Stories from Tuesday, April 7, 2015

John Joseph Hennessy, Jr., age 84, resident of Fulton, Kan., died Sunday, April 5, 2015, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born Dec. 22, 1930, in Kansas City, Kan., the son of John Joseph Hennessy, Sr. and Gertrude Shannon Hennessy. He joined the United States Marines after high school. ...

Visitors can help the Fort Scott National Historic Site commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War during the historic site's annual military encampment this weekend. Staff and volunteers at the historic site are inviting the public to join them in honoring the sacrifice of soldiers and civilians from 1861 to 1865 during the 33rd annual Civil War Encampment set for Saturday and Sunday at the site...

Participants write down their scores during the Kansas Horseshoe Pitching Association tournament held Saturday in Bronson. Twenty-eight association members participated in the tournament using the new Bronson horseshoe pits. The pits were built in partnership with the City of Bronson, Bronson Ruritan and a National Horseshoe Pitching Association grant, along with other donations. ...

During March 2014, Bourbon County District 3 fire department volunteers responded to 88 fire calls. "We've already topped that and they are becoming more severe," Delwin Mumbower, District 3 fire chief, said. He attended the Monday Bourbon County Commission meeting with Bourbon County Emergency Manager William Wallis to report on what they believe might be a solution to getting grass fires under control...

Bronson Ruritan sponsored the Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at the park. Following the hunt, there was a drawing for prizes given by the Easter Bunny, portrayed by Charlotte Stewart.

GALENA -- Uniontown's track team opened the season at the Galena Bulldog Relays Thursday. Host Galena swept both divisions. Uniontown's girls finished 12th while Eagle boys placed ninth. Only two Eagle girls won medals. Shalina Harper was second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:38.8 and fourth in javelin at 103 feet, 7 inches. Jimme Keller placed sixth in the 200 meters in 30.49 seconds...

YATES CENTER -- Uniontown's softball team dropped a pair of games to open the season against host Yates Centerhere Friday. In the opener, the Eagles were unable to get going offensively, finishing with 3 hits in a 10-0 loss. Junior Kyley Brown pitched for UHS and gave up 4 earned runs on 6 hits. Brown, senior Caysha Adams, and freshman Breanna Hampton had one hit each for Uniontown...

With three series -- 12 games -- remaining in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play, Fort Scott Community College's baseball team did itself a big favor by sweeping Highland at Lions Field Saturday. A come-from-behind 12-6 win in the opener and a 10-0 run-rule shutout in the second game put Fort Scott in seventh place in the division by itself, a game ahead of the Scotties...

Wilma Wescoatt, 88, of Las Vegas, passed away April 3, 2015, at Desert Springs Hospital. Wilma was born March 20, 1927, in Fort Scott, Kan. Wilma worked for the Clark County School District for over 20 years; she worked in the kitchen department at several schools where she said it was "the best job she ever had." Wilma was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Earl Wescoatt. ...

Wayne P. White, age 88, Oklahoma City, formerly of Mound City, Kan., passed away on Monday, April 6, 2015 The funeral is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 10, at Mound City First Baptist Church. Burial is at Curry Cemetery. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory Mound City Chapel...