Stories from Sunday, December 18, 2005

By Lynn A. Wade Herald-Tribune While shoppers are hurrying to buy gifts, give a donation, and wrap up a happy holiday, a different kind of hustle is taking place. Would-be Grinches are lurking about, striving to steal a little Christmas in a variety of ways...

By Michael Glover Herald-Tribune As the holidays supposedly evoke peace, happiness and love, it's also a time of isolation and despair for women suffering from domestic violence. Wilma Leach, an advocate against domestic violence in of Fort Scott, said domestic violence during holidays increases because of triggers caused by several stressors...

By Jason E. Silvers Herald-Tribune The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will get details on a proposed plan by city officials to construct a new aquatic center in Fort Scott. During their regular meeting at 5:30 p.m., Monday, in the FSCC Heritage Room, 2108 S. Horton St., Fort Scott, the trustees are scheduled to receive a report from Amanda Hale, a local entrepreneur and chairwoman of the planning committee for the project, which is still in the preliminary stages of development...

By Steve Moyer Herald-Tribune They're coming home, Company A from Nevada and Company D from Lamar, of the Missouri National Guard. Kent Mathis, a public relations specialist from Kansas City, said that the group would arrive in Fort Riley, Kan. on Dec. 19 and go through several days of outprocessing and should be back in Nevada by the Dec. 23...

A.J. Greer happily helps the Vernon County Ambulance District and Community Outreach, at the toy and food drive held Friday at the National Guard Armory in Nevada. This event helps families who facing hardship with Christmas gifts for children collected by VCAD and with food and other items for the holiday season collected by Community Outreach...

By Nancy Malcom Herald-Tribune A pilot program titled Occupational Readiness is being offered this year at Nevada High School. As a three hour block program, the course covers everything from major home repair and remodeling to shutting off an overflowing toilet...

Kyle and Erin Forkner, Richards, are proud to announce the birth or their daughter, Emma Grace Forkner. Emma was born Nov. 22, 2005, at Fort Scott Mercy Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and measured 20.5 inches. Paternal grandparents are Doug and Janet Forkner, Nevada, and Laurie and Kevin Woolfolk, Saratoga, Wyo...

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Applegate, Schell City, and Bryce and Logan, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter and sister, Lakyn Jace Applegate. Lakyn was born at 7:11 p.m., Dec. 7, 2005, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and measured 19.5 inches...

Margie I. Simmons, 82, Nevada, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at the Joe Clark Residential Care Home in Nevada. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home.

Nina V. Phipps, Lamar, 93, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at Barton County Hospital, Lamar. Services will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18, at Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar. Graveside at Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon. Visitation from 7-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16, at the funeral home...

Hi neighbors. If you have mail going out of the country, you're probably too late to get it there for Christmas. I'm not certain, but I think the deadline has passed on Christmas cards and letters as well. Oh well, don't despair. There is still the Internet with e-cards available cheap or free. I haven't told my family yet, but this year they may all get e-cards...

**PRIDE House thanks community for support Dear editor: The students and teachers of the Nevada High School PRIDE House, a new program that incorporates occupational readiness and daily living skills, would like to thank all of the businesses and people who have donated their time, materials and supplies. ...

One thing about Minnesota's December weather, it was easy to remember that Christmas was just around the corner. Here in Missouri, I find it a little difficult to align the beautiful spring-like weather with the spirit of the Christmas holidays. A couple of things remind me, however. ...

By Joe Warren Herald-Tribune HARRISONVILLE, Mo -- Nevada senior Eric Good made a layup with 1.5 seconds left to lift the Tigers over Harrisonville Friday, 44-42. Good made his only field goal attempt of the game after getting a pass from Bryan Campbell in the paint, sending the Wildcats to their sixth consecutive loss and handing Nevada their sixth victory of the season...

By Scott Nuzum Herald-Tribune FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- It was a "three"-for-all at the Fort Scott High School gymnasium Friday night as the Tigers nailed a season-high nine 3-point goals in a 55-40 rout of rival Pittsburg in a non-league game. Zach Smith connected on 6-of-13 3-point shots on his own -- he went 8-of-16 overall -- as he finished with a season high 22 points. ...

