Syvauna Hinman-Mitchell of Parsons and Alia Khalidi of Rose Hill chase down a loose ball on Thursday night in a first-round game of the Harold Thompson Interstate Classic at Coffeyville. Rose Hill defeated Parsons 52-42.

Colleen Surridge/Sun photo Erie Elementary School fourth-grade student Adrian Kerr reads a letter sent to him by military veteran Tony Fuentez of Parsons. The letter, photographs and a picture drawn by Fuentez were sent to Kerr in response to his writing Fuentez a thank-you letter for his military service to the country.

Courtesy photo Erie Elementary School fifth-grade students Matthew Inman, Macy Lindberg, Jessica George and Molly LaForge trim lettuce they have grown in the school greenhouse to take to the cafeteria to be used in lunch salads.

Colleen Surridge/Sun photo Food service worker Wilma South gives Erie Elementary School kindergarten students small cups of food so they can sample what will be served for lunch Friday.

Ray Nolting/Sun photo Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Kelly McIntosh helps investigate the scene of a car-semi accident that occurred early Wednesday on U.S. 400 near Dennis. Master Trooper John Keene was the lead investigator of the wreck and was having a map of the accident scene created. The accident occurred at 6:08 a.m. Wednesday, when heavy fog still hung in the air, Keene said. A car driven by John M. Blackburn, 62, Dennis, was eastbound in the westbound lane of U.S. 400 after turning onto the highway from Gray Road. A semi-tractor trailer (pulling two trailers containing some hazardous materials) driven by Jon M. Palmer, 37, Sapulpa, Okla., was westbound in the westbound lane of the highway and took evasive action to avoid hitting Blackburn’s car. The vehicles collided at the center line and Blackburn’s car got spun around and came to rest on the westbound lane’s shoulder. He was taken to Labette Health for accident injuries. The tractor continued westbound and rolled over in the south ditch near Gray Road and the cab caught fire. Palmer was not injured. The highway remained closed most of Wednesday to clean up debris on the road, remove the truck and take care of the hazardous material in the trailers.

Ray Nolting/Sun photo Parsons Police Officer Joshua March tries to hold onto a bridle strap on a wayward female Shetland pony Tuesday afternoon on private property on North 21st near Fellows. The horse bucked and prepared to kick so March lost his grip. Police had begun trying to round up the horse near St. Patrick Catholic School and followed it northward to 21st and Fellows. Animal Control Officer Scott Swezey captured the pony on the property. The horse was taken to Allen Veterinary Center. Its owner was unknown.