Stories from Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Calvin Stites, 51, of Topeka, passed away Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. Cal was born Feb. 20, 1962 in Fort Scott, the son of George and Evalyn Stites. He graduated from Prairie View High School in 1980 and the University of Missouri - Rolla in 1985. He was employed as a Superintendent for Pemco, Carrothers and Walters Morgan Construction companies...

Steven Norris Underwood, age 62, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died unexpectedly Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, at his home. He was born Aug. 17, 1951, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Howard Underwood and Thelma Jean Beeman Underwood. He married Deborah Santana on Oct. 2, 1971, at Lebanon, Pa. Steven had served with the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He later worked in construction and as a carpet layer. He enjoyed fishing and hunting...

Charles Marvin Murray, age 91, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Sunday Dec. 29, 2013 at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial in the Pleasanton Cemetery. ...

Bob Bradley, age 77, Roeland Park and Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 at the Pleasanton First Christian Church. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. ...

While some may be looking back on 2013, others are looking forward to 2014. For many, that means making New Year's resolutions. The Tribune visited with a few people in Fort Scott to find out what their New Year's Resolutions are. "I plan on not living from paycheck to paycheck and eating healthier."...

While the average person may view January as the first month of a new year, those who are dealing with Bourbon County's budget are considering it the 13th month of 2013. January is when the final balances will be made in the county's ledger. On Monday, Bourbon County Commissioners spent the majority of the meeting reviewing various funds with Treasurer Rhonda Dunn...

Nearly 7,000 flags stand on the parade grounds of the Fort Scott National Historic Site before the Symbols of Sacrifice ceremony Sept. 7-14. Local and state dignitaries, including Gov. Sam Brownback, spoke at the ceremony, recognizing those who have died during the War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were also honored...

Name: Johnny Stilwell Age: 26 Occupation: first year assistant football coach (Wide Receivers' coach and Special Teams coordinator) at Fort Scott Community College Hometown: Corona, Calif. Education: Mayville State University (Mayville, N.D.) Bachelor of Science in secondary math education (2009), Central Methodist University (Fayette, Mo.) Master of Education (2012)...

Doug Niemeir, Farm Service Agency executive director is retiring Friday, Jan.3 after 36 years with the agency. He has some good memories of his decades with the United State Department of Agriculture, which began in 1978, he said. "Two things stand out of the ordinary in my career," Niemeir said. ...

Several memorable events made up 2013 in Fort Scott and Bourbon County. The most noteworthy stories of the year may include accidents, fires and storms, as well as the murder trial of a local man. Other top stories included new faces in public offices, an investigation of theft at the Bourbon County Clerk's office, and a remembrance of a prominent local citizen. This week, the Tribune is looking back on some of the stories that stood out in 2013...

The 2012-13 season will go down as one of the finest ever for the Fort Scott Tigers girls' basketball team, as they took third place in the Class 4A State High School Basketball Tournament, finishing the year 19-6. After beginning the season 0-4, the Tigers turned red hot, winning 13 consecutive games and 17 out of 18, en route to the Southeast Kansas League regular season crown, as well as laying claim to their first Sub-State Tournament title since 2008. The third-seeded Tigers defeated top-seeded Frontenac 47-41 in the Class 4A Sub-State championship game on March 2. With the score tied at 41 late in the fourth quarter, FSHS's Katren Rienbolt drained six clutch free throws to put the game out of reach.