While attending a job fair last week where Taylor Newspapers manned a booth, I met lots of job seekers.

Some brought resumes. Others just moseyed by, picked up the free stuff on our table and asked a few questions.

But one young woman created a memory for me.

She was a senior in high school,  seeking summer employment before starting to a community college in the fall.

“Are you hiring?” she asked.

We said probably not, but we’re always looking for good resources, such as
part-time photographers and writers.

“We’d be happy to take your resume,” I told her.

Then she said something that stuck with me. “I’m afraid my resume wouldn’t be too impressive,” she said. “I’ve spent all my life working on my parents’ farm. I go to school in the daytime and do chores morning and night.”

Whoa.

I told her to go home and create a resume, and write down exactly what she had told me.

As a farm girl, one who has driven a tractor since she was 12, one who has cleaned out barns, scooped grain until her back ached, fed chickens, pigs, cattle and goats — this girl knows the meaning of work.

She knows about dependability and getting jobs done on time. The morning school bus won’t wait until a farm kid finishes those chores. They’ll be done on time or the young student will miss that all-important ride.

A young person who has put up hay, helped her dad and mother in the farrowing house or candled eggs has something more than words to jot on a resume.

Farm kids don’t need to take art appreciation classes in school. They witness picturesque landscapes, sunrises and changes in seasons as they grow up.

They ride horses, drive four-wheelers and neatly stack big bales at the edge of meadows.

They fish in their ponds, learn to handle firearms and shoot deer, rabbits and turkeys.

They work as a family in the garden, raising, harvesting and canning their own vegetables.

Farm kids learn to keep good records on their livestock. When they raise and sell a 4-H calf, they can calculate the profit gained after deducting feed, vet medicines and other costs.

They typically know how to stand on their own two feet and give project talks, or give oral reasons for judging a class of lambs or swine.

Many of them earn leadership roles in church, 4-H or FFA, so they can moderate a meeting to perfection using Roberts Rules of Order.

They learn early in life the tactics of conservation — how to keep topsoil from washing into Oklahoma; how to plant wind barriers and how to recognize grass-cheating weeds that need sprayed.

Any farm kid can handle a paint brush, spade a garden, pull worms from tomato plants, gather hen eggs, mow grass, groom animals and take one grain of wheat, bite down on it and determine if it’s time to start the combine.

And, this girl thinks her resume might be lackluster?

Oh, I don’t think so.

Put her to work in a hardware store, newspaper office or grocery store, and she will enter the front door looking for things to do.

It’s that way with kids who grow up as farm and ranch kids.

Their resume is written on their foreheads and in their hearts.

They should never apologize.

Never.

(Written by Rudy Taylor, publisher of three weekly newspapers in southeast Kansas. Taylor Newspapers includes the Montgomery County Chronicle, Labette Avenue and the Prairie Star)

The Kansas Highway Patrol said Donald Edward Byrd, Jr., age 56, of Dearing was driving eastbound on U.S. 166 highway between Caney and Tyro when the 1994 Ford Ranger he was driving left the roadway and ramped two driveways before coming to rest on the east side of the second driveway.

Byrd was transported to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The most recent robbery occurred Aug. 2 at the Arvest Bank on East 36th St. Twenty-year-old Joseph Paul Beeson, III and 35-year-old Chantz Germaine Patterson of Tulsa and 28-year-old Calvin Shobe of Coffeyville, Kan., were all three indicted on weapons and robbery charges in that hold-up. Two of the three were caught less than one mile from the crime.

There was no word on possible trial dates.

Luis Hernandez, 50, of Kansas City, Jerry Dean Matlock, 55, of Cherryvale, Kan., and Jesus Roberto Zamudio Beltran, a Mexican citizen, were named in the indictment.

From 2008 until mid-August, undercover police conducted 31 drug transactions with Hernandez, according to the indictment.

Besides the $800,000, federal prosecutors also are seeking the forfeiture of property and vehicles allegedly obtained with illegal drug proceeds.

* * * * *

Here is a statement issued from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, Aug 25:

At approximately 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, Aug. 24, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of shots fire at a residence south of Independence.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers found Tyra Smith had been the victim of a shooting at her home. A person of interest has been taken into custody.

Montgomery County Detectives and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are continuing the investigation at this time. Charges will be filed pending review of the reports by the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office.

Garl Richard Davidson

COFFEYVILLE — Garl Richard Davidson, Sr., age 65, of Coffeyville died early Friday morning, Aug. 26, 2011 at his home.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 29, 2011 at Robbins Cemetery, west of Coffeyville. Friends may call on Sunday, August 28, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in Coffeyville to sign the guest register.

To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabelCoffeyville.com.

