Stories from Thursday, January 23, 2014

Highland, ranked No. 5 in the nation according to National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll, jumped out to a 23-6 lead after 8 minutes and went on to roll by Fort Scott Community College's women, 82-54. It was the conference opener for both teams with Highland improving to 20-1. ...

Fort Scott Community College's men ran out to a 23-point lead at halftime but had to hold on as Highland rallied in the second half before finally earning a 76-72 victory at Arnold Arena Wednesday night in the Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division II opener for both teams...

The Molly Foster Berry chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met January 17 at First United Methodist Church. Club news was read including thanks you letters from Fort Dodge Soldiers' Home for Christmas items, and from the Department of the Interior for the flag code cards provided at the naturalization ceremony...

The Fort Scott City Commission heard some good news regarding local employment during their regular Tuesday night meeting. Director of Economic Development Heather Griffith provided the commission with recent employment figures compiled by the Kansas Department of Labor Statistics and also talked about recent employment figures reported earlier this month by the Topeka Capital-Journal, which showed that Bourbon County was one of three Kansas counties that showed the highest increases in employment between 2012 and 2013.. ...

Helen Rosalee Rager, 79, of Fort Scott, died Tuesday morning, January 21, 2014 at the Guest Home Estates. She was born February 2, 1934 in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Clyde William and Helen Irene (Putnam) Coyan. She married Darrell Wayne Rager May 25, 1952 in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death November 26, 2008...

Lester Gemmill, 82, of rural Stark, died Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at his farm. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m.., Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 at the Friends Church in Stark. Burial will be in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Friday at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com...

Samantha and Andrew Reasoner, and sibling Emerson Bentley Reasoner, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Erionna Bella Reasoner, at 11:53 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott...

The matter of the once proposed technical education center in Crawford County will be moved to the front burner during the upcoming Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees regular monthly meeting on Monday. Clayton Tatro, FSCC president, confirmed to the Tribune this topic will in fact be addressed during his president's report.

Lester Raymon Gemmill, 82, of Rural Stark, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 at his home. He was born Feb. 18, 1931 near Savonburg, Kan., a son of Thomas Lincoln and Zerepha Mable (Smith) Gemmill. He attended the Stark schools and was a 1949 graduate of Grant Rural High School. ...

Pamela (Marshall) Whitaker, 56, of Dallas, Texas, died Sunday night at Charlton Methodist Hospital. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at 9031 Sedgemoor Ave., Dallas Texas, as well as at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 2301 Lakewood, Topeka, Kan...