Our Past: Jan. 13

Jan. 13, 1981

The Parsons USD 503 board officially closed its book on the case of Marilyn Sue Taylor, a former fourth grade teacher at Lincoln School who was accused of insubordination and then shook the district in the spring of 1980 by publicizing the alleged whipping of one of her students. Her contract would not be renewed. By unanimous vote, the seven-member board accepted the recommendation handed down in November by a three-member panel that conducted Taylor’s three-day due process hearing in August. The panel’s 2-1 decision to recommend to the board that Taylor’s contract not be renewed was received in November. The board’s decision exhausted Taylor’s opportunities to appeal her firing within the school system. Further action would have to come in Labette County District Court, and Donald McKinney, Taylor’s husband, indicated that course would be pursued.

The Altamont City Council heard about plans of Labette County State Bank to build a new bank structure. William Wycoff, vice president of the bank, said when the plans were further advanced, the bank would ask the city to issue industrial revenue bonds for the project. The bank had already acquired a site for the new building at K-96 and Houston Avenue. The site was at the north end of the business section. 

Jan. 13, 1991

The Parsons Vikings defeated the Pittsburg Purple Dragons 70-57 in a non-league high school basketball game that marked the teams’ first outing since mid-December. It left Parsons, ranked third in Class 4A with a record of 5-1. Mike Ford finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Sean Turner scored 14 points. Joe Redmond had 10 points and seven assists, Erik Semrad seven rebounds and two steals and Aaron Bahney and Rashid Hall two steals each.

Jan. 13, 2001

Preliminary discussions were underway between the Parsons Fire Department ant the all-volunteer Labette No. 9 Fire Department for the Parsons department to take over operation of Labette No. 9. James McClanahan, Labette No. 9 board president, said the Parsons department had offered to provide fire protection to the district for a fee.