BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

CANEY — Kevin McIntosh still can’t shake it from his memory.

Even 20 years later, it still bounces around like a spastic balloon deflating in mid-air.

When he walks into a high school gymnasium on a frosty winter night, his mind wanders back to the biggest game in the history of Caney Valley High School basketball.

When he sits through a close basketball game — be it elementary kids, junior high or high school — McIntosh will look around in hopes that an empty jersey will be laying around. He’ll be glad to jump into the threads and replay a pivotal moment in his life.

And, when he talks about the events surrounding the 1988-89 basketball season, this former Bullpup basketball player still shakes his head and wonders what might have been.

“We came so close . . . but just fell one game short,” said McIntosh, a Caney resident.

He then stares and thinks back to “the” game.

The result still feels like a punch in the gut.

Riverton 80, Caney Valley 68.

The final of the class 4A sub-state men’s basketball tournament.
Saturday, March 4, 1989.

The greatest season.

The toughest loss.

• • • •

For two consecutive seasons (1987 and 1988), the Caney Valley High School men’s basketball team was on course to competing in the class 4A state basketball tournament.

However, the Riverton High School men’s basketball team dashed each of those state tournament plans by beating Caney Valley in the class 4A sub-state tournaments in each of those two campaigns.

Such state tournament journeys have been rare in Caney. It has happened only twice: in 1960 and 1965. And, when Riverton ruined Caney Valley’s state tournament dreams, it felt like a momentary black eye. . . only to be followed by the familiar refrain, “We’ll try again next year.”

So, by the time the 1988-89 season rolled around (and the 1987 and 1988 season closers against Riverton were a far-away memory), attitudes were high in the Bullpup kingdom that Caney Valley would finally punch a ticket to the state’s biggest dance.

Those Bullpup fans didn’t just rely on good vibes and high hopes; they staked their claim on a talented Caney Valley team.

That “next year” team was finally on the Bullpup hardwoods.

Caney Valley’s head coach was Andy Metsker, a veteran skipper who had taken a team from Valley Falls, Kan., to a state tournament prior to his arrival in Caney Valley for the 1982-83 season. He came close to taking the Bullpups to several state tournament berths, only to fall in the finals of sub-state tournaments in 1985, 1987 and 1988.

Metsker knew he had a good thing at the start of the 1988-89 campaign. Three Bullpup seniors led the squad that included a batch of talented juniors and hungry sophomores. The seniors included much-decorated point guard Dean Campbell, post player and scoring machine Kevin McIntosh, and ultra-versatile guard/forward Shane Bowman. Added to the mix were salty juniors Bron Williams and J.D. Stephney while juniors Brian Allen, Sean McIntosh and Kevin Clark came off the bench. Among the sophomores on that squad were Mark Frye, Travis Freidline, Dustin Frank and Derek Messner.

Caney Valley opened the season with several victories and a championship trophy from the Caney Pre-Season Tournament, where the Bullpups defeated Labette County, 55-52, in that tournament finale. By the time the Neodesha Mid-Season Invitational Tournament arrived in mid-January, the Bullpups had a 9-0 resume, which was a big deal in Caney Valley but still did not garner any respect among state basketball pollsters.

That all changed at the Neodesha tournament when Caney Valley shocked Burlington, which was ranked fifth in class 3A, 76-65, to win the tournament championship.

Eyebrows were starting to raise. Pollsters started paying attention to the little school in the corner of Montgomery County. And, the bleachers at Caney Valley High School started to get more crowded with every home game.

Over the course of the next five games, Caney Valley went on a scoring explosion, putting 91 on the scoreboard against Columbus, 99 against Fredonia and 95 against Cherryvale.

More fans filled the bleachers. Pollsters started talking about Caney Valley in the same paragraphs as the state’s other top 4A teams. And, all eyes were focused on an upcoming class 4A sub-state tournament to be held on the Bullpups’ own hardwoods.

While Caney Valley looked invincible, they did survive a late-season hiccup. It occurred in the final regular season game when Caney Valley hosted Oswego. The Indians battled back from a 14-point deficit to command a two-point lead with 1:24 left on the clock. Forced to foul, Caney Valley was able to keep the game tight until McIntosh took a pass from Campbell with one second left on the clock to record a 55-54 victory and preserve Caney Valley’s first-ever perfect season: 20-0.

