News
Chanute woman sentenced under Jessica’s Law
Amanda L. Grotton, 28, of Chanute was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences Thursday for rape and sexual exploitation of a child. Under “Jessica’s Law” rape and sexual exploitation of a child carry presumptive life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole until 25 years. The sentence was handed down by District Judge Daryl Ahlquist. In addition, Grotton was sentenced to 6 months in prison for obstructing official duty. The alleged s...
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KU to honor 32 seniors from Neosho and Wilson counties
LAWRENCE — A total of 32 seniors from high schools in Neosho and Wilson counties will be recognized April 3 for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars at a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at Chanute High School, 1501 W. 36th. During the ceremony, each student will receive a Webster’s New College Dictionary presented by Michelle Miles, assistant director of Kansas programs for the KU Alumni Association. David Johnston, direct...
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CRDA updates committees
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter At the regular March meeting Thursday, the Chanute Regional Development Authority board began some reorganization based on the discussion at last month’s annual meeting. One of the major changes is to the bylaws. The bylaws of the authority call for several standing committees: attract, finance, fundraising, nominating committee, preserve and grow and promote and enhance. The proposed change leaves a combined fi...
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Support your local, hometown businesses
Last week I visited about the need for rural communities to support their local locally owned grocery stores. The Kansas State University Rural Grocery Initiative was established in 2006-2007 for the purpose of providing support to our rural community grocery stores. Their data base of 213 independently owned grocery stores in Kansas. Results of that survey can be viewed at:    www.ruralgrocery.org/survey Food desert is a term that you m...
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Holy Week Service begins on Sunday
Community Holy Week Service, sponsored by the Alliance of Churches for Christian Living, will be 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, 2nd and Lincoln. “I believe we have an interesting cross section of our community’s young pastors who are prepared to bring a message that God has given them for this occasion,” said Gary Maxwell, ACCL president. “Talented singers and choirs from the community will present special...
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Commissioner’s attempt at transparency falls short
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter ERIE — Neosho County Commissioner Jay Kingery’s second attempt at moving County Commission meetings from 8 a.m. each Friday to 5 p.m. failed to garner the support of the other two commissioners. Before taking office in January, Kingery promised his supporters a more transparent Neosho County government. Since taking office he has twice attempted to make good on his promise by having twice initiated a motion to se...
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Galesburg youth group brings free store to Chanute
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter A variety of free shopping is being offered on Saturday. The Galesburg Christian Church high school youth group is bringing the Orange Swan free store to Chanute. The free store is available for families in need to get free clothing and household items, and is staffed by student volunteers from the youth group. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the community room of the Safari West Apartmen...
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Four felonies charged in shooting incident
Joey Herndon, 49, Chanute, arrested March 14 in connection with shooting at a vehicle containing a nine-year-old and a shooting at a residence, has been charged with four felonies. He had his first appearance Tuesday. Herndon was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, a severity level 7 person felony with 11-34 months in prison depending on criminal history, aggravated endangering of a child, a severity level 9 person felony with 5-1...
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Potential cuts slow Housing Authority improvements
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Possible cuts to the Chanute Housing Authority’s capital fund budget because of federal sequestration have its board frugally budgeting repairs and improvements. With the Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program taking a $3.6 billion cut over the next 10 years due to federal sequestration, Chanute Housing Authority board member Mike Reid questioned Executive Director Terri Orozco on what impact it would...
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No signs of foul play in unattended death
Chanute police received a call at approximately 12:43 p.m. Tuesday of a death at 1306 S. Forest in Chanute. Officers identified the deceased as 36-year-old Christopher T. Berthot. Officials said there were no obvious signs of foul play. The Medical Death Investigator with the coroner’s office was called to the scene with the body taken for autopsy in order to further investigate and determine the manner and cause of death, the police report s...
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Two arrested in connection with Wilson Co. burglaries
Two suspects have been apprehended in separate burglaries in Wilson County. In the early morning of March 9, Wilson County deputies were dispatched to the scene of a burglary in progress in the northeast portion of the county. The suspects had left the scene prior to the deputies’ arrival. In the early morning of March 16, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Bryan Keith Fuller, 18, of Cherrvale on charges of burglary and theft stemmi...
