News
Rec Commission seeking new member
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter The Chanute Recreation Commission has a few open positions after discussing the commissioner and recreation superintendent positions during an executive session of a special meeting Monday. The departure of a current Recreation Commissioner Don Everly and Recreation Superintendent Mark Schoelmehl has the commission looking for a few good, local men or women to fill the vacancies. During Monday’s special meeting to...
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School board hears reports on teacher evaluation, data collection
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter At its Feb. 4 regular meeting Monday, the USD 413 School Board heard reports from Superintendent James Hardy on the Kansas Educator Evaluation Protocol (KEEP) and the school district’s structured walkthrough system. KEEP is one of two teacher evaluation programs for Kansas schools. Schools must pilot a state approved teacher evaluation program this fall. The school board must make a decision at the March board mee...
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Royster compiling memories scrapbook
A display is being created of the history of Royster, from when it was a junior high to its transformation to a middle school. “We would like community members to contribute with any pictures, memories they would like to share, or artifacts they would like to share for short term or long term or permanent loan,” said Nancy Brooks, Royster Middle School librarian, who along with Principal Brad Miner came up with the idea to compile a history o...
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Annual Soupline serving on Thursday
Operation Soupline, an idea that began 31 years ago, is a thriving annual fundraiser. Soup, pie and drink will be served for $6 on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Masonic Hall, 102 S. Highland. Take-out is available. The weather doesn’t seem to be a threat this year, with highs forecasted in the 50s. Funds raised are donated to the Alliance of Churches for Christian Living Emergency Fund and ACCL Utility Fund. Last year $18,000 was donated ...
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Fourth grader adjusts to disorder, new school
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Travis and Tanya Burk knew their daughter Kaynahn’s survival of a rare blood disorder made her special and continued calling her their miracle baby after learning she could not grow hair. As an infant, Kaynahn developed a rare blood disorder, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), that mimics hemophilia due to low blood platelet counts. The cause of ITP remains unknown, as does the reason for Kaynahn’s recovery...
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‘Who’s Your Honey?’ photography at Safari Museum on Saturday
The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum announces a unique photo opportunity fund raiser to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb, 9,, at the museum. There will be a free open house for the event entitled “Who’s Your Honey?” ¬†¬†¬† “We invite people to bring their spouse, their BFF, or their dog to have their photos taken,” said Diane L. Good, director of development. “Dogs are welcome, but must be on leash. This is an unusual oppo...
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Conservation awards
Grassland award to rural St. Paul couple Kenneth and Clara Whelan, rural St. Paul, are the recipients of the first Neosho County Conservation District Grassland Award. This award is given for their outstanding grassland stewardship. The Whelans began their ranching career after Kenneth returned home from his Germany tour-of-duty with the U.S. Army. At the time they rented the farm, where they now live and own. To start the young couple farm e...
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Newman University performs in Year of Faith concert series
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter The Newman University Troubadours performed for a full house at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Thursday as part of the Year of Faith concert series. The Troubadours are the premier select ensemble from Newman University, a Catholic library arts university in Wichita. They are selected by auditions based on talent, work ethic and academic standing. They have been invited and performed at Carnegie Hall three times an...
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Commissioners reject support of bid-killing bill
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter ERIE — The Neosho County Commissioners agreed not to support State Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), which they claim would undermine the county’s bidding process. Introduced to legislators by the Kansas State Committee on Federal and State Affairs, SB 54 would alter counties’ bidding process by favoring a quality based selection process. County Road and Bridge Director Charles Morse said the bill, if approved, would effect...
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Rep. Jenkins expresses ‘path to prosperity’
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter Lynn Jenkins, 2nd District U.S. representative on a tour of the state, listened to Chanute citizens at the Memorial Building Friday morning. Jenkins spoke briefly about fiscal issues before taking questions from those in attendance. Jenkins said the federal government needs a plan to bring revenues up to 20 percent of gross domestic product while bringing spending down to 20 percent. Without balancing the budget a...
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Be aware of (876) phone scam
In a Thursday press release, the Chanute Police Department reported that a Chanute resident received a scam call from an 876 number this week. Public Safety Director Sam Budreau said that the release is part of an ongoing effort to alert citizens to potential harm. The nature of this scam is that if the call from (876) 293-4821 is picked up, there won’t be anyone on the other end. This allows the scammers to see who is picking up the calls ...
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Chanute honors Babcock for commitment to athletic program
Brian McDowell Sports Editor Rex Babcock’s 34 years of commitment to Chanute’s student-athletes was recognized at this year’s Ralph Miller Classic basketball tournament. The new annual event’s sportsmanship award is now named in Babcock’s honor. Babcock, a CHS math teacher, did not know about this honor in advance. “I was really surprised,” Babcock said. “They really got me on that.” He was busy taking pictures, hundreds of pictures at the ev...
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Higher gas prices hit business owners, residents
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter With crude oil prices nearing the $100 mark, gas prices have shot up, adding financial burden to many Chanute residents. The hike in crude oil prices hits rural Chanute harder than many other areas with residents paying 11 cents more per-gallon for regular unleaded than other Midwesterners and four cents above the national average of $3.35. Local prices changed twice this week, the last .10 cents hike on Thursday....
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State legislation could mean more inmates, higher taxes
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Kansas’ overcrowded prisons could lead to more felons calling the Neosho County Jail home and higher taxes for county residents. Last week, Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Ray Roberts and KDOC Executive Director Scott Schultz suggested the state look into changing its sentencing guidelines for probation and parole violations and add $5 million to the KDOC budget. During last Friday’s Neosho Count...
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Local gymnast makes national TV appearance
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Local gymnastics instructor Casey Finley will make his second national television appearance Monday as he assists with a demonstration to promote the 2014 Winter Olympics. Finley, a Chanute native, will appear on NBC's Today at Rockefeller Plaza in New York Monday morning alongside Olympic Freestyle Skier Ryan Onge to assist in demonstrating aerial maneuvers that will start a one-year countdown to the 2014 Winter O...
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Researcher visits Safari Museum 
The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum is hosting international researcher Madie Armstrong this week. Armstrong is a native of Leicester, England, and is a Ph. D. candidate at the International Center for Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University. She is visiting the Safari Museum to study the newly acquired Elizabeth Main Le Blond collection of more than 2,000 photographs taken by Le Blond in the last part of the 19th and the ...
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Pool cleared to open despite drought concerns
Jimmy Potts Tribune reporter The Maring Aquatic Center will open this summer despite drought concerns after the Kansas Water Office (KWO) did not find it a major cause of water waste. Some questioned whether the Aquatic Center should open due to the worsening drought conditions during previous Chanute City Commission and Recreation Commission meetings. According to a letter sent by Margaret Fast with KWO, read by Chanute City Manager J.D. Les...
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Kansas Quiz Bee held on state’s birthday
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter The St. Patrick’s Catholic School Kansas quiz bee, part of the Catholic schools week activities, was held Tuesday in the gym on the state’s birthday. The single elimination tournament had nine teams of six to seven students arranged so that each team wherever possible had a representative from grades 1-5. The team names had Kansas and western themes like Pioneers, Bison and Twister. The questions were all relat...
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City Commission moves forward on smart meters; honors firefighters
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter The Chanute City Commission approved phase two of a survey Monday night that could lead to an update of city utility meters as well as more affordable television, phone and internet services. The commission unanimously approved a survey that seeks to greater understand Chanute’s needs when it comes to the hardware needed for future installation of smart meters, which could also provide television, phone and interne...
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Cleaver sentenced Monday in 2009 vehicular homicide
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter Garrett Cleaver, 28, of Colony, charged with vehicular homicide in 2010, was sentenced Monday in Chanute. As previously reported in the Tribune, Cleaver was southbound on U.S. 169 near the 35th Street exit, driving a pickup truck. Cleaver crossed the center line and collided head on with a car driven by Joseph Bagnato, 51, of Basking Ridge, N.J. Bagnato died from his injuries. Judge Daryl D. Ahlquist presided over...
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