Rattler Signees for 2017

The Rossville Rattlers have signed a number of players for this summer's season.  Those signed so far include:

OF Keishon Brown from Highland CC from Ozawkie, Kansas and Jeff West High School!

INF Justin Cooper from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

INF Nate Bakaitis from West Liberty University. Nate played for the Rattlers in 2016.

INF/OF/C Dylan Watts from Rowlett High School in Texas. Dylan has signed to play at Kansas State this fall.

LHP Turner Middendorf from Pratt Community College. Turner recently signed to play next year at Central Methodist University.

INF Terrence Spurlin from Concordia Lutheran High School in Texas. Terrence has signed to play at Kansas State in the fall.

INF Paul Benitez from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Paul comes all the way from Orlando, Florida.

Boys Golf Outlook

    The RHS boys golf team, coached by Greg Marney, begins action on April 4 at the Wamego Invitational . 

    The Dawgs lost two regional medalists,  but have a good group returning.  The top returners are Andrew Hudson, sr., who was MEL champion last year and qualified for the 3A state tournament, tying for 60th; Trey Anderson, sr., a three year letterman;  Nathan Dohrman, jr. , who was top 10 at the league meet; and Cory Hadsall, jr.

  The boys golf schedule can be read at:  http://rossvilleksalumninews.blogspot.com/2017/03/boys-golf-schedule-for-2017.html

Dawgs Have High Hopes In Softball

     Adam Roorbach is the new coach of the Dawgs softball team. which went 18-4 last year and were 10-0 in the Mid-East League.  The top returners  are Lora Shinn, C, sr.; Amanda Hill, P, sr.; Sami Murray, P-UT, sr.; Sara Shinn, OF, sr.; Kelcie Kippes, OF-P, so.

     The  Bulldawgs graduated only three starters and hope to repeat as MEL champions.  The entire pitching staff returns, led by Hill (7-2, 2.14 ERA, 76 Ks), Murray (6-1, 3.00 ERA) and Kippes (4-1, 3.54 ERA).  Kippes also hit .516 while both Shinns and Murray all hit .350 or better.  Sara Shinn (.352) had 19 RBI and Lora Shinn (.356) had 16.  Murray (.386) drove in 11 and Kippes 13.
     The softball schedule can be read at:   http://rossvilleksalumninews.blogspot.com/2017/03/rhs-softball-schedule.html

Arlyn Sage (57) Passes Away

Arlyn Harvey Sage, 78 passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

He was born February 25, 1939 at Dover the son of J. Harvey and Fern V. Hickey Sage.  Arlyn grew up in the Dover and Rossville communities and graduated from Rossville High School.  He also was a graduate of Washburn University, Topeka.

Arlyn retired from the United States Air Force in 1982 at the rank of Major after 20 years of service.  He later worked for Roach Hardware in Topeka many years.  He had lived in the Rossville community many years and was a member of the Rossville United Methodist Church and Jimmie Lillard Post No. 31 of the American Legion.  He attended the Assemblies of God Junction Korean Church with his wife Sunye.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He was united in marriage to Song Sunye on December 4, 1982 at Abilene, TX.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three sons, John, Joseph and David Sage; two daughters, Teresa and Judy Sage; four grandsons.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday, March 31, 2017 at the Rossville United Methodist Church.  Interment will be in the Dover Cemetery.  Mr. Sage will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 P.M. Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys.

Recent Willard Bridge Construction Photos

Baseball Outlook

Coach: Richard Thomas.         Last year’s record: 13-7.

Top returners: Dawson Hammes, sr.; Jacob Bradshaw, sr.; Wyatt Dyche, sr.; Bryce Gfeller, sr.; Jared Morris, jr.; Tronnie Blair, jr.; Derek Balch, so.

Outlook: Bulldawgs were 7-3 in Mid-East League play. … Morris was a first-team all-league pick and Bradshaw was honorable mention.

The baseball schedule can be read at:  http://rossvilleksalumninews.blogspot.com/2017/03/rhs-baseball-schedule-for-2017.html

Hill On All-State Team

Kansas Basketball Coaches Class 3A All-State

First team

Haley Albers, 6-1 sr., Cheney; Faith Brintle, 5-6 sr., Council Grove; Katy Heger, 5-8 sr., Hugoton; Laura Macke, 6-1 jr., Nemaha Central; Kayla Vitztum, 5-10 jr., TMP-Marian.

Second team

Bailey Bangert, 5-5 jr., Kingman; Amanda Hill, 5-11 sr., Rossville; Kelcey Hinz, 6-1 sr., Remington; Faith Martin, 6-0 jr., Mission Valley; Amy Scott, 5-6 sr., Hugoton.

Honorable mention

Mackenzie Anderson, sr., Halstead; Sydney Bangert, jr., Kingman; Audra Burns, sr., Cimarron; Lea Coccetella, jr., Wichita Independent; Bethan Crubel, sr., Riley County; Kaley Dalinhaus, sr., Nemaha Central; Kailey Jo Ince, jr., Hesston; Taylor Joplin, jr., Garden Plain; Makaylah McCall, sr., Humboldt; Jaclyn Schultz, jr., Russell.

Holden Hurla Third At Expocentre

Holden Hurla of Rossville was third in the 152 lb. class at the 2017 Kids State Folkstyle Championships held at the Kansas Expocentre on Sunday, March 26.

