Community News
Wertz, Gitchell
Meagan Jo Wertz and Christopher Alan Gitchell were married in a double-ring ceremony on Saturday at Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Parsons. Robert Holgate officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Tammy Jo Gibson and David and Barbara Hillis, all of Parsons. The groom is the son of Mike and Kathy Gitchell of Parsons. Amanda Gitchell, sister-in-law of the groom, was the matron of honor. Shiana Freeman of Coffeyville was the br...
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Clubs
Disciples Women First Christian Church Disciples Women had their annual indoor picnic on Tuesday. Rose Welch introduced a special guest, Connie George, the church’s office administrator. The Rev. John Bain blessed the food. A potluck meal was enjoyed by 25 people, including six guests. Linda Railsback gave a talk about the Polaris Project, which provides help for the victims of human trafficking, the illegal trade of human beings for sex or fo...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 14, 1973 The national gasoline shortage hit Labette County as commissioners were notified by a supplier that he had no more fuel for highway department vehicles. A representative of Guinn Oil Co. of Chetopa told commissioners he had to reserve his fuel supplies for farm customers in their busy season. Charles Smay, county engineer, said he didn’t think the shortage w...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 13, 1973 Milk prices were going up in Southeast Kansas. An increase of six cents a gallon wholesale was expected. Other increases were likely to follow. Dairy companies serving the area were Foremost Dairy Products, Beatrice Foods Co. and Page Milk Co. All bought milk from Mid America Dairymen Inc. of Springfield, Mo., and Associated Milk Producers of Wichita. Both c...
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Schools
Steinbacher graduates from ESU EMPORIA — Traver Steinbacher of Erie was among the more than 600 students who were candidates for undergraduate degrees during the May 18 commencement ceremony in White Auditorium in Emporia. Steinbacher earned a bachelor of science degree in education (secondary) in physical education with a minor in coaching. Commencement speakers included Tim Emert, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. Middleton graduate...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 12, 1973 About 35 city employees discussed possible benefits with two representatives of the Teamsters Union from Joplin, an employee reported. They constituted about a fourth of those eligible to join a union. The employee said union benefits were the major item discussed at what he called a “get-acquainted” meeting. A similar meeting possibly would be scheduled the...
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Clubs
Parsons Rotary The Parsons Rotary Club met on Thursday. President Gary Goodnight opened the meeting. Lyle Lomas led the prayer, Scott McLaughlin led the Four Way Test and pledge, and Hal Redford led the song. Rotarian of the Day George Knox introduced guest speaker Jim Zaleski, Labette County Tourism Bureau director. Working with the Kansas Wildscapes Foundation, Zaleski was able to secure the Governor’s Fishing Classic to be at Big Hill Lake ...
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Schools
LCHS FFA members earn state degrees Labette County FFA chapter members Jenna Bogner, Kaylee Houston, Ashleigh Shields, Natalie Nelson, national officer Brennan Costello, Zach Foster, Ryan McKinzie, Austin Ryan and Holleigh Sorrell were awarded the State FFA Degree May 31 at the 85th Kansas FFA State Convention. The State FFA Degree is the highest honor the Kansas FFA Association can bestow upon its members. In order to achieve the award, membe...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 8-9, 1973 Two trustees attending their last regular board meeting and a retiring instructor were recognized by the board of Labette Community Junior College. John Schmoker of Oswego and Gilbert Cole of Chetopa, both board members who didn’t seek re-election, were presented inscribed plaques at the meeting. Schmoker had been a trustee for eight years since the school ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 7, 1973 A three-day health education program on Parsons Plaza was set to begin, with blood pressure testing among its features. Cooperating in sponsoring the project were the Parsons Trade Association, the Labette County Heart Association and the county unit of the American Cancer Society. Free films on breast and uterine cancer were booked at the Parsons Theater. Th...
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Mound Valley boy wins train set
Commercial Bank announced on Thursday that the winner of its Katy train set giveaway drawing was 6-year-old Truett Froebe of Mound Valley. Truett and his parents picked up the train set from Commercial Bank president Philip Eaton and explained he had just turned 6 years old three days earlier. “They were all very excited,” Eaton said in a statement. “He was a quiet little guy, but his grin said it all.” Coinciding with the Katy Days festival,...
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Mound Valley church plans revival, mission trip
MOUND VALLEY — Mound Valley First Baptist Church will have a revival Monday through Wednesday at the church. From 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, there will be bounce houses and snow cones. A free pulled pork dinner will begin at 6 p.m., and Redemption’s Call will perform at 7 p.m. Revelation Band will perform at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday’s events will begin at 1 p.m. with youth games, fun and prizes. At 6:30 p.m., singer Gayle Garretson will perform. ...
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Mission team helps camp
Six members of the Wesley United Methodist Church mission team from Parsons traveled to Buckhorn Camp near Fort Collins, Colo., recently. The church members were joined by two others from the area and spent a week working at the camp. The United Methodist camp was heavily damaged by last summer’s forest fires. The group spent the week clearing burned trees and brush, converting them to large piles of mulch. Some of the group installed about 2,...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun's editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 6, 1973 The board of USD 505 hired Odes Sapp of Valley Center to succeed Verl Shufelt as superintendent of schools. Shufelt resigned in April and accepted an elementary school principal job at Edna. Gilbert Luman, clerk of the board, said the existing salary of the superintendent was boosted for Sapp, but he declined to name the exact figure. A retirement luncheon ho...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 5, 1973 Mike Maier of Parsons led a field of junior PGA qualifiers in Wichita, posting a super-sharp round of 66 in the 16-17-year-old division. He and four other low scorers in the Kansas division play at Wichita’s Clapp Park would go on to the southwestern Junior PGA in Bartlesville, Okla. First-half revenue sharing funds allocated for 1973 tentatively would be spe...
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Woman sells dog treats at market
Each season a variety of vendors sell produce and other goods at the Parsons Farmers Market. Over the past three years, more than 45 local producers have been a part of the market at one time or another. This week, the Parsons Farmers Market introduces Norma Cagle of Dennis as one of its pet product providers. This is Cagle’s first year at the Parsons Farmers Market, but she is excited to be able to offer a product that she and her dog can sta...
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Clubs
Disciples Women The Disciples Women of First Christian Church met on May 28. Elaine Harris opened the meeting by reading a poem by Helen Steiner Rice, “A Short Way to a Happy Day.” Kathleen Seward reported that Jackie Nash was in the hospital and asked for prayers for Barbara Wills and Fern Ham. Seward stated that the May project was for Safe Haven Outreach Mission Inc., and a collection was taken. The June project will be for the Polaris Proj...
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Schools
MANHATTAN — Labette County FFA member Zachary Foster competed against five other district stars to win the state’s top honor of State Star Farmer May 29-31 at the 85th Kansas FFA Convention on the Kansas State University campus. Each year, the Kansas FFA Association recognizes three FFA members who have the top supervised agricultural experience programs with the Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Ag Placement awards. The Star compe...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 1-2, 1973 A Labette Community Junior College faculty negotiating committee ratified “with reservation” a 1973-74 contract including an increase of $100 in the base salary and clarifications of work load. The salary schedule of the master agreement was effective for 23 faculty members and represented a combined increase in salary of $15,303, James Altendorf, college p...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. May 31, 1973 Officials of Labette and Neosho counties and the city of Parsons said they had no problems with fuel shortages for their vehicles. Charles Smay, Labette County engineer, said the county’s various distributors had assured it there would be no problem. Paul Freeberg, Parsons city engineer, said the city had discussed the possibility of a shortage with its contr...
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