Herald-Tribune UNIONTOWN, Kan. -- Pittsburg Colgan, the No. 1-ranked team in Kansas Class 2A as far as the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association is concerned, showed why it has that lofty honor in an 85-57 win over Uniontown here Friday night. This was the 30th consecutive victory for the defending 2A state champion Panthers...

Somebody get the water quick, I'm burning up. With my Week 14 picks I went 13-3, only losing San Diego, Oakland and Carolina. Nobody saw the Chargers game coming and the other two games involved closely matched teams that were surprisingly dominated (at least I was surprised) in convincing fashion...

By Scott Nuzum Herald-Tribune FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- A 23-3 run made an already wide margin insurmountable as Fort Scott High's girls took a 58-22 victory over Pittsburg in a non-league game Friday night at the FSHS gymnasium. The Tigers, 4-1, were already ahead 14-6 with just a little over three minutes to go when Afton Gray's three-point shot from the right wing ignited the barrage that lasted until the end of the first half. ...

Herald-Tribune UNIONTOWN, Kan. -- Pittsburg Colgan's girls didn't take a lot of shots but made most of what they took as the Panthers defeated homestanding Uniontown, 56-46, here Friday night. Colgan made 20 of 41 shots from the field. Take out an oh-for-five night from the three-point line and you have a 56-percent shooting night on two-point goals. Colgan was also 16 of 31 at the free-throw line...

Herald-Tribune PLEASANTON, Kan. -- Derek Brown's 27 points led Pleasanton to a 50-26 victory over Rich Hill, Mo. here Friday night. The Blu-Jays improved to 2-4 with the win. They led 13-3 after one period and also outscored the Tigers 10-2 in the fourth quarter...

Just before many area lakes and ponds froze over, I have found out that hunting is a lot like fishing. In many cases the old saying, "You should have been here yesterday" holds true. Also, in hunting you never know when it's going to be good or bad so you should never pass up an opportunity for a hunting trip...

Clarence and Fannie (Woods) Walker will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, at the Mapleton Community Center, Mapleton, Kan. The Walkers were married Dec. 24, 1955, in Miami, Okla. They now have six children, 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Tim Lewis, Clint Walker, Jesse Walker, Sue Fay and Andy Walker are hosting the reception...

The children and spouses of Harold and Lucille Shumaker, life-long residents of Nevada, will host an open house Jan. 1, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Super 8's meeting room in Nevada, to celebrate the 65th wedding anniversary of their parents. All are welcome; omission of gifts is requested...

Betty and Neil McQueen celebrated 60 years of marriage Sunday, Dec. 11, with family from Missouri and Texas. They were married in Fort Scott, Kan., on Dec. 11, 1945.

Jennifer Johnson and Stephen Greer of Kansas City, Mo., were married on Nov. 12, 2005, in a beachfront ceremony at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, Fla. The bride is the daughter of Debby Lawless, Nevada, Mo., and Charles and Christa Johnson, Tulsa, Okla. She is the granddaughter of Homer and Nancy Ellis, Nevada, and the late Launa Ellis. Stephen is the son of Jim and Rita Greer, Kansas City, Mo...

Cheryl Boerger and Michael Hay were married on April 23, 2005, at Trinity Lutheran Church, West Bend, Wis. Terry Berg, pastor, officiated. Parents are Robert and Lyla Boerger of West Bend, and Gladys Hay of Girard, Kan., and the late Ernest Hay Jr. The matron of honor was Susan Good and bridesmaids were Beth Schmitt, Judy Loken and Nancy Krusemark. Grace Good was flower girl...

Franklin P. Norman, 95, died on Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at Christian Health Care, Nevada, Mo., following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 23, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park. Family information will be announced later by the funeral home...

Bobby Joe Collins announces the engagement and approaching marriage of his daughter, Marissa Nichole, to Cpl. Kristopher David Spencer, son of Margaret and the late David Spencer. The couple welcomes the presence of family and friends as they begin their lives together at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at the Community of Christ Church, 1623 S. Eddy St., Fort Scott.