City, school and community college elections are set for Tuesday, April 7, in Labette County. No primary election was required for this year’s local elections.
Chetopa City: Three city council positions will be decided with Matthew R. Kirkwood and Shawn A. Shoemaker running in Ward 1 and George W. Huber running in Ward 2. Debra R. Crumrine is the only candidate in Ward 3. Each is a four-year term.
On the Oswego City Council, Glenn Fischer, Ty Lewis and Jane D. Rea are running for the three at-large positions. Each is a four-year term.
Altamont voters will elect their mayor and two city council members. Running for mayor are Chris Allen and Herbert Bath. Competing for the two council seats are Glen Bruce, Dru Parlett and Mary Shields.
In Bartlett, Bob Pursley is the only candidate for mayor and voters will elect five members of the council. There were none filing for council.
Edna voters will elect three council members and there were two filing: Daniel W. Baker and Kaci Mellen.
In Labette City, a mayor and five council members will be elected. There were no filings for these seats.
In Mound Valley, Joe M. Ybarra is the lone candidate to file for mayor. Two council seats will be determined by voters with the following candidates filing: Ken McNickle, Steve Spencer and Allen Winters.
For school board positions in southern Labette County, the following races will be on the April 7 ballots:
USD 504 - Oswego: Three positions will be chosen with the following candidates on the ballot: Mark A. Brannin, Kim Kitterman, Steven L. Lewis, Charlotte Merwarth, Lewis “Skip” Riley and Roger Vance.
In USD 505 - Chetopa: Three positions will be chosen by voters with the following candidates on the ballot: Member 4 - Kandi Midgett, Chetopa; Member 5 - Cindy Johnson, Chetopa; Sandy Krider, Chetopa; Member 6 - Patricia Houser, St. Paul; Member 6 - Mark E. Smith, St. Paul.
In USD 506 - three positions will be determined in the election with the following candidates: Pos. 4 - Kelly Schulze, Parsons; Pos. 5 - Doyle Dodsworth and Ronda Good, both of Altamont, and Kyle Hess, Mound Valley; Pos. 6 - Leon E. Allen, Oswego, and Jennifer Mathes, Bartlett.
For the Labette Community College Board of Trustees, three positions will be decided with the following candidates: Robert E. Brandenburg, Mike Howerter, Wanda L. Ladage, David L. Miller and Sophia C. Zetmeir, all of Parsons.
A countywide sales tax question will be on the ballot: “Shall a countywide one-percent retailer’s sales tax be extended (retained) for a period of five years from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2016, all pursuant to the provisions of KSA 12-187 et seq? for the purpose of property tax reductions?”
Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on April 7.

Day & Zimmermann, Inc., is currently putting together two proposals for continued ammunition-making projects at the Great Plains Industrial Park located between Parsons and Oswego.
The company is bidding on a large contract but officials says it will be some time before the successful bidder is chosen by the Department of Defense.
There are also other contracts open for competitive bidding and D&Z needs to adapt its material production with known demands in munitions.
The U.S. Army left some equipment behind when it decommissioned the KAAP, because D&Z had expressed interested in using some of it.
Although production for D&Z is currently at a standstill, the company is still operating under a contract to provide caretaker services for the Army through the remainder of the transfer process of the plant to the Great Plains Development Authority.
GPDA deputy director Ann Charles is working on the process of assuring the industrial park with rail service.
She said at last week’s public meeting that she had received verbal assurance that the Union Pacific Railroad would work with the industrial park to provide rail lines. She emphasized the importance of such lines in locating new industries.
Scott Road, which is the main tributary road to the entrance of the industrial park, will be overlaid soon with asphalt after final bids and specifications are approved.
Charles said the plan is for GPDA to mill and overlay one eighth of a mile of Southern Street, providing an attractive entry to that end, in addition to a third sign being installed announcing entrance to the Great Plains Industrial Park.
Brian Kinzie, ex-officio member and Labette County Commissioner, said the county has applied for Southern to be overlaid to Pratt Road with funds possibly coming from the $4 million stimulus which the Kansas Department of Transportation is providing to a 17-county area. Kinzie said the cost of the project in Labette County would be $432,000 with the county providing a $100,000 local match.
Also last week the GPDA, executive director Dan Goddard gave a report on acquiring land in the former KAAP site, pending approval by the Environmental Protection Agency and other appropriate agencies.
Significant cleanup of properties has already taken place, and majority of the land has no environmental problems, but there still are buildings, land and equipment that will need cleared before they can be transferred to the GPDA.
Over the next two months, contractors will be removing contaminated dirt from an old pistol range. Goddard said there is a 50/50 chance that private contractors from this region might be utilized rather than those requiring certification by the U.S. Army.
The cost of the land conveyance has yet to be determined.

