Stories from Thursday, May 7, 2009

To our Web site readers: For the past 2 1/2 days, the Fort Scott Tribune has experience problems with its connection to the Internet. These problems prevented the Tribune from updating the Web site. These problems were corrected a bit after 2 p.m. this afternoon...

Lee, Thomas Edward, 37, 1826 255th Street, Fort Scott, was arrested by Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on May 1, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. on a Bourbon County Warrant. He is still being held at this time. Blair, William Shields, 53, 1830 Maddi, Kansas City, Mo., was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on May 1, 2009 at 11:40 a.m., on a Bourbon County Warrant. He is still being held at this time...

It was a nice evening, no rain and the attendance was about up to par at the senior dance at Buck Run Community Center Monday night. Lucille was on the job at 5 p.m. and I made the coffee and she got the other things going. It takes a little while to get the tables ready after they are set up and to get the water fountain going with ice and all and the refrigerators empty and ready for the food that is brought in for the evening snack. ...

The Uniontown High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes will conduct the annual Baccalaureate Service at 5:45 p.m., Tuesday, May 12, at the West Bourbon Elementary Gymnasium. This year's speaker is Todd Reeder, a 2001 Uniontown High School graduate. ...

NEVADA -- Cottey College is pleased to announce that Carla Bryant Farmer of Fort Scott, has accepted the the position of campaign manager/senior major gifts officer. Farmer will begin her duties at Cottey on July 1. Farmer had previously served as the director of marketing and development for Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott since 1986. ...

Tanya Gourd is bringing her unique salon business to downtown Fort Scott this summer. The former Kansas City resident, a hair stylist for the last 16 years, said Wednesday she hopes to open up the Bella Vita Salon at 118 E. Wall St., by July. The space which her new business will occupy is now freshly painted and bare, but Gourd said she hopes to have all of her equipment, furniture, and other materials needed to operate the business moved into the building by July 29 for an open house event...

I think many of us could use a little extra color in our lives and an easy way to do so is to add a splash of color into our landscapes. An easy way to do this is by planting in pots. Pots are durable, decorative, affordable and simple to maintain. They are a great way for novice flower grower's, like myself, to experiment with the "thrill, fill, and spill" technique and even help advanced gardeners to accent their existing landscaping...

As of April 27, 2009, farm producers are eligible for enrollment into the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) option made available by the new farm bill. The enrollment deadline is August 14, 2009. This is a new option made available by last year's farm bill intended to offer farm program payments to producers when the revenue for a program crop is lower than the program guarantee instead of simply offering a guaranteed payment amount each year....

EL DORADO -- Fort Scott Community College's baseball team advanced to the elimination round of the Region VI Tournament as a result of sweeping Butler, 10-4 and 13-0, in a best-of-three series here Monday. Fort Scott was the No. 5 seed out of the Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division. It's the second time in three seasons that the Greyhounds (27-25) won a first-round series on the road. Two years ago, they rallied after losing the first game of the series to win the next two at Colby...

LaCYGNE -- Jayhawk-Linn's track teams swept the team titles at the Prairie View Invitational here Monday. This event was scheduled for Friday but postponed due to rain. Jayhawk girls won seven events and 19 medals. The boys won 10 events and 17 medals...

MADISON -- Pleasanton's boys finished second at the Madison Invitational here Monday. The meet was originally scheduled for Friday but postponed due to heavy rain. Madison won the meet with 148 points followed by Pleasanton with 108. Seven schools attended. Girls' team scores were not provided...

INDEPENDENCE -- The Southeast Kansas League Tennis Tournament has been put on hold due to rains that happened on each of the days it had been played in the last week. The tournament began last Thursday before it was suspended the first time. An attempt was made to finish it on Tuesday, but rain came along again...

Fort Scott High School's softball team finally got to play at home for the first time this season, producing a 7-0 victory over Parsons in the first half of a Southeast Kansas League doubleheader at Don Hewett Field Tuesday evening. The first game was stopped early as the field became slicker. The second game was postponed...

The number of local residents who are finding some relief from the high cost of prescription medications has steadily increased since January. According to former Bourbon County Commissioner Bill Brittain, Bourbon County's participation in the National Association of Counties' Prescription Drug Discount Card Program has helped many Bourbon County residents save money on some of their prescription refills...

Fort Scott City Commissioners discussed audits and good neighbors during Tuesday evening's meeting. Terry Sercer of Diehl, Banwart, Bolton Certified Public Accountants P.A. was in attendance to present the results of the 2008 audit of the City of Fort Scott's financial statements...

Hundreds of area high school and college students will don caps and gowns for upcoming graduation ceremonies this month. Fort Scott High School officials said 140 FSHS seniors will receive diplomas during a graduation service scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at Frary Field located just north of the school. A baccalaureate service will take place at 4 p.m. that day in the FSHS gymnasium, 1005 S. Main St...

Hard work, determination and the support of a dedicated coach helped a group of Fort Scott High School students claim the 4A state forensics championship on Saturday. The 2009 Kansas state forensics tournament was declared to be the largest state tournament in the history of Kansas, attracting 54 schools and 570 competitors from across the state, according to FSHS Debate and Forensics coach Brian Weilert...

More than a century ago, an enduring local bank franchise was born. Citizens Bank, N.A., which has served Bourbon County since 1884, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Bank officials and community members will celebrate the bank's milestone with refreshments and open house events on Friday at both Fort Scott locations; 200 S. ...

The National Association of Letter Carriers and the United States Postal Service are once again joining forces to help needy families in the community through the "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive." Both organizations will be collecting non-perishable food items such as canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and rice, on Saturday. ...

The first ever Ride for the Red Poker Run, conducted by the American Red Cross was deemed a success by the event organizer. According to the Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross Executive Director Whendi Martin, 26 motorcycles carrying almost 40 riders came out on Sunday to participate in the Red Cross fundraiser...

Fort Scott city department heads were available for the City of Fort Scott's first Open House Wednesday. Approximately 50 local residents attended the event in which they could mingle with the department heads and ask questions. "A few people have asked questions and we've answered them," Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner said...

Eight members of the Uniontown FFA chapter attended the Southeast District FFA Banquet on April 16 in Girard. Members Alex Miller and Koltan Schaaf received their state FFA degrees and other members were recognized for their Supervised Agricultural Experience work...

Musician David Prickett plans to do a little strumming and singing during a downtown concert on Friday. Prickett, an Alabama native who now lives in Deerfield, Mo., will bring his guitar to the stage to perform a concert at 7 p.m. Friday at the Heritage Park Pavilion near the corner of Wall and Main streets. The concert is part of the Friday night concert series sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division...

A downturn in the economy and budget cuts have caused the 2009 Airport Day to face cancellation. "At this point it's canceled, but we are trying to work out a deal where we can raise the money to go ahead and have it," Airport Advisory Board Chairman Bob Marshall said...

Fort Scott High School prom is Saturday night