News
Ash Grove presence at meeting with EPA
Nearly three dozen Ash Grove employees showed up Friday donning the now-familiar “Real Families, Kansas Jobs” t-shirts, carrying American flags and signs in the bitter cold. They were at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s  Region 7 offices in downtown Kansas City, Kan., to protest the closed-door meeting of the EPA administrator and a handful of Chanute residents who have concerns regarding Ash Grove Cement’s operations. As with all pr...
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A relative in the White House
Jason Peake Tribune writer Dean Dillard was casually reading a newspaper when he came across some familiar names.  Moments later, Dillard came to a realization  — he’s related to Barack Obama. A longtime Chanute resident and retired Neosho County Community College professor, Dillard confirmed to the Tribune this week that he is related to the current President of the United States. Dillard is a second cousin, once removed, from Obama. “I’ve kn...
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Pawz Fest Castaways benefit on April 2
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter In an effort to begin building a safe haven for animals, those working toward the Castaways Animal Shelter and Sanctuary in Chanute have devoted much time and effort in the past five years to setting up booths, garage sales and holding fundraisers. During 2010, volunteers raised a total of $7,846.98 to put toward their savings of more than $120,000 for the new location. But in order to become a fully funct...
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Partner in Progress announced by Chamber
Shanna Guiot Tribune Bob Harwood, DVM, was announced Thursday as the Chanute Chamber of Commerce Partner in Progress. More than 50 people attended the State of the City luncheon and Partner in Progress award presentation in the New Chicago Room. The award is usually presented at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting, but due to scheduling conflicts, the honoree was unable to attend that gathering. It is tradition to keep the identity of ...
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Historic tax credits can revitalize downtown
Stu Butcher Tribune editor Main Street Chanute is taking steps to support downtown revitalization by obtaining historic tax credits — income tax reductions provided by federal and state government as an incentive to preserve historic structures. “Chanute and you can benefit from historic tax credits,” said Ken Matney, Main Street president. Besides tax dollar savings, examples are job creation and enticement for new business. The easiest ...
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Republican Party executive visits SEK
Tribune staff Ashley McMillan is looking for a few good men and women. She is a recruiter, but as executive director of the Kansas Republican Party She’s looking for possible political candidates. McMillan, hosted by Mary Alice Lair, paid a visit to Neosho County on Wednesday. She also planned stops in Neodesha and Yates Center. McMillan previously served five years in the Washington, D.C. office of Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) Working i...
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Fire Department to install smoke, carbon monoxide detectors
John Gamble, battalion chief for the Chanute Fire Department, has announced a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector project. Local firefighters will come to the home and install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors free of charge This local program is possible from a grant through the Kansas Fire Injury Prevention Project. An informed sample of program homes found 1,164 lives have potentially been saved.  Program staff have e...
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Arson suspect appears in court
Tribune staff Delana Capps, who was arrested on suspicion of setting fire to the Rendezvous Club, 11 N. Evergreen. on Feb. 7, had her first hearing on Tuesday, March 22. The originally scheduled video arraignment for Feb. 16 had been rescheduled. After being charged with one count of aggravated arson in February, Capps bonded out of Neosho County Jail by posting bond of $150,000. The 26-year-old Chanute woman arrived at the hearing in Erie a...
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Creative writing elective for Royster students
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Royster Middle School creative writing students were on stage Thursday afternoon, as each of them shared stories they had written to parents, grandparents, peers and other visitors. The class, comprised of seventh and eighth grade students, has been taught for the past five years by Carrie LaRue. Because the class is taught as an elective, it is a choice. In the last five years it has evolved from 12 stu...
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Sisters, 7 and 4, sing for CWC
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter At the Christian Women’s Club brunch Thursday morning they were treated to two very talented guest singers for the music portion of the morning. The performers, Olivia Daugharthy, 7, and her younger sister, Eva, 4, were well-received by attendees as they sang their duet, He’s Still Working On Me. While this was Eva’s first performance, Olivia has sang in the past at church and school, and the two girls ...