A lending institution was selected at the Labette County Commission meeting Monday to finance two-thirds cost of four patrol cars.
Chetopa State Bank was the low bid to finance $74,781.65 for two years. The payments would be $39,294.23 at an interest rate of 3.49 percent. Low bid repayment was $78,588.46. Total cost will be $111,422.47.
This lease purchase is for four Crown Victoria patrol cars.
IN OTHER ACTION at Monday’s meeting:
• Signed a contract with Mound Valley for deputy police patrol for 51.66 hours a month at $16 per hour.
• Sheriff William Blundell, 911 Supervisor Brandy Grassl and Emergency Management Director Jim Cook discussed the burning regulations and requirements.
The  county-wide burn ban was lifted last Thursday at a special meeting by the commissioners. They advised that if you are going to burn to call the non-emergency telephone number in Oswego 620-795-2565 or in Parsons 620-421-1400. You are urged to call one of these numbers and notify dispatch that you will be burning.
• Noxious Weed Director Dennis Martin and Dale Goedeke will bring back bid specifications for a vehicle request at the next meeting.
• Brock Sutherland, William Mahoney and Rod Landrum of Labette Health discussed with the commission the next planned project: Rector Diabetes Education & Resource Center. With collaboration and support from the project’s medical director, Parsons pediatrician Dr. Manish Dixit, and Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, the Rector Diabetes Education and Resource Center will serve as a national model for future rural health and education initiatives, said Labette Health President and CEO William Mahoney. A group checked students from five area grade schools and found that 31.9 percent are overweight or obese, which can lead to diabetes. This center would help to educate students, teachers, nurses, doctors, etc., deal with diabetes with traininng.
“It  would be like Greenbush is to the area school  institutions. This education center would be the rural model for others to copy helping rural people with diabetes. This is the only rural model  in the United States,” William Mahoney said.
“This new facility would put Parsons on the map. It could change the behavior and reduce Type 2 diabetes,” Mahoney said.
When their grandson, Rhett, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four years ago, Jacque and Kelly Rector looked in vain for detailed information about his condition. Because of their frustration, a donation was made for a new Labette Health facility bearing their name which will serve as a resource for area diabetics and their families as well as health-care professionals, educators and the community.
Thanks to the Rector family’s generosity, Labette Health can now create a rural model that is effective not only in educating people about diabetes, but hopefully providing an example that can be duplicated in rural areas throughout the country.
The Rectors have been involved in selecting colors, carpet samples, etc., Rod Landrum said.
The new 2,400 sq. ft. facility will be located on the northwest corner of the Labette Health campus, Brock Sutherland said.
The commissioners approved the new project. The county is the owner of the ground where the Labette Health facilities are located in Parsons. “It’s nice to see the Rectors step up and do this,” Commissioner Lonie Addis said. It is a great project.
A groundbreaking ceremony is set for Thursday, April 2.

Cheri Peine, MMC, City Clerk, City of Oswego, has been selected as the 2009 Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year for the State of Kansas.
The award was announced at the 59th Annual City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association (CCMFOA) Spring Conference in Wichita on March 12.
Peine will be recognized for this achievement and presented with a plaque in recognition of her accomplishments at the League of Kansas Municipalities Conference in Topeka this October.
Cheri Peine began her career with the City of Oswego 31 years ago and has served as City Clerk for the past 24 years. She is a 31-year member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), achieving her Certified Municipal Clerk certification and recently achieving the prestigious Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) certification.
Cheri is a member of the Midwest Assistance Program (MAPS), KSGFOA, KS Rural Water Association, Municipal Court Clerk’s Association, Oswego Chamber of Commerce and Oswego Community & Parks Foundation. She is also a Certified Grant Administrator from the State of Kansas.         Cheri is on the Board of Directors of CCMFOA and took over the gavel as President of this organization the same day she was awarded City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year. She has worked tirelessly for the City of Oswego and is an integral part of the community. The face of the City of Oswego would be different without her influence over the past 24 years, according to her Governing Body and co-workers.
This award is presented each year to a Kansas City Clerk or Finance Officer who has made significant contributions to the State association, the profession and to their city. The award was named in honor of Mildred Vance, former auditor and City Clerk/Finance Officer for the City of Parsons, who served her community proudly from 1948 to 1988. Mildred was instrumental in developing and promoting professional education programs for city clerks and finance officers at the state and national levels and was one of the first 100 clerks to receive the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation in 1972. Mildred strongly believed that city clerks and finance officers should contribute to their communities and she unselfishly gave of her time and talents in church, community and civic activities.
To be eligible for the award nominees must be a current Kansas City Clerk or Finance Officer who has held the position for at least 3 years, be a member of CCMFOA for at least three years, and have attained the status of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) or have received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting.
Nominations may be submitted by fellow City Clerks, Mayors, Council members, City Managers/Administrators, or fellow employees.

