News
Parsons announces Music in the Park schedule
PARSONS — No matter what your favorite type of music might be, the lineup of talented entertainers for the 2013 Music in the Park concert series is sure to please. The City of Parsons is proud to present this free weekly concert series, located at the Seaton Family Pavilion in Forest Park at 13th and Broadway. The concert series kicks off on Thursday, May 30 with a performance of Kansas City’s best classic rock band, The Crayons. The Crayons ...
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Area couple help children thrive
Editor’s note: May is National Foster Care Month and TFI Family Services would like to thank foster families for making a difference in the life of a child, and encourage other families to consider becoming a foster family to a child in need. Kristen Blacksher Communication Specialist TFI Family Services, Inc. Joe and Glenda Johnson of Humboldt have provided a safe place for many local children as TFI Family Services, Inc. (TFI) foster paren...
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County subject to increased healthcare costs in 2014
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter ERIE — Phil Drescher, account executive with the Bukaty Companies, presented the quarterly report on the county’s health insurance plan at the Neosho County Commission weekly meeting Friday. Drescher reported there has been a much greater use of care providers that are in the county plan’s network over the same time last year, which Drescher said is a good thing, and a significant increase in Emergency Room utili...
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Crossing guards keep students safe and sound
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter James Fitzer waves to every car that passes his crossing at the old Murray Hill School. “I guess it’s my faith that kind of leads me to do that, uplift everybody,” he said. “If I can get a smile out of them then I’ve done something.” Fitzer is a retiree and a member of New Life United Brethren church. He has been a Chanute crossing guard for the last five years. The guards are city employees who report to Public S...
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Chanute gymnast takes on Ninja Warrior challenge
Plans are to attempt a world record Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter The Chanute City Commission received an unexpected surprise Monday after hearing that local gymnast Casey Finley will compete in Denver at the “American Ninja Warrior” competition. Finley shocked Chanute commissioners and those in the audience with his announcement, which vice mayor Greg Woodyard goaded from him while discussing moving Finley’s business, The Launching Pad. “I ha...
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Erie school hosts Special Olympics
Colleen Surridge Parsons Sun ERIE — Bryce Commons of Pittsburg High School leaned forward to allow Erie High Charter School freshman Carlee Kanute to place around his neck the first-place medal he’d won. Kanute offered her hand to the smiling champion to congratulate him on his first-place win in the high school division men’s softball throw during the Special Olympics Kansas West track and field competition Wednesday. Commons and others who ...
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Erie fires city superintendent
ERIE — The Erie City Council effectively fired City Superintendent Bruce Vogts on Monday evening. The council voted 3-2 against re-appointing Vogts as city superintendent. His term ended on Monday. The city council must approve appointments to certain positions on the city staff each year for the employees to continue working for the city. Council members Jim Dyson and Terry Beachner voted in favor of keeping Vogts as superintendent, but they...
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PSU scholarships listed
Pittsburg State University has announced area scholarship recipients: Joseph S. Morris of Chanute received the Helen Kriegsman Service Scholarship for outstanding academic achievements. Morris is a freshman with a major in Biology. He is a graduate of Chanute High School. His parents are Scott and Patricia Morris of Chanute. Mariah Calyn Bush of Chanute received the Davidson Memorial Trust Scholarship and a music scholarship as a music minor...
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County commission recognized by SEK-CAP
SEK-CAP celebrated National Community Action Month by honoring volunteers, community partners and handing out awards. SEK-CAP, Girard, presented the annual awards during its Day of Caring event May 3 in the Municipal Building in Parsons. The Award for Collaborative Excellence (ACE) went to the Neosho County Commission and was accepted by Commissioner Jay Kingery of Chanute. The ACE goes to a business or agency that has demonstrated outstandin...
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Kansas State students help plan future animal shelter
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Students from the Kansas State University Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program have assisted in establishing a new animal shelter for the City of Chanute. After months of planning, K-State MBA students made a presentation to the Chanute City Commission Monday night, where they outlined a business model for a new animal shelter that includes establishing an advisory board, raising capital and increasing...
