Stories from Friday, December 8, 2023

Susan E. Willard, 80, resident of Fort Scott, passed away late Thursday evening, Dec. 7, 2023. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Velma Jean Russell, age 94, resident of Emporia, Kan., formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Emporia. Funeral services for Velma Russell will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Cheney Witt Chapel with burial following in the U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday approved support of a grant application to assist USD 235 in Uniontown address school improvement needs. USD 235 Superintendent Vance Eden informed commissioners of a grant opportunity available through the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. Eden said the 85/15 matching grant is through the Department of Treasury fund...

Customers of water, stormwater and sanitary sewer in Fort Scott will see rate increases after approval by the Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday. During their regular meeting, commissioners approved ordinances for stormwater user charges, water and sanitary sewer rates. The ordinances were part of the approved consent agenda...

Maria Cibrian Vazquez got a second chance, and she took advantage of it. In November, the Uniontown High School sophomore, a transfer student from California, represented the Uniontown FFA chapter and the state of Kansas in the National Spanish Creed Speaking Competition in Indianapolis, Ind. Vazquez advanced to the second round, which placed her in the top 12 overall, and eventually went on to become the national champion FFA Spanish creed speaker...

The Fort Scott Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball teams capped off undefeated 3-0 runs in the Paola Tournament with wins over the Paola Panthers Friday night. The Lady Tigers (3-0) were able to move up and down the court in a transition offense, and their 2-2-1 defensive press forced several Paola turnovers, which led to points for the Tigers in a 53-13 walloping of the Lady Panthers. The Lady Tigers were also solid at the free-throw line...

The Fort Scott Middle School seventh and eighth grade girls basketball teams finished in the top three at the Anderson County Junior High Tournament Dec. 2 in Garnett. See Saturdays' print or online edition for full story.

Fort Scott High School’s boys swimmers opened their season Tuesday with a win in Coffeyville. Competing in the swim cooperative were sophomores Stewart Davenport, Ostin Harrington and Bronson Smith, Fort Scott; sophomore Kaden McCorkle, Pittsburg; and seniors Tallon Bonine and Gavin Caldwell, and juniors Apollo Matundan and Nate Troth, Frontenac...