Opinion
Artist Alley benefits from volunteers
It may be a simple thing, but it’s worthy of recognition and a thank you. The NCCC wrestlers and track team members assisted at Saturday’s Artist Alley downtown by emptying trash barrels. That may not be appreciated so much until you see trash containers heaping full and spilling over onto the ground. That mess gets harder to clean up. But the point is the college is great about getting student athletes involved with the community. The cross...
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Protecting your eyes as time goes by
You may barely notice the changes at first. Maybe you’ve found yourself reaching more often for your glasses to see up close. You might have trouble adjusting to glaring lights or reading when the light is dim. You may even have put on blue socks thinking they were black. These are some of the normal changes to eyes and vision as we age. As more Americans head toward retirement and beyond, scientists expect the number of people with age-relat...
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Education of child begins at birth
The education of a child begins at birth. As parents, we are our child’s first teacher and we play a vital role in preparing the child for school during these formative years. No other age group of children experience “windows of opportunity for wiring” at such a fast pace as the parents of a young child. In fact, Schiller (2011) writes, “by age three, the child’s brain is two and one-half times more active than it will ever be in his or her ...
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The Federal Reserve and interest rates in your life
We regularly hear news reports about a decision by the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to raise or lower interest rates or to leave them unchanged. Recently, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the Fed would hold the line on interest rates it controls until the middle of 2013. The announcement of the Fed’s interest rate policy over an extended period of time was unprecedented. So does that mean the rates that have the most impact i...
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Happiness is?
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust The other day I was speaking with someone at a meeting and they asked me “how do you know you are providing quality services to someone with a disability?” I stood there for a moment thinking about all of the services we provided and how I would answer that question. A simple response would have been, if the person is ...
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Happy autumn from the library
Happy autumn from all of us at the Chanute Public Library! After the summer of extreme heat which we have all suffered through, I know everyone is ready for cool, crisp days. Hopefully they will inspire you to try something new. Remember, the library can help if you suddenly have the urge learn anything – from trying to a new craft to learning a new language. For those interested in learning about saving money through couponing, join us on W...
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‘Forever Proud’ theme of Assisted Living Week National Assisted Living Week starts Sunday, Sept
‘Forever Proud’ theme of Assisted Living Week National Assisted Living Week starts Sunday, Sept. 11. It shares the date with two other very important events — the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and Grandparents’ Day. As proud Americans and active members of our communities, the residents of our assisted living homes are a reminder of the patriotism, family devotion and work ethic that we sometimes feel are missing in America today. It’s no wonder ...
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Enjoy some ‘sheep thrills’ at State Fair
Kansas 4-H members ages nine and up are eligible to enter projects at the Kansas State Fair, but only eligible after first earning the top award in the project category at the county fair. That means 4-H entries at the Fair come with high praise, and also means seeing the various projects in 4-H Centennial Hall may inspire others to join 4-H and learn by doing, choosing a new 4-H project (if already involved in 4-H programs) or provide the nu...
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Programs highlight Kansas history
I have been asked about plans for the 2011 trip, sponsored by the Neosho County FCE Council, but open to anyone wishing to go on the trip, which I plan each year. I am in the beginning stages of planning this year’s trip but plans are for probably an eight-day, seven-night trip to Mississippi and Alabama. We are looking at June for the trip. For those who are interested keep the date in mind and share the plans with interested friends. These ...
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Use Southwind to find out what you need to know
Kansas State University provides you with research-based information through many avenues. Locally, your contact is the Southwind Extension District in Erie and Iola. Hundreds of publications and fact sheets, written by K-State researchers and specialists, are available through the university’s Publications Library, www.ksre.ksu.edu/library. Another alternative is to research the information provided on the Southwind website, www.southwind.ks...
