JoAnn Swenson (56) Passes Away

Photo from 1956 RHS Yearbook

JoAnn Swenson went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at White Oak Manor of Burlington with her daughter by her side.

JoAnn was born September 12, 1938 in Salina, Kansas to Walden and Pauline Swenson. Having spent her first few years living on the family farm she acquired her loving spirit for helping people and caring for animals.

After attaining several telephone companies the family eventually settled in Rossville, Kansas. It was here that JoAnn's gifts of singing, piano, and acting shone brightly as she participated in church, school, and community activities. After graduating Valedictorian from Rossville High, she attended Kansas University where she majored in Music Therapy and was a member of AOp sorority. One of her most memorable experiences was when she sang "Crimson and Blue" at the Campanile for KU 1957 Homecoming. While at college she met her husband, Jim Londerholm, who was an All American athlete in Track and Field for KU. Their daughter, Sherri, was born during their years in Kansas City.

JoAnn loved to bring joy and laughter to people. While living in Jacksonville, Florida she acted and sang in skits she wrote to benefit Toys For Tots while working for the Chamber of Commerce. She did the same in her career with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida and North Carolina. JoAnn was vital in organizing the Junior Olympics in Jacksonville during the 1980's as well. Clowning was also a favorite hobby. She especially loved performing at her grandson's school Fall Festival!

JoAnn loved to travel. She, her sisters, and mother took many trips together throughout the years. They traveled around the country visiting family and took numerous cruises to beautiful places.

JoAnn was a devoted and loving daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend. She loved her family very much. Her beautiful smile and "can do" spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walden "Walt" Howard Swenson and Pauline (Fenton) Swenson; and brother in law, Dr. William "Bill" Vaught, Jr.

Surviving are her daughter, Sherri (Londerholm) Gibson and husband Tim of Simpsonville, SC; two grandchildren, Cameron Gibson of Indianapolis, Indiana and Christina Otto and husband Jesse of Easley, SC; two sisters, Diane Vaught of Burlington and Joyce Harper and husband Steve of Chapel Hill; several nieces and nephews including Lori Duncan and husband Jeff, Creighton Vaught and wife Libby, Jill Barham and husband Brandon, and Stephanie Carmody and husband Dennis; several great nieces and nephews; and many cousins.

A memorial service will be held at Rich & Thompson Funeral Home in Burlington on Sunday, October 8, 2017 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends prior to the memorial service at Rich & Thompson Funeral Home from 1:00 until 1:45 PM.

Memorials may be made to , Western Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215-3220 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance – Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.

Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com.

Published in TheTimesNews.com on Oct. 1, 2017

Helen (Trahoon) (41) Matney Passes Away

Helen W. Matney, 94, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, September 28, 2017.

She was born December 26, 1922, in Rossville, Kansas, the daughter of Louis and Thresa (McConnell) Trahoon. She was a 1941 graduate of Rossville High School. Helen moved to Topeka in 1942.

Helen was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, retiring in 1983.

Mrs. Matney was a member of the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville. She was very active in the Kaw Valley Club of the Kansas Oldtime Fiddlers, Pickers & Singers where she had served as treasurer. She was also a member of the Ladies of the Moose, Topeka, Telephone Pioneers Club, and had volunteered for the Red Cross. 

Helen married Gene A. Matney on October 15, 1948 in Topeka. He preceded her in death on October 5, 2009. Survivors include a brother, Rolland E. (Ruby) Trahoon, Topeka; seven nieces, Janice Ables, Susan (Tim) Gaggero, Mellody (David) Harrison, Tammy (Jeff) Butler, Stacy Trahoon, Lisa (Mike) Firsick and Kelly Cole; three nephews, Steven Trahoon, Floyd (Debbie) Trahoon, Jr. and Rolland (Deb) Trahoon II; several great-nieces and nephews; great-great nieces; and a brother-in-law, Dean Tregemba, Kansas City, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two siblings, Floyd Trahoon and Shirley Tregemba. 

Helen loved visiting with the elderly and attending car races in Knoxville, TN.

