Stories from Saturday, December 22, 2012

Loretta Sue Claspill, 58, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at her home following a lengthy illness. She was born on Feb. 4, 1954, in Fort Scott, Kan., to Floyd H. Kutina and Helen Marie Klontz Kutina. She married Carol L. Claspill on July 21, 1972, in Nevada, and he survives of the home...

City of Fort Scott offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Offices will reopen Wednesday, Dec. 26. Bourbon County offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday. The courthouse will be open Monday, Dec. 31, but closed Jan. 1 for New Year's Day...

A headline on the Tribune Sports page Thursday incorrectly identified the Uniontown Junior High girls' basketball team as the JV. The Tribune regrets the error.

On My Own Inc. recently participated in the Disability History and Awareness poster and essay contest, promoting awareness of disability history and the contributions of people with disabilities. In May 2011, the Missouri Legislature passed House Bill 555, authorizing school boards to require the provision of disability history and awareness instruction in public schools in October each year...

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Steve Doucet says that if you call someone an Elvis impersonator they are likely to get very upset. "It's an ETA, Elvis Tribute Artist," Doucet said. "Because you are not trying to be Elvis or anything, you are just trying to give a tribute to him and do the best you can."...

Vernon County Prosecutor Lynn N. Ewing III said Friday that he dismissed a fraud case against Sheldon Mayor Robert Sewell because the evidence was insufficient to prove that Sewell forged more than $150,000 in checks on a 97-year-old Nevada man's bank account...

Although there are still some concerns in the community, USD 234 Superintendent Diane Gross said fears of violence at Fort Scott High School have decreased. In a letter to parents Thursday, Gross explained there had been a prank phone call to Winfield Scott Elementary School earlier in the week, saying there was an intruder and a fire on campus...