Community News
Railroad history
Parsons and area residents have already had a chance to see the Union Pacific Railroad steam locomotive No. 844 after rolled into town Tuesday afternoon, ahead of schedule. But today, area residents and railroad enthusiasts have 12 hours to look the locomotive over, and its supporting train cars. The public availability runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today in the railroad yard, 2015 Crawford. The steam locomotive will leave the Parsons yard at...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 6, 1970 Rebecca Schultz, a member of the freshman class and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Schultz, was crowned Chetopa High School’s 1970 Athletic Queen at an annual athletic banquet. Sponsored by the pep club girls and their sponsor, Marjorie Hubler, the event was given in honor of the boys who had participated in sports and their coaches, Fred Strathe, Hubert G...
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A bad idea
Who would you like to trust with your Social Security number, birth date and other personal information? The Kansas Department of Corrections allows some state prison inmates access to this information as part of their work duties. No, you’re eyes aren’t deceiving you. Kansas and seven other states allow convicted felons (thieves, drug addicts and other thugs) access to citizens’ personal information, a federal audit shows. The work is part ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 3-4, 1970 A $200 increase, plus regular salary increments, was approved for faculty members of Labette Community Junior College by trustees. The college also would pay the full cost of hospitalization insurance, which would amount to an additional $86 per teacher annually. In the past, the school paid half of that insurance cost. Increments under a salary schedule ...
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Couple to celebrate 60th
Sam and Dorothy Ricketts of Erie will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a family celebration this weekend. Sam Ricketts and Dorothy Mitchell were married on April 2, 1950. The couple’s children are John and Blenda Ricketts of Ottawa, Lucy and Jim Walters of Erie and Mitch and Becky Ricketts of Manhattan. They also have seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The two-day anniversary celebration will be hosted by their chil...
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New "Clash" movie as cheesy as original
I know I’m dating myself here, but I was 8 years old when the original “Clash of the Titans” was released. Because of this, that movie holds a special place in my heart. Looking at that film today, we would all agree that it’s extremely cheesy with its poorly-aged Ray Harryhausen special effects and laughably bad lead actor Harry Hamlin. Now the folks at Warner Bros. have decided to remake “Clash of the Titans” as a serious, non-cheesy film. ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 2, 1970 An impasse that brought a production stall at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant east of Parsons continued. Meanwhile, there were unofficial reports that two more unions were on the verge of taking strike action at the Army-owned facility, formally joining the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers in a work halt that it called at midnight March 31. The OCAW stoppa...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. March 24, 1970 Seven high school juniors from Parsons were selected as delegates to attend Boys’ State June 7-13 at the University of Kansas. They were John Hoffman, 1411 Broadway; Rees Hughes, 1405 Morton; Jack Brewer, 3023 Dirr; Robert Finch, 1429 Morgan; Ken Fulton, 1515 Broadway; Don Smith, 120 N. 27th; and David Robison, 625 S. 35th. Alternate delegates were Robert ...
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Legislative coffee is Saturday at PHS
Sen. Dwayne Umbarger, a Thayer Republican, and Reps. Richard Proehl, Jerry Williams and Forrest Knox will be on hand for a legislative coffee at 9 a.m. Saturday in the community room of Parsons High School. The event is sponsored by the Parsons Chamber of Commerce. Easter egg hunt The Parsons Soroptimist International will have its 23rd annual Easter egg hunt starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Forest Park. Children age 1 and 2 will meet on t...
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Some good news
Parsons and Southeast Kansas received some needed boosts in recent weeks. A Service Valley Charter School seventh-grader, Matthew Wegner, won first place at the state spelling bee in Great Bend and earned a trip to the national bee in Washington, D.C., in June. Matthew, of Parsons, has fought long and hard for this honor. He’s won the county bee as a fourth-grader and a fifth-grader. He competed at the state bee as a fourth-grader, finishin...
