Stories from Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Lester Eugene "Les" Hinkley, 90 of Bella Vista, Ark., formerly of Fort Scott, died Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 in Springdale, Arkansas. He was born Nov. 20, 1919 in Neosho County Kan., the son of Charles Sumner and Nina Pearl (Mix) Hinkley. He married Beth Irene Zimmerman June 20, 1942 in Chicago, Ill. She preceded him in death Aug. 26, 2004...

Elaine Ropp, 56, of Fort Scott, died Saturday morning, Jan. 2, 2010 at the Kansas University Medical Center. She was born Feb. 24, 1953 in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Hubert Cedric and Cora Louise (Anderson) McCurley. She married Douglas Ropp Oct. 8, 1972 in Fort Scott, Kan. He survives of the home...

Glen Wayne Niemeir, age 88, resident of Fort Scott, died early Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, at the Mercy Health Center. He was born Dec. 27, 1921, in Devon, Kan., the son of Charles F. Niemeir and Pearl Calvin Niemeir. He first married Ruby McCracken on Jan. 17, 1946. She preceded him in death on Oct. 17, 1979...

Michael L. Buffington, 68, Grove. Okla., died in Grove, Thursday evening, Dec. 31, 2009. Mike was born in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Joseph and Vera Leffler Buffington. He grew up in Fort Scott and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1959. He served four years in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1963...

HOUSER -- Neil and April Houser, Fort Scott, and siblings Madison and Lillian, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Andrew James Houser. Andrew was born at 10:08 a.m., Dec. 31, 2009, at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces at birth...

As we gathered with family and friends during the holidays, we probably gave little thought to how the food, fabrics, and holiday décor came to be. But, research and scientists have a large role in the food, fiber, and plants we've been enjoying. We can thank science and technology -- and American farmers -- for providing the cheapest, most abundant food supply in the world. ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Winter is here and looks like it plans on staying for awhile. It has blanketed the ground with several inches of very wet heavy snow and a thick layer of ice in between, making it very treacherous to walk. And to think I complained last summer when the temperature hit 85 degrees...

Two USD 234 school nurses received nearly $2,000 in grant money to promote healthy activities and educational programs. Robin Hartman, nurse at Winfield Scott Elementary School, received $1,000, and Pam Brown, nurse at Fort Scott High School, received $975 through The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation's Healthy Habits for Life grant program. ...

Tribune Staff Report SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Since 2000, the American Red Cross and KY3 have honored local heroes at the Everyday Heroes breakfast and awards ceremony. Everyone is encouraged to nominate someone that is admired for his/her achievements and noble qualities or someone that shows great courage. ...

TOPEKA -- Four top lawmakers called on the Kansas attorney general, Thursday, to join attorneys general from 13 other states in raising legal objections to provisions of the health care bill approved by the United States Senate on Christmas Eve. Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence; House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell; Senate Vice President John Vratil, R-Leawood; and House Speaker Pro Tem Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe sent a letter to Attorney General Stephen N. ...

Women across Kansas are encouraged to schedule a well-woman checkup this month in recognition of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cervical cancer was once the number one cancer killer of women, but during the past 50 years in the United States of America the number of new cases and deaths has declined 75 percent, largely because of the widely available and reliable Pap test, which is given as often as annually during well-woman checkups. ...