Updated Feb 22, 2013 @ 04:56 PM
There were quite a few nice assignments for this entry which included spending a little time with the Southeast Kansas Youth Orchestra, and at an assignment covering a touching show of support for Payton Kannarr, a St. Mary's Elementary fifth grader who is battling leukemia, and with the Tristatesmen Barbershop Chorus making surprise visits on Valentine's Day. There were competitive basketball games and wrestling matches during the week as well as the start of the Pittsburg State baseball season at Al Ortolani Field. The Pittsburg State basketball teams continue to battle for their spot in the upcoming MIAA basketball tournament in Kansas City. I also spent some time working on my vocabulary while covering the Pittsburg Scrabble Club during one of their meetings at the Pittsburg Public Library.
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Emilia Cardenas, Pittsburg State University freshman from Paraguay, plays during a rehearsal Saturday of the newly formed Southeast Kansas Youth Orchestra. She is one of several PSU students who work with orchestra members on their individual instrument skills.
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Raul Munguia, Pittsburg State University music faculty member, serves as conductor for the Southeast Kansas Youth Orchestra, composed of area young people aged 12 to 18. He is also conductor of the SEK Symphony.
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Young people from around the region gathered Saturday morning for a Southeast Kansas Youth Orchestra rehearsal under the direction of Raul Munguia. The orchestra first has sectional sessions in McCray Recital Hall, Pittsburg State University, then moves to a former auditorium in the Kelce School of Business for a full orchestra rehearsal.
Sean Steffen
Chocolate-dipped strawberries wait to be gathered up Wednesday afternoon during the Countryside Christian School Cookie Bazaar.
Sean Steffen
Separated by their difference in social station, a ship captain’s daughter, played by Alyssa Marsh, cannot reveal her love for a handsome seaman on her father’s ship, played by Jayson Canton, in this rehearsal scene from “HMS Pinafore.” The Pittsburg State University Opera Workshop will present the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday in Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.
Sean Steffen
Jayson Canton as Ralph, left, and Aaron Hayse as Sir Joseph Porter, center, both want to marry the same girl in “HMS Pinafore,” a Gilbert and Sullivan musical to be presented by the Pittsburg State University Opera Workshop at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday in Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium. Rico McKay, right, plays a Pinafore seaman.
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St. Mary’s Elementary students react as Fr. Chad Arnold has his hair and beard cut by barber Ray Peak Tuesday evening between games. The school showed their support Tuesday night with a flood of orange, a color symbolizing the fight against leukemia, in honor of their classmate Payton Kannarr, a St. Mary’s Elementary fifth grader, who is battling the disease.
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Fans at the game on both sidelines — Frontenac and St. Mary’s Colgan — as well as players wore t-shirts in support of Payton Kannarr, a St. Mary’s Elementary fifth grader battling leukemia at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md.
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St. Mary’s Colgan students wear orange t-shirts in support of Payton Kannarr as they cheer on their team Tuesday evening.
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Pittsburg State CAPS 13 live streamed the game for Payton Kannarr to watch in Maryland.
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Fr. Chad Arnold gives two thumbs up as St. Mary’s Elementary School students dust hair off his shoulders after a hair and beard cut by barber Ray Peak Tuesday evening.
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St. Mary’s Colgan cheerleaders form the letter O with their pom-poms while spelling out Payton’s name during a cheer for her during the game.
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Frontenac senior Blake Barto blocks the shot of St. Mary’s Colgan sophomore Austin Commons as time runs out sending the game to a second overtime Tuesday evening at the St. Mary’s Colgan Fieldhouse. Frontenac would go on to win the game 45-44.
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Frontenac junior Bailey Flora grabs a rebound away from St. Mary’s Colgan junior Sydney Beck and sophomore Katie Kolarik Tuesday evening during the Raiders’ 49-46 victory at the St. Mary’s Colgan Fieldhouse.
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Pittsburg senior forward Lizzy Willis attacks the basket for two of her game-high 24 points Thursday night against Coffeyville on Senior Night. Willis helped the Purple Dragons claim a 53-40 victory over the Golden Tornado, as Pittsburg outscored Coffeyville 13-0 down the stretch.
