County commissioners signed off on the Local Emergency Operation Plan presented by Labette County Emergency Management Director Jim Cook, at Monday’s meeting.
The (LEOP) notebook will now go to the state for their approval, Cook said.
Last Friday Cook directed a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee at the courthouse from 9:30 to 12:30. This is the first of two more meetings to be held.
Labette County received funding to develop a multi-hazard mitigation plan. The purpose of this plan is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to the people and property of Labette county from the effects of natural hazard events, Cook said.
A Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee will be formed to support this project and will include representatives from the County, communities, special districts, and other local, state, and federal agencies in or that serve Labette County.
IN OTHER BUSINESS at Monday’s meeting:
• Held a Public Hearing on the County’s Five-Year Bridge Plan on the local bridge projects. The commissioners approved the Form #1302.
• Added two more bridges that need repaired to the plan, #109 located east of the Mound Valley Cemetery and #183 located on Gray Road.
• Rick Hizey, Parsons, candidate for the district no. 3 commissioner position was present.
• Heard update from Sandy Krider, Road and Bridge Supervisor on the Wallace Road bridge repair. The dirtwork has been started and a road has been built to it. “We just need dry weather,” she said.
• Dan Goddard, LRPA Executive Director, told the commissioners the next step in the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant Local Redevelopment Planning Authority. They now can make preparation to move forward to select a board for the LRA. The commissioners brought out that anybody can apply for the selection process. Soon the application form will be available at the clerk’s office, on the greatplainsindustrialpark.com and on the labettecounty.com websites. Applications need to be mailed to the KRPA office.
The commissioners thanked Goddard, Ann Charles and Jenna Reed for the recent official update meeting held last Thursday in Parsons. “You all did a wonderful job,” Commissioner Brian Kinzie said.
• Jim Cook reminded the commissioners of the recent changes being made at the Parsons Sun concerning the counties legal publications. They will be eliminating the Monday newspaper starting June 30. The last printed Monday edition will be June 23. The first week of July the Sun will change to a morning publication, Cook told them.
• Commissioner Jerry Carson was not at the meeting.

Twenty-nine southeast Kansas businesses were recognized today for contributions to their communities and the economy at the Kansas Department of Commerce’s annual Kansas Business Appreciation Month (BAM) Southeast Regional Awards ceremony in Fort Scott.
The event was the fourth of six regional BAM events to be held throughout June. At each ceremony, one company in each of three categories (Manufacturing/Distribution, Service and Retail) is awarded a Business Excellence Award, with remaining companies given a Business Achievement Award or a Merit Award.
“We are thrilled to visit Fort Scott and recognize the southeast Kansas businesses that make this state strong,” said Commerce Secretary David Kerr. “By designating June as Business Appreciation Month, we foster a year-long appreciation for the crucial role our Kansas businesses play in the state’s prosperity and quality of life.”
This year’s southeast awards are as follows:
Manufacturing/Distribution Category
Business Excellence Award Winner
* Ducommun Aerostructures, Parsons
Business Achievement Award Winners
* Boss Industries, Oswego
Service Category
Business Achievement Award Winner
* Wahl’s Agri Service, Oswego
Retail Category
Business Achievement Award Winner
* Ernesto’s (Parsons, Kansas)
Merit Award Winners
* Lori’s Creative Cakes, Oswego
* Mike Carpino Ford Mobility, Columbus
* Sirloin Stockade, Parsons

David Sommers of rural Oswego was selected as the “Fantastic Father” for our Fathers’ Day recognition. His four children, Zachary, Josiah, Sonya and Stephanie, wrote a letter of recommendation.

Dear Labette Avenue:
We have the most wonderful dad, David Sommers. He takes us to the park, takes us out to eat on our birthday, and plays ball with us.
He teaches us from the Bible and prays with us at bedtime, plays games with us, and lets us work with him in the shop. Sorry, folks, but we got the “best.”
Zachary, Josiah, Sonya, Stephanie Sommers, Oswego.

David received a copy of Light on Main Street by Rudy Taylor, $25 gift certificate to Denton True Value Hardware and $25 gift certificate to Trotnic Lumber & Supply in Oswego and a framed family picture.

