Opinion
Letter to the editor
Former Chanute residents benefit from blood donors My husband and I were visiting with a friend of ours, Mary Lou Cooper, who is in charge of the Red Cross Blood Drive in Chanute on Oct. 27-28. This reminded us of how important the collection of blood is to me and my husband. Bill grew up in Chanute and attended school there prior to going into the Army. We presently live in Ottawa, but still have friends in Chanute. Bill has a disease c...
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Political vertigo
Rick Qualls First Baptist Church My head is spinning. I suffer political vertigo. The spinning of political commercials, debates, and speeches are dizzying. Spin doctors author political statements with half truths. Media commentators focus on details and petty missteps instead of objective reporting. Most issues are pretty clear: Iraq and Afghanistan, energy, housing, health care, the Wall Street crisis. We may not understand the comp...
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Letter to the editor
Stick together, as people and friends Some people are just too young to remember Herbert Hoover, a republican -- and Franklin D. Roosevelt, a democrat. And, the “Great Depression” as well as the “Dust Bowl.” It seems like every time this country gets into a mess -- it takes a democrat to get us out. However, the blame does not lie on either party. Let’s face it folks -- the blame lies on the present administration under the leadership ...
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Keep unwanted guests out
Krista Harding Extension Agent As the weather cools, it is inevitable that certain outdoor pests are going to try to find their way inside homes. One of the best ways to limit unwanted intrusions of insects or rodents is to deny them entry. It is often easier to prevent entry into a home or building than trying to control them once they are inside. Here are six useful tips for pest proofing. At the base of all exterior doors, install doo...
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Register — and vote
It’s a cliche, but true -- every vote counts. With the presidential election, several local and area races and a number of area special questions on the ballot for the Nov. 4 general election, residents have a chance to let their voices be heard on a wide variety of issues. But if haven’t registered to vote, time is running out -- Oct. 20 is the last day to register to vote before the election. Both the county clerk’s office and the Chanut...
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Letter to the Editor
Chanute is lucky I would like to publicly thank Sam Budreau and Jim McEwen for their service to the City of Chanute while serving as co-interim city managers. Both men willingly took on the extra responsibilities for the day-to-day management of the city while also continuing their ongoing duties as Director of Public Safety and Finance Director, respectively. They handled all these responsibilities efficiently and professionally. Chanute ...
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Letter to the Editor
Sales tax would fund building for all residents As a longtime staff member, recently retired, of the Chanute Recreation I felt drawn to attend the information meeting provided by the Chanute Citizens for Our Future. This was the meeting to give important information regarding the Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 ballot vote on November 4, 2008, regarding a half-cent sales tax for Chanute. The ¼ cent increase would be to provide the building...
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Letter to the editor
Mistaken identity of cat hard on young family To the woman and young girl in the dark blue Ford Focus who took our very friendly, big gray cat from 106 S. Allen on Sunday. We would like him returned. We understand that you believe him to be your cat who has been missing for a year since your move from Wilson Street, but you are mistaken. We adopted him from SEK Humane Society in Pittsburg four years ago and he has become a member of our fa...
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Make time for spiritual growth
Rick Qualls First Baptist Church Are you busy? Silly question! Ask anyone, “How are you doing?” “Busy, busier than ever before!” We just can’t find time for spiritual growth. We want to have affection for people, even for the grouches in our life. Who doesn’t want joy that bubbles up from our soul no matter the circumstances? Serenity and calmness in the face of stormy life would be priceless. How can we develop spiritual spaces in our l...
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Library has a full calendar for October
Susan Willis Library Director The remainder of October promises to be full of fun programs for all ages. While children’s story times for birth through early elementary continue, the adults can choose to attend book discussions and an author visit. Meanwhile, the staff is busy preparing to migrate to a new computer system in early November which will bring wonderful added features for everyone. Our “Women Around the World” discussion se...
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Alzheimer’s is no laughing matter
Lois Carlson Guest Columnist Alzheimer’s Disease is a condition that many people tend to joke about when they can’t remember something or find something. But, when all is said and done, Alzheimer’s disease is a very serious and eventually very debilitating disease. Just what is Alzheimer’s? It is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, and make judgements as well as to communica...
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Nothing’s the matter with Kansas
(This article originally ran in the Wall Street Journal on Saturday.) Bill Wyckoff President of Labette Bank Here in the heart of Kansas, the sky isn’t falling and Chicken Little isn’t running around without a head. Community banks like mine are still making loans and serving the needs of customers. I used to worry about competing in the world of mega “too-big-to-fail” banks. But now I know community banks offer something the monsters ca...
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Letter to the editor
Commentary on K-47, U.S. 169 intersection In reply to the article of Mr. Defenbaugh, it was before the 4-way stop signs at the junction north of Thayer that so many fatal accidents happened there. I remember quite well since my dear friend and neighbor’s car was broad-sided there as she was coming back to Chanute from Tulsa one morning. What a miracle that she wasn’t killed. The big signs on both sides of K-47 read 169 traffic does not st...
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Letter to the editor
Be sure to take a moment to buckle up The most dangerous thing most of us will do today is get into a car or truck to go to work, the store, to school or to run errands. As proof, consider that last year, 416 lives were lost in Kansas traffic crashes. Nearly 23,000 others were injured – many of those suffering permanent, life-changing injuries. On October 10 – Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day – we urge all Kansans to think about the ser...
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Letter to the editor
Put blame in D.C. where blame belongs A recent letter puts the blame for financial woes on the Republicans in D.C. The fact that both houses of Congress have been controlled by the Democrats if conveniently forgotten — Democrats who have not kept their campaign promises too numerous to mention. Historically, power rests with the majority party. As a majority, the Democrats could have had an legislation they wanted. Let’s put blame where blame...
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Letter to the Editor
More stoplights, please? The stoplights at 14th and Santa Fe are a big improvement. Could the old stoplights be installed at Central and Main? The view to the west is blocked much of the time with the increased parking in the 300 block of East Main. Virginia Friederich Chanute
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Letter to the Editor
Palin will make a fine VP Are we to be surprised by the knife job being done on Gov. Sarah Palin, and Sen. McCain for that matter, by the press? Are we to be afraid to vote for this lady because some in the press just can’t handle the fact that she understands the real world of good and evil and she didn’t marry a slick, cheesy weasel to get ahead in politics? She didn’t have a passport until she went to Kuwait to visit Alaskan National G...
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Presbyterian days gone by
From the microfilm files of the Chanute Tribune as prepared by the Chanute Historical Society. Memories of days gone by were recalled at the historical meeting at the Presbyterian Church last evening, March 11, 1911, according to the Chanute Tribune. The second pastor of the church told of the time when he began his work here with thirteen members and only one of the thirteen a man and of a wind that blew continuously for days and days – “h...
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The story of our financial madness
Scott Bideau Guest column The financial madness we now find ourselves in isa shockingly similar story to the collapse of the American banking system in 1933. One out of every five banks in America failed because they had taken on too much risk and issued unsound loans to companies in which the bank had invested in. The government responded with the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 (prohibiting a bank from engaging principally in the securities b...
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Don’t panic
Two words have been floating around that are causing some people great anxiety: Great Depression. Since the Bush administration’s Bailout Plan tanked in the House on Monday, stocks have dropped but they have been rebounding. A few still living remember vividly the fallout from the Great Depression, and these are not fond memories. My grandmother stockpiled the oddest things, like toilet paper, afraid another depression would mean she could...
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