Stories from Friday, January 23, 2009

PLEASANTON -- Unbeaten teams will be played for the boys' and girls' titles of the Pleasanton Mid-Season Tournament Saturday night. Jayhawk-Linn's girls will face Humboldt in a 4 p.m. game Saturday while Crest's boys will square off against Northeast-Arma at 5:30...

Local Firefighters found themselves having a busy Thursday afternoon as four separate fires broke out in Bourbon County. Shortly after 1 p.m., Scott Township firefighters were dispatched to U.S. Highway 54 and State Line Road for a grass fire, which reportedly began when landowners attempted to burn trash. ...

The Fort Scott Community College Alumni and Friends Association is ringing in the new year with the association's annual "Dollars for Scholars" fundraiser. During the 27th annual "Dollars for Scholars" Phon-A-Thon, which began Tuesday, about 35 volunteers call groups of FSCC alumni and other people across the United States who are associated with the college to ask for donations that go toward several scholarships available to FSCC students. ...

Good news comes to the Fort Scott Fire Department as it receives grant money. Senator Sam Brownback wished congratulations to four fire departments in Kansas including the Fort Scott Fire Department for receiving money from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants...

Area residents who have contributed funds to help this year's United Way of Bourbon County campaign have played an active role in helping the elderly, disabled and those living in poverty in addition to many youth throughout the local area. According to Whendi Martin, secretary of the board for the United Way of Bourbon County, in order to provide financial help to the 15 agencies that it will provide assistance to this year, the organization needed to generate $99,999.99 in contributions from area residents. ...

Howard, Jonathon Stuart, 21, of Fort Scott, was arrested by the Fort Scott Police Department on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 2:36 p.m. on a Bourbon County warrant for driving while suspended, DUI, and possession of marijuana. Howard is still being held at this time...

Nena Maureen O'Sullivan Reed, 69, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Sunday evening, Jan. 18, 2009 at the Mercy Health Center. She was born Oct. 23, 1939 in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of James M. and Edith G. (King) Moore. Her parents died when she was an infant, and she was adopted by William and Etta Baker, and she lived in Lemay, Mo., until moving to California...

From Dec. 13-29, Elma and Eldon Underwood left their home in rural Garland with Elma at the wheel for Louisiana to visit Verna (Underwood) Melohn, husband Mike, Melodee and Heather and grandson Tristan, 2, in Benton. On to Layafette to visit JoAnna Underwood Caldwell, son Joe and Roselyn, grandson Jason and Great Granddaughter Adleigh, 3, and Reagan, 8 Mo. Joe, Elma, and Eldon enjoyed lunch with JoAnna in her Cornerstone South Retirement Home. All three returned to Joe's home for supper...

Every Wednesday noon you'll find me at Espressly For You, the quaint coffee shop and lunch spot in town, with a group of friends that we call "The Rotary Widows." We're not widows certainly and not all of us have Rotarian husbands. In fact not all of us are even married!...

I begin this writing journey with high expectations, hoping that stories of my life experiences, the lessons I have learned not without occasional emotional bumps and bruises, will encourage you to look at life with a sense of humor and a renewed appreciation for how God is molding you...

100 YEARS AGO (1909) County Superintendent Rose Allen is unable to explain why anyone should seek to destroy the Gwinn schoolhouse. There is unmistakable evidence that fire bugs did the work. There have been many school rows at various places in the county but Gwinn always escaped. There was a fine class of students coming from good homes and the teacher, Mrs. Pellet-Godlove, was well liked by the students and their parents. The matter is being subjected to a close investigation...