A key employer in this area stands to lose up to 62 employees over the next six months if plans by the Kansas Department of Corrections are followed.
The Labette Women’s Correctional Camp at Oswego was closed at the end of Wednesday, leaving some 16 works without jobs. An additional 46 employees will lose theirs by June 30 when the men’s correctional camp in Oswego.
A group of community leaders from Labette County made a trip to Topeka on Dec. 19 in a lobbying effort toward keeping the camps open, but their presentations did not receive the desired response by state officials who are attempting to cut their budget 3% statewide.
Lonie Addis, chairman of the Labette County Commission, said a total of six people representing Labette County attended the meeting with Sec. of Corrections Roger Werholtz and Chuck Simmons, deputy secretary for facilities management for the KDOC.
“I think it went well,” said Addis. “But at this point, it looks like the women’s camp will close at the end of December, then the men’s camp will close by June. We are still seeking alternatives and seeking assistance and will try our best to keep the camps open, but we will also entertain other options.”
Those options might include converting the correctional camps into regular prison housing. Specific interest has been shown by officials of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department in Wichita which is needing more cell space for inmates.
But Addis said he and other community leaders are still hoping to keep the men’s portion of the local camp open. Although LCCC administrator Tom Bringle has not been officially notified of the men’s camp closing, he fully expects to receive that notice after Jan. 1, with a six-month notice.
That gap in timing will give the local leaders some time to lobby lawmakers in Topeka and other officials of the KDOC. In the case of the women’s camp closure, there was scarcely any time since its closing happened within 45 days of the first notice from the KDOC.  Since the Kansas Legislature would not reconvene until January, it left few options for local leaders to consider.
Those attending the Dec. 19 meeting in Topeka were: Commissioner Addis,  LCC President Dr. George Knox and LCCC Board Member; Stacey Green, former inmate at LCWC and current LWCC board member; Tom Bringle, LWCC Administrator; Sen. Dwayne Umbarger and Rep. Rich Proehl.
Addis said the presentations by local officials to the KDOC officials were well received, however he granted that those in Topeka have a difficult job ahead of them making necessary cuts in state spending to offset a nearly $1 billion deficit from the past year.
The group had hoped to meet with Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius but she was out of town. Her chief of staff, Troy Finley, and three other aides met with the local delegation.

For more information, see the Dec. 31 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.

Ronald Wayne Lewis

COFFEYVILLE—Ronald Wayne Lewis, 63, Coffeyville, Kan., resident, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 at St. John Medical Center, Tulsa, Okla.

Ron was born May 6, 1945, at Boynton, Okla., to John Paul Lewis and Delia Alice (Leist) Lewis. He moved from Boynton to Tulsa in 1950, and began his education in Tulsa. Halfway through his kindergarten year, Ron moved to Coffeyville as his parents took jobs with Continental Can. He attended McKinley, Lowell and Clymore Schools. Ron attended Labette County Community High School where he played football and basketball and ran track. After high school, he was offered a track scholarship at Coffeyville Junior College and also walked on the Red Raven Football team.

On Aug. 1, 1965, Ron married his high school sweetheart, Dixie Lee Schell, at Altamont, Kan. Afterwards, Ron enlisted in the US Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He was stationed for a time in El Paso, Texas, where he was a part of the Nike Hercules Warhead Air Defense Missile group. Ron was stationed at several locations, eventually winding up in Athens, Greece, where he was joined by his bride.

After two years in Greece, the couple returned to El Paso and later to Coffeyville in 1968. After his military service, Ron resumed his job with Funk Mfg/John Deere where he was a tool setter. He worked 39 years for the corporation before his retirement. In 1977, the Lewis family moved to the “farm” in Labette County, where he has been a resident since.

Ron enjoyed all sports and played industrial league fast pitch softball for Funk and other teams. He was an avid bowler and golfer and loved to hunt. Ron was big hearted and would do anything for anybody. He was a member of Grace Fellowship and taught Sunday School. Ron was a Mason, a Shriner and a true follower of Red Raven football and LCHS Grizzly sports.

He is survived by his wife, Dixie, of the home; two daughters, Ronda Rohling and husband Jim of rural Mound Valley; and Amy Gregory and husband Kevin of Collinsville, Okla.; and six grandchildren, Katie, Brice, Jake and David Rohling and Vince and Alexis Gregory.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sharon Funk.

