Stories from Saturday, June 18, 2011

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Every year, Wayne Nickl can be counted on to plant a garden chock-full of seasonal vegetables. But the Fort Scott resident doesn't do it the conventional way -- he uses a power chair. Nickl has had the Hoveround for almost 11 years, his daughter Deanna Olsen said. With it, he not only gardens -- with a Rototiller, but mows his own yard. He has gardened "forever, I guess."...

UNIONTOWN -- A long-standing community Fourth of July celebration is returning for a sixth year. The popular annual event, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 3, at the Uniontown City Park, includes food and refreshments, games and activities for youth, and concludes with a nighttime fireworks display that typically lasts more than half an hour. Union State Bank sponsors the event each year...

Today (June 18), the Nevada Housing Authority will host a Father/Child Fun Day in the Park from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Walton Park in Nevada. There will be fishing for fathers and children. Participants should bring their own poles if they have them and bait. ...

Rural Bourbon County resident Marci Williams walks with a smile on her face Friday evening during the Fort Scott Relay for Life event. Organizers said 170 people signed up as teams prior to Friday night and 200-300 community members attended on their own. For more on the annual event, see Tuesday's edition of The Fort Scott Tribune...

In the early morning hours of Friday, June 17, the graffiti vandals that have been spray painting buildings and other structures in Nevada for some time got caught on video while tagging the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center. The recent spate of graffiti in the city has been something the Nevada Police Department decided to take a much closer look at about six weeks ago...

Brent Edward Detwiler, D.C., 33, of Owensboro, Ky., formerly of El Dorado Springs, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, in Owensboro. He was born on Sept. 6, 1977, in St. Louis, Mo. Brent was a Doctor of Chiropractic with Stallings Chiropractic. ...

Keith Eugene Ayers, 77, Nevada, passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 13, 1933, in Nevada, to Oren Dale Ayers and Zola Mae Clark Ayers. He married R. Beverly Stephens on April 12, 1973, in Nevada, and she survives of the home...

Deborah Sue Clements, 46, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday, June 17, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott. Services will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott.

FORT SCOTT -- The Fort Scott Hurricanes hosted a dual against the Coffeyville swim club in a Southeast Kansas Swimming League dual at the Fort Scott City Pool Wednesday night. Results were as follows: 100-YARD MIXED MEDLEY RELAY 6-and-under 1. Ellie Smith, Ashley Smith, Eli Williams, Alyssa Smith, 2:42.01; 3. Annelise Hall, Rylan Mason, Spencer Goldston, Keleb Bailey, 4:11.85...

Once again, some of the world's best marathon bicyclists will pass through Fort Scott and Nevada as the 30th Annual Race Across America (RAAM) is underway. There are several divisions for men and women, solo riders and relay teams. Solo women and men in the over-60 division left the starting line at Oceanside, Calif., Tuesday. Solo men left Wednesday while relay teams will leave this morning...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Since his retirement in 2003, Don Miller has not quit teaching. But these days, his instruction takes place far from a classroom. In 2003, Miller took over a summer grounds crew for the city of Fort Scott previously run by another retired teacher, Gary Billions. Having undergone a significant heart surgery, Billions was unable to continue and Miller was happy to take over...