Buhler Reflects On Last Twelve Years

From the Topeka Capital-Journal:

Every four years, Shelly Buhler went door-to-door.

The outgoing Shawnee County commissioner recalled Friday that because she wasn’t affiliated with a political party, she had to earn a place on the general election ballot by acquiring a sufficient number of signatures — which was always at least 1,571 — on petitions supporting her candidacy in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

So Buhler went to hundreds of homes in the Shawnee County Commission’s 1st District, which she represents, in west Topeka and western Shawnee County. And she is glad she did. She said the petition process enabled her to get to know a lot of people.

Buhler spoke proudly this past week of the county’s accomplishments during her time in office, including replacing the Willard Bridge, offering curbside recycling and getting involved with the Momentum 2022 campaign aimed at putting Topeka and Shawnee County on a path to success.

But the most rewarding part of being a commissioner, she said, has been the lifelong friendships she gained.

Buhler’s 12 years on the commission will end Monday, when Republican Bill Riphahn is sworn in to take the 1st District seat. Buhler, who is Roman Catholic, chose not to seek re-election so she could focus on the job she began July 1 as president of Topeka’s Hayden High School.

A graduate of Atchison’s Benedictine College, Buhler served six years as mayor of Rossville before joining the county commission.

“I’ve never thought of myself as a politician,” she said. “My degree in college was in community service, and I’ve always tried to serve and encourage others to serve.”

Buhler voiced pride about the working relationships she built with former Topeka mayors Larry Wolgast and Bill Bunten.

She said relations between the governments of Topeka and Shawnee County — which haven’t always been friendly — have improved in recent years.

Buhler said she would advise her successor, Riphahn, to get to know and trust the county’s elected officials and department leaders — whom she described as being “some very dedicated people” — and to get to know the county’s employees.

“Bill has a little bit of an edge there, because he’s been a county employee for awhile,” she said.

Riphahn worked for the county parks and recreation department from January 2012 until he retired late last year.

Buhler said she also would encourage Riphahn to be involved in the community.

Buhler has been active here with organizations that included the Topeka Community Foundation, the Safe Streets Coalition’s Recognition Council, Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods, Rossville PRIDE, the Rossville Community Foundation and Momentum 2022.

She said she plans to continue to be active in the Topeka and Shawnee County community.

The 54-year-old Buhler stopped short of saying her political career is over — “never say never,” she said — but she described herself as being “very blessed” to be president at Hayden.

“This is a calling for me, and a way for me to not only continue to serve my community but to serve my faith, so I am very pleased to be where I am right now at Hayden,” she said.

Boys BB Tourney At Osky

Boys Basketball @ Oskaloosa Tournament v. Oskaloosa

WhenTue, January 15, 6:00pm – 7:30pm        Vs OskaloosaFri., January 18   TBA                             Vs Perry or Jeff No. Sat. January 19   TBA                                  Finals 

WhereOskaloosa High School, 404 Park St, Oskaloosa, KS 66066

Rossville Places Four At Bobcat Classic

The Rossville High wrestlers competed in the prestigious Bobcat Classic tournament of Jan 11-12 against a number of large Kansas schools.  Four finished in the top 8 of their class.  More complete details can be read at:
https://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1547340198477&pageName=

106 lb       Zach Archer       8th
126 lb       Layne Hurla       6th
160 lb       Garrett Carver    8th
195 lb       Kody Davoren    7th

Rossville finished 20th of the 30 teams entered.  See next article for team standings.

Rossville At Bobcat Classic Wrestling

Team Scores
1	Bonner Springs
2	St. Thomas Aquinas
3	Mill Valley
4	Abilene
5	Junction City
6	Andale
6	Lawrence Free State
8	Glenwood
9	Lansing
10	Tonganoxie
11	Anderson County
12	Prairie View
12	Schlagle
14	Santa Fe Trail
15	Gardner-Edgerton
16	Turner
17	Eudora
18	Fort Scott
19	Piper
20	Rossville
21	Basehor-Linwood
22	Lawrence High School
23	Paola
24	St. James Academy
25	JC Harmon
26	Pittsburg
27	Perry-Lecompton
28	Chapman
29	Columbus
30	Shawnee Mission East

Ralph Pitts Passes Away

Ralph was raised on a farm near Delia and went to Rossville High.  However he graduated from Maple Hill High. 

