linn leading 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning. "Overall, we were putting the ball into play," UHS head coach Chris Woods said. "But the Jayhawks made the outs leaving (us) stranding runners throughout the game."...

PITTSBURG -- With Independence's track meet rained out early on Friday, Fort Scott High School head girls' track coach decided to take some of her athletes to the Pittsburg State Relays. Although Pitt State's event was not completed as the rain eventually reached there, two Tiger sophomores won events...

l00 YEARS AGO (1912) (April 15) -- Wireless dispatches up to noon today told that the passengers of the monster White Star liner Titanic, which struck an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast last night, were being transferred aboard the steamer, Carpathia, a Cunarder. ...

Fort Scott Community College's baseball team gained more control over its post-season fate by taking three of four games over Independence in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play at Lions Field over the weekend. The top eight teams from the Eastern Division qualify for the Region VI Tournament, which begins in early May. ...

There will be no school for USD 234 students on Friday, April 20, due to teacher in-service.

Uniontown High School students competed in the High School Art Show at Labette Community College April 5. Uniontown students did well. Out of six categories, students placed in three of them. Results follow: Drawing Painting Mixed Media Three Rivers...

With warm weather approaching, the time for spring cleaning is here. As residents identify the things they no longer need, Presbyterian Village reminds of the adage, "One person's trash is another person's treasure," and urges residents to consider donating that "treasure" to Presbyterian Village for its annual auction fundraiser...

It's grant season, according to Fort Scott Community College president Clayton Tatro, and that definitely seems to be the case. At the FSCC Board of Trustees monthly meeting on Monday night, Tatro updated trustees on the recent and upcoming grants he has applied for on behalf of the college...

Organizers and vendors involved with the Home, Sport, Farm and Garden Show said changes to this year's event made for a successful show. Revisions in hours and days for the event, as well as more promotion, pleased both vendors and visitors. This year's show, which took place Friday and Saturday at Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, was hosted by All Hit 103.9 KOMB/KMDO...

UNIONTOWN -- The West Bourbon Elementary School Site Council hosted its second annual "Family Fun Night" on Friday. Principal Tracy Smith said he estimated that 150 children attended the event -- about 300 people total. From 5-6 p.m., families ate barbecued hot dogs and had chips and cookies...

It's that time of year again for a little city spring cleaning. The city of Fort Scott has long provided a one-time only pick-up service for residents free of charge during the city wide "Spring Clean-up" program. City crews will start at the south end of Fort Scott and work their way north picking up unwanted household items. Crews will not return for any additional pick ups during the two-week project, city officials said...

USD 234 board members met in a special meeting on Monday night and spent the entire time in executive session. Following the meeting, school board President Janet Braun said USD 234 will schedule a special board meeting at a later date to accept a contract and announce the district's new superintendent...

Dressed in mid-1860s garb, Aaron Racine and Robert Talbott lounge on the grass in front of a tree on the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site. The men were two of about 60 people who took part in FSNHS's 30th annual Civl War Encampment this past weekend...