A two-part video story on Monday’s on-line edition of the Topeka Capital-Journal carried an update on Katherine Cook, formerly of Oswego, who continues to recuperate after being struck in the head by a stray bullet in February.
Katherine, age 5, is the daughter of LaMont and JoAnn Cook and the shooting took place at the home located near Linwood, Kan., which the family was remodeling as they prepared to move there from Oswego. The bullet struck Katherine above her left eye, traveled through her brain and came to rest at the back of her skull.
The Topeka newspaper video said the  bullet remains lodged in Katherine’s skull and will not be removed because of the potentially more harmful risks involved with the procedure. Meanwhile, Katherine attends Linwood Elementary School, requiring the help of a para.
LaMont said he does not like to reflect back to that moment when the family shockingly realized Katherine had been shot.  “It was a difficult day, heart wrenching,” he said. “It is hard to describe what goes through your mind when you think you may have lost a little one.”
JoAnne said she tried to prepare the family for the worst as Katherine lay in a hospital in a coma after the first emergency surgery. “We were preparing to send her on her way back to her heavenly father but he saw fit to let us keep her,” JoAnne said.
Katherine spent more than two months at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and she still makes regular trips to the Rehabilitation Institute where a therapist works with her.
Her progress has amazed everyone.
“Once you get to work with her you realize there’s a lot of potential to make a lot of progress,” Lynne Mersch, rehabilitation therapist, said.
“We feel like it is a miracle that Katherine is still with us,” said her father.
JoAnne added, “We feel so immensely grateful for how far Katherine has come. She truly has come such a very, very long way since that day in February.
In May, dozens of friends lined the street in Oswego when the Cooks made their first trip back to the community where they had lived for many years. Those hometown well-wishers seemed to have given the family a boost at a time when they really needed it.
LaMont Cook was administrator of the Oswego Community Hospital before accepting a similar position with a hospital in Leavenworth County.
To view the video, enter the following url into your internet browser: http://www2.ljworld.com/stories/2008/oct/10/learning_live/

The Nov. 4 general election is only three weeks away and Labette County Clerk Linda Schreppel is urging everyone to make sure they are properly registered.
If you have voted in recent elections, and haven’t moved to a different address, you do not need to register.
Voters who have never registered or those who have recently moved should go to the clerk’s office in the Labette County Courthouse and fill out registration forms. The last day you can do that and still vote in the Nov. 4 election is next Monday, Oct. 20.
Schreppel said advance voting has begun at the courthouse and she already has processed 400 advance ballots.
She has sent out and processed five email ballots for military personnel.
Schreppel said a presidential election always draws a big turnout and she hopes that is the case this time.

Dustin W. Conrad, of Oswego, began his training on June 9, at the Kansas Law Enforcement Center in Hutchinson and he graduated on Sept. 19.
Conrad along with the 53 other members of the training class from around the state, were in the 198th basic training class.
A graduation ceremony was held on Sept. 19, at the Grand Prairie Conference Center in Hutchinson. Presentations were made by the class president, members of the instructional staff and J.Chris Warrener, Assistant Special Agent In Charge, FBI, Kansas City, Mo., presented the commencement address.
Conrad has now assumed his duties as a patrol deputy with the Labette County Sheriff’s Office in Oswego.

Homecoming at Labette County High School in  Altamont will be Friday night, Oct. 17 when the Grizzlies play football against Columbus. Labette County Football Homecoming Candidates are Lauren Journot, Leighann Omarkhail, Jennifer Martin, Katie Gilpin and Jade Lambkins.  The crowning ceremony is slated for 6:30 p.m.

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Chetopa High School will play Udall High School on Friday, Oct. 17,  for their 2008 football game. Crowning of the royalty will be done before the game at 6:30 p.m. at the football field.  Freshmen Prince and Princess are Justice Riddle and Whitney Hillis; Sophomore Prince and Princess are Justin Orns and Lindsey Pease; Queen Candidates are juniors Emily Moses, Jenea Jackson and Kelly Karnes; King Candidates are senior Cody Hillis and juniors Andrew Porter and Judd Noble.
Spirit Week activities are: Monday-PJ day; Tuesday-Favorite Team day; Wednesday-Mix and Match day; Thursday-Fake an Injury day and Friday-Green and Gold day. The homecoming parade was at noon on Friday.