Funeral service will be held, 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 26, at Grace Fellowship Church with Rev. Gerald Morris officiating. The family will have a reception following the service with a committal at 1 p.m., Friday at North Edna Cemetery, Edna, Kan., under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel. Friends may call Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To leave a special message for the family online, visitwww.PenwellGabel.com. The family suggests friends who wish donate to a special scholarship fund in Ron’s memory at Labette County High School. Donations may be left with the funeral home.

Mary Lee Triebel

EDNA—Mary Lee Triebel, 86, of Edna, Kan. died at 4:20 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, at the Oswego Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 24, at the First Baptist Church in Edna. Burial will be in the Edna Elm Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Edna or the Edna Library. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325,Altamont, KS 67330.

Mary was born Sept. 5, 1922, in Edna, to J. I. and Nettie Velma (Storm) Wester. She grew up and attended school in Edna, graduating from Edna High School in 1940.

She and Elmer H. “Buck” Triebel were married June 7, 1941, in Weir, Kan. Following their marriage, she lived with her parents while he served his country during World War II. Upon his return from the war, they moved to their rural home, near Edna, where they raised their family and had lived since. For 21 years, she was employed as a bus driver for U.S.D. 506, retiring from there in 1992.

She enjoyed crafts, quilting, baking, fishing and bird watching. She also did custom wallpapering for many years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Edna, a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star, Cunningham Chapter in Edna; E.C.O., and the Edna BEARS (Better Edna Area Relief and Support).

Those surviving are two sons, Doug Triebel and wife Sue, Coffeyville; and Sam Triebel and wife Kathy, Coffeyville; one daughter, Julie Jack and husband Phil, rural Edna; a former daughter-in-law, Sharon Triebel, Edna; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer H. “Buck” Triebel, on Nov. 12, 2005; four brothers, Robert D. Wester, H. Leon Wester, T. E. Wester, and Billy I. Wester; and two sisters, Rosaline Parker and Katherine Roberts.

Christopher L. “Chris” Ahrens

VINITA, Okla.–Christopher L. “Chris” Ahrens, 23, of Vinita, Okla., formerly of Chetopa, Kan., died from injuries suffered in an auto accident Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, outside of Vinita.

Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, at Mother of God Catholic Church in Oswego. Burial will be in St. Anne’s Cemetery in Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the Christopher Ahrens Memorial Fund. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 706 Maple, Chetopa, 67336.

Chris was born Oct. 29, 1985, in Bartlesville, Okla., to Lawrence P. and Rose Mary (LaCaria) Ahrens. He grew up and attended schools in Chetopa. He had worked for General Mills and was currently employed at Allied Marine in Langley, Okla.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Chetopa.

Survivors include three sons, Trenton Ahrens, Shawn Ahrens, and Colton Ahrens, all of the home; his fianceé, Stephanie Keith, of the home; mother, Rose Mary Ahrens, Welch, Okla.; three brothers, Gene Ahrens and wife Mary, Tucson, Ariz.; Glen Ahrens, Tucson, Ariz.; Gary Ahrens and wife Carrie, Eagle, Wisc.; and Stephen Ahrens, Welch, Okla.;two sisters, Cindy Porter, Welch, Okla.; and Carolyn Tullis, Oswego, Kan.; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father on Oct. 11, 2000.

Helen Mingle

OSWEGO—Helen Mingle, 93, of Oswego, Kan., passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at Sunset Manor in Frontenac, Kan.

Graveside funeral services will be 11 a.m., Friday, in the Oswego Cemetery with Pastor John Stone of the First Baptist Church officiating. Family and friends will gather at the Murdock Funeral home at 10 a.m. for a time of visitation before proceeding on to the cemetery as a group for services.

Memorials may be made to the Oswego Public Library with the funeral Home serving as custodian.

Helen was born April 18, 1915, near Richland, Mo., the daughter of Alvin and Anna (Beckley) Sprecher. At the age of seven, she moved with her family to a farm west of Altamont, Kan. She graduated from Altamont High School in 1933 and then moved to Oswego.

She married Howard E. Mingle on Feb. 1, 1936, at Oswego and he preceded her in death on Sept. 2, 1973. She clerked in several stores in Oswego including Torcia Hardware for 14 years. Helen retired in 1986 and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Oswego.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, including Carlos Bradfield of Pittsburg, Kan.

Kathryn Lee Woodman

PARSONS—Kathryn Lee Woodman, 55, of Parsons, Kan., died at 5:55 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, at her home. She was in failing health.

The body will be cremated. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Friends may call at their convenience at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the St. John’s Episcopal Church Altar Guild or to the Emery Curtis Scholarship Fund. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.

