Stories from Tuesday, October 14, 2008

A popular question that is most likely weighing on many people's minds this fall is "Obama or McCain?" With the United States presidential debates heating up just a few weeks before the Nov. 4 election, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and even Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, are politicians whose recognizable faces will be the basis for Halloween costumes that many consumers are already snatching up at local retail stores...

A visit from the Alltel Wireless Hummer, plus accelerated work on the Downtown Streetscape Project, has allowed Main Street up to Wall Street, including the intersection, to be opened for traffic although only temporarily. Main Street was opened Monday evening for Wednesday's event at Alltel Wireless located on the southwest corner of Main and Wall. The street and intersection will close again on Thursday morning...

A resilient and positive attitude surrounded the dreary reports regarding population growth in Bourbon and Vernon Counties Friday afternoon. According to studies conducted by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, W. Barton School of Business at Wichita State University (Kan.) and Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, both counties are looking at a population decline over the next 22 years...

Change is on the mind of Bourbon County Sheriff Deputy Cindy Gillispie. After working many years in law enforcement, Gillispie wants a change in not only her career, but also a change for the residents of Bourbon County. "After 12 years in law enforcement," Gillispie said, "I know what has to be done. I know what needs to be changed. I know where we lack that needs to be filled. I know it will be my job to do that."...

WICHITA -- Fort Scott Community College's women's basketball team was picked to finish in fifth place in the Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division at a pre-season media conference here Monday. The Greyhounds finished tied for fifth last season at 6-12 in the division and 13-15 overall under then-rookie head coach Stasha Richards. ...

MORAN -- Uniontown's golf team took third place here Monday at its own Class 3-2-1A Regional Golf Tournament, advancing to the State Tournament as one of the qualifying teams. The scores were unusually high at the Sunny Meadows Golf Course, with no individuals able to shoot less than 100. ...

GARNETT -- With host Anderson County and rival Columbus playing in the Anderson County Class 4A Regional Golf Tournament here Monday, Fort Scott High's team went into the tournament thinking there would be four teams vying for the three automatic berths into the State tournament. The thought was that Lenexa St. James Academy might also be a contender...