Stories from Wednesday, August 1, 2012

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Workmen are tearing away the little frame house that for many years past has stood at the north end of the Marmaton River bridge on National Avenue bridge. The structure will be rebuilt some distance west of the Avenue. The council requested that the structure be removed as it was in a dangerous condition there and also obstructed the view of the bridge from the north...

To the Editor: It is time for Red Cross' Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. This means local law enforcement will "battle" with local firefighters and EMS to see who can give the most blood. Join the Battle of the Badges. You may donate at the Fort Scott blood drive on Thursday, Aug. ...

For the "We Pay the Tax Promotion" this weekend, retailers will still charge state and local taxes as normal, but will be offering an 8.8 percent discount equal to the combined tax rate. The state of Kansas has not passed a sales tax holiday. A story in Tuesday's Tribune stated otherwise. The Tribune regrets the error...

This Friday's concert at the Heritage Park Pavilion will feature local barber and musician Jake Johnson on guitar and vocals. The show, part of the Friday Night Concert Series, is set for 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at the corner of First and Main streets...

Standing in line outside Faith Christian Church on Saturday, Lynn Smith and her three grandchildren are patiently waiting for something that will help start their school year off right -- a backpack and school supplies. Faith Christian, located about five miles south of Fort Scott off U.S. Highway 69, gave away some 350 backpacks and a ton of paper, glue, pencils, pens, notebook and myriad other items to help ease the financial burden of buying them...

Fort Scott Community College trustees got a glimpse of the school's proposed 2012-2013 budget Monday night, which included a recommendation to raise the local mill levy for the second year in a row. The board spent almost an hour going through the proposed finances a work session at FSCC held prior to the college's regularly scheduled meeting. ...

Everything from the Kansas Legislature's tax plan to basic essentials like roads were discussed at the Primary Election Candidate Forum Tuesday. Hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, it featured close to two-dozen candidates for federal, state and local offices. It was held at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus...

Christie and Wayne Parrish and her mother, Mildred Nicoletti, attended the Brunk family reunion on Sunday, July 25. It was held in the Lincoln Center in Pittsburg, Kansas with news about 50 friends and relatives in attendance. The city of Arcadia is asking all to welcome Patrick Dobyns as the new police officer hired by the city council on July 16. He has worked in law enforcement and is also currently an EMT for Allen County. Patrick will be working part-time along with John Austin...

In Theaters The Watch Best known for stomach busting comedies, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill have spent the last 15 years transforming the genre into what we see today. Beginning in the late '80s and appearing in small, but somehow always memorable roles in movies like Happy Gilmore, Cable Guy and There's Something About Mary, Ben Stiller finally became a big name in the early 2000's with Meet the Parents and Zoolander, followed later by a truck full of box office smashes. ...

Kera Whaley and Justin Baker and sibling Mikayla Baker, of Nevada, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Mackenzie Ann Baker. Mackenzie was born at 9:30 a.m. July 30, 2012, at Mercy Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds, 8.5 ounces at birth...

Charles Abrial Mestas, 40, Fort Scott, was arrested at 7:14 p.m. Monday by the Fort Scott Police Department for DUI, no insurance, and refusal of preliminary breath test, and was released at 9:42 p.m. Monday on a $1,500 bond.

The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, in the City Commission meeting room at City Hall to discuss recommendation of member reappointments and also will have discussion regarding sign ordinance regulations.The meeting is open to the public...

Fort Scott Community College launched a new website for its athletic programs today. The new site can be seen at www.fsgreyhounds .com or from the FSCC website, www.fortscott.edu, by clicking on the "Athletics" tab. "I am very thankful that President Tatro and our Board of Trustees approved this new website for Greyhound athletics," FSCC Athletic Director J.D. ...

Local resident Mark Shead plans to use his expertise to present a workshop designed to help local businesses with their marketing strategies. Shead will present a Hands-On Facebook for Business workshop from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 17, at an as-yet undetermined location...