“That was one of the more memorable games of that season,” said Metsker, who left Caney Valley in 1990 and is now a principal at Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kan. “It was memorable not just because we won but because we didn’t play well in the second half. And, that was right before we were to host the sub-state tournament. So, we didn’t pick a good time to let down our guard. But, the guys proved to me that they wanted the victory. They got it.”

••••

Caney Valley entered the class 4A sub-state tournament as the number one seed, a perfect 20-0 record, and ranked fourth in class 4A. Right behind them in the tournament pairings was Riverton, which was seeded second and had an impressive record with only three losses.

The Bullpups devoured Fredonia in the opening round, 77-30, and then cruised past Circle-Towanda, 81-68, to advance the Bullpups to the tournament championship. Ironically, that win over the Thunderbirds gave Metsker his 100th career victory.

When it was clear that Riverton and Caney Valley would meet for a third consecutive year in a sub-state tournament, the eyes of eastern Kansas would focus on the crowded CVHS Gymnasium that cold night: March 4, 1989.

“I knew it was going to be a crowded gym when people started calling me immediately after the Circle-Towanda game,” said Metsker. “They wanted to know when they should start arriving in the gym just to get a seat. People were driving from all over to see that game against Riverton. I know of people who drove from Wichita and Emporia to see the game. If I only knew how far others drove to see it, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Metsker had some motivational tactics up his sleeve prior to the game. The coach had several graduates return to the Caney Valley lockerroom for a pre-game talk. Among the two grads was David Draper, a standout point guard who graduated from CVHS in 1985 and who had helped the Hutchinson Community College basketball team win the NJCAA national title in the 1987 season.

And, what did Draper use as chalkboard fodder?

Newspaper clippings from the 1985, 1987 and 1988 sub-state tournaments, showing how close Caney Valley came to earning state tournament berths before falling in defeat.

The other veteran player was Andy Allen, a senior on the 1987-88 team. Allen spent most of his senior season recuperating from a life-saving kidney transplant surgery. And, it was Allen who told the 1988-89 Bullpups about the heartache he and others had felt when denied a trip to state tournaments in previous seasons.

Win this game not just for yourselves but for all of the other Bullpups who have waited so eagerly to compete at the state level, Allen told the team.

With the newspaper clippings, the appearance of a national-caliber juco player, and the philosophical words from an organ transplant recipient, who could not help but to believe that destiny was fully in the hands of the Caney Valley Bullpups.

The team had a pre-game prayer, then opened the double doors leading to the raucous CVHS Gymnasium.

••••

Bowman remembers the atmosphere when the Bullpups took to the hardwoods for pre-game warm-ups.

“I had butterflys in my stomach,” he said. “The gymnasium was totally packed. Every seat was taken in the bleachers. The upstairs bleachers were totally filled, too. You couldn’t even hear yourself talk to the other players because it was so loud.”

And, in examining pictures taken during that game, the crowd conditions spilled over onto the staircases that led to the second-floor mezzanine. Those stairwells also were filled, leaving only a standing-room crowd to see that game.

“When John Heady made the pre-game introductions, we couldn’t hear him because it was so loud in that gym,” said Campbell, now an assistant basketball coach at Lonoke, Ark., which won the Arkansas state title in 2008. “We had to look at Heady, and he would point back to us whenever it was our time to be introduced. And, when we got back to the huddle, it was hard to even hear Coach Metsker.”

••••

Caney Valley opened the sub-state championship game on fire with a 7-0 scoring drive in the first six minutes of the first period.

The Caney Valley faithful — along with the converts they picked up along the season — were going nuts.

“I still get chills thinking about that first period,” said Campbell.

However, Riverton would flex its own muscle, rebounding from that deficit to command a 13-12 lead with two minutes to play in the first half.

Caney Valley would rebound to command a 23-20 lead before the Rams rallied prior to the halftime buzzer. The Rams’ 27-point drive in the second period would put the visitors on top of the scoreboard.

And, the Rams would never look back for the rest of the game.