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Pittsburg senior forward FeDor Lomax takes a jumper Thursday night against Coffeyville on Senior Night. Lomax recorded a double-double — 12 points, 13 rebounds — but Pittsburg fell short against the Southeast Kansas League champions, 70-66.
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Ivoree Marler, 6, wears pink with other members of a dance clinic as they perform their routine at halftime of the Pittsburg High School boys game Thursday evening during Pink Out the Hardwood at PHS.
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Sally Hart enjoys a serenade by members of the Tristatesmen Barbershop Chorus on Thursday at Crestwood Country Club.
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Members of the Tristatesmen Barbershop Chorus, from left, tenor Alan Pommier, lead Daniel Renn, bass George Graham and baritone John Robb sing to members of the Hart family Thursday at Crestwood Country Club.
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Tristatesmen Barbershop Chorus baritone John Robb carries two roses to give to Sally Hart and Cindy Shaffer before singing Valentine’s Day messages on Thursday at Crestwood Country Club.
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A bison relaxes with the herd on Friday afternoon at the Bison Wildlife Reserve in Frontenac.
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Pittsburg senior Jeremiah Jones takes down Cole Stewart of Fort Scott during their 113-pound semifinal match Friday night at Pittsburg High School. Jones won a 8-0 decision and will face Chanute freshman Nick Ornelas tonight for a regional title. Jones improved to 33-5.
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Pittsburg State catcher Jacoby Martin slides safely into home plate after a single by outfielder Tory Stoffregen scored infielder Austin Lastimado from second base. Martin, who started on first base, broke for home while Stoffregen was in a rundown, beating a bad throw to the plate in the five-run fourth inning.
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Pittsburg State shortstop Evan Thomas comes into home plate after blasting a two-run home run Saturday against Maryville at Al Ortolani Field. Thomas finished 5-for-5 on the day with three singles, a triple and a homer, falling a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Thomas both scored and drove in three runs for the Gorillas during their 18-1 season-opening win.
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Pitt State pitcher Matt Stalcup prepares to fire a pitch against Maryville on Saturday. Stalcup earned his first win of the season, striking out six Saints and surrendering no runs on one hit in four innings.
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Pittsburg State senior forward JaVon McGee shoots a left-hand baby hook Saturday evening against Northeastern State. In his return after a four-game absence from the Pitt State lineup, McGee helped the Gorillas claim a 89-59 victory with a double-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds.
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Pitt State sophomore guard Morgan Westhoff drives the lane Saturday afternoon during a 78-60 victory over Northeastern State at Whetzel Court/John Lance Arena. Westhoff scored 13 points in 15 minutes played.
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Dan Mayfield thinks out possible word combinations while playing Megan Corrigan during a meeting of the Pittsburg Scrabble Club Saturday afternoon at the Pittsburg Public Library.
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Megan Corrigan arranges the letters she drew while playing Dan Mayfield Saturday at the Pittsburg Public Library. The Pittsburg Scrabble Club meets on the first and third Saturday of the month.
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Megan Corrigan adds up her points while playing Dan Mayfield Saturday during a meeting of the Pittsburg Scrabble Club Saturday at the Pittsburg Public Library.
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Dr. Will Dabbs draws letters from his bag while playing Dan Lee, director of the Pittsburg Scrabble Club, Saturday at the Pittsburg Public Library.
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Ellie Walden, left, and Judy Riches play each other during a meeting of the Pittsburg Scrabble Club Saturday at the Pittsburg Public Library.
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Colorful state flags blow in the breeze behind the screaming eagle portrayed in the statue “Secure the Blessings of Liberty” by Constance Ann Ernatt in the Pittsburg State Veteran’s Memorial on Friday. The weather on Saturday is expected to be sunny with temperatures around 40.
Colorful state flags blow in the breeze behind the screaming eagle portrayed in the statue “Secure the Blessings of Liberty” by Constance Ann Ernatt in the Pittsburg State Veteran’s Memorial on Friday. The weather on Saturday is expected to be sunny with temperatures around 40.
