Day and Zimmerman Inc., Parsons, has announced that further layoffs in the near future are likely.
A maximum of 120 employees could potentially be laid off, company officials said.
With no new major military contracts acquired as hoped, DZI could not justify keeping all employees in its work force at the Parsons site.

Labette County will seek an extension of a 1 percent sales for another five years, according to action by the county commission on Monday.
The sales tax is used for property tax relief in the county and eight towns sharing in its distribution. The tax is set to expire in August 2011 but local entities will need to budget a year in advance so the tax question will be placed on the April 7 election ballot.
Commission chairman said since the sales tax is used for property tax relief, it would raise taxes approximately 8 mills if the sales tax is not renewed by voters.

The primary/general election for open positions for cities and schools in Labette County will be held on March 3 or April 7. The filing or withdrawal deadline will be at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The last day to register before the general election is Monday, March 23.
The following positions will be available:
Altamont (4-year terms) - Mayor, whose position is now held by Herb Bath. Two council positions will be open for election. Those are presently held by Dru Parlett and Mary Shields.
Bartlett (2-year terms) - Mayor, whose position is now held by David Brown. Five council positions will be open for election. Those are presently held by Anthony Allison, Russell McConnell, Douglas Ramey, Amy Graves, Jim Houston.
Chetopa (4-year terms) - 1st Ward Council now held by Michael D. Rumbaugh, 2nd Ward Council now held by George W. Huber and 3rd Ward Council by Debra Crumrine.
Edna (4-year terms) Mayor whose position is now held by W. V. Stine, Jr., and two council positions now held by Henry Acridge and Denzil Smith.
Mound Valley (4-year terms). Three council positions now held by Rex Kesler, David H. Winters, and Alex Ybarra.
Oswego (4-year terms) At Large Council positions now held by Glenn Fischer, Ty Lewis and Jane Rea.
The USD #504 School Board (Oswego) with 4-year terms include three positions now held by Dee Brown, Steve Lewis and Lewis Riley.
The USD #505 School Board (Chetopa/St. Paul) with 4-year terms includes positions now held by Member 4 Sandra Krider; Member 5 George Davis, and Member 6 Ron Wood.
The USD #506 School Board (LCHS) includes three positions with 4-year terms now held by Ron McMunn, Position 4; Leon Allen, Position 5; and Jennifer Mathis, Position 6.
The Labette Community College Board of Trustees (4-year terms) has three positions open now held by Robert Brandenburg, Wanda Maxson-Ladage and Sophia C. Zetmeir.

The Sixteenth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be held on Jan. 17, at the Oswego Community Building.
Floyd F. Cavitt, Jr. has led the organization of this special day for 16 years but says this could be the last time. He has had a series of shoulder surgeries (nearly as many as the years he has organized the event).
Floyd says, “Dr. King would be happy to know that some of his dreams are coming true. The first black president, a woman running for president and a woman running for vice president.
“If you think that Dr. King had nothing to do with this, you are wrong.,” Cavitt said. “Dr. King gave his life so things like this could happen. Obama has Kansas ties. I feel so proud that this is our 16th Anniversary of holding Dr. King Day in little, old Oswego. We have more Dr. King lovers than some big towns. That is why our King Day is one of the ‘best’.”
The theme of this year’s event will be “Dr. King’s Dreams Still Live On.”
Everyone is invited to celebrate this wonderful day in Oswego.

The Labette County Resource Conservation District will hold its annual meeting on Saturday evening, Jan. 17, in the Labette County High School cafeteria.
A two-special spread inside today’s Labette Avenue gives tribute to the district and to the winners of the Soil Conservation Award and Windbreak Award.
Winners of this year’s Conservation Award are Brent and Jennifer Mathes who reside near Bartlett.
Receiving the Windbreak Award will be David and Joyce Myers who reside near Altamont.
Eric Banks, State Conservationist for the NRCS will be the guest speaker.
A business session and election of supervisors will also take place during the annual meeting.
See special pages inside this week’s  Labette Avenue.

For more information, see the Jan. 14 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 www.taylornews.org/lba.

Ora E. Davis

CHETOPA—Ora E. Davis, 92, of Chetopa, Kan., died at 9:50 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Chetopa Manor Nursing Home where she had resided the past two years.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 9, at the Community Bible Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Community Bible Church.

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

Ora was born Aug. 12, 1916, in Seneca, Mo., to John and Cora (Mitchell) McGuirk.

She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Smithville, Mo., and an honorary member of the Community Bible Church in Chetopa. She enjoyed quilting, cooking, gardening, and dearly loved her family.

She and John Davis were married in June 1934. He preceded her in death in September 1986.

