Stories from Thursday, September 8, 2011

Kansas 4-H members ages 9 and up are eligible to enter projects at the Kansas State Fair, but only eligible after first earning the top award in the project category at the county fair. That means 4-H entries at the fair come with high praise and also means seeing the various projects in 4-H Centennial Hall may inspire others to join 4-H and learn by doing, choosing a new 4-H project (if already involved in 4-H programs) or provide the nudge that is needed to complete a hobby project or try something new.. ...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson reminds producers as we progress through the month of September about upcoming deadlines for disaster assistance. Nelson emphasized that losses must be the result of a weather event occurring on or before Sept. 30...

Lowell Milken Center Director Norm Conard traveled to Poland for 11 days at the end of August to take part in several occassions. Representing "Life in a Jar/the Irena Sendler Project" and the Lowell Milken Center, Conard was in Poland to participate in the award ceremony for Poland's highest award for an educator, the Irena Sendler Award (For Improving the World). According to a release from the Lowell Milken Center, the award is given to the top teacher of Holocaust Education in Poland...

Come and join in the conversation over a cup of coffee and a doughnut, 8 a.m. every Tuesday at the Scottish Rite Center, 110 S. Main in Fort Scott. There is no agenda or predetermined topic; just conversation among friends. You don't have to be a Scottish Rite member or a Mason to participate; everyone is welcome...

TOPEKA -- The Kansas Bankers Association (KBA) has announced The First National Bank of Girard's John Lehman is its chairman of the board of directors for 2011-2012. The Girard banker spent the previous year as the KBA's chairman-elect, and the preceding two years as its treasurer. In his new role, he will serve as one of the lead voices for the Kansas banking industry at the state and national levels, as well as helping to craft educational opportunities for bankers across the state...

Arlene Snow of Mapleton will celebrate her 85th birthday Sept. 17. Those who know Arlene know what a great lady she is. Help celebrate her special day by sending her a card. Her address is 271 No. Bourbon, Mapleton, Kan., 66754.

Melody and Steve Fortenberry (pictured) will be among the musicians scheduled to perform when the Friday Night Concert Series, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division, returns at 7 p.m. Friday at the Heritage Park Pavilion at the corner of First and Main streets. Other performers include David Prickett, Ralph Carlson and his wife, Saundra, Floyd Feezell, and others. There will also be time set aside for an open mic...

Deidra McCullough and Wayne Bright, Pleasanton, Kan., along with sibling Gracee, are pleased to announce the birth of their son and brother Jaxx Lee Edward Bright on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, at 11:18 a.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott. Maternal grandparents are Kim McCullough, Pleasanton, and Danny McCullough, Nevada, Mo. Paternal grandparents are Denese and Charles Bright, Pleasanton...

Jaymie and Patrick Murphy, Walnut Kan., along with siblings McKenzie Kelly and Ryan, are pleased to announce the birth of their son and brother Lane Joseph Murphy on Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, at 9:58 a.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott. Lane weighed 6 pounds, 1.5 ounces...

Kimberly Jo Adams, 37, 1012 Spruce, Bronson, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 6 at 12:01 a.m. on a Bourbon County warrant for worthless checks and a Neosho County warrant for failure to appear and released at 3:11 a.m. the same day on a $249.49 bond...

The 42nd annual Elsmore Rural-Town Day, sponsored by Elsmore Ruritan Club, will be held Saturday. Downtown Elsmore will be the setting for events, beginning around 8 a.m. They include a Marmaton Valley High School FFA petting zoo, arts and crafts booths in the community building, concessions -- including homemade ice cream -- and bake sale items at the fire station across from the community building...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Tomorrow will be circus day in Fort Scott, the Buffalo Bill Wild West and the Pawnee Bill Far East shows, probably the only circus of the season, will be exhibiting in the city. The show will arrive from Pittsburg, where they are showing today. They will exhibit here at Athletic Park, the only place near the city that will allow space for their spacious tents. A capacity of many thousands are covered by canvas...

Registered nurse and certified diabetes educator Alice Helton will facilitate a Diabetes Support Group on Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. in McAuley Room A&B at Mercy Health Center. Julie Pellett, Pharm D., will present information about managing your diabetes with medications...

The Design Review Board will meet at 4 p.m. Sept. 12 at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street. The meeting is open to the public.

Fort Scott Community College will be hosting a memorial for the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. "9/11 A Time of Remembrance and Prayer" will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Room A-128 of Bailey Academic Hall on Friday, Sept. 9. The event will begin with the pledge of allegiance. After the pledge, those in attendance will have a chance to share their thoughts, memories and feelings about Sept. 11...

Westar Energy representatives gave Fort Scott Middle School students a lesson in electrical safety Wednesday. Mike Cooper, Westar Energy design technician, and lineman troubleshooter for Bourbon County Bob Vernon brought Power Town, a portable city fed with miniature working electric lines and transformers, that features people and vehicles. It demonstrates the effects of electricity and how to stay safe around power lines...

Like the song from "Follies," Marilyn Maye is still here. And she's returning to Fort Scott -- the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St., to be exact -- at 8 p.m. Sept. 10. The show is called "With Marilyn Maye, It's a Party." A Wichita native, Maye is a veteran chanteuse, musical theater actor and teacher. ...

The city of Fort Scott is doing its part to help Joplin rebuild its oldest community park. In response to a request made last month by the Joplin Parks and Recreation Department, the city of Fort Scott is donating two water slides, lifeguard stands and pumps from the current municipal pool to Joplin to help the city rebuild Cunningham Park after it was destroyed by a devastating May 22 tornado...

ST. PAUL -- Pleasanton's volleyball team gained a victory over St. Paul in Three Rivers League play here Tuesday night but couldn't keep up their level of play in the following non-league matches. The Blu-Jays defeated St. Paul, 25-18, 24-26, 25-18. They lost to Southern Coffey County, 25-2, 25-16, and Prairie View, 25-16, 25-16...

PARSONS -- Fort Scott High School's junior varsity tennis team finished second in a tournament hosted by Labette County here Tuesday. The Tigers had 9 team points to Pittsburg's 14. The highest-placing entry was the No. 1 doubles team of Jasmine Davis and Aubin Duff, which finished second. ...