Nancy (McClain) (47) Preble Passes Away

      Nancy H. (McClain) Preble, 87, a retired educator, died at her home in Mesa on July 21, of natural causes.
       Nancy was born at home in Rossville, Kansas on March 30, 1929, the 7th child of Roy and Eva (Trimble) McClain. Penny, as she was nicknamed, graduated from Rossville High School in 1947. She met the love of her life, Walter C Preble when she was in high school. Their love grew through letters exchanged during his service in the US Army. They were married on February 16, 1948 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They enjoyed 44 years of marriage until Walt preceded her in death in 1992. They lived in Grove, Kansas until buying land and building a home just outside Rossville, Kansas. Penny worked as a bookkeeper at Farm Bureau Insurance and KPL, but most of her life was dedicated to caring for and teaching children. She was a paraprofessional in a special needs preschool at Rossville and Delia Elementary Schools before moving to Arizona in 1984. She worked at Gilbert Junior High School, retiring in 1997 to care for her grandchildren. A lifelong sports fan, Penny loved cheering her kids as they played baseball, football, basketball, softball and volleyball, or raced mini-spring cars. She also became an avid Suns fan upon her arrival in the Valley.    
        She is survived by a sister, Mazie, of Rossville; four sons, Myles (Noree) and Mark (Phet), both of Salt Lake City, UT; Chris (Tammy), of Sun City; and Jim (Lynn) of Mesa, and one daughter, Karen (Dan) Clayton, of Phoenix; 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.            Graveside services will be 10 am, Wednesday, July 27, at Queen of Heaven Cemetary in Mesa. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:  Gilbert Junior High School Library.

George Brown Celebrates 80 Years

George Brown is celebrating his 80th birthday today.

Latest Willard Bridge Photos

Photos by George Brown

Vic Miller (69) Wins In Primary

    Rossville native Vic Miller,  a veteran of Topeka and Shawnee County  politics who once served in the Kansas Legislature, has defeated a new state House member in the Democratic primary.

    Miller prevailed easily Tuesday over Rep. Ben Scott and state employee Brett Kell in the 58th Kansas House District of Topeka.

    No Republican ran for the seat in the Democratic-leaning district.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article93205877.html#storylink=cpy

Maria Van der Putten Has Passed Away

      Maria Christiana Van der Putten passed away July 29, 2016.  Her obituary can be read at:

http://piperfuneralhome.com/obituaries/maria-christina-van-der-putten/

Olejnik Campaign Signs

Adriene Olejnik would  love to get some of her campaign yard signs up in town and the area before the Tall Corn Festival. If you are willing to have one in your yard, contact her and she will deliver one for you. 

Troy (Dick) (72) Adkins Passes Away

Memorial services for Troy Layne Dick Adkins, 51, will be at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, August 4, 2016 at the Rossville Christian Church.

She was born August 8, 1964 at Topeka the daughter of Jerry L. and Kathleen Edwards Robison Dick.  Troy grew up in the Rossville community and graduated from Rossville High School in 1982.   She graduated from Kaw Area Technical School in Topeka where she received her LPN License.

Troy lived in the Rossville and Topeka area all of her life.  After receiving her LPN License she worked in different offices and care facilities.  She was last employed at Tangle Wood Care Home.

Troy is survived by her parents, Jerry and Kay Dick, Silver Lake; three daughters, Jenna (Chance) Stum, Delia, Shawna (Nick) Isakson, Topeka and Casey Shelman, Topeka; two sisters, Coy (Bill) Hoffman and Joy Michael all of Topeka; grandchildren, Kallie, Haiden, Drew, Abbie and Jaxon; nieces and nephews, Lacey Brunin, Brady Hoffman, Robby Michael and Jamie Michael

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Bill and Alverine Dick, Dorothy Robison Lindsey and Robert Edwards.  Her significant other, Gregory Bayless passed away with Troy.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 3^rd at the church from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M.  Memorial contributions may be made in Troy's name and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

For information about her death,  go to:

http://cjonline.com/news/2016-07-30/bodies-2-topekans-found-friday-vacant-carbondale-home-foul-play-not-suspected

Horak and East Win Shrine Bowl (Updated)

EMPORIA (KSNT) – It was a familiar scene for many residents in Shawnee County: Tucker Horak and Mike McCoy scoring touchdowns.

Thanks to the Rossville and Topeka High School product, the East All-Stars were able to beat the West All-Stars 48-27 in the 2016 Shrine Bowl.

Mike McCoy was named MVP as he scored four touchdowns for the East, however many of his teammates also showcased their star power.

Horak started the scoring with a 44 yard touchdown run in his team’s first drive of the game.

McCoy then had a 44-yard run of his own to get his team into red zone, before he punched in from one yard out to give East a two-possession lead.

In the ensuing possession, East continued to roll after a tipped pass was caught by Rock Creek’s Carson Becker, and the Mustang returned it 40 yards to give the East All-Stars a 19-point lead.

The West was able to stop the bleeding and capped off a long drive with a touchdown run by Junction City’s Raye Wilson. They would then score two more times to actually take the lead but East scored right before the half and dominated the second half to give head coach Blake Pierce a win in what maybe his last coaching game in Kansas.

