Opinion
Other Editors
The Kansas City Star, on the housing bill’s benefits: The housing bill passed recently by the U.S. House has a few good points. The program it creates would be voluntary. It would tighten regulation of the mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, something Congress has resisted for far too long. But overall, the legislation goes too far in its attempt to fix the housing sector. Probably the best course is to let the market sort out the me...
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SUBSCRIPTION BASED
We’ve been working very hard at The Chanute Tribune to bring you the best possible web site. We know it isn’t perfect yet, and we will be continuing to work to improve it. But we’re now ready to operate on a subscription basis for our news, as we have done in the past. From today on, those readers who choose to subscribe to our website will have total access to every page – including a pdf version of the newspaper which will be up each day ea...
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West Main stores burn
From the microfilm files of the Chanute Tribune as prepared by the Chanute Historical Society. A fire and water damage of $50,000 followed the early morning blaze in the buildings owned by the Harry Jones estate on West Main Street, according to the Chanute Tribune of October 5, 1925. Shirley Brothers are the heaviest losers. Their dry goods and ready-to-wear section is a complete loss, while the grocery department is water-soaked and dama...
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Other Editors
The Hays Daily News, on not forgetting Osama bin Laden: Those who believe there is middle ground in the cultural clash between Western civilization and the most radical of Islamic militants are simply wrong. In a new audio tape released to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, Osama bin Laden brought the Jewish state front and center, vowing to fight so long as there is one “true Muslim” left on the planet. “We .....
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Obama, Clinton chart an endgame
Beth Fouhy Associated Press Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Two weeks before the final primary in their marathon battle, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were campaigning hard Wednesday. Both were in Florida, but their goals could hardly have been more different — or said more about how each one hopes to bring their historic race to a close. Obama, feeling sure of the Democratic nomination, was trying to stake an early claim to a state that cou...
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Kansas Profile: Maria Baumgardner — Elmdale
Ron Wilson Huck Boyd Institute Help yourself. That’s a courteous way of saying go ahead and do what you need to do. Imagine a store where you could not only help yourself to the items for sale on the shelves, but you could help yourself by going to the cash register and making your own change on the honor system. I didn’t think such places still existed anywhere, but I found one in rural Kansas. It’s a store operated by a lady with a long ...
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Memorial Day 2008
Kathleen Sebelius Governor Monday, May 26 marks Memorial Day. It is a solemn day when we remember the courage and sacrifice of each man and woman who has given their life to further the liberty of all people in this country and throughout the nation. Every day that we live with peace and freedom at home is a day made possible by these brave soldiers and airmen. In 1868, 148 years ago, our nation held the first Memorial Day to honor those ...
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Letter to the editor
Questions still unanswered about city spending What do you want to bet Chanute’s travel expenses are several times that of surrounding cities? I have only a subset of the thousands of pages of expenses. Of that subset, I have calculated the lodging only expenses for less than one year, at over $25,000. This doesn’t include food or travel expenses. Often these travel expenses include valet parking, which is not a legitimate government expen...
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Of dollars and sense and cheap government
Leonard Pitts Tribune Media Services I think George W. Bush deserves a raise. You’re waiting for the punchline, I know. You’re figuring with a setup like that, about a president whose popularity lives down where moles and earthworms do, the payoff’s got to be a doozy. Sorry, but there is no punchline because that wasn’t a setup. I think the president should get a raise. Congress, too. And yes, I know Congress’ approval ratings are simila...
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Obama, oh yes, he will make us better
Kathleen Parker Tribune Media Services Chivalry is still charming, as Barack Obama proved when he recently warned Tennessee Republicans to leave his wife alone. He was commenting on a GOP Web ad that highlights Michelle Obama’s comment, made at a rally in February, that she was proud of America for the first time in her adult life. When asked about the ad Monday during an interview on “Good Morning America,” Obama said Republicans were w...