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McCourt, Yanez engagement
Ryan Yanez and Trenda McCourt, both of Parsons, announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Janice McCourt of Parsons. The future groom is the son of Ian Yanez of Parsons and Nikole Chastain of St. Louis. Both the bride-elect and the future groom are attending Labette Community College. Yanez is studying to be a physical therapist and McCourt is studying to be a pathologist. The couple are planning a July wedding.
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Feast of St. Joseph Sunday in Scammon
SCAMMON — The annual feast of St. Joseph will be Sunday at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Fourth and Keith, in Scammon. The feast will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in the church’s Faith and Family Center. The price of a full meal is $10 for adults, $5 for children under age 12 and children under age 5 eat for free. The menu for this special ethnic occasion will consist of spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, seafood shells, polenta ...
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Willard, Harris
Dr. Neil and Becky Willard of Girard announce the engagement of their daughter, Cashion Willard, to Brad Harris, son of Joe and Sandra Harris of St. Paul. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Don and Marge Ralph of Farlington and the late Edward and Louise Willard. The future groom is the grandson of Frank and Ruth Harris of Erie, Jackie Van Cleave of Cherryvale and the late Charlie Van Cleave. The bride-elect is a 2005 graduate of Girard H...
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Freeberg, Sebastiani
Sarah Freeberg and Julio Sebastiani were married Dec. 30, 2009. Parents of the bride are Rick and Tina Freeberg of Parsons. The groom’s father is Julio Sebastiani Sr. of Venezuela. He is the nephew of Ed and Dorothy Sebastiani of Parsons. Mrs. Sebastiani is a 2002 graduate of Labette County High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in 2006 from Pittsburg State University, where she majored in education. She is working on her master’s deg...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 26, 1970 C.J. Anderson, a Parsons clothing merchant, said he considered an offer by the Parsons Urban Renewal Agency to be an “ultimatum” to move. Anderson testified as the first witness in an injunction suit brought against the city of Parsons, the renewal agency and others in district court before Judge Hal Hyler. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson sought a permanent injunctio...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 25, 1970 Mike Journot captured the first state tournament medal won by a Labette County Grizzly wrestler in Newton. The senior placed fourth at 145 pounds in the Class 5A high school tourney in Newton. Two victories and two losses in four matches gave Journot a season’s record of 26-6. Journot opened against Pat Spencer of Kapaun-Mount Carmel of Wichita, a two-time ...
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Cunningham, Oakley
Lindsay Marie Cunningham and Douglas Eugene Oakley were married in a 3 p.m. double-ring ceremony on Oct. 10. The Rev. Kevin Weaver of Center Bethel Union Church, rural Parsons, officiated. The bride is the daughter of Denise and David Hill of rural Angola and Rick Cunningham of Arizona. The groom is the son of Pamela and Raymond Oakley of Altamont. Katie Hill of Pittsburg, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. Shannon Brown of Altamont a...
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Brackens celebrate 50th
James and Carolyn Bracken will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a private gathering of family and friends. James D. Bracken and Carolyn S. Bradshaw were married in a 4 p.m. wedding on Feb. 13, 1960, at Washington Avenue Methodist Church in Parsons. J. Joyce Wilson officiated. The Brackens resided in Parkville, Mo., until June 1960, when Mrs. Bracken started to work for the Kansas State University Extension Department as the home economi...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 19, 1970 The top-ranking three candidates in voting for spring prom queen at Labette Community Junior College were Nola McMunn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.S. McMunn, rural Parsons; Teri Rexwinkle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rexwinkle, rural Altamont; and Pam Carson, daughter of Mrs. Phyllis Carson, 3010 Redwood. The highest ranking among the three would be que...
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New names in the news
Cy Oliver is the name chosen for the newborn son of Ike and Katie Brewer of Fayetteville, Ark. Cy was born on Jan. 24. He joins a brother, Oscar Benjamin, 4. His grandparents are Stan and Martha Brewer and Terry and LeeAnn Hunter, all of Parsons. His great-grandparents are Bob and Loretta Brewer and Perk and Norene Reitemeier, all of Parsons. ——— Kyle James and Tiffany Ann Schulz of Thayer announced the birth of their daughter Bailey Ann. Sh...
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