Stories from Thursday, April 28, 2011

Jacquelin and Clayton Morrison and daughter Reagan Lynn of Mound City, Kan., are pleased to announce the birth of their son and brother, Miles Patrick Morrison. He was born at 1:21 p.m. on Jan. 11 at Mercy Health Center and weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces...

Jenny (Bloomfield) and Ryan Sciara and sister Lola Isabelle are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Luca Giani Sciara. Luca was born at 9:45 a.m. on April 9, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. She weighed 7 pounds and was 19 1/2 inches long...

James David Habjan, 45, 718 W. Eighth St., Pittsburg, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on April 26 at 2:28 p.m. on a Bourbon County warrant and is still being held at this time. Sara Janette Willard, 46, 402 S. Clark, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Fort Scott Police Department on April 27 at 12:03 a.m. for battery and released the same day at 1:16 a.m. on a $500 bond...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Up around Mapleton, people are getting worried because of the frequency of thefts from the farms. Hogs have mysteriously disappeared in the past few days and it is presumed that they have been stolen. Chickens and other kinds of property also sometimes disappear much too quickly to suit the owners. ...

Last week I quoted part of an article published by Daryll E. Ray -- currently the director of the University of Tennessee's Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (APAC) -- along with Harwood D. Schaffer, research assistant professor at that same institution. The conclusion of their comments are included below:...

Brush control is a major problem is eastern Kansas. The major species involved are buckbrush, locust, dogwood, hedge, elm, red cedar, brambles, oaks and sumac. The main objective of brush control is to obtain an acceptable population of woody plants on rangeland to increase or maintain an optimum amount of area available for livestock grazing. ...

Some changes are happening at the One Dollar Shop. Terra Olivas, the new operating partner of the store, located at 209 State St., said the shop now has new hours and merchandise. Every item in the store is priced at either $1 or less. Olivas and her husband, Tommy, became operating partners with the owners of the building on April 16...

Eric Ammons, president/CEO of Mercy Hospital of Independence, has been named to the 2011 class of Leadership Kansas. Ammons is among 40 business, civic and political leaders from across the state who were selected from a pool of approximately 600 nominees to participate in the program...

Some 100 collegiate teams across the nation -- and world -- are finishing their Baja vehicles and making plans to head toward Pittsburg State University for next month's SAE Baja Kansas competition. But one critical element of the event -- judging -- has already begun...

A three-member panel of the Blue Ribbon Commission appointed to review all facets of the Kansas judiciary will conduct two public meetings in Chanute on May 4 to hear concerns and suggestions to improve access and efficiency in the state's court system, a news release said...

Mercy Physician Group will hold its annual sports physical clinics from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. May 4. The sports physical examinations are for students age 10 to 18. Clinics will be held at the Mercy Physician Group Clinic at 403 Woodland Hills Blvd., Fort Scott...

All members of the Fort Scott Scottish Rite, 110 S. Main, Fort Scott, are asked to attend the Regular Stated Meeting and Dinner at 6:30 p.m. May 5. Dinner menu is barbecue beef sandwiches, potato salad, cole slaw, vegetable tray, deviled eggs, cookies, and tea or coffee. Those wishing to attend should RSVP by no later than Wednesday, May 4. Call (620) 223-1330, fax (620) 223-3851, or email fsscottishrite@sbcglobal.net...

Fort Scott Christian Heights Country Store and Auction will be held May 7. It starts with a 5K run/two-mile fun walk at 7:30 a.m. on Margrave Street between Sixth and National. The store, at 1101 S. Barbee St., runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. It includes a giant bakery, homemade ice cream and strawberries, a flea market/garage sale, crafts, furniture and a concession stand...

Mercy Health Center and the Bourbon County Sheriff's Department are partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration for the second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30. This is the first time local agencies have participated in the event, aimed at preventing pill abuse and theft. Hours will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the west parking lot of the old Cigna building, 2801 S. Horton...

In the spot where Clayton Greenhouse once stood is the beginning of a community garden aimed at offering Bourbon County residents easier access to healthier food. A ribbon cutting for the garden is scheduled for (today) April 28, following the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce's weekly coffee, hosted by Medicalodges, 915 Horton St. The coffee starts at 8 a.m...

Nearly 100 immigrants will officially become U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony scheduled to take place next month at Fort Scott National Historic Site. The event, scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, will feature a ceremony led by a federal judge, a proclamation by Fort Scott Mayor Jim Adams, performances by the Fort Scott High School band, choir and orchestra, lunch provided for the new citizens and their families, and other activities. Members of the public can attend...

Local golfers will have to wait a little longer before hitting the links at the Fort Scott municipal golf course. According to Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin, the course will not be open by the May 1 deadline due to recent rainy weather. Martin said the original deadline to get the first nine holes open to the public was a little aggressive, but would have been possible if the weather had cooperated...

ALTAMONT -- Fort Scott High's softball team was swept by Labette County here Tuesday night in a showdown of Southeast Kansas League leaders. The Grizzlies, which retained the lead in the league race, scored an 11-1 win in the opener and took the second game 15-0...

PARSONS -- Thunderstorms in the area forced five matches to be called off but otherwise, Fort Scott High's tennis team managed to get plenty of action at the Parsons tournament here. It was meant to be a 5-team round-robin tournament but the last round could not be played. Also, a No. 1 doubles match was suspended in progress. There are no plans to come back and resume the meet...

IOLA -- Fort Scott High's golfers posted their best team and individual finishes of the season here Tuesday at Iola's Buck Quincy Invitational. Jonathan Allen finished in second place after a scorecard playoff with three other golfers tied at 83. Chanute's Skyler Miner, who shot 42 on the front nine and 41 on the back, was named the winner. Allen (39-44) was placed ahead of Yates Center's Paul Stockebrand (42-41) and Iola's Weston Hines (44-39)...

TOPEKA -- The Executive Board of the Kansas State High School Activities Association has selected Mark A. Lentz, Paola, as Assistant Executive Director effective July 1. Lentz was selected in a national search from a field of 60 candidates and will succeed Rick Bowden, who is retiring from the KSHSAA staff June 30, after 18 years of service...

Fort Scott High's varsity teams won 5 events and 26 total medals at the Fort Scott Relays at Frary Field Tuesday evening. The meet -- which became a combined varsity/junior varsity event after rain forced the postponement of the varsity met Thursday and Monday -- was halted with about five events remaining when lightning approached the area. The results of the meets are final as there will not be an attempt to hold the events that were called off...