Industrial park is the hope of replacing the plant’s activity

For the first time since World War II, the making of military ammunition has stopped. The Kansas Army Ammunition Plant officially closed with a brief ceremony last week during which an olive drab cover was placed over the installation’s red flag. About 75 people attended the event in the basement of the facility’s buildings located between Parsons and Oswego.
The shuttering of the KAAP was a part of the most recent congressional plan to close and reconfigure military bases.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” said Ruby Redmond, 85, who worked in personnel at the plant from 1951 until retiring in 1994.
The plant actually made its last bomb — a sensor-fused weapon that is capable of hitting multiple targets and dropped from aircraft — in December. The facility started producing munitions in 1942, when more than 7,000 employees built bombs and artillery rounds bound for Europe and the Pacific.
Redmond said the plant was its own city when she worked there, with thousands of employees working around the clock to build ammunition for the Korean and Vietnam wars.
“We pulled in people. We needed people,” she said.
The plant had 1,300 workers after the 1991 Persian Gulf War, but less than 300 when production stopped in December. Wages at the plant averaged more than $40,000, nearly twice the median salary in Labette County, one of the state’s lowest in per capita income.
Pentagon officials targeted the plant for closure in 2005 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process. Production was transferred to ammunition plants in Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Local officials did not fight the closure and had even started working toward converting the plant to industrial purposes before it made the BRAC list. An Army spokesman said Wednesday that the plant was the first of its installations from the 2005 BRAC to be deactivated, nearly a year ahead of schedule.
The Army expects to transfer the land to the new owners by the end of this year.
Day & Zimmermann Inc., which has run the plant for the Army since 1970, is buying 4,000 acres and two production lines with the hope of eventually landing a new munitions contract.
Great Plains Development Authority, created by local officials, will own about 3,000 acres. It plans to create an industrial park with highway and rail access and already has received some federal and state aid for the work.
“It’s not going to happen tomorrow, and it’s not going to happen in a year. But it’s going to start right now,” said Ann Charles, a former newspaper publisher and deputy director of the authority.
The ammunition plant was the only casualty in Kansas during the 2005 BRAC process. The state overall saw significant gains in military activity, including the return of the 1st Infantry Division to Fort Riley after 10 years in Germany.

For more information, see the March 11 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.

Andrea B. Batt

WELCH, Okla.—Andrea Beth Batt, 47, of Welch, Okla., died Tuesday, March 2, 2009.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, at First Christian Church, Miami, Okla. Arrangements are under the direction of Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Miami.

Thelma M. Collins

PARSONS—Thelma M. Collins, 80, of Parsons, Kan., died Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Faith United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery near Erie.

Memorials are suggested to Faith United Methodist Church and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home 112 N. 26th, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Twila D. Maxton

COLUMBUS—Twila D. Maxton, 86, of Columbus, Kan., died Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Columbus, following a period of illness.

Graveside funeral services will be 1 p.m., Tuesday, at the Park Cemetery with Rev. Dennis Johnson officiating. Family and friends will gather at the Murdock Funeral Home at noon for a time of visitation before proceeding on to the cemetery as a group.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Hospice with Murdock Funeral Home, 132 E. Pine, Columbus, KS  66725 acting as custodian. Condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhomes.com.

Lloyd L. Youel

PARSONS—Lloyd L. Youel, 92, of Parsons, Kan., died at 9:10 a.m., Monday, March 9, 2009, at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The family suggests memorials to either the First Presbyterian Church or the Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Fund.

Ruth Marie Hinman

PARSONS—Ruth Marie Hinman, 81, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, March 7, 2009, at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 12, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Gandy Cemetery, rural Galena, Kan. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.

The Labette County High School men’s basketball team had its season come to a close on Saturday by losing to the Girard Trojans, 45-41, in the finale of the class 4A sub-state tournament in Chanute.

More details of the game will be printed in the March 11 edition of the Labette Avenue.

