Stories from Friday, September 13, 2013

GIRARD -- Things didn't go as well as Fort Scott head girls' golf coach Karen Curran would have liked as the Tigers finished sixth and had no medalists at the Girard Invitational here Thursday. Fort Scott shot 492 in its first 18-hole tournament of the year. Caney Valley shot 390 in winning while Girard was second at 399...

The United Way of Bourbon County kicked off its 2013-14 United Way Campaign on Thursday at the weekly Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. "Instead of a campaign breakfast, we decided to have a more casual coffee," said Jared Leek, outgoing president of United Way...

Editor's note: See related story on the cross examination of Kansas State Fire Marshal Case Manager Wally Roberts. In day six of the trial of accused murderer Brent Bollinger, a Kansas State Fire Marshal case manager who investigated the scene of the deadly house fire that claimed the life of Brenna Bollinger, Brent's wife, told jurors on Thursday morning that he did not believe the fire was started when a lit cigarette ignited the shirt of the accused...

Doctors, a forensic biologist and a nurse were among witnesses who took the stand Thursday afternoon to testify on events that followed a deadly 2011 house fire that took place just south of Fort Scott. The defendant, Brent Bollinger, is standing trial for murder, arson and child endangerment for his alleged involvement in the Oct. 13, 2011 fire in which he and his then 2-year-old son, Bryson, suffered critical burns. Bollinger's wife, Brenna, died in the fire, which occurred at 2166 Grand Road...

Cynthia Ellis Levine, the sole proprietor of the Levine House Bed and Breakfast, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013 at 9:30 p.m. at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. She had battled pancreatic cancer for three years. Cynthia was in good company with her son, Matt, her sister, Susie, and her favorite hair dresser and one of her best friends, Latonyia Hoy, by her side...

Marie Peterson, age 88, a resident of Fort Scott, died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Funeral services for Marie Peterson will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott.

The top female runners in the varsity race of the Fort Scott Cross Country Invitational at Cobalt Medplans Thursday won a combined four State championships last year. Fort Scott senior Katren Rienbolt accomplished the rare triple of winning Class 4A State Cross-Country in the fall and the State titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in the spring. Northeast junior Kaylee Bogina, daughter of Fort Scott head coach Tracey Bogina, is the defending Class 2A State 3,200 meter champion...