Stories from Saturday, March 10, 2012

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Beacon Benefit Soup Line, a community tradition for many years, is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the local food pantry and community assistance agency. This year's event is slated to take place from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main St. The annual fundraiser helps provide operating cash for The Beacon, an agency that provides food and financial assistance to needy and low-income families in Bourbon County...

The search process to fill open teacher and administrative positions at USD 234 is temporarily on hold until a new superintendent is hired, school board members said. "Most of the positions have been set aside for the time being," Business Manager Tiffany Forester said...

Five teachers from the USD 234 school district traveled to Emporia State University recently for a conference about children's literacy skills. The 14th annual Kansas Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Conference drew more than 100 educators from across the state for the March 5 event. More than 40 districts within the state sent educators to hear the two featured expert speakers...

According to the National Weather Service, 2011 was the fourth deadliest tornado year in U.S. history. The May 22 Joplin tornado, which damaged or destroyed more than 8,000 homes and businesses and was responsible for 161 deaths, was the deadliest tornado on record since modern recordkeeping began in 1950...

Contributors to the yearly Muscular Dystrophy Association fund drive today will get an early dose of St. Patrick's Day. It's all part of a friendly competition between the Pump 'N Pete's stores in the region. From noon-2 p.m. today at the Pump 'N Pete's 1920 S. Main St., Fort Scott, location leprechauns will pump gas and wash windows for customers, provided they donate at least $1 for each service...

Automobile accidents often happen so quickly that specific details are not remembered or are forgotten over a period of time. That's not the case with Seth Alexander of Schell City, Mo. Alexander, 16, can remember "every detail" of the Nov. 2, 2011, rural Vernon County accident that changed his life forever...

About 50 business and civic leaders from Nevada and Fort Scott gathered for a joint chamber after-hours mixer at Hoffman Financial Services, in the Carnegie Building in Nevada on Friday. It's the second time in a year the two organizations have conducted the cross-border networking event. Pictured are Fort Scott Mayor Jim Adams (left) and Nevada Mayor Brian Leonard (right)...

Henry Earl Wisner, 81, a resident of Fort Scott, died Thursday, March 8, 2012, at his home. He was born June 19, 1930, in Johnstown, Pa., the son of Harry Milton Wisner and Gertrude Peer Wisner. He married Merna Sue Ream on Feb. 25, 1955, at Glendale, Calif. ...

Mae Susong, 104, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Medicalodges for Fort Scott. She was born Dec. 26, 1907, in Anson, Texas, the daughter of Leonard Davis and Martha Horton Davis. She married Thomas E. Morrison. He preceded her in death. She later married Loyd Susong. He also preceded her in death...

Norman D. Beisly, 71, Nevada, passed away on Friday, March 9, 2012, at Nevada Regional Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was born Dec. 22, 1940, in Nevada, to Norman Basil Beisly and Emma Neomi Dean Beisly. He married LaDeane Bobbett on June 24, 1961, in Nevada, and she survives of the home...

John Lewiston Winscott, 71, Independence, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 7, 2012. John was born Jan. 15, 1941, in Nevada, Mo., the son of Roy Levi and Nellie Alberta (Allen) Winscott. He was a U.S. Army veteran. John retired in 1991 from the General Motors Leeds plant and was a member of the UAW Local No. ...

Reba Weller, 97, of Pleasanton, Kan., died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Countryview Nursing Home, Prescott, Kan. Services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 13, at the Schneider Funeral Home, Pleasanton Chapel, Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Monday, at the chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Shriners Children's Hospital. Interment will be in Littell Cemetery, Pleasanton, Kan...

Ashley and D.W. Osburn of Nevada, Mo., and older siblings Erik and Victor, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and baby sister, Halibel Tier Osburn. Halibel was born at 6:27 p.m., Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 22 inches...

Brian and Angie Daniels of Bronaugh, Mo., and older brother William, are proud to announce the birth of their son and baby brother, Thomas Franklin Daniels. Thomas was born at 9:05 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces, and measured 21 and 1/2 inches...