* * * * *

William B. “Bill” Patterson

INDEPENDENCE — William B. “Bill” Patterson, age 76, of Independence died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011 at Kansas Medical Center in Andover, Kan. Arrangements are pending with Penwell-Gabel Webb & Rodrick Chapel in Independence.

* * * * *

Maryetta Ellis

COFFEYVILLE — Maryetta Ellis, age 68, formerly of Coffeyville, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011 at Fredonia Regional Hospital in Fredonia.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 at at the Church of God In Christ in Coffeyville. Interment was held at the Veterans Patio at Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville.

To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabelCoffeyville.com

Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

* * * * *

Guyla Jo Condit

COFFEYVILLE — Guyla Jo Condit, age 74, of Coffeyville died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011 at Windsor Place in Coffeyville.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday at the Coffeyville Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville.

Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association. David W. Barnes Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.

* * * * *

Dale Eugene Webber

CHERRYVALE — Dale Eugene Webber, age 56, of Cherryvale died Monday morning, Aug. 22, 2011 at his home.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Cherryvale. Graveside memorial services will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011 at the Fairview Cemetery in Cherryvale, Kansas with a dinner to follow at the New Life Praise and Worship Church in Cherryvale at 5 p.m.

The family has suggested memorials to the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and contribution may be left at the Potts Chapel in Cherryvale.

* * * * * *

Catherine Elaine Holyfield

CANEY — Catherine Elaine Holyfield, age 85, of Caney died Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center in Coffeyville.

Graveside Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 19, 2011 at the Havana Cemetery with the Chaplain Mike Graham of the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice officiating under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Caney.

The family has suggested memorials to the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or the Shriners Children’s Hospital and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel in Caney.

* * * * * *

Lloyd Dean Thomas

COPAN — Lloyd Dean Thomas, age 88, retired farmer and rancher, passed away peacefully at his home north of Copan on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 at the Copan United Methodist Church with interment at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas.

Visitation hours will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19, 2011 with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Potts Chapel in Caney.

The family has suggested memorials to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel, 107 N. State, Caney, KS 67333.

* * * * * *

Charles Edward Sanchez

CANEY — Charles Edward Sanchez, age 83, of Caney died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011 at his home in Caney.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011 at the Potts Chapel in Cane with the Rev. Lloyd Parrett officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunnyside Cemetery under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas.

Visitation hours will be held from noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Potts Chapel in Caney.

The family has suggested memorials to the Church of God Holiness and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas.

* * * * *

Betty June (Smith) Thomas

WANN, Okla. — Betty June (Smith) Thomas, age 79, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2011, at her home.

A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 2 at Wann Community Center where pastor Jimmy Harrington officiated. Interment was in Wann Cemetary. Arrangements were under the direction of Potts Funeral Home in Caney.

* * * * *
Gary Edward Gruber

COFFEYVILLE — Gary Edward Gruber, age 61, of Coffeyville died Monday evening, Aug. 8, 2011, at Windsor Place Care Center in Coffeyville.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel with Rev. Ford Hall officiating. Interment will be in Coffeyville’s Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation will be Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the family receiving guests at the funeral home from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the First Church of the Nazarene and donations may be left at the funeral home.

To leave a special message to the family online, visit www.penwellgabelcoffeyville.com.

* * * * *
Maxine Hannegan

INDEPENDENCE — Mrs. Maxine Hannegan, age 89, former Independence resident, died Friday, Aug. 5, 2011 at the Shawnee Gardens Nursing Center in Shawnee, Kan.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the Penwell-Gabel Webb & Rodrick Chapel. Interment was at the Mount Hope Cemetery.

The family has suggested memorial remembrances to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, and remembrances will be received at the funeral home.

* * * * *

Dora Jean Robnett

CONWAY, Ark. — Dora Jean Robnett, age 85, of Conway, Ark., and former Independence resident, died Thursday morning, Aug. 4, 2011, at the Conway Regional Medical Center in Conway, Ark.

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 8, at the First Southern Baptist Church with burial at Fairview Cemtery in Cherryvale. Penwell-Gabel Webb & Rodrick Chapel handled the arrangements.

The family has suggested memorial remembrances to the First Southern Baptist Church of Independence, and remembrances will be received at the funeral home.

* * * * *

Edna Mae Pugh

INDEPENDENCE – Edna Mae (Plummer) Pugh, 87, Independence, formerly of Cherryvale, died July 31, 2011, at Windsor Place, Independence.

Her Celebration of Life service was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at the First Christian Church, Independence, with burial at Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence.

Memorial remembrances are suggested to the First Christian Church or Meals on Wheels and these may be left at Potts Chapel, Independence.

* * * * *

Peggy Coder

INDEPENDENCE — Peggy Coder, age 78, of Independence died Sunday, July 31, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Olathe, Kan.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Delores Williamston officiating. Inurment will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of the Penwell-Gabel Webb & Rodrick Chapel of Independence.