Nellie Nadine McCord

WELCH, Okla.—Nellie Nadine McCord, 89, passed away Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Thomas Funeral Home, Welch. Burial will be in Williams Timberhill Cemetery, Welch.

Rosalie L. Parlett

PARSONS—Rosalie L. Parlett, 95, of Parsons, Kan., died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, at Elmhaven West Nursing Home in Parsons. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will follow in the Labette City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Friday.

Memorials are suggested to the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or to the Wesley United Methodist Church, and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.

Arlene K. Johnston

COLUMBUS—Arlene K. Johnston, 49, of Columbus, Kan., died at her home on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 24, at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 611 S. East Ave., Columbus. Burial will follow in the Wyandotte Cemetery in Wyandotte, Okla.

E-mail condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com.

V. Vail Shipps

PARSONS—V. Vail Shipps, 85, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. He had been in failing health the past year.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Revs. Bob Shipps, Mike Justice and John Bain officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons, with military honors given by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 74, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church of Parsons and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Dari Simpson

COLUMBUS—Dari Simpson, 50, of Columbus, Kan., died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, at his home.

Family visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at the Simpson Funeral Home, Columbus. Private family burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Columbus Community Field Board and may be left at the Simpson Funeral Home, 323 S. Kansas Ave., Columbus, KS 66725.

Whitney Jo (Koons) Davis

COLUMBUS—Whitney Jo (Koons) Davis, 44, of Columbus, Kan., died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, at St. John’s Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 27, in the Murdock Chapel, Columbus, with Pastor Roger Beason of the First Christian Church officiating. Interment will follow in Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m., Friday, at the Murdock Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to the website: murdockfuneralhomes.com. Memorials may be made to “Zack Davis Educational Fund” or Maude-Norton Hospital with the funeral home serving as custodian.

Charles W. Taylor

EDNA–Charles W. Taylor, 88, of Edna, Kan., died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, at Labette Health.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Monday, at Elm Christian Church east of Edna. Burial will be in North Edna Cemetery.

Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville, where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m.

James V. “Vic” Carpenter

COLUMBUS–James V. “Vic” Carpenter, 62, of Columbus, Kan., died at the St. John’s Maude Norton Hospital in Columbus on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008 after an illness.

There are no services planned at this time.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 611 South East Avenue, Columbus Kansas 66725.

Janice A. Phillips

COLUMBUS—Janice A. Phillips, 83, of Columbus, Kan., passed peacefully from this life Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, at the Medicalodge Nursing Home in Columbus following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 29, at the Columbus First United Methodist Church with Reverend Susan Daniel-Brey officiating. Burial will follow in the Park Cemetery in Columbus. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Columbus, where friends may call after 4 p.m. Sunday.

Condolences can be sent to www.bathnaylor.com. Memorial contributions can be made to the Children’s Miracle Network or to the Columbus First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be brought by or mailed to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 611 S. East Ave., Columbus, KS 66725.

Kent Riggs

PARSONS—Kent Riggs, 53, of Parsons, Kan., died at 10:15 a.m., Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the home of his sister, Sheryl Werner, in Parsons.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in McCune Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday evening.

Bertha Mae Allen

COLUMBUS—Bertha Mae Allen, 86, of The Autumn Place in Columbus, Kan., formerly of rural McCune, Kan., died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo.,, after a short illness.

Visitation will be held at the Murdock Funeral Home in Columbus at 1 p.m. with services at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 3, with Rev. Dennis Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in the Sherman City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Murdock Funeral Home of Columbus.

Contributions may be made to St. John’s Hospice in care of the funeral home. Condolences and register book are available at murdockfuneralhomes.com.

Major Joyce Gange Storm has been visiting her parents for Christmas along with her husband, Andrew, and children, Grace and Lane. She is the daughter of El and Linda Gange and is a former Oswego High School graduate. Joyce has been in the Air Force 17 years after attending the Air Force Academy for four years. She is now attending Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kan. She began her advanced professional training at Leavenworth in August and will graduate June 12.
Through her years in the military Major Storm has been assigned to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla; Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, La.; Aviano, Italy; Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Chicago; Beale Air Force Base, Calif.; and now Ft. Leavenworth.
Major Storm has been deployed five times–once to Saudi Arabia, twice to Germany, to Kyrgyzstan (formerly a Russian province), and Afghanistan.
What does she do in all of these far-away countries? She does logistics–anything from loading planes on flight lines to supply activities on bases and controls all transportation assets. She is responsible for deployment readiness. Major Storm works with Army unit logistics for deployment.
Joyce and her husband, Andrew, have two children, a daughter Grace six years old and son Lane three years old. Her daughter was born in Italy, and her son was born in North Chicago. Her husband, Andrew, is a free-lance photographer and a former Baxter Springs High School graduate who stays with the children while their mother is deployed or working.
A new assignment will await her after Command and General Staff College, She is on the Command List which means she could be the commander of a unit following her advanced training at Leavenworth.

