Osage County Online | Osage County News – Page 2 – News for Osage County, Kansas, Burlingame, Carbondale, Lyndon, Melvern, Olivet, Osage City, Overbrook, Quenemo, Scranton, Vassar, Pomona Lake, Melvern Lake

OSU mascot honors frontier lawman, sharpshooter, former Kansas resident

“Pistol Pete” is the widely recognized Oklahoma State University mascot named after early day lawman Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton. By Frank J. Buchman Oklahoma State University’s “Pistol Pete” mascot More »

Willing Workers tour Osage City meat processing plant

Willing Workers 4-H Club visits Custom Meats, Osage City, front from left, Clara Thielen and Ruby Stucky, middle, Leila Wilcoxson, Jaiton Bosse, Mason Newman, Reese Newman, Hadley Bosse, Kassie More »

Caution: KDOT to begin survey of U.S. 75 bridges in Osage County

Beginning Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, the Kansas Department of Transportation will conduct a field survey on two bridges on U.S. 75 in Osage County. The bridges go over state More »

Hidden History: Santa Fe Trail charts course for railroads, highways across Kansas

An American family travels using a common mode of transportation during Santa Fe Trail times and later, a covered wagon. Photo source unknown. The Santa Fe Trail cuts across More »

Osage County Jail Log, Feb. 27 – March 8, 2023

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

Filings in the Osage County Courthouse, Feb. 24 – March 2, 2023.

The following information was compiled Feb. 24 to March 2, 2023, from records at the Osage County Courthouse, Lyndon, Kan.

Monica Z. Prim, 91, Overbrook: July 11, 1931 – Feb. 17, 2023

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Monica Z. Prim, 91, Overbrook, Kan., passed away Feb. 17, 2023, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was born July 11, 1931, in Nebraska City, Neb., the daughter of Carl and Theresa Helen (Ramold) Zeiner.

Monica grew up in Nebraska, graduating from high school there. She then graduated from Nebraska State Teacher College, Peru, Neb., and taught elementary school in Nebraska, Topeka, Kan., and Overbrook. Later she was a PTF clerk at the Overbrook Post Office.

Monica’s interests were in all forms of home-ec, in which she loved baking, cooking, keeping house, knitting, sewing, and especially quilting. She played the organ for almost 50 years for funerals, weddings and masses at St. Francis of Assisi at LaPeer, where she was a member of the Altar Society. Monica was a charter member of the Santa Fe Quilters Guild, and also a member of Overbrook American Legion Auxiliary. Monica enjoyed her life and was involved in many community activities. She often said she really liked living in the country but wasn’t a “farmer.”

Willis Elgin DeWitt, 85, Burlingame: June 16, 1937 – Feb. 24, 2023

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Willis Elgin DeWitt, 85, died February 24, 2023. He was born June 16, 1937.

Willis grew up in rural Harveyville, Kan., and lived his adult life in Burlingame, Kan. He was the youngest son of Ivan DeWitt and Anna (Elgin) DeWitt.

Willis married Peggy Kivitter in 1957; they later divorced. To this union they had two boys, Willis Elvin DeWitt, Pittsburgh, Kan., and Wayne Eric DeWitt.

On Sept. 3, 1965, he married Betty Morey Hawker. To this union came a stepdaughter, Wendy Hinckm, White Cloud, Kan., and two daughters, JoEtta Wheeler, Virginia Beach, Va., and DeAnna Bean (Grady), Osage City, Kan.

Dustyn James Green, 31, Pomona: Feb. 23, 1992 – Feb. 27, 2023

POMONA, Kan. – Dustyn James Green, 31, passed away Feb. 27, 2023, in Scranton, Kan. He was born Feb. 23, 1992, in Lawrence, Kan., the son of Jim and Tammy (Ferrell) Green.

Dustyn graduated from Ottawa High School in 2010, studied psychology at Ottawa University, and was working on a Bachelor’s of Business Administration at the American Intercontinental University. He had worked jobs in landscape and construction, but he loved the work in architecture and computers. He was currently working at JM Smuckers, Topeka, Kan., and had started his own online business, Remote Life-Outdoors. He had been a member of the Mt. Pleasant Community Church, Lyndon, Kan., and the First Southern Baptist Church, Ottawa, Kan.

Marilyn Jean Walquist, 75, Lyndon: Dec. 14, 1947 – March 2, 2023

LYNDON, Kan. – Marilyn Jean (Pierce) Walquist, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, was reunited with her late husband when she passed into Heaven on March 2, 2023. Marilyn was just 75 years old. Marilyn was born to Lorenzo and Pauline (Tonetti) Pierce, Dec. 14, 1947, in Topeka, Kan.