Tori Carter, Sophomore at Oswego High School, is participating in a People to People program founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. This summer, Tori will be going to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to learn leadership skills and about the the cultures of students from other countries.
The objective of the program is to promote international understanding while building leadership skills among America’s youth. The 19-day experience includes meetings with government officials, interaction with other students her age, educational activities, and home stays with host families.
President Eisenhower believed that if people from different cultures could come together in peace and friendship, so eventually would countries. Since its founding, People to People has launched many international programs, including Sister Cities and Project HOPE.
Tori’s trip will cost $7,000 total. She has completed several fundraisers to finance her trip. Those include: baking and delivering pies at Thanksgiving, selling handpicked pecans, cooking and selling an original recipe of apple butter, making and selling concrete bird baths/feeders from elephant ear leaves, participating in the craft show at the Chetopa Pecan Fest and the Edna craft show, selling chances on a $100 bill and a handmade quilt, compiling and publishing a Carter family cookbook.
Her next fundraiser will be a roast pork dinner on Saturday, March 21, at the Oswego Community Building starting at 5 p.m. The meal will include: pulled pork with barbeque sauce on the side smoked by Dusty Moses, her  cousin, baked beans made by Steve Blackledge, her uncle, potato salad, desert, drinks of coffee, iced tea or water. Donations will be accepted.
An auction will be held at 6 p.m. of various items.
Tori is the daughter of Bob and Ruth Marie Carter, granddaughter of Patty and Terry Walker and Bob and Wilma Carter, all of Chetopa.

Ball  & Claw Auction in downtown Oswego is back to serving as an auction house this time for the Ross Auction Service.
This Saturday, March 21, at 5:45 p.m. you can bid on a variety of guns, anvils, antiques, furniture, collectibles and mounts.
Cody Ross became an auctioneer in July of last year. His wife, Jamie, helps with the auction service. Cody is the son of Larry and Phyllis (Fulkerson) Ross of Oswego.
Ross also takes consignment auctions the first and third Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. at the old “Center Creek Feed” building located on highway 171, between Webb City and Carl Junction in Missouri. He handles antiques, collectibles, furniture and tools, etc.
To consign, contact Ross at 620-529-4416; “we take almost anything,” he said.
The Assembly of God youth will be offering refreshments.
Ball & Claw Auction is located at 717 Fourth St. in Oswego in the former theater building. The Ball & Claw Auction is well known for its antique furniture and collectibles throughout the United States.
The Rosses invite you to come out to their auction this Saturday and get acquainted. Watch for next auction date in this newspaper.

For more information, see the March 18 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.

Jack E. Mosler

GROVE, Okla.—Jack E. Mosler, 82, of Grove, Okla., passed away Saturday, March 14, 2009, at St John’s Medical Center in Joplin, Mo.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, in the Murdock Funeral Chapel in Oswego with Rev. David Shrum officiating. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Oswego. Memorials may be made to Grove Integris Home Health or Grand Lake Humane Society with the Murdock Funeral Home, 203 Illinois, Oswego, KS 67356 serving as custodian. Condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhomes.com.

Jack was born Sept. 29, 1926, in Chetopa, Kan., the son of Vernie and Frances Isabel (Silkey) Mosler. He farmed in Cherokee County, worked for Freeto Construction Co, Layton Oil Co and retired from KAAP in 1993.

Jack married Wilma “Billie” Raetz on  June 5, 1949, in the Labette Methodist Church in Labette. The couple would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 5, 2009.

