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Adam Burnett, active at work and on the boccia court

Adam Burnett, Osage City Chamber of Commerce member and employee of Resource Center for Independent Living, is not only busy at work, he also is active participating in the More »

ICYMI: Pomona State Park celebrates great weekend of ‘going retro’

Happiest campers award went to these greeters welcoming visitors to their camper, “Roseanne”, a 1963 Mobile Scout that belongs to Eric Marx. If time slipped by and you missed More »

Marais des Cygnes Valley FFA officers retreat at Tuttle Creek

MdCV FFA officers visit KSU College of Veterinary Science, from left, Kathryn Vaught, Frank Warner, Bayleigh Lacey, Chloe Volkman, Grace Bradley, Koby Vanderpool, Brookelyn Janssen, Alaina Marsh, Cassandra Ebert, More »

Fair flashback: Costumes and animals create fun for exhibitors and spectators

Participants in the animal and people costume contest at the Osage County Fair, from left, Katie Lowry, Karley Lowry, Lynnea Nelson, John Sand, Gracy Smith, and Tate Smith. Fair More »

Help Wanted: Three Lakes seeks paraeducators, substitutes

September 17, 2018   Sponsor

Three Lakes Educational Cooperative is interested in hiring paraeducators for full-time positions as well as substitute positions at a few schools in Osage County. The application is available online at the Three Lakes Educational Cooperative website: www.three-lakes.org.

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A Cowboy’s Faith: No control over weather

September 16, 2018   Frank J. Buchman   No comments

A Cowboy's Faith: Click to read more from Frank J. Buchman.“After every dry spell, there’s a wet spell.”

“A drought has never lasted forever.”

“It’s always rained sometime when it got good and ready.”

“Every drought is followed by rain.”

Those old-timers’ familiar philosophies have sure been proven true again.

Now like it’s continually been throughout time, comments have made a complete turnaround.

A few weeks ago most questioned: “Is it ever going to rain?”

In the past several days none too few have evaluated: “I sure wish it would quit raining.” Others posed it: “Is this rain ever going to stop?”

Then, more than one commented: “All of these cloudy, wet, dreary days make everyone so grumpy. It’s depressing. People are getting stressed out.”

Solution, “We need some bright blue-skied sunny days again.”

Honest evaluation is, “Rain is always better than no rain.”

For the most part, ranchers can’t get too much moisture. It makes the grass grow while keeping fresh water in the ponds, creeks and springs. Dry ponds again have water, some to overflowing.

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Suicide prevention: We all have a role

September 15, 2018   Contributor   No comments

Dear Editor,

As a psychologist working in the field of suicide prevention for military veterans, I’ve known too many incredible people who’ve lost their lives to suicide. In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, I’d like to share some information with you.

We don’t talk a lot about this issue, but it is nothing short of a crisis in Kansas. Our state’s suicide rate has spiked by a staggering 45 percent since 1999 – the fifth highest increase of all states, and almost double the national average.

Many of us have had a passing thought of suicide, but fewer of us act on it. When we’re connected to reality, we understand that suicide always hurts the ones we love most. But when a person loses that connection in the depths of depression or begins to feel like a burden, it can be incredibly dangerous.

It can be confusing to know what we should to do help, but one of the first things we must do is erase the stigma of talking about mental health conditions and suicidal ideation. Here are a couple small changes we can all make to help.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the warning signs of suicide and to then follow-up with people who are struggling. Asking them specifically, “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” will give your loved one permission to talk about the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings they’ve experienced and make a plan for recovery.

Words matter. Rather than using the phrase “commit suicide,” talk about it as you would any other tragic illness that ends a life, such as “died by suicide.” It’s a small step that can help lessen the isolation felt by surviving family members and friends.

If we start treating mental health conditions with the same openness, practicality, and compassion that we use to address physical conditions, we can prevent more deaths by suicide.

We all have a role to play in suicide prevention in our communities, workplaces, and families. It starts with all of us.

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, or if you just need someone to talk to, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1). And make sure to let the people in your life know that you care.