For pictures taken at the game,  go to:  http://rossvilleksphotos.blogspot.com/2016/08/t-horak-at-shrine-bowl.html

For video of the game,  go to:  http://www.wibw.com/content/sports/McCoy-ties-Shrine-Bowl-record-as-East-beats-West-48-27-388764942.html

Shrine Bowl July 30

    The 2016 Kansas Shrine Bowl football game will be this Sat., July 30, at the Welch Stadium in Emporia.  The rosters and other info can be found at:

http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/annual-shrine-bowl-game.html

Rossville 4 Yr Old A Hero

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — Heroes come to the rescue just in the nick of time. That is what a Rossville girl did this weekend by saving her dad’s life at just 4-years-old. Her quick actions now have her family calling her a true hero.

Shawn Barnard was at his parent’s home on Indiana Avenue in Topeka on Saturday, when the unthinkable happened in his parent’s driveway. Family members say Shawn Barnard was working on his wife’s car which was parked in his parent’s driveway when it fell right on top of him.

“It was almost like a dream state, I kept trying to wake myself up but I kept falling asleep,” Shawn Barnard said.

Cecilia Barnard, who is Shawn’s 4-year-old daughter, was riding her bike in the front yard, when she heard her mother’s scream to her dad being crushed by a car.

“She ran inside and told my dad, dad needs help he is under the car,” Shawn Barnard said.

“I ran out here and got the jack and we was able to get the jack and after we were able to get the jack up high I grabbed his head and his wife Ariel took his legs,” Ralph Barnard, Cecilia’s grandfather said.

“I woke up and remembered my dad telling me to breathe and his wife calling and talking to 911,” Shawn Barnard said.

After Shawn was pulled from underneath the car. He was then taken to the hospital.

Shawn’s dad credits Cecilia for her speedy action that led to saving his son’s life.

“My granddaughter is a true hero,” Ralph Barnard said.

“Now, everybody shows me she really is the hero because I don’t think I would be here if it was for her,” Shawn Barnard said.

Shawn Barnard was released from the hospital on Sunday morning. His parents tell KSNT News Shawn was working on cars in the afternoon after he was released.

Video can be seen at:  http://ksnt.com/2016/07/25/four-year-old-saves-her-father/

Emily Dodge Passes Away

Emily S. Dodge, 97, formerly of Rossville and Delia passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the Presbyterian Manor in Topeka.

She was born April 15, 1919 in a small log cabin south of Delia the daughter of Ignac and Veronica Hejtmanek Horak.  She graduated from Goldenrod Country School and from Delia High School in 1937.

Emily worked in Topeka for a few years and in 1959 started working at the Delia Post Office, after 20 years of service she retired in 1979.  She and her husband Leonard farmed in the Delia community.  She helped raise hogs and cattle and raised a garden.

They lived in the Delia community from 1946 until their farm sale in June 2004 when they moved to Rossville.  They later moved to Topeka.  She was a member of the Delia Presbyterian Church.  Emily graduated from the Menninger Bible Course many years ago.  One of the highlights of her life was when she and Leonard along with some of her siblings and their spouses took an 18 day trip to Czechoslovakia to visit relatives and to see the homeland.

On September 1, 1940 she was united in marriage to Leonard Dodge in Topeka.  He preceded her in death on February 11, 2011.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, five siblings and two grandsons.

Survivors include her son, Jim (Janet) Dodge, Rossville; her daughter, Joanne (Mike) Bruce, Huntsville, TX.; two sisters, Irene Collett, Washington and Esther Wehner Rossville; four grandchildren; David (Colleen) Dodge, Karen (Jerry) Manhart, Kevin Bruce and Stehphanie Bruce, great-grandchildren, Casey, Darrin and Danielle Dodge, Abbie and Chad Manhart, Maddison, Regan, Damian and Malcom Bruce and a great-great-grandson Adam Boudreau; many nieces and nephews

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys.  Interment will be in the Delia Cemetery.  Mrs. Dodge will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Delia Presbyterian Church, The Good Samaritan Fund at the Presbyterian Manor or Grace Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

Horak To Play In Shrine Bowl

    Tucker Horak will play in the 2016 Shrine Bowl at Welch Stadium in Emporia.  Rossville High football coach Derek Hammes will be one of the coaches for the East Team.

Darwin Mitchell Passes Away

    Darwin G. Mitchell, passed away July 14, 2016 in Ft. Payne, AL.
    He was born August 13, 1953 at Rossville, the son of Ted and Nora Karnowski Mitchell.
    Survivors include his wife of many years, Pam Mitchell, Ft. Payne, AL; a brother, Daryl (Shirley) Mitchell, Rossville; two sisters, Diana (Harry) McGee, Kansas City, and Debbie (Duke) Kisner, Silver Lake; several nieces and nephews.
    Honoring Darwin s wishes he was cremated. A graveside service will be at a later date.

Cowdin Is Manager Of The Year

Mid-Plains League Manager of the Year

Tobi Cowdin - Rossville Rattlers

Coach Tobi Cowdin has won the League's Manager of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Tobi led the Rattlers to a League Championship in 2015 and has accumulated 37 wins in the past two seasons.

"Coach Cowdin has quickly earned a tremendous amount of respect from his peers in the Mid-Plains League," League Commissioner David Streeter said. "Tobi has a great ability to communicate with not only players, but opposing teams. He shows a great deal of respect to them and is one of the nicest people you will ever meet."

After staring out 5-12 this season, the Rattlers have battled their way back into contention and are a serious contender for the Cowdin Cup.

Rossville has won series against both division winners; Junction City and three wins against Baldwin City. Along with those two big second half series victories, they also won a series against the Topeka Golden Giants that propelled them into the 3rd seed in the West Bracket.

Tobi adds his name again along with John Tetuan (2014 Topeka) to the of Manager of the Year.

-- 

Mid-Plains League

www.midplainsleague.com