Kansas will stride into 2013 smiling. Unemployment dropped to 5.4 percent in November while the national rate was 7.7 percent. Personal income increased strongly, driven primarily by high commodity prices that boosted farm families. Kansas…

Pasta e lenticchie While black-eyed peas are a tradition for many Americans on New Year’s Day, I grew up in Italy eating pasta e lenticchie as a New Year’s Day tradition. It has been a…

“It feels different, a warmer warm,” said Lee Gumfory, as warm air flowed from a vent above his wood-burning fireplace.Gumfory, 83, and wife Colleen, 82, spend much of their time during cold-weather months near the…

Local band, Led Astray, has been living by the tune of an AC/DC song, “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock ‘n’ roll,” and they have done it without regrets…

Joseph Lee Maloney, Sr., 73, Iola died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla. He was born July 13, 1939 in Iola to Helen and Joe Maloney. He was the oldest…

Meredith “Pat” McGuire, 70, Cherryvale, passed away Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla.Services were this afternoon at Wickham Family Funeral Home, 216 E. 4th St., Cherry-vale. Private burial will…

Bonnie M. Carriger, 87, Greeley, passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at her home. She was born Feb. 26, 1925, in LaHarpe, the youngest of 13 children of William and Lillie Roush.  Funeral services will…

Charles “Chuck” Wilson, 47, rural Kincaid, passed away Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, at his home.Services are pending and will be announced later by Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola.Online condolences for the family may…

It’s hard to tell which is more staggering: Cole Becker’s prolific rushing numbers in 2012, or the fact he rarely played a full four quarters during the season.The Marmaton Valley High senior racked up 2,205…

Before Cody Michael hits the road he checks the weather — temperature, barometric pressure, humidity.All three bear on how well his car will run.“The track is about 906 feet above sea level. So if the…