Stories from Saturday, November 12, 2011

Ken White reflects on his diverse life experiences, accomplishments

William Albert Wardin, 62, Arma, Kan., formerly of Nevada, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at his residence in Arma. He was born Aug. 7, 1949, in Nevada, to Hudson Wilhite Wardin and Neva Thetus Watson Wardin. Bill was raised in Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School in 1967. ...

Ronald Ray Simmons, 73, died Nov. 9, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., following a heart attack. He was born June 17, 1938, in Fort Scott, Kan., the youngest of five children born to Earl and Hazel (Killion) Simmons. Ron attended Fort Scott schools his entire life, graduating from Fort Scott High School in 1956. ...

Evelyn Faye Niemeir Marr, 95, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., and more recently of Fort Worth, Texas, went to be with the Lord, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, in Fort Worth, Texas. She was born Jan. 13, 1916, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Charles Fredrick Niemeir and Pearl Calvin Niemeir. Evelyn grew up on a farm, enjoying fun times with her four brothers and five sisters...

Loretta Mae Collins, 89, a resident of Medicalodge of Fort Scott, died early Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center. Funeral services for Loretta Collins will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott. Service time will be posted on the funeral home's Web site, cheneywitt.com, by Saturday evening...

There is less than one week left to nominate some business for the city's 2011 Business Revitalization Award, Julie Lewis, community enhancement director, said Thursday afternoon. "The deadline for nominations is Nov. 18," Lewis said, adding that the award will be presented during a December city council meeting...

Lori A. Layher, 35, of Moundville, a former Bronaugh High School counselor, has been charged by a special prosecutor with six felony counts that accuse her of having sexual relations with two male students who were both juveniles at the time. The charges were filed on Nov. 3 in the Vernon County Circuit Court...

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Actor, author, journalist, cowboy and erstwhile political candidate Will Rogers was in Fort Scott Tuesday in the person of Andy Hogan. Hogan, a historical guide and Will Rogers interpreter at the Claremore Will Rogers Memorial Museum since 2005, was the featured speaker at the Historical Preservation Association of Bourbon County's annual meeting at the Old Congregational Church...

Nevada, Mo. -- The young Southwest Missourians who fought in the Vietnam War of the 1960s came home to a reception much different from the respect and gratitude shown to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan today. One of them was Nevada's Andrew "Andy" Anderson, who was proud of serving his country and surviving 12 months of combat until confronted with war protestors at his 4:30 a.m., Dec. 26, 1969, arrival in San Francisco...

Fort Scott, Nevada groups host special events to honor those who served in military.