Ed Neptune, 67, a resident of Chillicothe, Mo., passed away on Feb. 6, 2014, at St. Luke’s North, Kansas City, Mo.
Ed was born to Norman and Margaret Ann (Wallen) Neptune on Oct. 25, 1946, in Chanute.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the First Baptist Church, Chillicothe. A family visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday. Inurnment will be at Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church and/or Gideon International and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Mo. 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com.
Kenneth Stine
Kenneth Edgar Stine, 81, rural Iola, died Friday, February 7, 2014, at his home.
He was born May 23, 1932, in Uniontown, the son of Kenneth William and Mildred Agnes (Nutter) Stine. He grew up at Uniontown and graduated from Uniontown High School. Ken worked for area farmers in the Uniontown area and worked construction at Burlington.
He served two tours in Vietnam while in the U.S. Navy and was a Seabee. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked as a heavy equipment mechanic for Kerr McGee Chemical Corp. in California for 15 years.
In 1984, Kenneth married Eleanor E. (Galantha) Podszuweit. They moved from California to their home southwest of Iola in 1992.
He was a member of the V.F.W. in Trona, Calif. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors are his wife Eleanor Stine; son Robert Stine and wife, Cindy, Ft. Scott; two step-sons, Frank Hilberath and wife Tish, Goodyear, Ariz., and Phillip Hilberath, San Jose, Calif.; two brothers Norman Stine and wife Audra, Iola, and Bernard Stine and wife Mary Ann, Yates Center; one sister, Bernita Dawson and husband Jack, Iola; one granddaughter, Alicia Stine, and a number of nieces and nephews
He was preceded in death by a sister, Margie Shanks.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.
Burial will be in Bronson Cemetery, Bronson.
Memorials may be made to Allen County Hospice and may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola.
To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Lloyd Weeks
Lloyd Dean Weeks, 78, Iola, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at Kindred Hospital Northland, Kansas City, Mo.
Lloyd was born Oct. 26, 1935, in Morris County, son of William Lloyd and Ruth Katherine (Vader) Weeks. He graduated from Dwight High School.
On May 18, 1957, Lloyd married Anita W. Phillips in Miami, Okla. He enlisted and served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Greenland. Following his honorable discharge from the service, they made their home in Wichita where he worked at Boeing. The family moved to Emporia, where they resided for 30 years. Lloyd was a power electrician and mechanic. He worked at Emporia Wholesale Coffee Co., Muckenthalers, Wolf Creek and was director of plant operations at St. Mary’s Hospital in Emporia. In 1992, the family moved to Iola where Lloyd worked as director of plant operations at Allen County Hospital. He retired in May 2013. During the years, Lloyd also operated his own small and foreign auto repair business. He enjoyed woodworking, photography, CB radio operating and was an expert on VWs.
He was a member of Harvest Baptist Church, Iola, and had been a deacon at Westside Baptist Church, Emporia.
Survivors are his wife of 56 years, Anita Weeks; five children, Mark Weeks, Iola, Debra Staley and husband Philip, Parkville, Mo., Victoria Geisler and husband Jack, Iola, Angela Kaufman and husband Tim, Virginia Beach, Va., and Rebecca Kelly and husband Jeremie, Blue Springs, Mo.; one brother, Clifford Weeks, McLouth; 11 grandchildren, Jack Geisler, Jr., Casondra, Train and Raymond Geisler, Olivia and Ava Kaufman, Sydnie, Katlin, Alex, Makenna and Ian; six great-grandchildren: Isaiah, Zoey, Gabby, Karigen, Lulu and Zachiya.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jerry Weeks.
Visitation if from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel, Iola. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Harvest Baptist Church, Iola. Graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Alta Vista Cemetery, Alta Vista.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association and left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola. To sign the guest book online go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Rachel Kelley
Rachel M. Kelley, 85, El Dorado, passed away Feb. 5, 2014, at Reflection Living in Wichita after a battle with cancer. Visitation with family present will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Kirby-Morris Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Carlson Colonial Chapel. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. at Colony Cemetery, Colony.
She was born June 16, 1928, in Colony, the youngest daughter of Ralph and Nellie (Martin) Lewis. She was raised in Colony and graduated from Colony High School in 1946. She married Aaron D. Kelley Oct. 11, 1947, in Bonner Springs. They moved to El Dorado in 1953. She was a housewife, a bookkeeper for Albert Hogoboom Oilfield Trucking, and retired in Dec. 2006 after 23 years with the Butler County District Court clerk’s office. She was fabulous at the piano, enjoyed ceramics, playing cards, and was active with the Hoe and Spade Garden Club.
