Stories from Thursday, August 19, 2010

TOPEKA -- Collaboration between special agents from the Kansas Department of Corrections, KBI agents, and the Attorney General's office has led to 42 arrests in Topeka, Wichita, and Kansas City, Kan. Operation Cooperation targeted parolees suspected of absconding or violating terms of their parole and parolees with outstanding warrants for their arrest. The arrests occurred over a four-day span between Aug. 9 and 12...

The Rooks family will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Heritage Park Pavilion near the corner of First and Main streets. The family has been singing gospel music for more than five years. The group consists of Paul Rooks, pastor of Grace Baptist Tabernacle, his wife, Shelley, and their three children; Brittani, who is starting her third year in college, Chase, a senior at Fort Scott High School, and Courtney, an eighth grader at Fort Scott Middle School...

The 91st academic year at Fort Scott Community College begins next week, and a variety of activities are scheduled for students as they head back to class. During the FSCC Welcome Week, which begins Monday and continues through Thursday, all students at FSCC will be able to enjoy several activities -- including a cookout and a variety of games -- that are planned to welcome students to the college and make them feel comfortable...

A local lot of contaminated soil is being fixed after 10 years of testing. According to Gary Richards, Kansas Department of Health and Environment project manager, a crew is working on a lot on North National Avenue near the Marmaton River to "return the site to a beneficial use."...

The nomination process for the FSA committee elections has been completed for this year. We appreciate the interest voters have shown in this process, and congratulate the nominees on their appointment to the ballot! FSA committees provide an important grass roots "connection" with USDA programs offered to the farm population of this area through programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Commodity Loan and Loan Deficiency Payment efforts, Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP), Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE), Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE), etc.. ...

With 36,000 employees and 30 hospitals in a four-state area, when the Sisters of Mercy reach out to support school kids throughout the Midwest, it's no small matter. Every year Mercy physicians and co-workers donate thousands of dollars in goods and services by providing bus loads of school supplies, free immunizations, hair cuts, sports physicals and much more...

With cicada populations singing in trees we should start noticing hordes of large wasps flying around. These are primarily the eastern cicada killer, which is actually considered a beneficial insect because it regulates cicada populations. This wasp gets its common name from the fact that it hunts and provides each cell within its nest with a cicada to be used as the food source for young larvae...

ROBERTSON -- Falicia Robertson, Blue Mound, is proud to announce the birth of her son, Brayden Michael Robertson. Brayden was born at 5:09 p.m., Monday, Aug. 16, 2010 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Heather and Charles Purvis, Blue Mound...

BUDY -- Jeremy and Amy Budy, Fort Scott, and siblings Dominick and Mackenzie, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Kynleigh Janae Budy. Kynleigh was born at 8:18 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2010 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott...

CUNNINGHAM -- Nichole and Harold Cunningham, Pleasanton, and siblings Krista, Savanna and Nathan, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Kamden James Cunningham. Kamden was born at 12:55 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott...

The Fort Scott Community College Men's Basketball team finished first in the Jayhawk Conference in team grade-point average for the spring of 2010. Travis Buck, Nathaniel Ward, Alex Barner and Ramell Taylor were also named to the KJCCC All-Academic team. Taylor, who has since graduated, also met the national requirements for National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American...