Thank you,
Stephanie Davis

Submitted by Paul Davis for Kansas campaign. This is not a paid political ad.

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City of Osage City: Fall Citywide Cleanup Week, Sept. 17 to Sept. 21, 2018

September 13, 2018   Sponsor

City of Osage City
Fall Citywide Cleanup Week
September 17 through September 21, 2018

Cleanup will be for the one week only – all items should be placed at curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your regular scheduled trash pickup day

Special pickup service can be scheduled for an additional fee. To schedule a special pickup or inquire about the fee call Osage City Hall at 785-528-3714.

Acceptable items include:

  • Boxes
  • Junk Furniture
  • Mattresses
  • Small Appliances and other metal items
  • Other bulky items
  • All smaller items must be bagged or boxed.
  • Metal and Brush must be separated

Items that will not be picked up:

  • Tires
  • Vehicles and/or major auto parts.
  • Buildings, major building parts, or large piles of building material
  • Construction Materials – No lumber
  • Plaster or Drywall
  • Roofing Materials
  • Concrete chunks
  • Loose piles of trash
  • Animal Carcasses
  • Refrigerators with Freon
  • NO HAZARDOUS WASTE

City employees will not enter your property to pick up trash and the City reserves the right to not pick up selected items that are not a part of this list.

The next Citywide Cleanup will be scheduled for Spring 2019.  No limbs or brush will be picked up until that time, unless a severe storm occurs.

Compost Site

The City of Osage City has a compost site located at 4th and Superior Streets (behind the old sewer plant) for dumping of tree limbs, grass clippings and leaves. For more information, contact Osage City Hall at 785-528-3714.

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Don Masenthin, 77, Topeka: Aug. 27, 1941 – Sept. 12, 2018

September 13, 2018   Wayne White   No comments

TOPEKA, Kan. – Don Masenthin, 77, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, at his home in Topeka, Kan. He was born on Aug. 27, 1941, on a farm near Vassar, Kan., the son of Walter and Lydia Poertner Masenthin.

Don grew up on a farm near Lyndon and Vassar, and had lived in Burlingame, Lyndon and Wichita, Kan., before moving to Topeka.

Don had worked for Sears as a service tech and then salesman, and had been an agent for the Aid Association for Lutherans. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, where he had served as a trustee and had been a member of the Lutheran Laymen’s League.

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Carbondale festival rained out, rescheduled to Oct. 6

September 13, 2018   Wayne White   No comments

Due to a rained out park, the Carbondale Fall Festival has been postponed to Oct. 6, 2018. The event had been scheduled for last Saturday, but the rain made navigating the park impracticable that day. Organizers are still accepting vendors, and volunteers are still needed for the new date. Currently, the same schedule of activities is planned, but more could be added.

For more information, contact Mary Vawter Burgett at 785-836-7887 or [email protected].

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Overbrook Overlook: Rotary Club and Parks and Rec invite you to have a picnic

September 13, 2018   Wayne White   No comments

New picnic shelter

The weather is nice! Have you had time to enjoy the new picnic shelter located just to the west of Overbrook Lake dam behind Casey’s? Thanks goes to the Rotary Club and Parks and Rec for sponsoring this new shelter.

Trunk or Treat

The United Methodist Church is sponsoring Trunk or Treat again this year on Oct. 31, at City Lake. Any other organizations that would like to participate is asked to contact Jessica Frye at [email protected]

City Lake remains on blue green algae warning

As of Aug. 13, 2018, KDHE has placed Overbrook City Lake, not the Kids’ Pond, in warning status for blue-green algae. Check the KDHE website http://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/ for more information.

Don’t overlook Overbrook T-shirts

The Betterment Committee has replenished their supply of “Don’t Overlook Overbrook” T-shirts, All sizes are available for children and adults, from small to 2XL, at Overbrook City Hall. The cost is $20 and all proceeds go toward renewing Overbrook’s mural. Stop by and get yours soon.

Overbrook Police Department

School began on Monday, Aug. 20, and boy it was crazy with students and parents. Remember with back to school comes kids walking both to and from school and activities. Remember to slow down and use caution and be mindful of those who are walking or on bicycles.

