Stories from Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Billy R. Smith, 56, of Frontenac, Kan., died at 5:17 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2014 at his home of a long illness. He was born March 10, 1958 in Pittsburg, Kan., the son of Finis Billy Ray and Frankie Delores Perona Smith. He had been a lifelong resident of the Pittsburg and Frontenac area. He was a graduate of Frontenac High School and attended vocational technical school for two years...

It was love at first sight for one couple who recently celebrated 72 years of marriage. John Brown, 95, and Esther Wilcox, 88, met at the movies in April 1942 in Springfield, Mo. "She was pretty," John said of Esther. "I liked his face," Esther said...

In order to decide how to proceed with a new jail project, Bourbon County Commissioners held a work session Tuesday to meet with officials who will be involved. Also invited to the session was Greg Vahrenberg, public finance investment banker, managing director of Piper Jaffray in Leawood...

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced its 2013-14 Academic Teams of the Year and Academic Student-Athlete Awards Tuesday morning. To be listed among the Academic Teams of the Year, a team must have a grade-point average of at least 3.00. Fort Scott Community College appears on four of the lists...

Fort Scott American Legion Post 25 baseball remains undefeated (14-0) after sweeping Osawatomie Post 204 at Ty Cullor Field Tuesday evening. Fort Scott won the opener 8-0, stopping the scheduled seven-inning game after five on the run rule. The five-inning nightcap resulted in a 5-2 victory...

Nancy Lillis Atkins of Wichita KS died early Wednesday morning June 18, 2014. She was in the care of Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita. Her son David was at her side when she went to sleep. Nancy was born on January 19, 1936 in Fort Scott, Kansas to Garland Martin Atkins and Lillis Winette Harkey Atkins. ...

The USD 234 Board of Education, during a special board meeting Tuesday, approved by a vote of 6-1, a $42.2 million school bond issue package to be voted on by Bourbon County citizens at a later date. The lone "no" vote came from Board President Janet Braun. ...