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Main Street eyes new downtown attraction
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter An application for a Federal Home Loan Joint Opportunities for Building Success grant could bring an undetermined downtown attraction to Chanute. During her report at Wednesday’s meeting of the board, Main Street Chanute Executive Director Phyllis Neff said funds generated from the grant would go towards an undetermined downtown attraction located on Main Street between Opie’s and Salon 214. “We are going to apply...
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State adjusted jobless rate remains steady
Triggered by seasonal factors, the state lost 19,400 private sector jobs and 27,700 nonfarm jobs since December, the Kansas Department of Labor announced in a report. The state unemployment rate rose to 6.2 percent in January, according to the report, an increase of nearly 1 percent over the 5.3 percent recorded in December. January’s rate was lower than the 6.3 percent that KDOL reported in January 2012. The Labor Department set the adjusted...
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Cross country riders trot through Chanute
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Cross-country horseback riders Art Lamely and Sue Hemming’s latest trip included a few days rest at the Bit and Spur Saddle Club rodeo grounds on South Katy in Chanute. Lamely and Hemming’s stay began after Saddle Club board member Jerry Jordan extended an invitation for them to bed down at the rodeo grounds after receiving a call from the Chanute Police asking for assistance. Along with providing a place for their...
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Four injured in Ram rollover
An injury accident occurred near the intersection of Elk Road and Elk Lane about two miles north of Chanute at about 1:42 a.m. Sunday morning. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Blake Timothy Stewart, 26, of Kincaid was traveling northeast on Elk Road. He lost control of the 2005 Ram 3500 he was driving and drove off the north side of the roadway and overturned. Stewart and his passengers, Jacob Ray Storrer, 22, of Iola, Bethany Carlburg, 2...
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200 spend Night With Olympians in Chanute
Brian McDowell Sports Editor Every seat in The Venue on Main in downtown Chanute was full on Saturday night, as more than 200 attendees had the rare opportunity to interact with eight accomplished star athletes at the first-ever Night With the Olympians fundraiser. This event raised money for the NCCC track team. Since it is spring break at the college, the final tally raised isn’t available yet. NCCC Track Coach Vince Bingham estimated that ...
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FireEscape, Cherry Street receive $2,500 donations
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter It was a good day for a couple of community givers on Saturday. The FireEscape Coffee House and Cherry Street Youth Center each received a $2,500 donation. Deadra Nelson, a local farmer, was a winner in America’s Farmers Grow Communities, a program sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Corporation. In 1,271 eligible counties in 39 states, farmers could sign up for the opportunity to...
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Arrest made when shots fired in direction of youth
The Chanute Police Department arrested Joey D. Herndon, 49, Chanute, after shots were fired at two different locations in Chanute, including a vehicle occupied by a 9-year old boy. At approximately 3:52 p.m. on Thursday officers responded to the 1100 block of South Steuben regarding a report of at least one shot fired at that location. A vehicle occupied by Wanda Fry, her 9-year-old son, and Tracy Waller had been fired upon by a man with a r...
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County Health Department finds new home
“Since I came on we have added U.A.s and breathalyzers, a breast feeding peer counselor, we are IV and seal certified and we take private insurance,” Starr said. Commissioners also heard a request from Consolidated Unified School District 101 (CUSD 101) for assistance with landfill fees resulting from the possible demolition of the old Erie elementary school. The request came from Neosho County Road and Bridge Inspector Charlie Morse, who CUS...
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Chanute couple reach 70-year milestone
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter Bill and Barbara Helton had a lot of memories to talk about as they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with an open house on Thursday. The couple moved back to Chanute in 2010 after about 13 years in Lawrence. They now live in Chanute with their daughter Carol Roberts. Bill Helton was born and raised in Chanute, the son of William and Florence Helton. He remembers delivering the Tribune to the house he now ...
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