Shirley (Lambert) Wheeler (50) Passes Away

Shirley Jean Wheeler

August 15, 1932 ~ July 30, 2016

      Shirley Jean Wheeler had the most beautiful smile and greatest sense of humor. She had a huge love for her family, friends and church. Shirley faced many health problems over the years, but we felt she was indestructible and full of good will. Her heart finally gave out Saturday, July 30, 2016. While a patient at Warm Springs Hospital in New Braunfels, TX, she passed away peacefully with her husband David holding her hand.
      Shirley was born August 15, 1932 in Salina, Kansas, where she was raised by her mother Gertrude Turner and grandmother until her mother married Ed Lambert, who owned a trucking company and a farm in Rossville, KS. She grew up on the farm with two step-brothers, Vance and Elmer, step-sister, Rosemary and half-brother, Robert. Shirley graduated Valedictorian at Rossville High in 1950. She attended Washburn University 1950-51 and later Weatherford University 1971-1973, studying financial administration.
      She gave birth to her son Greg Marchbanks in 1952 and her daughter Shari Marchbanks in 1954. As a military wife she lived in Hawaii, California, Alabama, Germany, Texas, and Iran making friends all over the world. Her life of work included accountant, payroll, and financial management, receiving many awards. While living in Mineral Wells, Texas in the 70's, she won several awards in the finance department at Fort Wolters. Both Greg and Shari graduated from Mineral Wells High in 1970 and 1972.
      She married David Wheeler in Boise, Idaho June 10, 1984. She then retired as the finance officer of in 1997 when she and her retired husband decided to move to Texas in 1998.
      Shirley was preceded in death by her mother, Gertrude Turner Lambert; half-brother, Robert Lambert; step-brothers, Vance and Elmer Lambert; and step-sister, Rosemary Dancer, as well as her ex-husbands, Ray Chapman and Donald Bryant. She is survived by her husband, David Wheeler; her son, Greg Marchbanks; her daughter, Shari Welch; her step-son, Eric Wheeler; her step-daughter, Arlene Thein; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 
      Shirley Jean Wheeler's memorial service will be at North Shore United Methodist Church in Canyon Lake, Texas at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2016.
      In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to any of the two following organizations that she loved: Sanctuary Fund, North Shore United Methodist Church, 23880 Cranes Mill Road, Canyon Lake, Texas 78133, http://northshore-umc.org/donate or P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.

Tall Corn Article In Magazine

From the Rural Messenger:

Old-timers claim corn in the Kaw Valley is taller than they’ve ever seen.

With all of the rain, seed corn variety improvements, fertilization and modern farming techniques, that’s likely correct.

Truth will be told when the tape measures come out for the “see how tall it really is” competition featured for the 87^th Rossville Tall Corn Festival, Friday through Sunday, Aug. 12-13-14, at Rossville, heart of the Kaw Valley.

“Corn is the crop of the valley and farmers herein. It’s always exciting to see who has the tallest stalk, with measuring set for Friday evening, the 12^th,” said Jessica Aubert, president of the Rossville Community Development Committee, hosts for the big affair.

But, there is a whole slate of festivities planned, with this year’s appropriate theme, “Corn Roots, This Is My Hometown,” she quickly added

“The Tall Corn Festival has been the second weekend of August since 1929, to recognize the hard work of the community during harvest,’’ Aubert related.

“Today, the three-day event has something for everyone in the family, and we sure want to welcome them to this big celebration in America’s heartland,” she invited.

Noteworthy is that the Rossville Community Development Committee is a volunteer organization working to help improve the overall quality of life in Rossville, with organization of the annual Tall Corn Festival just one of a handful of main projects.

Arts and crafts booths will be in the City Park beginning at 5 o’clock, on Friday, through 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon, the 13th.

Bounces houses, pony rides, laser tag, a performance by the Rossville High School Band, free hot dogs, and several other food choices are planned Friday evening.

Grandstand activities, of course, feature the tall corn contest, corn eating and seed spitting competitions, Friday, beginning at 6 o’clock, .

A talent show will be included, with the climax being a slide show of “memories of growing up in Rossville and Tall Corn Festivals of the past,” Aubert said.

There’ll be a 24-hour slow pitch tournament underway Friday evening, and a junior high dance is also scheduled.

An ice cream social, sponsored by the Rossville Development Committee, begins at 9 o’clock, Friday, with a free fireworks show as a new attraction at 9:30.

“Please bring your lawn chairs or blankets to the large grassy area of the park for this 20-minute show,” Aubert invited.

There’ll be a Tall Corn Pancakes Breakfast Saturday, Aug. 13, and the 5K run and mile fun run starts at 7:30. A four-on-four sand volleyball tournament begins at 8 o’clock

The traditional kid’s parade will be at 9:45, and the Main Street Parade, with entries welcome from all around, begins at 10 o’clock.

Food Truck Festival is planned all day, Saturday, in the park, with live music featuring Savannah Chestnut from 11 o’clock, to 1 o’clock.

Additional mid-day Saturday features are a pallet auction at 11:30, the first annual Tall Corn Invitational Tennis Doubles Tournament, a beer garden, carnival, mini train rides and games in the park.

Craft booths, bounce houses, laser tag and pony rides will continue.

