Community News
Farrans honor 55th
Ralph and Doris Farran of Parsons recently celebrated their 55th anniversary with a trip to several of the Colorado mountain passes. Ralph Farran and Doris Snider were married June 26, 1955, at the home of her parents, David and Lois Snider, by the Rev. Donald Baumgardner. Mr. Farran retired from the Parsons Fire Department after 27 years of service. Mrs. Farran was a paraprofessional in special education for Parsons USD 503 for 12 1/2 year...
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Zimmermans celebrate 25th
Steven and Jacqueline Zimmerman of Rogers, Ark., will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a party hosted by their children at 6 p.m. Sunday at their home. Steven Zimmerman and Jacqueline Reedy were married on June 22, 1985, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Parsons by Pastor Perry Schelfelker. The Zimmermans are the owners of Midland Construction Inc. Mr. Zimmerman is the president of Midland. The company does remodeling of Wal-Mart stores. He...
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Mattox, Beasley
Emily Anne Mattox and Michael David Beasley were united in marriage on Oct. 24 at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Theodore Khin officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Steve and Debbie Mattox of St. Paul. She is the granddaughter of Bob and Emma Beachner, Wayne and Delores Wilkins, all of Erie, and Don and Janet Mattox of Savonburg. The groom is the son of David and Denise Beasley of Altamont. He is the grandson...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 26-27, 1970 An Altamont resident, Bill Jack, announced he was a Republican candidate for Labette County treasurer. Jack, 30, was a native of the county and a lifelong resident except for a three-year period when he was a member of the Tulsa Police Department. He left police work because of a back injury incurred when he was struck by a car while on duty. Cheryl Cro...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 25, 1970 A bond issue to be put before voters at the Aug. 4 primary to finance the local share of a new community center would be discussed at a meeting of the Parsons City Commission. The decision to place the subject on the commission’s agenda followed a conference at which details of the project were explored by Rex Ball of Tulsa with representatives of the city ...
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New hospitalist to join Labette
Julie Griffin, M.D., a hospitalist, will join the team at Labette Health in August. She graduated in 2006 from the University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, and she completed her residency training at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. Dr. Griffin is trained in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), a systematic, concise approach to the early care of the trauma patient. This training is vital to guide care for injured pat...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 24, 1970 Charles Sell of Oswego, assistant Labette County attorney, submitted his resignation to John Manges, county attorney, and to county commissioners. The resignation was effective July 15. Both Sell and Manges were candidates for the office of county judge, Sell as the Republican candidate and Manges as independent candidate. Thelma Foster of Altamont, deputy...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 23, 1970 Contracts were signed for completion of the first building in Parsons’ new industrial park. It would be occupied by Brown-Davidson Corp., a producer of parts and accessories for mobile and modular homes and recreation vehicles. At the same time, Parsons Chamber of Commerce directors authorized that bids be taken for a second speculative or shell building in...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 22, 1970 Kermit Nelson became champion in the Sun’s 23rd annual hole-in-one golf contest. The Parsons businessman hit a shot 1 foot, 10 3/4 inches from the cup on the ninth hole at the Katy-Parsons Golf Club. It wasn’t a contest record on the 121-yard par-3 hole, which saw Roger Sonntag miss an ace by 5/8 of an inch in 1965. Nelson’s shot, however, did top a tightly...
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Mendicki gets certification
Martin V. Mendicki of Parsons has recently qualified for the designation of certified funeral service practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. To receive this award, Mendicki had to complete 180 hours of continuing education activities and events. In addition, he was required to accumulate 20 hours per year to recertify. Credits are awarded by the academy for work leading to personal and professional growth in f...
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Lawrence, Hill engagement
Ashton Lawrence and Shaun Hill, both Parsons natives, announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Bill and Anita Lawrence of Parsons. She is a 2004 graduate of Parsons High School and a 2008 graduate of Missouri Southern State University. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a double major in marketing and business management. She is a business development manager for Ameriprise financial adviser Barry ...
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Beckman, Wimsett engagement
Cleve Beckman and Carlene Spillman, both of Mound City, announce the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Haze Beckman, to Benjamin Kenneth Wimsett. He is the son of Walter Wimsett and Rhonda Kane of Erie. The bride-elect graduated this year from Fort Scott Community College with a degree in nursing. The future groom is a 2007 graduate of the electrical power technology program with a degree in applied sciences from Pratt Community College. ...
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Odaffers celebrate 60th
Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Odaffer, Parsons, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by their children and their families from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at Faith United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 3035 Crawford. Elmo Ellis Odaffer and Mary Imogene “Imo” Coover were married July 6, 1950, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church by the Rev. Walter Brant. They met attending Parsons Junior College. They are members...
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Santees to celebrate 60th
Donald and Thelma Santee of Parsons will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on June 21. Donald Santee and Thelma Robison were married June 21, 1950, in Oswego. The couple lived in Mound Valley before moving to Parsons in 1956. The couple have four children, Twyla Shields and her husband, Al, of Benbrook, Texas, Jackie Robertson and her husband, Charles, of Joplin, Donna Shaad and her husband, David, of Nashport, Ohio, and Ray Santee an...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 19-20, 1970 Six candidates for Labette County offices filed before the deadline, resulting in three races to be decided by Republican voters at the Aug. 4 primary, Quincy Greer, county clerk and election officer, reported. A Democratic primary race pitted Jack Sears and Carl Cloke, both of Parsons, for sheriff. The winner would face Leo Frederick, Republican incumbe...
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Reeveses honor 30th wedding anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. David Reeves of Parsons will observe their 30th wedding anniversary on June 21. David Reeves and Jean Nash were married June 21, 1980, at the First Baptist Church in Altamont by the Rev. Raymond Ditlevson. Mr. Reeves works at AgChoice in Parsons. Mrs. Reeves is a preschool teacher at Sunbeams Preschool and also works at Wal-Mart. The couple have lived in Parsons since their marriage. The couple have two children, Heidi Reeves ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 18, 1970 Labette County had 2,208 farms in 1950. The total 18 years later had dropped to 1,457. The 1950 U.S. farm census and the 52nd annual Kansas Agriculture Report containing 1968 data provided the comparison. The bare figures were a measure of the continuing revolution that had occurred in the farm belt, depleting rural population, making remaining farms larger...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 16, 1970 Plans for a large new Gibson Discount Center were disclosed in Parsons. Pamida Inc. of Omaha, Neb., which operated 103 Gibson centers, had signed an option to buy 14.5 acres of land immediately east of the new La Villa Motel on U.S. 160. The option was with Eastborough Investment Co., owner of the land. Paul LaForge, one of the Eastborough Investment princi...
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Higgins earns national honors
Amy Higgins, director of nursing for Medicalodges Columbus in Columbus, was awarded the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators Director of Nursing of the Year Award. Higgins was selected from among applicants across the nation to receive the honor because of her accomplishments in resident care, culture change, personnel management and service as an educator for future health care workers. “We are all very proud to have Amy ...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. June 15, 1970 Gary Clark won the Katy-Parsons Invitational golf tournament for the second year in a row. The three-time city golf champion, who had completed his junior year at Oklahoma State University, shot 33-34—67, five under par 36, on the nine-hole course. Clark finished with a one-shot edge on Jim Scaletty, also of Parsons, who was runner-up for the second straigh...
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