Paul Harvey mastered the art of staying within the framework of common sense. His daily news and commentary broadcasts will be missed following his passing last weekend at the age of 90.
His programs were punctuated by grammatical perfection and he utilized a technique that was unique to himself — dead air space, sometimes lasting as long as five full seconds. Those were the times when he needed to make a point and wanted everyone to listen. Something important, something funny, something unexpected was about to emerge from his deep baritone vocal chords.
Listeners were never disappointed.
Radio station KGGF in Coffeyville carried his program at 12:30 p.m. for 50 years and the post-WWII generation thought of him as golden.
During an occasional absence in his later years, other announcers including his own son would pitch-hit for the old man. Bill Kurtis and Gill Gross filled in for an ailing Paul Harvey in 2001, then he surprised everyone and made a complete comeback.
His feature, “The Rest of the Story,” became folklore as a one-liner, often picked up by after-dinner speakers, pastors and politicians. But nobody could tell a story like Paul Harvey did.
He was believable, sometimes controversial but always friendly in his spinning of the events of each day, always highlighted by oddities that seemingly were overlooked by news reporters on regular beats.
He started each program with the line “Hello Americans …” and concluded with: “Paul Harvey … good day!”
And he was right.
Each day can be considered good, and for the past half century, Paul Harvey can be credited for helping such days along.
— Rudy Taylor, publisher

Rodney Fleming, a Labette County High School senior, was notified last Saturday that he won the state level “Elks National Foundation’s Most Valuable Student Competition.”
The award guarantees Rodney of $4,000 in scholarships ($1,000 for four years) and advances him to the national level of competition that will place him in the running to win a $60,000 scholarship.
The national level takes the top 500 applicants from across the nation and narrows them to a final winner.
Tony Nash, local representative for the Elks Scholarship Program, along with Paula Ash of the Kansas Association of Elks Scholarship Program, said this was the first time anyone from the Parsons Elks Lodge has made it to the national level.
Nash said this program is very competitive and required Rodney to spend many hours of preparation, combining a portfolio that gives an overview of the applicant’s accomplishments, achievements, leadership, community service, letters of recommendation, photos and an essay on an assignment topic.
“What a wonderful picture that his essay and portfolio painted of this young man,” said Nash. “His essay response hit home, as well.”
As a state level winner, Rodney will speak at a state meeting of the Elks  on Sunday, May 3.
He will be notified of his status in the national competition on March 15.
Stacy Smith, college orientation instructor at LCHS, commented, “I knew after reading his essay that Rodney was going to impress many with his view, but when we realized the magnitude of what he was in the running for, the room was ecstatic. He is truly deserving of this type of award.”
Rodney’s essay was on the subject of equality and the importance for society to exert a bit more effort in everything they do. “…we need to quit bringing other people, other countries, down and start building everything again from the ground up,” he wrote in the conclusion of his award-winning essay.
Rodney is the son of Rod and Denise Fleming and he plans to attend Syracuse University in New York with a major in public relations and broadcast journalism.

Sheriff William Blundell will have four new patrol cars since Labette County Commissioners approved the $111,422.47 purchase.
Columbus Ford received the low bid for four 2009 Crown Victoria cars at a cost of $23,385.64 each. The equipment, including light bars, pro-guard cage, console, patrol car video and vehicle striping, totals another $17,879.91.
The county pays one-third down ($37,140.82) out of jail housing funds, Blundell said. He was given approval to seek lease bids for the remaining two-thirds of the cost from local banking institutions. They would be financed for a two year term.
Current income for January was $27,915 and February $21,555 for jail housing, Blundell said.
Recently a van was sold on the Purple Wave Auction for $2,900. This money was put back into the general fund, Blundell said.
The patrol cars should take four to six weeks for delivery. The department is replacing two 2005’s, a 1999 and a 2003 patrol cars.
Commissioner Lonie Addis told Blundell to be aware that the general fund is hurting due to loss of interest and idle funds and they may need to work with him and the other departments accordingly.
IN OTHER ACTION at Monday’s meeting:
• The burn ban is still in effect; the situation has not changed. Written permission is needed for ag burning through the area fire chiefs.
• Approved a request from Dave Loiselle, appraiser, for field staff overtime while working on final reviews.
• Sandy Krider, road and bridge supervisor, received a signature on a request for a construction project using recovery funds 2009 (stimulus package). This is ranked with south on Pratt to the ammunition plant road first at a cost of $332,000 with a county match of $100,000. Rank #2 would be on 24,000 Road east of Meade Road to 37th St., City of Parsons, for $542,000 with the county match of $100,000. Letters of support were given from Great Plains Industrial Park and the City of Parsons. The commissioners also drafted letters of support for these two projects. The roads would be milled and have a two inch overlay.
Krider said there are 17 counties included in this stimulus package.
• Laura Moore, grant administrator, was given pay request #8 approval for $6,977 for cash on hand on the Osage Township project in Dennis.
Moore gave an update on the Fire Department/Community Hall project at Dennis. She said the storm shelter has been completed and the red iron work will begin this week.
• Jim Cook, emergency coordinator, reminded commissioners that the Mitigation Plan will be posted on the county website Wednesday.
• Approved the amended contract with the City of Edna to patrol within the city limits at a cost of $20,400 per year. This was established in 1998, Sheriff Blundell said. It requires approximately 650 hours a year, or 54 hours a month safety protection.
• Monday, commissioner Brian Kinzie and counselor Fred Johnson were meeting with Cherokee and Crawford counties to discuss the coroner’s fee. “We will be able to present our concerns and questions. The coroner is appointed by the largest populated county (Crawford) and the other two counties set up the expense and we pay,” Johnson said.  There has been a very dramatic increase in the coroner’s fee, Commissioner Addis added.
• A Class B liquor license was granted to Parsons Golf and Restaurant.
• The next commission meeting will be March 9 at 9 a.m.

