News
Superintendent Parsons retires from Chanute Public Schools
Reception Wednesday at CES  Connie Woodard Special to the Tribune After 40 years in education in southeast Kansas, Superintendent Stephen Parsons is stepping down from a satisfying career with no regrets.  “Every step in my career has been positive and provided a great opportunity for me to grow and learn,” Parsons said. “You get to meet and work with some really great people. I have been blessed to have been given the chance to learn from...
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Uganda experience stimulates return trip
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Chanute resident Hallea Geiger returned last week from her four-month mission in Tororo, Uganda where she worked at Smile, a school with around 450 children. Geiger and three other girls, including Chanute resident Kayla Ramsey, volunteered their time and worked with the children at Smile six days a week. Geiger and Ramsey spent the morning caring for the babies and in the afternoon the younger children woul...
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Questions answered about Murray Hill nomination
Stu Butcher Tribune editor When the announcement that Murray Hill School had been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places was made, questions have arisen. Rep. Jerry Williams, D-Chanute, approached Jennie Chinn, executive director of Kansas Historical Society. “A high degree of concern is now present in Chanute,” Williams said in an email to Chinn. “This decision comes at the same time the City of Chanute is moving to declare an...
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Italian cooking straight from Sicily kitchen
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Luigi’s Italian restaurant made its debut in Chanute last week in the downstairs of the Mercantile building at 115 E. Main. The restaurant is owned by Vito Morina, but is a family run business all the way down to the recipes from which the dishes are derived. The Morina family, originally from Sicily, moved to Germany when they were young where their parents owned a restaurant. After learning the family recip...
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Oldest graduate prevailed over Physical Science requirement
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Long time Chanute resident Elly McCoy proved this spring that it is never too late to receive a college degree. McCoy, who is in her early 80s though she did not wish to say her exact age, is the oldest graduate from Neosho County Community College ever. She beat out Violet Goff who was 81 years old when she earned her degree in 1993. “Her determination and efforts are an inspiration to anyone who wants to...
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Cause of power outage uncertain
The City of Chanute is unclear about what caused a citywide power outage Thursday morning. Larry Gates, director of utilities, said engineers will be on site today to do more extensive investigation. “There are two or three issues we are looking into,” he said. “We were test running the turbine when the VAR control dropped out. It tripped the bus differential (should not have happened), which cleared the bus and locked everything out. Until...
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Pros and cons aired about outlining historic district
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter A public meeting was held Tuesday evening at Central Park Pavilion in order to allow the public to discuss a local ordinance proposed to create a certified local government and outline a historic district. This meeting came after the April 18 City Commission meeting where several citizens aired their concerns about the proposed ordinance. A panel of experts were on hand to answer questions about historic di...
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Bike safety check scheduled on Monday
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter During the month of May, the Neosho County Health Department has been promoting bicycle safety for younger children as part of Bicycle Safety Month. In the last month, Health Department Director Teresa Starr has passed out pamphlets, spoken during a daycare Parents Cafe, and worked with the trauma council on a commercial promoting trauma prevention and bicycle safety. To end Bicycle Safety Month, the Neosh...
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Murray Hill School nominated for National Register of Historic Places
The nomination of the former Murray Hill School in Chanute has been forwarded to the office of the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C., to be evaluated by professional staff. If they concur with the Historic Sites Board of Review’s findings, the property will be included in the National Register. The Kansas Historical Society in Topeka held its regular quarterly meeting on Saturday, May 14. The board voted to...
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Technology students challenged at state competition
Connie Woodard Tribune Reporter Mix together a little bit of creativity, a dash of artistry, a generous helping of technology and the ability to work under pressure, and a teacher ends up with the kind of student who can perform well at the Technology Student Association’s state competition. After returning from the three-day TSA competition in Salina, CHS technology teacher Shannon Hill said her students are learning what it takes to compe...