Also planned is the St. Stanislaus Picnic 2016, at Dekat Hall, from 3 o’clock, to 6:30, with a silent auction, bingo, and supper.

Special attraction Saturday evening will be The Dance In The Park. Beer garden opens at 6 o’clock, with Stewart Ray coming on stage at 8 o’clock.

The Jared Daniels Band is to entertain from 10 o’clock, until midnight. Free “safe rides home” are to be provided within a radius of 10 miles.

Community worship is Sunday morning, 8 o’clock, at Joe Campbell Memorial stadium. A Paint Therapy program begins at 11 o’clock, in the City Pool Party Room.

Registration for the traditional garden tractor pull is at 11 o’clock, with competition beginning at noon, this year featuring the Kansas State University Engineering Sled.

Afternoon features, as well, are a horseshoe tournament, Knocker Ball, and a Splash Bash at the pool.

Additional members of the Rossville Community Development Committee are Morgan Hansen, Shari Gentry, Amanda Clayton, Casey Graves, Sonia Dick, Charlotte Brunin, Kimber Mitchell, Rachel Meyer, David Allacher, Kelli Kenney, Mindy Fiedler and Tina Dick.

Complete details are at www.rossvillekansas.us, and Facebook.

Indian Tacos Aug. 12

John Curran Passes Away

       John F. Curran, 91, of Holton, KS passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.
      He was born May 31, 1925 in Delia, KS the son of John C. and Bettie (Adams) Curran. John was a lifelong member of the Holton community. He graduated from Denison High School. John proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He worked for Forbes Supply Depot in shipping and receiving department, retiring in 1974.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Betty Jane Buehler and a brother, William R. Curran. Survivors include 10 nieces and nephews, Connie Renfro (Dale), Mike Curran (Geneva), Martha Dreitzler (Don), Cyndy Degand (Jim) , Teresa Curran, Tracy Curran, Karen Beightel (Gordon), Tom Buehler, Rick Buehler and Lisa Buehler and many great-nieces and nephews. Funeral       Service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 15, 2016 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial with military honors will follow in the Olive Branch Cemetery, Rossville, KS. Family will greet friends Sunday afternoon from 2:00 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to National Kidney Foundation c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.

RHS Football Schedule 2016

Rossville High Football Schedule for 2016

Sept.

2      @ Marysville
9      Vs Rock Creek
16    @ Riley Co.
23    Vs Wabaunsee
30    Vs Silver Lake

Oct.

7      Vs Burlington  (Homecoming)
14    @ Mission Valley
21    Vs St. Marys
27    @ Council Grove

Nov.

1      Bi-District
5      Regional
11    Sectional
18    Substate

Adrienne Olejnik Video

Here is a video which is a part of Adrienne Olejnik's campaign for the Kansas House of Representatives.

https://www.facebook.com/adrienneforkansas/videos/1059218077447939/

Parking Lot Party

Adrienne Olejnik For Kansas House

Dear supporters of Adrienne Olejnik for Kansas House of Representatives:

Thank you for your early and continued support of my campaign for the Kansas House. With your help, we have hit some major milestones and enjoyed early and sustained success. The primary last week was a very positive indicator that voters are ready and willing to elect legislators who are moderate and will work together. It gives us an even brighter outlook for November. But the hard work can't stop and will continue over the next 90+ days!

Some highlights:

• Raised over $24,000 in campaign funds plus several thousand dollars of in-kind donations
• Received mentoring and advice from political experts - Republican and Democrat
• Knocked on doors in every county and every community in the district
• Listened to voters and left campaign materials at thousands of doors including towns and rural areas
• Attended meetings and met elected officials: city councils, county commissions, school boards 
• Participated in community breakfasts, political meetings, candidate forums, farmer/rancher meetings, and educator groups
• Placed yard and highway signs around the counties
• Conducted 4 fundraisers and Meet & Greets
• Marched in 4th of July parade and Wabaunsee county fair parade with a strong showing of supporters in blue Adrienne Olejnik t-shirts!

What's next? I ask for your continued support with the following items:

1. Visibility - more yard signs will go up mid-September. If you or a friend are in a
      high-traffic location and would like a yard sign, please let me know.

2. Letter writing - please let me know if you would like to contribute your name to our
      letter campaign. We can help you with a message or you can write your own.

3. Walking door to door - join our great group of volunteers going to doors and listening
       to voters and asking for a vote!

       4. Funds - One more fundraising event will be scheduled in Wamego in September.
              Please let me know if you would  like an invitation.

In the remaining weeks before November 8, I will implement a strong plan for mail (letters and postcards) to voters in the district. This is expensive but effective and necessary. If you are in a position to support the campaign again financially, thank you in advance!

I thank you for all your work on my behalf and on behalf of a better Kansas. My success to date is because of the great people like you who are volunteering their time, talent, and money for the greater good. I appreciate each one of you! I feel very hopeful about our chances in November and will continue to work tirelessly in meeting voters and making connections.

Thank you again for all your work and support!.

Adrienne Olejnik

Graduation Photos 2016

CJOnline has dozens of photos taken at the 2016 RHS graduation.  You can see them at:
http://beta.spotted.cjonline.com/mediadetail/25936114?gId=657778

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/