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Other Editors
The Salina Journal, on the new GI bill: If the new GI bill passes the Senate and survives the president’s threatened veto, it could cost as much as $52 billion over the next 10 years. That’s a lot of money. But the war in Iraq has been estimated to cost $1 trillion to $3 trillion for 2002 to 2008. Estimates are it will cost $12 billion just for this month, or $5,000 a second. That $51 billion is less than the price of five months of war. ...
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Where have all the thoughtful conservatives gone?
Leonard Pitts Tribune Media Services Don’t read this column yet. First, I want you to do something. Google “Chris Matthews + Kevin James.” This will bring up video of the latter, a conservative L.A. radio pundit, being questioned by the former last week on MSNBC’s “Hardball.” You “must” see this video. For the Internet deprived, here’s a recap: James goes on “Hardball” to comment on a speech President Bush gave before the Israeli Knesset...
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No offense, Sweetie!
Mitch Albom Tribune Media Services So what can you call someone today? When Barack Obama used the word “sweetie” in addressing a Detroit TV reporter last week, it made national headlines. He was scolded by the media. Fingers wagged. Tongues clucked. “Uh-uh-uh,” the conscience-makers said, “you’re stepping over the line.” And maybe he was. But where is the line? I’ve been thinking ever since this happened about the things we call ea...
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Letter to the editor
Even if it didn’t happen, it wasn’t a crime anyway I’m currently a freshman in high school, and I’m writing in response to the front page article where the “City Commission meeting gets personal.” The leaders of Chanute acted no better than a bunch of juvenile children. Whose business is it if Mr. Chard decides to drink. The last time I checked, he was a consenting adult who can make his own decisions. Also, the hate-mail comment reminded m...
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Other Editors
The Garden City Telegram, on storms damaging wheat crop: Rain that fell on the region in the recent days was welcome in an area that’s been mired in drought. The hail, however, was another story. Storms that recently moved into the area hammered Garden City with hailstones that ranged from pea size to softball-size whoppers. Residents of areas hardest hit were left assessing damage to homes, vehicles and other property. Meanwhile, not so evid...
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Gambling supporters gamble on court ruling
Carl Manning Associated Press TOPEKA (AP) — In the world of gambling, it’s about the odds. Right now, the Kansas Lottery is betting that a law enacted last year allowing it to own and operate four resort casinos and have slot machines at race tracks is constitutional. So is Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, but just to make sure she asked the attorney general’s office to get a definitive ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court to quell any doubts. L...
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Letter to the editor
Tree curb appeal problem solved reasonably I would very much like to express my gratitude to all of the city employees who were active in helping us to regain pleasant curb appeal in the 1100 block of South Plummer. The response to my complaint was immediate and everyone involved in the restoration worked diligently and very professionally to complete the task at hand. My gratitude is also extended to Mr. Travis Russell, along with his assis...
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Reunions
Krone The 63rd annual reunion of the Fred and Louise Krone family was held June 3 at the Family Life Center at Zion Lutheran Church, Chanute. Thirty-two were in attendance. The Herman Krone families were hosts. The Martha Krone (Doekpe) families will host the 2013 Krone Reunion Those attending from Chanute: Phillip Cooper, Donna Dye, Don and Betty Krone, Ella Brazil, Everett Seefeldt, Faron Morales, Tom Erickson, Irvin and Mary Alice Lassma...
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Biofuels and the price of food
It’s no secret I’m an advocate of biofuels. I have been for a long time, so I’m fairly accustomed to the anti-biofuel rhetoric. Even so, I was taken aback by the level of blame being heaped on biofuels this spring for rising food prices. Biofuels do have an impact on grain prices and a more modest impact on food prices. The most recent estimates I’ve heard are that biofuel production increased the price of corn by about 20 percent over the la...
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Democrats offer thrills ‘n’ chills
Kathleen Parker Tribune Media Services WASHINGTON — Well, at least they didn’t kiss. I was bracing myself for the lip lock Wednesday when John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Don’t look at me. None other than David “Mudcat” Saunders, Edwards’ former rural adviser, came up with the idea when he said Obama should kiss Edwards on the lips “to kill this 41-point loss,” referring to Hillary Clinton’...
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