Jessica Runbery, 2009 Labette County High school graduate, and her two friends Christina Evans and Bailey Lewman, both 2010 Independence High School graduates, felt the need to help after a deadly tornado hit Joplin, Mo. on Sunday, May 22.
After hearing that they weren’t letting civil volunteers into Joplin they came up with a different plan. They started a Facebook event. The trio invited all of their friends and asked them to pass it on. The event invited everyone in the area to come to the Independence Wal-Mart and leave a donation with the girls. Read more

(Report from the May 23 meeting)
Spriggs Concrete, Oswego, received the bid of 40 cents square linear foot for low water crossings at the Monday, May 23 meeting.
IN OTHER ACTION at that meeting: Read more

The Great Plains Development Authority’s Board of Directors meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 26, 2011, has been CANCELLED.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is June 9, 2011 at the Parsons City Commission Room.
 

USD 506 Labette County has rescheduled the Eighth Grade Graduation ceremony for Thursday, May 26 at 8 p.m. at Harrison Auditorium.

The event was originally scheduled for May 24 was canceled due to approaching severe weather.

The parent sponsored dance for graduated eighth graders will follow as previously planned.

Area residents have carried dispirited looks on their faces this week in the wake of a monster tornado that ripped into Joplin last Sunday evening.
At press-time Tuesday evening, emergency officials in Joplin reported 117 deaths and hundreds of personal injuries, with over 2,000 buildings and houses destroyed or damaged.
The National Weather Service said the funnel that dropped to the ground in the Galena/Riverton vicinity and moved eastward across the south-central portion of Joplin was an EF-4, possibly an EF-5 at times. Read more

Many Memorial Day activities will be taking place in the area. The following is a list of services and flag raisings the public is invited to attend.
• The Chetopa VFW and Auxiliary will be putting out flags at the Oak Hill Cemetery on Friday, May 27 at 4 p.m. They would appreciate volunteers to help put the flags up and also take them down on Friday, June 3 at 4 p.m. Read more

The Labette County High School Commencement will be on Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. in Harrison Auditorium.
The Processional will be under the direction of Scott Allison. Then the Choraleers and Music Company will perform.
Shane Holtzman will present the Dale Dennis Excellence in Education Award and KSHSAA Citizenship Award.
Principal Mary Anderson will recognize the valedictorians–Caleb Journot and Caleb Reynolds–before presenting the class of 2011 for the awarding of high school diplomas.
The Recessional (Pomp and Circumstance) will lead 134 graduates into the future.
See this week’s Labette Avenue for the complete listing of 2011 graduates.

Labette Community College held their annual Student Awards Ceremony Thursday, April 28th in Thiebaud Theatre. There were many awards given to individual students, as well as, student organizations.
Sixty five students were recognized as, “Who’s Who Among College Students.” This award honors students from universities and colleges, as well as junior colleges on a national level. The following list gives this year’s recipients. Read more

Labette Community College held their annual Student Awards Ceremony Thursday, April 28^th in Thiebaud Theatre. There were many awards given to individual students, as well as, student organizations.

Sixty five students were recognized as, “Who’s Who Among College Students.” This award honors students from universities and colleges, as well as junior colleges on a national level. Read more