Stories from Saturday, April 26, 2008

Dale Burton Chesney, 82, passed away at his home Wednesday evening, April 23, 2008, following a lingering illness. Born in Fort Scott, he was the son of William James and May Lynch Chesney. He attended school in Fort Scott; and after completing one year at Fort Scott Junior College, enlisted as a cadet in the Naval Air Corps in 1943 in which he served two and a half years during World War II. ...

One of the topics of national interest that I miss hearing from the various current candidates for President, both Republican and Democratic, is the matter of national purpose and direction. Call it "mission statement," if you will. For the last decade or so, no United States institution worth its salt fails to have its carefully thought-out and articulated statement of purpose on the tip of its tongue...

Hi neighbors. When I see people looking confused these days, I figure they are thinking about one of two things. What they are supposed to do and who they can ask to find out. Whether they are wondering about who to vote for or what light bulbs to buy, inquiring people want to know who has the answers...

During the Civil War, the commanding general of the Department of Kansas had to contend and combat two elusive enemies. The first was the various forms of the Confederate Guerrillas in Missouri -- of which much has been written about in this column. ...

Nevada, Mo. -- Higher fuel prices don't just mean paying more at the gas pumps for city. Higher prices have an impact over a broad range of services, not just police and fire departments. Randy Marti, administrative services director for the city of Nevada, said that the high cost of fuel is a "double whammy" -- it causes a drop in revenue, not just an increase in expenses...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- A Bourbon County man was bound over for trial Friday, on two counts of sex-related charges. Sixth Judicial Magistrate Judge Rebecca Stephan ruled there was enough probable cause to bind over Randall K. Glover, 55, for jury trial, if the case reaches that point. In fact, no rape case in Bourbon County District Court filed since 2005 has gone to jury trial...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The planting of trees is one way to help beautify the community, and local residents will have the chance to do just that again this year by participating in the city's annual street tree program. In the program, a collaborative effort between the City of Fort Scott and the Fort Scott Pioneer Kiwanis Club, city officials will provide trees free of charge to area residents upon request. ...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Vinyl records, string, dowel rods and a mouse trap, may seem like just odds and ends to some people. However, for two local students, these items fueled their way to victory. Fort Scott Christian Heights freshmen Jared Bahr and Jaedon Lamb secured first place in Pittsburg State University's Science Day Mouse Trap Car competition on Thursday...

Nevada golf took fourth at the Webb City/Carl Junction Invitational Friday at Briarbrook Country Club in an effort to get familiar with the course before returning again for the Southwest Conference tournament Thursday...

GIRARD, Kan. -- Fort Scott and Nevada both took part in the Girard Optimist Club Relays at Frank Jameson Field here Friday, the largest regular-season competition hosted by a high school in Southeast Kansas with 24 schools attending this season...

LENEXA, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's softball team won its fifth straight game, a 9-1 decision over St. James Academy here Thursday. Erica Davis (5-1) allowed four hits and walked three while striking out 12 for the Tigers (8-2)...

PARSONS, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's tennis team finished third in the Southeast Kansas League Tournament here Thursday, finishing only behind the traditional league powers, Independence and Parsons. Independence won its eighth straight league championship and its 19th in the last 20 years. ...

Mixed martial arts, commonly known among its fans as MMA, have been gaining a foothold in the sports landscape, particularly over the last few years. Many people feel MMA has, at the very least, equaled the popularity of professional boxing. The numbers, especially when it comes to pay-per-view revenue, show that it has even surpassed pro boxing in popularity...