A funeral ceremony will be 1 p.m., Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at the Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave, Topeka. Interment will follow at the Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, Topeka. Helen will lie in state after 3 p.m., Monday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Humane Society, 5720 SW 21st, Topeka, KS 66604 or to Christ the King Catholic Church, 5973 SW 25th Street, Topeka, KS 66614. To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com.

Tucker Horak Gets 16 Yards

Tucker Horak had two carries for 16 yards in Pittsburg State's 35-20 loss to Washburn U. on Sat.

Wendi Horak To PSU Athletics Hall Of Fame

Pittsburg State University is pleased to announce its 2017 induction class into the Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. The group – comprised of seven former standout Gorillas – will be formally inducted during ceremonies on campus in September.

PSU's Class of 2017 is headlined by a cast of decorated athletes:  Nathan Baker (2001-04), an All-American offensive lineman and winner of the inaugural Gene Upshaw Award as a member of Pitt State's 2004 NCAA Division II National Runner-Up squad; Jenny (Pracht) Townsend (1994-96), a three-time All-MIAA performer in women's basketball and the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in 1996; Wendi (Rickson) Horak (1992-94), a three-time All-MIAA performer in softball and school record setter in several offensive batting categories; Brad Shorter (1997-98), an All-American catcher in baseball, the school's career batting average leader and a CoSIDA Academic All-American; and Julie (Smith) Spears (1996-99), a national champion discus thrower and three-time All-American in women's track & field.

http://www.pittstategorillas.com/news/2017/6/8/general-pitt-state-athletics-announces-hall-of-fame-class-of-2017.aspx

Wendi (Rickson) Horak, Softball Athlete, 1992-94 (BS, 1994)
~  MIAA All-Conference, 1992-93 (So. Div., 3B, '92; 1st, 3B, '93)
~  Set PSU single season record with .461 batting avg. in 1993; Hit .461 with 13 doubles, 4 HRs,
    40 RBI in 1993
~  Set PSU career records for runs (112), hits (185), doubles (39), home runs (16) & RBI (121)
~  Helped PSU to 36-8 record and program's first NCAA-II Tournament berth in '93 and a school
    record 48 wins (48-15), the program's only MIAA regular season title and a repeat berth to the
    NCAA Tournament

Helen (Trahoon) (41) Matney Passes Away

Helen W. Matney was born on December 26, 1922 and passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2017.

Helen was a resident of Topeka, Kansas at the time of passing.

She was a 1941 graduate of Rossville High School.

Interment will follow at the Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, Topeka.

Helen will lie in state after 3 p.m., Monday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Humane Society, 5720 SW 21st, Topeka, KS 66604 or to Christ the King Catholic Church, 5973 SW 25th Street, Topeka, KS 66614.

KSNT Football Game Video

   For video of the "War on 24" click on below link and scroll down to the Eagle-Dawg game.
http://ksnt.com/2017/09/29/football-frenzy-092917/

SL Wins "War On 24" This Time

From the Capital-Journal:

SILVER LAKE — There was never a doubt in Mason Jones’ mind that he would play in Friday night’s War on 24 showdown with arch rival Rossville.

The question was, how effective would the Silver Lake senior tailback be? Bothered by a hip injury that limited him to just three carries two weeks ago against St. Marys and only 20 carries all season, Jones has been slowed considerably after coming into the season as the Eagles’ leading returning rusher.

“The past couple of weeks, it’s really affected me,” Jones said. “Tonight I just got over it.”

Even with a depleted backfield missing junior Christian Stoner, who was lost for the season with an injury a week ago, Silver Lake didn’t lean too heavily on Jones to carry the offensive load. But when Jones got his chances, he made the most of them.

Jones busted touchdown runs of 45 and 28 yards for the only scores in Silver Lake’s 14-0 victory. The big plays sparked a season-best and career-high 158-yard night and a stout defensive performance pushed the No. 3 Eagles to 5-0.

“I just tried to make the most of it when I get it,” Jones said. “I run when I get it and try to score as much as I can.”