Ralph Lowell Pitts, III, 72 of Golden, Missouri and formerly of White City, passed away suddenly Saturday, January 5, 2019 in Abilene, Kansas. Ralph was born on May 11, 1946 in Rochester, Indiana, the only son of Ralph Lowell, Jr. and Geraldine (Friesen) Pitts.

Ralph grew up on a farm near Delia Kansas and was a 1964 graduate of Maple Hill High School.

Ralph joined the Marines upon high school graduation and served his country honorably including a tour of duty in Vietnam during the Vietnam war.

Returning to Kansas following his discharge, Ralph began his civilian career as a lineman with Kansas Power and Light in Topeka.

On April 13, 1968, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Reppart. They began their married life in Topeka until Ralph was promoted to outside agent assigned to the White City office, covering the Woodbine, Latimer, White City, Parkerville, Dwight and Alta Vista areas. The family, which then included four children, moved to rural Dwight while building their home in White City in 1978.

Moving to White City in 1979, the Pitts family was very involved in numerous activities in the community.

Ralph was a member of the White City American Legion and was instrumental in getting a new building moved to the Legion site in the early 1980’s. He was also instrumental in the American Legion’s many haunted houses they transformed at numerous sites. Ralph served several years as the Legion commander for the White City post. He also was very involved with the summer ball association.

Ralph was an avid sports fan and rarely missed a sporting activity or other activities and programs involving his kids. He loved to hunt and fish and loved nothing better than he and Mary Jane entertaining with a big fish fry each summer.

Mary Jane passed away on June 30, 2003.

Ralph never met a stranger, was always willing to help out anyone in need, never too busy to assist with a project in the community or school and amassed a huge crowd of friends over the years.

After retirement from Westar Energy in 2007, he continued to enjoy his past times of fishing and boating, including fishing trips with family and friends.

On November 26, 2010, Ralph was united in marriage to Christine Paul. They made their home near Golden, Missouri where they had just recently built a new home on a lake.

Ralph loved to spend time with his family, especially entertaining his grandchildren. He also enjoyed the many friendships he and Christine had made where they lived. He loved being near the lake to fish and go boating.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary Jane and his daughter Kim in 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Christine, of the home; two sons, Shawn and wife Elissa of Fort Collins, Colorado and J. J. and wife Libby of Nortonville, Kansas; a daughter, Jayme Urban and fiancée Chase Fairchild of Abilene, Kansas; twelve grandchildren, Jarett, Macy and Ryder Pitts, Baylee, Meagan and Jenna Pitts and Kate and Chloe Urban, Bailey and Casey Ireland and Daylan and Trytan Fairchild; a step-daughter, Donna Prickett and husband, Kevin and their children, Emilia, Elisha and Christina of Carlton, Kansas; three sisters, Shirley Henderson of Carbondale, Linda Downie of Topeka and Nancy Mercer of Delia, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Ralph was an organ donor and later his remains were cremated.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, January 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the White City United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials honoring Ralph’s life may be given to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and sent in care of Ralph’s daughter, Jayme Urban, at 618 NW 8th St., Abilene, KS 67410.

