Community News
Local Residents Help Make Christmas a Reality for 8.5 Million Hurting Children Worldwide
In Parsons and area homes, businesses, schools and churches, people are piling up shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies and necessity items for children in need. Residents are participating in Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, to help needy children worldwide. Operation Christmas Child uses simple gift-filled shoe boxes to let children know that they are loved. The boxes are often filled wit...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Nov. 18, 1971 Labette Community Junior College graduated its first class of nursing aides during a ceremony at noon at the college. All but two of the 13 graduates already had jobs, Bessie Vediz, director of the associate nursing program, said. Each student completed 180 hours of training. Dr. Bob Burns, dean of instruction, addressed the graduates. Ten Parsons students r...
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Couple to commemorate 40th
Donald L. and Vicki J. Morris of Parsons will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Nov. 19. Donald L. Morris and Vicki J. Westhoff were married on Nov. 19, 1971, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Parsons, by the Rev. James Spexarth. Mr. Morris retired from Glazer after 30 years. Mrs. Morris has been employed at Parsons Credit Union since 1968. The couple are members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. They have lived in Parsons since their w...
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Ewans to observe 50th
Jim and Judy Ewan of Parsons will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Parsons VFW, 105 Main. Jim Ewan and Judy Ladage were married on Nov. 22, 1961, by the Rev. Earl Myers at Parsons Church of the Brethren. Mr. Ewan retired from Grand Rental Station. He formerly worked for Crooks Hardware. Mrs. Ewan retired from Southwestern Bell. The couple are both members of VFW and Church of the Brethre...
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Vitts to celebrate 50th
Mr. and Mrs. Don Vitt of St. Paul will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by their daughters and their families from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at St. Francis Catholic Church parish hall in St. Paul. Donald R. Vitt and Vera M. Winans were married on Nov. 25, 1961, at St. Francis Church in St. Paul. They have lived north of St. Paul since their marriage. Mr. Vitt has farmed and ranched for all of his adult life...
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Couple to honor 50th
Wayne and Kay Shields of Parsons will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a family gathering hosted by Dan and Wendy Shields and Misty and Ryan Burke on Sunday. Wayne Shields and Kay Alloway were married on Nov. 13, 1961, in Parsons. Mr. Shields retired from Ruskin Manufacturing. Mrs. Shields retired from Parsons Credit Union. They have lived in Parsons since their wedding. The couple’s children are Dan Shields and his wife, Wendy, M...
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Sheddricks to observe 50th wedding anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Sheddrick Mr. and Mrs. Ron Sheddrick of Oswego will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by their children from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Oswego Community Building. Ron Sheddrick and Chris Cox were married on Nov. 19, 1961, at Central Avenue Christian Church in Parsons. Mr. Sheddrick is an executive vice president of Community National Bank and Trust in Chanute. Mrs. Sheddrick is a retire...
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Dodds, Green wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Green Kayla Dodds and Joshua Green were married Aug. 27 at the Parsons Arboretum. The Rev. Irvin Espeseth officiated. The bride’s parents are Staci Dodds of Parsons and Gary Dodds II of Parsons. The groom’s mother is the late Lesa Green. Desiree Outersky was the maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Molly Reust, Kaliegh Greaves, Melissa Green, Sydney Hay and Whitney Cole. Calvin Green of Parsons was best man. Groomsmen were Ca...
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Rios, Queen wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Queen Jr. Brittany Ann Rios and Robert Lee Queen Jr. were married Oct. 8 at Clemens’ Wedding Chapel. Minister Mike Ferran officiated the 2 p.m. nuptials. The bride is the daughter of Dawn Rios-Campbell of Wichita. The groom is the son of Robert Sr. and Pam Queen of Parsons. Eric Rios, the bride’s brother of Parsons, and Michelle Zaleski of Parsons gave the bride away. Chelsi Arratia served as the maid of honor. Bridesmaid...
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Couple to celebrate 60th anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hawkinson STARK — Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hawkinson of Savonburg will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Stark Friends church. Neighbors, friends and family are welcome. Frank P. Hawkinson and E. Christine Haddan were married Nov. 25, 1951, at the Stark Friends parsonage. The Rev. Luther Dillon officiated. A reception was held at the brides’ home of Elmer & Zul...
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Thompsons to celebrate 50th wedding anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Thompson of Coffeyville will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by family from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Grace Fellowship Church, 2455 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville. Darrell Thompson and Rowena Hine were married Nov. 19, 1961, by Darrell’s aunt, the Rev. Minnie Thompson, in Alluwe, Okla. The couple lived in Fort Scott for 49 years, moving in March 2010 to ...