Scoring was at a premium Friday night as both teams delivered defensively. Silver Lake generated 408 yards of total offense, but saw two turnovers and 110 yards in penalties negate much of the work. Rossville, meanwhile, managed only 191 total yards and never got inside the Silver Lake 20.

Twice in the second half, however, the Bulldawgs came close. Down 6-0 at halftime after Jones’ 45-yard score with 3:13 left in the first half, Rossville opened the second half with its best drive of the game, moving from its own 25 to the Silver Lake 21.

But on a first down at the 21, Sheldon Hulbert was picked off by Silver Lake’s Keenan Baird at the 3, denying the threat.

It was the first of three big defensive stops by Silver Lake in the second half.

On Rossville’s next possession, the Bulldawgs faced a fourth-and-inches at the Silver Lake 38, but Hulbert was stopped for no gain. After Jones scored with 4:57 left in the game on a 28-yard run, Rossville tried to get a quick answer, driving to the Silver Lake 26.

But the Eagles forced four straight incomplete passes from Hulbert to thwart the threat and seal the win.

“What I was impressed with was Rossville got off to a pretty good start and got some offensive rhythm and we responded to that,” Silver Lake coach C.J. Hamilton said. “We got hit in the mouth a little bit and I thought we turned it up pretty good from there.”

Despite moving the ball well in spurts, Rossville never could quite make the one play it needed to break the ice. The shortcomings spoiled a solid defensive effort that saw the Bulldawgs bend plenty, but only break twice on the big runs by Jones.

“I’m proud of my group because I thought we played hard and executed what we wanted to do for most of the night,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “The game in my view came down to a couple of missed plays which were opportunities for us. Our margin for error is not great, so we needed a break and make a play on a couple occasions. We made some huge strides defensively, we possessed the ball and were able to execute some things, but couldn’t punch it in the end zone when we needed to.”

Mason Griffin threw for 155 yards for Silver Lake, while Hulbert finished with 164 combined rushing and passing yards.

Rossville (1-4)     0 0 0 0 — 0
Silver Lake (5-0)  0 6 0 8 — 14

SL — Jones 45 run (kick failed)SL — Jones 28 run (Baird pass from Griffin)

GAME IN FIGURES

                     … Ross     … SL

First downs     … 13       … 18

Rushes-yards  32-105 … 33-253

Passing           … 86     … 155

Comp-Att-Int  12-29-2      14-25-1

Punts            … 5-30.6 … 5-30.6

Fumbles-Lost  … 0-0      … 1-1

Penalties-Yards   5-33 … 11-110

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Rossville: Daughty 2-1, Hulbert 22-78, Johnson 4-10, Sowers 4-6. Silver Lake: Jones 17-158, Griffin 7-11, Byers 4-29, Baird 1-6, J. Boyd 4-49.

PASSING — Rossville: Hulbert 12-29-2, 86 yards. Silver Lake: Griffin 14-25-1, 155 yards.

RECEIVING — Rossville: Daughty 4-23, Blair 2-5, Carver 3-18, Johnson 1-6, Sowers 3-28, Sumner 1-6. Silver Lake: Byers 5-46, Byrne 3-41, Heiman 5-64, Baird 1-4.

 QB Sheldon Hulbert looking for an opening in the defense at Silver Lake

 Sheldon trying to evade pass rush

Sheldon passing against Silver Lake

Kneeling at High School Games

SILVER LAKE, Kan. (KSNT)– What’s been happening on NFL fields lately is sparking conversations in high school locker rooms too.

“The conversation was about, what do you feel about this and what my expectations are,” said C.J. Hamilton, Silver Lake High School head coach.

“It’s basically been, did you see who was participating,” said Derick Hammes, Rossville High School head coach.

Both coaches said the reasons for kneeling protests aren’t part of their community.

“I know these kids and I’m not sure they know what injustice is,” Hamilton said. “Our community’s not based on injustices.”

“I think our kids see this as a national issue, and it maybe hasn’t struck close to home with them,” Hammes said.

