Merle DeLong Passes Away

Merle Elwin "Pop" DeLong Merle E. "Pop" DeLong passed away at the Rossville Nursing Center on March 15, 2018 at the age of 93.

He was born on March 8, 1925 at Strawn, Kansas the son of Roy A. DeLong and Tracy Hazel Phillips DeLong Merle was one of eight children, Lester C. DeLong, Bertha DeLong Claycamp O'Conner, Roy Amos DeLong, Laura DeLong Dalrymple, Mary Lou DeLong Atherly, Wendall Dean DeLong, and Hazel DeLong Lynn. All have preceded him in death except for Mary Lou and Hazel.

Merle married JoAnn Bell in 1945. To this union was born five children; Carolyn DeLong Rogers-husband Roy, Alice DeLong Sprague-husband Tom, Patsy DeLong Fulghum-husband Robert, Charles DeLong-wife Kathy, Larry DeLong-wife Susan. This marriage dissolved in 1965.

In 1967 Merle married Dolly Becker Bennett. He became the stepfather to Dolly's four children; Debra Medlock, Eldon Bennett (deceased), Daphne Euglow, and Robert Bennett-wife Janet. Merle and Dolly celebrated their fiftieth Anniversary on September 29, 2017.

Merle leaves behind his wife Dolly, children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a great great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. He began his life in farming, later went into construction, and retired from the Topeka Street Department. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and the great outdoors. He was also an avid storyteller whether real or fiction and kept his grandchildren entertained. He will be truly missed by all.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Shelly Buhler New Hayden President

After 18 years as an elected official, Shawnee County commissioner Shelly Buhler said, she is “thrilled for the opportunity” to serve as Hayden High School’s next president.

“It’s time for a new direction and to do something different,” Buhler, 53, said Tuesday. “This was definitely a calling.”

Hayden officials confirmed Buhler will be the Catholic school’s first female president. She was recommended for the job by the school’s board of trustees and officially appointed by Archbishop Joseph Naumann, of the Kansas City, Kan., diocese. She will officially take over July 1 but will begin transitioning into the position beginning April 1. Current president Matt Schambari will serve out the rest of the school year.

Buhler, who was elected as county commissioner in 2007, said she will serve out the remainder of her term, which ends in January. Her successor will be elected in November.

Buhler, a former mayor of Rossville, said she decided toward the end of last year that she likely wouldn’t seek another term representing the county’s District 1. She said she started thinking about what she would do next, then was approached about the Hayden position.

“I prayed about it and decided to submit my name,” Buhler said.

“We’re fortunate to have had many high-quality candidates to consider,” Lawrence Martin, chairman of the Hayden board of trustees, said in a statement. “Shelly rose to the top because of her unique combination of experience, educational background and long history of selfless service. She’s known as a collaborative leader who also knows how to get things done.”

Schambari announced in November he would leave at the end of this school year to return to his home state of Nevada to lead Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno. Since he was hired in 2016, he has overseen the school’s rebranding initiatives, including a new logo, several capital improvements and an 8 percent increase in enrollment from 387 students during the 2016-17 school year to 415 students this year.

Buhler said she plans to build on Schambari’s accomplishments but will also listen to students, parents and community members “to build on the strong tradition of Hayden.”

“Building the endowment and increasing enrollment are important,” she said. “But my No. 1 role will be to instill the values of our Catholic faith in our students on an exceptional academic foundation.”

Wilma Smith Passes Away

Wilma K. Smith died Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at the St. Marys Manor at the age of 99.  She was born January 14, 1919 to Matt and Edith Dalrymple Knedlik at Barnes, Kansas.  She attended Poverty Knoll grade school and graduated from Barnes High School in 1936 the valedictorian of her class and was also named Most Outstanding Student.  She attended Washburn College and Strickler’s Business College.

She married Vern Smith of Topeka on April 17, 1943.  At that time, he was in the Signal Corps attached to the Air Corps and stationed at Tampa, Florida and she was working in the office of Sales Commissary at Ft. Riley.  Later she joined him in Tampa where she worked for L.E. Alford, CPA, and later in the offices of the Army and Navy Stores.  When her husband was transferred to Myrtle Beach, SC. she went with him and also went to Fresno, CA. where he was stationed at Pinedale Airbase and she worked in the Civilian Personnel Office at Hammer Airbase Field.

Returning to Topeka after the war, she was employed at the Central Press-Pictorial office for three years, then as a secretary to Bessie Brooks West, Kansas State University.

