Opinion
Macy’s parade magical for grandkids
My second installment on the Macy’s Day Parade experience. As our family wanted to watch the Annual Macy’s Day Parade, we decided to go into New York City the day before the parade and stay all night so we would be there bright and early on Thanksgiving morning. In addition to seeing some of the traditional sights near Central Park, the pre-Thanksgiving Day Parade activities were of interest to our grandchildren. As it turns out, the inflat...
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Imperfect families at the cradle
All kinds of families gathered around the cradle of Jesus.  Families like ours. Joseph was shocked to discover Mary was pregnant. The thought that she betrayed him was like a knife to his spirit. What appeared to be infidelity crushed his heart. However, his love for Mary was great and he chose to quietly divorce her.  Today there are families that have experienced deep betrayal Рbetrayal in the form of infidelity, childhood abuse, alc...
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Christmas fraught with fire hazards
Andy Moffitt CFD Battalion Chief With the onset of the holiday season, it is important to focus on fire safety and prevention. The celebration of the season brings with it increased usage of electric lights, decorations, candles, and the ever popular Christmas tree, all of which can be potential fire hazards. By following general fire safety precautions, potential holiday fires, deaths and injuries remain preventable. Christmas Trees Wha...
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I’ll be home for Christmas
Rick Qualls Pastor, First Baptist Church Family is like fudge. Sweet but with a few nuts thrown in. When your family gathers, is it like the Cleaver family of Leave It To Beaver? Is it like the Cosby family with Bill Cosby? I bet not. I’ve never met that kind of family. Every family is dysfunctional. Usually there is the crazy Aunt who never brings anything to the family get together but is always first to the table. Braggin’ Brandon is...
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Letter to the editor
City commissioner comment draws concern I am writing in regards to firefighter Andy Moffitt’s Nov. 22 Tribune article, Turkey Fryers — Not Worth the Risk. Thank you Andy for a very informative article and relating to the public your concerns when using a turkey fryer. I do not find the article “misleading” in any way. Leroy Chard stated during the Nov. 24 2008 City Commission meeting that he believed the article was “misleading.” Obviou...
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Part III: Where do we go from here?
This is the third in a three-part series on the state of Developmental Disabilities Services in Kansas. Part I: State Lawsuit; Part II: Caregivers in Crisis; Part III: Where Do We Go From Here? Tim Cunningham Tri-Valley Developmental Services In Parts I and II of my series on the state of Developmental Disabilities Services in Kansas, I laid out the framework of issues that have prevented us from providing the quality of care we should to...
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Shopping local keeps dollars in Chanute
Jane Brophy Chamber Director As the holiday shopping season hits high gear, it is important to remember how fortunate we are in Chanute to have a fantastic array of shopping opportunities. Our local merchants offer a wide selection of items that would make nearly any gift recipient happy. In order to keep these retailers strong and viable members of the business community, it is critical that we all shop locally not only during the holiday...
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Community risk, protective factors for middle school youth
Vision Chanute The Vision Chanute Youth Action Committee (YAC) is pleased to report that we have hosted four Middle School Friday Nite Youth events; Friday Nite Flight, Friday Nite Splash, Friday Nite Block Party and Friday Nite Fall Fun Fest . The Mission of the YAC is build relationships with middle school youth and provide a safe place for them to hang out. The youth and volunteers have had a lot of fun at these events and appreciate all t...
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Letter to the editor
Blood drive success goes to donors, volunteers The recent blood drive held at the Zion Lutheran Church was another example of the dedication, support and caring of the Chanute community. We had a goal of 120 units and ended with a total of 135 donors presenting and 121 productive units. And there were 10 first time donors. In keeping with the theme of this drive, “Give Cancer Patients Hope Give Blood” we had three first time donors donatin...
