Stories from Friday, July 13, 2012

At the beginning of the Civil War, "Principal" Cherokee Chief John Ross was in a very difficult situation. He wanted his people of the Cherokee Nation to remain neutral and not participate in the "white man's war." In fact, he declared that the Cherokees would remain neutral, however, that did not last very long. ...

The first time I read in scripture that my body was the temple of the Lord, I felt like an apology was in order. I was anything but fitting as a dwelling place for something holy, mainly because I suffered from too many "too manys." Too many distractions while praying. Too many justifications for repeated sins. Too many cinnamon rolls and too many excuses for not exercising...

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts' office is accepting applications for students interested in an internship on Capitol Hill for the upcoming fall semester. "Internships can be an important path to starting a career in public service," Roberts said in a news release. ...

Vanessa Willard, Fort Scott, and siblings Devonté Evitt and Gleyhona Willard are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister Dezziona Reneé Willard on July 12, 2012, at Mercy. Dezziona Reneé weighed 6 pounds and 14 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Lynette Vann and Joann Vann, Fort Scott...

Amy and David Hixon, Fort Scott, and siblings Aubrey, Addison, Blake and Colton are pleased to announce the birth of their son and brother Cade David Hixon at 2:31 p.m. July 6, 2012, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, Kan. Cade David weighed 8 pounds and 1 ounce at birth...

On the occasional lists of dangerous jobs, university professors aren't even an after thought. But this summer, when Dean Cortes went to teach, he wore a Kevlar vest and rode in a caravan with well-armed South African guards. Cortes, professor and chair of the Department of Economics, Finance and Banking in Pittsburg State University's Kelce College of Business, spent a month teaching business professors in Iraq. ...

Shannon Rose Hall, 27, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Fort Scott Police Department at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday on a Bourbon County warrant for nonsupport of a child. She is still being held at this time on a $500 cash bond.

Ronald L. McCarley Sr., 63, of Arcadia, Kan., passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at Via Christi Hospital. He was born March 10, 1949, in Detroit, Mich., the son of Clarence Lynn and Geraldine Nadine (Caputo) McCarley. On Aug. 29, 1975, Ron was united in marriage to Kathy (Read) McCarley in Fort Scott. She survives of the home...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) "Has it ever struck you, said one well known man, "that about the only time people get a good write-up in the paper is when they die or get married? "When I was married and saw my notice in the paper I swelled around and thought I amounted to more than I at first thought I did. Afterward, I found I was just a bluff and was put in for politeness sake...

To the Editor: Every time I pass by the National Guard building, I think back to the time I spent to "try a year" with them. I was the training NCO for a year. I had a ball when the company went to camp out by Salina at a closed down Air Force base. I can't remember the name for sure. It was something like Smoky Hill Air Force Base. I start thinking about that nice big building and it comes to mind, what a waste. It would be perfect for a senior citizen center...

The passing of Andy Griffith, America's sheriff, I'm sure hit a chord with everyone who grew up in a small town. For me, I was born and grew up in Mulberry, Kan. -- yes, Mulberry. Mulberry is a small town in Southeast Kansas with a population of around 500. While I was growing up there in the '40s the population was close to 1,000...

A disaster declaration Thursday of 82 Kansas counties, including Bourbon, should make life somewhat easier for local producers as it includes a bit of flexibility. The county -- and those surrounding it -- is considered to be in a D2 drought designation, which in the past would not allow producers to graze or hay their Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, land. ...

The Open Class Division at the Bourbon County Fair will showcase floriculture this year with 100 classes available for exhibit from a single-stem flower and blooming plants to floral and artistic arrangements. A request was made last year for a new herbs class, which has been added...

The Resource Center for Independent Living will host a local state representative and state senator forum for the candidates at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, at the Scottview Apartment building, 315 Scott Ave. The public is invited to attend.

A Liberal, Mo., man was injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday morning south of Fort Scott. Joshua David Gaines, 29, was hurt when the 2010 Ford he was driving was struck by a 2000 Saturn driven by Preston James Law, 45, of Lee's Summit, Mo. The accident took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 69 at Cavalry Road about seven miles south of Fort Scott, a Kansas Highway Patrol report said...

Those attending Thursday morning's Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee got a glimpse of the beginnings of The Keyhole youth center, as well as activities and projects that are planned for the near future. Laurie Uhler, co-director of the center, located at the corner of 10th and Main streets, said the plan is to do some small renovation projects at the recreational center, which opened in 1992 as a place where local youth can spend time with friends and enjoy a variety of activities...

For almost 100 years, four African-American schools occupied or were adjacent to the land that is now considered part of Fort Scott National Historic Site, including the E.J. Hawkins or Plaza Schools. The conclusion of the Civil War opened the door for former slaves and future generations of African-Americans to get an education. In 1865, 160 children and 75 adults attended the Freedmen's School...

With an eye toward ensuring the University of Kansas is equally well-known for its academics and athletics, school representatives have been sweeping across the state in a series of events called "Hawk Days of Summer." The most recent was at Fort Scott Community College earlier this week...