Rodney Doebele Passes Away

    Rodney "Tex"  Eugene Doebele, 73, passed away Friday, January 11, 2019 at the Midland Hospice House In Topeka.
    Tex was born on June 13, 1945, in Marysville to Urban & Marie Doebele. He graduated from Hanover High School in 1963. He served his Country in the U.S. Navy from 1965 until he was honorably discharged in 1968 as Petty Officer 2nd Class.
    Tex worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for 35 ½ years, retiring on March 1, 2004. He and his wife Connie, owned and operated Tex's Drive Inn in Silver Lake for 19 years, from 1971-1990. Tex was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and served on the parish council from 1985-1987 as president. He was a charter member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 10755, serving as Grand Knight from 1999-2001, becoming a 4th Degree Knight in March of 2004. Tex was a volunteer with Silver Lake Fire Department for 8 years, and was a member of American Legion Post No. 160. He had served on the Silver Lake Planning Commission since 1984. He and Connie ushered for the K-State football games for 10 years. He had battled bladder cancer since January 2016.
    He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Diane Behrends.
    He married Connie Crome on August 2, 1969 at St. John's Catholic Church in Hanover. She survives of the home.
    Other survivors include his two children, Crystal (Jeff) Rippe, Silver Lake and Craig Doebele, Stephenville, TX; four grandsons, Dallas Rippe, LaGrande, OR, Tucker Rippe, Silver Lake, Cole and Ryan Doebele and granddaughter, McKenzie Doebele Arvada, CO; three brothers, Jerry (Nancy), Colorado Springs, CO, Wayne (Sandi) and Chuck (Debbie) all of Silver Lake; a sister, Connie Doebele, West Lafayette, IN;; a brother-in-law, Gary Behrends, Diller, NE.
    Tex loved hunting, sport shooting; pitching horseshoes, working in his yard and garden, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren and attending any activity his grandchildren were involved in. He was a fan of K-State, Chiefs and the Royals. He was well known for his "Gift for gab" and joking with his many friends. (His granddaughter would always say he was a walker and a talker!)
    Mass of Christian will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville. Interment will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery at Hanover at 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 16, 2019. A rosary will be recited at 5:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at the church followed by a family visitation until 7:30 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church Building Fund, Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center or Midland Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

St. Marys Boys Win At Rossville

RHS        20    7    14    17    58
SMHS     18   19   18    18    73

Rossville scoring:

Sumner         5 (2)    4-6     16 
Reeves          4           2-3     10 
Horak           1 (1)      0-0      3 
Badura         3 (1)      0-0      7 
Brown          1            0-0      2 
Garcia          2           0-0      4 
Sowers         7 (1)     1-2     16

Lady Bears Visit Rossville

   The RHS girls bb team lead St. Marys nearly the whole game on Jan. 11 on the home court.  However,  with only a few seconds remaining,  the score was tied 43 each.  With six seconds remaining,  Rossville converted on two free throws to put the Lady Dawgs up 45-43.  Only had to hold out for the last 6 seconds,  but the Lady Bears advanced the full length of the court and sank a 3 pointer as the clock his 0.0.

RHS    12    12   15    6      45
SMHS  7     12   16   11     46

Rossville scoring:
Paulsen    1        0-0 2,
Streit        2 (1)  1-2 6 
Hatina     2        2-2 6 
Rabe        1         3-4 5 
Zemek     1 (1)   0-0 3 
Hill          1 (1)   9-10 12 
Morelli    3 (2)   3-4 11

Area wrestling honor roll

106-- Koppes, Clay Center, 20-0; Sontag, Tonganoxie, 20-3; Ragland, Pleasant Ridge, 18-2; M. Scholz, Atchison County, 16-2; Z. Archer, Rossville, 15-1; Green, Baldwin, 15-5; K. Stroda, Abilene, 15-7; M. Broyles, Burlington, 15-7; J. Barnes, Holton, 14-3; Rodgers, Council Grove, 14-6; Dultmeier, Silver Lake, 11-7; Picking, Chapman, 11-8; 

113 — W. Stroda, Abilene, 21-1; VanValkenburg, White City, 20-2; Taylor, Manhattan, 20-3; Thelwell, Riley County, 13-4; Kalivoda, Clay Center, 13-8; Gentry, Rossville, 12-6; Adcock, Holton, 11-6; Ju. Rakestraw, Silver Lake, 11-8; Shanks, Free State, 9-3; Eastman, Burlingame, 9-4; Farrell, Lawrence, 7-1; Elliott, .