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Merle Kelly Ford goes green with PPG waterborne paint
Merle Kelly Ford in Chanute has taken a proactive stand in protecting the environment by going “green” with its paint finishing system. The collision center recently switched to a low-VOC PPG waterborne basecoat from a conventional solvent-based system. “Our use of waterborne basecoat for refinishing our customers’ vehicles significantly reduces the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere,” said Dick Kelly, general m...
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Chanute maintains Take Charge! Challenge lead
Based on results through April 30, Chanute is still winning the Southeast Region of The Take Charge! Challenge. According to the Quarter 2 March 15-April 30 stat sheet, Chanute residents switched 9,035 energy efficient CFL bulbs (more than 1 per resident). Energy Management Group provided Efficiency Kansas energy audits to 13 residents. An additional four residents have completed their EK projects. Chanute reached out to 139 business owners a...
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Energy lab open house on Wednesday
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Neosho County Community College will be hosting an open house for the public at the site of its construction class project, the energy efficient house on 7th and Santa Fe. The energy lab open house will be Wednesday, May 18 on a come and go basis from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Food will be served, light bulbs and free light switch and outlet insulators will be given to visitors, and door prizes will be handed ou...
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Get fit options for the summer
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Inertia Health and Fitness has several new ways to get and stay in shape this summer in the form of fitness classes going on throughout the week. Kiley Allen, co-owner of Inertia, will be teaching a variety of classes including Cardio Funk, Arms and Abs, Butts and Guts, and Extreme Abs. Allen will also teach water aerobics at the pool this summer. Arms and Abs will be on Monday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 9:...
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College graduation lists
KU announces 2011 candidates for degrees LAWRENCE — The names of more than 4,800 candidates for degrees at the University of Kansas this spring — representing 99 Kansas counties, 43 other states and 59 other countries — have been announced by the University Registrar. The Class of 2011 includes about 2,580 students who completed degree work in summer and fall 2010. Because KU conducts only one formal Commencement ceremony each year, many of th...
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Activity-filled week at care facilities
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter In recognition of National Nursing Home Week, Heritage Healthcare and Chanute Healthcare centers have been involving residents in a series of activities to celebrate the care given to residents and the quality of life available. To kick off the week at Chanute Healthcare, staff members held a balloon lift off on Monday afternoon followed by a baby contest that evening, attracting babies and toddlers of...
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McCune-Robinson changes name
MRH Insurance Group, Inc. has a new name, but the same staff and same great service. Ross Hendrickson, president of what was formerly known as McCune-Robinson, Inc., said the new name will officially be in effect on Tuesday, May 17. He said there has been an ownership change from Dave and Alice Robinson to Ross and his wife, Amy, the eldest daughter of the Robinsons. “What’s neat for us is transition to the third generation, and someday may...
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Chanute High School graduation at 2 p.m. on Sunday
Chanute High School graduation will be in the high school gymnasium at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Doors will open at 12:45.  A shuttle service will be provided from 1:15-2. Saturday kicks off Music in the Park The first Music in the Park concert will be Saturday, May 14, featuring Hillbilly Bus Stop. It will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe Park Fiesta Grounds. The season is presented by the Parks Advisory Board. Hillbilly Bus Stop is made up of Crai...
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Mowing grows into big business
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Steve Finley started Finley’s Lawn Care 16 years ago as a hobby, with nothing but a push mower. That’s right, he thought mowing lawns was fun, and he still does. He has more than a push mower these days and he is not the only one doing the mowing anymore, but he still enjoys being outside and cutting grass. “I have terrible and expensive hobbies. I used to race motocross in Texas and Oklahoma,” said Finley....
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Focus begins on July county fair
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Neosho County 4-Hers are gearing up for this year’s fair, a chance for participants to show off the projects they have worked on throughout the year. While the fair is centered around the participant’s projects, the event is not just for 4-Hers. Several of the events within the weeklong festivities are open to the public and Neosho County residents are encouraged to join 4-Hers and their families to enjoy...
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