After graduating from Lyndon High School, Lyndon, Kan., Marilyn attended Emporia State University.

Her life centered around her family. On Aug. 28, 1966, Marilyn married her high school sweetheart, Wayne Walquist.

The couple raised three daughters, Amy, Carrie and Megan, and always welcomed extras to their home. The family traveled many, many miles showing livestock and attending school activities for the girls. Avid K-State fans, the Walquist family enjoyed season tickets to football, including the pregame tailgates with friends, and occasional halftime breaks with other K-Staters. Truly, Marilyn did not know a stranger and the football games were no different. Marilyn was one of the biggest, and sometimes loudest, sports fan.

Helping others was not only Marilyn’s passion but her profession. She partnered with Wayne in Wayne’s Clothing, helped pick out last minute Christmas gifts at Beatty’s Western Wear, and spent many years greeting patients at Cotton O’Neil Clinic in Carbondale. Her compassion and care for others was recognized in 2003 when she was awarded the Manuel E. and Anne B Pustiz Award from Stormont Vail HealthCare.

Dennis Allen May, 54, Carbondale: May 13, 1968 – Feb. 28, 2023

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Dennis Allen May, 54, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at his home in Carbondale, Kan. He was born May 13, 1968, in Topeka, Kan., the son of Bruce and Cynthia (Harris) May. He was raised by his mom, Cindy and Jerry Booth.

Dennis had lived in Scranton, Kan., and Carbondale all of his life.

Dennis graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School in 1986, and had worked as a carpenter for many years.

Patricia Ann Smith, 79, Topeka: Nov. 27, 1943 – Feb. 21, 2023

TOPEKA, Kan. – Patricia Ann Smith, 79, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. Patricia was born Nov. 27, 1943, in Harvey, Ill., the daughter of Thomas and Winifred (Austin) Parsons.

She grew up in Blue Island, Ill., and graduated from St. Benedict Grade School, and from St. Francis Academy, Joliet, Ill.

She was a former nun in the order of the Sisters of St. Mary.

Patricia married the late Grant Smith in 1966, in Chicago, Ill. They later divorced.

Patricia worked as a dietary and nurse’s aide in the Topeka area for many years.

Help House dress shop attires local girls with beautiful prom gowns

By Raylene Quaney

This was the sixth year for the Help House Prom Shop, the most successful to date with the large donation from the Green Prom Movement, a non-profit run by Marc and Melissa Roberts, of Vassar, Kan. Plus, many dresses were donated throughout the year by others in our communities. These were some of some of the most beautiful gowns we have ever had.

This year we gave out 132 dresses, a record number of prom dresses, with close to 450 people through the doors, parents, grandparents, and friends came to help the girls find just the right dress.

I would like to thank the Help House Board of Directors for allowing us to continue to offer this opportunity to the girls in Osage County; also thank you to USD 454 for allowing us to set up shop in their facility and “take it over” for over a week, the gentlemen that had to work around the racks of dresses during that time, and Chris Burk and Mike Barlow and their assistance for getting the building ready. We would like to thank Jaryl and Stephanie Seth for loaning us the display racks for dresses.

And thanks to the volunteers who worked endless hours sorting and hanging and steam pressing all of the dresses and then working each day to assist these shoppers in finding their special dress. We feel so blessed to have been apart of this, watching their smiles and sometimes tears. The special thanks we received from everyone was so special. This endeavor took several hours and days of work from a small army of volunteers to make it such a success. The volunteers were Corinne Dubois, Donna Young, Jan Newman, Carol Grady, Lee Ann Smiley, Connie Bonczkowski, Cindy Ledgard, Tammi Brabb, Nancy Alley, Ann Hladky, Sheila Curtis, and Jaclynn Ruth.

Each girl who found a dress was eligible to register for a $25 Visa gift card. The winner was Alexis Kelly, who attends Santa Fe Trail High School. Congratulations to you.

Frontier Extension: Learn more about raising backyard poultry

Frontier Extension District will host an educational meeting about raising poultry, “Backyard Poultry 101,” at 7 p.m. March 30, 2023, at Garnett Community Building, Anderson County Fairgrounds, Garnett, Kan.

Dr. Scott Beyer, Kansas State Extension Poultry Nutrition and Management Specialist, will highlight many aspects of owning and raising poultry. He will discuss having a bio-security plan to protect birds from the highly pathogenic avian flu. Other topics will include poultry housing and management, selecting the best breeds for production, getting the most eggs from your flock, molting a flock, and vaccinations and health care.

