Stories from Friday, May 21, 2010

I love graduations. Weeks ahead of time, seniors and their families begin to gear up for a whirlwind of festivities. Invitations are sent for get-togethers at graduates' houses where mini "shrines" will be set up to commemorate high school accomplishments. Food is prepared and frozen in anticipation of relatives descending in droves, and as the weekend approaches, houses are spit-shined, with even the teen's bedroom organized and the bed made. For some, a first...

The congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Scott voted overwhelmingly Sunday, May 16th, to call Mansour Khajehpour as its full-time installed pastor. Pastor Khajehpour will assume his new duties on August 1. Mansour Khajehpour was born into a Muslim family in Mashhad, Iran, and was trained to faithfully follow Shi'ite Islamic laws. ...

Sunbeam Christian Preschool held its annual graduation ceremonies on May 10-11. Marilyn Barker, director, led each class in. The children sang several songs including "From the Manger to the Cross." After introductions, the children portrayed the Bible story of Zacchaeus. The graduates sang songs they each selected for their parents...

Editor's Note: Due to the use of an expletive in one of the following historical letters, the word in question has been replaced with S.O.B., as part of Tribune policy. Some phrases of the English language have transcended the passage of time from before, during and after the Civil War and are still in use today, hence the title of this column...

Shirley White of the Fulton High School Class of 1960 announces the class is celebrating its 50th reunion, May 29, at the school. They invite all other classes to drop in and visit. They will start at 2 p.m. There were 14 graduates in 1960. They lost two of their classmates this last year, Joey Taiclet and Buddy Gould. She is expecting 100 percent in attendance this year, so please join them...

Mrs. Jenabelle (Jan) James, age 70, of LaCygne, Kan., formerly of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2010, after a courageous fight with cancer, at home surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at Calvary Baptist Church, LaCygne, Kan. Visitation will be one hour before the services at the church...

Lois Wanita McKinnis, age 86, formerly of Uniontown and more recently of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, May 20, 2010, at Mercy Health Center of Fort Scott. She was born July 11, 1923, in Bronson, Kan., the daughter of Fred and Jennie Marvin Goodno...

Maxine Parsons Denman, age 75, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at her home following a cancer illness. She was born Jan. 15, 1935, in Hope, Mich., the daughter of Paul Parsons and Bessie Grice Parsons. Maxine first married Mack Nelson McAllister on March 6, 1954. They were divorced...

WEBB -- Desa Arnold and Rick Webb, Fort Scott, and siblings Kyla, Nichole, Abbi, Katy, Jacob and Caleb, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Jace Zachary Webb. Jace was born at 8:01 a.m., Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott...

FRETWELL -- Sean and Kristan Fretwell, Brooklet, Ga., and siblings Forrest and Bear, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Canyon Brown Fretwell. Canyon was born at 5:20 p.m., May 13, 2010 at St. Joseph Candler Hospital, Savannah, Ga...

By Eric Wade Herald-Tribune SENECA, Mo. -- "Carl Junction is going to be a little fresher, probably, on the mound, having only played one game." Though Tigers head coach Kellan Foster had few words to say about his team's eventual opponent after earning a berth in the Class 3, District 12 tournament championship, that assessment proved very true as the Tigers took on the Bulldogs of Carl Junction at the Seneca Baseball and Softball Complex Friday evening...

Girard defeated Fort Scott 6-1 in a semifinal game of the Fort Scott Class 4A Regional Softball Tourna-ment at Don Hewett Field Friday, then went on to knock off top-seeded Labette County 7-1 in the championship game and earn a berth into next week's Kansas Class 4A State Softball Tournament at Salina...