Stories from Thursday, May 24, 2012

On days that she's not writing grants at the Lowell Milken Center in downtown Fort Scott, Ashley Cook makes the commute to Pittsburg State University to teach freshman composition and research writing in the English department there. She also attends her own classes, working toward a master's degree in technical writing...

Deadlines, deadlines ... always deadlines. Our office hosted an FSA Committee meeting on May 10 -- the last day to timely file the second half of Kansas property taxes. The consensus around the table that day was one of "dread and torment" from this particular time limit. The same emotions apply to the ubiquitous income tax date -- March 1 for farmers and April 15 for most others. These and other deadlines are a part of each of our lives -- like it or not...

This week's market minute focuses on the abundant goodness found at the Fort Scott farmers' market. First, the produce: Vendor tables that are picture perfect with colorful produce. There is chedar (yellow) and perpale along with with snow white cauliflower, broccoli, big, beautiful dark red beets, yellow and zucchinni summer squashes, green onions, radishes, snow and snap peas, new potatoes, turnips, Swiss chard, herbs, large sweet onions, asparagus (Tuesday nights only), lettuces, cabbage and gooseberries. ...

Many trees and shrubs in the area have been slow to leaf out, losing branches or not leafing out at all. Numerous calls have been coming into the extension office from concerned homeowners. In many cases, the cause of this appears to be stress related. Last summer was very hot and dry and put many plants under stress. This was followed by a warm and dry winter which further stressed root systems...

Cobalt MedPlans, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City, is recently presented two scholarships through its partnership with the Ellis Foundation. Graduating high school seniors of Cobalt MedPlans employees are eligible to apply for these scholarships...

In Theaters: Battleship I always enjoy being surprised when I make a trip to the movie theater, and this week I was pleasantly so with the release of Battleship. I must admit that after watching a few of the very understated previews for this movie I made the decision in my mind that it wasn't going to be any good. ...

Katie and Bo Casper, Devon, Kan., and siblings Mesa Rae and Kodi Jo are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister Bryn Landry Casper at 1:11 p.m. May 23, 2012, at Mercy. Bryn Landry weighed 6 pounds and 5 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Sam and Linda Evans, Devon, Kan...

Fishback, Johnny Lee, 58, from Andover, Kan., is remembered as a cherished father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle and dear friend. He was preceded in death by his parents Charlie and Katie Mae Fishback and his sister Gwen Vogt. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Teresa (Dean); three children, Stacey and Shaun Fishback of Topeka, Kan., and Gloria Carrell of El Dorado, Kan.; six grandchildren and 12 siblings...

Jack A. Vender Sr., 78, a resident of rural Fort Scott, died Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at his home following a brief illness. Jack was born Oct. 7, 1933, in Irwin, Mo., the son of John Vender and Mildred Spurling Vender. Jack married Patsy Brown and to this union were born four children, Jack Vender Jr., Pam Vender Wiggans, Danny Vender and Gayle Vender Woody...

Cora Esther Foster, 78, of Pleasanton, Kan., died Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott, Kan. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 26, 2012, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel, Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Interment will be in the Prescott Cemetery...

Justin Mitchell Harvey, 43, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office at 2:22 p.m. Tuesday on an arrest warrant for two counts of forgery. He posted a $2,000 cash surety bond at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday and was released. Tanya Rebecca Rose Olkowski, 23, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Fort Scott Police Department at 8:38 p.m. Tuesday for domestic battery. She is still being held at this time with no bond...

Madgelene Marie Roberts, 85, resident of Medicalodges of Fort Scott, Kan., died Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo. She was born March 22, 1927, in Blackwell, Okla., the daughter of Lee Stevens and Viola Mae Puckett Stevens. She married Justin Earl Roberts on July 14, 1944, in Las Vegas, Nev. He preceded her in death on July 28, 2005...

A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main. The meeting will be held to approve applying for a Safe Routes to School grant application and resolution...

Donna and Henry Weber of Joplin will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary June 3, 2012. They were married June 3, 1962. The couple have two children, Rod Weber and wife Teresa of Joplin, and Tisha Baker and husband Douglas of Branson, Mo. The couple have five grandchildren, Justin and Joshua Weber, Julia and Cassidy Baker and Shayna Blake...

All members concerned about the future of the Valley of Fort Scott should attend a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 7. The gathering will be held at the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main, Fort Scott. This is an urgent call for those interested in the health and viability of the local Scottish Rite. There will be no meal...

The See-Kan Resource, Conservation and Development Project Inc., a nonprofit agency, has been awarded an $8,500 grant for the "Our Local Foods" Program through the Kansas Rural Center. The grant will allow producers in Southeast Kansas to be linked to various of consumers within the local region...

From reciting poetry to writing and illustrating their own books, students at St. Mary's Catholic School proved they can do it all. Youngsters proudly showcased their literary talents and memorization skills to their families as part of the Writer's Cramp and science fair Wednesday afternoon in the school gymnasium...

City staff is preparing for the much-anticipated opening of the new Fort Scott Aquatic Center on Memorial Day. While officials aren't sure how many people to expect for the pool's inaugural day, Assistant City Manager Susan Brown said preparations are being made for large numbers...

FORT SCOTT FRIDAY SATURDAY ----- UNIONTOWN FRIDAY No events scheduled SATURDAY ----- PLEASANTON FRIDAY SATURDAY ----- JAYHAWK-LINN FRIDAY SATURDAY...

Fort Scott High School will send seven athletes to compete in eight events at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships this weekend at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium. This is the 101st State Championship Meet. Girls' championships began in 1972. Because all six classes -- boys and girls -- compete at the same location on the same weekend, the Kansas meet is said to be the largest high-school championship meet in the nation...

Tim and Nicole Banwart, Fort Scott, and sibling Jonah Alan Banwart are pleased to announce the birth of their sons and brothers Jayden Thomas Banwart and Jordan Ray Banwart on May 23, 2012, at Mercy. Jayden Thomas was born at 10:35 a.m. and Jordan Ray was born at 10:39 a.m...

Bourbon County Democrats and Independents will hold an important meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton. Local Democrats and Independents are encouraged to attend. ...

The public is invited to an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at Fort Scott City Hall, 123 S. Main St., to hear details about the Fort Scott Airport Airspace Protection Program. The city of Fort Scott will inform the public about Federal Aviation Administration safety standards around the Fort Scott Municipal Airport and about draft updates in local procedures for protecting the public and the airspace around the airport, a news release said...