Here’s some other things to remember: Seventh Street, which runs east and west is a one-way street. Each year we have folks who don’t realize this until it’s too late – one way traveling west. Also, our maintenance department has been working hard putting up new school zone lights on U.S. Highway 56 and crossing stripes at Seventh and Maple streets.

Let’s all be safe as we all drive to work or school. The school zone runs from 7-8 a.m. and then again 3-4 p.m. And, fines are doubled statewide in school zones.

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Historic Santa Fe Trail Pageant at Council Grove this weekend

September 12, 2018   Frank J. Buchman   No comments

Voices of the Wind People, an outdoor drama, will be performed Friday and Saturday evenings, Sept. 14 and 15, 2018, at the Old Riverbed Amphitheater, Council Grove, Kan.

The pageant, written by Ron Parks, provides a historically accurate snapshot of what it was like when the Native American and Euro-American cultures collided in Council Grove on the Santa Fe Trail.

Sharon Haun, pageant organizer, said, “The performance will take you back in time to the mid-1850s and give you a front row seat to hear both sides of the story between Chief Allegawaho, the Kanza (Kaw) Chief, and Seth Hays, Council Grove’s first Euro-American resident.”

This drama was first produced 26 years ago, and is performed every two years.

The production of “Voices of the Wind People” is accomplished completely by volunteer staff and performers.

Approximately 30 members of the Kaw Nation will travel to Council Grove to portray their ancestors in the pageant. They will enact village scenes and perform dramatic roles and traditional dances.

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Scranton welcomes all to celebrate fall at Heritage Festival

September 12, 2018   Wayne White   No comments

Scranton is busy planning its Fall Heritage Celebration, which will be the weekend of Sept. 21-22, 2018, starting Friday night with a co-rec all night softball tourney. The schedule for the celebration is:

Friday, Sept. 21

  • 7 p.m. – Co-rec all night softball tourney $225 per team, T-shirts available for $10.

Saturday, Sept. 22

  • 7-11 a.m. – Lions Club Breakfast, eggs “cooked to order”, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, coffee. Breakfast at the Hulsopple Community Center (in city park), 300 E. Boone St., Scranton. Freewill donation accepted.
  • 8 a.m. – 5K walk run, $25 includes T-shirt if registered by Sept. 8; $30 if afterward.
  • 11 a.m. – Kubb Tournament $30 per team of 2 -3 players; T-shirts available for $10.

For registration of any events and shirt order contact Tim Nedeau at 785-806-0322 or [email protected] For more information about the Lions Club breakfast, contact Paul Schmidt at 785-793-2149.

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Chamber Chatter: Beer aficionados invited to Septemberfest

September 12, 2018   Contributor   1 Comment

By Jeanette Swarts
Osage City Chamber Executive Director

Osage City Chamber Festival of Beer Sept. 29

Come sample dozens of craft and import beers featuring several brewed right here in Kansas. Enjoy the music of The Bryton Stoll Band while satisfying your hunger from the Saucy Lady BBQ food truck.

There will be a raffle table with drawings for some awesome craft beer related items. Every taster will get a sample glass to take home. Event will be 4-7 p.m. Sept. 29, at the Osage City fairgrounds pavilion. Ticket sales benefit the Osage City Chamber of Commerce, which in turn benefits The Warmth Fund, ECAT, college scholarships for high school seniors, and the July 4 fireworks, among others.

Advance tickets are $25 with tickets at the gate $30. Tickets are available at Jerry’s Thriftway, Stark Car Wash, Bank of Osage City, all in Osage City, or Mulready’s Pub, Emporia, and online at brownpaperticket.com All attendees must be at least 21 years of age.

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Chamber selects Shaffers’ lawn as Osage City yard of the month for September

September 12, 2018   Wayne White   No comments

The Osage City Chamber of Commerce has selected Robert and Cheryl Shaffer’s yard as the Osage City’s Yard of the Month for the month of September. With the assistance of Mother Nature providing the area some much needed rain, Robert and Cheryl’s yard in Osage City became green again along with their beautiful and intriguing landscape areas. Their home is located at 849 Romine Ridge, Osage City.

