George O'Neal of rural Parsons holds two 10-pound sweet potatoes he dug up from one the mounds in his back yard last week. From the six plants he planted on six hills, O'Neal harvested more than 200 pounds of sweet potatoes, including the two 10-pound sweet potatoes and several others weighing 8 pounds and 6 pounds each.

Colleen Surridge/Sun photo Mark Stangle of Dennis and Richard Parks of rural Chetopa demonstrate how a 1920s Bella City Threshing Machine worked during Saturday's Farm Heritage Celebration at Tolen Creek Park.

Colleen Surridge/Sun photo A demolition crew set charges Friday on the smokestack and water tower at the Neosho Energy Center planning to raze both at the same time. The smokestack fell on cue, but one of the charges attached to a leg of the water tower failed to detonate, resulting in only the center pipe and the southeast leg being blown off, leaving the tower standing. The crew set new charges, and the tower collapsed to the ground. Service Valley Charter Academy students, from the safety of the school parking lot, watched the smokestack fall.

Colleen Surridge/Sun photo Parsons firefighters encourage ladies attending the Downtown Parsons Inc. fourth annual Ladies Luncheon to bid during the live auction conducted by auctioneer Richard Byrd and mistress of ceremonies Cathy Mercado Friday at First Baptist Church. The Parsons Fire Department donated two packages that include use of a fire truck and a firefighter to drive it for a special event, such as a birthday party, prom, a ride to school or a first date. Julie Welch and Cyndi Bouman won the bids, topping out at $420. The auction raised money to fight breast cancer.

Ty Walker, 7, finishes working on an art project in his first grade classroom at Neosho Heights Elementary School in Oswego. Ty has a medical condition known as Ectodermal Dysplasias, or Cleft Syndrome. He has already undergone 12 surgeries, but will be required to undergo 3 to 5 every year into early adulthood. Despite being disabled, Ty doesn't let the EEC slow him down. he plays soccer and taught himself how to cast his fishing pull and reel it in. A fundraiser to help the family cover expenses is planned for Sunday in Oswego.

Parsons firefighters and Labette County Emergency Medical Services personnel spent time Monday gaining mandated night training. Monday's training, north of 10th and Main streets, consisted of trench rescue techniques. Training continues through tonight.