Stories from Saturday, January 3, 2009

Not everyone who has income is required to file a federal tax return. Whether or not you must file a return depends upon a number of factors, including your filing status, age, and gross income. If you didn't file a return in 2008, you may have missed out on a refund and the Economic Stimulus Payment. ...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- According to law enforcement officials in the local area, the 2009 New Year's holiday did not appear to increase the amount of traffic violations or overall crime. The Fort Scott Police Department, Bourbon County Sheriff's Department and Kansas Highway Patrol all increased the number of officers each organization had on duty during New Year's Eve and New Year's Day...

Irene Mae Chandler, 83, formerly of Nevada, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at the Crown Care Center Nursing Home in Harrisonville with her family and close friend by her side. She was born March 23, 1925, in Bronaugh, Mo., to Harry A. Ricketts and Reland Smith Ricketts. She married Jap J. Chandler on March 21, 1977, in Bronaugh, and he preceded her in death...

James Lacy Haley, Rockport, Texas, passed away Friday, Dec. 12, 2008. He was born June 1, 1924 in Butler, Mo., the son of William and Ethel Lacy Haley. His family moved to Nevada when he was a small child. He graduated from Nevada High School in 1941 and was a Navy veteran of World War II, having served in the South Pacific. ...

Erbin Regar Todd Sr., 90, Nevada, passed away on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at his home in Nevada. He was born May 13, 1918, in Ada, Okla., to E.C. Todd and Berty Mae Slagle Todd. He married Margaret Agnes Todd on Aug. 18, 1944, in Ada, Okla., and she preceded him in death on Jan. 26, 1998...

Funeral services for Richard Morris Farr, a former Fort Scott resident, will be held Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at 2 p.m., at the Weng Funeral Chapel, Jasper, Mo., with visitation at 1:30 p.m. Richard passed away Dec. 31, 2008, at Overland Park Nursing and Rehab Center following complications from surgery for a broken hip. ...

John D. Taylor, 53, a resident of Fort Scott, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at the Skaggs Hospital in Branson, Mo., following a lengthy cancer illness. Pastor Ron Woody will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 5, in the First Southern Baptist Church. ...

American Agri-Women provides two scholarships for farm, ranch or agribusiness women or their daughters, to pursue accredited courses in ag leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine, or any other courses directly related to agriculture. Each scholarship is for $500, to be used for tuition...

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has signed a proclamation to increase public awareness about the importance of preventing birth defects. Experts say that about six percent of babies in Missouri are born with a birth defect that can result in death or lifelong disability, but women can take a number of steps to reduce their baby's risk. January is Missouri Birth Defects Prevention and Awareness Month...

Continuing the volunteer work she did for nine years in Oklahoma, an 85-year-old Jefferson City woman has made 987 quilts for foster children. Louise Parvin's goal is 1,000 quilts. "I started making quilts when I was 10, and made a few through the years," Parvin said. ...

Chanda Conner and Dusty Hancock were married Oct. 4, 2008, in a sunset beach ceremony, in Pensacola Beach, Fla. Ray Turner officiated the ceremony. The bride was given in marriage by her grandfather, David Miller. Mallory Conner, Nevada, attended her sister as maid of honor. Flower girl was Rhiannon Hoyle, Mexico, Mo., niece of the bride. Dennis Hancock Jr., Pensacola, brother of the groom, served as best man. Trey Hancock, Pensacola, nephew of the groom, was ring bearer...

Mary Lea Sackett and Christopher Ray Larsen wish to announce their engagement and upcoming wedding, to take place on July 18, 2009. Mary is the daughter of Margaret Botkin, Siera Vista, Ariz., and John Sackett, Blackwell, Okla. Her grandparents, Andrew and Mary Lou Anderson, also reside in Sierra Vista, Ariz...

Sporting a trophy collection that numbers in the hundreds, Austin Forkner has become a dominant force in the motocross racing world. He has taken wins in his career in such events as the Texas Winter Series, Missouri State Series, North Central Youth Regional AMA, the Florida Winter National Olympics, Oklahoma State Series, Hale Arenacross, Texas State Championship, Show-Me Fall Series and Central Missouri Midwest Spring Series. ...