News
Red Cross revamps, to close office in Chanute — Services to community will still be met
The American Red Cross is revamping the way it does business to become a better public servant and to make the best use of a donated dollar. By Oct. 1, it anticipates closing its Chanute office at 16 S. Grant to allow for fewer resources spent on administrative issues and to provide more time focusing on its lifesaving services. The action will save $3,400 locally and will allow for more local dollars to help more people in the Chanute area. “...
full story
Arrests made in Thayer burglaries
The Neosho County Sheriff’s Department arrested three adults and two juveniles in a string of 28 burglaries. The crime spree began around 10 p.m. July 14 and ended around 4 a.m. on July 15, resulting in 28 burglaries, 23 thefts and five reports of criminal damage to property. The adult suspects who remain in custody on $30,000 cash/surety bonds are Clayton L. Harper, 18, Cherryvale, Jonathan D. Hightower, 18, Fort Scott, and Randall L. “Cody” ...
full story
Stuff the Bus to continue next Saturday
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter The Chanute Community Foundation held the first day of its second annual Stuff the Bus supply drive outside of Royster Middle School on Saturday. The drive is held for two days during the summer to collect money and school items for those in need of extra assistance with their supply lists. The foundation collected Saturday and next Saturday then will pass the donations onto the schools in Chanute to be dist...
full story
County extends burn ban for seven days
ERIE — At Friday’s meeting of the Neosho County Board of Commissioners, Sheriff Jim Keath asked the commissioners to extend the burn ban and commissioners extended the ban another seven days. In other business, commissioners: — Heard a report from George Finical, inspection personnel with Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, P.A., (CFS), on Phase IV of the 160th (Shaw)-Elk Road Improvement Project. — Approved paying $6,000 on the cost of moving...
full story
Eye doctor joins Vietti’s practice
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Dr. Bill Vietti, optometrist at 32 West Main in Chanute, has expanded his practice by adding Dr. Tyler Cook to his staff and eventually be his successor. Cook is a fresh graduate of the Michigan College of Optometry and after working as an intern for a doctor in Kansas City, Cook was introduced to Vietti. “When I was a fourth year optometry student, the doctor that I worked for in Kansas City knew Bill,” Cook...
full story
Chanute native named KHP captain
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter After graduating from Chanute High School and Benedictine College in Atchison, Chris Turner came across the opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps as a Kansas Highway Patrolman. Now he’s taking the step from lieutenant to captain. Turner began working for the Highway Patrol as a recruit trooper at the Training Academy in March of 1998. Turner assumed patrol duties in Leavenworth County before being t...
full story
Shoes, socks donations needed for school children
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Each year before children head back to school, Angels Care Home Health likes to hold a fundraiser. In the past three years, Angels has held a school supply drive with great success. For this year’s drive Angels has decided to hold a New Sock and Gently Used or New Shoe drive to help students start the school year on the right foot. “It’s for all back to school-aged kids,” Marketing Representative Ashley Rob...
full story
Postmaster in Altoona moonlights as caregiver
Editor’s note: Story and photos by Jessica Yanesh, a Kent State student attending Dave LaBelle’s Pictures with a Purpose workshop in Chanute. ALTOONA — Altoona Postmaster Deona Joy said she began caring for 83-year-old Marilyn Thompson after Thompson’s husband passed away four years ago. She said Thompson’s husband, John, took his life while battling a terminal illness. Joy was close with John and she said she has grown close to Marilyn durin...
full story
City workers go in early to beat the heat
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter With the blistering temperatures Chanute has faced during this summer, those spending their days working outside are facing more than just a sunburn. Working in excessively hot temperatures can cause fainting, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke. Because of the dangerously hot 100 degree weather that has swept through Kansas recently, the City of Chanute has decided to take precautions to ensure that their ...
full story
One-vehicle accident occurred near Humboldt
An injury one-vehicle accident occurred at 1:50 p.m. Saturday in Allen County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Nissan driven by Jacquelyn Rogers, 23, Iola, was southbound on 1100th Road, approximately a mile north of Humboldt, when she crossed the center line, over corrected and entered the west ditch. The vehicle rolled one time and came to rest on its wheels, the report said. The driver, who was wearing a safety restraint, was take...
