Community News
W. K. “Pete” Peters 1927-2011
W. K. “Pete” Peters, 84, McPherson, died Monday, March 28, 2011 at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson.  Pete was born in Buffalo on Feb. 24, 1927 the son of John William and Mabel Alberta Dryden Peters.  He attended the Chanute grade schools and high school. Pete served in the U.S. Navy in WW II. He was owner and operator of Peters Lumber Company. William Keith “Pete” Peters was united in marriage to Betty Louise Stone on April 21, 19...
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Katherine Betty Naff 1915-2011
Katherine Betty Naff, 95, Chanute, died with family in the comfort of her home on Thursday, March 24, 2011.   Betty, daughter of Arthur and Myrtle Clayton, was born Sept. 23, 1915 in Independence, where she grew up and graduated from Independence High School in 1933.  June 1, 1941, Betty married Floyd Walter Naff and created a family/friends oriented lifestyle in Chanute. Floyd partnered with Emmet Bolze to own and operate Naff and Bolze Hardw...
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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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Marc Sterling Robinson 1954-2011
Marc Sterling Robinson, 56, Chanute, died Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at his home. Marc was born in Chanute on Dec. 29, 1954 the son of William L. and Barbara Sue Arnett Robinson. He graduated from Beaumont High School, Beaumont, Calif. He moved with his family back to Chanute in 1972. He was united in marriage to Michele Criger on June 26, 1974 in Chanute. They divorced in 1981. Marc was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Chanute. He is sur...
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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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Larry Edward Phillips 1942-2011
Larry Edward Phillips, 68, Chanute, died at his home on Monday, March 21, 2011, after an extended illness. Larry was born in Kansas City, Kan., on August 16, 1942, the son of George R. and Cinda Lorene Mumford Phillips. He was united in marriage to Sandra Kay Allen on July 18, 1964 in Chanute. She survives, of the home. Larry worked for Santa Fe Railroad as a foreman, retiring after 22 years. Most recently he was a door greeter for Wal-Mar...
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Esther Christine Vick 1932-2011
Esther Christine Vick, 79, Chanute, died Sunday, March 20, 2011 at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita. Esther was born in Thief River Falls, Minn., on Feb. 25, 1932 the daughter of Henry and Martha Mikkelson Hasby. She was a homemaker. Esther is survived by two sons, Samuel Wasley, Hartford, Wis., and Steven Wasley and wife, Patty, Thief River Falls, Minn.; three daughters, Valerie Raff and husband, Jack, Hubertus, Wis., Wanda Roth and husba...
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Linda Wehrle 1945-2011
Linda Wehrle, 65, Shawnee, passed away peacefully, Friday, March 18, 2011 at Kansas City Hospice House following a valiant three-year struggle with ovarian cancer. Linda was born Nov. 24, 1945 in Oklahoma City, Okla., and grew up in Chanute, graduating from Chanute High School in 1963. She attended Neosho County Community College, worked a short time for Hallmark Cards, Kansas City, Mo., and entered Wichita State University, graduating in 196...
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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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