Stories from Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Wes Santee gazed up at the large projection screen to see two college runners darting down the track toward the finish line, and he gave a little laugh. One of those runners was Santee -- now 75 years old -- who in younger days had distinguished himself as a miler and a track star at the University of Kansas. That was more than 50 years ago, but Santee still has that competitive state of mind...

It takes a lot of time, effort and volunteers from the community to make the annual Beacon Soupline a success. About 138 people have volunteered their time and energy this year in preparation for the 20th annual event, which is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. ...

A bill that would ban smoking in indoor establishments across Kansas appears to have flickered out for now. American Cancer Society officials said this week that the legislation -- called Senate Bill 37 --has some flaws that were discovered during a meeting on Feb. 15 between ACS lobbyists, American Heart Association officials, representatives of the Tobacco Free Kids Coalition, and Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence...

A local doctor recently helped change the lives of more than 100 people in the Dominican Republic. Mercy Health Center physician Ralph Hall was one of three Kansas-based surgeons who performed about 100 surgeries during a two-week mission trip to Monte Plata, a small city in the Dominican Republic, in late January and early February. ...

ARMSTRONG -- Kendal Kaye Armstrong, a girl, was born at 4:04 p.m. on Monday, February 19, 2007 at Mercy Health Center to parents Jeff and Jamie Armstrong, Fort Scott. She weighed 7 pounds and was 19 inches long at birth. Maternal grandparents are Jerry and Marsha Heiser, Mound City and David and Eileen Goltra, Fort Scott. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) G.R. Hill, the old reliable shoemaker, has resumed business again at his old stand at Third Street and Scott Avenue. He would be pleased to see all of his old customers and as many new ones as wish good, substantial work done at reasonable prices...