Caney Valley tried desperately to record a heroic comeback in the second half but failed to generate enough points, even though point guard Campbell finished the contest with a game-high 33 points.

Free throws doomed Caney Valley while Riverton iced most of their charity shots.

What else went wrong?

“Whenever I think back to that game, I wished I would have dished the ball off to McIntosh more in the second half,” said Campbell. “We simply didn’t get the ball to Kevin enough. And, all of these years later, it still hurts me to think about it.”

Late in the game, Riverton made their shots; Caney Valley did not. And, when the final seconds ticked down, it was obvious that the basketball gods would once again jilt the Bullpups.

Said McIntosh, “I felt like I had let down so many people after that game. Even 20 years later, I still take responsibility for missing some of those shots in that game. It was just an incredibly emotional experience for myself, Coach Metsker and the rest of the team.”

Metsker said the emotions extended far beyond that silent Bullpup lockerroom, where sobs broke the eerie silence.

“Even after the season was over, I was getting letters from fans I didn’t even know to congratulate me and the team but also to extend a shoulder after that loss. The show of support from the Caney community was enormous. I have never felt anything quite like that.”

••••

Campbell, McIntosh and Bowman would leave the Caney Valley courts that night only 12 points shy of going to a state tournament. Caney Valley — the little school that got zero respect for most of the season — had just compiled its greatest season in school history . . . only to leave it with one haunting defeat in the loss column.

Do the three seniors from that team still think about that game?

Each and every day, said Campbell.

“I would have loved to be in a position to tell my kids that I played in a state tournament while in high school,” said Campbell. “I still think about it. But, in my position as a basketball coach, I deal with losses and victories every day, all year round. Anybody who is a competitor knows that losing tough games is impossible to shake off.”

Bowman said he, too, thinks about that night in March 1989.

“We had such a great season, and our team was filled with true team players,” he said. “We had a good chemistry because we were not a bunch of individuals. We had a good season because everyone on the team knew his role.”

McIntosh still recollects every play, every move, and every squeaky shoe rubber from that night.

“I know in my own role as a basketball coach of kids’ teams that I think back to that game and that season,” he said. “When I encounter a situation, I think back to how Coach Metsker would have handled it. While that loss was tough to swallow, in the long run, it made me a better person.”

Metsker said it still is unnerving to realize that had Caney Valley won that sub-state championship, the Bullpup cagers would have entered the class 4A state tournament in Salina, Kan., as the number one seed.

“I honestly don’t even remember who played in that state tournament that season,” said Metsker. “After losing that game to Riverton, I kind of forgot about the state tournament.”

••••

Metsker has another reason to remember that 22-1 season. He was going through a personal crisis of his own: a divorce from his wife.

“Standing there in that lockerroom after that loss and fight back tears was the toughest thing for me to do. I felt devastated,” said Metsker. “But, we had an awful lot of guys who gave a lot of themselves, which made the season worthwhile. Those kids helped me through a rough spell in my own life.”

Campbell also remembers the personal battles being waged in Metsker’s own life.

“Coach was going through a tough time, but I think that is what made us draw closer as a team,” he said.

Bowman also remembers that Metsker served as a role model for he and others on the team, including those players who had faced similar personal traumas in their own families.

“He took me under his wing,” said Bowman. “I was a better person because of the way Metsker made us into a team.”

Even McIntosh says that the days, hours and weeks of bitter practices — which included Metsker’s trademark rages and boisterous rants — made him a better player.

“He kicked me out of the gymnasium more times than I care to think about,” he said. “I remember getting kicked out of practice because he was so mad at me. So, I went to the lockerroom and started to get dressed and go home. A few minutes later, Metsker storms into the lockerroom, sees that I’m in my street clothes, and goes off on me even more. But, that’s what I needed in my life. If I didn’t have someone like Coach to bust my butt at each practice, I would have easily strayed away.”

When Metsker met with his players following that loss, he tried to be philosophical about dealing with athletic disappointments.

“If this is the worst thing that has ever happened to you, then you are living a pretty good life,” he told his players.

And, because Metsker believed that actions spoke louder than words, he had his teary-eyed players return to the Caney Valley gymnasium and thank the loyal Bullpup fans for providing support during the 1988-89 season.