That’s why Coach Hammes said if a player on his team wants to participate in the protest, he will ask them why to make sure they are educated on what the protest is all about.

“With that being said, I would make sure I would want the player to make sure that there could be other avenues for them to express their free speech as well,” Hammes said.

But the Eagles have different expectations.

“If they feel like it is part of their values, then so be it, but it’s going to be in conflict with what we stand for as a school, as a football team, as a community,” Hamilton said.

Coach Hamilton said his players know that if they participate in kneeling they will be demoted from their positions.

Rossville-Silver Lake Game Progress

At the end of the first quarter the score is 0-0.

Silver Lake's Mason Jones scored on a 45 yard run with just a few seconds over 3 minutes remaining in the half.  They then traded interceptions and the half ended 6-0 in favor of the Eagles.

After 3 quarters,  the score is still 6-0 with the Dawgs in possession at mid-field.

With about 5 minutes remaining in the game,  Mason Jones made another nice run to score.  A two point conversion brought the score to 14-0.   Rossville could not put a complete drive together and the final score was 14-0

This was definitely the best game of the season for the Dawgs and with a few less dropped passes,  it could have ended much differently.  If the team keeps improving at this rate,  they could be ready for the playoffs by the end of the season.

Alex Sherer Is Student Of Week

The RHS Student of the Week this week is Alex Sherer.   Alex volunteered his time as a new voice for the Dawgs last week during the Friday football game. Alex is not part of the VP class but had pride in his school and proved this through his selfless act of volunteering.

Clay Center Invitational Golf

The RHS girls golf team placed 7th at the Clay Center Invitational on Sept. 28.  The standings of all teams were;

1.  Concordia         202
2.  Salina Central   203
3.  Wamego           212
4.  Council Grove  213
5.  TMP Hays        216
6.  Manhattan JV   236
7.  Rossville          237
8.  Clay Center      244

    Leaders for the Dawgs were Kathleen Schuler  52, Jessica Sowers 55, Dawn Ledeboer 63, and Jenna Rodehorst 67.

Football Team Stat Leaders

    The leading rusher for the Dawgs is QB Sheldon Hulbert who has 390 yards on 84 carries for a 99.0 per game average after four games.
    Hulbert is 54 of 92 passing for a total of 758 yards for a 189.5 per game average.
    The team's leading receiver is Elijah Daughty with 19 catches for 248 yards.  He is averaging 62.0 yards per game.

A Look At Struggling Dawgs

From the Capital-Journal:

When C.J. Hamilton looks at Friday’s opponent, he doesn’t see a Rossville team which has lost more games this season (3) than the past three years combined (2).

 

Nor does the legendary Silver Lake coach necessarily see a wounded animal ready to roll over and play dead.

“They’re always capable,” Hamilton said. “They’ve got good athletes who work hard and Coach (Derick) Hammes does a good job with them. Nobody’s to be taken lightly in our league and we’d better not take them lightly I guarantee you that.”

Indeed, even though Rossville comes into Friday’s War on 24 showdown at Silver Lake with just a 1-3 mark, the Bulldawgs have Silver Lake’s full attention. The Eagles are 4-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, but Hamilton fully expects to get Rossville’s best effort, particularly with the Bulldawgs coming off their first win of the season, a 34-14 victory over Wabaunsee.

For Rossville, the victory was a much-needed pick-me-up after a rough start to the season. Coming off three straight state championships, the Bulldawgs had major holes to fill and relatively inexperienced players to do it with.

That youth showed early against a tough schedule as Rossville was blown out 52-13 in the opener and then dropped Mid-East League games with Rock Creek (42-26) and Riley County (52-7), each snapping lengthy win streaks for the Bulldawgs in those series.

“Not getting off to a good start and losing those games, there’s gonna be a little bit of frustration on the kids’ part,” Hammes said. “But quite honestly, I’ve been pretty proud of their resiliency and their willingness to keep putting effort in to make corrections on what we have going on. Losses are frustrating, no doubt. But last week was validation improvement has been made and that’s what the kids need.

