Opinion
Reflecting on past OBT projects
On my way home from Ace Hardware today, I was so excited to see the beautiful white rose bush in bloom on the lawn of the Municipal Building. I planted it three years ago in the Vietnam Memorial Garden to replace one just like it that died, the John F. Kennedy. It is quite large and has 18 blooms.      The garden was one of the first memorials Operation Bright Touch did. My son was in that war and fortunately returned home safely. I put donat...
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Public Mind
To The Sun: There are times in a person's life when even proud grandmas have to vent and this is one of those times. I was so proud to see a picture of my granddaughter, Daza "Peaches" Werner, and her longtime special friend, Ivory Kelly, in the Parsons Sun Tuesday while they did the walk-in for the 2012 Parsons High School Prom Saturday night. This had to be the ultimate picture for Grandma. These two special people have been friends since ...
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Driving Kansas into the 21st century
TOPEKA – The first week of May will be an exciting time for Kansas as our state’s Division of Vehicles drives into the 21st century with a significant system upgrade that will move all motor vehicle records into a single, modern system that is easier to use, maintain and enhance. I tip my hat to those who have planned ahead and visited treasurer’s or driver licensing offices in advance of this system upgrade that will cause our offices to be...
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Competitive Grant Cycle – Another Arm of the Community Foundation
The Parsons Area Community Foundation has just completed its competitive grant cycle for 2012. Beginning in January of each year, local schools, colleges, government entities and charitable non-profits are invited to submit proposals to fund products and services that will promote a higher quality of life in our area. Each year our board members are humbled by the fine work these organizations do, and wish every worthy proposal could be funde...
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Reflections on the cherry tree
Gardener's Guide By Donna Seeley Have you ever noticed  how several incidents come together at once, getting your attention? Not long ago, when writing my article and telling how much I like the Japanese yoshino  cherry tree, I thought “nobody has planted as many here as I have.” In another article I had recommended it for our area. I have planted 10 in Forest Park for memorials, losing only one, and I have two in my yard. A recent rain knocke...
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How to make a CGA triple play
The Generosity Guide By Rod Landrum The 2012 season of Major League Baseball is under way I am reminded about one of the rarest occurrences in all of sports — the triple play. Three outs with a single crack of the bat! During the 2011 baseball season there were just four triple plays in 2,430 games played (that is at least 123,930 outs recorded). Personally, I have never witnessed a baseball triple play but I have been a witness to another sor...
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Public Mind
Another prayer complaint To The Sun: I get so irritated when prayer is brought into a discussion. Tell the people if they don’t like it to step outside and close the door. Sounds like to me they need it real bad. This nation needs all the help it can get. If prayer is going to help then we need it real bad. It sounds like to me too many unchristian people are already running this nation. — GINGER DIXON, Parsons Retired teacher likes picture ...
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Disney ship takes to the seas
In creating the new 130,000-ton Disney Fantasy, Disney Cruise Lines meticulously analyzed guest feedback, operational data and traffic flow on board its relatively new sister, Disney Dream, which launched in 2011. Changes were made in the new ship — some subtle, some not. Why so much effort for two ships so close in age? "It's in our DNA," Karl Holz president of Disney Cruise Lines, told reporters as he led a media tour through the new ship. H...
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Weather radio good safety tool at home
Homeowners take note: Weather radios are important tools to prepare for severe weather. “Tornado sirens are for outdoor alerts only,” said Mary Knapp, Kansas state climatologist. “If you don't have a weather radio, consider adding one to your safety supplies, as the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day...
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April is National Cancer Control month
Cancer Control Month highlights advances made in fighting cancer - these include prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer. Cancer control efforts encourage healthy lifestyles, promote cancer screening, increase access to quality cancer care and improve quality of life for those living with cancer & cancer survivors. After heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of illness and death in the United States, accounting for one...
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Public Minds
Times are changing To The Sun: Recent letters remind me of when I was a child. I got caught using a swear word on the playground at St. Mary’s School. The nuns had me kneel on the front steps that afternoon. My mother, Florence, lived across the street and saw me kneeling. Realizing I wasn't having a divine vision, she questioned me and I confessed what I'd done. She washed my mouth out with soap and grounded me for a month in the house with n...
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Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 11, 1972 A two-mill tax levy for a special capital fund, due to expire in 1972, was reinstated by a unanimous vote of the Parsons District School board. Funds raised from the levy would finance correction of about $100,000 in fire standard defects reported after an inspection of schools by the state fire marshal’s office. Schools had cleared earlier inspections by t...
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Public Minds
PHS student and tweets To The Sun: Last week there was an article in the Parsons Sun about a young man who had made a discourteous remark, or tweet, on Twitter. He had allegedly used profane language in a remark about his coach and players on his golf team. The coach was enlightened to the rude remarks he had posted on Twitter, and as punishment the coach suspended him from playing in two conference tournaments and also required the student to...
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Public Minds
Free speech situation at PHS To The Sun: USD 503 Superintendent Linda Proehl was quoted in a newspaper article this week that extracurricular activities are not school related, even if the district subsidizes the programs and pays the coaches. I have a few questions regarding this position. Why were my son and I called into the assistant principal’s office at 2 p.m. to discuss an incident that was not related to school? The assistant principal...
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An athlete, his school and a mess
Parsons High School golfer Gilvon Darkis has been suspended from playing in two conference tournaments and is required to write an apology to his teammates and read it to them as punishment for his after-school tweets to his friends on the social network Twitter. The incident has created considerable ill will and has all the ingredients required to end up in a courtroom: freedom of speech and racial discrimination are only two issues. Accordin...
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Public Minds
Tolen Creek Trail a ‘sweet’ trail To The Sun: Have you ever been to the Tolen Creek Trail north of Parsons? If not, you should make the time to go! It is beautiful right now, with all the trees budding out and turning green. The trail is gravel, concrete bridges and some grass. If you are a runner, it gives you an alternative place to run, with nice scenery, and no traffic. If you like to walk outdoors, it’s a pleasant place for a stroll, plen...
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Labette County Farm Service Agency News
I have several things to share with you, but first — keep those email addresses coming. Producers on our email list conveniently receive the most current FSA news releases, plus news from our office, right to their inbox. For more information about this or any of our programs call us at (620) 784-5431, email kitra.cooper@ks.usda.gov, or check online at www.fsa.usda.gov/ks. Our office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 115 W. Fourth,...
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LCC Auction for Scholarships
Labette Community College prides itself in providing quality education at an affordable value in an ever-changing world. Our students are able to leave LCC valuing the education that will last them a lifetime. Even though the cost of attending LCC is about half the cost of attending a four-year university, many of our students still find it difficult to afford, which is why scholarships are so important. During the recent economic downtown...
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Improving Credit Score Can Reduce Loan Costs
Consumers with credit scores of 700 or more typically get the best interest rates, said Marilyn Bischoff, Extension family economics specialist at the University of Idaho, Boise. Low-scoring individuals with a credit score in the 400 to 500 range may have difficulty obtaining a loan, be required to make a larger down payment and have to pay a higher interest rate on their loan. Payment history, debt load and the types and amount of credit a...
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Looking ahead: Labette Health in 2012
Although I think Labette Health has always provided a good patient experience, and I receive a tremendous number of calls, letters and surveys touting the great care our physicians and entire team provide, I feel we must continually strive for excellence as we begin the next 50 years serving our community. Labette Health is redoubling its commitment to patient satisfaction in 2012. Ordinarily January is the month for reviewing our successes o...
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