Stories from Saturday, November 24, 2007

Hi neighbors. Left-over week is officially here! The "what-is-in-this?" casserole is king! Did you get your running shoes on early enough Friday? This first official Christmas shopping day thing is really something else. Just when you thought you could sleep in late and digest all of Thursday's food, you find out you have to be at the stores by five am! What is up with that? It seems it would make more sense (and be kinder) to start the shopping day later the day after America's annual turkey day. ...

Traditionally, the fourth Thursday of November is celebrated as a day of national Thanksgiving. For most folks, it is a holiday that centers around a large family gathering and dinner. It is also a day of remembering distant family members who cannot be at home or who are now remembered as part of one's family history...

The Veterans Day observance last Sunday at the Fort Scott National Cemetery drew a hardy crowd. With winds whipping out of the south at about 30 miles an hour, it made the 11 a.m. observance a bit on the cool side. With that amount of wind, the "Avenue of Flags" presented a striking picture as one headed to the cemetery...

Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer parks seem to be providing the backdrop for growing mental health problems among Gulf Coast residents ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That is where suicide attempts are 79 times the national average...

The Rev. Robert Wachter married Casey LouAnn Ross and Chris Adam Wagner at 1 p.m. Sept. 15 in St. John's Catholic Church, Iola. The bride's parents are Lany and Peggy Ross, Moran. The groom's parents are Susie and Marvin Sluder, Stark, and Billy and Marilyn Wagner, Iola.The groom's grandparents are Wanita Sluder, Eileen Wagner, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wagner and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Riebel. The bride's grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Ross...

Now that the firearm deer season has ended, duck hunters like Don Brown, Clinton, are ready for the duck season in the south zone that opened Friday. "I opened the season last month in the north zone near Fountain Grove and had a good opening day. We ended the day with five ducks, each including six teal. When the middle zone opened, I hunted near Four Rivers and had another good day...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- With December fast approaching, the warmer weather is beginning to recede, making room for colder, nastier weather conditions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, www.fema.gov.com, in addition to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service, www.weather.gov, offer online information for U.S. ...

Nevada, Mo. -- Snow and ice are likely on their way. While Missouri Department of Transportation crews gear up for bad weather, Missouri drivers have a new tool to make their winter travels safer: MoDOT's new online Traveler Information Map. Located at www.modot.org, the Traveler Information Map gives drivers an up-to-the-minute view of road conditions for major Missouri highways before they step foot outside. ...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County's annual Homes for the Holidays tour, Dec. 8 and 9, will feature a number of exceptional attractions, this year, one of which is the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main St., Fort Scott...