Stories from Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Despite coming up just short of this year's fundraising goal, Bourbon County Relay for Life organizers are still pleased with this year's event, which took place Friday and Saturday at the Fort Scott Community College walking trail. Gina Findley, accounting chairwoman for the local chapter, said Monday the group will end the 2013 campaign with about $54,000 raised toward the fight against cancer, finishing just shy of its $60,000 goal...

As time draws closer to formulating a 2014 budget, yet another agency came forward with its appropriation request during the regular Monday meeting of the Bourbon County Commission. The commission, which presents its new budget in early August, heard a $40,000 appropriation request from the Bourbon County Conservation District. ...

Authorities are providing little information on an apparent suicide June 9 at the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center. They also are not committing themselves to whether the incident will become a stronger driving force behind a new jail facility in Bourbon County...

The summer junior golf tour through Southeast Kansas continued Thursday with a nine-hole tournament at Woodland Hills Golf Course. Two locals won their age groups and five others finished in the top four of their groups. Nicholas King won the 11-12 year-old boys division, shooting a 41 on Woodland Hills' front nine. The runner-up, Cole Wheeler of Chanute, finished with a 46...

Six gardeners throughout Fort Scott opened their garden gates to visitors Saturday. Proceeds from the Secret Garden Tour, which features gardens of various sizes and styles, will help fund the Bourbon County Master Gardeners and Garden Club's mission of downtown beautification...

Once again, competitors in the annual Race Across America coast-to-coast bicycle race are passing through the area. For more than a decade, Fort Scott has been one of the race's time stations, where competitors are required to check in. Solo competitors left the starting line in Oceanside, Calf., on June 11. Team competitors left there Saturday, which was the same day the Men's Solo 50-and-Under Division leaders began passing through...

Carney Paul Simpson, Jr., age 89, resident of Fort Scott, died Monday, June 17, 2013, at Fort Scott Manor. Services for Carney Simpson will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Dorothy Darlene Stewart, age 90, a resident of rural Moran, Kan., died Saturday, June 15, 2013, at her son's home in Kincaid, Kan. She was born July 10, 1922, Mildred, Kan., the daughter of Hayes Hunsaker and Helen Gertrude Dizmang Hunsaker. She married Clyde Stewart on Aug. 23, 1937, in Butler, Mo. He preceded her in death on May 10, 1989. Darlene enjoyed collecting dolls, tending her flowers and especially spending time with her family...

Willis Henry Knopp, 84, of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, June 15, 2013 at his home. He was born June 7, 1929 in Brazilton, Kan., the son of Albert Herman and Bertha Dorothea (Selle) Knopp. He married Ethel Josephine "Jo" Huber June 24, 1949 in Hepler, Kan. She preceded him death Feb. 14, 2012...

Edgar E. Higgins, age 52, a resident of Richards, Mo., died unexpectedly late Thursday, June 13 at the Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Mo. He was born Sept. 4, 1960, in Fort Scott the son of Melvin Higgins and Sandra Joan Cameron Higgins. Ed was a 1978 graduate of Nevada High School. ...

Tommy Lou Cherry, 79, of Fort Scott, died at the Medicalodge Nursing Home Sunday afternoon June 16, 2013. She was born May 23, 1934 in Wheaton, Mo., the daughter of Walter Lee and Hazel Helen (Cooper) Bray. She married Jack Leroy Cherry May 28, 1954 in Monett, Mo., he preceded her in death on April 29, 1992. She married Richard Smith on Nov. 17, 2011 in Carson City, Nev., and he survives of the home...