A look back at Fort Scott's 2008 second half

Many interesting events occurred in 2008, and more are sure to come in 2009. As a look back at the past 12 months, the Tribune is presenting a month-by-month review of some of the more noteworthy stories of 2008. The following are just some stories that happened each month during the second half of 2008. Look for an additional review, recapping one of Fort Scott's biggest stories of the year, in an upcoming edition of the Tribune.

By Rayma Silvers and Michael Pommier

The Fort Scott Tribune

July

At approximately 2 a.m. on July 1, the local area was hit by a Bow Echo, a severe storm which produced 70 mile-per-hour winds. The severe storm caused wide spread damage throughout the local city and county areas with Fort Scott being the hardest hit. With an estimated 200 downed trees in Bourbon County during the Saturday morning wind storm, Bourbon County Commissioners issued a local declaration of disaster. Among the damage done by the storm was the loss of power to about 2,000 residences due to downed power lines. Area firefighters responded to several fires caused by the downed lines.

On July 3, readers learned about the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees' vote to terminate the contract of FSCC teacher Berna McLeod. McLeod was a teacher in the FSCC School of Cosmetology in Pittsburg and was terminated for various instances of insubordination, including failure to comply with several directives outlined in a May 7 letter to her from FSCC administrators.

On July 4, crowds of area residents filled the median in front of the Fort Scott Community College, in addition to the parking lots of two nearby churches in order to watch Fort Scott's annual fireworks display. Event attendees praised the celebration which paid tribute to the independence of the United States.

On July 8, the 2008 Gunn Park Freedom Fest captured the attention of about 1,300 area residents. The greased pig contest, which was a new event this year, was open to children between 4 and 12 years of age. In the contest, the children chased a greased pig in a fenced area attempting to catch it. A trophy was awarded to the first place winner in each age category.

Nine area women were recognized and honored on July 17, for exemplifying ageless beauty and balance throughout their lives, and for helping to make a difference in the lives of others. During the "Beauty, Balance and Breath" event, part of Mercy Health Center's Spirit of Women initiative, the women were honored for their ability to touch the hearts of those around them, and for serving as constant inspirational role models for others. One woman from each decade of life was honored at the event.

Shortly before 6:15 p.m. on July 18, raccoon hunters stumbled upon a parked vehicle located near Grand Road. After they alerted the authorities, the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office was notified and asked to respond to the scene. BBSO officers discovered the body of Donald E. Lowry, 60, of Chanute, inside the vehicle. Lowry had been deceased for approximately a week before his body was discovered by the raccoon hunters.

At approximately 3 p.m. on July 28, Bourbon County Judge Mark Ward sentenced Floyd Alexander Gibson to 48 months of intensive supervised probation on two counts of indecent liberties with a child, a severity level five person felony. As part of Gibson's probation, Ward ordered him to complete a psychological evaluation; remain on all prescribed psychotropic medications; continue counseling; attend Sexoholics Anonymous; provide a DNA sample for the Kansas Bureau of Investigations; register as a sex offender; and pay various costs associated with his court case. In addition, Gibson is not allowed to have any contact with children under the age of 18, with the victims, or Aaron Myers, a co-defendant. Ward ordered Gibson to abstain from accessing any form of pornography; and from possessing or consuming any alcohol or illegal drugs.

August

Nearly 3,000 voters cast ballots in the Aug. 5, primary election. More than 1,000 Democrats and slightly more than 1,500 Republicans voted in this year's primary election. Several anxious candidates and their family members waited on the second floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse for the election's final results. The primary election resulted in two Bourbon County Commissioners being unseated.

On Wednesday, Aug. 6, more than 200 area residents assembled at the First Assembly of God for a special DVD premier of Bibleman's next power source video "In the Presence of Enemies," which was not released to the general public until October. Also at the event, Bibleman made a special appearance, talking with youth and signing autographs. While addressing the crowd, Bibleman explained to the children how they could be a superhero just like him by putting on the whole armor of God.

Quintin Duran Grant, 25, Fort Scott, was arrested at 10:42 p.m. on Aug.18, on a Bourbon County warrant for violating his probation. On August 7, a search of Grant's residence produced enough evidence to arrest him in addition to Amanda DuVall, Fort Scott, on narcotics related charges. Since the condition's of Grant's probation required him to obey all federal and state laws as well as all municipal and county ordinances, his arrest involving narcotics charges, was a violation of his probation.

On Aug. 23, Bourbon County residents were informed that the In Demand Networks production crew, would be filming episodes for an upcoming television reality show called "Wack Pack at the Christy's" in portions of Fort Scott and Bourbon County. The reality show, which began airing on Nov. 6, was offered through digital cable service by Howard TV On Demand, a service named after noted radio personality Howard Stern that is an affiliate of In Demand Networks. Even though much of the material associated with Stern's programming is often controversial, the production crew was not prevented from filming the show in Fort Scott.

More than 640 people attended the Mercy Health Center Gala on Aug. 23, making it the second most attended gala in its 19-year span. The evening "Under the Tuscan Sun" was dedicated to the memory of the late Charlotte Lunt, who served as the gala decorating committee chair for 18 years. The proceeds of the 2008 Gala were used to help build a new Cancer Care Center for the outpatient treatment of cancer.

The Kress Emporium and Tea Room, 17 S. Main St., and the nearby Village Shoppes, 23 S. Main St., two long-time downtown shops closed for business on Aug. 30. Becky Cowlishaw, who managed both stores, said that several factors led to her decision to close the businesses, which had been experiencing financial woes for the last several months. Cowlishaw said sales at both businesses had also been affected by recent street and sidewalk work downtown that was part of the Streetscape Project.

