Stories from Friday, January 2, 2009

Students from Fort Scott Christian Heights recently toured a special museum located in the local area. According to FSCH fifth and sixth grade teacher Vickie Shead, every other year after teaching a unit about mammals she takes her students to local resident Bob Tuchscherer's house to explore the more than 600 taxidermy animals he has on display in his barn...

After the dust of the holidays has cleared, Bourbon County residents are now faced with the challenge of paying personal property and real estate taxes. In 2006, the Bourbon County Treasurer's Office saw a collection of $6,681,088 in personal property and real estate tax. In 2007, a total of $7,072,987 was collected. As of Wednesday morning, Bourbon County had collected $6,854,399 of the total $13,994,089 in personal property and real estate taxes...

The dates and location of the Bourbon County Recycling Program trailers have been set. On January 3 trailers will be located at Walmart, 2501 S Main, and the east side of the square in Uniontown. On Jan. 10 the trailers will be located at the Ash Craft Memorial Library in Mapleton. ...

Two Fort Scott High School students have made the first step toward realizing their dream of one day joining the United States Service Academies. Levi Tweedy and Andrew Benage, both seniors at FSHS, were among the students nominated earlier this month for the Second District of Kansas to the U.S. Service Academies for the class of 2013. Tweedy was nominated for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., while Benage was nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md...

George William Blincoe, Sr., age 93, a resident of rural Fort Scott and of Battle Creek, Mich., died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott, Kan. He was born Aug. 5, 1915, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of William T. Blincoe and Grace Fisher Blincoe...

JOHNSON -- Angela Putman, Independence, Mo., and Clint Johnson, Bronson, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Hunter William Johnson. Hunter was born at 10:18 a.m., Dec. 5, 2008 at Centerpoint Medical Center, Independence, Mo. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches at birth. Maternal grandparents are Gary and Paula Putman, Independence, Mo...

CLARK -- Missy (Friend) and Geoff Clark, Fort Scott, and siblings Christa and Matt Chaplin, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Vladimir Vincent Clark. Vladimir was born at 10:10 p.m., Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, Pittsburg, Kan. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces at birth...

MARCHIANO -- Kylene and Nick Marchiano, Hume, Mo., and siblings Sadie Nichole and Alexis Kaelyn, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Riley Jo Marchiano. Riley was born at 4:46 p.m., Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott...

It was the last dance night of the year and the Senior Swingers had a good turnout at Buck Run Community Center with an attendance of over 70. It was a nice evening and everyone was ready to dance when the band started at 6:30 p.m. We have dancers coming from Chanute, Pittsburg, El Dorado, Butler, Liberal, Nevada as well as Fort Scott...

Margaret and Joe Titus opened their home to the Bourbon County Unit of Retired School Personnel Saturday, Dec. 13. Several guests along with 14 members enjoyed visiting and a sing-a-long preceding the meeting. Shirley Palmer accompanied on her accordian...

_ The Diamond Community Church, 2577 Jayhawk Road, is becoming known as a small congregation with a big heart as they work diligently to reach out to the community. Members of the local congregation recently donated material and sewed patch quilts for the residents at Guest Home Estates...

100 YEARS AGO (1909) Newt Gunsaullus has become a permanent attache of the courthouse. He is at the register of deeds office each day now and expects to absorb a great deal of information about the routine of that office between now and Jan. 11th, the day the present incumbent, Mr. Drum, surrenders to him...

For the year 2009, I am making two resolutions. One is to be more motivated and the other is to read more. Too often I find myself being satisfied with things when I know I am capable of doing better. I will work on being more motivated so I get the maximum amount of benefit. My new motivation will be applied to working out, practicing my craft, doing housework and doing the things I enjoy. I will work to be more motivated to work harder in every aspect of my life...

I made the decision several years ago to discontinue the tradition of New Year's resolutions. I have usually broken the resolution by week one, broken it for the second time by week two, and by February, I have forgotten what my resolution even was...

It doesn't seem possible that another year has passed me by. Although I am certain I have made minor gains in various areas, looking back they all seem insignificant. I suppose in my endeavor to survive life I have forgotten the real reason I was created...

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, (because I have failed to keep many of them in the past), but this year I am making an exception. I resolve to spend more time with my family this year. With work and other home demands on the schedule, it is often very hard to get quality time with my wife and son. ...

This summer, while attending an NCA Cheerleading Camp, two of Uniontown's cheerleaders were selected as All American Cheerleaders. Not many cheerleaders receive this recognition. The two girls that were chosen were Lauren Rockhold, an eighth- grade student at Uniontown Junior High, and the first junior high student to be selected for this honor from our area. Haley Melton, a junior from Uniontown High School was also selected...

Commissioner Jim Adams is tossing his hat in the ring. Adams announced Friday he will run for a second term with the Fort Scott City Commission. Adams is coming off a two-year term with the commission. Adams was undecided until this past weekend when he talked it over with friends...