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With another successful year behind us, the Chanute Tribune is making some positive and exciting changes in the new year
With another successful year behind us, the Chanute Tribune is making some positive and exciting changes in the new year. Beginning with this week’s Friday edition of the Chanute Tribune, readers will notice a change to the TV Guide. After much research and discussion, we have shortened the length of the Guide, concentrating on the most-watched channels and eliminating the ones with lower viewing numbers. We had almost decided to stop publis...
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Museum offers numerous programs for youth
Our museum trustees and staff sincerely thank Chanute Walmart Supercenter associates for their support. The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum was honored to receive a $500 Walmart Community Grant. This grant will help fund the museum’s popular Toddler Territory, Young Explorers Club, Junior Docents, and other youth and family oriented programs. Toddler Territory is a monthly program for children up to five years old and their adult chapero...
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Get the facts about Radon: A silent danger
We do a lot to protect ourselves and our families; install smoke detectors, wear our seatbelts, lock our doors, keep hazardous cleaners away from our kids….but there may be something else, something invisible, right in your home that is dangerous to your health. Radon is a natural, tasteless, odorless, colorless, radioactive gas. It comes from the radioactive decay of uranium in soil, rock, and ground water. Radon gas enters a home from t...
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Main Street looking ahead to St. Patty’s Day
Main Street Chanute is starting off with a “bang” for 2011. Goals are set and work-plans are done for the year. I want to personally “Thank” everyone for the achievements of the Main Street program in 2010. We could not have accomplished all those goals without our great volunteers. One of our largest and most important goals for 2011 is to have downtown Chanute designated as a “Historic District.” It is going to take some patience and a lot...
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Take time to learn more about Kansas
As we approach the 150th birthday of the great state of Kansas, let’s continue to have a brief review of the struggles the people of the territory went through and endured, in order for Kansas to be admitted to the Union. Last week we looked at the fights along our eastern border, eventually obtaining the name of “Bleeding Kansas,” and the attempt by both sides, both pro and anti-slavery, to win control of the final vote. The 1850s were a rou...
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What is that orange grass in my pasture?
Have you noticed a two foot tall, orange or copper colored plant in your pasture this winter that the cattle will not eat? If so, then you have Broomsedge Bluesteam growing. Historically, housewives used the long, bush-like grasses to make a broom, which accounts for the common name. Broomsedge is a warm season native perennial grass, not a sedge like the name implies, and is often confused with little bluestem. It is a bunch grass that grow...
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‘I Have A Dream’
The Rev. Martin Luther King has long inspired me as an example of what it means to follow Jesus Christ, one who was able to living with love for his enemies. His teaching applied the Sermon on the Mount to a world of prejudice and hatred. His leadership showed that Christian love could bring about social change through non violent methods. The cost of the Civil Rights of movement demanded a high price in suffering. It is a movement with much ...
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Economic value of having community college in your area
I used to live in Miami, Okla., and very near the main town was a very successful mushroom farm. Now, I don’t know if you know how mushrooms are grown, but it involves generous amounts of fertilizer. Stinky fertilizer. And when the wind shifted just right the lovely odor of the farm and its fertilizer would waft through the community. Letters to the editor from citizens began appearing in the paper about the smell associated with this farm an...
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‘Bleeding Kansas’ resulted from free/slave fight
As we approach the upcoming 150th anniversary of Kansas’ admission to the Union, let’s take a few minutes to review the struggle the residents of this state and the surrounding area went through to get to statehood. In 1854 both the Kansas and Nebraska territories wanted to become a state. However, the big question was whether they would enter the Union as a free or slave state. Senator Stephen A. Douglas, from Illinois, held the strong belie...
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Feb. 7 deadline for Festival of Breads entries
While a Feb. 7 deadline looms for entry into the National Festival of Breads contest, test bakers have already begun to sift through some of the recipes, as plans begin to take shape for the biennial competition, held June 25 in Wichita. This is the second National Festival of Breads, which evolved from a competition developed by the Kansas WheatHearts and running from 1990-2007. It is intended to promote the wheat and flour industries, while...
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