Commissioners received a ray of light on the last week of the 2008 year at Monday’s Labette County meeting, that will save the county over $5,000.
Bob Wood and Mike Dulohery of Wood-Dulohery Insurance of Parsons, saved the county $5,149 in the 2009 insurance renewal policy with Employee Mutual Co. Every line of coverage was lower, with the exception of Inland Marine, it was $14,408 and will raise to $14,511.”This is good news in the insurance business,” Wood said.  “You’re getting more for less,” he said.
The Worker’s Compensation also raised from $168,153 to $163,612. The category experience mod went from 1.29 to 1.33 on it. “That is the majority of where the claims are from,” Wood explained.
The commissioners discussed the closing of the women’s correctional camp and the insurance policy. Wood and Dulohery will check into options and report back to them. The Labette Correctional Women’s Camp will close Dec. 31 of this year. (A story on the camp closing appears elsewhere on this page).
IN OTHER ACTION TAKEN at Monday’s meeting:
• Signed a bi-annual bridge inspection contract with Cook, Flatt and Strobel, a engineering firm, at a cost of $45 per bridge, to be taken out of the special bridge funds. The county has 303 bridges to be inspected, at a cost of $13,635. The City of Parsons will piggyback with eight bridges being inspected. Parsons will reimburse the county.
• Approved to allow salary department heads 18 days of vacation at the beginning of the year.
• Monday, Jan. 5, commissioners will call a special session with department heads and elected officials from 8:30 a.m. until the regular commission meeting begins at 9 a.m.
• A reorganizational meeting will be held at the Monday, Jan. 12 meeting.

Labette County residents can once again enjoy family entertainment without traveling too far. 10 Pinz Bar-N-Grill has opened in the former Coral Lanes Bowling Alley in Oswego.
Al and Lisa Schultz purchased the property a couple of months ago and have been doing extensive remodeling to the facility. With new wiring, ceiling, and flooring, the building is lighter and brighter than ever.
Al owns RPM Automotive in Chetopa; they have a son Kade, seven years old and a daughter, Addison that works at the Chetopa Manor.
10 Pinz Bar-N-Grill is located at 615 Commercial and the telephone number is 620-795-4400. Hours will be 11 a.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Saturday and Sunday noon to 9 p.m.
10 Pinz Bar-N-Grill will offer bowling, pool tables, jukebox, etc. Specials will be planned daily.
10 Pinz Bar-N-Grill will be open New Year’s Eve after 9 p.m.; they will have a fog machine, disco ball and music. Party favors will be provided. They will be open New Year’s Day.
Menu items offered will be all dairyette type items such as cheeseburgers, fries, soft drinks, etc. Alcoholic beverages will be available.
Two 42-inch flat screen televisions will be installed around the bar and more will be added at various locations later. Bowling leagues will also be offered at a later date.
“We want people and families to come out and have fun here,” Al said.

A group of community leaders from Labette County made a trip to Topeka on Dec. 19 in a lobbying effort toward keeping the Labette Women’s Correctional Camp open.
The camp is set to close at the end of business today, Dec. 31, by the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Lonie Addis, chairman of the Labette County Commission, said a total of six people representing Labette County attended the meeting with Sec. of Corrections Roger Werholtz and Chuck Simmons, deputy secretary for facilities management for the KDOC.
“I think it went well,” said Addis. “But at this point, it looks like the women’s camp will close at the end of December, then the men’s camp will close by June. We are still seeking alternatives and seeking assistance and will try our best to keep the camps open, but we will also entertain other options.”
Those options might include converting the correctional camps into regular prison housing. Specific interest has been shown by officials of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department in Wichita which is needing more cell space for inmates.
But Addis said he and other community leaders are still hoping to keep the men’s portion of the local camp open. Although LCCC administrator Tom Bringle has not been officially notified of the men’s camp closing, he fully expects to receive that notice after Jan. 1, with a six-month notice.
That gap in timing will give the local leaders some time to lobby lawmakers in Topeka and other officials of the KDOC. In the case of the women’s camp closure, there was scarcely any time since its closing happened within 45 days of the first notice from the KDOC.  Since the Kansas Legislature would not reconvene until January, it left few options for local leaders to consider.
Those attending the Dec. 19 meeting in Topeka were: Commissioner Addis,  LCC President Dr. George Knox and LCCC Board Member; Stacey Green, former inmate at LCWC and current LWCC board member; Tom Bringle, LWCC Administrator; Sen. Dwayne Umbarger and Rep. Rich Proehl.
Addis said the presentations by local officials to the KDOC officials were well received, however he granted that those in Topeka have a difficult job ahead of them making necessary cuts in state spending to offset a nearly $1 billion deficit from the past year.
The group had hoped to meet with Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius but she was out of town. Her chief of staff, Troy Finley, and three other aides met with the local delegation.

