Stories from Saturday, July 26, 2008

Dorothy Louise DeCoudres, age 90, of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday, July 25, 2008, at Fort Scott Medicalodge. She was born Feb. 11, 1918, in Fort Scott the daughter of Thomas Secrest and Rosa Belle Allen Secrest. Dorothy married Clayton E. DeCoudres on Jan. ...

LeAnna and Shane Dahmer, and big brother Kyle, are proud to announce the birth of their baby sister and daughter Shalea Jean Dahmer. Shalea was born at 3:37 p.m., on July 19, 2008. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ouncse, and measured 20 inches. Maternal grandparents are Lester and Gloria Carroll, of Lamar...

Bobby Jones, 50, of Uniontown, Kan., died Friday morning as the result of a vehicle accident. Arrangements are incomplete at this time, and will be announced later by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Fort Scott, Kan. -- The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees, on Monday, will get their first look at the college's nearly $11 million budget for the 2008-09 school year. Trustees are scheduled to review the proposed budget, and address several other routine annual items during the meeting, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday in the FSCC Heritage Room, 2108 S. Horton St...

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is continuing its effort to remove household waste from local homes and businesses. The Kansas Mercury Collection Program, which began July 14, has been put in place as a free service to protect Kansas residents. The temporary program is slated to run until Sept. 13, and is open to all businesses and homes considered small quantity hazardous waste generating facilities (less than 55 pounds of mercury a month)...

Nevada, Mo. -- Patrick Brophy has written a new book several decades in the making "Fire and Sword -- A Missouri County in the Civil War" is ready to go to the printer. Brophy is known locally and nationally as the curator of the Bushwhacker Museum, editor of the award winning newsletter, "Bushwhacker Musings," and as an author and historian...

Nevada, Mo. -- Funerals are for the living. That's what Don Guffy says and he wants to help make them memorable so people who have a loved one die can look back on the funeral as a celebration of the deceased's life. Attending a funeral Guffy was impressed by the hearse used, pulled by a motorcycle. He decided to acquire one and offer his services to those who wanted a little something different for the funeral...

Rick and Pam Trower of Nevada, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Danielle Trower, to Leroy Kerns, Springfield, Mo., son of Junior and Debbie Kerns, Nevada, Mo. Danielle Is a 2005 graduate of Nevada High School. She graduated from Ozarks Technical Community College in May 2008, with her certification in dental assisting. Danielle has successfully passed the Dental Assisting National Board and is now a certified dental assistant. She is employed by Bauer Orthodontics...

Marsha R. Ficken, of Green Ridge, Mo., and Kyle D. Caldwell, of Lockwood, Mo., announce their engagement and approaching marriage. The couple plan to be married Aug. 9, 2008, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Lockwood. The bride-elect is the daughter of John M. and Karen Ficken, of Green Ridge. Prospective-groom Caldwell is the son of Rocky and Jackie Caldwell, of Jerico Springs, Mo...

Kari Ann Wolfe and Kenneth Douglas Holwick were married May 3, 2008, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, in Branson, with the Rev. Rick Jones officiating. A reception followed at Buckingham's restaurant. Parents of the bride are Butch and Julie Wolfe, of Branson. The bride's maternal grandparents are Ann Wolfe, of Nevada, and the late Byron Wolfe. Parents of the groom are Pat and Frank Holwick, of Olathe, Kan...

Fred and Ella Mae Combs, of Fort Scott, Kan., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends on July 19, 2008. The celebration was hosted by their children and grandchildren, Mike and wife Cheryl, Cody, Brooke and Kamryn Combs. Fred and Ella Mae were married on July 17, 1958, in Miami, Okla...

Hi neighbors. Do you have air conditioning? If not, be careful and don't get overheated! This persistent hot weather can be deadly if you ignore it. Remember the two heat related killers are heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Here are tips from the Oklahoma State University's Web site: Heat exhaustion happens when you don't drink enough fluids to replace what you're sweating away. ...

During the Civil War, the Union forces in Eastern Kansas stationed along the Missouri border and throughout the state of Missouri were constantly on missions identified as "patrols" or "scouts" in search of Confederate guerrillas or "bushwhackers." Very often these patrols were not successful because "no" bushwhackers were found. ...