Stories from Saturday, February 4, 2012

Iris Fern Swan, 86, Nevada, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at her residence, following a lengthy illness. She was born Jan. 1, 1926, in Nevada, to Douglas Clyde Williams and Glady Almetta Peterson Williams. She was married in 1945 to Leo "Pete" Hord and he preceded her in death in 1971. She then married Neale Swan on June 29, 1973, in Nevada, and he survives of the home...

Jack Orville McElwain, 82, Nevada, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, at Christian Health Care in Nevada. He was born June 26, 1929, in Garland, Kan., to Miles Orville McElwain and Alta (Banghart) McElwain. He married Pat Crawford on May 3, 1953, and she survives of the home...

Barney W. Kohlenberger, 80, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, at Fort Scott Manor. He was born Oct. 21, 1931, in Dupo, Ill., the son of Henry and Grace Kohlenberger. He worked for the Steel Union Workers of St. Louis, Mo. His wife, Alma Frances Kohlenberger, preceded him in death in 1991. In his earlier years he greatly enjoyed gardening and spending time outdoors...

Mary Esther Ham, 94, resident of Nashville, Tenn., died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in Nashville. Local services will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott.

Robert Douglas "Doug" Ingram, 51, a resident of rural Bronson, Kan., died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at his home. Funeral services for Doug Ingram will be announced by the Cheney Witt Bronson Chapel.

Monte Pollock, 48, of Fort Scott, died early Thursday, Feb. 3, 2012, at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Before Fort Scott High School junior Johnathan Stark began working with William James Schafer at Mercy Health Center, he had no idea what pastoral services were. Now he does and he's glad of it. Stark got the chance through his on-the-job training teacher Lisa Ward. "She really encouraged me because she had a feeling I'd enjoy getting to know William James," Stark said, and he has...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will recognize several area business people and firms during the chamber's annual dinner and awards celebration next week. The event, set to take place Thursday at River Room Events, 3 W. Oak St., will include a social and silent auction from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with dinner and an awards ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guest speaker is Fred White, director of broadcast services and alumni for the Kansas City Royals...

BRONAUGH -- The Missouri Association of Rural Education has chosen two Bronaugh educators, Superintendent Patricia Phillips and kindergarten teacher Julie Fortner, to receive its "Administrator of the Year" and "Educator of the Year" awards at MARE's Annual Meeting Feb. 24 at the Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark...

A lightning strike to an electrical pole sparked an approximately hour-long power outage in Nevada on Friday. KCP&L Spokeswoman Kelli Hindes said about 90 customers were affected. Power went out about 3:45 and came back on about 5 p.m. Inclement weather during Friday's rain storm caused the outage. Crews were working as quickly as possible to get it back on, Hindes said...

UNIONTOWN -- Uniontown's teams swept rival Marmaton Valley in a Three Rivers League doubleheader Friday night. Eagle girls won their fourth consecutive game in beating the Wildcats 60-40. Uniontown's boys kept pace with league leader Northeast with a 46-23 win...

FORT SCOTT -- Brenna Olson preserved victory for visiting Chanute by stealing a pass on the inside with under five seconds remaining Friday night as the Blue Comets held off Fort Scott High's girls, 45-42, in Southeast Kansas League play. Chanute (1-2 SEK, 6-9 overall) tried to pull away in the fourth quarter, extending its lead to 34-26 with six minutes to go. But Fort Scott (2-1, 5-10) was able to trade one- and two-point possessions for three-point possessions and make some headway...

FORT SCOTT -- Proving that there are no easy games in the Southeast Kansas League, Chanute, winners of just two games this season coming into Friday night's contest, gave Fort Scott High's boys a tough time before the Tigers finally found some cushion in the fourth quarter of a 68-55 victory...