“To tell you the truth, I was fighting back tears, and that was the only thing I could do to keep the guys from seeing me cry,” he said. “So, I had them go back into the gym. But, I’m glad we did that. It showed that our kids cared not only for the sport but also for the fans.”

McIntosh sums it up, “Each year at this time, I think about that season. And, when it comes to a sub-state tournament, I hear about it a lot. What went wrong that year? I don’t look at it as what went wrong. We lost one game — and a big game at that. But, we did a lot of right things, too.”

COFFEYVILLE — Last weekend, Coffeyville Regional Medical Center chief executive officer Jerry Marquette didn’t stew over the plight of the medical industry in the midst of a struggling global economy.

Nor did he hover over his desk, pushing reports and charts to make sense of the topsy-turvy world of medical care.

No important staff meetings.

No talks with doctors.

Instead, Marquette made the medical center’s kitchen his weekend home where he prepared a fancy feast for the medical center’s Fat Tuesday Luncheon — an annual event that celebrates the end of Mardi Gras.

And, with enough food to fill 1,000 plates, Marquette — a true-blue Louisiana native — had his hands full while dipping his hands in all things Cajun.

“We’re spicy people,” Marquette said of his native state, where a mixture of French-Canadian, Spanish, Native American and African-American influences blend together for a unique palette known for its bold, spicy kick. “We like to mix it up with lots of food and lots of spices.”

Marquette has made the Fat Tuesday luncheon an annual treat, where hospital staff and guests are given a tummy-filling dose of his Cajun fare. That means lots of spicy shrimp with garlic-soaked rice (it’ll put an end to your winter head colds), jambalaya and gumbo.

“In Louisiana, Mardi Gras week is all about food,” he said with a Cajun accent that is as thick as the cayenne pepper he sprinkles over a deep pan of shrimp. “And, everyone is an expert in food in Louisiana.”

Marquette was raised in the small town of Napoleonville, La., (yes, named for the French dictator), where his parents prepared meals for local events and civic banquets. Jerry picked up his parents’ cooking touch and has made the kitchen stove a second office of sorts.

Marquette had some help in the CRMC kitchen over the weekend. CRMC food service employee Randy Follett, a Seattle, Wash., native, helped his boss prepare some of the food items for Tuesday’s big luncheon.

Being from the Pacific northwest, Follett is no stranger to using seafood in a dinner menu. However, Follett and Marquette talked about their differences in seafood tastes — all because of their home-state influences.

“In Seattle, people would love to put salmon on a cedar plank and cook it in the oven,” said Follett. “In Louisiana, people will take shrimp and cook it until it’s blackened.”

“Oh, yes, I like it blackened,” said Marquette, laughingly.

Fat Tuesday is the ceremonial end to Mardi Gras, followed only by Ash Wednedsay, which starts the Lent season. In Cajun-rich Louisiana, people are encouraged to indulge themselves on food and merriment through the circus-like atmosphere of Fat Tuesday before putting an end to the revelry on Ash Wednesday.

Marquette said that even though Mardi Gras is celebrated in the Gulf Coast (as well as in Latin America), the annual holiday is among the nation’s oldest events, dating back to 1699. That’s earlier than Independence Day, Thanksgiving or the modern celebration of Christmas.

For class 3A sub-state tournament pairings:

http://www.kshsaa.org/BASKETBALL/Brackets/3AReg1.htm

For class 4A sub-state tournament pairings:

http://www.kshsaa.org/BASKETBALL/Brackets/4AReg8.htm

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

WICHITA — Ross A. Williams, the Claremore, Okla., man who is accused of robbing a Coffeyville bank and mortally wounding an innocent bystander in a shootout with police, is scheduled to return to U.S. District Court today (Thursday).

Williams will appear in federal for a detention hearing as well as a preliminary hearing in the events of Feb. 17 that led to the loss of one life.

Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said last Thursday that Williams stands charged with three counts, including bank robbery, one count of killing a person in the process of a bank robbery, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of his attempt to escape arrest.

According to court documents, at about 4:55 p.m. Feb. 17 Williams entered the Bank of America at 1401 W. Eighth Street in Coffeyville. Brandishing a box cutter-style knife, he demanded money and received $7,100 from a teller. He then left the bank riding a bicycle. A witness who followed him saw Williams put the bike in the back of an SUV and drive away.