Taylor Kirk KJCCC Player Of Week

Johnson County CC sophomore Taylor Kirk  was chosen as the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Player of the Week for Week 5.  Taylor batted .500 (6-for-12) with a double, three home runs, seven runs scored and 11 RBIs in four wins last week for the Lady Cavaliers.

Mary Ann (Small)(63) Collini Passes Away

   Here is another obituary that I just was told about.  Mary Ann lived in Willard and attended Rossville High and passed away in 2012.

    MARY ANN COLLINI AKA "POPPINS" to friends. Mary passed away and became the newest angel on Sunday, August 26, 2012 at her home in Temecula, CA.
    She was born December 18, 1944 in Topeka, Kansas to Dallas & Betty Small. She fought a very courageous 2 year battle with cancer. She raised 4 sons Ken, Dale, Oren & Cory. She married Robert Collini on October 13, 1985 at which time a 5th son John came into her life. She retired from J.C. Penny after being diagnosed with cancer after 15 years of service. Mary loved cruises, camping, gardening, decorating her home and being with family and friends.
    Mary was preceded in death by her father Dallas Small & step-mother Millie Small; mother Betty Small-Warner & step-father Russell Warner. She is survived by her husband Robert Collini; sons Ken Copeland of Temecula, Dale & Jeri Copeland of Canyon Lake, John & Jill Collini of Canyon Lake, Oren Dick of Canyon Lake, and Cory Smith of Texas; brothers Glen "Ed" & Barbara Small of Topeka, Kansas, Thomas & Dee Small of Riverside & Russell Warner of Canyon Lake, 15 grandchildren & 1 great grandchild (AJ).     Memorial arrangements will be held on September 29, 2012 @ Harveston Center, Temecula, CA.

Published in Press-Enterprise on Sept. 2, 2012 

Glen "Ed" Small (62) Passes Away

Here is an obituary I just found out about.  Though it's not mentioned,  "Ed" lived in Willard and attended Rossville High. He was president of the Freshman Class in 1959.

Glen “Ed” Small, age 73, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Stormont Vail Hospital. Ed was born May 13, 1943 in Topeka the son of Dallas and Betty Best Small. Ed worked as an over the road truck driver for over 50 years.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Brown; five sons, Marcus (Erin) Small, Dallas Small, Spencer Small, Cary Brown and Terry Hickey; three daughters, Linda McCoil, Melissa Brown and Lona Josh; two brothers, Tom Small and Rusty Warner; 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Rickey Brown and sister, Mary Ann Colini.

Ed enjoyed dancing and watching westerns.

Graveside services will be Monday, February 27, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. davidsonfuneral.com.

Marie Sullivan Passes Away

      Theresa Marie Sullivan was born to William M. Corcoran and Nancy Ellen Glover October 15, 1930.
      Marie graduated from Solomon High School in 1948, and in March of 1949, she was united in marriage to George E. Sullivan in Solomon, Kansas. With four generations at her bedside, Grandma Marie passed peacefully March 20, 2017.
      The visitation will be Wednesday, March 22 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and the Rosary will be at 7:00pm at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Rossville, Kansas. The funeral Mass will be held Thursday, March 23 at 10:30am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Solomon, Kansas.
      One recent night, while watching HGTV, Marie stated, "If I were born in a different time, I would've been an architect."  Marie was an architect. She bettered her community by dedicating time and effort to the schools, Rossville Library, 4-H, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, community celebrations, cub scouts, and Rossville Senior Center. She was a lifelong volunteer, and in true Marie fashion, she requests donations be made to the Rossville Senior Center, Mt. Calvary Cemetery Fund (Solomon, Kansas), or donor's choice in lieu of flowers. Beside her loving husband, Marie always had a vision and was the architect of an expanding home. Our family walks through a house where stones were laid and bulbs were planted by her hands. We sit on couches she built and throw pillows she sewed. We cling to sleeping bags she made with our initials stitched on the opening flaps. Marie was the architect that grew this family from the love of her George into four children, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. She traced our family lineage and mapped out our ever-growing family's blueprint we will continue to frame. Marie raised us, ran the show, and somehow continues to strengthen us even in her death. In true Marie fashion, her living will states that she "hopes" we will follow all her requests, but "Marie, we're going to have flowers at your funeral”  sorry, not sorry. However, again in true Marie fashion, it seems fitting to close this dear farewell with her words: "You have all given me great joy, and I have had a full life. Love to all, Mom."      Piper Funeral Home St. Marys is in charge of arrangements.

New Willard Bridge Photos

Boys Golf Schedule For 2017

Apr
4        @ Wamego Inv.
11      @ Lyons Co Inv.
          JV @ Onaga JV Inv.
13      @ Osage City Inv.
          JV @ Wabaunsee Inv.
19      @ West Franklin Inv.
          @ Horton Inv.
24      @ Silver Lake Inv.
          JV @ Perry-Lecompton JV Inv.
27      @ St. Marys Inv.
          JV@ Horton JV Inv.

May
2        @ Rossville Inv. St. Marys Golf Course
3        JV @ Jeff West JV Inv.
4        @ Perry-Lecompton Inv.
9        Mid-East League Tournament at Stagg Hill, Manhattan
15      3A Regional,  Site TBA
22      3A State at Independence Country Club