September marks the fourth and final month of the Osage City Chamber of Commerce’s recognition of the “Yard of the Month” for 2018. Recognition is given during the period of June through September.

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Adam Burnett, active at work and on the boccia court

September 12, 2018   Contributor   No comments

Adam Burnett, Osage City Chamber of Commerce member and employee of Resource Center for Independent Living, is not only busy at work, he also is active participating in the sport of boccia. He has been very successful in recent competitions at the national level.

Burnett, originally of Melvern and now Osage City, has worked at RCIL, in Osage City, since 2002. He was introduced to the Paralympic sport of boccia in 2016. Boccia is a throwing sport that tests an athlete’s coordination, accuracy, concentration, and ability to strategize. It can be played in a team or pair or individual competition.

What started out for Burnett as playing “just for fun” became more serious following a third place finish at the U.S. national tournament in 2016. He was then selected to Team USA in 2017 and represented the United States in two international tournaments that year, first in Montreal, Quebec, and then in Cali, Colombia.

Burnett won gold at the US National Tournament in 2017, but he is most proud of being a member of the first BC4 pair to ever win an international match for the United States, when he and his partner defeated Argentina last summer in Colombia.

“It’s really exciting and an honor to wear the Team USA gear and represent my local communities when we travel and compete,” Burnett said.

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Bruce Duane Rieck, 69, Burlingame: Sept. 21, 1948 – Sept. 3, 2018

September 12, 2018   Wayne White   No comments

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Bruce Duane Rieck, 69, of Burlingame, Kan., passed away at the home on Sept. 3, 2018. Bruce was born Sept. 21, 1948, in Topeka, Kan., to Leonard and Elsie Rieck.

Bruce graduated from Burlingame High School in 1966, and attended Kansas State University for a short time before joining the Army Reserves. There he trained as a medic.

He was married to Donna on April 4, 1968, in Burlingame.

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OCPR Update: Singing, kicking and tackling into fall

September 11, 2018   Sponsor

OCPR-logo-redOsage City Parks and Recreation has scheduled a new musical program for three to six-year-olds, and tae kwon do classes are gearing up for the fall session. In addition, youth tackle games have been scheduled for the evening of Sept. 19 at the OCHS football field. Details below.

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Osage County Jail Log, Sept. 3 to Sept. 7, 2018

September 10, 2018   Wayne White

The following individuals were booked into the Osage County Jail in connection with charges or warrants as listed by the arresting agency.

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Teeing off: Osage City Golf Course hosts nighttime tournament Saturday

September 10, 2018   Contributor   No comments

By Richard Burkdoll
Osage City Golf Course President

As the golf year winds down we want to thank everyone that has supported the golf course and helped us improve your course. Extra play and an increase in memberships has helped us out of some of the financial trouble we were in two years ago.  We have 98 members this year, up from 72 just two years ago.

Currently, we need money for fertilizer, seed, and new parts for the irrigation. We are having a fundraiser “Night Golf Tournament” Sept. 15, 2018. The tournament will be a 4-person scramble. Call out to the golf course to reserve your team. (Limited to the first 18 teams).

We have had problems with the irrigation all summer. The fairways have really greened up with the recent rains. Hopefully, we will get the irrigation fixed so we can have green fairways all of next summer.

In the clubhouse, Randy, pro-shop manager, is selling raffle tickets for a free golf membership for next year, to help raise money.

For more information about the upcoming night tournament or the Osage City Golf Course, call 785-528-3329, or stop by at 1401 S. Fourth St., Osage City, Kan.

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Remember how good it used to taste? It still does at Hill’s Drive-up Diner

September 10, 2018   Sponsor

John and Leita Hill have fond memories of enjoying meals at local diners. Now they’re hoping to share that happy, old time experience with their customers at Hill’s Drive-Up Diner, located at 1106 N. Topeka Ave., Lyndon, Kan.

