Stories from Saturday, May 15, 2010

If it came to a choice between hearing Rubinstein in Carnegie Hall, and seeing Howdy-Doody and his antics with the evil Doctor Pauley on our little black-and-white TV, I'd have no trouble choosing. But no one asked me for my preference: So, on a mid-March lunch hour, my mother helped me dress for the concert, in a little brown herringbone suit bought especially for the occasion...

At the Fort Scott Invitational track meet in late April, a crowd had gathered at the high jump pit at the north end of the stadium. Griffin Knopp had outlasted all the other high jumpers and had now reached the level where he was jumping over his head. His fan club in the crowd consisted of both grandpa's, parents and friends who were there to encourage the Tiger junior...

Hi neighbors. Some of you may not know it but May is a month chock full of celebrations and recognitions. National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from National Nurses Day, May 6 this year, through May 12 which is the birthday of the most famous of nurses -- Florence Nightingale. I realize this celebration has come and gone, but hey, we all know a nurse worthy of recognition don't we? And they work every week of every year so tell a nurse you appreciate her...

Edith Charmian Gorman, age 89 of Mound City, Kan., passed away Wednesday May 12, 2010, at Fort Scott Manor at Fort Scott. Edith was born in Mound City, Kan., on April 9, 1921, the daughter of Gus and Grace Good Warzel. The family later moved to Fort Scott, where Edith spent most of her life until her marriage to Bernard Gorman on June 9, 1949, at which time Edith and Bernard returned to Mound City, Kan...

Frankie Lee Shelton, 62, of rural Fort Scott, died unexpectedly at Mercy Health System's emergency room following an apparent heart attack. Family and funeral information will be announced later Cheney-Witt Chapel, Fort Scott.

The Nevada Parks and Recreation Department is preparing once again to give swim lessons. The department will hold sign ups for the Learn to Swim Program on Wednesday and Thursday, May 19 and 20, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Community Center. Cost for the program is $25 per child and a variety of different sessions will be offered. The lessons are for children of all ages from infant on up...

Another class has achieved success in the Vernon County Adult Recovery Court, formerly the Vernon County Drug Court, and is ready to graduate. A commencement ceremony will be held in the circuit courtroom of Judge James Bickel Tuesday, May 18, at 5 p.m., the 21st group of graduates to pass through the diversionary program offering recovery and a second chance to certain offenders facing drug-related charges since its inception...

Provide-A-Ride is an all-volunteer transportation service developed by Care Connection for Aging Services and the Vernon County Senior Center. This volunteer transportation service enables older adults to keep medical appointments and utilize medical services they would otherwise be unable to access...

On Saturday, May 8, the Nevada Police Department, in cooperation with personnel from the Southwest Missouri DWI Task Force, Vernon County Sheriff's Office and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, conducted a sobriety checkpoint at the intersection of Osage and Austin Boulevards...

The Vernon County Optimist Club and the Missouri Department of Conservation are sponsoring a Family Fishing Day for the Kids at Walton Lake Saturday May 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children ages 12 and younger. Parents are required to attend with the child but no fishing license is required if the parents only assist the child...

The fireworks are coming. That's the word from Phyllis Sprenkle, who is spearheading the committee to bring the Fourth of July celebration back. Last year, the sky above the Vernon County fairgrounds remained dark on Fourth of July weekend and Nevada residents were left to entertain themselves without the traditional display which had been presented by the Firefighters Local 3031 for many years...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School dance team sponsor Abby Kramer, 23, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by the Fort Scott Police Department for sexual exploitation of a child and unlawful sexual relations. According to FSPD Lt. Shaun West, the arrest was made after school officials reported an incident occurring Wednesday to the police. West said the case is still under investigation...

Nevada, Mo. -- Joseph M. Cathey, 24, of the Nevada-Fort Scott area was arraigned in the associate circuit court of Vernon County on May 13, 2010, on one class A felony count of murder in the first degree and on one unclassified felony count of armed criminal action...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The next chapters in the lives of more than 150 Fort Scott Community College graduates began on Friday. Students received associate degrees or certificates during two separate ceremonies Friday at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus. FSCC President Clayton Tatro addressed about 100 of those graduates in an auditorium packed with friends and family members during the first ceremony Friday morning...

Gilbert and Lois Wenz of Holyrood, Kan., Byron Vibbert of Newton, Kan., and Shirley Hodge of Hutchinson, Kan., announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Amy Renee Wenz, Winfield, Kan., and Robert Eugene Vibbert, Newton. Grandparents of the couple are Dale and Mabel Anschutz, of Ellsworth, Kan.; Elsie and the late Erwin Wenz, of Holyrood, Kan.; Don and Edyth Vibbert, Hutchinson, Kan.; and Ella May and the late Jack Saker, Fort Scott, Kan...

Terry and Melody Krueger, Winfield, Kan., and Owen and Sue Stites, Prescott, Kan., announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Amanda Kay Krueger and Blake Eugene Stites. The bride-elect graduated from Winfield High School in 2000, Cowley Community College in 2002, and University of Kansas 2005. She is the Team Lead of New Order Department at Foreclosure Management Company, Overland Park, Kan...

Sam and Nancy Eaves, of El Dorado Springs, announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Joletia Eaves, to Jordan Mikel Richner, son of Mike and Jan Richner, of Pleasant Hope, Mo. Miss Eaves is a 2004 graduate of El Dorado Springs High School and a 2007 graduate of Missouri State University. ...

At a recent family gathering, one of my great-grandsons caught his first fish from our pond and was the happiest boy around and proud of his first catch, a 6-inch bluegill. Bluegill and kids go together. Usually, the first fish many youngsters catch is a bluegill or sunfish and now is a good time to find them in ponds, lakes or streams...

NEVADA -- The Nevada High School golf program is set to host their annual golf academy for all interested youth who have completed first through eighth grade. The academy will consist of four sessions that are geared toward teaching the basics of putting, the full swing, chipping, pitching, golf etiquette and the rules of the game. The cost of the clinic will be $30 and will include a T-shirt, four instructional sessions and entry into the tournament that is to be held on the clinic's final day...

Louis and Darlene Chermok, Fort Scott, Kan., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 6, 2010, with a reception for family and friends at Kennedy Gymnasium, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will be hosted by the couple's four children: Michael and Kristin Chermok, Olathe, Kan.; Daniel and Dalene Chermok, Fruita, Colo.; Richard Chermok, Garland, Kan.; and Teresa and Darren Maynard, Fort Scott...

The family of Galen and Marita Bigelow will host a celebration of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary on June 5, 2010, from 1-3 p.m., at the Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott St., Fort Scott, Kan. The occasion is open to friends and family. Galen and Marita were married on June 7, 1960, at the First Church of God at the Corner of Wall and Broadway in Fort Scott...