120 — Rowe, Santa Fe Trail, 23-2; Ev. Totty, Burlington, 18-1; Sauder, Manhattan, 16-8; Johnson, Council Grove, 14-1; A. Archer, Rossville, 14-2; Page, Atchison County, 14-5; Novotny, Marysville, 11-3; Cay. Jackson, Holton, 10-7; Siebert, Wamego, 10-7; Schwant, Onaga, 9-6.

126 — Creach, Ottawa, 19-1; Allen, Silver Lake, 16-2; Hurla, Rossville, 16-4; Berkenmeier, Burlington, 16-5; Rogers, Chase County, 14-2; Co. Bacon, Council Grove, 14-5; Tholstrup, Clay Center, 13-3; G. Jackson, Riley County, 13-6; Crownover, Marysville, 12-2; D. Brown, Wamego, 12-6; Jensen, Doniphan West, 11-5;.

132 — Sales, Council Grove, 18-0; Et. Totty, Burlington, 16-0; Williams, Mission Valley, 16-4; C. Smith, Atchison County, 16-4; Stephen, Tonganoxie, 16-8; K. Roush, Holton, 15-2; B. Horn, Riverside, 14-0; Ewing, Wellsville, 14-1; Bammes, Manhattan, 14-10; Culbert, Burlingame, 12-0; Broyles, Baldwin, 12-7; Lane, Ottawa, 12-9; Snellings, Marysville, 11-3; Schroeder, Silver Lake, 11-7; McPhillamy, Riley County, 10-9; Culbertson, Rossville, 9-6; King, St. Marys, 8-4; 

138 — Burenheide, Rock Creek, 17-2; Knitter, Clay Center, 17-5; Twombly, Rossville, 16-5; Fletcher, Holton, 15-4; Mitchell, Manhattan, 14-8; Crome, Marysville, 12-2; Greenfield, Santa Fe Trail, 12-3; Metcalfe, Perry-Lecompton, 12-4; Cook, Silver Lake, 12-6; Henderson, Chapman, 12-9; 

152 — Johnson, Burlington, 20-0; Z. Jeanneret, Santa Fe Trail, 16-6; Riedel, Tonganoxie, 15-0; Kuhn, Silver Lake, 15-2; Cae. Jackson, Holton, 14-4; C. Brown, St. Marys, 13-6; Alquist, Clay Center, 13-8; Signs, Wellsville, 12-2; Neuman, Junction City, 12-3; Owen, Chase County, 11-6; Daro. Island-Jones, Manhattan, 10-2; Roever, Marysville, 10-5; C. Grame, Mission Valley, 10-6; Dy. Smith, Maur Hill, 9-4; K. Smith, Royal Valley, 9-6; Holthaus, Mission Valley, 8-1; Miller, Concordia, 8-2; House, Rossville, 7-4; G. Roush, Perry-Lecompton, 6-2.

160 — B. Wilson, Manhattan, 19-1; C. Jeanneret, Santa Fe Trail, 18-5; Laun, Abilene, 16-6; Crutchfield, Burlington, 15-7; Ki. Juhl, Riverside, 13-0; Wallin, Wabaunsee, 13-7; Collier, Tonganoxie, 13-10; Ackerman, Marysville, 12-2; Wilson, Maur Hill, 11-3; Anderson, Central Heights, 11-10; Schroeder, Concordia, 10-0; Budke, Chase County, 10-3; D. Barnes, Riley County, 10-4; Huber, Emporia, 10-6; Hancock, Junction City, 9-7; Lowdermilk, Sabetha, 8-4; Carver, Rossville, 6-1; Mallett, Free State, 3-2.

195 — D. Harvey, Chapman, 17-5; Ferguson, Ottawa, 16-1; Davoren, Rossville, 15-1; Houston, Manhattan, 14-4; Champoux, Marysville, 13-0; Adeleye, Junction City, 13-1; J. Grame, Mission Valley, 13-3; Remer, Silver Lake, 13-4; Gagnon, Council Grove, 13-9; Baker, Emporia, 12-2; McCoy, Riley County, 12-3.

