Stories from Saturday, March 1, 2008

Everybody reacts to retirement differently, I believe, some with great joy, immensely happy to at last be able to throw off the harness and indulge in the activities--whether it be spelunking or reading War and Peace a second time--that make them really happy. ...

The trust of a dog was put to the test a few weeks ago when Chana Marshall's dog Josie fell through the ice. It all started out innocently enough when Chana took the basset mix dog R.J. and his sister, Josie, out to her folks' farm at Devon to give them some exercise. ...

Hi neighbors. Don't despair -- ice, snow and freezing winds will soon be a thing of the past and dandelions, pollen and tornadoes will quickly reappear. Life (like fresh coffee) is good. Even time changes soon. Next weekend daylight savings time starts again. ...

Roma Mae Willard, age 66 of Fort Scott, Kan., went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 28, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin. Roma was born March 28, 1941, in Mapleton, Kan. to Izear (Zeb) Harris and Dorothy Jane Vann-Ellsworth. ...

Paul Forest Rapp, 89, of Nevada, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, at Christian Health Care, in Nevada, following a lengthy illness. He was born June 25, 1918, in Nevada, to Daniel Anthony Rapp and Ella Mae Pace Rapp. He married Anna Mae Compton, on May 24, 1940, in Fort Scott, and she survives of the home...

Helen Taylor Gast, 92, of Nevada, passed away Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, at Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada, following a brief illness, She was born Feb. 8, 1916, in Nevada, to Roy Elsworth Taylor and Bertha Maude Wilson Taylor. She was married to Duane Gast on April 28, 1940, in Nevada. He preceded her in death on June 17, 1987...

Amber and Joseph Sheehy, and big sisters Brooklyn Elizabeth and Madison Nicole Sheehy, of Fort Scott, are proud to announce the birth of their son and baby brother, Joseph Gabriel Sheehy. Joseph was born at 7:22 p.m., on Feb. 19, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 20 inches...

Brian and Janie Conroy, and big brother Austin Sims, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister Bailey Sue Conroy. Bailey was born at 6:30 p.m., on Feb. 28, 2008, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 18 1/2 inches...

GARNETT, Kan. -- Third-seeded Louisburg was a perfect eight-of-eight at the free-throw line in the final two minutes of play here Friday night and used that to defeat Fort Scott High's boys, 65-59, in a semifinal of the Anderson County Class 4A Sub-State Tournament...

After a nearly 40-year career, "The Voice of Mercy," as she is called by her friends and colleagues, is hanging up her headset for the last time. Local resident Jeanne Howard recently retired after working at Mercy Health Center of Fort Scott in a few different capacities since 1969. She spent 30 years operating the switchboard at the local health center...

Colleen (Knowlton) McLean has lived in Vernon County most of her 84 years. She was born in Harwood and moved to Deerfield to live with her grandmother, Luvenia Tucker as a child. She attended Deerfield Village School and Nevada High School. Her grandmother ran a hotel and livery stable in Deerfield to accommodate the Katy Railroad customers. Although the hotel no longer stands, McLean has fond memories of it...

A Moran man arrested by Bourbon County deputy sheriffs on drug charges Thursdayhas pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Marty Lord, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful acts relating to the possession of opiates, opium, narcotic drugs or designated stimulants, a severity level four drug felony charge. The second count to which he pleaded guilty was possession or use of simulated controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, also a level four drug felony...

May 19, 2008, is the 150th Anniversary of the Marais des Cygnes Massacre that was one of the most violent incidents in the era of Kansas history known as "Bleeding Kansas" that extended from 1854 to the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. This is the second in a series of articles that will focus on some of the 19th century memories and the first markers and monument that were created to remember the massacre and its victims...

Bronaugh students got a visit from the Tooth Wizard and his friend Panda -- Jamie Kurth and his wife Cassie -- on Wednesday. Sponsored by Delta Dental, the pair entertain children with their humorous, yet informative antics, directed at children in kindergarten through third grade to help instill the habit of good dental hygiene early...