Stories from Thursday, December 31, 2009

Robert Anthony "Tony" Short 39, of Fort Scott, Kan., formally of Frontenac, Kan., died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. He was born Nov. 13, 1970, in Pittsburg, Kan., the son of Robert E. and Marilyn R. (Walker) Short. Tony graduated from Frontenac High School with the Class of 1989...

Pastor Timothy Van Patten will conduct funeral services Monday at 1:30 p.m., Jan. 4, in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott...

Kansas' new Graduated Driver's License legislation (House Bill 2143) takes effect Jan. 1, 2010. This new legislation was developed to help young drivers obtain more experience, and become safer drivers prior to becoming a fully licensed driver. The new restrictions address key issues that can create problems for a novice driver, such as late night driving, use of electronic devices, and multiple passengers...

At the end of his statewide tour, United States Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., stopped in Fort Scott on Wednesday to talk to local residents about important issues facing people all across the state. Moran, a Kansas native and Congressman who has represented Kansas' 1st District since 1997, is currently serving his seventh term in the seat. ...

Traditionally & this was true in the 19th Century as well. New Years Eve & Day are celebrated with remembering the past year & welcoming in the New Year. However, in today's military & that of the Civil War these days were just another day of combat or garrison duty. True, there is & was some levity whenever possible, but normally the main focus was to carry on with whatever the respective military operations or mission of the day happened to be...

Seven from my family are here in Mazatlan, Mexico, for Christmas break, and yesterday we were invited by our local friends, Francis and Rudy, to be part of their Christmas Eve celebration. We were to join about 30 adults, mostly employees of the resort next to where we are staying, to deliver toys to children in an impoverished neighborhood and an orphanage. All we needed to bring was lots of candy. Thanks to Sam's, that was no problem...