Stories from Friday, March 22, 2013

Bourbon County Commissioners said they are pleased with the outcome of the semi-annual 17-county Southeast Kansas District meeting which took place Thursday at Fort Scott Community College. More than 200 people from 17 counties attended the event, which included discussion on several issues regarding county governance, bills currently being discussed in the Kansas Legislature, a luncheon and program presented by staff at the Lowell Milken Center. ...

The return of winter weather could have an impact on some activities planned for this weekend. As of press time on Thursday, only one event had been cancelled. Organizers of a second event are taking a wait-and-see approach and a third event will not be affected by the weather...

A group of local Christians from several churches will focus on the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ together early on Easter morning this year. The first annual, lay-lead community Easter sunrise service is scheduled to take place at 6:50 a.m. Sunday, March 31. The event will be at Mercy Hospital's Mercy pond, east of the main entrance off U.S. Highway 69 by the big white cross...

Twister Trailers sold 47 trailers last year and that might not sound like much. But at between $55,000 to $180,000 for each trailer, that economic impact earned them the 2013 Agribusiness of the Year from the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. "We were pretty excited (to receive the award), we didn't know we were in the running," said Stewart Gulager, manager of the business...

Walter Ray Dobbins, age 89, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died early Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. Funeral services for Ray Dobbins will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott.

Carol Jean Minden of Paola, Kan., passed from this life on earth to eternal life to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on March 15 at the Olathe Medical Center. Carol was born Aug. 9, 1930 in Fort Scott, Kan. to James Edward "Dusty" Hood and Gladys Malinda Gump Hood. ...

Fort Scott High School's softball team will have a good mix of experience and youth this season. There are 14 freshmen among the 28 out for the team and a few of them will have a chance to contribute at the varsity level. The Tigers, 10-4 in the Southeast Kansas League and 13-8 overall last season, bring back several players who will be starters for their third or fourth seasons. ...

Fort Scott High School head baseball coach Josh Regan has a large group put this year -- 30 boys are still out for Tiger baseball as of Thursday morning. And he feels that his sophomore-dominated team -- 13 from that grade are on the roster -- will be a good group to work with...

Walter Ray Dobbins, age 89, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died early Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott. He was born July 1, 1923, in Arcadia, Kan. the son of Ed Dobbins and Ruth Perry Dobbins. Ray graduated from Arcadia High School and later attended Fort Scott Junior College. ...

The Lowell Milken Center is growing. So much so that it needed more space. Work began this week to expand the center into the former Verizon Wireless office at 2 S. Main St., just north of the building the center currently occupies at 4 S. Main St. Staff at the center said the present location will continue to house office and conference space. The new location will be renovated and plans are to expand into that building by early summer...

Bourbon County received delivery Wednesday night of the final two 2013 Freightliner trucks from three that were purchased for the fleet last year, Public Works Director Marty Pearson informed commissioners during their regular Friday meeting. The final two trucks, which were purchased last year for about $140,000 each, feature heated mirrors and front windows for quicker defrosting and larger engines, according to driver John Weikel...