Fire chief looks for violators when off duty

100 YEARS AGO

(1911)

Fire Chief Joe Ausman is busy looking after violators of the law when he is not busy driving his big white horse to the scene of a fire. He has found a few violators and has made them remedy defects. The last place to be found was the Pictureland Theatre. It had complied with all laws except in one place. An exit sign showed people how to get into the rear of the building, but no light was there to show them the door after they arrived. Mr. Ausman closed down the theater until the change was made, which was done in a few minutes. A light in the rear furnished illumination so that all can find their way about. Mr. Ausman is constantly on the lookout for places that might result in harm because the law is not complied with. He has caused several people to make improvements which they did not wish, but Fort Scott is fairly well equipped with fire escaping apparatus and aids now. Mr. Ausman has stayed with his work in the face of some opposition, but he has a balm in the fact that he gets on a committee of people who "know things."

75 YEARS AGO

(1936)

Reynolds, where Fort Scott saves: head lettuce, 5 cents each; California red rhubarb, lb. 6 cents; potatoes, peck 19 cents; California navel oranges, dozen 21 cents; Borden's Milk, 3 cans, 10 cents.

A Ford runabout crashed through the south fence near the bridge at Rock Creek Lake yesterday afternoon and made a nosedive into the water. The driver, whose name was not learned, was not hurt. The car struck with such a force as to uproot one of the big posts concreted in the ground.

The Model 4-H Club meeting contest, in which seven clubs of the county participated, was won by the Southeast Scott Club with a score of 94. Northeast Scott was a close second with 93. Drywood was third with 89 and Devon, which entered the contest for the first time, came in fourth with 87 points. Other clubs which participated were Mapleton, Northwest Scott and Goodluck.

50 YEARS AGO

(1961)

The practice followed by a number of county officials in recent years in closing courthouse offices on Saturday has been called into question. W.M. Ferguson, attorney general, has given his opinion that closing courthouse offices at noon Saturday or all day is illegal unless private business follows the same practice in county seat towns. The trend in recent years has been toward closing of private offices and service establishments Saturday mornings or all day. Not many retail businesses have adopted the practice, although Saturday night opening of stores is almost a thing of the past. If a great many people had been seriously inconvenienced by the shorter office hours, it is fairly certain that the county officials would not have followed the practice long, since years ago Saturday closing of county offices would have been unthinkable. It was the farmer's day to come to town to do business of all kinds, including business at the courthouse. But times have changed, and so have shopping and business habits. Farmers come to town every day or any day they want to. All the public have changed their buying habits. More time is being spent by almost everyone on weekends for leisure.

Suddenly it is learned that the Saturday courthouse closing may be illegal. But a measure is being advanced in the legislature that permits the new trend in courthouse hours to continue.

25 YEARS AGO

(1986)

No publication.