Stories from Thursday, February 14, 2008

Ever since the tragic I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minn., that killed 13 people, the Kansas Department of Transportation has been stepping up inspections for bridges in cities across the state, including Fort Scott. All bridges must be in compliance with requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Program, said KDOT Secretary of KDOT Deb Miller. In fact, Kansas has one of the highest percentages of local bridges in the nation that are behind on bridge inspections, Miller said...

CHANUTE -- Fort Scott Community College's basketball teams split Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division games with Neosho County here Wednesday night. Greyhound women opened with an 83-63 win over the hosts while the men were able to take the Panthers to overtime before falling, 93-88...

The Kansas Historical Society has announced that the new Partnership Historic Sites Program will allow non-profit organizations to receive Historic Sites Tax Credits to solicit donor gifts for specific projects. Each year, $200,000 in Historic Site Tax Credits will be distributed and may be used for restoration, preservation, site operations, or the establishment of an endowment, a statement from the Kansas Historical Society said...

Knowledge is definitely power for a group of local high school students. The Fort Scott High School varsity scholars team competed in the State Scholars Bowl on Saturday at Wellington High School in Wichita. According to the group's sponsor Fort Scott High School gifted education teacher Diane Endicott, to her knowledge, the scholars team is the first group of students from the local high school that has qualified for this honor...

Cora Mae Cook Headley, age 86, former resident of Cavalry Crossing Apartments and more recently of Guest Home Estates, died early Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, at Mercy Health Center. She was born July 13, 1921, in Arcadia, Kan., the daughter of David Ridgway and Rosa Reeder Ridgway. ...

Police report Sheriff's report KHP...

Timothy Edward Brown, a boy, was born at 8:13 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 at Mercy Health Center to parents Mary and Andy Brown, Fort Scott. He weighed 6 pounds, 12.5 ounces at birth. He joins two siblings; Harmony and Andrew, Jr. Maternal grandparents are Rhonda and Buzz Hawpe, Fort Scott, and Tim and Janette Marrs, Fort Scott. ...

Sweetheart Soup and Chili Dinner Saturday in Devon The Devon Ruritan club and the Devon United Methodist Church are jointly sponsoring a Sweetheart Soup and Chili Dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Devon Community Center. They invite everyone to come enjoy the meal, the cake walk, and Bingo with friends and family. Free will donations will be gladly accepted. Proceeds from this event will go toward Ruritan and Devon United Methodist Church projects...

If Valentine's Day brought cut flowers your way, extend their life by following this combined advice from the Society of American Florists and the horticulturists at Kansas State University: 1. If you didn't get them into a flower-food solution right away, keep the flowers in a cool place...

Changes currently underway at one local hotel have resulted in an increase in business, Fort Scott Inn owner Bhupinder Singh "Bob" Dhillon said Wednesday. "Yes, business has been good," Dhillon said. "And it's getting better every day." Dhillon, who purchased the hotel in June 2007, said he also began operation of the restaurant and bar inside the hotel in October. ...

Nothing like a storm resembling the one we had on Monday morning (as I was writing this) to prompt thoughts of how much we rely on our energy resources. I am hoping that the ice does not get thick enough to break tree limbs and knock down our power lines! It's too cold for that to be very comfortable. It is also convenient to get into my vehicle, start it up, and drive somewhere when my only discomfort is feeling a little chilly until the heater gets warm...

100 YEARS AGO (1908) The promoters of the skating rink project have made no definite announcement as to where the rink is to be located and when to be erected. It was stated today that the building would not be commenced until after the spring rains, as the floor is to be made of concrete...

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce officials said this week they could have a new chamber president chosen by as early as next week. FSACC officials said they hope to have a group of seven initial candidates for the job narrowed down to two or three qualified people by Thursday, FSACC Board Chairman Bob Marshall said Wednesday...