By Andy Taylor
LABETTE AVENUE

A Labette County native and resident will be in Lawrence on Saturday night to accept induction into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.
Vernon Sandusky of Edna will represent the band Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats, which is among the inductees for the hall’s class of 2009. Sandusky was one of the original members of the four-man group, which got its start in Coffeyville in 1957.
Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats made a meteoric rise in the rock n’ roll scene — cutting their teeth in dance halls and bars in Montgomery and Labette counties before getting a contract to perform as the backup group to rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson in 1958.
“Jim Halsey made the call to Bobby Poe that he needed a group to perform for Wanda Jackson,” said Sandusky from his Edna home on Monday night. “Our group was known for being among the originators of the rockabilly sound. So, it was a good move. But, let me tell you: traveling with Wanda Jackson was a pretty big deal for a kid from the sticks. We went all over the country with Wanda. We made a pretty big jump — from the Casa Del in South Coffeyville to playing on stage with Wanda Jackson in California.”
With Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats on stage, Wanda Jackson belted out a unique sound that put her on course to being a diva of rock n’ roll. “Let’s Have A Party” was her signature song, which her boyfriend, Elvis Presley, encouraged her to record with the Poe-Kats serving as the background musicians.
However, by 1960, Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats were going in different directions. Big Al Downing went on his own road into country music. Sandusky started a group called The Chartbusters which had Poe as its manager and co-producer. Ironically, The Chartbusters were considered a big hit during the British Invasion era of rock n’ roll. The group had a chart-soaring hit — “She’s The One” — that was a top 40 climber in 1964 and got the group ample airtime on AM radio across the nation. “She’s The One” was recorded for a whopping $45 in a Washington, D.C., studio . . . but that album sold more than 1 million singles — putting the Poe-led Sandusky band in the same level of stardom as Elvis and the Beatles.
The group even performed on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand,” where they temporarily stole the spotlight from other British Invasion groups, such as the Rolling Stones.
However, when the British music wave was over, the Chartbusters were relegated to AM radio’s dust bin. Sandusky went on to become a guitarist for country music star Roy Clark. Poe went on to manage other groups and also entered the world of publishing as the originator of “Bobby Poe’s Pop Music Survey.” Those surveys evolved into an annual convention of country and pop music celebrities, who wined, dined and played golf in benefit tournaments. Those Poe-led conventions and annual parties were a must-go for musicians and celebrities in the music industry before Poe finally retired in 1994.
Poe wanted to live a quiet life when he retired to Grove, Okla., 15 years ago. While he has maintained contact with former musicians and friends in the music industry, he has spent recent months facing the biggest battle of his life: throat cancer.
The reason Sandusky will accept the award at Saturday’s hall induction ceremony on behalf of the band is because Poe will not be in attendance. The one-time musician can no longer carry a tune, let alone speak. His gravelly, gurgling voice is an entire galaxy from the smooth baritone who belted out “Rock and Roll Record Girl” 50 years ago.
And, the throat cancer he now endures is the result of inhaling fumes in smoke-filled concert halls and dance clubs for many years. Poe says he is a victim to second-hand smoke. He never smoked a cigarette during his years as a rock n’ roller. He didn’t need to, he said. Those countless days and nights spent in dance halls, honkytonks, and private clubs turned into months and years. And, the endless cycle of performing in smoky concert halls forced Poe to inhale everyone else’s cigarette smoke.
Poe says he is saddened that he cannot make Saturday’s hall induction ceremony.
“I can’t talk much, and I can’t sing,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’m afraid I would be an embarrassment.”
But an embarrassment is not what the board of directors of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame thought when they named Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats to be among the Kansas-bred musicians to enshrined into the hall for 2009. Instead, they chose music groups whose style of music opened new doors and new genres.
Ironically, Saturday night’s hall of fame induction also will include the enshrinement of Jim Halsey, the Independence native who signed Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats to their first big deal as Wanda Jackson’s backup group in 1958. Halsey will be inducted into the hall for his 50-plus years as a country music manager. During his career, Halsey has led such performers as Roy Clark, The Judds, Reba McEntire, Clint Black, James Brown, Roy Orbison and more. Halsey also continues his 35-year management relationship with the Oak Ridge Boys. In his later careers, Halsey has put his work into education by establishing a music and entertainment business program at Oklahoma City University.
Another group with Labette County roots also will be enshrined in the hall on Saturday night. The Sensational Showmen included members from the Parsons and Pittsburg areas and will be in attendance at the induction ceremony.
Also to be honored at the event or inducted into the music hall will be Lee McBee, Lawrence; Danny Cox, Kansas City; The Dinks, Beloit; Shooting Star, Kansas City; Billy Spears, Lawrence; The Young Raiders, Lawrence; and The Serfs, Lawrence/Wichita.

