News
Efforts to start produce giveaway under way
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter A local campaign to promote a produce giveaway program is being initiated by a Chanute woman. Sarah Maike, who has lived in Chanute full time since early December, says the program to start with will focus on produce items. “Just walking through the neighborhoods in Chanute, I’ve seen several people with gardens in their backyards. I’m a gardener myself and many times we tend to grow more produce than we need, ...
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Community National donates $50,000 to performing arts center at PSU
Pittsburg State University’s new Fine and Performing Arts Center is closer to becoming a reality thanks to a donation from Community National Bank & Trust. Bank officials last week presented the university with a $50,000 donation which will be used to help construct the new center. “We’re fortunate to have great partners such as Community National Bank & Trust,” said Brad Hodson, vice president for university advancement. “This gift is anothe...
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Esslinger Mfg. provides nationwide molding services 
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter David Esslinger has molded his Chanute-based business from the ground up. Esslinger has operated his own molding company since 1996 and his products have garnered a nationwide demand. He moved his business from El Dorado to Chanute in 2003. Esslinger provides molds for electrical and industrial parts for everything from bearings, spacers and rollers for amusement park rides to lenses and gears for safes on crui...
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Annual Stark Days begin on Friday
STARK — It’s that time of year, again. The annual Stark Days’ Celebration begins on Friday, May 25 at 6 p.m. with the free bean feed at the ball field followed at 7 p.m. by bluegrass gospel music performed by Michael and Lita Miller and Bruce Kiddoo with local jamming to follow. On Saturday, the day starts with the bake sale on Main Street at 8 a.m. followed with the parade starting at 100. Starting at 9 a.m. and continuing until 2 p.m., th...
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Rural home damaged by fire
A house fire occurred at Udall Road and K-39 Highway on the north side of the road early Saturday morning. Chanute firefighters were dispatched around 1:28 a.m., and the Buffalo fire department was first notified around 1:40 a.m. The fire started in the second story of the home of the Gerard Rousch family. The cause is undetermined at this time. No one was injured, but there was extensive damage to the house. City holding work session this ...
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NMRMC receives outstanding Medicare report score
A preliminary Medicare report last week shows Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center surpasses hospitals nationwide in providing quality care to Medicare beneficiaries. NMRMC received a score of 98 out of 100 in the Medicare report, which helps educate hospitals on Medicare’s new incentive payments. “Medicare’s Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program is a new and different way to pay hospitals,” said Neosho Memorial CEO Dennis Franks. “To lear...
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Chamber of Commerce hosts cash mob
The Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a cash mob 5 p.m. Thursday, May 24. A cash mob, a play on “flash mob” where a group of people gather to do something unusual for a short time, is an event where people go all at once into small local businesses to shop. The intent is that this will give the business a financial boost and familiarize people with a business they may not know of or know much about. For this reason, the business is kept se...
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Former city clerk pleads guilty
WICHITA – A former city clerk of the City of Thayer in Neosho County has pleaded guilty to embezzling $120,000, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said on Monday. Laura Whittley, 49, Thayer, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering. In her plea, she admitted she used more than one method to steal money from the city including: – Pocketing cash paid by citizens for utility bills, municipal court payments, parks and ...
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Trip to earning college diploma filled with medical obstacles
Colleen Surridge Parsons Sun ST. PAUL — Emotions overwhelmed Suzie Diskin as she watched her son, Gerald Diskin, walk across the stage at Pittsburg State University May 12 to receive his diploma — his final steps as an undergraduate before heading to medical school this fall at Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences. “I’m very proud of him. Last week when they started playing ‘Pomp and Circumstance,’ I just felt so emotional, I can’...
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Chanute native graduates with Obama as speaker
Stu Butcher Tribune editor Former Chanute residents Trisha and Jeff Williams have been looking forward to high school graduation of their youngest, Sam. The milestone event was dialed up a notch when it was announced President Barrack Obama would be the commencement speaker for Monday night’s ceremony for Joplin High School at Leggett and Platt Arena on the campus of Missouri Southern State University. The Williams family moved to Joplin thre...
