Stories from Thursday, August 21, 2008

Ronnie Brown and his wife were in Hays, Kan., last week, where Ronnie attended the Kansas Water Authority Meeting, representing the Marais Des Cygene Basin Advisory Committee. On the way back home they stopped at Salina for a Kansas Association of Conservation Districts Rural Developmental Committee Meeting...

WYATT -- D.J. Wyatt and Mary Shankel, Fort Scott, are proud to annouce the birth of their son, Daxton David Wyatt. Daxton was born at Mercy Health Center, in Fort Scott, Tuesday, August 19, 2008, at 11:04 p.m. He weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces at birth. ...

SCHULTZ -- Chelle Riley and Jerry Schultz, Uniontown, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Mercedes Dawn Schultz. Mercedes was born at Mercy Health Center, in Fort Scott, Monday, August 18, 2008, at 8:11 p.m. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces at birth. ...

Water quality and livestock management continue to be linked together in many discussions. Access to water in available streams is extremely important to livestock producers as management plans are considered. And in managing that cool season grass, to use or not to use the now high (high! high!) priced fertilizer is an urgent question...

Just because apples are falling from the tree, does not mean they are ripe enough for good eating. Though nearly mature apples can ripen off the tree, there must be a certain level of maturity for this to happen. As for apples, Ward Upham, a horticulturist with Kansas State University Research and Extension, has provided guides to determine if they are ready to pick...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) The Katy Flyer, going south yesterday morning, ignored a flag run out by Frank Pfeiffer, and crashed through his wagon loaded with hay and smashing it to pieces. The horses had been unhitched in anticipation of the coming of the Flyer and were not hurt. ...

Girard -- Southeast Kansas Quail Unlimited chapter members recently assisted employees of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks with a 400 acre prescribed burn at the Hollister Wildlife Area northwest of Girard and Pittsburg. The QU chapter members have invested time and energy traveling several area back roads selecting a site that met the criteria they had determined would be most beneficial to the quail, the general public, KDWP and their chapter...

Area residents are soon to learn about unique and fascinating places in Bourbon County which may not have been previously well-known. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is currently conducting an Eight Wonders of Bourbon County Campaign. According to Martha Scott, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's Fort Scott Area Tourism Division, the campaign will be useful in the marketing of Bourbon County to tourists. ...

A local women's fitness center is now offering its members one of the latest advancements in exercise technology. Curves of Fort Scott owner Kent Sexton recently announced the addition of the new CurvesSmart technology; the fitness franchise's trademarked personal coaching system that allows its members to experience what it would feel like to have "the world's most advanced fitness coach at your disposal," a statement from the company said...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today commented on his recent telephone conversation with Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili. "I spoke yesterday with President Saakashvili and reiterated my support for him and for the Georgian people as they stand up to Russian aggression," said Brownback. ...

A public hearing date was set at Tuesday night's city commission meeting to determine the future of a structure and an accessory structure in Fort Scott. The house located at 750 S. Judson Street has been deemed unsafe due to leaking roof, according to city officials. ...

Final preparations for the 19th annual Fort Scott Mercy Health Center Gala began Wednesday with numerous volunteers setting up for the event. Among the preparations needed for Saturday's gala were seating arraignments, lighting, decor and the design of a new chandelier...

Fort Scott High School's tennis team will begin its season first, hosting a junior varsity tournament Monday, then going to Parsons for a varsity tourney Monday. At the moment, there are only six players on the squad although two curious girls were looking on to see if they might want to play. Three of the six playing now have varsity experience...

Fort Scott Community College's new head volleyball coach is back home -- or at least close enough to make visits much easier on her parents. Sonya Garcia, who played for FSCC in 2001 and 2002 and a native of Jasper, Mo., took over the program in the winter, replacing Angie Kemmerer. Garcia played for Kemmerer during her predecessor's first two seasons as head coach...

Fort Scott Community College has found its new athletic director. Pending approval by the FSCC Board of Trustees, Russell Beene will take the position Sept. 2. One of the first things he will have to do is find a new men's basketball coach. John Burns resigned his position, apparently abruptly, with the announcement of the vacancy arriving at The Fort Scott Tribune offices Wednesday afternoon. The opening was posted on the Jayhawk Conference's Web site later that day...