Friends may call to register at the funeral home from noon until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The family has suggested memorial remembrances to the First United Methodist Church of Independence and remembrances will be received at the funeral home.

* * * * * *

Eleanor B. Mattix

CANEY — Former Caney resident Eleanor B. Mattix, age 93, of Forsyth, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at the Forsyth Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Kissee-Schofield-Eakins Funeral Home in Forsyth, Mo., with graveside services set for 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 5 at Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney.

Memorials can be made to the Forsyth Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s Activities Fund and can be sent to P.O. Box 640, Forsyth, MO 65633.

Mattix had been a longtime resident of Caney before moving to Forsyth in 2009.

* * * * *

Nevada Josephine Ryan

MANHEIM, Pa. — Former South Coffeyville resident Nevada Josephine Ryan, age 88, of Manheim, Pa., died Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pa.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 5, at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel with minister David Bycroft of the Tyro Christian Church officiating. Interment will be in Robbins Cemetery, west of Coffeyville, under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home & Crematory.

Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.penwellgabelcoffeyville.com.

* * * * *

Lewis “Lew” Clayton Boys, Jr.

INDEPENDENCE — Lewis “Lew” Clayton Boys, Jr., age 92, of Independence died Wednesday evening, July 27, 2011, at the Gansel House.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Delores “Dee” Williamson officiating. A private family burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Lew Boys, Jr. Golf Scholarship and may be sent in care of Penwell-Gabel Webb & Rodrick Funeral Home.

The family can be contacted at the home of Lucille Cook.

* * * * *

James Wesley Newby

COFFEYVILLE — James Wesley Newby, age 85, of Coffeyville died Tuesday morning, July 26, 2011, at his home in Coffeyville.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel with minister David Bycroft of the Tyro Christian Church officiating.

Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery Veterans Patio under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home & Crematory. Military graveside rites will be accorded to Mr. Newby by VFW Post #1022.

CHERRYVALE — The family of an 11-year-old Cherryvale boy is counting their blessings today — after a freak bicycle accident on Monday caused the bicycle handle bar to impale the boy’s left leg.

The damage to Colton Poole’s left leg was contained to fatty tissue and not the femur bone or the femoral artery that travels down the thigh. The fact that Poole sustained only tissue damage is regarded as a miracle considering how the damage happened in the first place.

Here’s the story . . .

Poole, age 11, was riding his new bicycle — which he got in June — with younger sister Allison Poole and another friend near the First Baptist Church at East Main and Montgomery streets on Monday afternoon.

However, when approaching a sidewalk curb at a high rate of speed, Poole’s front bicycle tire turned upon impact, causing the left side of the blunt handle bar to impale the inner thigh of his left leg.

Poole’s friend — not knowing the precarious matter of impaled object in the human body — tried pulling the handle bar from Colton’s thigh, but the pain was too intense for the injured Poole. The friend then ran to his house, where he contacted a relative who is employed with the Cherryvale Fire-Rescue Department. The relative, who was off duty, came to the scene of the collision, noticed the impaled handle bars and immediately contacted the department for medical support.

Brian Poole, Colton’s father, said the handle bar entered the thigh at a depth of about two and a half to three inches. The impact did not reach the femur bone, nor did it sever the femoral artery, which is the primary artery that flows through the thigh. The impact and damage were solely to muscle and fatty tissue, Brian said.

Cherryvale Fire-Rescue Department members went into action to prohibit the impaled handle bars from movement, fearing that any movement might cause damage to more tissue or possibly severe the femoral artery. The department members unbolted the bicycle from the handle bars; the handle bars were then secured to Colton’s body. Poole was then transferred to Labette Health in Parsons, where surgeons were able to remove the  remainder of the handle bar and stitch the wound together.

Poole was expected to be released from Labette Health on Tuesday afternoon.

“He was a real trooper during the entire process,” Brian Poole said of his son. “He was in some pain, but was given morphine. He cried a little bit in the emergency room, but he seemed interested in knowing what the surgeons were going to do. He wanted to watch the surgeons take out the handle bar from his leg.”

Poole said the impact of the blunt handle bar with the thigh revealed the high rate of force that required the metal bar to enter the leg. Amazingly, the rubber hand grip on the handle bar was still intact upon impact and is believed to have made a seal around the wound, thus preventing a lot of blood loss, Brian said.

“It was totally a freak accident, but it was a miracle how it turned out,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse, perhaps hitting some vital organs. He’s very lucky that the injury was not any worse.”

For the Cherryvale Fire-Rescue Department, previous training sessions in high-collision impacts and impaled objects proved their worth. Ron Davis, fire-rescue chief, said department members immediately knew that the impaled handle bar had to remain in place and Colton’s body could not move as the bicycle was unbolted from the handle bar.

