Stories from Thursday, August 11, 2011

Howard Ray Tripp, 84, of Pleasanton, Kan., died Wednesday, August 10, 2011, at the Assisted Life Styles Home in Olathe, Kan. He was born April 10, 1927, in Lawrence County, Tennessee, the son of William Tripp and Lena Smith Tripp. He served with the United States Navy during World War II. ...

MOUND CITY -- One of the top-ranked rodeo clowns in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) will be the featured entertainment at the 2011 Linn County Fair Rodeo, Aug. 12 and 13. John Harrison, Soper, Okla., has been selected three times to perform at the Wrangler National Final Rodeo, Las Vegas, Nev...

DEERFIELD, Mo. -- A popular area restaurant located near the Kansas-Missouri line is under new management. The Trailblazer Steakhouse, just off U.S. Highway 54 about eight miles east of Fort Scott, is now being managed by Deerfield resident Lisa Stinnett, who began running the business July 1. Her small staff includes her daughter, Heather, a student at Fort Scott High School, cook Charlotte Michael, and other part-time help...

We in America evidently love to watch court proceedings on television. The Casey Anthony trial and analysis was on cable TV 24 hours a day. And of course while flipping through channels you will no doubt see some court room themed reality shows with the following judges presiding: Judge Mathis, Judge Judy, or Judge Joe Brown. And let's not overlook The People's Court. We seem to gravitate to these hearings like moths to a flame...

During the annual acreage reporting period, our office enjoyed visits from many county farmers and ranchers in order to get the year's crop and land uses reported for USDA program purposes. The deadline was Aug. 1, so our office staff was especially busy during the month of July with this activity...

The relentless drought that has settled over much of Kansas has caused a lack of standing forage and winter feeding materials. Producers need to look closely at their cow herds; the decision may have already been made for some to cull heavier than normal. Many folks have been forced to liquidate their herds, so culling should be taken very seriously to maintain resources which allow the keeping of the herd...

The Hemphill Family and Friends Band will be the featured performers for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Fort Scott Community College cafeteria, 2108 S. Horton. The band has performed music throughout the four-state area for many years. This Friday's performance will feature some of the band's favorite music including fiddle tunes, western swing, and country music. The band will play some gospel music and maybe a few pieces of music from the 1950s...

A friendly competition organized last year by the Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross is returning with the goal of getting more people to donate blood. The Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, a contest between local law enforcement and fire personnel, is scheduled to take place from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Ave...

Democrats must rebuild the infrastructure of the party and take back the Kansas legislature, a top official said this week. Speaking before more than 50 people at a Bourbon County Democratic Party meeting Tuesday, State Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon said one of the reasons for the current Republican majority in the state legislature is that Democrats didn't get out and vote. ...

After coming to a standstill in budget discussions, Bourbon County Commissioners decided to publish the 2012 proposed budget although they remain dissatisfied with the mill levy increase. The county's proposal will be published with a 4.71 mill increase to its $9.68 million budget, an increase with which the commissioners expressed great displeasure...

Hope Chapel Assembly of God, U.S. 54 between Moran and Bronson, will conduct a USDA commodities distribution on Aug. 13. Food items will be given out from 1-2 p.m. at the Hope Chapel Assembly of God Blessing Center. This is for low-income households of the Moran area. Those attending should bring some identification with them. There is a limited supply of food items, so it will be given out on a first come, first served basis...