Starting in the 1200 block of West 10th Street, Williams led police on a high speed chase that ended when his vehicle struck a tree on North Grant Street. As Williams abandoned the car carrying an AK-47 assault rifle, he fired multiple shots at police and they returned fire. He fled into a wooded area.

None of the officers was injured during the exchange of gunfire, but a bystander identified as Willie Neal, Jr., was shot in the upper thigh and died from the wounds. An autopsy recovered a bullet that ballistics examiners identified as consistent with the type of ammunition fired from an assault rifle.

About three and a half hours later, police found Williams crossing an open field and took him into custody without further incident. He was wearing body armor and carrying a pistol when he was arrested.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

• Bank robbery: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.

• Causing a death while attempting to avoid arrest for a bank robbery:

A maximum penalty of death or life in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

The United States Attorney General’s Review Committee on Capital Cases will be responsible for reviewing the case and making a recommendation to United States Attorney General Eric Holder on whether to seek the death penalty.

• Using a firearm in furtherance of avoiding arrest for a bank robbery:

A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

As in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

Musicians with Montgomery County connections will be inducted into the Kansas Musical Hall of Fame on March 7.

Independence native Jim Halsey, a country music manager, will be inducted into the hall. Halsey now lives in Oklahoma and maintains contact with many of his acts, including the Oak Ridge Boys.

Bobby Poe and the Poe-Kats, a rock and roll band that got its start in Coffeyville in the mid-1950s, also will be inducted into the hall. Members of that group include Bobby Poe, Vernon Sandusky, and Big Al Downing.

More details of the hall induction will be printed in the March 5 edition of the Montgomery County Chronicle.

The Feb. 26 edition of the Montgomery County Chronicle is now available at local newsstands. Be sure to buy a copy. Here are a few things you’ll find in that issue . . .

• Ross Williams, the Claremore, Okla., man who is accused of robbing the Bank of America branch in Coffeyville and fatally wounding a bystander on Feb. 17, appears in U.S. District Court in Wichita today. We have a story about the hearing on page 1.

• Speaking of that bank robbery, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department will receive an additional 10 high-powered rifles to bolster their arsenal. County commissioners approved the request for additional firepower on Monday. Read about it on page 1.

• This week is Mardi Gras week, which culminates with a day of food and revelry on Fat Tuesday. One Montgomery County man takes Mardi Gras to heart . . . and to the stomach. He’s Jerry Marquette, the chief executive officer of Coffeyville Regional Medical Center and also a true-blue Cajun. For several years, Marquette has donated his culinary talents to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center’s annual Fat Tuesday luncheon. Preparing a luncheon for 1,000 people is a daunting process, taking several days of food preparation. However, Cajuns like Marquette enjoy each savory moment in the kitchen. Look for this feature story on page 1.

• High school basketball will have an exciting week with the start of area sub-state tournaments. Go to page 7 to see where Caney Valley and Cherryvale teams will play when those tournaments start next Monday and Tuesday.

• State wrestling tournaments will be held this weekend, and Caney Valley and Cherryvale schools are sending delegations to the state mats. Look for the story on page 6 to see how will represent the local schools on the state stage.

• Four Montgomery County 4-H youths attended the Citizenship In Action program in Topeka on Feb. 15-17 and got a first-hand look how state government works. You’ll enjoy their story on page 10.

• If you nearly starved and need a heavy meal to hold down your tummy, then you’ll like Doris Coats’ recipe column this week. Pick of the week: Toasted Angel Food Cake Sandwich. Better enroll in a Weight Watchers class after you eat this delicacy!

* * * *

If you do not presently subscribe to the Montgomery County Chronicle, give me a call (620) 879-2156 or (620) 336-2100 to place your subscription order. The local subscription rate (with sales tax) is $32.40 per year. Sounds like a a great deal . . . one that is easy on your wallet during tough times.

* * * *

As always, I’m interested to know about your news tips and story ideas. Drop me a line by e-mail (check for my address below) or call me on my cell phone at (620) 331-9178. Let’s chat! And, if you wish, pass this e-mail along to your e-mail lists (school secretaries: pass this along to your faculty e-mail lists). Let me know of others who might be interested in receiving a weekly preview of the Montgomery County Chronicle.