With the demand for poultry products on the rise, it is a real treat to be able to grow your own broilers or eat fresh eggs. Fresh eggs are tastier than those purchased  from the grocery store and they are also great when used for baking.

For more information about the Backyard Poultry 101 meeting, contact Rod Schaub, Frontier Extension agent, at 785-828-4438 or email rschaub@ksu.edu.

Community Christian School schedules kindergarten round up for April

Community Christian School, of Overbrook, Kan., will hold its kindergarten round up Friday, April 21, 2023, in two sessions at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day.

The round up is for students who will be five years old by Dec. 31, 2023. Community Christian School meets at Grace Community Church, 310 E. Eighth St., Overbrook.

To register for the kindergarten round up or for more information about the school, visit CCSkansas.org.

Community Christian School is a new Christian school featuring small class sizes and a biblical curriculum.

Zion Lutheran youth serve up the spice for Lenten service

March 1, 2023, the Zion Youth Group served a freewill donation enchilada meal to congregation members before the Zion Lutheran Church’s Wednesday night Lenten service. The Vassar church’s youth group has begun fundraising to attend the National Youth Convention, in New Orleans, in the summer of 2025. Youth group members serving are, from left, Chase Silver, Reed Silver, Kiefer Haney, Allie Reeser, and Dylan Haney. Not pictured were Caleb Anschutz, Jensen Sturdy, and Bella Reeser. Photo thanks to Lisa Reeser.


A Cowboy’s Faith: Old ways were best

A Cowboy's Faith: Click to read more from Frank J. Buchman.“We have to get another load of grain today.”

The statement is now heard at least once a week and will be made more often in the months ahead.

Actually, “grain” is a generic term, which in this case means “a ration of ground corn and milo with molasses.” There are different rations being fed now, with one having more added supplemental protein for replacement heifers and first-calf pairs.

Riding horses don’t need that extra protein, although they sometimes get special additives to enhance performance during show season.

Getting a load of grain has become a major ordeal. Half a century ago, every community had at least one grain elevator, and small towns often had several.

Now, there is only one elevator in the county that can grind and mix grain rations to specification for livestock.

Some operations have on-site elevators and can make feed rations by pushing buttons. Grain goes from the storage bin, into the grinder, with all supplements mixed in.

An auger often distributes the ration right into the livestock feeders and bunks. Or into a large bulk bin truck used to proportion feed around the ranch.

Six decades ago, milo was purchased by the pickup load at the nearby elevator and fed whole grain without grinding. Nutritionists claim livestock is unable to efficiently consume whole grains for maximum dietary value.

However, getting grain “rolled,” the same as grinding in certain older days’ elevators, always cost additional money. So, trying to be conservative, a small, handfed grain grinder was attached to the tractor power take-off. Supplements could be mixed in, although that was generally considered too costly.

St. David’s Society to present annual concert Sunday

The 135th St. David’s Concert will be 2:30 p.m. March 5, 2023, at Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus, 1702 W. 15th Ave., Emporia, Kan. Being one of the oldest continuous celebrations in Kansas, the free Welsh concert is sponsored by the St. David’s Society of Kansas.

Always the heart of the concert, the St. David’s Chorus will open with the traditional song “We’ll Keep a Welcome”. Several other numbers will include song choruses sung in Welsh.

Eluned Jones will return to direct the St. David’s Choir and concert. Being originally from Wales, “The Land of Song,” her musical talent comes naturally. Jones will present one of the special solo numbers.

The concert includes a variety of artists sharing their talents on flute, harp, trumpet, and violin interspersed with vocal solos and a reading.

Opening remarks will be given by the St. David’s President Susan Evans Atchison. Rev. Gary Gooszen and Rev. Phyllis Stutzman will give the invocation and benediction. The concert will close with the singing of “God Be With You”.

Organist and pianist Travis Carmichael will set the tone with a medley of Welsh music for the prelude.

St. David’s Society officers for 2023-24 are president, Linda Orear, vice president, Mi’Chielle Cooper, secretary, Deb Childears, and treasurer, Rhonda Gordon.

Following the concert, a reception featuring bara brith and tea will be served in the Fellowship Hall. An elevator is available in the vestibule.

Filings in the Osage County Courthouse, Feb. 17 – Feb. 23, 2023

The following information was compiled Feb. 17 to Feb. 23, 2023, from records at the Osage County Courthouse, Lyndon, Kan.

