Stories from Friday, September 18, 2015

When Troy Morell decided to resign from his position as one of the greatest coaches in college football history, it was presumed that Butler's dynasty -- 14 Jayhawk Conference championships and five national titles in 16 years -- was at an end. However, the then-No. ...

Uniontown High's golf team was in two places at once Wednesday, sending two varsity players to Eureka and the rest to a "rookies" tournament in Frontenac. Kyley Brown and Kaylyn Crystal were the varsity golfers at Eureka. Brown finished in 19th place with a score of 54 over nine holes. Crystal tied for 20th with her 55...

INDEPENDENCE -- Char Hutchison went undefeated in the second Independence tournament here Tuesday. Independence and Parsons were both scheduled to play in an all-day tournament in Baldwin on Wednesday, so they witheld their normal set of players. Also, due to a misunderstanding, Independence entered an extra No. ...

EL DORADO SPRINGS, Mo. -- The Fort Scott Middle School girls' volleyball teams bounced back from losses to Nevada with a victory over host El Dorado Springs here Tuesday. The seventh-grade A Team prevailed 25--22, 25-12. The eighth-grade A Team rolled 23-8, 25-16. Both improved their season records to 3-2. No B matches were held...

Fort Scott Community College is pleased to announce that Tom Havron has been named Athletic Director. Havron was most recently the Director of Admissions for FSCC. As Athletic Director, Havron will oversee all the college's coaches and athletes including the rodeo team. He will also be an important part of the college's compliance with KJCCC, NJCAA and federal regulations...

COFFEYVILLE -- Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team suffered an upset loss here Wednesday night, falling to Coffeyville in 5 sets in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern division play, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-11. The Greyhounds were ranked No. ...

Hazel Fern Wills, age 91, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2015 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial will be in the Pleasanton Cemetery. ...

Larry E. Lane, age 71, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Graveside service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 at the Curry Cemetery, Mound City, Kan. The family suggests contributions to the First Christian Church, Augusta, Kan. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel...

Norma Jean DePratt, 84 of Columbus, Kan., died at 2:40 pm Monday, Sept. 14, 2015 at her home. She was born Nov. 1, 1930 in Scammon, Kan., the daughter of Tony and Ruth E. (Lanning) Bigando. On Oct. 7, 1950 she was united in marriage to William W. DePratt in Columbus; he preceded her in death on Dec. 28, 1993...

Billy Gene Graham, age 84, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, at the Fort Scott Manor. He was born Oct. 3, 1930, in Devon, Kan., the son of George Frank Graham and Jennie Violet Johnson Graham. Bill served with the United States Army from 1952 to 1954 where he was stationed in Germany. ...

Lawrence E. (Ed) Hunt, 61, of Neodesha, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. Cremation has taken place with Loran Fawcett Chapel in Neodesha, Kan. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21, 2015 at the Fort Scott National Cemetery...

The USD 234 Board of Education learned of the effects of a local program that helps youngsters prepare for their school years. Michelle Stevenson, early childhood coordinator for the district, updated the board Monday on the Early Steps to Success program, which was implemented in 2013 and helps kids from birth to 3 years of age with the skills necessary to achieve school success...

Lauren Stark of Uniontown, left, Shelly Hutchison of Fort Scott, and Tiffany Kellum of Prescott, help Fort Scott National Historic Site employees pull up and pack the flags that were displayed for Symbols of Sacrifice, a remembrance of the sacrifice of American servicemen and women during the War on Terror. The flags were on display since Sept. 10...

The search for a site for a new county jail has come to an end. Bourbon County commissioners during a special meeting Thursday afternoon signed a contract to purchase property for a new jail. The agreement between the county and the administrator of the Emory Arnold Trust is for the purchase of 13.7 acres located north of Jayhawk Road and west of Liberty Bell Road. The purchase price is $195,000, which commissioners said was the asking price...

Donald Lee "Pops" Wratchford, a resident of Kansas City, Mo., went home to be with Jesus on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. Donald was born in Fort Scott, Kan., on April 23, 1935, the son of Everett and Mable Wratchford. Don married Bobbie Gibson on March 10, 1955. ...

Donald Lee "Pops" Wratchford, a resident of Kansas City, Mo., went home to be with Jesus on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. Donald was born in Fort Scott, Kan., on April 23, 1935, the son of Everett and Mable Wratchford. Don married Bobbie Gibson on March 10, 1955. ...

USD 234 officials and companies involved with the district's school bond projects are working to establish a timeline for future projects. Steve Bennett, senior project manager and representative of Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe, the construction manager for the bond projects, introduced himself to the USD 234 Board of Education on Monday. Bennett also briefly updated the board on upcoming projects and presented a proposed timeline for future work...

Animal rescue may soon be on the rise in the Fort Scott area. October should mark the completion of the updates and expansion that have taken over the Lee's Paws and Claws Animal Shelter just south of Fort Scott. "Aug. 30 was the original completion date," Executive Director Ann Clarkson said. "But the updates are now expected to be done the first of October, in time for our Pet-tober Fest."...