* * * *

The Feb. 26 edition has more stories of interest to all Montgomery County residents. Be sure to pick up a copy today at the following locations:

Caney: Floyds Town and Country, Gunny Sack Phillips 66, Gunny Sack Shell, Casey’s General Store and the Montgomery County Chronicle.

Cherryvale: Jump Start, Casey’s General Store, Friendly’s Food and Fuel, G&W Foods, Cherryvale Pharmacy, Cherry Hill Express, and the Montgomery County Chronicle

Tyro: J’s Corner Store

Independence: Daylight Doughnuts

Coffeyville: Kabredlo’s Convenience Store

Ross A. Williams, 39, Claremore, Okla., has been charged with a Feb. 17, 2007, bank robbery in Coffeyville in which a man was killed, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said late Thursday.

A three-count federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Wichita on Thursday accuses Williams of firing the shot that killed Willie Neal, Jr., of Georgia. Williams is charged with one count of bank robbery, one count of killing Neal while attempting to escape arrest for the bank robbery, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of his attempt to escape arrest.

According to court documents, at about 4:55 p.m. Feb. 17 Williams entered the Bank of America at 1401 W. Eighth Street in Coffeyville. Brandishing a knife, he demanded money. He took money from a teller and left the bank riding a bicycle. A witness who followed him saw Williams put the bike in the back of an SUV and drive away.

Starting in the 1200 block of West 10th Street, Williams led police on a high speed chase that ended when his vehicle struck a tree. As Williams abandoned the car carrying an assault rifle, he fired multiple shots at police and they returned fire. He fled into a wooded area.

None of the officers was injured during the exchange of gunfire, but a bystander identified as Willie Neal, Jr., was shot in the upper thigh
and died from the wounds. An autopsy recovered a bullet that ballistics examiners identified as consistent with the type of ammunition fired from an assault rifle.

About three and a half hours later, police found
Williams crossing an open field and took him into custody without further incident. He was wearing body armor and carrying a pistol when he was arrested.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following
penalties:

• Bank robbery: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.

• Causing a death while attempting to avoid arrest for a bank robbery:

A maximum penalty of death or life in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

The United States Attorney General’s Review Committee on Capital Cases will be responsible for reviewing the case and making a recommendation to United States Attorney General Eric Holder on whether to seek the death penalty.

• Using a firearm in furtherance of avoiding arrest for a bank robbery:

A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

As in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

e Feb. 19 edition of the Montgomery County Chronicle is now available at local newsstands. Be sure to buy a copy. Here are a few things you’ll find in that issue . . .

• The Montgomery County Conservation District will hold its annual awards banquet on Saturday evening in Independence. Among the honorees at this year’s banquet are Eric and Jackie Chandler of rural Sycamore, Carol Knisley of rural Cherryvale, Robert and Elaine Cowan of rural Dearing, and Harold and Charlene Swearingen of rural Independence. This edition of the Chronicle salutes those honorees as well as the work of the Montgomery County Conservation District and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. You’ll see four pages of information about the conservation district in the B section of the Feb. 19 issue.

• A Claremore, Okla., man will be charged with bank robbery and possibly murder following a bank robbery and shootout with Coffeyville police on Tuesday. Ross Williams is in custody following the bank robbery at the Bank of America branch at Eighth and Buckeye streets. William fled the scene and was followed by police to a remote area north of Coffeyville, where he fired a semi-automatic rifle at the police. One of the bullets strayed from Williams’ rifle and killed a bystander, Willie Neal, a Georgia man who had just moved to Coffeyville. We’ll have details on page A1.

• Cherryvale city councilors on Tuesday discussed the effectiveness of the city’s lone storm siren, which sounded an alarm during a severe thunderstorm on Feb. 10. One problem though: half the town didn’t hear it. Councilors are discussing ways to improve the storm siren alert system. Look for this story on page A1.

• The City of Caney will soon build a new fire station, thanks to a $299,000 state grant. The station will be built at Third and Spring streets. The Kan-Step grant program will provide state funds to purchase construction materials provided that volunteer and in-kind labor will be used to erect the building. Look for this story on page A1.

• Kenny Wallace, also known as the Hermanator in the NASCAR circuit, will be making a visit to the Caney Valley Speedway in March. We’ve got a story on page A1 about Wallace’s visit and competition at the Caney race track.

• High school basketball is drawing to a close, but it’s turning up some excitement. The Caney Valley Lady Bullpups have won seven straight games and sit alone in second place in the Tri-Valley League. Meanwhile, the Cherryvale High School women’s basketball team, which was picked to win the Tri-Valley League, has sputtered in recent games, falling in defeat three consective times. The Cherryvale High School men’s team has won three straight games and is preparing for Friday’s big clash with Caney Valley.

• The Montgomery County 4-H Days, held last Saturday, displayed the talents of dozens of county 4-H youths. We’ve got complete results on page A10.

• Be sure to look for information in this edition from the Caney Valley and Cherryvale FFA Chapters as they celebrate National FFA Week. Each chapter will have several activities — including work day sales — to benefit their local chapters.

• And, we’ve got Doris Coats’ recipe column in this edition. Look for her tasty recipe for Chocolate Snack Cake. Making your mouth water yet?

* * * *

If you do not presently subscribe to the Montgomery County Chronicle, give me a call (620) 879-2156 or (620) 336-2100 to place your subscription order. The local subscription rate (with sales tax) is $32.40 per year. Sounds like a a great deal . . . one that is easy on your wallet during tough times.

* * * *

As always, I’m interested to know about your news tips and story ideas. Drop me a line by e-mail (check for my address below) or call me on my cell phone at (620) 331-9178. Let’s chat! And, if you wish, pass this e-mail along to your e-mail lists (school secretaries: pass this along to your faculty e-mail lists). Let me know of others who might be interested in receiving a weekly preview of the Montgomery County Chronicle.

* * * *

The Feb. 19 edition has more stories of interest to all Montgomery County residents. Be sure to pick up a copy today at the following locations:

Caney: Floyds Town and Country, Gunny Sack Phillips 66, Gunny Sack Shell, Casey’s General Store and the Montgomery County Chronicle.

Cherryvale: Jump Start, Casey’s General Store, Friendly’s Food and Fuel, G&W Foods, Cherryvale Pharmacy, Cherry Hill Express, and the Montgomery County Chronicle

Tyro: J’s Corner Store

Independence: Daylight Doughnuts

Coffeyville: Kabredlo’s Convenience Store

COFFEYVILLE — An innocent bystander was killed by gunfire in a bank robbery gone wrong late Tuesday afternoon in Coffeyville.

Commander Mike Brown of the Coffeyville Police Department identified the deceased person as Willie Neal, a Georgia man who was in Coffeyville to visit friends and family.
Neal was killed by a stray bullet fired by Ross A. Williams, 39, of Claremore, Okla., who was firing a rifle at officers on North Grant Street. Williams was being pursued by Coffeyville police after he became a suspect in a bank robbery at the Bank of America branch at 1401 W. Eighth shortly before 5 p.m., Tuesday.

After Williams allegedly held up the Bank of America branch, a citizen followed Williams to a vehicle at the Country Mart parking lot. The citizen called Coffeyville police, who then began a pursuit of Williams that ended on North Grant Street.

Brown said Williams jumped from his vehicle in the 500 block of North Grant and began firing multiple rounds of ammunition at two Coffeyville police cars. That’s when one of the bullets hit Neal, who was observing the chase and subsequent gunfire.

Williams then was last seen fleeing into a heavily wooded area near the Coffeyville Resources refinery. He finally surrendered to law enforcement authorities at about 8 p.m., Tuesday and was taken to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center for treatment of hypothermia and minor injuries.

Williams is expected to appear in 14th Judicial District Court for a first appearance hearing, Brown said.

Assisting with the apprehension of Williams were the Coffeyville, Caney and Independence police departments; sheriff’s departments from Montgomery, Labette and Nowata counties; the Kansas Highway Patrol; Coffeyville Fire Department; and Coffeyville EMS Department.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Coffeyville Police Department are continuing their investigation into the bank robbery.