SPORTS: RODEO TEAM ROPES ANOTHER TITLE PAGE 6 KU to honor Today area seniors Mostly cloudy High 40 to 45 LOCAL, PAGE 3 The ChanuteTribune 75 CENTS WEEKEND, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MARCH 23-24, 2013 WWW.CHANUTE.COM BRIEFLY Inside today’s Tribune Mothers of Miracles walk planned in Iola IOLA — M.O.M.’s (Moth- ers Of Miracles) Stroll and Roll Walk is planned for Sat- urday, April 6 at Riverside Park, Iola. “As mothers of special needs children, we would like to help educate our families, our friends, our neighbors, and those within our local communities,” said Lesley Skahan, Iola. “What better way to do that than to have a day filled with fun, food, educational resources, special needs professional groups and organizations, and so much more.” Registration is 10 to 11:30 a.m. with the walk beginning at 11:30. Children’s activities and information booths also Chanute woman begin at 10 a.m. A donation lunch of Sloppy Joe’s or hot dog with fix- Jimmy Potts/Tribune ins’, drink and dessert will be Chanute resident Garrett Ellis washes his truck Friday at the Southtown Car Wash. The car wash sentenced under available. has been directed by the city to operate on a modified schedule since last summer to save water, “Although we all have dif- but a vote to reduce city water restrictions by the Chanute City Commission would make all city ferent circumstances, we five water conservation efforts voluntary instead of mandatory. mothers are able to unite and Jessica’s Law support one another,” Skahan said. “We want to be able Amanda L. Grotton, 28, of Cha- to help others find people to Chanute Commission to vote nute was sentenced to two concurrent unite with and find support as life sentences Thursday for rape and well. So please, come and join sexual exploitation of a child. us for a fun-filled day of sup- Under “Jessica’s Law” rape and porting those of all ages and on lifting water restrictions sexual exploitation of a child carry all abilities.” presumptive life imprisonment with Jimmy Potts and days residents and businesses gist Todd Heady said he expects no eligibility for parole until 25 years. See Briefs, Page 3 Tribune Reporter owners could water lawns and Chanute’s drought conditions The sentence was handed down by gardens, wash vehicles, top off will improve with Neosho Coun- District Judge Daryl Ahlquist. In Amanda L. A vote Monday by the Cha- pools and other regulations to ty expected to reach its average addition, Grotton was sentenced to 6 Grotton nute City Commission could lift assist in reducing its water peak spring rainfall totals along with months in prison for obstructing official duty. DEATHS a seven-month water restriction demand by 20 percent and drop average temperatures. The alleged sex crimes occurred in November 2008 instituted after the Kansas Water overall weekly water consumption “So far, this spring we are a against victims under the age of 14. Grotton pleaded Obituaries for the following District issued a water warning for by 10 percent. If approved, Gates’ hair above average. In the spring guilty to the charges last year. people can be found on page 2 Neosho County last summer. resolution would lift the restric- we are going to stay at near aver- The case was investigated by the Chanute Police of today’s Tribune. The commission will vote on tions and make voluntary cur- age [precipitation], which is good Department, the Iola Police Department, the Sedgwick ■ Oleta M. Venhaus a resolution initiated by Chanute rent and future water conservation because the past two years we’ve County Exploited and Missing Child Unit and the Heart ■ Christopher Berthot Director of Utilities Larry Gates efforts recommended by Chanute been below average,” Heady said. of America Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. that seeks to reduce its water City Manager J.D. Lester, bar- Heady based his prediction As previously reported in the Tribune, her sentence was restrictions from a Stage 2 Water ring re-implementation of Stage from examination of upper atmo- delayed Friday, Dec. 21 in order for Ahlquist to review Warning to Stage 1 Water Watch, 2 if drought concerns reemerge. spheric charts and noting reoccur- arguments related to her sentencing THIS ISSUE which makes water conservation The resolution appeared on the ring weather cycles established Her co-defendant in the case, Byron C. Johnson, was efforts voluntary. City Commission agenda a few in the fall. This method allows sentenced on Dec. 21 to two years of intensive probation, With the current restrictions still days after the Kansas Water Office him to have accurate forecasts continued treatment in a sex offender program out of ■ Volume 121 in place, Chanute residents and released the Neosho River Basin of weather events weeks or even Wichita and other conditions. ■ No. 246 business owners remain subject Water Assurance District from its months ahead of time. Assistant