Stories from Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Gerald Allen Mackey, age 63, a resident of rural Fort Scott, died Monday, May 11, 2009, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., where he was awaiting a lung transplant. He was born February 15, 1946, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Gerald Harlan Mackey and Evelyn B. Peer Mackey...

Police Reports At 1:07 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009, Fort Scott Police Department responded to a criminal damage report at the Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 12th Street, Fort Scott. At 7:59 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2009, 323 S. Main, Shannon Duvall reported damage to a vehicle windshield, valued at $300...

UNIONTOWN -- The high school careers of about 30 students came to an end Tuesday in front of a packed West Bourbon Elementary School gymnasium. Following baccalaureate services that evening, friends and family members attended commencement services to watch Uniontown High School seniors receive their diplomas. ...

Nearly one year after its ground breaking, the Downtown Streetscape Project is nearing completion. Through the assistance of the Bourbon County Garden Club and Master Gardeners, the planters on the light poles have been filled with colorful flowers. Tri-Valley Developmental Services Horticultural Therapist Barbara McCord helped the city by giving advice as to what flowers should be in the planters...

Members of the Phoenix Committee met Monday evening at City Hall to discuss new signage in the downtown area. The purpose of the meeting was to decide which style of street signs to order for the downtown area as well as which additional signs should be purchased...

When a medical emergency occurs in Bourbon County, members of the local Emergency Medical Services jump into action. According to Mercy Health Center Mobile Intensive Care Technician Jon Lowry, local emergency medical crews respond to various types of emergencies from broken ankles to heart attacks to trauma calls...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Sisters of Mercy Health System and Catholic Health Initiatives announced May 1 that the two health systems have signed a letter of intent to formally explore a proposed transfer of sponsorship of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin to Mercy...

The Mercy Health Center Women in Philanthropy organization recently donated $2,500 in grant money to the Mercy Health Center OB/GYN clinic and social services department to assist with the costs of medications for the Mothers and Infants program. The Mothers and Infants program was chosen to receive money to help offset the cost of medications for women who are pregnant and are temporarily without insurance coverage. ...

A tornado warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Springfield MO at 7:13 p.m. NWS has issued the tornado warning for bourbon county until 8:30 p.m. At 7:12 p.m., NWS doppler radar indicated a tornado near Moran or 21 miles southest of Mound City moving east at 30 m.p.h...

CHETOPA -- Uniontown's softball team split a Three Rivers League doubleheader with Chetopa here Monday. The Eagles won the opener 8-2 but dropped the nightcap despite a five-run rally in the top of the seventh, 10-9. The Eagles (7-1 TRL, 7-6 overall) broke open the first game with four runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 7-2 game...

CHETOPA -- Uniontown's baseball team concluded its regular-season schedule Monday with a 10-7 win over Chetopa and a 19-3 loss to Oswego here. The Eagles (3-9) will host a first-round Yates Center Class 2-1A Regional Tournament game Monday at 6 p.m. at Dawson Field in Bronson. Uniontown is the No. 4 seed in the five-team tourney and will face No. 5 Altoona-Midway (1-9)...

Fort Scott High School will host a Class 4A Regional Baseball Tournament Monday and Tuesday at both Lions Field and Ty Cullor Field. Meanwhile, on the same days, the Fort Scott High softball team will go to Garnett to take part in the Anderson County Class 4A Regional Tournament...

In order to drastically reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries that occur when unbelted drivers and passengers are involved in traffic crashes, area drivers will soon see an increased amount of law enforcement officers patrolling the streets and highways...

There will be no concert Friday evening at the Heritage Park Pavilion. The Friday night concert series, which is sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division, will return May 22 with a planned performance at 7 p.m., organizers said...

Fort Scott Community College officials recently announced the 2009 Outstanding Alumnus and Outstanding Young Alumnus who will both speak at FSCC graduation ceremonies on Friday. Marvin Ketner, the 2009 Outstanding Alumnus, will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony, while Gary Palmer, the 2009 Outstanding Young Alumnus, will speak at the 5 p.m. ceremony. Both ceremonies will take place in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St...

The Fort Scott Farmer's Market is so far thriving at its new location, organizers said Wednesday. The market, which moved to Skubitz Plaza May 2, offers local residents fresh produce, baked goods, all-natural food products, and other items at reasonable prices. A windy but mostly sunny morning greeted the group of vendors and customers present at the market Wednesday...

The City of Fort Scott's street improvement plan will soon be a reality as the bond sale draws near. The five-year program is estimated to cost $500,000 each year which will be paid through General Obligation Bonds, according to Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner...