News
Maring Aquatic Center provides cool relief
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter The heat is on but Chanute residents can find a wet escape from those 90-plus degree temperatures at a convenient location. The Maring Aquatic Center, 400 South Highland, features several amenities not found in most other public swimming pools. Features include a competition-sized pool, a lazy river, a play pool with interactive spray features and a water slide. “I’ve been coming here since the beginning of sum...
full story
Hearing in Parsons shooting delayed
Parsons Sun PARSONS — A preliminary hearing for a man who was the subject of a manhunt last month has been delayed. Douglas Dewayne Heiskell, 30, Parsons, is charged in Labette County District Court with criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, all felonies, and criminal damage to property, a misdemeanor. The charges relate to a May 2 shooting in Parsons...
full story
E2IK_062012larue.jpg
Chanute veterinarian recalls 54 years of practice
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter Dr. Bill LaRue has always downplayed any personal recognition and has kept his focus on providing quality animal healthcare in Chanute for more than half a century. But 54 years of quality, caring and consistent care for pets and livestock cannot go unrecognized as LaRue was honored with the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association’s (KVMA) Lifetime Service Award earlier this month in Manhattan. LaRue founded Chan...
full story
Humboldt’s Neosho River Park sees major improvements
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter HUMBOLDT — Major improvements have come and are coming to the Neosho River Park in Humboldt, thanks to a grant through the Kansas PRIDE program. The grant for $5,000, requiring a 50 percent match, is the Healthy Ecosystems Healthy Communities grant, designed to help Kansas communities preserve their natural resources and have a positive environmental impact. Representatives from the project, which was dubbed Hum...
full story
7LC9_062012conklin.jpg
Chanute legend Bob Conklin to be honored
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter Former Chanute resident Robert L. Conklin will be honored in a special “Celebration of Passing” at Elks Lake on Saturday, June 23 from 1-3 p.m. “What About Bob” Conklin, who lost his battle to cancer in January, made his final wishes to have a party to celebrate his passing. Son Chris Conklin, of Chanute Studios TV-5, said this is not a funeral or memorial service. “He wanted everyone to party because he has left t...
full story
Republican candidate meet and greet Thursday in Erie
Neosho County Republicans have invited all of the Republican candidates to speak and mingle this Thursday, June 21 at 7 p.m. in the courthouse located at 100 S. Main, Erie. Everyone is invited to come and meet the candidates: Senate Seat 15 with Candidates Senator Umbarger and Senator King House Seat 2 with Candidate Jeff Locke (unopposed in primary) House Seat 9 with Candidates Bideau, Sifer and Brigham House Seat 13 with Candidates Hibbard ...
full story
State’s jobless rate steady, Neosho drops
TOPEKA — The unemployment rate in Kansas remained the same in May as in April. According to the Kansas Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in Kansas was 5.8 percent in May, the same as in April but down from 6.5 percent in May 2011. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, unchanged from April and down from 6.7 percent a year ago. Neosho County’s jobless rate dropped to 6.9 percent last month, down from 7.2 percent in...
full story
More kids home alone during summer; 413 feeding program July 2-26
Schools are out for summer break, and for many families this means a significant change in their daily schedule. Many times these changes leave parents in a situation where they must make a decision about leaving their child at home alone for some period of time.¬†In a report, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that nearly 7 million school-age children are routinely left home alone. “Developmentally, children are generally ready to be home alon...
full story
Missing truck recovered unscathed
A 1974 Chevy truck belonging to Kent Dickerson was reported stolen early Friday on West 3rd and family members are grateful the vehicle was recovered unharmed. “Kent runs his own business which involves construction so anytime he would finish a house our daughter would paint a stripe on his truck,” said ex-wife Barb Seefeldt. “So there’s no other truck in the whole USA that looks like his.” Seefeldt said the truck was stolen around 2 a.m. on ...
full story
TFI, Red Cross hold Monday blood drive
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter¬† TFI Family Services, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, held its first blood drive Monday in the history of TFI’s Chanute operation and plans are in the works to hold future drives with the Red Cross. “There’s always a need for blood and this drive helps to bring an awareness to the community of the importance of giving blood,” said TFI Recruitment Specialist Jessica Dalton. “It’s a great combination...
full story
Judicial review sought in alleged campaign finance violations
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter Attorneys for Kristian Van Meteren filed a lawsuit last Friday in Shawnee County District Court seeking a judicial review over allegations that the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission failed to investigate alleged campaign finance violations by Senator Dwayne Umbarger (R-Thayer). “For the past four years, I have attempted to get the truth about numerous expenditures Senator Umbarger made which, to many, appea...
full story
4L8B_061912kidscollege.jpg
NCCC holds Kids College week
Joshua Vail Tribune “Kids’ College” at Neosho County Community College this week attracted 99 youth. Children ages 7-9 and 10-12 participate in classes in things like rockets, science, history and theater, as well as crafts and games. This is the 15th year that NCCC has done the Kids’ College, which goes from Monday to Thursday. Amy Smith, outreach and workforce development administrative assistant, said the goal of Kids’ College is to “kee...
full story
Two teens arrested in vehicle theft
Officers with the Chanute Police Department on Thursday responded to a report of a stolen vehicle taken from the 600 block of South Ashby. Det. Raymond Hale reported the vehicle was later recovered and two individuals were arrested. Sam Son and Kevin Murphy, both 18 and both from Chanute, are still involved in an ongoing investigation. During the investigation of the vehicle theft, it was discovered that other car burglaries had occurred with...
full story
Several resignations, hirings at NCCC
At Thursday’s meeting of the Neosho County Community College Board of Trustees, a budget hearing was held due to the re-publication of the budget. The college had a larger than expected transfer to the vocational fund and as a result, had to reprint the budget. This in no way affects the mill levy, but is merely a “transparency of government” issue that is part of state law, said Dr. Brian Inbody, president. No one spoke at the hearing. Und...
full story
4-H youth successful in judging competition
Twenty-two 4-H members from the Southwind Extension District participated in the Southeast Area Livestock Contests in Yates Center on Thursday, June 14. Youth judged in three separate contests - Meats, Livestock, and Livestock Skillathon. In the Meats Contest, Southwind Extension District captured 7 of the top 10 individual senior division placings, and were named both Champion and 3rd Overall Meats Judging Teams. In the Junior Meats Judging...
full story
8QD6_061612garden.jpg
Community garden in full swing
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter About a dozen local participants are taking advantage of a community garden in Chanute with hopes of expanding the concept for future growing seasons. “This is the second year we have held a community garden in Chanute. Our growing season usually runs from February through November,” said organizer Gary Kilgore. “This year we have two different spaces available, a 12 by 24 square foot area, which most gardeners ...
full story
Rock and roll blood drive June 25-26
American Red Cross blood donors rock! Whether you’re a fan of Bill Haley and his Comets, the Rolling Stones or Bon Jovi, the Red Cross invites you to Rock and Roll Up Your Sleeves this summer to give blood or platelets. Donating blood can help save up to three lives because your blood is separated into its components – red cells, plasma and platelets – to treat patients with different needs. Donating platelets primarily benefits cancer patie...
full story
Commissioners plan county-wide bridge tour next week
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter ERIE -- Neosho County commissioners met in regular session Friday and approved a tour of county bridges for next Friday, June 22, following next week’s meeting. The bridge tour will be conducted by Road and Bridge Director Charles Morse. Following the tour, a public hearing for citizen comments and input will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Big Ed’s Steakhouse in Thayer. Morse informed the commission that the county’...
full story
CGQM_061612vilas33.jpg
Vilas Rural High School holds reunion
The Vilas Rural High School Alumni held the annual meeting at the High Prairie United Methodist Church on June 10. Sharon Reaves welcomed the alumni and guests. The alumni recalled what they remembered about attending Vilas Rural High School. A slideshow of Vilas activities and sports was shown. Vilas memorabilia and pictures were on display. Classes honored were 1927-1932-1937-1942-1947-1952-1957. Attending from the Class of 1932 was Leona Ha...
full story
Cherry Berry to raise money for FCCLA trip
Another Cherry Berry fundraiser is planned to help send three Chanute High School students to the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America national conference. Dalton Noakes is going as a national officer candidate. Noakes’ mother and FCCLA adviser Deborah Noakes said it is a big process to get that point. Lacey Whitworth and Courtney Becher are also going to participate at the national level in a Students Taking Action with Recognit...
full story