Attorney General Christine Ladner of ■ Pages 14 to fines between $150-$500 per Stage 2 Warning. “When I look into the summer Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case. Schmidt com- violation of its water restrictions Although not expecting exces- mended the law enforcement officials involved on their When you see news happen- that placed limits on the time sive rainfall, Fox 14 Meteorolo- See City, Page 14 handling of the case. ing or if you have a story idea, call 431-4100. CITY COMMISSION PROFILES The six candidates vying for three City Com- mission seats in the April 2 election are profiled here. On Tuesday at 6 p.m., the Chanute Great- LOCAL SMILES er Area Chamber of Commerce and Office of Tourism will sponsor a candidate forum at 6 p.m. in the Chanute Memorial Auditorium. Uncumbent Martha McCoy A Chanute native, Martha McCoy is a retired educational administrator and currently owns McCoy Consulting LLC, a grant writing busi- Martha McCoy Tim Egner Jim Chappell Tim Erickson Jon Odell Jeff Galemore ness. She has served as a Chanute City Commissioner for that he is proud to have been a part of. the last two years. “We brought the swimming pool in on half a million Chappell also said the commission will have to con- “I am running for re-election because after serving below what was voted on,” he said. “We have lowered tinue to keep up with changing technology. for two years I have learned how the city operates, the mill levy every year that I’ve been on (the commis- Chappell, Egner and McCoy face competition from about the city structure and constant needs,” she said. sion) but one.” challengers Tim Erickson, Jon O’Dell and Jeff Gale- “I have attended conferences and researched all agenda “We’ve got some state recognition in the news and more. items before each city commission meeting to be well a little bit of national recognition and I’d like to keep Tim Erickson informed before giving my vote.” things moving and hopefully grow some,” he said. McCoy said she will continue to be proactive on Tim Erickson makes his bid for a City Commission public safety issues, economic and financial develop- Incumbent Jim Chappell seat after a short stint as a reporter for the Chanute ment and city quality of life. Jim Chappell has been in Chanute for 43 years. He Tribune covering Chanute City and Neosho County “If re-elected I will continue to pursue what is best moved from Wichita in 1970 and worked for two years government. for the citizens of Chanute.” at the hospital. He is a retired pharmacist who owned Erickson, a native of Chanute, moved away from Hailey Reddick, 12, Incumbent Tim Egner Cardinal Drug from 1972 until 2009. Chanute after graduating from high school and eventu- Chanute Chappell has served four years on the commission ally graduated with a degree in journalism from Kansas Tim Egner has lived in Chanute for about 17 years. and has also served several nonconsecutive terms in University in 1986. Erickson worked in the newspaper He works as a pipeline technician with Magellan Mid- the past. He currently serves as mayor of Chanute. industry, then earned another degree from Kansas stream Partners If re-elected, Chappell said he wants to continue State University Salina in 1991, this time for Aviation Egner served seven years on the planning commis- what the city has done such as bringing in Spirit Aero- Maintenance, which he parlayed into a job in sales and sion in Chanute and has served almost five years on systems and bring more jobs to Chanute. marketing with the Cessna Aircraft Company. Erick- the city commission. Egner mentioned several accom- “We know the infrastructure in Chanute is not good,” plishments made during his time on the commission he said. “The housing hurts.” See Candidates, Page 14 H Mark Your Calendars 1-877-692-2253 e The 2013 Health Fair is coming to a new location! April 6th from 1-877-MY CABLE F al 8:00 - 10:00 am in the classroom at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. cableone.net a th The Health Fair is for people age 18 and over. A 12-14 hour fast ir is necessary for blood tests. Remember to continue taking your ! daily medications. For more information, call 620-431-4000 or visit www.neoshomemorial.com. Page Saturday, March 23, 2013 Record The Chanute Tribune Weather Deaths Storm could dump up to 8 Forecast Oleta M. Venhaus 1925-2013 inches of snow in Midwest Snow Oleta M. Venhaus, 88, of of Humboldt and daughter-in- KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A major weekend storm could chance Humboldt, died Wednesday, law Andrea Venhaus of Topeka; give new meaning to March Madness for the thousands of fans in March 20, 2013, at the Neosho eight grandchildren; nine great- Kansas City for the men’s college basketball tournament, blanket- High Memorial Regional Medical grandchildren; and one brother, ing northern areas of the nation’s heartland in up to a foot of snow low 40s Center in Chanute.