Davis Warton At William Jewell

    Davis Warton is a red shirt freshman on the William Jewell football team this fall.  His bio can be read at:  http://jewellcardinals.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2489&path=football

Volleyball Team Loses To Riley Co.

    The RHS volleyball team dropped two matches to Riley County by scores of 22-25, 17-25 and then 28-26, 23-25, 20-25.

Willard Bridge Moves Forward

      TOPEKA (KSNT) – The process for replacing the Willard Bridge took another
step forward Thursday.

      Shawnee County Public Works Director Tom Vlach told commissioners that the Union Pacific Railroad gave their final approval.  The railroad has track underneath the bridge that spans the Kansas River and they need to approve any project that involves their right of way.

      Vlach said the railroad’s blessing was a big hurdle to jump as it could have easily said “no”.

      The Sheriff’s Office  also reminded motorists to obey the weight limits for the bridge as enforcement is continuing.

      “The Rossville Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol have done a great job partnering with us to enforce those rules and it’s just an ongoing battle, so if you know business owners who have large trucks, please encourage them to avoid that area so we don’t have to take enforcement action.” Said Captain Shane Hoobler with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office.

      Commissioner Buhler also added there is no agriculture exemption for the bridge, which means no heavy trucks, combines or other overweight machinery.

      The bridge replacement is still on track for next spring if all the funding comes through.

Farmers Affected By Willard Bridge

    ROSSVILLE (KSNT) — The harvest season has started in Kansas and some area farmers are having to add more time to their already long days.

    The 9 ton weight restriction on the Willard Bridge means vital, but heavy equipment can’t be driven across the aging and failing bridge. The semi-tractor-trailers that carry grain are also prohibited from crossing.

    Despite the busy season, the Shawnee County Commission won’t lift the restriction and local, as well as state, law enforcement will ticket drivers who try to use the bridge with oversized vehicles and equipment.

    “There is no ag exemption, but this is for the safety of everybody in the community and the public’s safety,” Kevin Cook, Shawnee County Commission Chair, said Thursday morning. But Cook did acknowledge the limit does hinder farmers during one of the busiest times of the year.

    “For them to get their equipment from one side or the other is extremely cumbersome or impossible in some cases,” he said.

    And farmers are having to cope with that unchanging issue by planning ahead.

    “Oh, it’s just part of the day. You just do what you have to do,” said Jason Harries.

    Harries was part of a four-man team harvesting corn near US-24 Highway east of Rossville on Thursday. He said getting machinery and grain from that farm was easy. But he also works on one across the Kansas River from Rossville, which will require a detour around the Willard Bridge to get to.

    “When we sprayed over there, I think it took us 45 minutes to an hour to get around there,” he said. But even his backup plan of using the Maple Hill Bridge has issues. There are smaller bridges around that area that also have weight limits.
    There is video at:  http://ksnt.com/2015/09/24/kansas-farmers-deal-with-willard-bridge-restrictions/

Girls Golf At Jeff West Invitational

The girls golf team came in 7th of 7 teams at the Jefferson West Invitational at Village Greens on Sept. 28.    Emily Woodcock led the team with a 101.

Team Finishes

1.  Silver Lake     398
2.  Spring Hill       399
3.  Jeff West        401
4.  KC Piper         402
5.  St. Marys        429
6.  Holton            438
7   Rossville        443

2015 Homecoming Photos

Tucker Horak & Britnee Zemek were crowned  homecoming king & queen prior to the Riley County football game on Friday night. Attendants were Kyle Parr, Kole Davoren, Lauren Steckel, and Katie Conley.
    Photos of the Homecoming Royalty in the parade and pre-game crowning can be seen at:
http://rossvilleksphotos.blogspot.com/2015/09/2015-homecoming-royalty.html

Baseball Documentary Film

By By J.C. Reeves

The Capital-Journal

The city of Rossville — and in particular, Joe Campbell Memorial Stadium, home of the Rossville Rattlers — will take center stage for the upcoming baseball documentary “Town Teams: More than Baseball.”

Mark Honer, the director of the film and executive producer of DHTV Digital, a company he started in 1996 in the Kansas City area, said the documentary is about the teams that played in the early 1900s in rural Kansas.

