Stories from Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Local high school students, some of whom may not have known anything about drug abuse, will no longer be caught unprepared. Fort Scott Police Department school resource officer Toby Nighswonger, in cooperation with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, presented four drug education awareness seminars to Fort Scott High School students during the past two weeks. The educational sessions, which were open to the public, provided much needed drug-related facts to students, faculty and staff...

Bronson Eli Smith, a boy, was born at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, to Brandon and Jessica Smith, Inman. He weighed 8 pounds and 12 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Frank and Debbie Madison, rural Fort Scott. Paternal grandparents are Jeff and Cindy Smith, Sterling...

Sienna Marie McCracken, a girl, was born at Overland Park Medical Center, Overland Park., on Friday, Feb. 22, 2008, at 3:04 a.m. to Clark and Lindsay McCracken, Bonner Springs. She weighed 7 pounds and 10 ounces at birth. She joins one sibling, Emma McCracken. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ron Nikodym. Paternal grandparents are the Rev. and Mrs. Duane McCracken, Bonner Springs...

Drayk Allen Beets, a boy, was born at Mercy Health Center on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, to Nathan and Alicia Beets, Fort Scott. He weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Teresa Zimmerman and David Zimmerman, Fort Scott. Paternal grandparents are Adda Beets and Anthony Beets, Oklahoma City, Okla...

"Farmers in Bourbon and Neosho Counties, who suffered crop or livestock losses due to Severe Winter Storms occurring Dec. 16, 2007, to Dec. 19, 2007, may now apply for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans," FSA Farm Loan Manager Robert E. White, said today. ...

When older Americans consider purchasing life insurance to ease the financial obligation for their families upon their passing, they may not realize that they could be participating in a potentially risky venture. Kansas Commissioner of Insurance Sandy Praeger and Secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging Kathy Greenlee, are cautioning Kansans to be careful when purchasing life insurance that could be sold as investments to strangers...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees voted on Monday for increases in some tuition costs and fees at FSCC next year. During their regular meeting, the board voted to increase in-district student tuition per credit hour from $36 to $40, and student fees pre credit hour from $28 to $30 next year. All other student tuition costs and fees will remain the same as last year, according to FSCC documents...

Garnett Police haven't determined whether a home invasion that happened in Garnett late Sunday is connected to two home robberies in Fort Scott and Pittsburg last week. "It's possible, but we just don't know at this point," said Garnett Capt. John Leinweber...

The numbers almost make one's head spin. Fort Scott High's defense displayed championship-calibre form in an Anderson County Class 4A Sub-State Tournament first-round game at the FSHS gymnasium Monday night. The final score -- a 59-25 victory for the seventh-seeded Tigers -- was impressive enough. But consider all of this:...