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Labette Community College Labette Community College offers a variety of programs and services to students and our community. Degree and Certificate Programs include, but are not limited to:
We also offer world-class athletics:
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LCC’s flexible scheduling includes day, evening, extension site, online and DVD enhanced courses. We also offer special interest courses and customized workforce training.
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Visit our website @ www.labette.edu for the latest news & events at LCC!
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CommunityLink.com 1 800-455-5600 production
production manager creative director director of publication design editorial director copywriting copy editor proofreader director of photography photography cover photography lead design web site creation & support director of media purchasing
MATT PRICE Clint Eilerts Amanda White mark edmondson city of parsons LAURA WILCOXEN CHRISTINA REESE Lisa LEHR City of Parsons max Good KELLY FRIEDERICH JOSH CHANDLER DIANA VAUGHN
business development director of business development George Prudhomme director of client relations JERRY ross director of outside sales debbie moss director of inside sales NANCY ODOM marketing specialist shawna moyers business development manager Bonnie Ebers marketing consultant STEVE TRUE customer service director kathy Risley customer service representative Laurie Jenkel advertising director of ad development kacey wolters ad research Mary kopshever MILLY MASON Amy SchwartzkoPf Kathy Scott ad traffic Carol Smith senior ad designer joseph goetting ad design jake dement nick marler JOSh Mueller
Table of Contents
Where to Stay......................... 3
Where to Play.........................4
executive leadership
chairman and founder chief financial officer
Craig Williams Rhonda Harsy
ABOUT   This book is published by CommunityLink and distributed through The City of Parsons. For advertising information or questions or comments about this book contact CommunityLink at 1 800-455-5600 or by e-mail at info@CommunityLink.com FOR INFORMATION   The City of Parsons, 112 South 17th Street, Parsons, KS 67357, 620-421-7030, Fax 620-421-7089 Š 2008 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306, 618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
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Where to Dine....................... 7 Where to Shop........................8 Downtown Parsons.................11 Our Auditorium....................... 13
1830 S. US Hwy 59 Parsons, KS 67357 620-421-6990 620-421-4767 Fax
History & Culture................... 15 Visitor Services........................17
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No matter what your purpose for traveling is, business or pleasure, with the entire family or by yourself, you can choose from the comforts of home or the call of the wild right here in Labette County, Kansas.
Where to Stay Greater Labette County, Kansas, offers more than 200 hotel rooms and more than 300 campsites. Conveniently positioned throughout the entire
area, these accommodations allow you to pick the background for your experience in Southeast Kansas. So get ready to choose from a variety of locations, including Historic Downtown Parsons, the rushing waters of the Neosho River, or the tranquil sunsets at Big Hill Lake as you plan your getaway to Labette County, Kansas.
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Where to Play Would you like to enjoy a relaxing round of golf on one of our lush green courses? Or maybe you’d rather battle a world-class spoonbill in the rumbling Neosho River or test your wing shooting skills against a clay pigeon at the internationally renowned Claythorne Lodge? No matter what your game, Greater Labette County is your place to play!
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Where to Dine From fast food to fine dining, Greater Labette County will not disappoint you!
Choose from a variety of ethnic cuisines and relaxing atmospheres. The area offers everything from home cooking and old-fashioned soda fountains to some of the best barbeque in the Midwest! Explore the area and find your favorite. Restaurants throughout the area feature BBQ, Italian, American, Chinese, and Mexican cuisine.
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Where to Shop The Greater Labette area has something for every shopper! Stroll a historic
downtown as you shop specialty stores throughout the county. Choices
abound for the discerning shopper, from homemade candy to handmade furniture and from specialty kitchenware to individualized sportswear. So no matter if you’re hunting for that hidden treasure amongst the antiques or simply spending a relaxing afternoon browsing, a friendly smile awaits you at every doorstep.
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Cellular: 620-423-4982 marty67357@yahoo.com
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Downtown Parsons Founded in 1870 and incorporated the following year, the city carries the name
of Judge Levi Parsons, president of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, otherwise known as the Katy Railroad. The city’s jewel is the Historic Parsons Downtown District, a don’t-miss during your stay in Greater Labette County. Come experience the heart of our community, a beautiful, vibrant district perfect for enjoying great cuisine, exploring unique shops, or simply taking a relaxing stroll. No detail is spared, right down to the street signs, each displaying both the current and historic street name. Downtown Parsons … make it your next stop!