“I was actually looking into doing a documentary about the El Dorado oil field and the 100-year anniversary of the oil boom down near El Dorado. Obviously, I was looking into doing it and what I had learned, unfortunately, was that somebody had done a damn-fine documentary already about it,” Honer said with a laugh. “So there wasn’t really any need to do that. But in the process of doing my research, I kept coming across these old photos of baseball teams.

“What I learned along the way is that every little small town, and I mean no matter how small it seemed, had a baseball team. I mean it was the entertainment of the time.”

The documentary follows a particular game between two teams from towns that no longer exist near El Dorado — Midian and Oil Hill.

“I grew up near El Dorado and went to grade school at Oil Hill grade school. I always wondered what Oil Hill was. It turns out Oil Hill was a town of around 2,500 people,” Honer said. “Everybody had a team. It was as far as you could go on a Sunday. Basically, these guys were working 60-70 hours a week just about. No matter who they were — on a farm, oil fields or whatever. But on Sunday they just went out and they played for the love of the game, so it kind of got me excited.

Honer, a baseball fan, said he’d never done a documentary on an historic subject before but he was excited about the subject. He said the more he started researching the project, the more he learned about an individual player who went on to play in the majors.

“I don’t have any interest in guys that went on to the majors,” Honer said. “I want to tell the story of the other 98 percent of guys from baseball towns that just played because they loved it. It was pretty dang good and it was pretty dang competitive.”

Midian and Oil Hill had populations of about 2,000 and 2,500 people, respectively. Each year the teams would play what Honer described as “their own little mini-World Series” for the championship of the oil belt.

Many teams during the time period would hire ringers, or professional players, who would help give them an edge. For this particular game, however, there were three or four hired to play.

“One was Casey Stingle, who went on to be a Hall-of-Fame manager with the Yankees,” Honer said. “He was hired by Midian, and a couple of other guys that were significant pro players. Oil Hill hired a guy named (Roy) Saunders to pitch. It was the town teams, but they wanted to win so bad for the seventh game, just the seventh game — it was tied 3-3 — so they brought in these ringers.

“It was a very colorful game. It was 1-0. There was a very controversial play, and we’re going to re-enact some of the scenes from that game.”

Honer began his project by researching photos of games that happened during the time period.

“I went looking for photos to see what’s out there. Are there enough photos to sort of tell this story? And I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was one of the few things that they did take pictures of then,” Honer said. “There were tons of pictures of old teams, you know, this year or that year that were posed. But the real treasures are the ones where there were a few photographers out there that were shooting games.”

Most of the work on this project was done throughout the spring. Honer, an Iowa State University graduate, traveled around to different places looking for a place to film before he decided on Rossville.

“I think the stadium was the biggest thing,” said David Streeter, Rossville Rattlers general manager and Mid-Plains League commissioner. “This being an all-wooden ball park lends itself very highly to that era. I think, for him, that was the biggest thing. Just having that authentic look.”

Honer’s vision of this scene, which will be filmed at 1 p.m. Oct. 18, is based on a postcard he came across from the time period. The photo depicts hundreds of fans sitting in the grandstands of the Oil Hill stadium and Model-T cars parked along the sides of the field.

“I need people to show up for the re-enactment, and I want to make it real clear that we’re not going to play a game,” Honer said. “We’re going to shoot scenes. We’re going to shoot some scenes that are composite of what you might find in town baseball that will be sprinkled throughout the film to illustrate things.”

Honer hopes the film will be finished before the next baseball season, and plans to do screenings across the state of Kansas, as well as have the documentary played on various public television stations throughout the state.

Horner said the community of Rossville has been behind him every step of the way.

“This town, I’m telling you, they’re amazing. They’re into it. They’re helping me so much. I don’t really even know anybody over there. They just dig baseball. They’re really into it. They heard about the project and they just said ‘OK, rally the troops.’ ” Horner said. “There’s like three people that are helping me find players, sewing old uniforms for me. I’m trying to get people to show up in period dress and they’re spreading the word around for me. This is a labor of love. You do a project like this because you’re into the subject.”

For another article on this planned documentary,  go to:  http://rossvilleksalumninews.blogspot.com/2015/09/baseball-film-shoot-in-rossville.html

2015 Homecoming Lip Dub

2015 Homecoming Lip Dub by RHS students

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUPWqediqTI

Co. Plans To Acquire Land For Bridge

From the Capital-Journal:

The Shawnee County Commission Monday approved the use of eminent domain to acquire 4/100 of an acre the county needs for its project to replace the Willard Bridge.