“Serving diner food the way we remember it,” is John and Leita’s motto for their mobile “drive up” diner. On the menu, of course, are hamburgers and cheeseburgers, along with their own specially prepared fresh cut fries, pulled pork sandwiches and brats, and fried cheesecake or ice cream treats for dessert.

Also planned is a unique daily special every day in addition to the regular menu items. Some specials you might find there include stuffed peppers, fajitas, burritos, kabobs, baked potatoes, and Sloppy Joes. Follow Hill’s Drive-up Diner on Facebook to see which daily specials they are offering.

Look for the Hills’ mobile diner in Lyndon, where they’re ready to serve you a memorable lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. (Closed Thursday and Sunday. Also, see them Sept. 7-8 at the Ottawa Tractor show and Sept. 14-15 at the Ottawa Car Show.)

For more information, contact Leita at 785-219-9307, [email protected] or visit hills-drive-up-diner.business.site/.

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A Cowboy’s Faith: Go fast then slow

September 09, 2018   Frank J. Buchman   No comments

A Cowboy's Faith: Click to read more from Frank J. Buchman.“It’s a whole lot easier to speed them up than slow one down.”

Real cowboys have insisted that forever about horses seeming lazy until they learn to move out.

Not true of all, but for many once they’ve found out they can run, it’s really fun.

Now, that’s probably not true for the majority of human populations, as most prefer a relaxed attitude.

Again, there are exceptions. A co-op manager friend used to get up at 4 o’clock and run 10 miles before work. As he matured, getup times the same, but Bobby “only” walks seven-and-a-half miles.

That takes about an hour-and-a-half, and he heads for the office to get a head start on staff. The fellow only gets six hours of sleep a night. “Can’t sleep any more than that,” he claims.

Obviously, the ambitious guy is fit, ordering and eating half what everybody else had for dinner when we got together. Yep, he’s hard to get slowed down like many horses once given liberty to go for it.

Some all-around performance horses will gas up, run their heart out and then come back down calm and collected. Percentage-wise that’s not a great number.

Many riders of pleasure horses, those competing walk, jog, lope in the arena, would never let their mounts run. They’re afraid the horses will like it better than the easy going life. It extends so far as not entering classes with any extensive maneuvers where advance speed is expected.

Most trail riders, those going out for leisure Sunday afternoon walks in the park, are the same way.

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Filings in the Osage County Courthouse, Aug. 27 – Aug. 31, 2018

September 08, 2018   Wayne White

The following information was compiled from records at the Osage County Courthouse, Aug. 27 through Aug. 31, 2018.

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Attorney general, Sunshine Coalition to offer free training on open government laws

September 07, 2018   Wayne White

TOPEKA, Kan. – Free training sessions on Kansas open government laws will be offered next month in Topeka and Johnson County, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government have announced.

“Open access to the functions of government is important to self-government,” said Attorney General Derrick Schmidt said. “As our office investigates complaints of violations of open government laws, most often we find the violations were inadvertent and can be avoided through better education. I encourage public officials, candidates for public office, staff, members of the media and the public to participate in these training sessions to learn more about how these laws work.”

The sessions will be held at 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Johnson County Public Library, Monticello Library, 22435 W. 66th St., Shawnee, Kan.; and 9 a.m-12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Memorial Hall Auditorium, 120 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, Kan.

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Leitha Farwell, 82, Lyndon: May 13, 1936 – Sept. 7, 2018

September 07, 2018   Wayne White   No comments

LYNDON, Kan. – Leitha Farwell, 82, passed away on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. She was born on May 13, 1936, in Peoria, Ill., the daughter of Wilbur and Clara Tunis Light.

Leitha grew up in Dunlap, Ill., and lived in Peoria, Ill., and Topeka and Lyndon, Kan. The last four years she has wintered in Venice, Fla., and summered in Lyndon.

Leitha had worked for UPS in Ottawa for 24 years in the accounting department; she then worked for Neosho County Community College in Ottawa. She was a member of the Lakeside Lutheran Church, in Florida, and the Lutheran Women’s Guild.

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