Seventh and eighth grade students across the state are invited to compete for prizes and a radio appearance in a new essay competition. The competition – sponsored by Kansas Action for Children – asks students to speak out about what their generation needs in order to reach its full potential.
Selected student writers will be asked to read their essays aloud for airing on Kansas Public Radio. The top seventh grade writer and the top eighth grade writer will each receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card. Selected essays will also be posted on KAC’s Web site.
Students may enter the essay competition as individuals, or teachers may submit essays on behalf of their class. Additional prizes will be awarded to the first 10 teachers who have their classrooms participate in the essay competition.
All essays must be postmarked by Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. For writing instructions and complete details, visit www.kac.org/essay Questions about the essay competition may be directed to (785) 845-3554 or essay@kac.org.

Oswego residents are well acquainted with the auction concept, and the successful inaugural event of the Red Chair Auction on Dec. 6 confirms that. Hometown folks are also great supporters of charitable causes, and the Red Chair now hopes to marry the two concepts for the benefit of the community.
The next monthly auction at the Red Chair is set for Jan. 3, with another following on Feb. 7, and the auction house is encouraging “charity auctions” at these events, along with the regular auction. Coming so closely on the heels of Christmas, a Charity Auction is a perfect time to recycle unwanted gifts while continuing the goodwill and giving that’s a major part of the holiday season.
A Charity Auction is much like a church bazaar or a benefit yard sale. Here’s how it works:
People take to the auction house items which they no longer want or need. These should be in clean condition, ready to sell. Tell the folks at Red Chair that the net proceeds from the sale of the items are to be donated to a designated charity, such as a church, a school or a child’s sports league, or an entity like the American Cancer Society.
Then, when the item sells at auction, Red Chair will cut a check for the net amount of the sale directly to the “charity” which was designated. The Red Chair routinely retains a 30% fee for sold items; however, to support Charity Auctions the house keeps only 25%.
“Charity Auctions work really well when a lot of people bring in things to sell on behalf of the same charity,” said Red Chair owner David Spradling.
“People in charge of fundraising for organizations can alert their members to donate things for one of our monthly auctions. The more that is brought in, the more will sell and the greater the amount of the donation check.”
To consign items for regular or Charity Auctions, stop by the Red Chair between 1 and 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, or call for an appointment at 795-2094, 479-254-8989 or 316-992-4301.
Charity Auctions work well for buyers, too.
Consider how nice it is to buy something, knowing that the net sale price will be given to a charity! Keep it in mind while shopping amongst the items at the Red Chair, and bid often and bid high to support favorite causes.
Red Chair Auction is located in the former VFW building at 1717 W. 4th in Oswego.  Both the auction house and P&D Diner will be closed Dec. 24 and 25, but will be open 4 to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Day and regular hours on New Year’s Eve.

Dave Loiselle started his new job as the new Labette County Appraiser duties last week.
Loiselle was raised in Pittsburg, in Crawford County, graduating from Pittsburg Senior High and obtaining a Bachelor of General Studies degree at Pittsburg State University.
He entered the real estate field  starting with passing the state’s licensing exam in October of 1982 and became a sales associate with ERA Crown Realty in Pittsburg in January of 1983. “I subsequently went to work for the Crawford County Appraiser at the beginning of 1985,” he said. “When the County Appraiser position became open in 1985, I was appointed as their County Appraiser,” he said. He held that position until 1993.
In 1993 he opened a fee appraisal and real estate brokerage agency, Loiselle Realty, in Columbus, until starting here in Labette County this past Dec. 15.
His wife, Barbara, was also raised in Pittsburg, and they celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary this past September.
They have two children, our daughter Tracy and son David is studying at UNMA in Albuquerque, NM.