September

It was announced Sept. 5 that Public Safety Director Jeff Davis would be leaving Fort Scott. Davis came to Fort Scott in January 1996 as fire chief and was promoted to the position of Public Safety Director overseeing both the police and fire departments in December 2005. Davis' departed to take a job as the new Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Topeka.

On Sept. 21, approximately 100 skaters gathered in Skubitz Plaza for the first Skate Date hosted by the Fort Scott Skate Park Committee. The skaters took over the plaza for six hours to enjoy free skating and contests as well as promoting safe and responsible skating. A goal of the committee was to promote the Skaters as Scholars program. The event was such a success that a second event was held in December at the Fort Scott National Guard Armory.

On Sept. 24, Tim Allison made a final appearance in the Bourbon County District Court to receive sentencing for one count of attempted fraudulent insurance act. Judge Richard Smith ordered Allison's eight-month stay behind bars be suspended in lieu of an 18-month probation sentence. Allison was a local insurance agent for Gross Insurance Agency at the time the downtown fire broke out. Allison was accused of back dating a check filled out by Charles and Brenda Parsons to recover insurance money from damage by the fire.

October

On Oct. 4, Richard Roundtree, star of Gordon Parks 1971 film "Shaft," was presented with the fourth annual Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award. The award ceremony was part of the Gordon Parks Celebration of Culture and Diversity. The award presentation was in honor of Roundtree's roles of strength in the black community throughout his life.

On Oct. 23, it was announced that the legacy of Gordon Parks was named as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Art by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Included in the legacy is the Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity at Fort Scott Community College and the Sarah and Andrew Exhibit at Mercy Health Center. Jill Warford, Executive Director of the Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity, sees this as an opportunity to grow the Gordon Parks legacy and to help keep the arts in area schools. And, with the addition of The Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, including an interactive Gordon Parks museum schools will be encouraged to bring students and educate them about the different types of art.

The Tribune reported on Oct. 25, that Amy Hagan was attempting to have her cancer-stricken father released from prison. Former Fort Scott resident Michael Clark was serving the remainder of a 40-month sentence at the El Dorado (Kan.) Correctional Facility for a felony narcotics charge. Hagan's wish was for her father to be released so he may spend his last days with his family. Clark died the next day while still imprisoned.

On Oct. 29, a supporter of Patty Horgan, candidate for Kansas Senate District 13, was killed in a roll-over accident. Christina Howard, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene after the driver of the vehicle lost control and veered off the road. Howard was hired by a third party to support Horgan's campaign.

November

Nov. 4 was a day of change for Bourbon County, Kansas, and the United States. In the race for the Presidency, Barack Obama came out victorious over John McCain to become the nation's first African-American President. At the state level, Bob Marshall defeated Horgan for the Kansas Senate District 13 seat. The Bourbon County Commission got two new commissioners as former Sheriff Harold Coleman and J.W. "Jingles" Endicott both defeated their opponents. Bourbon County Undersheriff Ron Gray won the race for Sheriff, but Jim Covey received 1,000 write-in votes.

A record number of voters showed up at the polls in Bourbon County. General-election numbers reached nearly 70 percent within the county as 4,403 voters appeared at area polls with advance votes from 2,334 residents. Despite the increase in number, there were no problems or delays. Many short but consistent lines formed in almost all of the polling places. As far as a cause for this years boost in voter turnout, Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long said most residents found the election of significant importance.

Nov. 20 was the day Captain Paul Ballou was named Fort Scott's new Fire Chief. Ballou has been with the Fort Scott Fire Department for 18 years. He was hired by the City of Fort Scott on May, 6, 1990, as a firefighter and was promoted to Captain on Feb. 10, 1995. Ballou assumed his new job responsibilities on Nov. 24.

December

Nov. 28 through Dec. 15 saw four young lives tragically taken in a series of traffic accidents. On Nov. 28, two local teens lost their lives in a crash on U.S. 54, six miles west of Nevada. Emily A. DeBrine, 15, and Corey L. Martin, 17, both of Nevada, were killed in a head-on collision with a 2005 Ford pickup driven by Gale R. Pelser, 74, of Eldridge, Mo., which was passing a vehicle and struck the 1993 Chevrolet pickup Martin and DeBrine were in.

On Dec. 1, Fort Scott Middle School student Monica Hershey, 12, was killed when the vehicle driven by her mother lost control and became airborne after making contact with the curb. On Dec. 15, it was reported that Matthew Croan, 21, Pleasanton, lost control of his 1999 Dodge Dakota at approximately 12:45 a.m. traveling Northbound on 215th street near Yellowstone Road. The vehicle reportedly exited the road overturning numerous times, ejecting both Croan and a passenger in the vehicle, Michael Braim Jr., 24. Croan was pronounced dead at the scene, while Braim was transported to Overland Park Regional Hospital with disabling injuries according to a KHP report. Neither of the two men were wearing safety restraints according to the report.

On Dec. 17, the City of Fort Scott announced the hiring of long-time police officer Ronald Puterbaugh as the new Chief of Police. Puterbaugh spent 23 years with the Ottawa Police Department where he moved up the ranks to eventually become captain. Puterbaugh plans to begin his new job duties March 4.

Mid-December saw hazardous weather around the county which contributed to several wrecks in the local area. Wind chills in the single digits and periods of freezing drizzle in addition to ice and snow packed roads caused dangerous conditions for motorists.