Silver Haired Legislature election slated for March 10 at local nutrition sites

Election of Silver Haired Legislators for Osage County will be 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday, March 10, 2023, at three locations in Osage County: Burlingame Senior Nutrition Site, 116 W. Lincoln Ave., Burlingame; Carbondale Senior Nutrition Site, 228 Main St., Carbondale, KS 66414; and Osage County Senior Center, 604 Market St., Osage City.

Voting instructions and ballots will be posted at each voting place. Date and times will be the same for each site. Those voting should give the following information to the poll worker: Name, address, city or town, and age, and voters should be 60 years or older.

Silver Haired Legislature candidates from Osage County who have filed for election include:

Melody Hoffsommer, Overbrook

  • Candidate statement: Transportation, healthcare costs, safety, and isolation are a few of the problems facing senior citizens today. As a caring member of my community, I would like the opportunity to help create policies, plans, and programs that would benefit retirees and society as a whole. I’ve earned a BA in Political Science and an MSE in School Counseling. Currently, I am a member of Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel, on the Board of Directors of the Appanoose Area Preservation Society, and belong to Northeast Kansas BeeKeepers Association. Your vote would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Betty Hughs, Osage City

  • Candidate statement: I will spotlight the treasure we as a people have in the mature persons of Kansas. We still have much to contribute to those coming up behind us. Diversity of life experiences is vast and unique in our age group. I will clearly show just because one is over 60, one should not be considered useless. Many of we “seniors” who want to work, are rudely shoved aside due to age. The goal is to show we seniors have much more to give and are extremely worth the effort, for the Silvered Haired Legislature to stand in the gap.

Roxanne Wendt, Melvern

  • Candidate statement: For the past 35 years I have worked as a speech-language pathologist in public schools. In my professional career, I have worked diligently to ensure that my students developed a strong voice for themselves. Early in my career, I witnessed the importance of being able to express to others your personal needs and to feel a sense of being heard. Now, as I am nearing the end of my professional work career, I realize my work is far from over. At this time, I believe it is now my responsibility to advocate for the needs of my fellow senior citizens living in Osage County, Kansas, as our voices deserve to be heard in the Kansas Capitol.

The election is conducted by East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging, Ottawa, Kan.; call 800-633-5621 for more information.

OCPR Update: Osage City prepares to host 20th annual spring BBQ party

OCPR-logo-redSpring is almost here along with Osage City Parks and Recreation youth baseball and softball, and that scrumptious aroma of tasty smoked barbecue.


OCPR Flint Hills League Youth Baseball & Softball
Baseball and Softball Divisions – 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 15U

  • Players who are not 5 years old by May 1, 2023 are too young for the 6U Boys/Girls Divisions.
  • 6U and 8U divisions – Coach Pitch; all other baseball/softball divisions – Kid Pitch.
  • $40 per player (baseball/softball).
  • Turn in forms only, without payment. Payment will be settled if the season happens.
  • Baseball/Softball age date, May 1, 2023.
  • Signup forms can be found at online at www.osagecity.com and the City of Osage City Facebook Page or sent out by request.

Signup deadline March 24.


Smoke In The Spring
April 7-8, 2023
Jones Park, 517 S. First St., Osage City, KS
For updated event information see www.facebook.com/smokeinthespring


Taste of Osage City
Friday, April 7
Presented by Edward Jones

5 p.m. “Until The Food Runs Out!”

  • This is a special vending opportunity for Smoke in the Spring teams.
  • BBQ teams accept BBQ Bucks as payment for food.
  • BBQ Bucks can be reused from year to year
  • BBQ Bucks are a dollar for dollar exchange.

Live Music
Friday, April 7, 7-10 p.m.
OCPR Building
Sponsored By the Osage City Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 3890.


Firework Demo Display
9 p.m. Friday, April 7
Provided by Garrett’s Fireworks, Osage City, KS


Marylou Pat Fallon, 86, Hutchinson: Jan. 29, 1937 – Feb. 28, 2023

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Marylou Pat Fallon, 86, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Hutchinson, Kan. She was born Jan. 29, 1937, to Forrest and Mildred Bowlby, in Wichita, Kan.

Marylou grew up in the Mulvane United Methodist Church, Mulvane, Kan., graduated from Mulvane High School, and attended Kansas State University.

She married Stan Fallon in 1961, and had two children, Patrick and Kristi. The marriage ended in 1986.

Marylou worked for the Osage County Chronicle and Mulvane News, and retired from Boeing in 1999.

In her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She worked at the Mulvane Senior Center, delivered Meals on Wheels, organized and managed the Old Settlers Day Program annually, and worked on the Mulvane High School Annual Alumni Banquet, always maintaining contact with her class from 1955.

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