Stories from Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The 41st Annual Fort Scott Community College Elementary Music Festivals will take place Saturday, April 17, and Saturday, May 1. On April 17, vocal solos, vocal ensembles, choirs and piano performances will be judged. On May 1, instrumental solos and ensembles, bands and orchestras will be judged...

It is natural for children to explore their surroundings, unless they're getting under the kitchen sink or into the medicine cabinet where hazardous chemicals and adult medicines are kept, according to the Safe Kids Kansas organization. As National Poison Prevention Week -- which continues through Saturday -- approaches, the organization reminds parents to make sure they store hazardous materials such as cleaning products or medication out of their children's reach...

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Kansas House Speaker Pro Tem Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe, released his appointments Monday to the select committee that will investigate the complaint against Kansas House Speaker Mike O'Neal, R-Hutchinson, filed last week by Kansas House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence...

TOPEKA, Kan. - USDA Rural Development has announced Karissa Berks as the new Business and Energy Program Director in Kansas. Berks previously served in a similar capacity in Nebraska and has over eight years of program experience with the Agency. "Ms. ...

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Kansas Senate last week approved legislation to strengthen penalties for selling drugs to children and for exposing kids to the manufacture of methamphetamine. Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, offered a successful amendment to House Bill No. ...

High school and college students from across Kansas will attend the 2010 SkillsUSA Masonry Competition and the 2nd Annual Construction Trades Career Fair on April 1 at the Pittsburg Construction Trades Building, 1301 E. 27th Terr., Pittsburg. The SkillsUSA competition will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m...

It may not be London Bridge, but it a bridge in rural Bourbon County is falling down. Nearby resident Bob Collins noticed a hole in the asphalt on Maple Road (Old 54) near his home between 145th and 155th streets near Redfield. According to Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers, the hole in the bridge which passes over Cedar Creek, was a result of the underground structure collapsing. ...

Four Fort Scott High School players -- two boys and two girls -- were picked for the All-Southeast Kansas League basketball teams last week. Fort Scott senior Gary Floyd was one of three unanimous picks to the boys' First Team. The others were Coffeyville junior Cameron Craig and Chanute senior Cory Henshall. Also on the team were Coffeyville senior Ethan Cordray, Labette County senior Brannon Green and Pittsburg senior Blake Wilson...

Autumn Leaves met on Monday, March 8 with 15 present. Because of bad weather and vacation time, it had been two months since all had been together. Jerry Coonrod who brought his helper, Jim Kunsler, as a guest, blessed the food. Herman Tyler was a first timer and came with Gary Peterson. ...

Dorothy Evelyn Ketner, age 91, former resident of Garland, Kan., and more recently of 1320 S. Horton, Fort Scott, Kan., died early Saturday, March 13, 2010. She was born July 16, 1918, in Vernon County, Mo., the daughter of Franklin Clary and Charity Elizabeth Hoggatt Clary...

DUPONT -- Michael and Brittany Dupont, Fort Scott, and brother Michael, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Wyatt Jacob Dupont. Wyatt was born at 9:41 p.m., Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He weighed 5 pounds, 11.5 ounces at birth...

HAWKINS -- Donathan and Star Hawkins, Fort Scott, and big sister Lily, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Donavan LeeWayne Hawkins. Donavan was born at 2:21 p.m., Thursday, March 11, 2010 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces at birth...

Johnson County swept Fort Scott Community College in a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader at Lions Field Tuesday. The Cavaliers took game one 13-2 and game two 4-3. Fort Scott fell to 0-4 in the East as the Greyhounds were also swept Saturday at Cowley, 5-10 overall...

Bourbon County has been awarded $8,397 in federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The money will be used to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area. The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities, USA, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and United Way of America which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. ...

Researching one's ancestry can be a long, exhausting process and one local organization wants to lend a helping hand. The Old Fort Genealogical Society of Southeast Kansas, Inc., will host a spring seminar titled "Spring into Genealogy," on March 27 in the Fort Scott Community College Academic Building Round Room, 2108 S. Horton St. The all-day event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and the first program will start at 9 a.m...

With the server that runs the county-wide dispatch computer being out of service five separate times within four days last week, Fort Scott Police Chief Ron Puterbaugh approached the Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday evening with a request to purchase a new server...

Local agencies are getting one step closer to receiving federal funding to repair damage caused by winter storms. The Bourbon County Emergency Management Department announced Tuesday the FEMA Kickoff Meeting for the Federally Declared Disaster has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ...

JOHNSON -- Courtney Johnson and Trevor Vann, Fort Scott, and siblings Alicia, Tamiya and Terrance, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Aholonna Tre'lise Johnson. Ahlonna was born at 12:51 p.m., Monday, March 15, 2010 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott...