Stories from Thursday, April 11, 2013

To help entice shoppers to buy locally and to possibly help provide relief during tax season, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has organized a "Tax Day Relief Promotion" this weekend. Fifteen local retailers and restaurants will pay the tax for their customers during the promotion, which runs from Friday through Monday. Patrons of participating businesses will receive a discount on all purchases equal to 8.8 percent - which is the local sales tax rate in Fort Scott...

P.T. Barnum once said that every cloud has a silver lining. The silver lining to the clouds that hung over Fort Scott on Sunday night might well be the uptick in local business brought on by the countless contractors converging upon the city and the increase in tax revenue for the city's coffers...

This weekend is packed with activities ranging from Civil War reenactments at the Fort Scott National Historic Site, to presentations and discussions on the Holocaust at Fort Scott Community College. Volunteer reenactors will portray Army personnel and civilians in Fort Scott during the mid-1800s when the annual Civil War Encampment takes places Saturday and Sunday at the historic site...

There were 110 students from area schools who competed in the Three Rivers League Art Show in Uniontown on Wednesday, showcasing the best of their talents. Students were allowed to enter five art pieces, with a limit of two entries per student in each category or subcategory...

Clifford Peterson, age 84, resident of Redfield, Kan., died Saturday, April 6, 2013, at his home. His wishes were to donate his body to science. Pastor Marty DeWitt will conduct a memorial service at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 21, 2013, at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, Kan. Memorials in his memory are suggested to the First Missionary Baptist Church and may be sent to the church or mailed to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701...

Donald Gene Brink, 70, Topeka, Kan., peacefully passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at Stormont-Vail Hospital. He was born July 11, 1942 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Donald Laverne and Florence Eleanor (Potter) Brink. He is survived by his wife Sandra Kay (Rosebrough) Brink of the home; son, Michael Dean Brink of Phoenix, Ariz.; daughters, Lisa (Josh) Howell and Jennifer (Garrett McCart) Brink both of Topeka, Kan.; grandchildren, Clarissa, Knoll, Anna, Kaedon, Kale, Kendra, Gavin and Karson. ...

The Uniontown FFA Chapter held its 55th Annual Spring Banquet Tuesday evening. The following are the awards and recognitions were presented for the 2012-2013 year. Career Development Events -- District Level Participation in District Events Top 5 (medal winners)...

CHANUTE -- Fort Scott High School girls' track team took the team title at the Chanute Invitational here Monday, beating second-place Paola by 37 points. The Tigers won six events, including two relays. Fort Scott's 4x100-meter relay team of Michaela Webb, Maddie Barbour, Elisha Hasenplaugh and Keaira Meadows finished in 54.57 seconds. Cherryvale was second in 56.25...

Fort Scott Community College baseball recently announced that it will hold a youth baseball clinic sponsored by 5 Corners Mini-Mart of Fort Scott from 5 to 6:30 p.m. May 1 at Lions Field on the FSCC campus. The camp is being organized and run by Greyhound baseball coaches and players...

Fort Scott Community College head volleyball coach Lindsay Hill has announced details pertaining to summer volleyball camps that will be hosted by FSCC this summer. There will be an All Skills Training camp on June 18 for those entering seventh grade or younger. The same camp for those entering 8th grade and older will be held June 19 and 20. Both will be held at Arnold Arena on the FSCC campus...

Fort Scott Community College recently released a list of 14 players who have committed to play baseball for the Greyhounds and head coach John Hill III next season. "We are very excited about next year's incoming class," Hill said. "Each player has shown the ability to play at a high level and has accepted the challenge of being a Fort Scott Greyhound. They understand the expectations in the classroom, in the community, and on the field."...

HUME, Mo. -- Emily Brooks, a senior from Hume High School, is the first announced signee to the Fort Scott Community College women's basketball program for next season. She finished her high school playing career with 1,035 points, despite devastating injuries to both knees, one of which cut her senior season short...

Ka'ai Tom, a freshman outfielder from Kaneohe, Hawaii, was named Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Player of the Week and was one of three co-recipients of the National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Week, a period which included a stretch in which he belted five home runs in four days. He drove in 15 runs during a week in which the Greyhounds won six consecutive games, the first two on April 3 against Cowley, ranked sixth in the nation...

OSWEGO -- Although Uniontown's home softball doubleheader with Oswego had to be moved here Monday due to wet fields, the Eagles felt right at home once their offense got going in the fourth inning of the first game of a Three Rivers League twinbill...

PARSONS -- Fort Scott High's golf team took part in a five-team tournament here Tuesday but were unable to come away with a win in 11 matches. "In order to keep everyone under the eight-day limit on days of competition we did hold out both Gage (Addington) and Davis (Drake), so we were playing a little weaker line up than usual. ...

PITTSBURG -- Jonathan Allen finished eighth at the Pittsburg Invitational here Tuesday but he was the only member of Fort Scott High's golf team who earned a medal. Allen shot 42 on the front nine and 40 on the back to finish at 82 at Crestwood Country Club. He is the only Tiger to medal in all three meets...

The weather hasn't been the most cooperative for spring sports teams this year, seemingly more chaotic than usual. Uniontown High's varsity track team has found itself still waiting to have an official meet. Both the Altoona-Midway and Oswego meets were postponed due to weather. The Oswego meet is scheduled to be made up this afternoon at 3 p.m. The Altoona meet has been rescheduled to April 30...