Stories from Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The chapter in our lives known as "moving" has finally come to an end, and I for one am very grateful. As of last Friday, April 20, the movers moved us into Marshfield, Wis., in about five or six hours. We are now what is known as "city dwellers." I wouldn't recommend to anyone waiting as long as we did to finally decide to move. ...

May is Older Americans Month, a perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for the older adults in our community. Since 1963, communities across the nation have joined in the annual commemoration of Older Americans Month -- a proud tradition that shows our nation's commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Americans...

The Bourbon County Sharp Shooters ended the 2012 shooting year with a bang at the Miami County Shooting Match on March 17, in Paola. Coached by Gary Buntain and Rocky Brown, five new shooters attempted to qualify for the Spring State Shooting Match in BB gun, and two other senior shooters also participated in air rifle. Katie Brown, 14, placed first overall in BB and Air Rifle (ages 12-14) and Jacob Pemberton, age 14, placed second in Air Rifle...

Shirley and Joe White, Janie Ruble, Susan McBride, Arma, and Debbie White, Oak Grove, traveled to Bentonville, Ark, on April 3 to attend the funeral of Leonard Weeter. They were involved in a car accident but are recovering. Tara Anderson, Oak Grove, spent from April 3 through 10 with her grandparents, Joe and Shirley, to help care for her grandpa, Joe. Shirley reported they were all doing better...

Three people were arrested in a drug bust Thursday evening in rural Crawford County. Just before 7 p.m. Thursday, Crawford County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an area on 590 Avenue just west of 30th Street, which is north of McCune in rural Crawford County. The report was individuals trespassing, a news release said...

Lyle J. Fischer, 88, resident of rural Fort Scott, died Sunday, April 29, 2012, at Medicalodges of Fort Scott. Funeral arrangements for Lyle Fischer will be announced by Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Jeanetta Ferguson and Chris Gillespie, and siblings Denim Michael Lee Decker and Adriaen Neichole Gillespie, La Cygne, Kan., are pleased to announce the birth of their son and brother Dean Ellis Gillespie at 11:41 a.m. April 28, at Mercy. Dean Gillespie weighed 5 pounds and 10 ounces at birth...

Donna Marie Hughes, 49, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office at 11:14 a.m. Thursday for aggravated assault. She is still being held at this time with no bond. Philip Mykel Turner, 21, Fort Scott, was arrested by Able Bonding on a Bourbon County warrant for domestic battery. He is still being held at this time with no bond...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The prisoners in the county jail have organized a quartet and spend much of each day rehearsing popular songs of the day. There are a number of good voices among the prisoners and the music they make is very pleasing. The Fort Scott Sorghum Syrup Company has about 2,500 acres of cane contracted for this year and have been compelled to refuse many contracts offered by farmers anxious to grow cane, as the capacity of the mill will be taxed to handle that which has already been arranged for should the season prove a favorable one for cane. ...

Sixty-six pounds of expired, unused and unwanted drugs were collected in Fort Scott during Saturday's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Mercy Hospital Pharmacy and the Bourbon County Sheriff's Department partnered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to conduct the fourth annual event...

Fort Scott resident Robert Query paid the filing fee to run as a Republican for the office of Second District County Commissioner last week, a news release said. Offices up for election in 2012 are: Second District County Commissioner; Third District County Commissioner; County Clerk; County Treasurer; Register of Deeds; County Attorney; Sheriff; all township treasurers and trustees; and Republican and Democratic committeepersons. Filing deadline for all offices is at noon Friday, June 1...

Hammond United Methodist Church, 227 Sunflower, Hammond, will host a benefit for Jimmy Ray Ford to help defray expenses from hip surgery Saturday, May 5. The event will include a yard sale from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. offering primitive glass, antiques and miscellaneous items and a soup and hot dog lunch for a free-will donation from 11 a.m.-1 p.m...

Old Fort Sharpshooters will host an open house from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 12. No range fee will be charged. Free hot dogs, burgers and pop will be available. Parents are invited to bring their kids. The range is in the Hollister Wildlife Area at 155th Street and Hackberry about four miles west of the Fort Scott airport...

With an eye toward getting more youngsters involved in church projects, the Christian Education Committee at First Presbyterian Church recently began exploring the possibility of bringing a Young Life program to Fort Scott. A meeting with leaders of the nondenominational, nonprofit organization is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight in Zimmerman Hall at the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford St...

One of the most ornate metal truss bridges in Kansas could be relocated to Fort Scott if the Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review approves the request at a hearing in Topeka next week. Committee members of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority are seeking the board's approval to move the Long Shoals Bridge in the northeast part of the county in an effort to save the deteriorating and impassable vintage-1902 bridge...

Bourbon County saw plenty of rain but no major incidents during storms that swept through the area from Sunday evening through early Monday. Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers said some quarter-sized hail was reported but it was mostly rain -- between six and 10 inches was dumped on Bourbon County -- that hit the area over the weekend. There were some instances of poles and transformers being struck by lightning, but no major damage or injuries were reported...

From opening a new children's hospital to pediatric telemedicine advancements and first-time neonatal intensive care research, Mercy's Day of the Child is more than a celebration. It's Mercy affirming its ongoing commitment to excellence in children's health...

Fort Scott High School's junior varsity softball doubleheader against Coffeyville, scheduled for Thursday at Don Hewett Field, has been cancelled due to a lack of players at Coffeyville. The Tiger JV is scheduled to play today against Parsons and Friday versus Columbus, both at Don Hewett Field. Play begins each day at 4:30 p.m...

Seven teams participated in the Corporate Olympics, held April 14-25 by Buck Run Community Center. Recreation Director Tom Robertson said the competition has been conducted for close to 10 years. The contest serves as a fundraiser for a local charity. This year, about $500 was raised, after expenses, for Relay for Life, Robertson said...

ARKANSAS CITY -- Fort Scott Community College's softball season came to and end without a victory here Saturday as the Greyhounds were swept by top-seeded Cowley in the Region VI Division II District D first-round playoff series. Cowley (43-6) won the best-of-3 series 2 games to none by sweeping a Saturday doubleheader 8-0 and 11-3. ...

HIGHLAND -- Fort Scott's bid to overcome a 13-game losing streak at the beginning of the conference schedule fell short here Monday when the Greyhounds dropped the opener of a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader to Highland. The Greyhounds (11-25 East, 30-26 overall) had a chance to make the playoffs going into the weekend as long as they could sweep the Scotties and avoid unfavorable tie-beaker situations. ...

GIRARD -- Fort Scott High's boys finished fifth while the girls were ninth at the Girard Optimist Club Invitational here Friday. Twenty schools competed on Girard's new all-surface track, which replaced an older one. Fort Scott's boys won nine medals while Tiger girls won six. Because the field is so large, Girard always awards eight places...

Fort Scott High School senior Tyler Adams was named Most Valuable Player of the boys' contest at Fort Scott Community College's Pechone Stepps All-Star Game at Arnold Arena Sunday afternoon. Adams led the Maroon team to a 56-52 victory over the White with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals...