Stories from Tuesday, April 19, 2011

100 YEARS AGO (1911) It is said on good authority that W.C. Gunn, who donated the old Fern Lake Park, under the new name of Gunn Park to the city, is to give $5,000 more for improvements on the property. A boat house and a pavilion are being considered. ...

To the Editor: I wish to complain. I have been a longtime subscriber of the Tribune. In the past, I could the paper from cover to cover in about 15 minutes. Now it takes me an hour to read the many interesting articles and the pictures. You and your dedicated staff of reporters are doing an excellent job. Keep up the good work...

Walter Eugene Johnston, 80 years old, a Grove, Okla., resident, passed away Saturday, April 16, 2011, following an extended illness. Walter was born on July 16, 1930, in Marion County, Kansas to Clark and Martha (Schlotthauer) Johnston. Walter married Anna Marie May on Oct. ...

Joan Lee Stark, 77, of Pleasanton, Kan., died Sunday, April 17, 2011, at her home. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 21, 2011, at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel, Pleasanton. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Lung Association or American Heart Association...

WERTH -- Ryan and Sara Werth of Prairie Village, Kan., are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Mary Katherine Werth, at 3:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She weighed 6 pounds, 12 ozs. at birth. She joins an older sister, Cecilia Ann...

SWAIM -- Aaron and Allison Swaim of Lawrence and older brother Porter are pleased to announce the birth of their son and brother, Griffin Charles Swaim, at 12:16 p.m., Saturday, April 2, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee, Kans. Griffin weighed 9 pounds, 7 ozs. at birth. Maternal grandparents are Doug and Ginger Wehner of Lawrence, Kan. Paternal grandparents are Larry and Charlotte Swaim of Fort Scott...

HOLT -- Adam and Angela Holt of Parkville, Mo., are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Daniel Spencer Holt, at 12:58 p.m., Thursday, April 14, at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. Daniel weighed 9 pounds, 1 oz. at birth and was 19 1/2 inches long...

The Bronson Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 65 met Wednesday evening, April 13, with 17 members present. The meeting opened with Worthy Matron Elsie Weast and Worthy Patron Glenn Smith in the East. After a short recess, officers were installed. ...

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office has taken four theft reports this week after receiving calls from local Realtors. Thieves are stealing the entire air conditioning units from vacant houses that are for sale, a news release said. It is presumed that the thefts are for the purpose of stealing the copper from the air conditioners' condensing units and selling it for scrap, the release said...

The next meeting of the Fort Scott Low Vision Support Group will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton. There is no charge to attend, and an informative program will be presented. Complimentary light refreshments will be provided by Beckye Parker with Talking Books...

Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long announced that members of the Bourbon County Commission will be attending a meeting of commissioners and highway administrators in Chanute this Thursday, April 21, at the Kansas Department of Transportation Building, 411 W. 14th St...

Mae Watt's great-grandson of Liberty, Mo., plays baseball for Liberty Bombers. His team won the Blue Valley Midwest Regional tournament. Dawson is a pitcher for the team and also plays the outfield. Angela Redd and daughters Kristen and Bethany, Pittsburg, had a dinner to honor Forrest Berkey on his 68th birthday. ...

Today I'm sharing some tidbits of information which have come across my desk. I hope you find some information which will help you put healthy meals on your table. Asparagus, thick or thin? It's a sure sign of spring -- fresh asparagus from the garden. Some spears are thick and some are thin, and both can be tender. Thick spears are a result of older plants and the variety of asparagus...

About 1,520 members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of American organization, advisers and guests gathered for the 65th Annual State Leadership Conference April 3-5 at Century II Convention Center in Wichita. Over the past 65 years, FCCLA has undergone many changes. The student-led organization focuses on the family and bettering both community and individual life. The theme for this year's conference was "The Good, The Bad and The Ultimate."...

The city will hold a health fair for employees and their families from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. today (April 19) at Buck Run Community Center. The Take Charge Challenge will also take part. Take Charge Challenge, of which Fort Scott is a part, is a competition among 16 cities -- five in Southeast Kansas -- to see who can achieve the greatest reduction in residential and small business energy use...

Students, parents and Fort Scott High School administrators and staff attended the 23rd annual Honors Banquet last Thursday at the school. The dinner, provided by Chicken Mary's and Best Catering, was held in the high school commons. Under the direction of Vanessa Poyner, Fort Scott Community College cheer and dance team members attended the tables...

Employees of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Fort Scott Presbyterian Village's parent company, will focus on the organization's mission while simultaneously celebrating Founder's Day today (April 19). The 1,900 professionals in 17 communities will sign pledge boards signifying a re-dedication of their support for PMMA's core values of respect, dignity and independence. This is PMMA's first systemwide observance of Founder's Day since the company began in 1949...

At the sound of a police siren, some 200 pairs of feet took off running in search of coveted, colorful Easter eggs, hidden in the grass at Gunn Park on Saturday. Organized by the Kiwanis Club, President Bob Eckles said the group, with help from Key Club members, spent this past Thursday stuffing eggs for several hours. The Key Club is Kiwanis' program for high school youngsters...

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees received updates on several current and proposed campus projects during their regular meeting Monday. Last fall, the board decided to relocate its construction trades and agriculture programs to the former National Guard Armory building, purchased from the city last year. ...

PITTSBURG -- With the Independence meet rained out Friday, Fort Scott High School track coaches Don Epps and Tracey Bogina took a few of their athletes to the Pittsburg State University high school meet and came away with six medals. The Gorilla Relays included schools from Oklahoma and Missouri, some from Wichita, Springfield and suburban Tulsa and from as large as Class 6A to as small as MIssouri Class 1. Some events had over 30 entrants...

Three players scored more than 20 points in leading the Maroon boys over the White team, 95-85, at the First Annual Pechone Stepps All-Star Games at Arnold Arena Sunday afternoon. Fort Scott Community College had six signees in the girls' game but a volleyball signee was the Most Valuable Player as the Black squad defeated the White, 85-51...