Stories from Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Local farmer Ronnie Brown of rural Fort Scott has been to the nation's capital several times a year for the last several years. His has been to be involved in the process of enacting the newest agriculture bill that the U.S. Congress created to ensure that American farmers have the tools needed to produce abundant and affordable food and fiber...

The condition of some county roads and the plan to upgrade them continues to be the topic of discussion at Bourbon County Commission meetings. On Monday, Jerry Simmons attended the meeting to ask if the commissioners could create a two-year plan and to asphalt Limestone Road...

USD 234 officials are pleased with the proposed budget for the 2014-15 year. During a special meeting Monday, USD 234 Business Manager Susan Brown provided members of the Board of Education with a glimpse of the planned budget and discussed with them such items as mill levies, increased expenditures and various differences in this year's budget from last year's budget...

Forty youth took part in the fishing derby held on a mild day.

Jack Herbert Swafford, Overland Park, Kan., passed away on July 16, 2014, from lung disease complications. He was born in Fort Scott, Kan., on Nov. 13, 1930, son of Ernest and Bertha Swafford. After one year at Fort Scott Junior College, he transferred to Kansas State University where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. ...

Don Bolinger, 66, beloved son and brother, passed away peacefully July 17, 2014. Don bravely and gracefully faced his battle with cancer while looking forward to his final destination being with the Lord. He enjoyed his time here on earth being on the lake or ocean, watching the Chiefs and Royals, and helping others. He had worked in many types of sales positions throughout his life, and was always the absolute best at what he did...

Kenneth Gene Parker 72, of Garland, Kan., died Sunday morning, July 20, 2014 at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. He was born Oct. 2, 1941 in Bourbon County, the son of Kenneth Clyde and Hazel Maude Jewsbury Parker. He married Nancy Lynn Prewett Aug. 17, 1963 in Fort Scott, Kan., she preceded him in death Oct. 4, 1965...

Jesse James "Junior" Mitchell, age 85, of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2014. Graveside funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, July 21, 2014 at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to service at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. ...

Mary Louise Johnson, 82, resident of Fort Scott, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014, at her home. Funeral arrangements for Mary Johnson will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Phyllis Irene McLain, 78, of Atlanta, Mo., passed away Saturday morning, July 19,2014, at the landmark Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at Elliott Funeral Home in Atlanta. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. ...

Funeral services for Lynn M. Hixon, 90, Willow Springs, Mo., will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 26, 2014, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Mr. Hixon died at 1:25 p.m., Friday, July 18, 2014, at Willow Springs, Mo., surrounded by his close family...

Mary Louise Johnson, 82, resident of Fort Scott passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014, at her home. She was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Ora McKinley Gilbert Johnson and Helen Bean Johnson. Survivors include four children, Michael Louis Johnson, Fort Scott, Kan., Barbara Jo Wilburn, Leavenworth, Kan., Joyce Ellen Johnson and Glenda Mae Kimani, both of Fort Scott. ...