Volleyball Team Third At Wellsville

    The Rossville volleyball team competed in their first tournament of the season at Wellsville on Aug. 25.  They finished in third place and came away with a 3-2 season record thus far.  The matches went as follows.

Waverly                25-23, 23-25, 25-20
Prairie View         25-23, 23-25, 25-20
Wellsville             14-25, 19-25
Burlington            21-25, 25-22, 23-25
Baldwin City        25-14, 25-15

Eleanor Jones Passes Away

    Eleanor Illston Jones, 93, of Worthington, Ohio died August 21, 2018.   She was born in Ithaca, New York on November 6, 1924, the daughter of the late Cady P. Illston and Laura Buck Illston.  She is survived by three sons: David (Joyce) Jones of Columbus, Matt Jones and Peter (Jenny) Jones of Worthington; two daughters: Annie (Adrian) Bennett of Columbus and Amy Jones of Arlington, VA; and by a large extended family.  She was preceded in death by her son Evan Jones of Worthington.

    She was proud of her professional accomplishments.  At the Harding Hospital and the Harding-Evans Foundation she worked to educate the community about mental illness, enhance the hospital’s relationship with the community and raise funds to build multiple buildings on the Harding campus.  She was a Fellow of the National Association for Hospital Development, member of the Ohio Association for Hospital Development and served on the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce.

    Her volunteer contributions to the community were many.  She founded and was first president of Tele-Mom, a support organization for mothers; was instrumental in the development of the Worthington Martin Luther King celebration and was a member and chair of the Worthington Community Relations Commission.  Her far ranging interests included a love of cars. A long-time member of the Sports Car Club of America, she reveled in attending and working the races at Mid Ohio. Her many contributions to the community were recognized with a tree planted in her honor on the Worthington Green.

The church has always been an important part of her life.  She grew up in the church in Ithaca and while living in Kansas for 16 years, she partnered with her husband to nurture a small church in Rossville, KS.  And she loved the Worthington Church –worshiping there, seeing it grow over time, serving as a Stephen Minister, serving on many committees, and working in the office.  The music program gave her enormous pleasure and renewal.

But she said her most important and rewarding roles were in the family.  She was a Mom to six, and proudly had nine grandchildren (Ruth, Paul, Amy, Adam, Katherine, Michael, Matthew, Regan and Kirsten), nine great grandchildren (Sarah, Rebecca, Chance, Andrew, Allisin, Tyler, Sydney, Isabella and Josey) and two great-great grandchildren (Henry and Oliver).  Her joy was hosting and cooking for large family gatherings and being surrounded by the generations.

    In addition to the official clan, “family” included many others. Adults and children alike knew that Franklin Court was a “safe house” where respite could be had and where a dose of comfort or tough love would be dispensed as needed.  

    She shared her wisdom freely, but gently.  Posted on her refrigerator were her Four Steps to a Good Life:

• Pay attention
• Count your blessings
• Be responsible for the space you take up
• Do something for others

    Like everyone, she had losses and disappointments.  When she reflected on those hard times she often quoted two sources that gave her strength and perspective.  For strength she looked to her faith and often quoted Phillipians “…for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content …  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

    For perspective she looked to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.  She often described her life in the same way Dorothy described Oz upon her return: “Some of it was not very nice, but most of it was beautiful.”   Hers was a beautiful life.

    Services will be held at the Worthington United Methodist Church, 600 High Street in Worthington on Monday, August 27 at 2:00 pm.  Opportunities to visit with the family at the church will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 26 and one hour preceding the Monday service.

    For those who would like to do so, the family suggests donations in her name to the Worthington United Methodist Church, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Ithaca, NY) or a charity that has meaning for the giver.

Eleanor's husband, Don Jones,  was pastor of the Rossville Methodist Church for 16 years and several of their children graduated from RHS.

Football Team Outlook

     Here is a video and long article about the Rossville football team.
     A check of existing records going back to 2001 shows that the Bulldogs have been in the playoffs every year until 2017/
http://www.wibw.com/content/news/Kansas-Prep-Zone-Preview-Rossville-Bulldogs-491514441.html

Girl's Golf At Jeff West

Jefferson West scramble  At Village Greens (in Meriden)

Team scores

Holton 166, Silver Lake 185, Jefferson West 191, Rossville 194.

Individual scores

1. S. Holaday and F. Holaday, Holton, 76;
2. Lindstrom and Field, Silver Lake, 85;
3. Stevens and Hundley, Holton, 90;
4. Williams and Holthaus, Jefferson West, 92;
5. Hudson and Foster, Rossville, 94;
6. Yager and Starr, Jefferson West, 99.

Bryan Kidney Is New Director Of Finance

The City of Independence today announced the hiring of Bryan Kidney as the new Director of Finance and Administration following a nationwide search. This position oversees Human Resources, Finance and Technology Services for the City. Assistant City Manager Lauren Palmer had been acting director following a reorganization of the previously listed departments in May.

“Bryan was the unanimous choice of everyone involved in the selection process,” City Manager Zach Walker said. “His demonstrated success with improving efficiency, productivity and team morale make him the ideal candidate for this important leadership role in Independence. Bryan will make great contributions toward the Independence for All goals of customer service and financial sustainability.”

