Community News
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 24, 1971 Members of Parsons’ oldest church, First Presbyterian Church, planned to re-enact the early days of Parsons in a play to launch a centennial program. The church was founded in February 1871, before the incorporation of the city. First services were held in a saloon. More than 100 door prizes contributed by Parsons business firms would be awarded at the Par...
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Enforcement for seat belts to start
Law enforcement agencies across Kansas, including agencies in Labette County, will participate in an aggressive campaign in and around schools to educate and enforce seat belt laws Sunday through March 12. This is part of a program called SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone), which is designed to promote and reward seat belt use among teens, while encouraging officers to strictly enforce the seat belt law. In 2009, nearly 24,000 teens were in...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 23, 1971 Hope Campbell, award committee chairman of the Hannah Jameson chapter of D.A.R. of Parsons, awarded Arlyne O’Connor of Parsons, Lucille Bogner of rural Parsons and Christy Jones of McCune D.A.R. good citizen awards. Christina Griffith, Barbara Willsie, Julie Long and Nanette Crispino all won D.A.R. awards in the American history essay contest. Beverly Hars...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 22, 1971 The Oswego-Service Valley USD 504 board rehired Eugene Burke for a two-year term as superintendent. Burke was in his fifth year as superintendent of USD 504. Before going to Oswego, he served 13 years as principal of Baxter Springs High School. Feb. 22, 1981 A Chetopa High School junior placed first in the District American Legion Oratorical Contest at Pi...
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Youth missing from YCS
Law enforcement officers in Kansas and elsewhere have received notification of a youth who walked away from Youth Crisis Shelter, 1915 Crawford, earlier this month. Parsons police received a report from YCS that Chad Walker, 17, and another youth had walked away from YCS on Feb. 5. The other youth was found at Walker’s mother’s house in Wichita. Walker has not been found. Parsons Police Chief John Keele said police entered the youth into t...
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Sleep Inn wins award
The Sleep Inn & Suites hotel of Parsons was recently announced as a recipient of a 2010 Platinum Hospitality Award from world lodging leader Choice Hotels International, Inc., franchisor of the Sleep Inn. “The Sleep Inn & Suites hotel’s commitment to excellence and outstanding guest service has earned it this well-deserved recognition as of the best hotels among the Sleep Inn brand,” said Steve Joyce, president and chief executive officer f...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 19-20, 1971 LaForge & Budd Construction Co. of Parsons was the apparent low bidder on a federal water project in Oklahoma. The Parsons firm bid $149,302 for construction of a water supply system at Broken Bow Lake on the Mountain Fork River. The Parsons Education Association announced its nomination for the state’s 1971 master teacher award. He was a hometown man, ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 18, 1971 Mike Fitzmorris of Parsons, a senior at St. Patrick’s High School, was chosen as one of 24 students to represent District 2 (15 counties) of Southeast Kansas in a statewide festival chorus at the Kansas Music Educators Association convention March 26-27 in Wichita. He received two ratings of I in voice at music festivals as well as being a member of ensembl...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 17, 1971 Kathe Gossard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Gossard of rural Oswego, was named Tamasha Queen at Labette County High School. The Tamasha court included Mary Lea Johnston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Johnston of rural Edna; Lucille Bogner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theo Bogner of rural Parsons; Amy Cole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Cole of rural Pa...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 15, 1971 Kay Cackler captured singles and all-events titles and finished third in doubles as the 1971 women’s city bowling championships rolled to a close at Tower Bowl. Dolly Perez, all-events champion in 1970, teamed with Marceline Richison to win doubles. They finished second the previous year. Mary Ramsey won her second scratch all-events title. The singles champ...
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Bridge surveys to begin on K-126
McCUNE — Starting around Feb. 21, a survey team will begin working near the Limestone Creek and Lightening Creek bridges on K-126 in Crawford County. The bridges are located about one mile and six miles west of K-7, respectively. The surveys are based upon the existing bridge alignments. The area to be surveyed will cover 1,800 feet east and west of each bridge. The surveyors will measure and record information about features in the area. The...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 12-13, 1971 First United Methodist Church in Parsons planned an “old-fashioned box supper” as the first social event of its centennial observance. St. Patrick’s High School’s Pixies celebrated basketball Homecoming with a 97-68 victory over Oswego. St. Patrick’s had its highest point total since a 98-38 rout of Chetopa in January 1969, and Don Crispell had the second...
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Gerster, Alloway
Amber Gerster and Matt Alloway were married in a Sept. 11 double-ring ceremony at the Big Hill Overlook with Pastor Mike Farran of Pleasant Hill Church officiating. The bride is the daughter of James and Karen Zook of South Mound and the late David Gerster. The groom is the son of Gail and Juanita Alloway of rural Parsons. Amanda Rossman of Parsons was the maid of honor. Jessie Nevin of rural Parsons and Hallie Slavens of Pittsburg were brides...
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Schneider, Page
Pam Schneider and Rodger Schneider, both of Salina, announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily Schneider of Ottawa, to Trent Page of Ottawa, the son of Jim and Kim Page of rural Parsons. The bride-elect graduated from Ell-Saline High School, Brookville, in 2006. She earned a degree in agricultural communications and journalism in 2010 from Kansas State University. She is a marketing and program specialist for Agriculture Future of Ameri...
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Couple to honor 70th
Herb and Donna Rogers of Dearing will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Dearing Christian Church Family Life Center. Herbert N. Rogers and Donna Lavonne Conley were married on Feb. 22, 1941, at the courthouse in Girard by Judge Colburn. The couple have lived Coffeyville, rural South Coffeyville, Okla., and Dearing since marriage. They both lived in the McCune/Monmouth area before their ...
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Garage damaged by fire
McCUNE — A fire Wednesday night damaged a detached garage of a McCune home, according to the Crawford County sheriff. The sheriff was called at 11:10 p.m. Wednesday to 702 Third St. in McCune. Deputies saw smoke coming from the detached garage and McCune firefighters were already on-hand fighting the flames. The garage owner, Ricky Karstetter, told deputies that the fire was started by a wood stove inside the garage. Firefighters extinguished...
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Erie gets grant for park work
TOPEKA — Five Kansas communities have been awarded a share of $440,000 in funding from the Small Communities Improvement Program, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, including Erie. Part of the requirement to receive funding is to determine which parts of the project communities can complete by themselves. The community acts as the general contractor, organizing local labor and equipment, as well as coordinating work that nee...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 10, 1971 The Parsons Vikings ran into a man-for-man defense, but Iola didn’t have the men to control Robert Williams and Kenny Williams. The Vikings defeated Iola 59-43 in a Southeast Kansas League high school basketball game in the Viking gym. Robert Williams, the Vikings’ 6-foot-7 center, was just what the hosts needed because their fast break was erratic. The ran...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 8, 1971 Maurice Kash obtained a petition from Mildred Vance, city clerk, with the announced intention of becoming a candidate for a position on the board of Parsons District Schools. Kash, who was president of the Parsons Jaycees, was the eighth potential school board candidate for the April 6 election. Three people had filed, and four others had taken out petitions...
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News and Notes
CPR session today postponed The CPR/first aid session set for today at the Labette County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1921 Crawford, has been postponed because of the weather. The session has been rescheduled for 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12. Archery shoot moved inside The Labette County Archery Club will have an indoor shoot at 10 a.m. Sunday at 1915 Grand instead of the 3-D shoot scheduled for Sunday at Tolen Creek Park. Anyone w...
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