Stories from Saturday, April 10, 2010

Hi neighbors. My son likes to play video games. Actually he is a master of most of them and is busy designing his own. Because he is so skilled, watching him play is more like watching an animated movie than a game. He goes through so quickly that the story line is easy to follow; most of the time at least...

Ginny and I, not yet married, used to have coffee on weekday mornings at the tiny Chock-Full-of-Nuts store on the corner across the street from the Greenwich Village branch of NYU, where we were both taking classes toward our BA's. (That particular building, incidentally, now called the Brown Building, was, on March 25, 1911, simply referred to as the Triangle, cite of the infamous Triangle shirtwaist factory fire, worst in New York's history, resulting in the deaths of 140, mostly young women, by asphyxiation, burns, multiple injuries). ...

Once again there's talk of doing away with Saturday delivery from the United States Postal Service. Some news reports even say a poll says a wide majority of Americans think that's OK. Not so fast. The National Newspaper Association took a look at the poll taken. Here's the question: Would you rather give up Saturday mail, lose your local post office or lay off postal workers in the worst recession in 70 years?...

Harvey Dean Crandall, 88, died April 8, 2010, at Eaglecrest Retirement Community, Salina, Kan. Harvey was born Oct.12, 1921, the son of Robert and Della (Croxton) Crandall, in Wichita, Kan. He graduated from Wichita East High and later attended Kansas State University and Fort Scott Community College. ...

With her three daughters by her side, Hazel Marie Konantz Stapleton, 87, died late Wednesday evening April 7, 2010, at Aberdeen Village, Olathe, Kan. She was born Feb. 1, 1923, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Bruder and Hazel Marie (Bicknell) Konantz...

Jean Ann Rittenhouse, 67, of Pleasanton, Kan, died Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at Kansas City, Hospice House, Kansas City, Mo. Memorial graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Mound City, Kansas. Contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Disabled American Veterans. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.coffelschneider.com...

Joyce Elaine Farmer, 55, Nevada, passed away Friday, April 9, 2010, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada following a lengthy illness. Memorial services and family information will be provided later by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com...

The Vernon County Children's Division will be conducting an informational meeting about foster care on April 13, at 6 p.m., in the Children's Division office located at 621 Highland Avenue in Nevada. The meeting is intended to inform interested parties what foster care is and how the system works. Attendees will learn that foster families in Missouri make a difference by providing safe and caring homes for kids in the foster care system...

The tough economy has the theft of ATVs, farm equipment and construction equipment on the rise in Vernon County, Mo.; and in Bourbon County, Kan., according to Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman. The Vernon County Sheriff's Office recovered three ATVs last week that were stolen in Bourbon County; and Peckman wants residents to be aware that this type of theft is on the rise on both sides of the state line...

The current agent for the Nevada License Office has been awarded the contract to continue to manage the operations of the office. The winning proposal was chosen as part of a reformed, competitive bidding process for all of Missouri's local license offices...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Area residents will get the chance to learn from a professional gardener as the Bourbon County Master Gardeners and Garden Club hosts its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 E 12th St. Jake Weber, host of the Saturday morning radio show "Gardening with Jake" on KKOW, will be the featured speaker at the meeting and will offer tips on how to get the most out of the garden. ...

Nevada, Mo. --Thalias (Missouri Federated Women's Club) will once again be hosting a Tasting Tour on Sunday, May 2, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Nevada area homes featured this spring are those of Sally and Tom Thorpe, 13729 East Newton Rd., Crystal Lake; Jayne and Jim Novak, 823 N. Washington St.; and Donna Logan, 912 W. Briarwood Ln...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The USD 234 Board of Education plans to address the attendance center issue at least one more time in a public forum before voting on the matter next month. During their regular meeting at 5:30 p.m., Monday, at the USD 234 Board of Education office, 424 S. ...

FORT SCOTT -- Cassie Sharon had a pitcher's dream game in the first game of Fort Scott Community College's sweep of Hesston College in a doubleheader at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex Friday afternoon. Sharon, a freshman from Diamond, Mo., hit the first two home runs of her career, drove in 7 runs, and also pitched a complete-game 4-hitter with 7 strikeouts as the Greyhounds took game one 10-0. ...

Heather Renee Compton and James John Stromberg announce their plans to marry on Aug. 7, 2010, at 4 o'clock, in the East Chain Lutheran Church, East Chain, Minn. The bride-elect is the daughter of Lee and Cindy Compton of Aberdeen, S.D. She is the granddaughter of Shirley Fields, of Mount Vernon, Mo., and the late Harry Fields, and Darlene Compton, of Nevada, and the late Lee Compton Sr...

Gary and Mary Pierce, of Pierce City, announce the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Amy Pierce, to Matt Holt, son of Troy and Trudy Young, of Nevada, Mo., and Jim and Diana Holt, of Huntington, Ark. The couple is planning a June wedding at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pierce City...

Trystin John Owen announces the approaching marriage of his parents, Cassidy Faith Davis and Shawn Dustin Owen. Cassidy is the daughter of Karen Davis, Nevada, and Ron and Brenda Davis, El Dorado Springs. She is the granddaughter of the late Sam and Betty Lofquest and Edith Armstrong and the late Art Armstrong...