Shelly Buhler Commemorated

                                          Shelly Buhler opening retirement gift

Capital Journal Editorial for Jan 10, 2019

The Shawnee County Commission commemorates the end of an era today, holding a reception for departing Commissioner Shelly Buhler.

Buhler has been a mainstay of the panel for a dozen years, first winning her seat in 2006. For reference, that was before the introduction of the iPhone. For six years before that, she served as mayor of Rossville. She will be heading in an exciting new direction, taking over as president of Hayden High School.

We wish her well, but she will most definitely be missed as a voice for the county.

Buhler’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2017, she was recognized by GO Topeka as a Woman of Influence. In an interview with The Topeka Capital-Journal at the time, she emphasized her work on projects that focused on long-term community needs.

Through her terms, Buhler told reporter Samantha Foster, she has enjoyed “working on (constituents’) behalf for things that are important to us, not just today, but in the future.”

That’s just the kind of mindset needed in the county and city as we all look ahead. What can we do to make this place better? What can we give of ourselves to enrich quality of life, efficiency of services and government responsiveness? How can we help?

Buhler served by example. She worked full-time as a county commissioner, which then allowed her to make community connections through volunteering. A short list of those groups include the Topeka Community Foundation, Safe Streets Coalition’s Recognition Council, Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods, the Rossville Community Foundation, Rossville PRIDE and the Momentum 2022 effort.

Few people are able to match that kind of devotion and dedication. For some, it would be ill-advised for health reasons to even attempt. But we can all take inspiration from Buhler’s work to make connections throughout the region.

It might sound obvious, but it’s worth stating that county and city interests don’t always align. That’s part of the basic task juggled by Shawnee County commissioners. But when friction occurs, it’s crucial to have leaders on hand with deep, trusted relationships. Buhler made a career of nurturing such relationships, and voters noticed.

While an era may be ending as Buhler heads to Hayden, it also offers an opportunity for a new generation of leaders in Topeka and Shawnee County. Find inspiration in her service and step up to follow her example.

We would all benefit by doing so.

Dawgs Move To 8th In KWCA Ranks

    Rossville High has moved into the Top Ten in 3A wrestling this week.  The Bulldawgs moved up to the eighth place  after a good weekend at the Rossville Invitational Jan. 5.
    Individuals ranked include:
Zach Archer    106 lb     First
Alex Archer     120 lb    Sixth
Kody Davoren 185 lb    Fourth

RHS Girls Lose To Mustangs

Rossville       12    5    8     8  —  33
Rock Creek  12   13   11   16  —  52

Rossville scoring:
Streit             0       2-4      2
Hatina          2       0-0      4
Zemek          2 (1)  3-3      8
Hill               8        1-4     17
Shults          1         0-0     2

Rock Creek Wins Boys Game

Rossville        10   15   13    6  —  44
Rock Creek    11   25    8   12  —  56

Rossville scoring:

Sumner       2        4-6      8 
Reeves         1         0-1      2
Horak          1 (1)   0-0     3
Badura        4        4-4    12
Brown         1         0-1      2
Sowers        8        1-2     17

Archer Is Athlete Of Week

ZACH ARCHER,  JUNIOR WRESTLER, is this week's Capital Journal Area Athlete of the Week. 

HIS PERFORMANCE: Archer captured the 106-pound title at the Rossville Invitational with an impressive showing, knocking off two ranked Class 3-2-1A wrestlers. After opening his day with a first-period pin, Archer downed No. 6 Mason Scholz, of Atchison County, 3-0 in the semifinals to earn a shot at No. 1 Trevor Ragland, of Pleasant Ridge. Archer dominated the championship match, taking a 7-0 win to improve to 15-1 on the season.

COACH’S COMMENT: “Our coaching staff challenged Zach this week to open up the throttle and force his pace on his opponents no matter who they were,” Rossville coach Courtney Horgan said. “He responded exactly like we hoped and wrestled with a lot of confidence this weekend. He’s had a tendency to give guys too much credit and wrestle conservatively sometimes, but he was the best guy every time he stepped on the mat Saturday and he knew it.”