Brian Holderman, well known sports and news photographer in this area, will produce a series of photo pages for Labette Avenue, according to Rudy Taylor, publisher.
Holderman worked for many years as staff photographer for the Parsons Sun.
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Parsons man and several others from the Ottawa area have been sentenced to prison after being convicted of leading a southeast Kansas drug ring, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said Friday, April 24.

Carlton Coleman, 44, Parsons, received a sentence of 108 months in federal prison, and Steve Logan, 37, of Ottawa, Kan., received a 292-month sentence in federal prison. Angie Logan, 27, Ottawa, Kan., was sentenced to 1 year on federal probation.

Steve Logan, Carlton Coleman and Angie Logan were members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed crack cocaine and marijuana primarily in the Parsons area.

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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.

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.

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 July 23 edition of Labette Avenue. Previously posted death notices can be found by typing the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page.

Jerry D. Carson

PARSONS—Jerry D. Carson, 68, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at the Elmhaven East Nursing Home, where had had been the past few days. He had been in failing health. Carson is a retired Certified Public Accountant and current Labette County Commissioner.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Sharlyn Gates officiating. A eulogy will be given by Sen. Dwayne Umbarger. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday.

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

Larry L. Traxson

EDNA—Larry L. Traxson, 69, of rural Edna, Kan., died Sunday, July 20, 2008, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, July 24, at the Angola United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Richland Cemetery, rural Angola. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to National Kidney Foundation. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Velda Lovena Hittle

WICHITA—Velda Lovena Hittle, 101, of Wichita, Kan., formerly of Edna, died Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at Wichita Presbyterian Manor.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Edna United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in North Edna Cemetery in Edna.

Memorials are suggested to Edna United Methodist Church or the Presbyterian Manor in Wichita and can be sent to Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., P.O. Box 468, Coffeyville, 67337.

Mary Ellen Babcock

PARSONS—Mary Ellen Babcock, 96, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, July 15, 2008, at her home.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Hyde officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Pansy Waters Hulette

PARSONS—Pansy Waters Hulette, 90, of Parsons died at 12:09 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons, where she had resided since May 2005.

Following cremation, the family will hold a private burial at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons or a humane society of the donor’s choice and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

William H. ‘Bill’ Jungles

PARSONS—William H. “Bill” Jungles, 65, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at his home.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Altamont. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Community Foundation or to the American Cancer Society and may be left at the funeral home. Further obituary details will be announced.

Louise T. Parsons

COLUMBUS—Louise T. Parsons, 90, of Columbus, Kan., died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at the Medicalodge of Columbus.

Graveside services will be 10 am, Friday, July 18, at the Columbus City Cemetery with Greg Morrell officiating. Burial will follow. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery for the services. Friends may call at the funeral home at their convenience from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday or 8 a.m, until 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Columbus. These may be left at or mailed to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 610 S. East Ave. Columbus, KS 66725.

Kenneth G. Riley

PARSONS—Kenneth Grady Riley, 38, of Parsons, Kan., formerly of Neodesha, died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Christ Church in Neodesha with the Rev. Dave Cheshier officiating. Burial will be in Neodesha Cemetery.

Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel in Neodesha, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Edith J. Brumback

COLUMBUS—Edith Janene Brumback, 70, of Columbus, Kan., a former Berry Garment Factory employee, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus. Burial will be in Park Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday at the funeral home.

Virginia M. Lagle

COLUMBUS—Virginia M. Lagle, 66, of Columbus, Kan., passed away Thursday, July 17, 2008, at the Freeman Health Systems in Joplin, Mo.

Family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus, with the Pastor Susan Brey officiating. Burial will be in the Sherman City Cemetery, Sherman City, Kan.

Memorials may be left for the First United Methodist Church in Columbus and may be left at the Simpson Funeral Home.

Harriet A. Wheeler

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.—Harriet A. Wheeler, 72, of Oklahoma City, Okla., formerly of Parsons, Kan., died Friday, July 18, 2008, at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Harriet Rosenstahl.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, July 21, 2008 at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons is in charge of arrangements.

David K. Dean

PARSONS—David K. Dean, 51, of Parsons, Kan., died at 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2008, at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin.

Following cremation, funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m., Tuesday to sign the register book.

Fred E. Patton

PARSONS—Fred E. Patton, 69, of ParsonsKan., died Sunday, July 20, 2008, at Labette Health.

There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery Patio with the Rev. Lewis O. Smith officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.

Robert G. “Rob” Carson

PARSONS—Robert G. “Rob” Carson, 46, of Parsons, Kan., died in a drowning accident, Monday evening, July 21, 2008, near South Mound, Kan.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 25, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts will continue his annual listening tour of Kansas counties with a Labette County Town Hall Meeting in Parsons on Saturday, June 21, at 2:30 p.m., at Fazio’s Italian Ristorante in the Parsonian Hotel, 1725 Broadway, Parsons.

Senator Roberts will hear the thoughts and concerns of Kansans. The event is open to the media and the public.