Those surviving are two daughters, Loretta Zimmerman, Welch, Okla.; and Sharon Helton, Smithville, Mo.; 18 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Louise House, Clio, Mich.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Claude McGuirk; two sisters, Alta Brown and Lorena Wilton; two sons, Jimmy and Elmer Davis; two daughters, Deloris Withrow and Cora Mobley; one grandson, Raymond Dean Davis; and one great-grandson, Christopher Brooks.

Mary Jane Rorabough

CHETOPA—Mary Jane Rorabough, 67, of Chetopa, Kan., died at 5:50 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Chetopa Manor Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the First Baptist Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Fly Creek Cemetery, rural Columbus. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Chetopa or the Chetopa Manor Nursing Home. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Mary Jane was born May 26, 1941, in Columbus, Kan., to Orie Alfred and Elizabeth (Hartzler) Rorabough. Having had cerebral palsy since birth, she had no formal schooling, and was taught by her mother at home.

In 1977, she moved from the Welch Residential Home to the Chetopa Manor Nursing Home and had lived there since.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chetopa where she also attended the ladies church group, Global Shapers. Her relationship with her Lord was very important to her. She loved to give hugs, sing hymns and could name the page number of any song in the hymnal. She enjoyed crafts, and especially enjoyed watching Little House on the Prairie and game shows on TV.

Those surviving are a sister, Hazel Buick, Junction City, Kan.; an aunt, Willys Hartzler, Golconda, Nev.; and a host of family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.

Allen E. Barragar

PARSONS—Allen E. Barragar, 48, a lifelong resident of rural Parsons, Kan., passed away at 6:05 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Mo., following a courageous battle, of 15 months, with glioblastoma stage IV brain cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Private committal services will be held in Pitkin, Colo., by the family at a future date. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the American Brain Tumor Association or Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Allen was born Feb. 7, 1960, in Parsons, to Everett Eugene and Marilyn Joan (Wheelen) Barragar. He grew up in the Parsons area and attended schools at Lincoln Elementary, Parsons Jr. High, and was a 1978 graduate of Labette County High School inAltamont.

Following high school graduation, Allen was in business with his father and brother in B&B Construction. He then worked for Hamilton Trenching, in Parsons, before beginning his 16 year career as superintendent at Interstate Electrical Construction in Parsons.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons, and in earlier years, served as Vice-President and drill team co-captain of the Parsons Riding Club.

He loved the outdoors and enjoyed four-wheeling in Colorado, exploring trails, hunting, boating, camping and skiing. He also coached Little League wrestling in Altamont during the early 1980s. Allen cherished spending time with his family and friends.

On April 7, 1979, he married Belinda Ann Bates at the First Baptist Church in Edna, Kansas. She survives of the home.

Additional survivors include one daughter, Brittnie Stevenson and husband Jake, Olathe; his parents, Everett and Marilyn Barragar, Golden City, Mo.; three brothers, Bruce Barragar, Parsons; Craig Barragar, Mound Valley and Brice Barragar, Manhattan; one sister, Kay Walker, Parsons; numerous nieces and nephews.

Paul and Martha Freeburg

PARSONS—Paul and Martha Freeberg of Parsons, Kan., were found dead in their home on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m,. Friday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Animal Welfare Society and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Excell I. McDaniel

PARSONS—Excell I. McDaniel, 85, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthel McDaniel Sr., on April 22, 1990.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, at New Hope Baptist Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons is in charge of arrangements.

Connie Lee Tosh

EDNA—Connie Lee Tosh, 54, of Edna, Kan., died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Funeral Home Chapel, Coffeyville.

Bonnie R. Boone-Hayden

PARSONS—Bonnie R. Boone-Hayden, 97, of Parsons, Kan., died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m., Monday, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Bonnie L. Oden

PARSONS—Bonnie L. Oden, 87, of Parsons, Kan., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at the Elmhaven West Nursing Home in Parsons. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, with Rev. Joe Hyde officiating and Vickie Rike giving a eulogy. Burial will be in the Mound Valley Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday.

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

Bernard John Pecha

PARSONS—Bernard John Pecha, 79, of Parsons, Kan., died Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, at Labette Health. He had been in failing health the past several years.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near Dennis, with military honors given by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The parish will recite the rosary at 7 p.m., Wednesday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends following the rosary.

Memorials are suggested to Operation Bright Touch or the Labette Health Foundation and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Louis Conger, Jr.

PARSONS—Louis Conger, Jr., 59, of Parsons, Kan., died Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, in the Emergency Room at Labette Health in Parsons.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call the funeral home at their convenience.