Potawatomi Tribe Gets Land Back After 175 Years

 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Some 175 years after the U.S. government stole land from the chief of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation while he was away visiting relatives, Illinois may soon return it to the tribe.

Nothing ever changed the 1829 treaty that Chief Shab-eh-nay signed with the U.S. government to preserve for him a reservation in northern Illinois: not subsequent accords nor the 1830 Indian Removal Act, which forced all indigenous people to move west of the Mississippi.

But around 1848, the U.S. sold the land to white settlers while Shab-eh-nay and other members of his tribe were visiting family in Kansas.

To right the wrong, Illinois would transfer a 1,500-acre (607-hectare) state park west of Chicago, which was named after Shab-eh-nay, to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. The state would continue providing maintenance while the tribe says it wants to keep the park as it is.

“The average citizen shouldn’t know that title has been transferred to the nation so they can still enjoy everything that’s going on within the park and take advantage of all of that area out there,” said Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation based in Mayetta, Kansas.

Mary Lee (Ronnau) Fields Passes Away

Mary Lee Ronnau Fields, 79, of Saint Marys, Kansas, beloved wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother passed following a long struggle with COPD at Midland Hospice House on June 17, 2024, surrounded by family. 

Born April 2, 1945, in Wamego, Kansas to John C. Ronnau and Marjorie June (Melenson). Mary Lee was a 1963 graduate of Saint Marys High School. She was united in marriage to William Russell Fields on June 18, 1963, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Mary’s Kansas. 

Mary Lee was a homemaker while the kids were young, then enjoyed working at the St. Marys Manor, St. Marys State Bank, and later St. Marys and Rossville grade schools. She also served on the IC parish council for several terms and was involved in her parish community.

Mary Lee was preceded in death by both her parents and a sister, Judy (Ronnau) DeVader and is survived by her husband, Bill Fields, of the home, brother John Patrick Ronnau, three children, Jay Fields, Dee Fields Gockel, and Mark (Donna) Fields, grandchildren, Christopher Gockel, Brady Gockel, Riley (Sam) Stowe, Erin Fields, Kelsey Fields, and Jake Fields. Mary Lee was also blessed with two great grandchildren, and one on the way. 

The family will receive friends at Piper Funeral Home on Friday, June 21 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and recite the rosary at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys; burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions can be made to Midland Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, Kansas 66606 or to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 208 W. Bertrand Avenue, St. Marys, KS 66536. 

Hurla Is Female Athelete Of Year.

 Rossville's outstanding fremale wrestler, Kendra Hurla, was named by the Capital-Journal as the Topeka  Area Female Athelete. Of The Year

Horak On All-Area Baseball team.

The Capital Journal All Area Baseball team included Camden Horak of Rossville,  who was also on the All MEL team.  Camden pitched 40 innings which included 77 strikeouts and a 1.40 ERA.  He also batted .403 with 14 RBIs in 22 games.

All Mideast League Baseball Team

The first team members of the MEL All League Baseball Team for 2024 are Avery Crosswhite, Camden Horak, Cameron Miller, and Conner Bush.  Logan Fufahi was Honorable Mention

Jerry Mason (52) Passes Away

 

Silver Lake- Gerald C. "Jerry" Mason, 89, passed away Monday, December 11, 2023, at the St. Marys Manor.

Jerry was born April 1, 1934 in Delia, the son of Clayton "Clay" and Frances Pobrislo Mason.  Jerry was raised in the Rossville community and graduated from Rossville High School in 1952.  He served in the United States Army.

Jerry was an electrician and owned and operated Mason Electric for many years.  He had lived in the Silver Lake community since 1973.  Jerry was a member of the Independent Electrical Contractors Association in Topeka.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Richard "Dick" Mason, Kenneth Lee Mason, and Elise Bott.

On January 8, 1965, Jerry and Sharlee Leffler were married in Miami, OK.  She survives at their home.

Jerry is also survived by his son, Brent (Angie) Mason, Kansas City, MO, as well as granddaughters, Rachel and Allison.

Memorial services will be at 1:00 P.M. Friday June 21, 2024, at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys.  Military service will follow at the Rossville Cemetery.

Memorial contrubtions may be made to the Silver Lake Edutional Foundation, P.O. Box 351, Silver Lake, Kansas 66539, or Jimmie Lillard Post No. 31 of the American Legion, P.O. Box 338, Rossville, Kansas 66533.