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The Friends of the Howard Library held a coffee/cookie fund raiser this week. They raised over $600.

My youngest sister, Rebecca, was cleaning out some old boxes and found some old photos. There's Leslie and Bertie Wisner with Mary Kay, Marty, Debbie and Judy; then Mary Arlene Wisner Lees in Boxholm, Iowa early 1960's; and all of us girls, also Boxholm, early 1960s.

I'm so glad 2018 is over. So many "not" times and events. 2019 will be much better. I'm ready for it. I wish all of you a Happy New Year!

Wilma Jane Weyrauch passed away on October 18, 2017 at her home in Howard, Kansas.  She was 87 years old and was born on March 1, 1930 in her parents' home in Braman, Oklahoma, the third child of Pickney and Leota (Lowrey) Hancock.

Wilma's family moved many times throughout her life living in places such as Clearwater, Viola, and Conway Springs, Kansas before finally moving to a farm south of Piedmont, Kansas when she was a senior in high school.  She graduated from Piedmont High School in 1948.  It was here that she met James William "Jim" Weyrauch and started dating him on July 4, 1948.  They were married on August 6, 1948 and were married for 56 years before Jim passed away in 2004.

The newly married couple starting their lives living close to both sets of parents in northwestern Elk County.  In early 1949, they moved to Ottawa County Kansas where their first daughter, Jimmie Ann, was born in October 1949.  Their second daughter, Jean, was born in April 1951.  In the fall of 1954, the little family moved to Severy, Kansas where their third daughter, Janet, was born in December 1954.  The fourth daughter, Patricia , was born in July 1956.  Jim and Wilma raised their daughters in Severy, Kansas.

Wilma worked at several jobs.  She was a teacher's aide at the Severy Grade School and worked as a legal assistant for the David Brace Law Office in Moline, Kansas.  Wilma and Jim moved to Sedgwick County, Kansas after the girls were gone from home where Wilma worked for Tax Wise and then for the Internal Revenue Service where she retired in 1992.

Wilma was a long-time member of the Ladonia Chapter #243 Order of the Eastern Star and was a member  of the American Legion Auxiliary of the Carter-Rader Post #149 in Howard, Kansas.  Wilma enjoyed making and working in her flower beds at her home until she was not able to do so due to her health.

Wilma is survived by her daughters, Jimmie Ann Weyrauch of Howard, Kansas, Jean Keatts and her husband, Wayne of Golden City, Missouri, Janet Harrington and her husband, Jim of Howard, Kansas, and Patti Gallardo and her husband, John of Howard, Kansas; her brothers, Wayne Hancock of Haysville, Kansas and Dale Hancock of Wichita, Kansas; her sister, June Matzen of Bucklin, Kansas; and  five grandchildren, Tina Keatts Stump, Lisa Keatts Kinnunen, Michael Keatts, Angela Gallardo Mann, and Teresa Gallardo Usry.   Wilma is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her husband, James "Jim"; her father and mother, Pinckney and Leota; and two great-granddaughters, Allison Daniele Usry and Kelly Jo Stump.

A visitation will be held on Friday, November 3, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.  A private burial will take place at a later time.  Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com.  Memorials have been suggested to Harry Hynes Hospice and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)

Today was the first Sunday in a new church year, and there have been some local changes.

Dena Allison now has four churches: Grenola, Moline, Longton and Elk Falls.

Susan Galvan now has three churches: Severy, Fall River and New Albany.

Geesook Gil is the new pastor at the Howard church. She is a 1/2 time appointment. Her first Sunday will be next week, July 9th.


Howard and Severy are no longer a combined church charge. They have separated. I don't have all the information as to how come; it's been several years since I've attended either church.

However, I am now the accompanist for the Severy United Methodist Church. Today was their first service with Susan Galvan preaching and me playing. It was a lovely time, almost like coming home.

They've moved their service time to 8:30 am on Sundays, to allow Susan to attend all three churches each week.

The West Elk High School Varsity Boy's and Girl's teams will host Marmaton Valley in the first round of sub-state on Monday, February 27. Girls game will start at 6:00 pm. Boys game is scheduled to begin at 7:30. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 k-12, and pre-K free as set by KSHSAA. No passes will be honored.

A double win - chicken noodle dinner and basketball!

[Tuesday, Dec. 13]

Pre-K through 5th Grade
Tuesday, Dec. 13
6:30 pm
West Elk Gymnasium

6th Grade, Junior High, High School
Monday, Dec. 19
6:30 pm
West Elk Auditorium

Both concerts are free and open to the public.

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Wow - that woke us up this morning.

USGS says a 5.6 earthquake centered north of Pawnee, Oklahoma. We felt it at 7:02 am. Knocked some pictures off the walls. We probably also have some new cracks underneath our paneling. 

From Facebook, Montgomery County Chronicle, Aug. 13, 2016


The Shulthis Stadium grandstand at Riverside Park in Independence had a soft opening for contributors and boosters on Friday night — more than one year after the original grandstand was demolished. The new grandstand includes several amenities, including a plaza area with picnic tables, an enlarged concession stand, spacious bathrooms, a home locker room, and considerable recognition of the stadium's place in national history. The grandstand will get its first official workout this Friday, Aug. 19 when Independence Community College's football team hosts Iowa Western in a scrimmage that is set to kickoff at 5 p.m.