She is survived by her children, Aaron Jr. and wife Linda, Wichita, Alan and wife Juana, El Dorado, and Diane Rebstock, Andover; grandchildren, Lewis Kelley and wife Bree, Wichita, Levi Kelley, Overland Park, Seth Kelley and wife Jonessa, El Dorado, Chevis Rebstock, Andover, Laura and husband Johnney Daugherty, El Dorado, Remington Rebstock, Manhattan, and Stuart Kelley, El Dorado; great-grandsons, Luke and Jake Kelley, Wichita, and Gunner and Jace Daugherty, El Dorado; a sister, Amy Harris, Prairie Village.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Henderson, on Jan. 12, 2014. Memorials to El Dorado High School Band Boosters may be sent to Harden Hospice, 2622 W Central Ave., #401A, Wichita, KS 67203.
‘Miracle Worker’ teaches us to reach beyond our ken
It wasn’t until I reread “The Miracle Worker” earlier this week that I realized its universal lesson of how setting goals gives us purpose.
“Why can’t you let her be?” Helen’s half-brother, Jimmie, asks of Annie Sullivan, Helen’s new teacher.
“Have some pity on her, for being what she is,” he continues.
To which Annie replies, “If I’d ever once thought like that, I’d be dead!
Miss Sullivan has more than just seven-year-old Helen Keller to work with, but the entire Keller clan who would have been satisfied if they could merely enjoy a meal together without Helen turning the dining room into a scene from “Animal House.”
As for Helen’s father, Captain Keller prized obedience.
Shoot me now, Annie thinks.
“Obedience without understanding is a blindness, too,” she says to the captain.
For she knows Helen has the ability to learn about the greater world and better yet, communicate with that outside world.
But to reach the deaf and blind girl is a monumental task. Yes, Helen is learning sign language, but has yet to connect the words to their meaning.
“She spells back in her sleep,” Annie says. “Her fingers make letters when she doesn’t know! In her bones those five fingers know, that hand aches to — speak out, and something in her mind is asleep, how do I nudge that awake?”
When Helen finally understands the connection between the word water and the liquid substance, the joy is overwhelming and her thirst for knowledge unquenchable.
“THE MIRACLE Worker” is a play written by William Gibson in 1956 and adapted from Helen Keller’s autobiography, “The Story of My Life.”
The title came from fellow author Mark Twain’s description of Sullivan as a “miracle worker.”
Because of Sullivan’s amazing work, Helen Keller was able to lead an equally amazing life, being the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college. Keller, 1880-1968, became a world famous author and social activist.
The play, which is also the selection for this year’s Iola Reads, will come to life in Iola on Feb. 22 at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center courtesy of the Montana Repertory Theatre.
It will be a performance to remember.
—Susan Lynn
City: Gas will cost more
Iola council members, as well as those at Humboldt, will learn more about increases in price of natural gas at their meetings Monday night. Both cities purchase gas and resell it to local consumers.
Scott S. Shreve, an Topeka consultant who aids Iola with its wholesale purchases, will be at Iola’s meeting to give more information.
Iola Administrator Carl Slaugh said that with the polar vortexes bringing extremely cold temperatures into the lower 48 states, gas prices had spiked and were changing frequently.
“We think the spikes will be temporary,” Slaugh said, but “they will affect bills,” with those issued this month expected to be higher than January’s. Then, many in Iola were in the $400 to $500 range.
City Clerk Roxanne Hutton said bills sent Friday were not much different than last month’s. However, gas consumed during the latest spate of cold weather had yet to be billed, she said.
Mainly, Slaugh encouraged Iolans not to panic about what might be, with gas prices being volatile enough they could drop as quickly as they rose.
In Humboldt City Administrator Larry Tucker said residents were being advised to be conservative with home heating.
“There have been some big increases, but we don’t know yet what’s going to happen,” he said.
The forecast indicates temperatures will moderate some the next few days, with a warming trend expected by Thursday.
Cubs sweep past Fredonia
HUMBOLDT — Humboldt Middle School’s boys picked up a three-game sweep Thursday to wrap up the regular season.
The Cub eighth-graders downed visiting Fredonia, 26-21, in a reversal from a game earlier this season in which Humboldt lost by 11.
Meanwhile, Humboldt’s seventh grade wrapped up a 12-1 record with a 42-24 win. The C team finished the season at 10-2 with a 19-7 victory.
Head coach Jeremy Weilert was pleased with Humboldt’s performance.
The eighth-grade win “was probably the most complete game we have played all season,” Weilert said.
Jacob Barker led the Cubs with eight points, followed by Zach Korte with six. Lance Daniels chipped in with four points and eight rebounds, Hesston Murrow had three points and six boards, and Josh Vanatta and Caleb Hart added three and two points, respectively.
