Community News
John James Bailey 1922-2011
John Bailey, 88, Humboldt, died Monday, June 27, 2011 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. John was born in Allen County on Nov. 27, 1922, the son of Jay M. and Mattie E. Culver Bailey. He attended Humboldt schools and worked for the railroad for several years. He was self-employed working various jobs throughout his life in the Humboldt community. John is survived by three sisters; Sadie Beach, Chanute, Mary Ballard, Punta G...
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Maxine Louise Verdin 1926-2011
Maxine Louise Verdin, Chanute, died Monday June 27, 2011 at Chanute Health Care Center. Maxine was born in Chanute on Feb. 2, 1926, the daughter of Earl and Ada Stevenson Hedden. Maxine was united in marriage to Catelino Verdin. She proudly served her country in the Womens Army Corps (WAC). Maxine is survived by a son, Richard Verdin and his wife, Joyce; daughters, Linda Lopez and Melodee Hughes and her husband, Vernon Hughes; three brothers, ...
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Mary Anne Miles 1926-2011
Mary Miles, 85, Chanute, died Thursday, June 23, 2011 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Mary was born in Chanute on April 22, 1926, the daughter of Harry and Myrtle Miller Allen. She graduated from Chanute High School in 1943. She later married Dale Miles on June 25, 1943 in Yates Center. They were married for 62 years until his death on September 2, 2004. Mary and Dale loved to travel. They visited all 50 states and sever...
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Early wheat crop considered good in Neosho County
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Wheat harvest is nearly done in Neosho County, and yields are much better than previous years. “It was what I would call an average yield, but we haven’t had any that were any good for the last five years,” said Phil Stich of rural Chanute. Stich finished his harvest last week, averaging 40 to 60 bushels per acre, and he said the weather was just about right for wheat this spring. Around southeast Kansas, Kansa...
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Chanute interacts with Bike the US for MS
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Bike the US for MS, a group of cyclists traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis, made a stop in Chanute on Monday. The group, consisting of 20 riders from all over the United States, enjoyed lunch sponsored by the Neodesha MS support group and visited with visitors at Santa Fe Park. The Bike the US for MS effort is a program set up to raise research and treat...
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Mary Irene Schultz 1919-2011
Mary Irene Schultz, 91, a longtime resident of Lafontaine, died, Sunday, June 26, 2011 at her home. She was born August 21, 1919 in Protection, the daughter of Peter and Bessie Thomas Ratzlaff. She was a homemaker. On May 4, 1941, at Fredonia, she married Cornelius Schultz. He preceded her in death May 13, 2009. She was a member of the Church of God in Christ-Mennonite. Mary is survived by her children, Eugene Schultz, Neodesha, Wayne Schult...
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Oella Louise Baughn 1920-2011
Oella Louise Baughn, 90, Chanute, died Friday, June 24, 2011 at Heritage Health Care in Chanute. Oella was born in Chanute on Dec. 13, 1920, the daughter of Roy and Grace Goltry Smith. She attended Chanute High School. Oella married B.T. “Tom” Baughn Jan. 29, 1945 in Nowata, Okla. He preceded her in death. She was the manager of the Safari Museum Gift Shop. Oella is survived by her sons, Dr. Robert Baughn and his wife, Myra, Houston, Texas, a...
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Murphys’ menagerie in Stark expands with antiques
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter STARK — Murphy’s Cafe and Murphy’s Mercantile have been a staple in the lives of many Stark residents and other area residents for the last four years. On July 1 Portia and Rick Murphy will open Murphy’s Bittersweet Antiques, adding to the reasons people should make the short drive from Chanute and Erie to Stark. The small antique shop is beautifully arranged and holds unique and interesting pieces that Portia ...
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Sunday afternoon celebration for FUMC’s 140th anniversary
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter To commemorate its 140th anniversary, the First United Methodist Church located at 202 S. Lincoln will hold a celebration on Sunday, beginning at 3 p.m. The church first started in the late 1860s for the residents of New Chicago and Tioga as a Presbyterian and Methodist church, alternating Sundays and pastors while holding a joint Sunday School class every Sunday. Later that year, the members of the Methodis...
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David Webster Olson, Jr. 1916-2011
David Webster Olson, Jr., 95, Prairie Village, died Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at  Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Monday, June 27, at the First Lutheran Church, 6400 State Line Road Mission Hills,  Kan., with funeral services following at 11 a.m. Burial in Edwardsville Cemetery, Edwardsville,  Kan. Memorial contributions may be made to KC Blind All Stars Foundation, @ Kansas School for the Blind, 1100 State Av...