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Chanute library nixes tapes, changes hours
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter The Chanute Library Board of Trustees announced a few changes during its regular meeting Monday that include reducing its hours and eliminating audiocassettes from library racks. The Board approved closing the library an hour earlier on Wednesdays and also announced plans to remove outmoded audiobooks, creating a DVD section for adults and using the remaining space as a work station for librarians. “For the last t...
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NCCC news
NCCC has State weldingwinner for 5th consecutive year The State Welding Competition was held April 25 at Wichita Area Technical College. There were 31 high school students participating who were judged predominantly on cutting and welding based on industry standard blueprints as well as a written test. Bridger Keyes, NCCC welding program and home-schooled high school student, claimed the first place title this year, continuing the tradition o...
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Erie High School announces co-valedictorians
Erie High School is proud to announce that four deserving students have been awarded the honor of being valedictorians and salutatorians from the 2013 graduating class. Sharing the honor of being co-valedictorians with 4.0 GPAs are Heather Dillinger and Abigail Kaiser. Heather is the daughter of Michael and Shelly Dillinger of rural Parsons. Abigail’s parents are Heath and Jennifer Harding of Erie. The co-salutatorians are Katie Brungardt,...
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Graduation for NCCC on Friday
Graduation for Neosho County Community College is planned 7 p.m. Friday, May 17 at Chanute Memorial Auditorium, 101 South Lincoln.  Candidates for Associate Degrees Students who gave permission for their names to be published. #=Sigma Alpha (top 10 percent of class), ^=Honors, *Phi Theta Kappa Associate of Arts Leroy B. Barnes, Skyller A. Chambers, Christina M. Donnelly, Edwin J. Gutierrez, Jessica Liston, Mary E. Phelps #, Danielle N. She...
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Cheerleader overcomes injuries, bullying to join elite college squad
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Chanute High School graduate Caitlin Ryan will soon join one of the most elite squads in college cheerleading after receiving her degree from Neosho County Community College. Ryan will walk with an Associates of Science degree on FridayMay 17, then she will continue training throughout the summer before moving to Stillwater, Okla., this fall to join the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Spirit Group. Next year, the s...
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Commissioners approve Hi-Lo abatement
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Hi-Lo Industries’ application for tax abatement will move forward after the Chanute City Commission Monday night unanimously gave its approval. The abatement application will now go to the Kansas Court of Tax Appeals, who will review the application and determine its eligibility based on article 11, section 13 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas. Despite unanimously passing through the commission, only thre...
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Hawaiian tradition comes to Santa Fe Lake
Jimmy Potts Tribune Reporter Chanute residents can indulge in a Hawaiian tradition with Flatwater, Fitness and Fun offering paddleboard lessons and rentals at Santa Fe Lake on June 1. Although usually privy to barbeque, baseball and softball games, and other outdoor affairs, the park will host an activity once practiced by ancient, Peloponnesian farmers, performed professionally on rough ocean and river water around the world. “It is a lot li...
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Dalton Noakes: My time at CHS will be something I’ll never forget
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter Dalton Noakes is the salutatorian for the Chanute High School Class of 2013. He had the second highest ACT score out of those students with a 4.0 GPA this school year. “Growing up, even in middle school, I had always wanted to be the valedictorian or the salutatorian,” he said. “I’ve always liked learning.” Noakes said school and excelling at standardized tests has come pretty easily to him. Noakes has been invo...
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Erie High receives grant for recycling
Colleen Surridge Parsons Sun ERIE — Having earned the title of being the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold-certified school, Erie High Charter School administration, staff and students feel an obligation to lead by example. “Our school has been designed as a green school and has received a lot of awards and recognition for the design of our school, but we realized we did not have a good opportunity for our school, or fo...
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Valedictorian motivated by perfectionism
Joshua Vail Tribune Reporter Madison Wendt’s goal was reached as valedictorian for the Chanute High School Class of 2013. The valedictorian is a student with the highest ACT score out of those with a 4.0 GPA. “I had all As through elementary and middle school,” she said. “I wasn’t really satisfied with having less than an A because I’m a perfectionist.” Wendt said the perfectionism can be both positive and negative, but it motivated her to...
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