“You always tell them if you work hard, good things will happen. Well, you also need proof and from that standpoint the win was good.”

In his first year as Rossville’s starting quarterback, Sheldon Hulbert has been effective. The senior has thrown for 758 yards and seven touchdowns and run for another 396 yards and two scores.

However, he’s been mostly a one-man show as injuries have hampered leading returning rusher Perry Foster, limiting him to just two carries this season. The rest of the Bulldawgs have combined for just 136 yards on the ground, though Elijah Daughty has enjoyed a nice season at receiver with 19 catches for 248 yards.

“We’re still inexperienced and trying to develop a group that can go out and compete and be effective on Fridays,” Hammes said.

Rossville may need a breakout game to counter a Silver Lake defense which has been strong and really served as a key in the Eagles’ 27-20 win over St. Marys two weeks ago. Silver Lake’s offense turned the ball over seven times in the game and St. Marys’ average starting field position was inside the Eagle 30, but St. Marys couldn’t cash in with touchdowns on most of the miscues.

The defensive stands kept Silver Lake in the game and the offense delivered with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to erase a 20-13 deficit for the victory.

“Our defense was great that night, but the offense didn’t let us sleep very well that night,” Hamilton said.

The rusty effort against St. Marys could partly be explained by the Eagles coming off a bye week after Wabaunsee forfeited the Week 2 game. Silver Lake’s starters only got a half’s worth of reps in a season-opening 81-14 rout of KC Washington.

The Eagles bounced back strong last week in a 41-14 win over Rock Creek as first-year starting quarterback Mason Griffin threw for 229 yards and four touchdowns with Trent Byers and Wyatt Heiman each catching two scoring passes and finishing with 99 and 87 yards, respectively.

Griffin has 396 yards passing in three games, while the ground game has been balanced with Christian Stoner (204 yards, four TDs) and Mason Jones (138 yards, four TDs) leading the way.

“They’re a good team and it’s always interesting to see how somebody you’re very familiar with puts together their pieces,” Hammes said of the Eagles. “They’re doing a good job of that. … They’re the experienced team and their kids have truly played in this game before and that should be to their advantage.

“This game is important for us. When we started here a few years back, we wanted to make the game competitive again and we’ve been able to do that. We want to play well and hold our end of the bargain up and keep the game meaningful so for us to go out and have a good game is very important.”

Silver Lake won last year’s meeting 36-28, ending a string of three straight Rossville wins.

Emma Hoobler Passes Away

Erma L. Hoobler, 86, passed away Monday, September 25, 2017 at Valley Vista Care Home in Wamego.

She was born June 17, 1931, at St. Joseph, MO., the daughter of Harry M. and Izma B. Miller Wolfe.

Erma grew up in the Carbondale community and graduated from Carbondale Rural High School in 1949.  She had worked at the Supply Depot and at Crosby Brothers, both in Topeka.  She had lived in the Rossville community before moving to St. Marys. Erma and Everett spent several summers in LaVeta, CO.

She loved to travel and was an avid golfer.  She had played in New Zealand, Austria and China to name a few places she had played.  She was a past member and president of both the St. Marys and the Manhattan Ladies Golf Group and was a member of the Country Clubs. Erma was a life member of the Order of Eastern Star and had served as Worthy Matron and other offices.  Erma was a wonderful grandmother.

Erma was preceded in death by her parents, her twin sister, Elsie Mae Wolfe, other siblings, Darlene Botkin, Don J. Wilson and George Wolfe.

She was united in marriage to Everett Hoobler on February 9, 1951 at Topeka.  He survives.

Other survivors include her children, Dan (Angie) Hoobler, Wamego and Jayne (Doug) Wolf, Hope; granddaughters, Sara (Dale) Nordlund, Valley Falls, Olivia Wolf, Wichita, Valery Wolf, York County, Maine and Elizabeth (Chris) Giestina, Loveland CO.

Graveside funeral services were private with burial in the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery at Fort Riley.  Memorial Contributions may be made to the St. Francis Cancer Center and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com.