Stories from Thursday, February 15, 2007

Over the past couple of years, Fort Scott High School student Jacob Zielinski has developed an interest in politics. Last month, he received a first-hand look at the interest he may turn into a career. Zielinski, a sophomore gifted student at FSHS, attended the first ever statewide Legislative Day: Faces of our Future in Topeka. Zielinksi spent the day shadowing State Rep. Shirley Palmer...

A moderator at Tuesday's candidate forum asked eight candidates running for city commissioner to explain why they think they're qualified for the position. Also, each candidate clarified during closing remarks why voters should choose them at a primary election on Feb. 27, when the field will be narrowed to six and will go forward to the general election in April...

For the next month, the dismissal bells at USD 234 schools will ring about a half-hour later than usual. To make up for the school days lost due to inclement weather, school district officials have agreed to extend the school day 29 minutes from Feb. ...

What Clayton Tatro may lack in age, he certainly makes up for with a combination of education and experience. The 34-year-old Garden City resident and Glasco native, who currently serves as the dean of learning services and chief academic officer at Garden City Community College, was named earlier this week as the next president at Fort Scott Community College...

Thomas M. "T.M." James, age 82, of rural Arcadia, died at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. James was born January 29, 1925 in Arcadia, the son of Thomas M. and Rosa E. Simpson James. He was a retired heavy equipment operator who was a lifelong resident of rural Arcadia. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) Mrs. Mary Vermillion, who had lived here almost 50 years, died at her home, five miles east of town, early this morning. She was 76. Mrs. Vermillion owned a nice farm and lived on it alone. Four brothers close by and neighbors assisted her in the management of the place. ...