Fire departments in Labette County may require some outside financial assistance if they take over the coverage of the new Great Plains Industrial Park.
In a meeting held Monday, representatives of the Parsons Fire Dept. and fire chiefs from several rural fire departments discussed the prospects of handling all fire protection once the Kansas Army Ammunition Plan is closed and the new private industrial park takes its place.
Since the ammunition plants inception nearly 70 years go, the U.S. Army has operated its own fire department on the premises, relying on area firefighting units when backup was needed.
A little over 13,000 acres of land are included in the Great Plains Industrial Park which soon will become the largest industrial park in Kansas, Dan Goddard, LRPA director, told the group.
The various departments being asked to provide fire protection include Neosho Township, Altamont Fire Department, Parsons Fire Department, Liberty Township and Montana Township. Their representatives were in agreement with providing such protection but concerns were expressed about their lack of equipment.
Discussions centered around possible grants that might be obtained to help with purchasing equipment. Ann Charles, LRPA Deputy Director, suggested that Sen. Pat Roberts and other members of the Kansas congressional delegation be contacted to endorse any grant applications.
Jim Cook, Labette County Emergency Coordinator, was appointed chairman of a special committee to determine how best to proceed with the division of responsibilities among fire-fighting units in the county.
Goddard said he is hopeful that the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks might provide some assistance. He also said this will provide an opportunity for all the fire departments to apply for individual grants rather than the LRPA applying for one big one.
While some U.S. Army firefighting equipment will remain at the site, most will be removed, Goddard said.  A list of remaining equipment is currently being made and Cook’s committee will report back at the next LRPA meeting.

Chetopa Elementary School recently achieved the prestigious honor of being named a Great Expectations Model School. The school’s superintendent, principal, faculty, and staff worked diligently to accomplish this impressive goal.  This is the second year that Chetopa Elementary has been designated a Model School.  In addition, Chetopa Elementary has been named as an official Great Expectations visitation school.

Chetopa Elementary School is a showcase for the rewarding benefits that Great Expectations provides students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community, and it will be visited by other schools/districts that want to follow in their footsteps. “The school is truly a shining star in the community, state, and nation. They are to be highly commended for their efforts. We are overjoyed to add them to our list of ‘Showcase Schools’,” said Cheryl Price, Director of Great Expectations.

The Great Expectations Program, founded in 1991, is a scientifically research-based educational reform model that is bringing major change and innovation to PK-12 public and private school classrooms, especially in Oklahoma.  Chetopa Elementary School is the only Great Expectations Kansas model and visitation school.

The program represents an approach to learning that empowers teachers to expect and to get the best from students; it rekindles the excitement of discovery among both students and teachers; and, it pushes everyone involved to greater heights of achievement.

The basic principles of the program include high expectations for students, a learning climate based on mutual respect between student and teacher, student self-esteem, a belief that all students can learn, positive teacher attitude, and highly skilled and knowledgeable teachers who inspire and enable students to achieve success.

If you are interested in scheduling a Model School visitation or simply would like more information about Great Expectations, contact the superintendent’s office at 620-236-7959.

For more information, see the Oct. 15 issue of the Labette Avenue. To locate previously posted death notices, enter the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page. Labette Avenue publishes death notices free of charge. Paid obituaries ($20) are printed in their entirety in the Labette Avenue and online at taylornews.org.

Goldie Maxine Blundell

CHETOPA—Goldie “Maxine” Blundell, 79, formerly of Chetopa, Kan., died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, in Wichita at the home of her son, Christopher Blundell, where she had resided since 2004. She had been in failing health.