For more information, see the March 4 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.

Helen H. Stine

EDNA—Helen H. Stine, 96, of Edna, Kan., passed from this life to her heavenly home on Monday, March 2, 2009, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.

The memorial service will be Saturday, March 7, at 10 a.m. at the Edna United Methodist Church, and burial will be in the North Edna Cemetary. Visitation will be Friday, March 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the church.

Memorials to the Edna United Methodist Church, the Edna Volunteer Fire Department, or the Edna Public Library can be sent to the David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 N. Cline, Coffeyville, KS, 67337.
Helen was born Nov. 22, 1912 in Chetopa, Kan., to Henry Michael and Cora (Crane) Hahn. She had an older sister, Mildred, and a younger brother, Wilbur; both preceded her in death.

Helen and her family moved from Chetopa to a farm west of Bartlett in her early childhood. She attended grade school at Lake Creek School, which was close to the family home. She was a 1930 graduate of Labette County Community High School.

On May 14, 1938, she married Donald Edward “Snoox” Stine  in Oswego. They made their home on the Stine family farm east of Edna. Their ranching and farming operation specialized in deferred fed steers and for many years they operated their own feedlot.  Snoox preceded Helen in death on Aug. 3, 1997. They had one daughter, Jane Burnett, of Edna.

Helen was a member of the Edna United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She served her church as president of the official board, president of the UMW, and she held many other positions through the years. Her handwork was always a popular item at the annual church bazaar. Her cutwork pillowcases and embroidered tea towels were of the finest quality. She was one of the ladies of the church who pieced and quilted numerous quilts. She spent many hours at this activity both at the church and in her home.

She was one of the charter members of the Edna Civic Organization, ECOs. She served as president of this organization and held several other offices. This group established the Veteran’s Honor Roll Board and flagpole beside the old post office, which is a landmark in Edna. Helen worked in the various fund raising projects of the organization and made many batches of noodles for the annual beef and noodle dinners.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Cunningham Chapter No. 239, Edna. Helen held all of the offices in that organization and also served as a District Aid.

For over 20 years, she served her community as a charter member and treasurer of Edna Rural Rental Housing, Inc. This organization was responsible for the building and operation of Golden Homes, an independent living facility for senior citizens in Edna.

Helen was always very involved in the activities in Jane’s life and served as sewing project leader for the Leib 4-H Club from 1954-1958.

She was a member of the Tuesday Afternoon Study Club, which was affiliated with the Federated Women’s Clubs of America. She held various offices in the club.

