Stories from Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Students and staff at Eugene Ware Elementary School kicked off the school's Ready, Set, Read program on Friday with a rousing pep rally that included performances by Fort Scott High School football players and cheerleaders...

PRESS RELEASE / CITY OF FORT SCOTT The grand jury has now completed its process. There have been true bills/indictments issued as well as suggestions made by the jury. The City would urge people to acknowledge that an indictment is merely an accusation and there is a presumption of innocence on all charges filed through the court system. The City would urge all parties to retain an open mind and not pre-judge any of the indictments. City Manager, Richard Nienstedt, and the Fort Scott City Commission have taken steps that address many of the issues concerning the financial integrity of the City and its handling of grants. Unbeknown to the grand jury there has been a restructuring of those departments with additional checks and balances installed and the securing of key personnel to oversee those areas. It is important to acknowledge that while the indictments are of a serious nature that no funds have been missing from the City of Fort Scott and the issues raised are procedural in nature. The area of grant administration has been placed in the department of the Director of Finance. In addition, there has been appropriate restructuring within that department to insure checks and balances to solidify competent financial information is provided to the Commissioners and City Staff on a timely basis. These changes were made before the grand jury's recommendations. The changes in the financial operations of the City are continuous and ongoing. Editor's Note: For the full story on grand jury comments made at the Tuesday city commission meeting, see the Wednesday issue of The Fort Scott Tribune.

Tony Roi remembers the feeling he experienced from listening to Elvis Presley on the radio as a young man. That feeling eventually translated into a successful career on the stage for the long-time entertainer and singer. "The way he (Elvis) projected his instrument, it was like a hot summer day, and you're holding a glass of cool water. It just felt good," Roi said of Elvis' music during an interview with The Fort Scott Tribune last week...

KDWP presents habitat award to Bourbon County newcomer

Fort Scott residents will learn more about candidates running for Fort Scott City Commission at a forum at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Fort Scott Middle School. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Government and Community Quality Division will serve as host of the forum...

Paul E. Potter, 91, of Polo, Ill., died Friday, Feb. 2, 2007. He was a carpenter and life-long farmer. Paul was born Jan. 11, 1916 in Deerfield, Mo., the son of Lewellyn E. and Lilla Lois (Wiles) Potter. He married Kathryn Brown on Aug. 24, 1937 in Nevada, Mo. She preceded him in death on May 16, 2002. He attended East Jordan United Methodist Church...

Warren Watt McCullough, age 85, a resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He was born Aug. 8, 1921, in Fort Scott, the son of Leonard McCullough and Neva Ruth Swan McCullough. He married Nina Henning Evans on Oct. ...

NIEGSCH -- Korbin Daniel Niegsch, a boy, was born at 11:59 a.m. On Friday, Feb 5, 2007 at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott, to parents Jordan and Keri Niegsch, Frontenac. He weighed 7.4 pounds at birth. He joins one brother, Storm, age 4. Maternal grandparents are Gail and Rhonda Lindstedt, Marquette. Paternal grandparents are Dan and Cille Niegsch, Mulberry...

Dressed impeccably as always, her snowy hair curled softly about her face, Doris Jones sat before her 90th birthday cake and, with an impish smile, scooped up a fingerful of frosting and popped it into her mouth. At noon on Tuesday, Jan. 30, two of Fort Scott's oldest community service groups came together -- nearly 60 people in all -- to honor the lady who has kept them in tune for more years than some of the members have been alive. ...

On a snowy day last week I met with the community members who assist me in planning the Walk Kansas program. It hardly seemed appropriate to be planning a program that encourages people to get outdoors and exercise, but in another month, spring will surely be on it's way...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) Saturday is the closing day of the Great White Sale at W.J. Calhoun & Co. Good cambric drawers with India Linen and cambric hem-stitched tucked ruffles, worth 25 cents, now 19 cents. One lot of broken sets of embroideries, including beadings, insertions and edges, at 5 cents. Special lot of centerpieces and scarves, 5 1/2 cents. Eighty dozen ladies' pure linen handkerchiefs at 4 cents. One lot of standard corsets, all clean, good styles, $1 and $1.50...

The Fort Scott Planning Commission meeting that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in City Hall has been postponed due to illness. The new meeting date is Tuesday, Feb. 13 at City Hall. We are sorry for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Codes Dept. at (620) 233-0550...