Stories from Friday, January 11, 2019

Will Eugene Cook, age 79, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, at the Medicalodges of Fort Scott. He was born July 5, 1938, in Fort Scott, the son of Dee Cook and Clara Ellen Proctor Cook. Will had worked at various businesses throughout his life. ...

Virginia Lee Finley, 76, of Walnut, died at 3:32 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 at her residence in Walnut. Virginia was born Oct. 28, 1942 at Fort Scott, a daughter of Howard and Agnes (Workman) Armstrong. She attended Hepler Grade School, Walnut High School and she graduated from Stark High School...

Raef Cameron-Lee Casner, age 17, Iola, Kan., passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Raef was born March 19, 2001, in Chanute, Kan., to Keith Casner and Lea (Dillingham) Thomas. Raef attended school at Iola High School, Iola, Kan., where he was currently a junior...

Fort Scott High School is hosting the Kansas State Debate Tournament for Class 4-A and 3-2-1A schools. The tournament got underway Friday with an opening ceremony in the Fort Scott High School Auditorium. The competition continues today, beginning at 8 a.m. and the final round at 6:30 p.m. at Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Middle School...

Ideas for shaping education for Fort Scott youth and preparing them for their future goals and careers were the focus of a special USD 234 Board of Education meeting Friday morning. Several school board members, as well as representatives of several local businesses and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce members, city and county officials, attended the meeting at the board office. Leading the discussion was Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson, who visited Fort Scott...

Phil Hammons’ dachshund, Roxy, sits on his lap as the longtime local realtor sits at his desk inside a quiet office and recalls a 40-plus year career in the local real estate business. Although Hammons, 74, has retired as of Dec. 31 and is in the process of closing down Hammons Realty Co., an agency that has been in his family for more than 50 years, he has still been popping in the office every day...