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HOME MEDICAL SERVICE
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES sleep apnea products ostomy oxygen bracing
116 S. 32nd Parsons, KS 67357
620-421-3034 620-421-5509 Fax quickstop1996@att.net
hospital beds wheelchairs lift chairs walkers
diabetic strips pulmo-aids commodes general repair
SATISFYING ALL YOUR TRAVELING NEEDS
LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED
620-421-4239 TOLL FREE 800-698-1154
2103 Corning Str$$+ - #)*('*
MONDAY–FRIDAY 8:30–5:30
SATURDAY 10:00–1:00
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DISTRICT SCHOOLS 2900 Southern Parsons, KS 67357 620-421-5950 www.vikingnet.net
Preparing Students for the World 12
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Our Auditorium The Parsons Municipal Auditorium was renovated in 1989
and has since hosted more than 860 events boasting nearly a half-million visitors.The beautifully restored 1920s-era auditorium hosts some 50 events annually, welcoming approximately 25,000 travelers to Greater Labette County.
A modern lighting and sound system has helped welcome such notable entertainers as comedian George Carlin, country legend Ronnie Milsap, and the international sensation Spirit of Dance.
For upcoming show information call
620-421-7032 or visit
www.parsonsauditorium.com.
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All of the museums in Labette County are open seasonally. Please call to confirm hours of operation and seasonal schedules for each museum.
Parsons Parsons Historical Museum: 401 S. 18th, 620-421-2109 Parsons Iron Horse Museum: 18th and Corning, just west of the Historical Museum, 620-421-1959 Historic Oakwood Cemetery: South of Main on Leawood Final resting place of 375 Civil War Veterans.
Oswego Oswego Historical Museum: 410 Commercial St., 620-795-4500, history@oswego.net Southeast Kansas Education Museum: 620-795-2003, info@sekemuseum.org
Chetopa
AreaMuseums Big Brutus, the world’s largest electric shovel, serves not only as a
symbol of the past, but also as a monument to the rich coal mining history of southeast Kansas. Permanently housed in the region’s famed Mined Land Area, Big Brutus is now a complete museum with facilities, camping, and an outdoor shelter area.
Chetopa Historical Museum: 419 Maple, 620-236-7121
Edna Edna Historical Museum: 101 S. Delaware, 620-922-3333
Mound Valley Mound Valley Historical Museum: Southwest of flag pole in center of town, 620-328-2811
For those interested in visiting this living history museum, call 620-827-6177 for more information. Big Brutus is open year round and hours vary with the season. 14
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For museum hours or more information on the Katy Days celebration, please call 1-800-280-6401.
History & Culture
Following the path cut across the frontier by pioneer settlers, Labette County cities were developed along the Neosho River basin, many growing from early-1800s trading posts. In the later 1800s additional cities were forged from the steel of the ever-growing railroad. The county was officially organized in 1867 as an independent area, breaking away from its now neighbor to the north, Neosho County.
The county seat of Oswego, founded in 1870, maintains a history dating back to the early 1840s, when it is reported that trade took place between John Mathews and the Indiana chief called White Hair, whose village sat just on the border of modern-day Oswego. Rich in pre-Civil War and late-1800s history, Labette County has several museums, each offering a unique porthole for visitors to explore the interesting history of the United States’ early frontier. 800-280-6401
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Parsons Golf Club & Restaurant Banquets, Meetings and Weddings for up to 300.
HOURS OF OPERATION: Dining Room: Tue-Sat 5:30 - 9:00pm Lounge: Tue-Sat Opens at 5:30pm 19th Hole: Tue-Sun Summer - 8am - 9pm Winter - 9am - 4pm 1187 24000 Road, PO Box 301 Parsons, KS 67357 620-421-5290 www.parsonsgolfclub1.com parsonsgolfclub1@yahoo.com
Open To Public
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From pharmacies to farm equipment and from dry cleaning to dry goods, contact the
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Parsons Chamber of Commerce
for a complete list of service providers at
1-800-280-6401.
Visitor Services Offering the services of a larger metro area with the friendly traits of a small town, Parsons more than provides for the varied needs of the traveler. Whether you are on the road for business or pleasure with your four-member family or your 40-person group, Parsons has you taken care of.
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City of Parsons 112 South 17th Street Parsons, KS 67357 800-280-6401