Stories from Monday, December 17, 2007

PLEASANTON -- Santa is coming a little early to Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site. He's bringing free admission for all visitors on Saturday and Sunday, along with a wealth of Kansas treats, including children's games, books, compact discs, videos, and collectible. The site and its store will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday...

$13,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation will benefit the horticultural therapy program at Tri-Valley Developmental Services, company officials said Thursday. "This is exciting, not only for the equipment and supplies the grant will fund, but for the recognition from the Kansas Health Foundation of the impact of our horticultural therapy program has on the health of the individuals we serve," TVDS Executive Director Tim Cunningham said...

Fort Scott National Historic Site will conduct its first-ever children's Winter Assembly program. Winter Assembly is just one of the various new programs that we will be presenting in the next year. The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Dec. ...

The Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday will consider modifying or abandoning an ordinance that requires city staff to live within 5 miles of Fort Scott. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in the city commission room inside City Hall, 1 E. Third St. The city is having a difficult time finding employees for some of its specialized jobs, according to a memo by Interim City Manager Bob Farmer to commissioners. In turn, commissioners need to talk about possibly modifying or abandoning the ordinance...

Doris L. Hemmingway, 91, of Topeka, passed away Friday, Dec. 14, 2007. She was born July 15, 1916 in Holden, Mo., the daughter of Cecil and Mabel Blythe. Doris married William E. "Bill" Hemmingway, Jr., Dec. 20, 1936. He preceded her in death Nov. 11, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her son, Charles L. Hemmingway, June 13, 1967, as well as three brothers. Survivors include her son, Gary (Kay) Hemmingway, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren...

Evelyn E. Swaim, 93, of Fort Scott, formerly of Hiawatha, died Friday afternoon, Dec. 14, 2007, at the Fort Scott Manor. She was born Jan. 26, 1914, in Brown County, Kan., the daughter of Fred and Cleo Porter Hull. She grew up in Brown County, Kan. She married Charles A. Swaim in Troy, Kan., on Feb. 28, 1931. They lived on a farm northeast of Robinson. Evelyn and Charles ran the Candy Stripe Drive In in Hiawatha. Charles preceded her in death April 9, 2002...

Carrie L. Klee, age 34, of Lincoln, Neb., and formerly of Beatrice and Steele City, Neb., died on Friday, Dec. 14, 2007, at the Ambassador in Lincoln. Graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, at the Wesley Chapel Cemetery near Mound City. Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17 at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home in Mound City. The family suggests contributions to the Nebraska ALS Association...

Melvin Smith, age 77, Blue Mound, Kansas, died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, at the Indian Meadows Nursing Home in Overland Park, Kan. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, at the Blue Mound Federated Church. Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home in Mound City. Burial will be at the Sunny Slope Cemetery in Blue Mound...

FRONTENAC -- Jayhawk-Linn's girls lost their first game of the season while a second-half rally fell just short for Jayhawk boys in a non-league doubleheader here Friday night. Jayhawk boys, 1-4, were involved in a low-scoring slugfest early on as it was just a 2-0 game in their favor after nearly four minutes...

Stella Juanita Mason, age 90, resident of rural Fort Scott, Kansas, died Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at the Mercy Health Center. She was born March 5, 1917, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Weisman. She married Ralph M. Mason. ...