“I certainly hope we don’t have to use eminent domain but we certainly need to be prepared to,” said Commissioner Shelly Buhler, whose district includes the area involved.

Commissioners Buhler, Kevin Cook and Bob Archer voted 3-0 to authorize county counselor Rich Eckert to initiate eminent domain proceedings to buy three lots encompassing 4/100 of an acre on Wabaunsee Street in the city of Willard in northwest Shawnee County.

Government entities use eminent domain to acquire private property for public use. Entities must provide just compensation to owners of properties they condemn.

The property involved is valued at less than $1,200, Eckert said.

He told commissioners the county had reached an agreement with the person it thought was the sole landowner last week but the title company involved reported another person who held interest in the land had died in 1979, leaving interests in it to four other people.

“That threw everything into chaos,” Eckert said.

He said two of those people aren’t willing to accept the county’s offer while the county hasn’t been able to contact a third.

The county in coming weeks will continue to trying to avoid the use of eminent domain by negotiating a settlement with the landowners, Eckert said.

He said that if the county initiates eminent domain, three independent appraisers would determine the property’s value. The county would pay that amount to Shawnee County District Court to acquire the land’s title. The court would then decide how much of each of the five current landowners would receive.

Appraisers might decide the property is worth more, less or the same amount as the county is offering, Eckert said.

He said the county needs to move quickly to acquire the land because it is seeking funding from a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER grant, to help pay to replace the bridge. The county to acquire that grant needs to own all the property required for the project.

Cook said that while the county should always be careful about taking property without the owner’s consent, the situation in Willard involves “absolutely” the type of circumstance state lawmakers contemplated when they empowered government entities to use eminent domain.

He said the county needs the land to deal with safety and transportation issues, which must be resolved very quickly.

County officials expect to learn next month whether the county will receive a TIGER grant to bridge a funding gap Shawnee County faces for its project to replace the Willard Bridge.

The bridge replacement is expected to cost about $24.4 million. If Shawnee County obtains the $16.7 million TIGER grant it is seeking, it would cover the rest of the costs using about $1 million from Wabaunsee County and more than $6 million in leftover revenue expected to go to Shawnee County after a countywide, half-cent sales tax expires Dec. 31, 2016.

The bridge is located along Shawnee County’s western boundary with Wabaunsee County on N.W. Carlson Road, about 2.7 miles north of Interstate 70. It was built in 1955 and widened in 1983. Concerns over its structural integrity prompted commissioners earlier this year to reduce the bridge’s weight limit to 9 tons.

The bridge’s sufficiency rating, which measures its fitness on a scale of 0 to 100, was above 61 until 2012. It dropped to 50.7 in 2013, and to 23.7 earlier this year.

K Preps Football Rankings

#1 ROSSVILLE (4-0)

Last: beat Riley County, 62-14Rossville exploded for 49 points in the first half in routing Riley County, 62-14. Tucker Horak had another big game in rushing for 165 yards and four touchdowns. Horak also passed for 172 yards and four more scores as the Bulldawgs improved to 4-0. Dawson Hammes added 106 yards rushing for Rossville.
Next: at St. Marys (1-3)

#2 SCOTT CITY (4-0)

Last: won at 4A-II No. 4 Holcomb, 15-7Scott City took advantage of three Holcomb turnovers to edge the Longhorns 15-7. A pair of Holcomb turnovers each led to Cooper Griffith touchdown runs as Scott City built a 12-0 in the third quarter. Holcomb pulled within 15-7 late in the third quarter, but Scott City responded with a 37-yard Tre Stewart field goal with 10:15 remaining to push the lead back to 15-7. Griffith rushed for 105 yards on 19 carries and scored both Beaver touchdowns.
Next: vs. Hugoton (1-3)

#3 WICHITA COLLEGIATE (4-0)

Last: won at Mulvane, 46-18Wichita Collegiate outscored Mulvane 25-6 in the second half in posting a 46-18 win. Nathan Burgoyne returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to get the Spartans on the board and found the end zone three more times. Burgoyne rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes covering 94 yards. Austin Waddell passed for 207 yards and three scores, while rushing for 80 more yards and a touchdown.
Next: vs. Clearwater (0-4)

