Stories from Thursday, October 6, 2011

Oklahoma State University in Stillwater has announced its summer 2011 graduates. Among the 837 students who were awarded degrees was Rachel L. Martin of Redfield. Martin received a master's in agriculture. OSU has more than 35,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses. Martin was one of 269 out-of-state summer graduates...

Principal Terry Chance of Fort Scott Christian Heights announced Wednesday that Theresa Schafer has been named a Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship program. A letter of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (MNMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to this scholastically talented senior...

Scottie Allen Howland, 30, 144 SW 15th, Apt. 2, Topeka, Kan., was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on Oct. 4 at 3:25 p.m. on a Bourbon County warrant for driving under the influence and is still being held. Duain Howard LaFarge, 46, 2436 Soldier Rd., Fort Scott, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on Oct. 4, at 9:45 a.m. for criminal damage to property and battery and is still being held...

Stephanie Sledge-Rider and Jeremiah Rider, Arma, Kan., along with sibling Jayden, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister Serena Elizabeth Rider on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at 8:16 a.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott, Kan. Serena weighed 8 pounds...

Alisha Karleskint and Dustin Cooney, Fort Scott, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Ella Jeanne Cooney on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at 1:20 p.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott, Kan. Ella weighed 6 pounds, 7.5 ounces. Maternal grandparents are Anita and Kenny Karleskint, Fort Scott...

Donald Lee Land, 85, of Springfield, Mo., went to be with the Lord Oct. 4, 2011, in Mercy Villa Nursing Home. Don was born Oct. 22, 1925, in Fort Scott, Kan., son of the late Basil and Cora Land. He served in the United States Navy during World War II as a gunman aboard the U.S.S. Hudson, serving his country honorably. He lost his brother Basil (Sonny) Land during the war and would want to honor the sacrifice of his brother and the other brave men lost during the war...

Doris Ann Barnes Brown Howell, 97, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., spent her life looking forward to new experiences. On Oct. 4, 2011, she began enjoying yet another new experience. She went to a place that had been prepared for her by her Savior Jesus Christ...

A desirable soil is the most important aspect of a garden. Time spent fertilizing, watering and tending plants is necessary, but this time is almost a waste if the soil you're working with is not in good condition. Fall is an excellent time to step back and analyze how well your garden performed during the summer and to make improvements to the soil...

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson announced last week that FSA has significantly reduced the number of civil rights complaints in fiscal year 2010 to the lowest level in the agency's history, while increasing the number of loans and dollar amount obligated to programs dedicated to minority and women farmers for fiscal year 2011...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) The county officials from this city spent yesterday at the Uniontown fair. They returned last night and were back in their offices today. The Brick Plant manager, D.P. Thomas, said today that the company soon will have plenty of brick for the South Main Street improvement. All of the concreting has been completed and that the laying of brick on a part of the street is all that remains...

The Fort Scott Community College Rodeo Team competed at a college rodeo in Pratt last weekend. The student-athletes performed well with the men's team finishing in first place and the women's team getting fourth. Yance Day won the long round in bareback riding and A.J. Yocham won the short round. Yance finished by winning the average and Yocham ended in third place. David King won a round in bull riding. Jade Blackwell finished third in saddle bronc riding...

Kansas students, grades 8 to 12, can compete for a cash prize in the annual essay contest, "Kansas! Say It Above a Whisper." Essays must be limited to 250 words (about one double-spaced typewritten page) and must be submitted electronically by e-mail no later than Nov. 18...

USD 234 will hold preschool screenings for children up to the age of 5 on Oct. 7. Children may have vision, hearing, speech/communication, motor skills, socialization skills and general development screened. The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identify children with possible developmental delays who may need special education preschool and/or related services...

The first design phase of the Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity, part of a large-scale transformation, was recently completed with the installation of a number of 72-inch long friezes of the famous photographer's images around the top of the walls at the museum...

The Fort Scott Police Department recently offered advice local residents can use to help avoid becoming the victim of a scam. Any business, organization or charity that is soliciting or advertising any service door-to-door within the city limits must be registered with the city and obtain a permit. They are also required to have a background to sell products or services door-to-door, FSPD Lt. Shaun West said...

Those owing real property tax dating back to 2006 and 2007 will be at risk of losing their property as Bourbon County will be holding a delinquent tax sale in February. Bourbon County Commission Chairman J.W. "Jingles" Endicott said the decision to have a tax sale has been made and the earliest it can be held is February. ...

UNIONTOWN -- Uniontown's volleyball team stepped up on "Dig Pink" night here Tuesday, picking up fairly easy sweeps of Pleasanton and Crest in Three Rivers League play. The Eagles (8-1 TRL, 20-5 overall) swept Pleasanton, 25-7, 25-9. Hayden Rathbun was credited with 7 kills, Ashlie Nietfeld with 6 and Tayler Shook with 10 assists...

Local marksmen Jacob Pemberton and Katie Brown of Fort Scott each won medals in the small bore rifle event at the Kansas 4-H Fall Shooting Sports State Match held Saturday in Topeka. The outdoor small-bore .22 rifle event combines shooting paper targets at 50 yards from prone, standing, and kneeling positions along with shooting silhouette animal targets from a standing position at 40, 60, 77 and 100 yards...

Members of the Fort Scott High School student body are organizing a caravan to Pittsburg for tonight's football game against the Purple Dragons. Tiger fans are invited to follow the pep bus to to Pittsburg for the 7 p.m. contest between the Southeast Kansas League leaders...