Community News
Family wants to recreate house
Peter Dobelbower of Edmond, Okla., and his siblings want to recreate a piece of Parsons history. The Dobelbowers’ grandparents, Anna and John “Pete” Dunlap, lived in a two-story home at 1711 Belmont, which has since been razed. Dobelbower said he and his siblings spent many hours at that house, sleeping in its closed in, second-story porch and exploring its rooms. The Dunlaps and other family members worked for the Katy Railroad. Dobelbower r...
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Parsons businesses offer do-it-yourselfers options
By Colleen Surridge Parsons Sun Walking through Parsons Ace Hardware, you might do a double take seeing displays of tool sets designed with pink or floral patterns on their handles, obviously designed to appeal to women. Tool companies marketing to women is indicative of not only their willingness to take on home maintenance and repairs, but homeowners in general showing a greater willingness to tackle the task of home improvement and mainten...
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Edwards, Thompson
Bill and Linda Neal of Mansfield, Texas, formerly of Parsons, and Wendal Edwards of Canton, Texas, announce the engagement of their daughter, Carolyn Clover “CeCe” Edwards, to Dakota Joe Thompson of Arlington, Texas, son of Lisa Moewe Thompson of Euless, Texas, and the late Joe R. Thompson. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Earl and Mary Clover, Wayland Edwards of Canton, Texas, and the late Nancy Edwards, and Natalie Lattimore ...
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Whites celebrate 50th
Fred and Patsy White will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by their children and grandchildren from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Oswego Assembly of God Church Family Life Center, Fourth and Depot. Freddie White and Patsy Coble were married on Oct. 29, 1961, at Assembly of God Church in Oswego.   The couple made their home together on their farm in rural Oswego. The reception will be hosted by the couple’s sons, Fr...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 14, 1971 Students at the Edna Attendance Center moved into their new building. Each class member carried his or her own materials and desk to the building that was complete except for the kitchen. L.D. Curran, superintendent, said the district board met with officials from Shields Construction Co. of Oswego and with building architect W.I. Fisher of Wichita to inspec...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 13, 1971 Construction of an addition to the Parsons Clinic was underway, and completion was set for about Feb. 1. The addition to the clinic’s building at 1509 Main would contain two suites of new doctors which the clinic expected to add to its staff. Each of the suites would have three rooms, one for consultation and two for patient examination. A waiting room betwe...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 11, 1971 A fire that started in the plant of Charloma Fiberglass Inc. in Cherryvale’s downtown area spread to nearby buildings and caused heavy losses whose actual dollar total had not been determined. A nearby drug store was virtually destroyed, as were several apartments on the second floor above it, and other adjoining buildings suffered heavy water and smoke dama...
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Business news
Power Flame quarterly awards Power Flame’s quarterly service awards was given out last week to acknowledge the following employees for their length of service to the company. 20 years: Charlotte Gant and James Clark. 15 years: Steve Sexton, Bob Yockey, John Kelley, Mishell Beach, Tony Thompson and Brian Lahey. 5 years: Robert McCleary, Derek McCleary and Zachary James. 2 years: Marsha Kerr and Lynel Seawood. Power Flame manufactures ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 8-9, 1971 Although signing of an architectural contract on final plans for a student union at Labette Community Junior College was postponed by college trustees, a start on them was likely in the near future. Only contract technicalities remained to be completed before trustees approved a contract for plans and specifications for both a student union and remodeling o...
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Children’s ministry starts at Church of God
Next week, the Church of God, 2401 Crawford, will kick off a new children’s ministry with a crusade on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14-15. Scott and Rayma Gegg of Altamont will be children’s ministers, under the guidance of Pastor Vernon Norris and his wife, Joyce. The crusade is open to the public and starts at 7 p.m. on both nights and will feature scripture-based activities for children, Scott Gegg said. Puppets and songs will be part of the a...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 7, 1971 Maj. Hugh Rogers, commanding officer of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, announced the plant would open for inspection tours to the general public as a feature of its 30th anniversary on Oct. 25. It would be the first time that the plant would be opened to the public while it had been in operation. Motor tours were conducted after the facility was closed on ...
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Book signing set Oct. 13 at library
Book signing set Oct. 13 at library Parsons Public Library will host the program “Apocalypse Myths and Realities: The Story behind Phontaine’s Gifts,” a discussion and book signing by local author D.A. Blankinship at 2:30 p.m. Thursday,  Oct. 13 . "Phontaine’s Gifts: The Survival Legacy," Blankenship’s latest fictional work, is an apocalyptic tale about the ruin of America and the people trapped in the tragedy. The novel follows four adults, f...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 6, 1971 An extension of Southern Boulevard from 10th Street east to the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant would be opened at the end of the week, Fred Beachner of Beachner Construction Co. said. Bridge construction had been completed, and only minor bituminous surfacing had to be completed by Muller Construction Co., Coffeyville, before the access road was opened, Beachne...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 5, 1971 A preliminary design for the new underpass at the Corning Avenue crossing on the Katy Railroad was approved by the Parsons City Commission and the Parsons Urban Renewal Agency. The plan called for four lanes of moving traffic and elevated pedestrian walks on either side of the structure. Its design was tied to the theme of modernization that dominated the ent...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 4, 1971 Six women began training for sewing machine operator jobs guaranteed at Fred Ronald Manufacturing Co., 1901 Southern. The company was a division of Stevie Togs Inc., Kansas City. Women participating in the program included Ella Hibbs, Shirley McLaurine, Georgia Searcy, Leona McElhaney and Diana Low, all of Parsons, and Irma Middleton of Mound Valley. Company ...
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Business News
Babcock Manufacturing expands Richard and Sandy Babcock of Babcock Manufacturing (doing business as The Home Store) have recently acquired Vision Woodworks in Cherryvale. Vision Woodworks opened about 12 years ago with the concept of creating and delivering the finest handcrafted cabinetry for custom kitchens, bathrooms and other wood products in the area. Dave Hammond and his staff will continue to run the shop at its current location, 111 E....
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Public Mind
Wilson Avenue construction To the Sun: This letter is being written about the Wilson Avenue construction between 14th and 15th streets. For years residents have complained about the condition of the street. Nothing was done to improve the quality of the street. One woman’s vehicle became inoperable after being high-centered on a mound of asphalt. Another person lost a piece of the car as well because of the same problem. My wife’s car began ...
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King, Harper
Mary and Russell King of Independence announce the engagement of their daughter, Desiree Merrie Elizabeth King of Parsons, to Stephen Bradley Harper of Parsons. He is the son of Connie Hill and Terry and Judy Harper of Parsons. The bride-elect is a senior at Fort Hays State University, where she is studying history, sociology and English. She is pursuing a certificate in world leadership studies. She works at Labette Bank and owns Home-Grown b...
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Becker, Wells
Jan and Charlie Becker of Frontenac announce the engagement of their daughter, Lisa Becker, to Nicholas Wells, son of Tina and Lowell Wells of Parsons. The bride-elect is a 1999 graduate of Pittsburg High School and a graduate of the University of Kansas with a doctorate of pharmacy. She is employed as a pharmacist at The Medicine Shoppe. The future groom is a 1997 graduate of Parsons High School and a graduate of Pittsburg State University wi...
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King, Harper
Desiree King, Stephen Harper Mary and Russell King of Independence announce the engagement of their daughter, Desiree Merrie Elizabeth King of Parsons, to Stephen Bradley Harper of Parsons. He is the son of Connie Hill and Terry and Judy Harper of Parsons. The bride-elect is a senior at Fort Hays State University, where she is studying history, sociology and English. She is pursuing a certificate in world leadership studies. She works at La...
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