Stories from Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Joy Purkeypile started duties as the new agent in Fort Scott's K-State Research and Extension office on May 19. Previously, Purkeypile has been the Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Agent for Linn County. She has been in extension for seven years...

The Fort Scott Planning Commission has approved rezoning a piece of property for the future location of new assisted living residences. During a public meeting Monday, members of the commission discussed and considered an application to amend the zoning ordinance for land at Ninth and Horton streets, and also fielded questions from audience members before voting on the issue...

Swimming lessons began this week at the Fort Scott Aquatic Center.

The Fort Scott City Commission heard it straight from the source Tuesday evening - Mercy Hospital is not closing. Reta Baker, president of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott, updated the commission during its regular meeting on challenges the hospital and health care in general are currently facing...

Ricky Stephen Graham, 67 of Parkville, Mo., passed away, Monday, June 2, 2014 at Shawnee Gardens Care Center following a long battle with Alzheimer's. Services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, June 6, 2014 at the Christ Lutheran Church, 6700 N.W. 72nd St., Kansas City, Mo.. ...

Jerry Ray Heckman, Sr, age 70, resident of Pryor, Okla., died Monday, June 2, 2014, at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla. He was born on Jan. 1, 1944, in Fort Scott, Kan., the only child of George John Heckman and Mable Anna (Cowan) Heckman. He married Jeanie Ellene (Large) Heckman on Oct. 26, 1961, she survives of the home...

Uniontown saw three players named to the First Team and two more chosen as Honorable Mention players as the Three Rivers League released its All-League baseball team earlier in the week. Jaocb Duffy was an unaninmous pick as a First Team player while John Kuns and Cale Coyan was also picked for the First Team...

Five members of Uniontown's softball team were named to the All-Three Rivers League team earlier this week. Four members of the co-champion Eagles were First Team picks, one of those unanimously. Lakyn Coyan, a senior shortstop, was one of eight First Team players who were chosen unanimously. Also picked for Uniontown were senior right fielder Torrie Hathaway, senior third baseman Mandie Ridge and senior second baseman Brit Stokes...

Southeast Kansas League coaches put six members of league champion Fort Scott High School's team on the All-Southeast Kansas League softball team recently. The teams were chosen prior to the start of Regionals but, under league policy, were held until after the last league team has finished post-season play...

Six members of Fort Scott High School's league champion baseball team were selected to the All-Southeast Kansas League baseball team recently. League coaches choose the teams prior to the beginning of Regional tournament play but the release of the team is withheld until after the last league team -- Fort Scott, in this year's case -- concludes post-season play, per league policy...