Graveside service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10 at Oakhill Cemetery in Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Polly Skahan

COLUMBUS—Polly Skahan, 74, of Columbus, Kan., died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008 in St. John’s Regional Medical Center Joplin, Mo., after a prolonged illness.

Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 10, in St. Rose Catholic Church by Father Chrysostom Ah Maung. Burial will be in St. Bridget’s Cemetery in Scammon. The Rosary will be said at 7 p.m., Thursday, at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Columbus. Callers at the funeral home are asked to use the Prestige Plant Entrance to get to the funeral home due to Highway construction.

Family members, relatives, and friends are invited to celebrate Polly’s life at the Rosary and Mass. Remembrances may be made to Father Chris of St. Rose. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com.

Funeral arrangements are by Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Columbus.

W. Mark Garrett

PARSONS–W. Mark Garrett, 45, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at Labette Health.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center in Parsons. Inurnment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorial may be given to Kansas Special Olympics c/o Poke Stover, 300 N. Carver Lane, Lawrence, KS 66049. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Stockham Family Funeral Home in McPherson and Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Peggy Chatman

PARSONS—Peggy Chatman, 68, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will received friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons, is in charge of arrangements.

Dakota Helm

COLUMBUS—Dakota Helm, 12, of Columbus, Kan., died Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., after an illness.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date by the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 611 South East Avenue, Columbus.

Students from Oswego High School will be joining thousands of other youth on athletic fields all across America on Wednesday, Oct. 8, to share their Christian faith with fellow students during the fifth annual “Fields of Faith” event. This rapidly growing, interdenominational outreach event will be held at more than 400 locations throughout the country on the same day.
While many Christian rallies are anchored to an entertainer or professional speaker, creating a spectator event, “Fields of Faith” is structured as a student-to-student ministry. Peers invite their own classmates and teammates to meet on their school’s athletic field to hear fellow students share their testimonies, challenge them to read the Bible and to come to faith in Jesus Christ.
“Throughout history, God has sparked great spiritual awakenings through young people,” said Jeff Martin, an Oklahoma Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “And that is the power of what we are trying to accomplish through ‘Fields of Faith.’ It goes beyond its appearance of a one-night rally on an athletic field.”
Oswego High School’s Fields Of Faith will be held at the Oswego High School Football Field on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. All area junior high and high school students, as well as area churches are invited to this special event.
More information about “Fields of Faith” is available at www.FieldsofFaith.com. For more information about the event in Oswego, contact Penny Spore, penmark@usd504.org  or 423-9265 and/or Rod Monroe, rmonroe@usd504.org

Friday night area football games schedule will be the following:
Chetopa High School will be at  Altoona-Midway at 7 p.m.
Labette County High School will be at Independence at 7 p.m.
Oswego High School will be hosting Arma for Homecoming at 7 p.m.

Upcoming other sports schedules include:
Thursday, Oct. 9 -
CHS Cross Country at Jayhawk-Linn (Md City) 4 p.m.
LC Tennis, Regionals at Independence, 8 a.m.
LC Volleyball at home, 5 p.m. -  lineup:
Harrison Gymnasium –
East End  – JV - 5 p.m., Labette vs. Iola;
6p.m.; Coffeyville vs. Iola; 7 p.m., Labette vs. Coffeyville
West End – Varsity - 5 p.m., Labette vs. Iola; 6 p.m., Coffeyville vs. Iola; 7 p.m., Labette vs. Coffeyville
Other than the initial starting time of 5:00 – all times are approximates.
LC Cross County at Indy, 4 p.m.
OHS JV Volleyball here, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11 -
LC Tennis at Sub-State
LC JV Volleyball at Pittsburg, 9 a.m.
Monday, Oct. 13 -
OHS Regional Golf at Moran, 8:30 a.m.
CHS Volleyball at Arma, 5 p.m.
LC FR Volleyball at Parsons, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14 -
CHS Volleyball at St. Paul, 5 p.m.
LC FR Volleyball at home, 5 p.m.