Messages

giester2
tell us true

is you happy
or is you blue?

Welcome!

Hang on, dandymomma ... this little community will grow on you. It also will keep you up late at night because you'll be afraid everybody else is talking about stuff you should know!  Have fun.

The greatest surprise I've found in working among Elk County folks is how many of you actually moved here in later years.  I thought it was the typical "elderly" county made up mostly of natives ... which would certainly be OK, but every time I come up here I meet another person who moved from another part of the country.  I truly believe it is the best kept secret in America.

Do you folks realize how upllifting your comments are!  What a wonderful way to end a day --- just browsing through the commentary, prayers, thoughts, all the kind ribbing and the newsy little notes that all of us need to know.

If i were younger, I'd haul off and move to Elk County.  I swear I would.

The Flint Hills Express will carry a story this week about the future of the Zimmerman Funeral Home. It is news that everyone needs to pass along!  Yes, the funeral home will be rebuilt. Yes, the Zimmermans will own it. And, in the interim, the Countryside Funeral Home at Fredonia will handle all services until our friend Lloyd Zimmerman gets home from the hospital. Tell everyone that those needing the services of a funeral home should call the usual telephone number for Zimmermans --- 374-2381. Rosie will still answer the phone and get the information to the right person.
Thanks, everyone!

I spilled my guts on what I "thought" was the roll call, but don't see it poosted anywhere.  So don't be surprised if it shows up in the Coffee Shop or somewhere else. Is it any wonder they call me a bumbling editor?

I'm Rudy Taylor, 61, married to Kathy, my high school sweetheart and wife of 42 years. We publish smalltown newspapers in seven communities including Elk County (the Flint Hills Express).

Our home is in Caney and we operate our newspapers mostly by long-distance using the internet. The Flint Hills Express actually is managed by our daughter, Jenny Taylor Diveley who works out of her home-office in Independence. That way, she can keep an eye on their two-year-old son, Trent, as she works. Many of you probably deal with Jenny on a regular basis.

There's nothing impressive about me --- seldom get out of the area because of our newspapers. I compare us with being dairy farmers. Our son, Andy Taylor, is our editor in Montgomery County and he also covers sports at West Elk and Elk Valley High. If you've seen him, you've seen me --- same chubby profile, same bumbling, near-sighted habits, same zeal to get the story. But don't tell him he looks like me. It's his least favorite thing to hear.

We have three children: Matt Taylor, Holton, Kan., who is a banker; married to Paula, three children, Ryan, Carson and Amanda;  Andy, Independence, married to Amy, parents of a red-haired little girl, Lillie; and Jenny, wife of Landon Diveley, parents of two-year-old Trent.

I've been an editor for 37 years and my wife has spent her entire lifetime working for the newspaper which previously was owned by her parents. Her grandfather and great-grandfather also were Kansas newspaper editors.  That makes Andy and Jenny fifth general editors --- the only ones in Kansas.

Ok, this is getting boring.

My biggest thrill in recent years was penning a new book, "Light On Main Street --- Storytelling by a Country Newspaper Editor," and I'm still marketing it.  I also do radio commercials and voice-overs, pulling in experience I gained while working as a young man in the broadcasting industry.

Kathy and I like to work in the yard. Sounds crazy, but I'm my happiest when riding my little lawn tractor. It's my refuge from the world.  We attend the Tyro Christian Church and love to listen to gospel music. I also like classical music and all other types as long as they don't jar my eardrums.

I'm a mellow guy.

I love small towns and the folks who live in them.  And, I'm crazy about Elk County, even though I seldom get to spend much time there. You have the most fascinating people!

Stay you! The world could take notes from the way you all go about your daily lives.

Thanks for the warning about Ta Ta     Actually she has been so helpful in getting info to our newspaper many times. Good friend. So, is Highway 99 closed between 400 and Howard?

What a nice welcome everyone gave. I'll look forward to peeking in here each evening. And thank you Janet for the photos.  We're having to rely totally upon the internet to publish this week's newspaper. We're doing the same with other papers in Montgomery, Chautauqua and Labette counties that we can't reach by car for a while.

Hi, ya'll.

You don't mind an old newspaperman in your midst do you?