Humboldt’s B team was led by Bo Bigelow’s 13 points and Teryn Johnson’s eight points and 12 rebounds. Ryan Sellman added five, Xavier Bauer and Caleb Coronado had four apiece and Calvin Schoendaller, Dylan Doolittle, Joe Murrow and Tucker Hurst all had two. Hurst also pulled in seven rebounds.
“They are a talented group of young men that I anticipate will continue to work hard and get even better during this offseason,” Weilert said.
Leading the way in the C team victory was Sebastian Mock with six points and six rebounds, Chase Jaro with four points and five boards, Brent Yost and Seth Hegwald, each with two points, and Joe Murrow and Caleb Klauman with one apiece. Hegwald piled up 10 rebounds, followed by David Watts with seven.
“They worked hard and each of them improved as the year went on,” Weilert said. “I am very proud of them.”
HUMBOLDT’S girls dropped a pair of heartbreakers, while its C team wound up tied.
The A team fell, 39-33, while the B team dropped a 28-27 decision. The C team tied 4-4 in a 10-minute quarter.
Leading Humboldt’s A team were Maggie Johnson with 11 points and six steals, Rylan Wilhite with seven points and six rebounds, Sydney Houk with six points, Kassie Angleton with four points and seven rebounds and Kaiti Carpenter and Aricah McCall with three and two points, respectively.
Kaylie Johnson’s nine points paced the B team. She was followed by Katie Malone with eight points and seven rebounds, Lizzie Myers and Britnee Works with four points each and Sydney Barker with two points.
Tori White scored all four of Humboldt’s C team points.
Ponies fall to Fort Scott
Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade boys played without key contributors Matt Komma and Ethan Holloway Thursday.
Nevertheless, their 35-23 loss to visiting Fort Scott Thursday left head coach Marty Taylor encouraged.
“We were a little short-handed, but the kids played hard and never gave up,” Taylor said. “I love the effort these guys are playing with. Kids like Matt Miller, Zach Cokely and Kaden Knavel are getting a chance to play a lot, and they are doing a good job.”
Evan Sigg led the Ponies with 11 points and eight rebounds, followed by Cale Barnhart with four points, Miller with three points and five boards, Isaac Vink with three points and Nick Vaughn with two points and four rebounds.
The seventh-grade A team saw a half-time lead dissipate in the third quarter of a 36-32 loss.
Iola led 21-15 at the break before Fort Scott rebounded to lead, 27-26, after three.
“We fell a little too much in love with the outside shot,” Taylor said. “We are a much better team when we penetrate and dish out, or swing the ball to the open man. Some foul trouble hurt us a little bit, but the kids played hard.”
Blake Ashmore’s 11 points paced Iola, followed by Kane Rogers with seven points and 12 rebounds and Tayton Driskel with seven points and 10 boards. Derek Bycroft chipped in with five points and four boards. Cole Regehr scored two.
IN B TEAM action, Fort Scott edged Iola, 19-18, in the seventh-grade contest and 16-0 in the eighth-grade matchup.
Matt Karr led the seventh-grade B team with seven points, followed by Hunter Baughn with six and Tim Komma with five.
Titan boys win, Lady Titans lose
Le ROY — Southern Coffey County High’s boys surged to a 30-19 lead in the first half here Friday night, and than staved off Waverly’s attempts to rally and posted a 48-40 victory.
The Titan girls weren’t as fortunate. They fell behind early — 22-1 by the end of the first half — and ended up losing 56-23.
Aaron True did the damage for the Titan boys. He cranked in 22 points, connecting on five field goals, two three-pointers and six of seven at the stripe. Josiah Witteman added eight point, Tyler Houston seven, and Walker Harred and Chism Newkirk each scored five. Angus Nelson was good on a free throw.
Tre Tyson was Waverly’s go-to player, notching 21 points on five goals, two treys and five of six charities.
In the girls game, Miranda Alumbaugh scored six points to lead the Titans, while Amber Emmons had five. Chipping in with three apiece were Brianna Isch and Kalyn Deal. Chenae Newkirk, Brittne Brite and Carolyn Vanderman all had two.
Payton Meader scored 14 for Waverly, while Bailey Massoth had 11.
SCC hosts Marmaton Valley Tuesday night.
Wildcat girls fall at Uniontown
UNIONTOWN — Marmaton Valley High’s girls stayed close to host Uniontown for much of the game, but ran out of gas down the stretch.
The Eagles outscored Marmaton Valley, 22-5, in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and win, 48-28.
“We started out really well, but we don’t go very deep,” Wildcat head coach Gavin Cole said. “Uniontown started hitting shots, and it was almost contagious.”
Kaitlin Ensminger led Marmaton Valley with nine points, followed by Emily Meiwes with seven and Ashlynn Pinkerton with six.
Misty Storrer and Kyla Drake scored three each.
Marmaton Valley travels to Northeast-Arma Tuesday.