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Couple to honor 50th wedding anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Wise Duane and Mary Ruth Wise of Parsons will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by their daughters from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Dennis United Methodist Church. Duane Wise and Mary Ruth Conrad were married on Nov. 4, 1961. Mr. Wise is retired. He owned Wise Auto Service and worked for the Katy Railroad and Dayton Superior. Mrs. Wise also is retired. She was self-employed in house cleaning and ...
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Allen, Windsor engagement
Jennifer Allen Joseph Windsor Daniel and Cheri Allen of Parsons announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Allen of Wichita, to Joseph Windsor of Wichita. He is the son of Tim and Judith Windsor of Frontenac. The bride-elect is a 2006 graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont. She graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2009 with a degree in Spanish. She works for IMA Financial Inc. in Wichita as an account technician. ...
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Church News
Sunbeams anniversary First Christian Church's Sunbeams Preschool will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Sunday. Past and present students are invited to worship at 9:30 a.m. There will be a cookout, games and inflatables beginning at noon. St. Francis bazaar set Saturday ST. PAUL — St. Francis Catholic Church, St. Paul, will have a bazaar and auction on Saturday. A dinner of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, rolls, cra...
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The Parsons Kiwanis Club announced its November Bringing Up Grades (BUGs) students earlier this week at Chinese Chef. Those students who earned the awards for their academic achievements this past month include front row (from left): Lizzy Smith, Chance Buller, Kamrynn Ball and Vansi Ghandi; and back row (from left): Caitlin Barcus, Amia Chavez-Martinez, Dakota Kasson and Jessica Brewer.
School news
Meadow View honor roll Meadow View Grade School has announced the names of its students listed on the honor rolls for the first nine weeks of the 2011-2012 school year. Those students listed on the all A honor roll are: Eighth grade — Trinity Larkin, Madison Scott, Justin Sexton and Abbie Stice. Seventh grade — Evan Gofourth and Amanda Porras. Sixth grade — Braden Baker, Jason Gibbs and Joshua Walters. Fifth grade — Kylee Barney, Molly Browne,...
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Poet to read at PSU
PITTSBURG — Award-winning poet Geoffrey Nutter will read from his work at 8 p.m. Thursday at Pittsburg State University. Nutter’s reading, part of the PSU Distinguished Visiting Writers Series, will take place in the Governors Room of the Overman Student Center. It is free and open to the public. A reception for Nutter will be held in the Heritage Room of the student center following his reading. Nutter, an assistant professor of creative wri...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Oct. 29-30, 1971 Bicycle-riding would be banned from Parsons Plaza, the new downtown mall, Will Tschudy, city manager, said. According to the standard traffic ordinance adopted by the city commission, bikes were classified as vehicles and vehicles were prohibited from sidewalks. Tschudy said a specific ordinance banning bicycle-riding on the mall would be introduced at a ...
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Kernell-Simmons
Montee and Norine Kernell of Parsons and Jay and DeEdra Hall of Hobbs, N.M., announce the engagement of their daughter, Haleigh Aleashia Kernell of Hobbs, N.M., to Kevin Duane Simmons of Floydada, Texas. He is the son of Terry and Catherine Simmons of Floydada. The bride-elect is a 2006 graduate of Hobbs High School and works at McVay Drilling Co. The future groom is a 2006 graduate of Hobbs High School and will graduate in December from Cleve...
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Martinez-Wall
Darcie Michael Martinez and Ned Christopher Wall were married in a 6 p.m. July 9 double-ring ceremony at First Baptist Church, Parsons. The Rev. Rick Prideaux of Church of the Nazarene, Columbus, officiated the wedding. The bride is the daughter of Jon and Heidi Flora and John and Shannon Martinez, all of Parsons. Her grandparents are Len and Phyllis Trokey and Richard Martinez, all of Parsons. The groom is the son of Gary and Shirley Wall of ...
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Gofourths celebrate 65th
Glenn and Eileen Gofourth celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a family dinner party at their Parsons home on Oct. 22. The party was hosted by their daughter, Stacy Knofs, and her husband, Dean. Glenn Gofourth and Eileen McCall were married on Oct. 19, 1946, by the Rev. Monsignor Mahar at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Following their marriage, they lived in various cities, including Kansas City, Phoenix and Omaha, Neb. Upon ...
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