Swimming Lessons for the Chetopa Pool previously scheduled to begin this week have been changed to occur during the two weeks of June 30-July 10, Monday through Thursday evenings.
“We were running into conflicts with baseball and softball games,” said Robin Oldham, who will be teaching the lessons. “Evening lessons make it easier for many families to fit the lessons in, but only after ball season for some. It’s so important that kids learn to swim and to be safe in the water that it only makes sense to offer the lessons when more kids can take them.”
Lessons for levels 1 and 3 will be held from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m. each evening. Levels 2 and 4 will follow, from 7:15 to 8 p.m. There are no classes scheduled for the Friday evenings of July 4 and 11. Dates and times for Level 5 and 6 classes will be announced depending on the number of students registered.
Cost for swimming lessons is $20 for the first student from each family and $18 for the first sibling from the family. Any other siblings may sign up at $16 per student. It is preferred that students be registered in advance by stopping by the Chetopa Pool or calling 620-236-7902; payment may be made any time the pool is open (1 to 6 p.m. daily) or on the first day of lessons.
Students entering Level 1 should be at least 5 years old; those lessons are conducted in the 3-foot area of the big pool. Students ready for Level 4 must be able to swim the front crawl using rotary breathing (”head in water”), and the back crawl. Levels 5 and 6 may be taught together and are for swimmers who have successfully passed Level 4 or 5. The class will combine form improvement for all strokes, endurance swimming and some basic rescue skills.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts will continue his annual listening tour of Kansas counties with a Labette County Town Hall Meeting in Parsons on Saturday, June 21, at 2:30 p.m., at Fazio’s Italian Ristorante in the Parsonian Hotel, 1725 Broadway, Parsons.

Senator Roberts will hear the thoughts and concerns of Kansans. The event is open to the media and the public.

For more information, see the June 18 issue of Labette Avenue.

David Earl Gail

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—David Earl Gail died June 11, 2008, after a brief illness.

Cremation has taken place and inurnment will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Chetopa, Kan., at a future date.

Stella Marie Mosler

ELDORADO SPRINGS, Mo.—Stella Marie Mosler, 99, of Eldorado Springs, Mo., died Monday, June 9, 2008, at the Community Springs Health Facility in Eldorado Springs, where she had been a resident since the fall of 2005.

Funeral services were held Friday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg. Burial was at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Pittsburg.

The family requests memorials to the Grace United Methodist Church. These may be left at or sent to funeral home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, 66762.

Evelyn A. Willson

WICHITA — Evelyn A. Willson, 78, of Wichita, a former longtime Parsons resident, died at 7:35 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at Harry Hynes Hospice at Via Christi Medical Center in Wichita.

Funeral services were held Friday at the First Baptist Church with the Revs. John Chastain and Joe Hyde officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church of Parsons. They may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Mary H. Smith

COLUMBUS—Mary Hartman Smith, 95, passed away Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

Services were held Thursday at Murdock Funeral Home Chapel, Columbus. Burial was in Park Cemetery.

Roger D. Green

MOUND VALLEY—Roger D. Green, 46, of rural Mound Valley, Kan., died Friday, June 13, 2008, at Labette Health in Parsons.

Funeral services were held Monday, June 16, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Burial was in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested for the Green Children’s Education Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Ronald Leroy Adams

PARSONS—Ronald Leroy “Ron” Adams, 72, of Parsons, Kan., died Thursday, June 12, 2008, at his home following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services were held Monday, June 16, 2008, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial was in the Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the First Assembly of God Church of Parsons or to the Parsons Senior Center, and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.

The Carson Wall Funeral Home of Parsons was in charge of the arrangements.

Dolores Maxine Polk

CHETOPA—Dolores Maxine Polk, 78, of Chetopa, Kan., died Monday, June 16, 2008, at Chetopa Manor Nursing Home in Chetopa, where she had resided since December 2007.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, June 19, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Coffeyville. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the Elm Christian Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Keith R. Cunningham

PARSONS—Keith R. Cunningham, 47, of Parsons, Kan., was found dead at his home on Friday, June 13, 2008.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 19, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery with a private graveside service held at a later date. Friends may call the funeral home at their convenience.

Memorials are suggested to the Recording Arts Technology Program at Labette Community College, and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.