Stories from Friday, October 8, 2010

In the 1960s, the National Civil War Centennial Commission designated three battles in Kansas to be of national significance. They were the Massacre at Lawrence on Aug. 21, 1863, the Battle of Baxter Springs on Oct. 6, 1863 and the Battle of Mine Creek on Oct. 25, 1864. Therefore, for the balance of October this and following columns will address an aspect of the Battles of Baxter Springs, Mine Creek and related engagements...

Our school district's recent inservice dealt with "Love and Logic," the strategy of disciplining students with dignity. Following the seminar, many of us agreed it should be a mandatory parenting class for everyone whose children are being educated in our district, but some of us admitted we need to practice it in our own homes, too. ...

Allen F. Smith, 87, passed away suddenly at his home in Girard, Kan., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. Allen was born July 3, 1923 in rural Pittsburg, the son of Oscar and Myrtle (Horn) Smith. Allen married Frances (Bennett) Smith on May 11, 1947 in rural McCune. They enjoyed 63 wonderful years of marriage together...

Dorothea L. Weitzel, 82, of Parsons, died at 2:18 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010 at Labette Health in Parsons, Kan. Mrs. Weitzel was born May 29, 1928, at Girard, Kan., the daughter of Roy and Sylvia Smith Keeney. Dorthea was a homemaker and also worked at Key Clothing and Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott and several area nursing homes...

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's cross country team took part in the Independence Invitational here Thursday evening. In the boys' varsity division, Robert Sellers completed the 5,000 meters in 19 minutes, 4.83 seconds to finish 12th in the field of 71. Keenan Gregory was 13th in 19:05.57. Northeast's Austin Bogina, son of FSHS head coach Tracey Bogina, was the winner in 17:07.73...

COLUMBUS, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's volleyball team split its matches at a Southeast Kansas League triangular here Thursday night. The Tigers defeated Columbus in two games but fell to league leader Pittsburg in three. The results here and other league matches Thursday night now have the Tigers tied for fourth place with Parsons in the SEK. ...

UNIONTOWN, Kan. -- Although the Eagles lost, Uniontown head coach Chad Stroud was proud of the effort his team put forth in a 41-21 defeat to Kansas City Christ Prep Academy here Friday night. "We had not hung in and competed against good competition yet this year," Stroud said. "Christ Prep is a good ball club and very athletic. There were times we felt we had them stopped, then they would bust a long play. Their athletic ability was too much for us to contain, especially as the game wore on...

FORT SCOTT -- Pittsburg's defense stepped up twice in the final three minutes Friday night and held off Fort Scott High in Southeast Kansas League play, 26-20, at Frary Field. Fort Scott's defense gave the Tigers a chance to steal victory when they stopped Pittsburg for a 5-yard gain on fourth-and-6 with just under 7 minutes to go. Fort Scott needed to drive 95 yards to win and got started with a 10-yard run by Jason Thorpe on the first play of the drive...