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Letter to the editor
Third dog added to family’s missing list I am writing to seek the help of anyone who is willing to read this. We are a dog loving family and early this year, in February, we wrote in reporting that two of our dogs had gone missing. They went missing two weeks apart on exactly the same day. These dogs were the last legacy to a full blooded black lab that we had who succumbed to cancer in 2006. Although we wrote in to your newspaper, the Eri...
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Smoothing out the bumps with positive communication
(This column is part of the Creating Strong Families Series.) Tara Solomon Extension Agent Communication is on everyone’s list of qualities of strong families … open, honest, straightforward and clear communication. Easier said than done, right? One family therapist recalled a family she had worked with. “When I asked them if they felt their communication with each other was open, honest, and straightforward and clear, they all agreed i...
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Letter to the editor
Shop at home and help save community The computer is an excellent resource and tool, but it can also be damaging to local businesses. With the economy going the way it is, businesses are closing and Americans are becoming jobless as a result. The impact on small town businesses is even more dramatic since there are fewer opportunities available. The ease of the Internet makes buying on-line convenient and quick. This seems to be a win-...
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Safari Museum is hopping in December
The public is again invited to the annual International Tasting Tea at the depot on Sunday, December 14 from 2-4 p.m. Since the 1980s the Neosho Valley Busy Bee 4-H Club has organized this wonderful community event. Mexico is their featured country. Please join us for a free sampling of Mexican foods, learn about the cultures of Mexico, and support these hard working 4-hers! The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum will also have a free adm...
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Letter to the editor
Independence Thanksgiving On Nov. 18, a Tuesday afternoon, all things negative associated with disabilities did not enter the door of the Independence SKIL office. On that day at 12:30 all of the people, over a hundred of them, passed through the SKIL door with gratitude, celebration and love in their hearts. We all shared in a feast of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, potato salad, dressing, many salads, finger foods and drinks. And, let’s n...
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Help is just a foam call away
Tim Fairchild Mayor There is something about being in a fire house that just makes you feel good. Having the secure feeling that there are people ready and able to get you out of a “hot spot” is extremely reassuring. I spent several hours on Monday with the fire crew on duty at the fire station. It was time well spent but I want to start this by explaining that at the end of my visit, we had a call out. We rolled equipment with lights, si...
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Letter to the Editor
Why not believe in God? The American Humanist Association is spending several thousand dollars on an ad campaign, starting in Washington D.C., promoting Atheism. The ads put forward the line, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake.” What was it that someone said so long ago? “Some men see things as they are and ask why? I choose to see things as they should be and ask, Why not? So really the question should be, Why Not? Afte...
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Letter to the Editor
Paperbacks for troops Just a short note to let you and your readers know that Phil’s Flags is collecting used paperback books for our deployed service members again this holiday season. We have been collected and shipping used books in care packages to our deployed troops for several years, since the war in Iraq began. This year we would like to include small non-perishable snack food items with the books. The only other change is that it...
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Letter to the Editor
Old high school could have been put to better use I agree with Larry Aikins (RE: Letters to the Editor, Nov. 5) who presented some constructive solutions to the historic Chanute High School building. Another option that I might offer is to apply for landmark status with the state historic preservation agency. I was graduated from CHS (1968). Both of my parents also were graduated from the high school and the Chanute Junior College, which...
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Letter to the Editor
Booster Club: Thanks On behalf of the Chanute Blue Comet Booster Club, I would like to thank and congratulate the high school athletes and coaches for an exciting fall sports season. You kept us on the edge of our seats all season long! Thanks also to the Booster program advertisers and parents for your continued support of Booster Club activities. No contribution is too small to support the activities of our kids. Thank you to Ruthie Stacy...
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November — Time to fertilize, control lawn weeds
Krista Harding Extension Agent It’s definitely getting colder out and winter will soon be knocking on our door. But before the bitter cold hits, there is still time to give lawns a shot of fertilizer and to kill some pesky lawn weeds. November is the time to give cool-season lawns the last nitrogen application of the season. Why November? November is a good time because it will really help the grass next spring. As the top growth slows du...
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