From Facebook, Montgomery County Chronicle, posted Aug. 13, 2016:


CITY TO BUILD TEMPORARY FIRE-EMS FACILITY FOR $316,000; PRELIMINARY COST TO REMEDIATE CITY HALL IS $2.6 MILLION

The Independence City Commission on Thursday voted to spend $316,810 to erect a temporary building on the grounds of the former Mercy Hospital to house the city's firetruck and ambulance fleet during the time in which the current City Hall is remediate of mold and other hazardous issues.

The vote was 2-1, with commissioner Leonhard Caflisch casting the lone dissenting vote.

Considerable debate was given to the topic with commissioners at one point voicing concern about the need to spend money on a temporary building. The 100' x 80' building will be dismantled and relocated to another location for use as a city sanitation vehicle facility once its use as a temporary shelter for firetrucks and ambulances is completed. It's unknown what the relocation and reconstruction costs will be.

Because the facility will be used — eventually — as a permanent sanitation facility, commissioners learned that the money to pay for the facility as a firetruck/ambulance facility will come from the city's sanitation fund.

It was during the course of the discussion that commissioners also learned of the earliest estimates to remove mold from City Hall. David Cowan, public works director, said the preliminary price tag will be $2.6 million for a full-scale mold remediation and structural repair. This does not include the costs to remodel city offices, should the city commission choose that as an permanent option for City Hall.

City offices relocated to the former Mercy Hospital facility, which is now owned by Independence city taxpayers, last week after a mold led to the illness of a city employee. A worker's compensation claim was filed by the employee against the City of Independence. The City's physician who handle worker's compensate diagnoses joined the city's legal counsel in recommending that the city offices move to the former Mercy Hospital on a temporary basis due to the mold.

Had an interesting talk this afternoon with Alan Coble. He's running for Elk County Commissioner, District 2. Mr. Coble was going door-to-door today and stopped and talked with both Jim and me.

Seems like a nice guy with some good ideas.

I truly think the best way to change someone's mind is to lead that person along, walking hand-in-hand.

I believe change occurs easier and with more frequency when the similarities are pointed out, building on what the shared values are.

Throwing verbal brickbats usually results in steadfast walls and determined opposition.

Love, kindness and friendship are more likely to accomplish great and long-lasting change than sarcasm, put-downs and belittling.

This is a good thing, I think, possibly a little bit too late. Both Democrats and Republicans combined.

http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article85822717.html#emlnl=Afternoon_Headlines

Wow - got over 3 inches of rain last night. The ground, however, was so saturated already that there was a quite a bit of minor flooding. Our sump pump got quite a work-out.

Thankfully, the rain stopped enough today for the school to have some successful field trips. Some plans were changed, but everyone reported having fun.

I don't get it. Why the continued name calling on here?

I know politics is often considered "rough" - but that doesn't mean it needs to be nasty. What's wrong with saying "I disagree" and "Here is what I think." Why belittle the people and opinions that aren't your own?

When I was growing up, my parents said people started calling names when they lacked the education and manners to successfully defend their opinions. If your political position is sound and based on facts, it shouldn't be necessary to denigrate those who disagree.

I've met several of you, and think those I've met have beautiful manners, so I don't understand why the name calling. It doesn't happen in person.

Does the distance between people provided by the forum (and internet) reduce the need for manners?

I grew up in a large family; we definitely had (and still have) our disagreements. We don't do put-downs and name calling, however. We have some very heated discussions, but we allow each other to disagree. My brother and I joke that in national elections, we cancel each other's vote. My husband and I have been known to "cancel" each other's vote. That's life. Not a cause for being mean.

Thoughts???

[Katie Black]

Last Saturday, April 23, several Musicians from West Elk High School went to Salina to participate in the State Music Festival. They came away with good scores.

Katie Black received a II rating on her vocal solo.

Logan Hughes, a freshman, was awarded a I on her trumpet solo.

Destyni Myers, also a freshman, not only received a I on her vocal solo, but also received 79 out of a possible 80 points.

Two seniors went: Kyle Coffman, a drummer, and Alex Roe, a singer. Both were awarded I ratings for the second year in a row. Both also received perfect scores, 80 out of 80 points.

Helen Hinkle turned 102 on April 20, 2016.

Couple of places celebrated with photos: Sweet & Spicy and Poplar Pizza (that's Moriah Gillespie with Helen at Poplar's).

Nicely done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQiqN4UdJfg&feature=youtu.be

West Elk will decidedly be a different place next year. (Yeah, I know: it changes all the time.  )

Several teachers have resigned. They include Susan Galvan, 1st grade; Teresa Gorman, science; and Linda Shilts-Baum, music.

Both Susan and Teresa have been there for many years: 30+, I think. Linda has been there for 12 years and has been an awesome addition to the staff. In addition to music, she's led the Scholars Bowl Team, been co-director of the play and for many years led the forensics team.

There are probably other changes, but these are the ones I know of right now.

On a related note - Martin Burke continues to get good reviews as principal.