Stories from Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Fort Scott High School Basketball Booster Club will host a youth basketball tournament for boys and girls in grades 4, 5 and 6 on the weekend of Jan. 12-13. The entry fee is $125 per team. Each team is guaranteed three games. The field will be limited to eight teams per division with medals awarded to the top two in each division...

Fort Scott High School's junior varsity girls' and boys' basketball teams each won their divisions of the FSHS junior varsity tournament, held Thursday and Saturday. Tiger boys defeated Frontenac, 57-35, Thursday night. They beat Iola, 57-19, Saturday morning and clinched the title with a 50-33 victory over Chanute to finish the round-robin tournament with a 3-0 record...

SALINA -- Fort Scott Community College's basketball teams dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader with Brown Mackie here Saturday afternoon. Fort Scott's men are now tied for the top seed in Region VI Division II post-season seeding with the Lions, who are ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II poll. Brown Mackie's 88-72 victory pulled it into a tie with the Greyhounds at 2-1. BMC is 10-3 overall while Fort Scott is 6-5...

EUDORA -- Seniors Tyler Sharp and John Metcalf earned the 100th victories of their high-school wrestling careers here over the weekend at the Eudora Tournament of Champions. Sharp's 100th win came during pool wrestling at 120 pounds on Friday when he pinned Sky Summers of Lansing in his third match of the day...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Tomorrow is Dec. 12, and the year is 1912. December is the 12th month, so people who abbreviate the dates will be able to write 12-12-12. This has been possible for the last 12 years. And before that, there were 88 years when it was impossible to do so and after tomorrow it will be 88 more years before it will be possible again. ...

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government." -- Thomas Jefferson Last month in my column, I discussed the "checks and balances" in our system. In other words, the need to assure that we are accountable to the general public who as taxpayers have expectations that the money they pay in taxes is managed appropriately, and I inadvertently left one of the most integral parts in the oversight of the community developmental disability organizations (CDDOs); the Community Council.. ...

Recent changes in school lunch menus required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act are generating discussion in Kansas' and the nation's school districts. "The 2012 changes in the menus are intended to address concerns about children's nutrition, health and obesity that can lead to chronic diseases," said Sandy Procter, K-State Research and Extension nutrition specialist, and state coordinator for the U.S. ...

This was a story sent to me email. I found it quite interesting and thought you all might enjoy it too. TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER 1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? ANSWER: Twenty-one steps. It alludes to the 21 gun salute which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary...

Jack Parker Meyers, 19, Topeka, was arrested at 3:14 p.m. Wednesday on a Bourbon County warrant for driving while suspended and maximum speed limits. He is still being held at this time with a surety bond of $2,500. Vincent Allen Shaffer, 50, Fort Scott, was arrested by the Fort Scott Police Department at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday on a Bourbon County warrant for nonsupport of a child. He posted a $500 cash bond and was released at 5:22 p.m. the same day...

Edward Lee Umphenour, age 90, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Sunday Dec. 9, 2012, at Prescott Country View. He was born on July 27, 1922 at Pleasanton, the son of Walter and Anna Belle Ralph Umphenour. He was a Pleasanton High School Class of 1941 graduate. He married Katherine Dunavan on Dec. 24, 1942. She preceded him in death on Dec. 8, 2005...

Genevieve E. Rose, 90, former St. Joseph Hospital insurance clerk, died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. Rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Downing and Lahey Mortuary East, Wichita. The funeral mass will be held Friday, Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. All Saints Catholic Church...

Mary Kathryn "Kitty" Larsen, age 80, resident of rural Fort Scott, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at her home. She was born May 20, 1932, in Uniontown, Kan., the daughter of Edmond Riley Brown and Deloris McGuire Brown. She graduated from Fort Scott High School in the class of 1948. She was retired as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell. She was a member of the First Baptist Church...

Margie B. Dennis, age 87, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, at the Medicalodges of Fort Scott. She was born Dec. 7, 1925, in Fulton, Kan., the daughter of Willis McNeil and Georgia Bishop McNeil. She married Hollie LaVerne "Kid" Dennis on Jan. 3, 1946, in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death on Dec. 1, 2010...

Amanda Colleen Hixon, 12/3/2012, Driving While Suspended, $271.50, No Proof of Liability Ins., $471.50, No Tag, $111.50 Andrew Mitchell Lee, 12/3/2012, Expired Tag, $111.50 Zoe Miranda Karczewski, 12/3/2012, Overtaking & Passing School Bus, $171.50 Hanna M. Hill, 12/3/2012, Dog Running at Large, $150.00...

Shawn and Christina Young, and siblings Natalie and Makayla, Fort Scott, are proud to announce the birth of their son and brother, Jacob Owen Young, at 8:29 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. He weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces at birth...

The Fort Scott High School drama department improv troupe will be performing this Thursday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium as a benefit for Fort Scott Middle School student Hunter Hawley. Hunter was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, and after doctoring at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, was diagnosed cancer-free two years later. ...

The Bourbon County Courthouse and transfer station will be closed from 11:45-1:15 on Dec. 14 so employees may attend a Christmas dinner. Officials apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott Auxiliary will host a $6 sale as a fundraiser Thursday and Friday. Hours Thursday are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. at the hospital, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. The event will feature more than 1,000 styles of fashion accessories. The sale benefits special needs or projects at Mercy Fort Scott Hospital and provides scholarships for students. The public is welcome...

Tribune Staff Report Memorial Hall was filled to capacity with fans of the reality show "Duck Dynasty" Sunday night. Some showed up as early as 9:34 a.m. to ensure they got a seat. Doors opened for the appearance of Jase Robertson, also of Duck Commander fame, at 6:30 p.m...

In introducing Jase Robertson, his friend and "Duck Dynasty" cast member, Washington Nationals first baseman and Fort Scottian Adam LaRoche spoke about the importance of faith. LaRoche recounted the story of his friend, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, who once sent an email to his entire contacts list apologizing for not sharing his Christianity with them...

On a weekend that was packed with activities for all ages and tastes, organizers of the annual Homes for the Holidays tours said Monday were pleased with the outcome of this year's event. Activities this past weekend that were part of the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County's biggest fundraiser of the year included tours of homes decorated for Christmas, shopping, music, crafts and food...

Whether it be touring the candlelit grounds of an historic military post, twirling to a waltz in period costume, or slipping a bug in Santa's ear for just the right present, Fort Scottians had plenty of options to choose from this past weekend as the city was full of holiday-themed events for young and old alike...

The current condition of many USD 234 facilities was the main topic at Monday night's regular meeting, prompting discussion between board members on whether it was time to possibly start looking into improvements. The discussion came on the heels of a bond refinancing presentation by Dustin Avey, of Piper Jaffray & Co., who implied there is a clock running on refinancing existing bonds, because of anticipated legislative action that could affect state aid in paying back bonds, including the possibility that those actions might be considered retroactively. ...