Stories from Thursday, June 19, 2008

USDA staff in Washington, DC, is working diligently on preparing the provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 for implementation for our nation's farmers and ranchers. All new legislation must be interpreted into operating procedures and "signed off" after legal review to make sure the processes developed match up with the legislation itself. That review process is now underway...

Many shade trees and woody ornamentals are affected each year by a large variety of insects. One of the most widely recognized species is the bagworm. They usually start hatching in southern Kansas during mid to late May. The hatching will peak during the first two weeks of June, and typically lasts four to six weeks. ...

Natalie Wolf recently spent six days on a 4-H Equine trip to Lexington, Kentucky. They toured Churchill Downs, The Kentucky Horse Park, the home of Dreamer and many other equine places. Frank and Kathy Hayes recently returned from a trip to Tenn., where they visited relatives and Frank attended his high school reunion...

Faith Heaton of Holly Springs, N.C., recently spent some time in the area visiting with friends. John Slater took four 4-H kids to Lawrence June 8, to a sheep show. Ann Ludlum accompanied 12 4-Hers to Manhattan, last week, for Discovery Days. Visitors at church, June 9, were Shayma and Alyssa Meisenheimer, Emma Vender, The Kevin Davis family, Austin, Christopher, and Aubrey. ...

The Senior Swingers Monday night dance at Buck Run Community Center was well attended, with 68 present. It was a nice evening after the rain. There were two dancers celebrating their birthdays, Margaret Ketterman and Charles Hurst, both from Nevada. Everyone gave them a hearty welcome...

Kenneth E. Spratt, 98, of Hume, Mo., died Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at the Prescott Country View Nursing Home, Prescott, Kan. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 21, 2008, at the Hume Christian Church, Hume, Mo. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Contributions are suggested to the Hume Christian Church or the Prescott Country View Nursing Home Activity Fund. Interment will be at the Hume Cemetery...

KERR -- Nora Margaret Kerr, a girl, was born at Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Pittsburg, at 7:10 a.m., Sunday, May 18, 2008, to parents Kathleen and Daniel Kerr, Fort Scott. She weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Jones, Euless, Texas. Paternal grandparents are Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Kerr, Fort Scott...

Fort Scott Police Boyd, Jessica N., 24, Fort Scott, was arrested 5:32 p.m. June 13 by Fort Scott Police for transporting an open container and driving under the influence and released June 15 for nothing filed. Schools, Nicholas G., 28, Deerfield, Mo., was arrested at 10:38 p.m. June 14 by FSPD for driving with suspended license, obstruction of legal duty/official duty and no liability insurance coverage required and released the following day on $2,000 bond...

Carl Frederick Gump, 92, long-time resident of Paola, Kan., passed away at Good Samaritan Care Center, Olathe, Kan., June 16, 2008. He was born in Fulton, Kan., on October 4, 1915 to Frederick Norris Gump and Carrie Bell Standeford Gump. He graduated from Fulton High School, Fulton, Kan., in 1933...

A bench press powerlifting contest will take place June 28 at the Uniontown High School. Weigh-ins will start at 9 a.m.at the school's gymnasium. Anyone is welcome to participate in the inaugural powerlifting contest. There's no pre-registration, so prospective lifters can just show up the day of the event...

Rep. Shirley Palmer, D-Fort Scott, recently announced that she has filed for re-election to the Kansas House of Representatives. Palmer represents the 4th House District, which includes all of Linn County and most of Bourbon County. "It has been an honor to serve the people of the 4th House District," Palmer said. "I will continue to support policies at the Capitol that reflect the values of my constituents, both as Kansans and residents of this community."...

Topeka -- Uniontown resident Lynne Oharah is the Republican candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives Fourth District seat. A semi-retired businessman, Oharah said his goals and agenda for the Fourth District have not changed since he was a member of the Kansas House in 2005 and 2006...

With motor vehicle crashes claiming a large number of children's lives, motorists are urged to secure proper car seats for children riding in their vehicles. In an effort to provide car seat education to area residents, members of the Fort Scott Police Department and or the Kansas Highway Patrol will be in the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot from 9 a.m. ...

The Lowell Milken Center will receive a visit from two unique educators next week. Starting Monday, June 23, the educational center, located at 4 S. Main St., will host Michael Aw, the 2008 Milken Fellowship winner, and Ashley Rippe, the 2008 Milken Internship winner, for a three-week period...