full story
Former YC funeral director charged with embezzlement
YATES CENTER — Rickey A. Furst, Jr., 36, former funeral director and manager of Campbell Funeral Home in Yates Center, has been arrested and charged with stealing more than $14,000. Yates Center P olice Chief Lyle Kee announced the charges against Furst in a press release. The Woodson County Attorney’s office charged Furst with one felony count of theft, alleging he stole $13,172.58 from the funeral home, and one count of misdemeanor theft, al...
full story
Grant takes local instructor on visit to Georgia Lowcountry
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Neosho County Community College history instructor Mindy Ayers spent a week of her summer learning about a little known culture and bolstering her U.S. History I and II curriculum after being accepted into a National Endowment for the Humanities grant program. Ayers recently spent a week in Georgia through a grant called African-American History and Culture in the Georgia Lowcountry: Savannah and the Coastal Is...
full story
Two arrests made for child endangerment
Two Chanute residents were arrested for aggravated child endangerment on Friday, July 15. Friday morning the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office and a Chanute ambulance were dispatched to 16950 Jackson Rd. on a report that a child had fallen. A two-year-old female child was injured and upon further investigation Bradley A. Hermreck, 31, and Jamie J. Hermreck were arrested on charges of aggravated child endangerment. Both are being held without bon...
full story
Is that guy Dave LaBelle? Probably so
Stu Butcher Tribune editor If you’ve ever met Dave LaBelle, you wouldn’t forget him. Chanute area residents will get a chance at a glimpse into their past when the famed photographer visits. LaBelle is presenting the fourth edition of his Pictures With Purpose workshop in Chanute this week. During his 35-year career, LaBelle has worked for 20 newspapers and magazines in nine states, including the Anchorage Times, San Bernardino Sun-Telegram, O...
full story
Blackberry Festival variety of events
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Local community members and out-of-towners alike joined Patsy Smeed, owner of Summit Hill Gardens at 2605 160th Road in Chanute, for the third annual Blackberry Festival on Saturday. During the day, guests were invited to pick their own blackberries from the thornless bushes Smeed grows in her garden, or buy a pre-made cobbler or pie while enjoying the rest of the festivities. “We had food, we had music, we ...
full story
Old soldiers and sailors reunite at bean feed
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter ERIE —  The Friday night bean feed may be considered the highlight of the Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion, and many former soldiers and sailors are a huge part of putting the event together year after year. Sixty-nine-year-old Jack McGowen, born and raised in Erie, began helping with the bean feed 46 years ago after he came home from the service. “An old veteran asked me to do it in 1965. I’ve been here every...
full story
Potter fever boils over at midnight
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter The midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was a time of mixed emotions for Potter fanatics on Friday morning. With a total $43.5 million grossed by nearly 4,000 theaters across North America, the final installment of the epic series became the largest midnight showing of all time. At the Roxy 4 in Chanute, doors to the 178-seat theater opened at 10 p.m., with fans crowding the lobby...
full story
County issues burning ban
ERIE —  Byron Shultz, captain of the Emergency Operations Center, and St. Paul Fire District Fire Chief Roy Paisley were present requesting a burn ban throughout the county. The Neosho County Sheriff’s office has had numerous reporters of grass fires recently, said Shultz, which endangers not only the lives of the responding fire department personnel, but the general public and properties as well. Commissioners adopted Resolution No. R-11-L pr...
full story
Chanute resident with TB quarantined
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter A discovered case of Tuberculosis in Chanute currently has the Neosho County Health Department working with the Kansas Department of Health & Environment to identify and evaluate contacts of the TB patient. While the patient is currently being treated and within an in-house quarantine in Neosho County, the Health Department will continue to meet with individuals who have had prolonged close contact with the ...
full story
Hot temps call for cool pets
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter With temperatures reaching 100 degrees regularly in the month of July, animals are at an increased risk of suffering a heat stroke. Just like people, pets can suffer from heat exhaustion, but unlike humans they can’t regulate their body temperature as easily. “It doesn’t take very long for a dog to get too hot,” said Bill LaRue, M.D. at the Animal Medical Center in Chanute. “Once they start getting hot they jus...
full story