He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed  camping, traveling and fishing.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Elva Shrum, and two brothers, Leonard and George.

Those surviving are his loving wife, Billie, and pet  “Heidi” of the home in Grove; two daughters, Jacqueline Caywood and husband Don of Parsons, Kan.; and Lori Ann Shryock and husband Brent of Augusta, Kan.; three sons, Dennis Mosler and wife Shelley of Owasso, Okla., Douglas Mosler of Grove; and Daniel Mosler of Fairland, Okla.; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mabel Brannin of Oswego; a sister-in-law, Marguerite Mosler of Hallowell; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Lillian V. Korinek

OSWEGO–Lillian V. Korinek, 91, of Oswego, Kan., passed away Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Presbyterian Manor in Parsons.

Graveside funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, at Oswego Cemetery with Rev. Tom Heflin officiating. Interment will follow in the Oswego Cemetery. Visitation will be 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, in the Murdock Funeral Home, 203 Illinois, Oswego.

Memorials may be made to the Girls and Boys Town, P.O. Box 6000, Boys Town, NE 68010.

Lillian was born July 2, 1917, in Black Wolf, Kan., the daughter of Charles and Anna (Homolka) Kroboth. She married Charles Korinek on July 26, 1939. The couple lived in Ellsworth, Abilene, and Ft. Scott, before moving to Oswego. She was a member of the the Willowdale Methodist Church Talmage, Kan.

She enjoyed sewing and being involved with her grandchildren and family.

Those surviving are three sons, Arthur and wife Nancy of Oswego; Eldon and wife Pam of Ft. Scott; and Arnold of Oswego; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Preceding Lillian in death were her husband and two sisters.

Ralph Dean Olinger

PARSONS—Ralph “Dean” Olinger, 70, of Parsons, Kan., Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Freeman Heart Institute in Joplin, Mo.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 19, at Harrison Cemetery, rural Thayer.

Arrangements are under the direction of Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Mary Maxine Myers

COLUMBUS—Mary Maxine Myers, 87, of Columbus, Kan., died Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Columbus. Burial will be in City Cemetery, Columbus. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Harold L. Parsons

PARSONS—Harold L. Parsons, 101, of Parsons, Kan., died Monday, March 9, 2009, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, at Faith United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends at Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Memorials are suggested to Faith United Methodist Church.

Jane Mawhiney Warbinton

ANTHONY—Jame M. Warbinton, 83, of Anthony, Kan., formerly of Altamont, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, at Wichita.

Funeral services were held Feb. 9 at the First Congregational Church in Anthony. Burial was in Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony.

Memorials may be given to the First Congregational Church or to Country Living and may be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.

Susan Carol (Watts) Duncan

ANTHONY—Susan Carol (née Watts) Duncan, 63, of Anthony, Kan., died March 13, 2009, at her home, after a courageous battle with cancer. In addition to many other family members, she is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Faye Watts, Oswego.

Catholic Services were held Wednesday, March 18, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Danville, (Harper County) Kan., of the St. Joan of Arc Parish Community, with Recitation of Rosary at 1:30 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 2 p.m., all with Father Michael Peltzer officiating. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery, Danville, Kan.

Memorials in memory of Susan may be given to the Sacred Heart Altar Guild, Anthony, or to the Shriner’s Orthopedic Hospital, St. Louis, Mo., and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, Inc., 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.

William “Bill” E. Taylor

COLUMBUS—William “Bill” E. Taylor, 78, of Columbus, Kan., died Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 19, at 11 a.m. at Murdock Funeral Home with Rev. Dennis Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Park cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 7 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Autumn Place, 301 S. East Ave, Columbus, KS 66725. Condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhomes.com.

Mary Alice Shears

PARSONS—Mary Alice Shears, 79, of Parsons, Kan., died Monday, March 16, 2009, at her home. She had been in failing health.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, at East Bethany Cemetery. Friends may call after 1 p.m., Wednesday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Judith Ann “Judy” Oler

PARSONS—Judith Ann “Judy” Oler, 65, a lifelong Parsons, Kan., resident, died  Monday, March 16, 2009, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery patio with the Rev. John Schaich officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to Faith United Methodist Church or the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Thomas M. Hollingsworth

PARSONS—Thomas M. Hollingsworth, 59, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday at the Labette Health Center in Parsons.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Penwell-Gabel of Independence was in charge of arrangements.