Community News
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 3, 1971 A new business — R&F Farm Supply — 13 miles north of Parsons would have a formal grand opening. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harris of Erie were owners and operators of the business. The location was three miles south of Erie on U.S. 59/K-57 and five miles west of St. Paul. Harris would be manager of the store and Mrs. Harris would be office manager. Harris had dispose...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun's editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 2, 1971 The I.M.I. Inc. plant in Parsons was experimenting with a four-day work week, believed to be the first of its kind in Parsons. Since May 1, employees had been working Monday through Thursday, except in holiday weeks when they worked Tuesday through Friday in producing business forms. Bill Lawrence, general manager of the plant, said the schedule had worked we...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun's editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 1, 1971 A long-familiar building in Parsons, the old Katy Railroad freight station at 20th and Crawford was about to disappear. Clearance of the frame structure, rated as a fire hazard, was nearly complete, J.J. Scaletty, executive assistant for Parsons Urban Renewal Agency, said. The agency's demolition contractor, Bob Madget Inc., St. Joseph's, Mo., was clearing th...
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Abell, VanLeeuwen engagement
Dennis and Patti Abell of Jonesboro, Ark., announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily Abell of Olathe, to Jeremy VanLeeuwen of Olathe. He is the son of Keith and Elaine VanLeeuwen of St. Paul. The bride-elect is a 1999 graduate of Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Ark. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2003 from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. She received a master’s degree in 2005 and a doctorate in 2007, both...
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Redmans to observe 65th anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Redman of Parsons observed their 65th wedding anniversary with a family dinner. Dale Redman and Mary Ann Lassen were married May 25, 1946, at the Presbyterian Church parsonage in Oswego. The Redmans are both retired. The couple have three daughters, Edith Boss of Pittsburg, Calif., Connie and Larry Smith and Kathy and Jerry Hardman, all of Parsons. They also have five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
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Kearns, Smith engagement
Eddie and Cindy Kearns of Parsons announce the engagement of their daughter, Molly Kearns, to Jeff Smith. He is the son of Rob Smith and Wendy Boatright. The bride-elect is a 2006 graduate of Parsons High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Southwestern College in 2010. She will teach math at Royster Middle School in Chanute beginning next school year. The future groom is a 2006 graduate of Wellington High School. He r...
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Red foxes common in most towns
By Tom Glick District Wildlife Biologist (Region 5) Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks Red foxes (Vulpes velox) are found throughout Kansas. One may be surprised to know nearly all live close to human habitation, including most towns and even the largest of our cities. Parks, golf courses and cemeteries are a preferred habitat, but any area, even residential or commercial properties, with a diversity of grass lawn, shrubs and some “wilder”...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. May 14-15, 1971 Lincoln Elementary School teachers and 315 students began a move from the longtime Lincoln building to a new one. The new school was one of three authorized in a $1.5 million bond issue approved by Parsons voters. It occupied a site just north of the old school, with the front entrance facing 18th and Dirr. Two days short of a year after construction beg...
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Cunningham, Powell wedding
Brooke Cunningham and Tyler Powell were married Dec. 4, 2010, in the Mirza Temple in Pittsburg. Paul Wolf, pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons, officiated the ceremony. Parents of the bride are Jeff and Susan Cunningham of Altamont. Parents of the groom are Josie and Kip Fentress of Grove, Okla., and Rick Powell of Tumwater, Wash. Meagan Cunningham of Pittsburg was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Kristina McCabe of Des Moines...
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Couple to celebrate 65th anniversary
Hubert and Priscilla Jones of rural Altamont will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Tuesday. Hubert Jones and Priscilla Hockett were married on May 17, 1946, by the Rev. Bays at the Baptist parsonage in Parsons. The couple are retired. Mrs. Jones worked at Labette Bank. They have lived at Altamont since their marriage. They have three children, David Jones and his wife, Elaine, of Parsons, Dean Jones and his wife, Sandy, of Altamo...
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Avey, Lomas engagement
Ronald and Kathryn Avey of Wichita announce the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Elizabeth Avey, to Eric Wayne Lomas. He is the son of Lyle and Connie Lomas of Dennis. The bride-elect earned a bachelor of arts degree from Wichita State University and her juris doctor degree from the Washburn University School of Law. She is an attorney with Hite, Fanning and Honeyman in Wichita. The future groom earned a bachelor of science degree from K...
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Bonars to celebrate 50th anniversary
Gene and Lois Bonar of rural Cherryvale will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on May 28 with a 5 p.m. barbecue and reception at the home of their daughter and son-in-law, 2017 N. 21st, Parsons. The Bonars were married on June 3, 1961, in the Methodist Church in Paradise. Mrs. Bonar grew up around Paradise in Russell County. Mr. Bonar was born and raised in Ohio. The couple’s three children, Warren, Greg and Gina, will host the event....
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Minor, Woods engagement
John and Pam Minor of Columbus announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather Nicole Minor of Columbus, to Matthew Brian Woods of Hudson, N.C. He is the son of David and Kim Woods of Hudson, N.C. The bride-elect is a 2003 graduate of Oswego High School. She graduated from Labette Community College in 2005 with a degree in office technology. She will pursue a physical therapist assistant certificate from LCC in the fall. She works at The H...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 30-May 1, 1971 New and much brighter whiteway lights would go on in Parsons. They would be limited to Washington between 16th Street and Central. New lights would be put into use on Broadway later, possibly in a week. Both streets were rebuilt the previous year in the downtown area as part of Parsons’ downtown urban renewal project. April 30-May 1, 1981 A new adv...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 29, 1971 Southeast Kansas’ last passenger trains headed into oblivion. The final passenger run would be made by the Santa Fe Railroad’s southbound Tulsan, No. 211, which was scheduled to reach Cherryvale at 8:48 p.m., en route to its final destination, Tulsa. The train’s daylight counterpart, northbound No. 212, would stop in Cherryvale at 9:12 a.m. the following d...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 28, 1971 The dedication of a fountain at Guthridge Elementary Center as a memorial to the late Wallace Guthridge was announced. Mrs. Harry Ireland, president of the Parsons Educational Association, made the announcement. The fountain was built by the Parsons Teachers Association, predecessor to the Parsons Educational Association, through contributions in memory of...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 27, 1971 Sen. James Pearson and Rep. Joe Skubitz announced approval of a Farmers Home Administration loan and grant for a new rural water district in Labette County. The new unit would be Labette County Rural Water District No. 8. It would serve 231 rural families in the south part of the county. The FHA approval covered a loan of $309,400 and a grant of $180,600. ...
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Administrative professional event growing
The Parsons Chamber of Commerce announced on Monday that more than 55 attendees are scheduled to take part in this year’s Administrative Professionals Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday at the 1900 Main location of Commercial Bank. Each attending administrative professional will have an opportunity to win an earring and necklace set provided by Parsons Fine Jewelry in addition to other gifts and prizes. “This is a great response for the ev...
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CLASS awards announced
PITTSBURG — CLASS Ltd. celebrated the Ad Astra Awards at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday. The evening included presentations of the awards to recognize people from each of the four counties CLASS serves for their achievements, community involvement and empowerment. The organization also presented its Friends of CLASS and Outstanding Parent/Guardian Awards. The CLASS Choir and an illusionist/mentalist provided the entertainment. ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 26, 1971 Bids would be opened June 10 for construction of a new U.S. Army Reserve Center in Parsons, with work to begin on July 1. D.C. Bevan, staff administrative assistant in the reserve center at Central and Crawford, said that information came from the Omaha, Neb., office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The engineers, who would be in charge of construction...
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