Stories from Friday, June 29, 2012

On the second Sunday in July 1987, Kevin and Cindy Moyers made their way to Fort Scott for Kevin to begin a new job as senior minister at Community Christian Church. Kevin, born and raised near St. Louis, had been working for several years as an associate pastor at Tyro Christian Church between Coffeyville and Caney, Kan...

The day before Joseph M. Scriven's wedding, his fiancé drowned. Grieving, he sailed from his home in Ireland to Canada where he found work as a teacher. He fell in love again and became engaged, but this time his fiancé became ill and died before they could wed...

One might think the very title of this column would refer to a battle in Missouri because the phrase "exterminating the rebels" was often used by Union officers as one of their goals. However, this column describes the Battle of Locust Grove, Indian Territory, which occurred on July 3, 1862, in which Union and Confederate "Indians" were among the troops fighting against each other. ...

John Valentine Neff, 92, of St. Marys, Ga., passed away Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick, Ga. Memorial services and inurnment will be held at a later date. Allison Memorial Chapel of St. Marys, Ga., is in charge of arrangements...

Brent Lee Cagle, 27, Garland, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office at 6:24 p.m. Wednesday for burglary. He is still being held at this time with no bond. Samantha Lynn Shadden, 35, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Fort Scott Police Department at 10:04 p.m. Wednesday for disorderly conduct and obstructing the legal process. She is currently being held with no bond...

Gunn Park and the Fort Scott Recreation Commission will host Freedom Fest on Saturday in observance of July 4th. The eighth annual 5K Sam's Walk or Run, a fishing derby and mud volleyball tournament are the events in store for participants. Registration for the walk/run starts at 7:30 a.m. at Shelter House No. 3 and the trek begins at 8 a.m. through the park. The event is for men and women of all ages. Cost is $10 for pre-registration and $15 on race day. Medals go to the top 10 finishers...

With the primary election coming up Aug. 7, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce wants to help voters learn more about the candidates running for local, state and federal offices. A Candidates Forum will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, July 31, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center auditorium on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton...

From hospitals to candidates for -- and members of -- Congress Thursday's reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on President Obama's health care plan was mixed. U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, both Kansas Republicans, were disappointed in the justices' ruling that upheld the controversial law. Meanwhile, Mercy Health System, which has a hospital in Fort Scott, said the ruling validates what the health care provider has been doing all along...

Fort Scott Community College employees will start noticing an increase in their paychecks beginning July 1, after receiving no incentives last year. The raise is the result of a collective bargaining agreement between the college's Board of Trustees and Fort Scott College Association of Professional Employees, or FS-CAPE, the group representing the faculty...