After the birth of her son, Terry Vern Smith, she returned to Central Press-Pictorial where she worked until they moved to St. Marys in 1963, when they purchased the Chevrolet dealership.  She was the business manager for the dealership and she continued as the business manager for the new owner when the business was sold in 1969.  She retired in 1990.

After the death of her husband on March 4, 1998, she traveled both in the US and foreign countries.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Literary Club, FCE, the Ladies Golf Club, Tuesday Afternoon Bridge group, American Legion Auxiliary of Jimmie Lillard Post No. 31 in Rossville and several domino groups.  She also was a volunteer at the library.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and two sisters and her husband.

She is survived by her son, Terry and his wife Suzanne Smith of Urich, MO; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, March 22, 2018 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys.  Private interment will be in the Rochester Cemetery, Topeka.  Mrs. Smith will lie in state on Thursday from 1:00 until service time.  Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Marys United Methodist Church or Kaw Better Home FCE Scholarship Fund and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  To leave online condolences please go to :

http://piperfuneralhome.com/obituaries/wilma-k-smith/

Donald Glotzbach Passes Away

Donald Joseph “Don” Glotzbach, 87, passed away Sunday, March 18, 2018 at his rural Paxico home.

He was born July 14, 1930 in the same rural house that he died in, the son of Victor Charles and Frances Elizabeth Hund Glotzbach.  Don graduated from Paxico High School in 1948.  He served in the United States Army.

Don was a farmer and stockman.  He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newbury.  He had served many years on the Newbury Township board and on the Sacred Heart Cemetery board.  Don was a member of the Stockgrowers State Bank Board of Directors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Viola Marstall, an infant son, James Michael and a son, Joseph Paul Glotzbach.

On November 13, 1954 he was united in marriage to Lila Mae Arington at Dawson, NE.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include his children, Mary (Warren) Nold, Savannah, MO., Beth Glotzbach, Paxico, David (Wille) Glotzbach, Maple Hill and Dan Glotzbach, Rossville; his daughter-in-law, Carol Glotzbach, Council Grove; a sister, Julia O’Connor, Topeka; grandchildren, Jeremy (his fiancée`, Allyson), Will, Megan, Danielle, Katie, Christi (Tyler) and Dana (Nick); many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, March 22, 2018 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newbury.  Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.  Mr. Glotzbach will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until the rosary at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the church.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To leave online condolences please go to:

http://piperfuneralhome.com/obituaries/donald-j-don-glotzbach/

Taylor Kirk In WU Softball Games

Washburn U. played four softball games over the weekend.  Rossville's Taylor Kirk played first base and batted in the fourth spot in all four games.

1.  Washburn defeated Wayne State 6-3
     Taylor Kirk had 2 hits (single and home run), 2 runs, and 2 RBIs in 4 At Bats.

2.  Washburn defeated Norther State 6-5.
     Taylor Kirk had 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 BB, and 1 RBI in three at bats.     Taylor hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 7th inning to win the game that was tied after 6 innings.

3.  Washburn lost to Concordia-St Paul 4-3
     Taylor Kirk had one BB in 3 at bats.

4.  Washburn defeated Upper Iowa U. 2-1.
     Taylor Kirk had 3 at bats, o hits, and left on base one time.

3A All Class Girls Basketball Teams

The Capital-Journal has published their all class girls basketball teams.    There were no MEL players on the first three teams,  but the following MEL players did receive Honorable Mention for  3A:
 Marissa Bates, sr., Silver Lake;  Emily Earhart, sr., Riley County;  Josie Harrison, jr., St. Marys;  Caila Hill, jr., Rossville;  Logan Hurla, sr., St. Marys;  Tori Thomson, sr., Riley County.

Boys Golf Roster For 2018

Top returners from last year are Cory Hadsall, sr.; Nathan Dohrman, sr.; Jarrett Ingwerson, sr.    Hadsall is a three-year letterman who was All-Mid-East League performer.  The  Bulldawgs were Mid-East league champions last year.

