Seventh-grader wins county spelling bee

100 YEARS AGO

(1911)

Charles H. Cooper, who had been in the employ of the Frisco Railroad for the past 26 years, died this morning at his home, 13 N. Broadway. Mr. Cooper was one of the best-known and most liked men in the city. He had been a clerk in the bridge department of the Frisco for the past 26 years. He was very successful in his work. It has been said he was one of the brightest men in the office here. He was perhaps the longest in the employ of the Frisco here. He was not known to have one enemy and his death is generally regretted. Arrangements are to have the funeral Friday afternoon at the home. Burial will be in the National Cemetery.

Mapleton Notes: Frances Baker is building a mammoth brooder house for young chicks. It is so large that it has a heating stove to furnish its own heat.

75 YEARS AGO

(1936)

(April 11)

Kansas women will be given an opportunity to show off their new spring outfits tomorrow. The farm folks would rather see it rain all day.

The state continues to be dry and in need of soaking rains for wheat and spring crops. The outlook for next week indicates more dry weather. For the first time in several weeks Kansas last night escaped freezing weather.

Fly! Fly! Monday and Tuesday, at the new airport on the Walkertown road, in the $62,500 Tri-Motor Ford plane. Flights $1. However, get a free ticket at any Sinclair station or the Dotson Motor Co. and two people fly for the price of one. The big plane weighs 10,100 pounds and it uses Sinclair gasoline exclusively. Watch the Fords Go By! Parachute Jump Monday afternoon.

50 YEARS AGO

(1961)

Betty Elbrader, a seventh grade student at District 37, is the champion speller of Bourbon County. She won the title Saturday by downing 22 other competitors, earning the right to represent the county at Topeka at the state bee April 29. She beat Charles Sinn in the final round after he faltered on "unguent."

She then spelled the next word on the list after correctly spelling unguent. The next word was "usurious" and Betty took the word in stride as she had been doing all evening. Lorene Grimes finished third in the spelling contest. She and Sinn are both students at Godfrey School. Miss Elbrader is a student at Schofield. Opal Ricketts is the teacher at Schofield School and Miss Mae Query is the teacher at Godfrey. Mrs. Clarence Northrup and Bill Hurst pronounced the words for the bee and Betty Krull and Mrs. Basil Comstock were judges. Approximately 80 spectators witnessed the contest.

25 YEARS AGO

(1986)

Photo caption: "Members of Pete Ada's family have donated more than 14 gallons of blood during the Bloodmobile's visits here. Pictured are Pete Ada, Pam Ada, Mike Ada, Jackie Ada Sellers, Herman Ada (with an American Red Cross identification card) and Mary Frances Ada. -- Photo by Amy Balding

City officials expect a combined $241,000 budget shortfall in water and sewage budgets this year and propose that Fort Scott City Commissioners impose a 25 percent water rate increase and 15 percent sewer rate increase. City commissioners approved a 15 percent water rate increase in August 1965. The last sewer increase was in 1963.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The average value of U.S. farm land plummeted 12 percent for the second straight year, but the decline is expected to level off in the coming months, the Agriculture Department says. The survey found the average farm land was $596, down from $697 last year.