Kidney comes to the City of Independence from Lawrence, Kan., where he has acted as Director of Finance/Treasurer since 2015. His 25-year career includes a mix of municipal government and private sector positions.

“I was so impressed by the staff team in Independence and the vision outlined in the City’s strategic plan,” Kidney said. “I look forward to putting my skills to work to develop and improve the City’s core internal services of finance, human resources and information technology.”

Kidney graduated from Emporia State University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting.  He began his career as a Staff Auditor with BT & Co., P.a., and has since worked as Director of Finance & Operations for Pottawatomie County, Assistant Finance Director for the City of Manhattan, Director of Finance/Interim City Administrator for the City of Gardner, Kan., Director of Finance/Treasurer for the City of Shawnee, Kan., and Vice President/Municipal Advisor at Springsted, Incorporated. He is active at both the National and local level of the Government Finance Officers Association, serving in leadership positions in the Kansas and Eastern Kansas Chapters. Kidney is married with three adult children.

Anna Harper Passes Away

    Anna Marie Harper, 91, of Topeka passed away August 13, 2018. She was born to Ralph and Trinnie (Viergever) Moyer. 
    She married Wilford Harper who preceded her in death in 2005. She is survived by her daughter, LaVon (Harold) Langston and daughter-in-law, Peggy Harper. 
    Visitation will be 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 31, 2018 at Parker-Price Funeral Home, 245 NW Independence Ave, Topeka. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2018 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Midland Care, 200 SW Frazier Cir, Topeka, KS 66606. To  leave a message for the family online, please visit www.Parker-PriceFH.com.

  Anna and her husband lived in Willard for many years and their children attended Rossville High.

Briar Gillum At Jr. Olympics

RHS freshman Briar  Gillum finished 7th out of 60 in discus at AAU Junior Olympics Nationals At Drake University in Des Moines.  

Library Seeking New Director

The Rossville Community Library Board of Trustees invites applications for the next director of the Rossville Community Library, a small library with big capabilities. The successful candidate will continue and develop innovative, collaborative, and community library services and work with the board to fund, administer, and grow the library for the 1,832 residents of the legal service area and beyond. Key responsibilities for the creative and visionary director include budget preparation, ongoing community assessment, personnel selection and management, collection development, community relations, and facility maintenance.

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required.

A  Master’s degree in library and/or information science from an ALA accredited institution is preferred. Other preferred qualifications include exemplary patron service, computer skills, payroll experience, and a capacity to work with a range of public constituencies.

Compensation: $37,000 – $40,000. Benefits include membership in KPERS, paid vacation and sick days.

Direct inquiries regarding this position to Sean Bird at (785) 231-4940 or seancbird@gmail.com.

To apply, submit a thoughtful cover letter and résumé as MS Word or PDF attachments to Sean Bird at seancbird@gmail.com.

Tucker Horak (16) At Pittsburg State

Tucker Horak,  son of Terry and Wendi Horak of Rossville,  is a junior at Pittsburg State U. and is on their football team.  His bio can be read at:  http://www.pittstategorillas.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4174&path=football

Derek Gentry (16) At KSU

Derek Gentry,  son of Jim and Shari Gentry of Rossville, is a junior at KSU and a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Maura Buhler (18) At Benedictine College

Maura Buhler, daughter of Steve and Shelly Buhler, is a freshman at Benedictine College.

Wilma Phoenix Passes Away

Rossville–Wilma M. Phoenix, 74, passed away Friday, August 17, 2018 at the Midland Hospice House  in Topeka.

She was born August 17, 1944 at Gassville, AR. the daughter of Isaac James and Lula Mae  Gunsaullus Gilliland.  Wilma grew up in Arkansas and graduated from high school there.

Wilma had lived in the Emmett community many years before moving to Rossville.  She had worked for D & L Market in Emmett.

On March 31, 1967 she was united in marriage to Robert Ray Phoenix at Kansas City, MO.  He preceded her in death on October 20, 2003.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, a son, Robbie, a sister, Shirley Gayman, and her son-in-law, Brian Fiedler

Survivors include two daughters, Cindy Phoenix and Mindy Fiedler both of Rossville; 2 grandchildren, T.J. and Jaycee Fiedler, Rossville; her brother, James (Darlene) Gilliland, Gassville, AR, sisters, Mary Lou Brown, Kansas City, MO, Barbara (Robert) Jamison, Holt, MO, Karen Gilliland, Kansas City, MO, Becky (Gary) Hammack, Midway, AR. and Sharon Keeter, Mountain Home, AR;

Graveside services will be at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery near Emmett;  Wilma will lie in state and the family will receive friends Monday, August 20, 2018 from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys.  Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice House and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

2018 Graduation

    The complete graduation ceremony for 2018 can be viewed at:
http://www.kawvalley.k12.ks.us/schools/rjshs/alumni.html

Back The Dawgs Night

Back The Dawgs night on Aug. 24.   

Volleyball and football scrimmages.

Watermelon furnished by Bank of Flint Hills.

Other food available.

Details at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-i0lVMAbOlsS2pIMDlfZnpyTmpWdm9ybkhrUnJFUHZGdWFB/view