Spirited poltical races across the country will draw to a head next Tuesday, Nov. 2, as voters go to the polls for the general election.
Republicans are hopeful that polls showing their party might take over the majority role in both houses of Congress, bolstered by Tea Party candidates across the nation. Even in area and state races, the Tea Party influence is being felt. Read more

Labette County Fair Board officers were elected at their Oct. 20 meeting. Bill Chapman, Mark Johnston, Dusty Moses, Rick McKinzie, Kyle Zwahlen (not pictured). See complete story in this week’s Labette Avenue.

The recent shark attack which killed 19-year-old Lucas Ransom near Vandenberg Air Force Base in California generated worldwide sympathy for the young man and his family. Two former Oswego residents, Jeff Rupert and Michael Province, both 2003 Oswego High School graduates and former lifeguards at the Oswego Pool, worked as lifeguards alongside Ransom at a municipal swimming pool in Murrieta, CA.
Rupert, Ransom and another guard worked together in 2007 to rescue a five-year-old boy who was found floating in the pool, performing CPR and saving the boy’s life. The three guards were recognized with awards by the City of Murrieta for their heroic efforts.
In coverage of the shark attack, NBC’s Today Show interviewed Rupert for insights into the character of Ransom, who was a competitive swimmer as well as a lifeguard. On Monday, Rupert recalled on-air the rescue they performed:
“Lucas was a hero that day. He administered rescue breathing and saved the young boy’s life,” he said. “He was just a genuine good person to be around.”
Province was assistant manager at the California pool when Ransom was a new guard there. Read more

Commercial Hot Air Balloon Pilot Tim Billingsly from Carrollton, Ga., took his sister Joann Pursley, Chetopa and stepfather Ron Wylie, Bartlett, for a morning balloon flight over Chetopa Thursday. They flew for about an hour and landed in a field not far from the river. The weather was accommodating with multi-directional winds at different altitudes not exceeding 8 mph. A soft landing, champagne and a ceremony topped off the flight along with a beautiful sunrise. Tim Billingsly’s wife Jorie and brother Mike Billingsly, Chetopa, performed ground operations and with radio communications easily retrieved the balloon upon landing.

For more information, see the Oct. 27, 2010, 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.

Read more

Tristan Johnston, son of Nick and Stacey Johnston of Parsons, holds
one of the gourds raised at Service Valley Charter Academy for the fall
season. The students sold the gourds as a fundraiser.
Photo by Rena Russell

Surplus sale brings in $20,950

A STEP (Special Traffic Enforcement Program) participation with Kansas Department of Transportation was signed at the Monday’s county commission meeting.

Sheriff William Blundell told the commission that this allows overtime pay on seat belt “click it or ticket” program. Sheriff Blundell said that the county had a check for $20,950 on a recent sale of surplus vehicles on Purple Wave Auction. It will be divided up within three departments that contributed to it.

See this week’s Labette Avenue for the complete story.

The Bartlett United Methodist Church will host its annual Steak and Turkey Supper on Saturday, Oct. 23.

The menu includes the choice of smothered steak or turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans or corn, salad, roll, drink, and homemade pie. Serving will begin at 5 p.m., at the church located on the south side of Bartlett.
The public is invited to attend.

A special meeting was called Monday, Oct. 18 for USD 504, with action taken on the agreement to resolve issues concerning the ballfield document.
This agreement was between USD 504 and the City of Oswego. Action was also taken to authorize the transaction of Qualified Zone Academy Bonds to finance the ballfield project.
Terry Karlin, Superintendent, will contact the architect, Cline, Shaffer and Warren and proceed with the project as quickly as possible.