Stories from Thursday, December 6, 2007

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius wants to turn hope into reality for approximately 430 Kansas National Guard soldiers trying to get home for the Christmas holiday before deploying to Iraq. "We are asking Kansans to help ensure these soldiers spend their Christmas holiday with loved ones by donating funds for their travel expenses home from training in Texas," said Gov. Sebelius...

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has received $900,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to protect and restore water quality and supplies in the Marais des Cygnes river basin, a KDHE statement said Tuesday. The EPA presented KDHE with a check for the entire amount during a Monday ceremony at Hillsdale Lake near Paola...

A group of local students put their academic abilities to the test along with about 500 students from other schools. Seven Fort Scott Christian Heights students, accompanied by FSCH teacher Maria Bahr, traveled to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Mo., to participate in the institute's 25th annual English Field Day on Friday. According to the MSSU Web site, www.mssu.edu, the field day is a day to celebrate the English academic area...

Richard Branson Hurst, 89 of Grace Ridge at 500 Lenoir Rd. in Morganton, passed away unexpectedly, Saturday, Dec. 1 2007 at Grace Hospital. Born in Fort Scott, Kan. on Jan. 15, 1918, he was the son of Earl Dunkerton Hurst and Iris Ragan Hurst. Mr. Hurst was preceded in death by his sisters, Lillian Hurst Cullop and Elizabeth Hurst Stockwell and his brother Fred Hurst...

Reagan Lynn Morrison, a girl, was born at 8:06 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, at Mercy Health Center to parents Clayton and Jacquelin Morrison, Fort Scott. She weighed 6 pounds, 10.5 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are PollyAnn Yates, Blue Mound, and Joe Northern, Lawrence. ...

Joeseff Aaron Smith, a boy, was born at 2:29 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, at Mercy Health Center to parents Jessie and Misty Smith, Fort Scott. He weighed 7 pounds, 2 3/4 ounces at birth. He joins two siblings; Bryanna and Lenora 'Nori' McDaniel. Maternal grandmother is Barbara A. Williams, Fort Scott. Paternal grandfather is Percy E. Smith, Alma, Ga...

Police report Sheriff's report...

Even with this unseasonably warm weather we have been having, we are sure to reach the cold winter weather, which for many folks calls for wood in a fireplace or furnace. There are definitely differences in heating quality between tree species; therefore, not all logs are good firewood...

100 YEARS AGO (1907) Workmen of the Crawford Street paving have left several piles of brick scattered over the street at different crossings, which makes crossing at these places dangerous to pedestrians. There has also been some complaint of buggies and wagons being driven over the pavement before the brick is covered with sand. There should be some obstruction placed at the cross streets so that teams could not get on the street until work is finished...

A relatively new horse trailer manufacturing business, which rode into town late last year, will show off some of its products in grand style this weekend. Three brand-new aluminum horse trailers, built by workers at Sterling Coach, 324 E. 20th St., hit the road last week for Las Vegas, Nev., where the trailers will be displayed at a trade show during the National Finals Rodeo that begins Friday and continues through Dec. 15...

Legislation passed this summer authorizing disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers contained a number of program efforts to be implemented through Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. The Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) is one, and the Crop Disaster Program (CDP) another...