Stories from Friday, June 30, 2017

Emma Lou Pargen, 75, formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday afternoon, June 28, 2017 at her home in Joplin, Mo. She was born Aug. 23, 1941, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Bill and Bernice (Emrick) Patterson. She married Donald Ray Pargen Aug. 11, 1961, in Fort Scott, Kan. He preceded her in death July 6, 2014...

Community members, city officials and others were able to share ideas and hear more details about design of a bike and pedestrian plan in Bourbon County at a public forum Tuesday at City Hall. Representatives of the PedNet Coalition, a nonprofit based in Columbia, Mo., were on hand to provide background on a grant the county received in 2016 toward creating a healthier county, as well as an assessment of the community’s sidewalks, trails and other infrastructure...

Bourbon County Commissioners began scrutinizing the first draft of the proposed 2018 budget when they met with Certified Public Accountant Terry Sercer Thursday. For several weeks, the commissioners have been collecting budget requests from department heads and outside agencies that receive partial funding from the county. (See additional article on specific requests.)...

A large U.S. flag flies in the breeze against a backdrop of an overcast sky Thursday morning on North Main Street.

This is the first of two parts. The second part will be published in the Wednesday, July 5 edition. On a muggy afternoon in mid-June, 2016 Fort Scott High School graduate Kaleb DeLaTorre was among the first players to arrive on game-day at the Joplin Outlaws clubhouse at Joe Becker Stadium...