#4 HALSTEAD (4-0)

Last: shutout Smoky Valley 42-0The Dragons led 20-0 at halftime and then put the game away with 22 points in the third quarter. Blake Beckett rushed 16 times for 243 yards and two touchdowns to lead Halstead. Quarterback Eli McKee added 143 yards rushing and three scores and completed all five of his passes for 40 more yards. Halstead rushed for 469 yards in the game.
Next: vs. Sterling (3-1)

#5 SILVER LAKE (4-0)

Last: shutout St. Marys 48-0Silver Lake scored in every quarter in beating the Bears. The Eagles led 21-0 at halftime and 35-0 after three quarters. Silver Lake held St. Marys to 88 rushing yards on 32 attempts. Eagle quarterback Dalton Dultmeier threw three touchdown passes; two to Logan Wolfley. Hunter Howerton also rushed for a pair of scores for Silver Lake.
Next: at Winfield (2-2)

ers Con

- See more at: 

CJ 3A Football Rankings

CJ CLASS 3A Football Rankings

1. Rossville (1) 4-0

2. Halstead (2) 4-0

3. Scott City (3) 4-0

4. Silver Lake (4) 4-0

5. Wichita Collegiate (5) 4-0

Others — Beloit 4-0, Centralia 3-1, Chaparral 4-0, Cherryvale 4-0, Colgan 3-1, Conway Springs 3-1, Garden Plain 4-0, Hesston 3-1, Hoisington 4-0, Kingman 3-1, Nemaha Central 4-0, Neodesha 4-0, Norton 3-1, SE-Saline 3-1, Washington County 4-0.

Notes — Scott City cleared a big hurdle in its bid for another undefeated regular season, clipping 4A Division II No. 2 Holcomb 15-7. Cooper Griffith staked the Beavers to a 12-0 lead with a pair of touchdown runs and the Beaver defense held Holcomb QB Trey Teeter to just 75 passing yards.

Volleyball Pink Night

On Tuesday, October 6th, the St. Mary’s Lady Bears volleyball team will host the Rossville Lady Bulldawgs. This will be our volleyball "PINK NIGHT" (Breast Cancer awareness)! Both St. Mary’s and Rossville will have the same t-shirt design. If you would like to order a t-shirt please pick up an order form from RHS office and send it back to school no later than September 29th. The Avon Walkers will have booths set up in the commons area, High School cheerleaders will be doing face painting, and the High School volleyball team will have a bake sale. All proceeds will go to cancer.

County To Acquire Willard Lots

 From the Capital Journal:

By Tim Hrenchir

tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com

The Shawnee County Commission on Monday will consider initiating eminent domain to acquire three lots the county needs for its project to replace the Willard Bridge.

The Topeka City Council won’t meet this coming week because that body meets only on the first three Tuesdays of each month, and the coming week brings the month’s fifth Tuesday.

County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in their chambers in Room B-11 of the Shawnee County Courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th.

Commissioners will consider approving a resolution Cook sponsored that would authorize county counselor Rich Eckert to initiate eminent domain proceedings to take three lots necessary for the Willard Bridge project. The lots are located on Wabaunsee Street in the city of Willard, according to the resolution.

Government entities use eminent domain to acquire private property for public use. Entities must provide just compensation to owners of properties they condemn.

Catchit Kansas 3A Rankings

Catchit Kansas 3A Football Rankings for Sept. 26

1. Rossville (4-0) W 62-14 Riley County (LW: 1)
2. Halstead (4-0) W 42-0 Smoky Valley (LW: 4)
3. Collegiate (4-0) W 46-18 Mulvane (LW: 2)
4. Scott City (4-0) W 15-7 Holcomb (LW: 5)
5. Silver Lake (4-0) W 41-0 St. Marys (LW: 6)
6. Hoisington (4-0) 76-6 Hillsboro (LW: 8)
7. Garden Plain (3-1) W 42-7 Independent (LW: 7)
8. Chaparral (4-0) W 57-0 Medicine Lodge (LW: NR)
9. Conway Springs (3-1) W 60-14 Douglass (LW: 9)
10. Colgan (3-1) W 44-0 SE-Cherokee (LW: 10)