Stories from Thursday, April 8, 2010

For the second consecutive year, Mercy Rehabilitation Services will be the sponsor of a Fort Scott Community College home weekend baseball doubleheader. This year's sponsored games will be the April 17 doubleheader against Labette Community College. The first pitch for the first game will be at 1 p.m. with the second game to follow approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the opener...

The Southeast Kansas Symphony will put on their final concert of the season at a performance planned for April 18 in Fort Scott. "So Romantic!" a concert featuring Tckaikovsky's "Symphony No. 5 in E Minor," Sibelius's "Rakastava (the Lover)" and Ney Rosauro's "Marimba Concerto, Op.12," will also be the last performance for symphony conductor Stella Hastings. Hastings is stepping down from the position in order to teach full time in the voice area at PSU...

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Proposals for Wetland Program Development grants to develop effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management will be accepted through May 20, 2010, from states, tribes and local governments. EPA Region 7 anticipates $1,176,000 in federal funding to be available to fund approximately three to six awards. Awards will likely range from $100,000 to $500,000...

Jana Shaver, retired Independence teacher and district curriculum director, announced her candidacy Tuesday for a second term on the Kansas State Board of Education. Shaver represents District 9, which covers 14 total counties and six partial counties in Southeast Kansas. She is a Republican...

The state of Kansas is on pace for one of its deadliest fire years in recent history. As of March 31, there have been 15 civilian fire-related deaths and two firefighter deaths in the state since Jan. 1, according to Kansas State Fire Marshal Dan McLaughlin. At this pace, he said, the state could see a 50 percent increase in fire-related deaths over the previous five years and possibly the deadliest fire year ever...

Fort Scott Community College will host its annual Women's Appreciation Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at FSCC, 2108 S. Horton St. The luncheon is a popular event that FSCC hosts every spring in order to give area women a chance to take a break from their schedules for a day of fun, shopping and pampering. ...

Bill Maurice Shirley, age 85, resident of 2173 Indian Road, Fort Scott, died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at the Medicalodge. He was born April 2, 1925 in Greenville, Texas, the son of Noah T. and Bessie L. Shirley. When Bill was six, the family moved to Childress, Texas where he was raised...

Helen Trotter, 101, of Fort Scott, died early Wednesday morning April 7, 2010 at the Fort Scott Manor. She was born November 7, 1908 in Fulton, Kan., the daughter of Harley R. and Mary E. (Turley) Trotter. She attended the Union Center Grade School and participated in West Liberty United Methodist Church activities...

Brown, Jay Marquin, 39, 208 Broadway, Fort Scott, was arrested by Fort Scott Police Department on March 19, 2010 at 3:36 p.m. for driving while suspended and was released on the same day at 8:46 p.m. on a $1,250. Arnold, Roy Charles, 30, 845 S. Scott Ave., Fort Scott, was arrested by Fort Scott Police Department on March 19, 2010 at 3:41 p.m. for driving while suspended and was released March 19, 2010 at 8:50 p.m. on a $1,250...

Warm weather and sunshine draws us all outside which increases the temptation and riding times on ATV's (all-terrain vehicles) whether used for chore purposes or for fun at grandma and grandpa's. While they are very handy, safety must be taken to avoid injury. Take a few minutes to remind your employees, children, grandchildren, and yourself of the potential dangers and how to use common sense to minimize the hazards...

Conditions last fall made it difficult to get wheat planted in this area. It seems that the moisture (rain/snow/ice) just kept coming. Harvest was slow with combine ruts still in evidence in nearly every field. Feeding livestock through the winter also brought up discussions of how long it has been since it was this muddy...

Mossy Oak Properties of the Heartland recently announced the opening of its first office, Mossy Oak Properties of the Heartland, Outdoor Ventures LLC, in Fort Scott. The new location will be operated by Jason Marbery, a long-time resident of Southeast Kansas, and brokered by Danny Jones. Marbery owns several other businesses in the Fort Scott area...

CHEROKEE -- Pleasanton's boys won the team title at the Southeast Invitational here Tuesday while the girls finished in second place. Blu-Jay boys scored 79 points while Joplin College Heights finished with 73. Baxter won the girls' side by one point, 92-91, over Pleasanton...

OSWEGO -- It Uniontown's first meet of the season, senior Abbie Smith broke the school record in the 100-meter hurdles here Tuesday. Smith's 15.7-second time was just one of three first-place medals she won on the day. She also won the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 2 inches and the 300-meter hurdles in 51.94 seconds...

SPRING HILL -- Fort Scott High School's tennis team finished third at a four-team round-robin tournament here Tuesday. Host Spring Hill won with 12 points, Baldwin was second with 7, Fort Scott had 5 and Lansing finished with 0. High winds plagued the tournament, gusting as high as 30 MPH, affecting play greatly...

IOLA -- Fort Scott High School's golf team improved two spots from its season-opening outing and finished fourth in the second of the four Southeast Kansas League designated tournaments here Tuesday afternoon. Tanner Beckham shot 41 on the front nine and 42 on the back to finish with a seventh-place total of 83...

A few lessons were learned and a few strides were made at Don Hewett Field Thursday evening even though Fort Scott High's softball team lost both games of a Southeast Kansas League doubleheader to rival Pittsburg 9-4 and 7-5. "We're young. We made some errors. ...

Fort Scott Community College has awarded the radio broadcast rights to Greyhound sporting events to KSEK-AM radio in Pittsburg. KSEK is an ESPN Radio affiliate and has an all-sports format on 1340 AM. KSEK carried the Citizens Bank Bowl game last December after winning the rights to the broadcast from the bowl committee...

April 15 is almost here and even a simple mistake can cause problems that might delay the processing federal tax returns. "The best way to avoid common errors on a tax return is to file electronically," IRS spokesman Michael Devine said. "E-file is easy, fast and accurate because many common errors are corrected by computer software."...

USD 235 will conduct screenings of prospective kindergarten students from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 15, and Friday, April 16, at West Bourbon Elementary School, 602 Fifth St., Uniontown. Youngsters must be at least 5 years of age on or before Aug. ...

TOPEKA -- Kansans can watch an online video tutorial before filling out their application for unemployment benefits, according to the Kansas Department of Labor. The tutorial, now available on the home page of the Kansas unemployment benefits site, www.getkansasbenefits.com, walks applicants through the online form and answers frequently asked questions about the application...

Plenty of bargains will soon be available to area residents who are in the mood to shop. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced that the 2010 Spring Citywide Garage Sale will take place Saturday, April 17. The chamber is currently accepting entries for garage sale listings. The deadline to enter a listing is Monday, April 12. Maps will be available at the chamber office, 231 E. Wall St., and the Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St., on Thursday, April 15...

Two Bourbon County towns has been awarded funding assistance to make some needed improvements. The City of Uniontown and the City of Bronson have been awarded a combined $60,450 through the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Community Facilities program...

The Union Army's occupation of Fort Scott is part of the town's history that will be reenacted this weekend at the Fort Scott National Historic Site. Guests will be able to enjoy a weekend of Civil War history during the 28th Annual Civil War Encampment on Saturday and Sunday at FSNHS. ...