Community News
Velma Marie Grogan 1915-2011
Velma Marie Grogan, 95, Independence, formerly of Chanute, died Thursday, May 19, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Independence. Velma was born in Chanute on Dec. 17, 1915, the daughter of Arthur Edwin and Edna C. Underhill Turner. She graduated from Chanute High School. She was a lifelong resident of Chanute where she lived at 1428 S. Highland for a majority of that time. In March 2010 she moved to Independence and lived at Regal Estate for the past...
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Italian cooking straight from Sicily kitchen
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Luigi’s Italian restaurant made its debut in Chanute last week in the downstairs of the Mercantile building at 115 E. Main. The restaurant is owned by Vito Morina, but is a family run business all the way down to the recipes from which the dishes are derived. The Morina family, originally from Sicily, moved to Germany when they were young where their parents owned a restaurant. After learning the family recip...
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Oldest graduate prevailed over Physical Science requirement
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Long time Chanute resident Elly McCoy proved this spring that it is never too late to receive a college degree. McCoy, who is in her early 80s though she did not wish to say her exact age, is the oldest graduate from Neosho County Community College ever. She beat out Violet Goff who was 81 years old when she earned her degree in 1993. “Her determination and efforts are an inspiration to anyone who wants to...
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Clifford Ernest Welch 1913-2011
Clifford Ernest Welch, 97, died Monday, May 16, 2011 at Valley Gardens Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Stockton, Calif., after a short illness. He was born in Havana on Sept. 9, 1913 to John William and Eva Louise Davey Welch. The family moved to Chanute when he was a small child. He attended Chanute schools and was a WWII veteran.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Evelyn Marks and Louise Graham, two brothers John Jr...
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Cause of power outage uncertain
The City of Chanute is unclear about what caused a citywide power outage Thursday morning. Larry Gates, director of utilities, said engineers will be on site today to do more extensive investigation. “There are two or three issues we are looking into,” he said. “We were test running the turbine when the VAR control dropped out. It tripped the bus differential (should not have happened), which cleared the bus and locked everything out. Until...
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Pros and cons aired about outlining historic district
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter A public meeting was held Tuesday evening at Central Park Pavilion in order to allow the public to discuss a local ordinance proposed to create a certified local government and outline a historic district. This meeting came after the April 18 City Commission meeting where several citizens aired their concerns about the proposed ordinance. A panel of experts were on hand to answer questions about historic di...
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Bike safety check scheduled on Monday
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter During the month of May, the Neosho County Health Department has been promoting bicycle safety for younger children as part of Bicycle Safety Month. In the last month, Health Department Director Teresa Starr has passed out pamphlets, spoken during a daycare Parents Cafe, and worked with the trauma council on a commercial promoting trauma prevention and bicycle safety. To end Bicycle Safety Month, the Neosh...
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Wayne E. Dougherty 1927-2011
Wayne E. Dougherty, 84, Thayer, died Monday, May 16, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Wayne was born in rural Thayer on Feb. 28, 1927, the son of Paris Arthur and Louise Madison Dougherty. He attended schools in Thayer. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Wayne was united in marriage to Georgeann “Ann” Reece on Dec. 21, 1953. She preceded him in death in September 1991. H...
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Mary Frances Thummel 1931-2011
Mary Frances Thummel, 80, Iola, died Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Mary Frances was born Jan. 31, 1931 at Piqua, the daughter of Bernard and Julia Ulrich Konen. She grew up at Piqua where she attended St. Martin’s Catholic School through the 8th grade. She graduated from Iola High School. Mary Frances was married to Charles Thummel. They had four children and later divorced. Mary Frances has...
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Murray Hill School nominated for National Register of Historic Places
The nomination of the former Murray Hill School in Chanute has been forwarded to the office of the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C., to be evaluated by professional staff. If they concur with the Historic Sites Board of Review’s findings, the property will be included in the National Register. The Kansas Historical Society in Topeka held its regular quarterly meeting on Saturday, May 14. The board voted to...
