Stories from Tuesday, March 8, 2011

PITTSBURG -- Fort Scott's softball and baseball teams were picked for high finishes at the first Southeast Kansas League Baseball and Softball Media Conference here Monday. League media conferences have been a staple in the area for about a decade but baseball and softball had previously never had one...

Each March, the American Dietetic Association sponsors National Nutrition Month. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits. This year's theme is Eat Right with Color. Consumers are encouraged to include a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and dairy on their plates every day...

I know I have written about our annual Cabin Fever Breakaway at church, but we had more fun than a barrel of monkeys and absolutely a fun-drenched day. I just don't know how the committee can pack so many things into one day. It is an annual event and this is their 17th year, I have only missed two. Here is a blow by blow description...

The Feb. 28 meeting of the Daughters of the Nile was held at the Scottish Rite Temple prior to the Potentate and Divan's visit. A report was heard from the Officer Nominating Committee chaired by Clara Schwartz. Nominated were Nancy Ayers, president; Pam Lyons, vice president; Joyce Gobl, secretary and Jackie Warren, treasurer...

Lawrence Dee Bolling, age 70, resident of Fort Scott, died Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Mercy Health Center. He was born Sept. 13, 1940, in Fort Scott, the son of Byron Francis Bolling and Lucille Julia Judy Bolling. He graduated from Fort Scott High School. He then graduated from Pittsburg State with a business degree...

Rev. Clarence Thornton Jr., 89, of Findlay, passed away on Monday, March 7, 2011 at his residence. Clarence was born on Oct. 18, 1921 to Clarence and Maude (Pryor) Thornton Sr. Clarence was a U.S. Army Veteran who served in the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. ...

Richard Scott Hockett, 81, Hutchinson, died March 6, 2011 at the Mennonite Friendship Manor in South Hutchinson. He was born in Bronson, Kan., to Ray and Jessie Hockett. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in the military police...

SAYERS -- Lacey R. DeMott and Dean Sayers, Fort Scott, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Harrison Dean Sayers. Harrison was born at 9:57 a.m., Feb. 23, 2011, at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He weighed 7 pounds, 8 1/2 ounces at birth...

Michael Wade "Mike" Burk, 54, of Mapleton, Kan., died Sunday, March 6, 2011 at his home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel, Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Tuesday at the Chapel...

The Bourbon County Arts Council will host the Chamber Coffee at 8 a.m. Thursday at Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main St. An item in the weekend Herald-Tribune gave an incorrect location for the coffee. The exhibit will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, also at the Scottish Rite Temple. There is no admission charge...

Representatives from the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University will be in Fort Scott from 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, March 31 for free individual counseling sessions. The sessions will be held in the Greyhound Room of the Administration Building at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. Contact the KSBDC at PSU, (620) 235-4921 for future dates and times...

With Kansas' budget facing a shortfall this year and next, state officials are looking for virtually any way to save money. Before lawmakers can tackle the $500 million shortfall projected in 2012, they have to plug a $35-$40 million deficit for 2011, state Sen. Bob Marshall, R-Fort Scott, told those attending a legislative update Saturday...

The community will once again have a chance to get questions answered and learn more about the proposed half-cent sales tax that would go toward funding a new swimming pool and renovation of Buck Run Community Center. The Community Health and Wellness Committee will host its second community conversation today on the second floor of the East Side Fire Station No. ...

Handling potential future state budget cuts was discussed at Monday's USD 234 Board of Education meeting. During the meeting, the board approved the employment of all current district administrators for next year, although the salaries of those administrators have not yet been set. Some board members expressed concern about being able to retain all of those positions next year, although no administrative job was singled out...

For Southeast Kansas, springtime bad weather comes as no surprise, however, the National Weather Service along with several other national, state, and local agencies are promoting March 7-11 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. As part of the week's activities, Bourbon County will participate in a statewide tornado drill at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. According to the NWS, every school, citizen and business is encouraged to take part in the drill by practicing seeking secure, safe shelter from a tornado...

Fort Scott Community College's softball doubleheader versus Kansas City Kansas, scheduled for Tuesday at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex, has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday.

Betty Lou Walker, age 81, resident of Fort Scott, died Saturday, March 5, 2011, at Mercy Health Center. She was born May 27, 1929, in Devon, the daughter of Sewell Alvin Sipe and Gladys Commons Sipe. Betty married John L. Walker on Feb. 10, 1946, in Fort Scott...

Herman Walter Newberry, age 99, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Sunday, March 6, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He was born Sept. 12, 1911, in Fort Scott, the son of Charles N. Newberry and Julia Wilson Newberry. He graduated from Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Junior College and later received a lifetime teaching degree from Pittsburg State University...

Vivian Louise Lancaster, 83, of Fort Scott, died at her home, Monday morning, March 7, 2011. Funeral arrangements for Vivian Lancaster are incomplete and will be announced later by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

FOWLER -- Kitty and Duain Fowler, Fort Scott, and big sister Xandria Nacole, are proud to announce the birth of their son and baby brother, Xaviar Malcolm Fowler. He was born at 3:24 a.m., Feb. 12, 2011 at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He weighed 8 pounds, 5.5 ounces at birth...