Serving her community was very important to Helen. She was the local fund raising chairman for the American Cancer Society for many years.

For over 75 years, Helen was an active member in the local camp of the Royal Neighbors of America.
Helen’s yard was a display of the evidence of her green thumb.  Flowers, particularly roses, were her delight. For many years, she grew a garden and canned the produce for her family. In her later years, she and Grace Carroll enjoyed planting flowers, trees, and gardens together.  There is still a small strawberry patch at her house.

Other hobbies Helen enjoyed at different times in her life were bowling, playing cards, creating beautiful ceramic pieces, sewing, and cooking delicious meals for family and friends who often visited her home. She and Snoox had a gift of hospitality and visitors always felt welcome. Her lemon pie was a favorite of many at the church dinners, and members of her family looked forward to the angel food cakes she baked for their birthdays.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Jane Burnett, and son-in-law, Gilbert Burnett, of Edna; her grandson, Gregg Burnett, his wife, Lisa, and their children, Maci and Max, of Evergreen, Colo.; her granddaughter, Michelle Henry, her husband, Troy, and their children, Ashley, Victoria, Morgan, Michael, and Matthew, of Greenville, Texas; her nephew, Michael Hahn and his wife, Nancy; her sister-in-law, Eloise Hahn, of Bartlett; and her niece, Juanita Nunnallee, of rural Welch, Okla.; and a host of family and friends.

Betty Jo Ewers

CHETOPA—Betty Jo Ewers, 81, of Chetopa, Kan., formerly of Wichita, died at 1 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2009, at the Oswego Community Hospital.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 4, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. Friends may call after 10 a.m., Wednesday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

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.

Betty was born Feb. 19, 1928, in Selman, Okla., to James Joseph and Sylvia Ester (Warner) Dixon. She was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

She and Robert W. Ewers were married May 3, 1953, in Chetopa. In 1954, they moved to Wichita where her husband was employed in construction until his retirement. He preceded her in death March 30, 2001.

Following her husband’s death, she returned to Chetopa to be near family. In earlier years, she attended and was a member of the Baptist Church in Wichita. Through the years, she enjoyed bowling and participating in numerous tournaments, doing yard work and being a homemaker.

Those surviving are a sister, Ruth Coonley, Aurora, Ill.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Marguarette Baunhofer-Davis and Dorothy Rupenthal; and one brother, Loren Dixon.

Glen R. Bozman

CENTER, Colo.—Glen R. Bozman, 67, of Center, Colo., formerly of Edna, Kan., died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009, at St. John Medical Center, in Tulsa, Okla.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, at the United Methodist Church in Edna. Burial will be in Edna Elm Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Friday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to the Edna United Methodist Church or the Center, Colo., Fire Department. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325,Altamont, KS 67330.

Derek Mosier

PARSONS—Derek Mosier, 20, of Parsons, Kan., died early Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, in Parsons.

Further obituary information and service arrangements will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Charles W. Johnson

OLATHE—Charles W. Johnson, 57, of Olathe, Kan., formerly of Columbus, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus, with Roger Beason of the First Christian Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Park Cemetery. Family and friends may leave condolences at www.murdockfuneralhomes.com.

James Douglass “Doug” Van Houten

COLUMBUS —James Douglass “Doug” Van Houten, 58, of Columbus, Kan., died at 6:15 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 at his daughter’s home.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Monday, March 2, at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 104 W. Main St., Weir, Kan., with Pastor Justin Coberley officiating. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery in rural Weir, with military rites given by the Ft. Riley Funeral Honor Detail Team. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Friends may call the funeral home after 6 p.m. on Sunday. E-mail condolences may be left at  www.bathnaylor.com.

The family suggests expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorials to Hannah’s Educational Fund. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Weir and /or the Commerce Bank of Columbus.

Grace Elizabeth Bollman

LOWELL, Kan.—Grace Elizabeth Bollman, 100, formerly of Edna Kan., died Wednesday morning, February 25, 2009 at Quaker Hill Nursing Center, Lowell, Kan.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 27, at Elm Christian Church, east of Edna. Interment will follow in North Edna Cemetery, under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, Coffeyville. Visitation is Thursday until 8 p.m. at the funeral home and family will be on hand to receive guests from 6 to 8 p.m.