“This was not a case of removing the handle bar from the bicycle. This was a case removing the bicycle from the handle bar,” said Davis. “After the bicycle was basically unbolted from the handle bar, we had to secure the handle bar in place. It was quite a challenging procedure. However, our top priority, as told to us in training, is never to move an impaled object. The object can only be removed in surgery.”

Davis said the fire-rescue personnel have learned about impaled objects in classes that deal with removing victims from vehicle collisions. However, Davis said he never believed he would treat a person who was impaled by a bicycle.

“I’ve been doing this for 36 years and have never seen anything like it,” he said.

Brian Poole said emergency workers at Labette Health also were startled by the impaled object and were taking photographs of the handle bar for future reference and study.

Colton Poole, who will be in the sixth grade at Cherryvale’s Lincoln-Central Elementary School, will be on crutches for several weeks, his father said.

And, only after his leg has healed will he get back on another bicycle, Brian said.

“I asked Colton if he planned on riding that fast on a bicycle again,” Brian said. “Colton just laughed and said, ‘No, I’ll take it slow next time.’”

Work has already begun on converting a portion of the KMart property on West Main Street in Independence into a Goody’s Department Store. Bob Aronson,  vice president of investor relations with Goody’s, confirmed the arrival of the department store, which he said should take place by mid-October.

No other details were made available about the opening of the store or how many employees could be hired. However, the company website indicated that it plans to open 35 to 40 new stores across the nation in 2011.

The Goody’s website also has Independence highlighted as the site of its next store. No other town in southeast Kansas has a Goody’s department store. The nearest Goody’s location is at Washington Park Mall in Bartlesville, Okla, according to the website.

Goody’s is one of five stores that operate under the umbrella of Stage Stores. Located in Houston, Texas, Stage also operates stores under of Goody’s, Stage, Bealls, Palais Royal and Peebles logos.

In 1997, Stage Stores purchased the C.R. Anthony Company, which catered

to smaller markets in the south-central and midwestern United States.

Goody’s offers a broad range of nationally recognized brand name clothing, shoes and other merchandise for children, men and women. Among the brand names found in Goody’s stores are Dockers, Levis, Adidas, Nautica, Lee, Skechers, VanHeusen, Champion, Izod, Clinique, Reebok, Easy Spirit, Carter’s, Gloria Vanderbilt, Nike, Graphite, Chaus, , Wishful Park and many more.

Sheriff Robert Dierks said a string of multiple and related incidents began on Aug. 6 when officers were told of an abandoned vehicle near Cherryvale. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered two people had broken into the home and were stealing items with the intent to sell them. Arrested were Cindy M. Ford, age 42, and Brad W. Thibeault, age 30.

Dierks said he was recommending the two will be charged with burglary, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A follow-up investigation into the burglary and theft resulted in a search warrant to be executed at Ford’s residence on Aug. 8. Upon investigating the home, deputies found evidence of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory as well as other drug items. That resulted in additional charges to be filed against Ford and Thibeault, including possession of methamphetamine, attempted manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also to be charged with the above-mentioned drug charges is Charles H. Hise, Jr., age 34.

Also on Aug. 8, officers learned of the theft of a Bobcat “skid steer” from a Cherryvale business. During the investigation, William R. McGinnis, age 38, was discovered in possession of the stolen equipment and then fled from deputies. He was eventually taken into custody and will be charged with felony theft.

A follow-up investigation into the skid load theft led investigators to a residence in Wagoner County, Okla., where additional stolen property was located. Two men were taken into custody by Wagoner County authorities, and charges for these two men are expected in Montgomery County.

Dierks said a second skid loader was taken from the Cherryvale area several weeks ago and is still missing. An investigation continues into this theft.

On Aug. 11, a search warrant was executed at the Charles H. Hise, Jr., resident in Independence. Upon investigating the home, deputies found evidence of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.

Additional charges will be filed against Hise as well as Amanda A. Hise age 30, Eric B. Clark, age 25, and Geraldine R. McKinney, age 26. All were taken into custody and will face charges of attempted manufacture of methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

Amanda A. Hise will also face charges of probation violation.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Michelle A. Wantland, age 28, and Jeremiah J. McKenzie, age 25, on Aug. 6. They will be charged with the theft of tools, firearms and copper wiring from several locations in Montgomery County.

“My officers have done a tremendous job and have put in a great deal of time and effort working on these crimes,” said Dierks. “It has been a hectic couple of weeks for us with some long hours, but I’m proud that we have accomplished so much regarding these cases.”

Dierks also said he appreciated the tips from the public regarding the cases

and also extended appreciation to area law enforcement agencies for their assistance.

As in all cases, a person is innocent of charges until proven guilty by a jury or an admission of guilt.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes or any other suspicious behavior should contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department Crime Tip Line at 1-800-498-1019 or the regular line at (620) 330-1000. Callers can remain anonymous.