Stories from Saturday, March 28, 2015

The average valuation of farm ground in Bourbon County has increased, but that doesn't mean every landowner will see the same increase. Appraiser Judy Wallis attended Friday's Bourbon County Commission meeting and provided a report from the Ag Use Property Valuation Division Kansas Department of Revenue for the average value of agricultural land in Bourbon County...

Loretta George/Tribune photo The tulip tree at the corner of Fourth and National Avenue has been in full display this week, even though temperatures dropped to near freezing Thursday night, nipping at newly bloomed flowers. Spring-like weather is expected to return soon, as temperatures are forecast for the upper 50s today...

Note: This is the first of a two-part series. Construction nears for USD 234 bond projects as the district is currently in the third step of a five-step design process. USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham said Friday the district is in the schematic design phase of an approximately two-year project to make district-wide improvements at all four district schools and the district stadium. ...

Dorcas Elizabeth Adams, 90, of Fort Scott died Monday evening, March 23, 2015 at the Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 16, 1924 in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of David and Nellie (Owen) Wilkerson. She married John H. Adams Sept. 17, 1952 in Fort Scott, Kan., and he preceded her in death Sept. 28, 1980...

THACKERVILLE, Okla. -- Fort Scott native L.C. Davis won a split decision over Hideo Tokoro in a Bellator mixed martial arts Bantamweight fight here Friday night. Davis (23-6-0) won on two scorecards, 29-28, while Tokoro (32-28) won the third, also 29-28...

A freshman-dominated team will take the field for Uniontown High School softball this team. Six of the 15 team members are first-year players. The Eagles have three seniors, three juniors, and three sophomores. Head coach Paula Coyan returns for her third year as head coach and her eighth year in the sport. With William Hathaway as assistant coach, Coyan and the Eagles will look to match or better last year's overall record of 13-9...

PARSONS -- Fort Scott Community College and Labette split a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader here Friday. The homestanding Cardinals rallied to take the opener, 6-5. The Greyhounds won the second game 7-3. The teams will play each other at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lions Field. The games were originally scheduled for today but moved back due to wet field conditions. Wentworth Military visits at 1 p.m. Monday...

Fort Scott High School's varsity and junior varsity tennis teams opened their seasons this week. The varsity went to Independence on Tuesday while the JV played at Pittsburg on Thursday. Tuesday: Varsity at Independence. The Tigers had experience players in singles but had freshmen playing in three of the four doubles slots. Fort Scott finished fourth out of five schools...

ARMA -- Uniontown's baseball team opened the season here Thursday at the Northeast Tournament but came away with a pair of losses. In the first round, the Eagles were run-ruled by host Northeast, 11-1, in five innings. The Vikings scored in every inning played...

Dave Regan Field, named after Fort Scott head coach Josh Regan's father, who was the program's first head coach from 1990-2002, will be able to seat 500 people and will be just one of 15 baseball fields in the entire state that has artificial turf (seven of which belong to colleges as well as one used by the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association). ...

Going into this season, Fort Scott High's baseball team is in the conversation when talking about Class 4A-Division I championship contenders. And their new ballpark, Dave Regan Field, is being talked about as perhaps the best high-school facility in the state, even as the rush is on to get the stadium complete in time for the scheduled April 7 home opener...