Stories from Wednesday, December 26, 2012

TOPEKA -- Kansas crashes have claimed 372 lives through Nov. 30, equivalent to the population of Linwood, Kan., 13 miles east of Lawrence, state agencies say. Four of the 21 people who died on roads in Kansas last month were pedestrians, and one was a bicyclist, according to preliminary information gathered by state officials...

The Uniontown Junior Varsity boys' basketball team has rolled off victories in five of its six games. Coach Jeremy Neville's squad has dispatched all but Humboldt, the second game of the season. Marmaton Valley fell 32-19 behind Tyler Johns' 12 points. Johns was the high-point man again against Erie, netting 11, with help from Ronnie Shadden with 10 in a 47-41 victory in the Humbolt tourney...

DUROSETTE -- Kevin and Autumn Durossette and sibling Sophie Grace Durossette are pleased to announce the birth of their son and brother Kasen Lee Durossette. Kasen was born at 12:12 p.m. Dec. 20 at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. He weighed 8 pounds, 11 ozs., at birth and was 20 inches long...

RAMSEY -- Steve and Courtney Ramsey of Salida, Colo., are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Alden Clark Ramsey. Alden was born at 11:42 p.m. Dec. 19, 2012, at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, Salida, Colo. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ozs., and was 21 inches in length at birth...

Herman Cecil Yeager, age 73, resident of rural Fort Scott, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 at Joplin, Mo., Mercy Hospital. He was born July 7, 1939, in Fort Scott, the son of Herman Cecil Yeager Sr. and Murlie Baker Yeager. Cecil was a 1957 graduate of Fort Scott High School...

Loleta May Tracy, age 83, resident of Wichita, Kan., died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at her home in Wichita. She was born Sept. 12, 1929, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Ivan Lee Workman and Elva Neomia Palmer Workman. She married Herbert W. Tracy on May 31, 1946. He preceded her in death on Dec. 5, 1986...

New Year's resolutions --they're easy to make, but easier to break. Why is it so hard to make the healthy changes that we know can help us feel better and live longer? And why is it so hard to make them last? Some of the most common New Year's resolutions are losing weight, getting more physical activity, eating more nutritious foods, quitting cigarettes, reducing stress and sleeping better. ...

Mary Jane Hansel, a teacher at Nathan Hale Magnet School in Tulsa, Okla., was presented with a certificate and the keys to the city of Fort Scott during the annual Candlelight Tour at Fort Scott National Historic Site. Making the presentation for Mayor Jim Adams and the city commission was Chief Ranger Kelley Collins. Hansel was back at the Old Fort as a Candlelight Tour volunteer earlier this month...

Johnnie Walker has been a busy man the past few months. A Lake Fort Scott resident, Walker recently completed installation of two massive signs, one at each entrance to the community. Walker, who has lived near the lake for about 40 years, finished the second of two signs, each covering about 30 feet in diameter, about two months ago as a beautification project. Each sign is surrounded by massive stonework, with some of the limestone rocks weighing more than three tons each...