Stories from Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Laverta W. Ackerman, 82, of Lawrence, Kan., formerly of Savonburg, Kan., passed away on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence. She was born on June 30, 1929, in Jonesboro, Ark., the daughter of Gullis Despain and Lennie Wyse Despain Hayes. She graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif...

Lakeisha Cline and Mitchell Coulter, Fort Scott, and sibling Jeremiah Coulter are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter and sister Hallie Delane Coulter on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at 10:11 a.m. at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott, Kan. Hallie weighed 7 pounds, 6.5 ounces and was 19.5 inches in length...

All members of the Fort Scott Scottish Rite, 110 South Main, Fort Scott, Kan., are asked to attend the regularly stated meeting and dinner on Thursday, March 1, at 6:30 p.m. The dinner menu is spaghetti, lettuce salad, green beans, garlic bread, brownies and tea or coffee. For those wishing to attend, RSVP by no later than Wednesday, Feb. 29. Call (620) 223-1330, fax (620) 223-3851 or email fsscottishrite@sbcglobal.net...

Timothy Edward David Rogers, 20, Iola, Kan., was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office on Friday at 9:47 a.m. on a Bourbon County warrant. He is still being held at this time with no bond.

Making beef or venison jerky is becoming increasingly popular; it's relatively easy, allows seasoning the dried, lightweight meat product to your taste, and can offer a cost-savings on food, including snacks. Mistakes in the process can, however, compromise the quality of the product and cause foodborne illness, said Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension food scientist...

A longtime attendee of Arcadia Christian Church, Carol Brooks of Englevale, died peacefully at l2:15 a.m., Feb. 18. She returned home from hospital care the preceding evening and was surrounded by three of her sons, two daughter-in-laws, two granddaughters, a friend and an honorary nephew who loved her. Our sympathy to family...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Today, the anniversary of the birth of George Washington, was observed as a general holiday in Fort Scott, the schools of the city, the banks and a number of offices and places of business remained closed for the day. Flags were flying from many of the buildings. ...

This was a busy week in the Capitol. We even had some threats to the building and a possible threat on the governor. A gent in a pickup truck without the engine hood with IED type material got the attention of the Capitol police. He also had an empty holster in his truck, but the Capitol Police quickly found and apprehended him. Our excitement for the week...

Kansas state Sen. John Vratil's recent comments about Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights show that Kansas' tax reform debate is a struggle over whether taxpayer or government interests should come first. First, his claim that Colorado abandoned TABOR is not true...

The first local candidate has filed for office. Democrat Evelyn Taylor, Garland, has paid the filing fee to become a hopeful for Bourbon County Clerk, an news release said. Incumbent County Clerk Joanne Long, a Republican, said at Tuesday's Bourbon County Republican Central Committee meeting that she plans to run for reelection, but she has not yet filed...

Life + Style, 22 N. Main St., will host the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce coffee at 8 a.m. Thursday. Members can make an announcement about their business, organization or community event by donating $1 toward "Dollars for Dolly."

The Southwind Extension District will host a home landscape series for area residents that will help participants on their way to having nicer trees, shurbs, gardens and flower beds. Workshop dates and topics follow: March 1: "Tree and Shrub Maintenance and Care, " presented by Jason Griffin, state horticulture leader...

Cato bridge will once again serve as a path for visitors to easily walk between the Cato Christian Church and the Cato School thanks to Eagle Scout candidate Joe Otter. Otter, 17, completed the restoration and rebuilding of the bridge this past Sunday as the project aspect of his candidacy for the recognition. About 30 family members and friends joined him for an informal ceremony and "ribbon cutting."...

Earlier this month, Mike Chipman got a chance to meet the man who saved his life. The experience not only met all his expectations, it exceeded them. Two years ago, Chipman, minister at Crawford Street Church of Christ, was diagnosed with four types of leukemia and given a 35-percent chance of survival...

In an effort to draw more attention to disc golf and help grow his beloved sport, Ray Quesada approached the Fort Scott City Commission during their meeting Tuesday morning. "I have a passion for disc golf," the local resident told the commission during a special meeting held Tuesday morning due to a conflict some city officials had with the state chamber dinner that evening...

UNIONTOWN -- Uniontown's boys concluded regular-season play with a 55-44 victory over Southern Coffey County here Tuesday night. SCC's girls outscored Uniontown 21-11 in the fourth quarter and rallied for a 54-51 victory. Zach Travis led Eagle boys (15-5) with 17 points while Brenton Esslinger added 12. Uniontown held a 21-6 lead after one period...

Just 20 total field goals were made by both teams combined Tuesday night as Pittsburg's girls won a defensive battle from Fort Scott High, 28-22, in Southeast Kansas League play at the FSHS gymnasium. The Purple Dragons (5-2 SEK, 15-4 overall) went out to a 4-0 lead as Lizzy Willis scored the first two baskets of the game in the first three minutes. Then they were content to force the Tigers (4-3, 7-12) to miss shots the rest of the period...

Tyler Adams and Cameron Woodring combined to score 50 points Tuesday night as Fort Scott High's boys dispatched Pittsburg, 75-58, in Southeast Kansas League play at the FSHS gymnasium. In other league action, Parsons defeated Independence, 49-45, to create a three-way tie atop the league standings between those two and the Tigers. ...