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Technology students challenged at state competition
Connie Woodard Tribune Reporter Mix together a little bit of creativity, a dash of artistry, a generous helping of technology and the ability to work under pressure, and a teacher ends up with the kind of student who can perform well at the Technology Student Association’s state competition. After returning from the three-day TSA competition in Salina, CHS technology teacher Shannon Hill said her students are learning what it takes to compe...
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Merle Kelly Ford goes green with PPG waterborne paint
Merle Kelly Ford in Chanute has taken a proactive stand in protecting the environment by going “green” with its paint finishing system. The collision center recently switched to a low-VOC PPG waterborne basecoat from a conventional solvent-based system. “Our use of waterborne basecoat for refinishing our customers’ vehicles significantly reduces the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere,” said Dick Kelly, general m...
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Mary Alice Hughes 1929-2011
Mary Alice Hughes, 81, Thayer, died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire, Kan. Mary Alice was born Nov. 1, 1929 in Thayer, the daughter of Roy and Beulah Meigs McNutt.  Mary Alice was raised in the rural Morehead area and graduated from Thayer High School in 1947.  Following graduation she moved to Neodesha and was employed at the Ben Franklin store.  While in Neodesha she met Carl Wayne Hughes and they were married on ...
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Wayne D. Sparks 1920-2011
Wayne Dwight Sparks, 90, Chanute, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at his home. Wayne was born in Erie on June 22, 1920, the son of Floyd E. and Hazel M. Ellis Sparks. He graduated from Erie High School in 1938 and attended Parsons Community College and Pittsburg State University. He served his country in the United States 8th Army Air Corps (later called Air Force) during WWII. Wayne was united in marriage to Virginia Keas on July 7, 1942, in Chanu...
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Rexanna Olson 1957-2011
Rexanna Lynn Olson, 53, Humboldt, died Sunday, May 10, 2011 at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Rexanna was born in Chanute on July 27, 1957, the daughter of Rex and Bonnie Gormley Greve. She graduated from high school in Whitehall, Mich. She was united in marriage to Roland Olson on Dec. 21, 1986 at the Faith Bible Church in Chanute. He survives, of the home. Rexanna was a homemaker and owned and operated the Humboldt Flea Market. Along ...
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Chanute maintains Take Charge! Challenge lead
Based on results through April 30, Chanute is still winning the Southeast Region of The Take Charge! Challenge. According to the Quarter 2 March 15-April 30 stat sheet, Chanute residents switched 9,035 energy efficient CFL bulbs (more than 1 per resident). Energy Management Group provided Efficiency Kansas energy audits to 13 residents. An additional four residents have completed their EK projects. Chanute reached out to 139 business owners a...
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Energy lab open house on Wednesday
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Neosho County Community College will be hosting an open house for the public at the site of its construction class project, the energy efficient house on 7th and Santa Fe. The energy lab open house will be Wednesday, May 18 on a come and go basis from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Food will be served, light bulbs and free light switch and outlet insulators will be given to visitors, and door prizes will be handed ou...
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Get fit options for the summer
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Inertia Health and Fitness has several new ways to get and stay in shape this summer in the form of fitness classes going on throughout the week. Kiley Allen, co-owner of Inertia, will be teaching a variety of classes including Cardio Funk, Arms and Abs, Butts and Guts, and Extreme Abs. Allen will also teach water aerobics at the pool this summer. Arms and Abs will be on Monday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 9:...
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College graduation lists
KU announces 2011 candidates for degrees LAWRENCE — The names of more than 4,800 candidates for degrees at the University of Kansas this spring — representing 99 Kansas counties, 43 other states and 59 other countries — have been announced by the University Registrar. The Class of 2011 includes about 2,580 students who completed degree work in summer and fall 2010. Because KU conducts only one formal Commencement ceremony each year, many of th...
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Activity-filled week at care facilities
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter In recognition of National Nursing Home Week, Heritage Healthcare and Chanute Healthcare centers have been involving residents in a series of activities to celebrate the care given to residents and the quality of life available. To kick off the week at Chanute Healthcare, staff members held a balloon lift off on Monday afternoon followed by a baby contest that evening, attracting babies and toddlers of...
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