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Main Street benches Eagle Scout project
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Through the efforts of Boy Scout David Stanislaus, the City of Chanute received two new benches for the walking trail on Main Street at the tracks. Stanislaus, a senior at Chanute High School, put the benches up as his final task in becoming an Eagle Scout. “I’m trying to become an Eagle Scout and big service projects that we have to do are one of the requirements, to work our way up from Scout rank to Ten...
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413 board candidates speak out at forum
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter USD 413 School Board Candidates took the stage and closed out Thursday’s Candidate Forum at the Memorial Auditorium, sponsored by the Chanute Chamber of Commerce. The first seat was taken by current school board member Ross Hendrickson, followed by Brad LaRue, standing president of USD 413 School Board Kellie Thomen, and former Chanute High School science teacher Sean Bowman. Mike Reid served as moderato...
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Applicants, volunteers needed for Mission Blitz
Tribune staff For the ninth year, Mission Blitz in Chanute will assist homeowners who, because of health or income limitations, are unable to do the tasks requested. On Saturday, May 7 and Saturday, May 14 volunteers will be doing: • Minor home repair and construction; siding repair, porches, steps, ramps • Painting; interior and exterior (one-story only) • Yard work; raking, mowing, pruning, weeding • Gutter cleaning “The majority of th...
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Saturday’s outage has far-reaching effects
During a hail and thunderstorm Saturday around noon, the city suffered a power outage that lasted about an hour. “We get our electric transmission service from Westar,” said Larry Gates, director of utilities for the City of Chanute.  “Westar had a fault on their line that tripped the incoming breakers.  We also had a communications failure to our SCADA system that would not let us see our other line.  We had to do some switching in the Ash G...
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St. Patty’s ‘Green Parade’ rescheduled
The St Patty’s “Green Parade” has been rescheduled for this Saturday at noon, beginning at Katy Park. Judging will take place at 11:30 a.m., so participants need to be lined up by then. If it is stormy again this Saturday, it will be cancelled and not rescheduled, said Sharon Stirewalt, Main Street director. She advised listening to KINZ Radio and checking Facebook at 11 a.m. for a decision. Call Sharon at 431-0056 with questions or email di...
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Elsmore woman killed in Thursday crash
A 45-year-old Elsmore woman, Tammy S. Hughes, was killed in a three-vehicle accident around 2 p.m. Thursday on Delaware Road, .3 miles east of US. 169 southeast of Humboldt (Tank Farm Road.) The Kansas Highway Patrol report stated Merle Beeman, 70, Humboldt, driving a 1994 Freightliner semi and Michael Dean DuPuy, 49, Chanute, in a 2001 International semi, were eastbound on Delaware Road. Hughes, driving a 2005 Chevrolet, was westbound. DuP...
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Local candidates stage forum
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter The Chanute Chamber of Commerce and Area Tourism held a candidate forum Thursday night for members of Chanute to get to know candidates better before the April 5 election. Candidates running for Chanute City Commission and USD 413 School Board met in the Chanute Memorial Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. Because there are just three candidates and three positions for the Neosho County Community College Board of Trus...
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Worrying about relatives in Japan frustrating
Stu Butcher Tribune editor Takako Griffith of Chanute has been glued to the Internet since the 9.0 earthquake devastated her home country of Japan. The day of she immediately began making phone calls to her mother, who resides in a suburb of Tokyo, where damages were not as bad as in the epicenter in the north of Japan. Phones rang, but there was no answer. “It was very frustrating,” Griffith said. “I spent the whole day sitting in front o...
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413 students learn ways to get school connected
Connie Woodard USD 413 After listening to a nationally recognized speaker at Pittsburg, about 30 middle and high school students returned to Chanute energized and ready to “do something” to make their schools better. The goal is to get more students involved or connected at school, said eighth grader Storme Jones. Mark Scharenbroich said to incorporate more low risk activities and fewer high risk activities. “A high risk activity may sound...
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CES sponsors two through Compassion International
Connie Woodard USD 413 Chanute Elementary students are making a concerted effort to remind everyone at school about the girl from Honduras and boy from Ghana who they’ve sponsored through Compassion International. “The kids love doing it,” said Jennie Hasty, a volunteer at CES with her daughter Becky Clements, who takes care of the finances and correspondence between the school and the children. So now, in addition to picking up the donati...
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