The complete roster is as follows:

Cory Hadsall             12
Nathan Dorhman       12
Jarrett Ingwerson       12
Perry Foster               12
Nick Brummer          12
Justin Jordan             11
Trevor Cunningham  10
Jimmy Hester            10
Kris Brown                 9
Garret Minihan           9
Dawson Connell         9
Taegan Miller             9
Dylan Rietcheck         9
Chris VanderPutten    9

Head Coach:  Greg Marney
Asst. Coach:  Eric Anderson
Manager:  Aidn Baumchen

Track and Field Roster For 2018

Rossville Boys Track

Holden Hurla          12             
Tronnie Blair          12
Marvin Cummings 11
Trevor Johnson       11
Ben Price                11
Randy Morelli        10 
Zach Archer            10
Domanic Siefkas      9
Tyree Sowers           9
Bo Reeves                9

Rossville Girls Track

Breck McCrory         9
Jaycee Fiedler           9
Julia Streit                 9
Avery Anderson      10
Danielle Moore       10
Mary Shults             10
Meagan Huston        10
Sydney Wonnell       10
Dani Bittner              10
Jordan Bittner           11
Mia Casadevall         11
Katie Dorhman         11
Berta Strojkovska     11
Breaira Bergstresser 12
Kylee Badura           12
Maura Buhler           12

Head Coach: Mindy Wilson
Assistant Coaches: Courtney Howard and Garrett Jones

Boys Golf Schedule For 2018

Apr.
3          Wamego Inv.
10        South Lyon Co. Inv.
13        Osage City Inv.
22        Silver Lake Inv.
26        St. Marys Inv.
May
1         Rossville Inv.
3         Perry-Lecompton Inv.
8         MEL at Manhattan
14       3A Regional
21       3A State at Seneca 

Track and Field Schedule for 2018

Mar.
27            Silver Lake Inv.
Apr
6              Wabaunsee Inv.
10            Royal Valley Inv.
13            Rock Creek Inv.
20            Rossville Inv.
27            Ray Kovar Inv.
May
4              Riley Co. Inv.
10            MEL at Riley Co.
18            3A Regionals
25-26       3A State at Wichita

Moravan Lodge Meeting

    On March 4 the Moravan Lodge held their monthly meeting. There was much discussion about the upcoming planned 2018 events. The Lodge  had successfully sold Kolaches  at the January 12 and February 13 basketball games held at the Rossville High School. 
    Of special note, there  will be a time change for  the April 8 meeting. The meeting will start at 1:00 pm, not 2:00 pm. Also, the spring Polka Dance on Saturday, April 28, will begin with the meal starting at 6:00 pm and the dance beginning at 7:00.   J. D. Parr’s  Czechland Polka Dance  Band will be featured.

New Officers For Rossville Rustlers 4H

New officers were recently sworn in for the Rossville Rustlers 4-H Club.  They are:
Perry Foster - President
Katie Glotzbach-Vice President
Leah Hudson - Secretary
Elizabeth Foster - Treasurer
Council Rep, Kinsley Kufahl
Amelia Foster - Historian
Dawson Shaefer - Council Rep
Garrett Carver- Reporter
Keera Lacock - Recreation Leader
Mary Thompson -Song Leader
Cassie Johnson - Council Rep.

Barbara Brandon Passes Away

Barbara F. Brandon, 70, died Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at a Topeka hospital.

She was born April 16, 1947 at New Orleans, LA., the daughter of Joseph and Doris Gaudin Valenti.  Barbara lived most of her life in Louisiana moving to St. Marys in 2014 and then to Rossville Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Joseph Valenti and a sister, Diane Saucier.

Survivors include a sister, JoAnn Valenti; nephews, Chris, Joseph, Bryan and Richie; a niece, Nichole; her companion, Jeffery Gray.

Requiem Mass will be at 8:30 A.M. Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Assumption Chapel.  A rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M. Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys where she will lie in state until 7:30 P.M.  Interment will be in Our Lady Of Peace Cemetery, St. Marys. Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s name and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

Dane (04) & Kenzie Olejnik Have A Boy

Dane and Kenzie (Cordt) Olejnik, St. Marys, are proud to announce the arrival of  their son, Owen William Olejnik, born at 7:50 AM on Saturday, December  9th, 2017 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. He  weighed 9 lbs., 9 oz. and was 21 1/4 inches long. He was welcomed home by his big
sister Olivia, age 2.  Owen is the grandson  of John & Cindi Mitchell,  St. Marys, Chuck Cordt,
Topeka, and Bob (71) & Kathy (76) Olejnik, Rossville. He  is the great-grandson  of Peggy (and the late Larry) Yingling, Walter & Betty Cordt, and the late  Joe & Dolores Floersch and Bill (39) & Tina Olejnik.