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Sandra Mae Klingensmith 1982-2011
Sandra Mae Klingensmith, 28, Independence, died Monday, June 20, 2011 in Estes Park, Colo. Sandra was born at Great Bend on Nov. 11, 1982, the daughter of Gene Klingensmith and Marylin Albin Klingensmith Hudson. She graduated from Chanute High School and attended Emporia State University. Sandra loved music, singing and couponing. She was an active board member of the SKIL Resource Center, advocating for people with disabilities. Sandra is su...
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Larry Neal Toomey 1947-2011
Larry Neal Toomey, 64, died on Friday, June 17, 2011 at his residence in Bernice, Okla.  The son of Harry and Maxine Lukins Toomey, he was born on April 28, 1947 in Chanute. Larry served in the United States Armey from 1965 until 1971. He earned his Associate’s degree from Neosho Community College in Chanute. He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Toomey. Larry is survived by his three children, Toney Toomey, Garry Toomey and Kathie Heck...
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Bike the U.S. for MS makes stop on Monday
 On Monday, June 27, the cyclists with Bike the U.S. for MS will again ride to Chanute to raise awareness and money for MS research through Partners MS Center in Boston. The cyclists begin in Virginia starting June 1  and bike to California ending July 31.  The public can greet the riders in Chanute from 1 to 5 p.m. at  SantaFe Park  by the locomotive. They especially like to talk to persons with MS  and their family and friends.  The Wilson C...
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Lock’s heart going strong, 40th birthday on July 4
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Greg Lock is preparing to celebrate his 40th birthday on July 4. Turning 40 is more than a milestone for Greg, who wasn’t expected to live past the age of seven — it is a miracle. Greg was born in Goodland in 1971. He was six weeks overdue, but Greg’s mother Marilyn Lock said that 40 years ago they just thought he wasn’t ready. When he was two days old he was transferred to a hospital in Denver for a blood tran...
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New Director of Main Street takes reins
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter LuAnn Tincher took over as Director of Main Street Chanute this week. As director, her focus initially will be on marketing Main Street businesses. “I think it is a matter of marketing and letting people know what is here, and the opportunities that they have here,” said Tincher. She added that while the Alive After Five program (extended hours the first Thursday of the month) is great she would like to see mor...
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Former Chanute resident dies after vehicle rolls into river
GLEN HAVEN, Colo. — A former Chanute woman who died in a motor vehicle accident drowned after her vehicle rolled into the Big Thompson River. She was found Tuesday in the Estes Park location. Deputy coroner James Wilkerson identified the woman as 28-year-old Sandra May Klingensmith, Independence, a former Chanute resident. She was vacationing in Colorado. He said Wednesday the woman died of drowning, head injuries, and had a history of narcole...
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Kathleen Joyce Dillon 1962-2011
Kathleen Joyce Dillon, 49, died at her home in Humboldt on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, after a long battle with cancer. She was born June 11, 1962, in Chanute, to Michael and Bernice Coffey Dillon. She grew up east of Humboldt and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1980. She also received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Southwestern College in Winfield, with a double major of Art and English. She worked as a personal caregiver for more than...
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Nancy A. Roper 1945-2011
Nancy A. Roper, 66, Parsons, died Monday, June 20, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center at Chanute. She was born on May 31, 1945 at Parsons to Arlon and Avis York Jones. She grew up at Parsons and attended Parsons grade schools and Labette County Community High School. She worked at Johnson’s Café in her youth and later at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. She also worked at Venture Line, Alloway’s Restaurant, and the Parsonia...
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Aristocats to take the stage at NCCC
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter The children’s summer theatre program at Neosho County Community College will present Aristocats this weekend. The shows are June 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and June 26 at 2 p.m. in the Sanders Auditorium at NCCC. Cost of admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children under 12. This marks the 5th year NCCC has partnered with the Chanute Recreation Center to provide a summer theatre program for youth. The play i...
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Capps waives preliminary hearing, bond reinstated
Tribune staff Delana Capps, the woman charged with allegedly setting fire to the Rendezvous Club in early February, waived her right to a preliminary hearing and will accept the plea deal offered by the state. Her $150,000 bond was reinstated by Judge Leo Gensweider on Tuesday and she will be out of custody until her arraignment on July 6 at 9:30 a.m. Her bond was revoked shortly after she bonded out in February of this year because she was ca...
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