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Secretary of State to conduct public meetings on Voter ID
TOPEKA – In order to help educate the public about the new voting law passed in 2011, Secretary of State Kris Kobach is conducting a series of public meetings in May and June in 11 cities across Kansas, including Chanute. In Chanute, the meeting is scheduled 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, May 24 at Sanders Hall Auditorium at Neosho County Community College. At each meeting, Kobach will present an overview of the new Secure and Fair Elections Act (SAFE...
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County/city debate continues over Ash Grove appraisal
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter ERIE -- Neosho County commissioners met in regular session Friday morning and once again the Ash Grove tax assessment was discussed. Commissioners commented on the recent resolution passed by Chanute city commissioners concerning the tax appraisal of the Ash Grove plant by Hadco International. Commission chair Nicholas Galemore said he is frustrated by the city commission’s continual misrepresentation of facts ...
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Fleming returns to Chanute after college
Joshua Vail Tribune Stephanie Fleming, a Chanute native, graduated from Newman University in Wichita last week. Next week, she will be starting a new job at Total Image Photography in her hometown. Fleming’s degree is a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in photography and graphic design. “I’ll be doing the photo editing,” she said. “I’ll be learning about portrait photography and I’m going to be doing some of those more graphic design things...
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Police investigate knife incident
Tribune staff The Chanute police department is investigating an incident that occurred Thursday afternoon in which a knife was used. It happened around 1 p.m. in the 600 block of South Malcolm. According to police reports, an unidentified man told officers of an unfamiliar truck parked in his driveway when he and his young daughter returned to their home. Upon entering the home, the two spotted 26-year-old Andrew Henry who brandished a small...
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Big sister reaches one-year milestone
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter The Neosho County chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) celebrated the one-year anniversary of one of its first matches earlier this week. Angie Haslett and Heather Parker have been sisters since May 16, 2011 and according to Haslett, the two have enjoyed every minute. “I have two young boys at home and I really needed some girl time,” Haslett said. “This was a good opportunity for both of us. We just click...
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Commissioners explain views on passed resolution
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter In a 3-1-1 vote, Chanute city commissioners passed a resolution Monday night that expresses concerns over the Ash Grove tax appraisal by Hadco International which was presented to county commissioners last month. Commissioners Tim Egner, Greg Woodyard and Mayor Jim Chappell voted in favor of the resolution while commissioner Kevin Berthot opposed. Commissioner Martha McCoy abstained. The resolution questions th...
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Global torch relay makes its way through Chanute
Travis Hendryx Tribune Reporter A 12-person relay team known as World Harmony Run (WHR) made its way through Chanute Thursday as part of a 10,000-mile running trek through all 50 states. “We are a global torch relay, seeking to strengthen international friendship and understanding. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary we will run 10,000 miles visiting all 50 states in the Union,” said team captain Arpan DeAngelo, a carpenter from New York Cit...
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LCC announces spring 2012 graduates
LCC announces spring 2012 graduates PARSONS — Labette Community College commencement exercises took place Friday, May 11 at the Parsons Municipal Building. There were 194 students who completed degrees this semester. These graduates are listed alphabetically by hometown with their degree following.¬† Chanute — Jean Richter-Strode, Associate in Applied Science, Nursing; Traci Seely, Associate in Applied Science, Nursing Erie — Christopher Coo...
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Annular solar eclipse at sunset Sunday
Annular solar eclipse at sunset on Sunday Mike Myer Special to the Tribune This Sunday evening sky watchers will be able to watch a spectacular annular solar eclipse. The neat thing about this eclipse is that we will see the maximum part of the eclipse at sunset. An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is further away from the Earth than usual, making it appear smaller, and the Earth is closer to the sun than usual, making it larger. ...
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Fredonia senior awarded $1,000 FFA scholarship
Abigail Baker, a 2012 graduate of Fredonia HS-FFA, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Merle Kelly Ford, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. Baker’s parents are Burke Baker and Julie Smith of Fredonia. Baker plans to study Agricultural Business Management at Kansas State University. The Built Ford Tough - FFA Scholarship Program is designed to recognize FFA members’ talents and accomplishments while encouraging their future academic achievements...
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