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After writing a weekly column for the better part of five decades, I fear I repeat my stories all too frequently, and with the continuing pandemic and an attempt to avoid exposure to the COVID-19 virus, I’m not acquiring new stories. Last week a caller from the Courtland area said his favorite topic was the stories I told about living and working on Blauvelt’s Hill. Well, folks those stories might be liked but I have lived elsewhere a lot longer than I lived there and I’m sure I told all of the stories more than once. It is a struggle to put a...
With the country sides being so dry from the lack of moisture, and the high winds of last week, several severe fires swept across the farmlands for miles. Some of these terrible fires were local and as some of the farmsteads and homes were being evacuated and animals moved, many brave firemen were rushing for hours trying to put the moving fire out. These firemen, and maybe I should add firewomen, were not paid professional fire fighters . They were volunteers. Those volunteers left their jobs, homes, meetings and businesses to help where neede...
In recent weeks, Christmas letters from friends and relatives living in places like Colorado and California were filled with stories about the wildfires which caused much damage in those states in the past year. After Thursday and Friday, area residents have their own stories to tell. The South Central Cattlemen's Association is collecting donations of feed, fencing supplies and money to help those affected by the fire. The biggest of the fires occurred Thursday afternoon when winds gusting...
“Superior is the Word (Grease)” 2020-2021 Homecoming Jan. 25 through 29 are the dates set for Superior High School’s 2020-2021 homecoming. This year’s theme is “Superior is the Word (Grease)” with activities and competitions throughout the week. Students entering theme day competition must dress according to the theme of the day and meet the school dress code. Hats may be worn if they are part of the outfit. For competitions each class needs to provide the appropriate number of class members to compete in each competition. There is not a banne...
The Lawrence-Nelson girls basketball team has hit a rough patch. The team has lost their last three games. The streak began last Tuesday when they fell to the Rock Hills Grizzlies 46-38 at Mankato. The Kenesaw Blue Devils took down the Raiders 55-32 at Nelson Friday. Their woes continued Saturday when their trip to Axtell resulted in a 48-27 loss to the Wildcats. The Raiders hosted the Deshler Dragons at nelson Tuesday with game results unavailable at press time. Rock Hills took the lead and nev...
The Lawrence-Nelson boys basketball team has a two-game losing streak going. The Raiders downed Rock Hills 43-33, at Mankato, last Tuesday. The Kenesaw Blue Devils handed them a 50-27 loss before the home crowd at Nelson Friday. They lost a close one, 52-47, to Axtell, at Axtell, Saturday. The Deshler Dragons visited Nelson Tuesday with game results unavailable at press time. The Raiders trailed Rock Hills 19-15 after two quarters of play. They mounted a comeback and led 27-23 at the three-quarter mark. The Raiders held on and took home a...
On Thursday morning at approximately 11:30 a.m., the Mankato Fire Department was called to a fire that started at 1/2 mile north of Highway 36 at 170 Road. The fire was caused by a controlled burn of a brush fire that was done at the end of December. The high winds Thursday reignited the fire. Mankato Fire Department called for mutual aide from Esbon, Burr Oak and Jewell. There were also three local farmers who helped by offering their tractors and discs. Midway Co-op provided water support....
Men have their "Man Caves" so women these days are asking for their equal, a She-Shed, and Phyllis Liggett's request was definitely answered. The word "She-Shed" is described as being a small building reserved specially for the use of an adult woman in which she can relax and pursue her interests. Phyllis' She-Shed certainly fits. For many years, Phyllis has done her art work in a small bedroom in the Liggett house but when it began to spread out into their living room, her husband, Mike,...
It was a busy two days for the Superior High School wrestling team. They competed at the Harvard quadrangular meet Thursday, along with South Central Unified District 5, Doniphan-Trumbull and Harvard. Superior won all three of its dual meets. The Wildcats hosted the Superior Invitational at the high school gymnasium Friday. Superior came in fourth with 75.5 points. Other participating teams were Smith Center, Republic County, Conestoga, Sutton, Meridian, Alma and the Fairbury junior varsity...
The Superior High School girls basketball team added two wins in their past two games. They downed the Heartland Huskies 48-31, at Superior, last Tuesday. They decimated the Sandy Creek Cougars 52-23, at Superior Saturday. The Wildcats hosted Hastings St. Cecilia, Tuesday, at Superior. Game results were unavailable at press time. Shayla Meyer led the Superior scoring charge against Heartland with 30 points. Ella Gardner and Emma Henderson accounted for six points each. Sierra Blackburn scored...
The Rock Hills High School girls basketball team reeled off their second consecutive win of the season when they downed the visiting Lawrence-Nelson Raiders 46-38 at Mankato last Tuesday. Rock Hills extended their winning streak to three when they downed Pike Valley 56-36, at Mankato, Friday. The Grizzlies traveled to Lincoln, Tuesday, with game results unavailable at press time. The Grizzlies never trailed in the Lawrence-Nelson game opening up a 17-10 lead after two quarters of play. Both teams slacked off on defense for the remainder of the...
I'd like to report I got shot Monday . . . but I'm doing just fine. The same happened to Nancy and she is doing just fine as well. You see, with all the talk about the COVID-19 vaccine and the "who, what, where and why" of getting it out to the people, we call the VA Thursday. They put us on a list and we were called Sunday and told to be in Grand Island at the VA clinic Monday afternoon. We did and in less than 25 minutes we were in, got our vaccine shot, waited the required 20 minutes to see...
Elmer Leroy Fullerton, the son of William and Ruby (Hancock) Fullerton, was born on Jan. 28, 1931, in Montrose, Kan. He died Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at the Brodstone Memorial Hospital at Superior, at the age of 89 years, 11 months, 19 days. Roy grew up in a large family with his 17 siblings. He attended school at Montrose. On Nov. 6, 1948, he was inducted into the United States Armed Forces, serving during the Korean War, and assigned to the CO "L" 26th Infantry 1st division. He was honorably...
Varena L. Mechsner, 83, formerly of Meadowlark Continuing Care Retirement Community of Manhattan, died Jan. 18, 2021, at The Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice in Manhattan. She was born Feb. 1, 1937, in Jewell County to Ernest and Pearl (Gibbs) Blattner. Varena was a 1955 graduate of Esbon High School. She furthered her education at Kansas State University in Manhattan graduating in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. On June 28, 1964, Varena was united in marriage with Max Mechsner at the United Brethren Church in Esbon. Var...
Doris Jean (Keeler) Jacobs was the matriarch of her extended family, including many friends she made during her amazing 99+ years. Jean was born in rural Jewell County, Kansas, one of six children of Roy and Margaret (Chilcott) Keeler. Jean lived a full life born on July 3, 1921 ending Jan. 12, 2021, in Tucson Ariz. Her life included living through the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, World War II and many other events. She shared many stories of those years with her family. Jean attended...
Millie Carol Oplinger was born on Sunday, April 15, 1923, to Warren B. and Bertha Clark Oplinger, on the family farm east of Jewell, Kan., which was homesteaded by her grandfather Clark. Carol died Jan. 11, 2021, at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kan. Carol was the youngest of three children. Carol attended Spring Creek School through the sixth grade, then Jewell Elementary School and Jewell Rural High School, graduating in 1941. Carol attended church and Sunday school at the...
Martha A. Herrmann, 90, was born June 10, 1930 in Cawker City, Kan., and died Jan. 17, 2021. at the Republic County Hospital, Belleville. She was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Irene Carl. Martha’s grandfather, Theodore Carl, and his wife, Angela Lorig, immigrated from Godendorf, Germany in 1883. They purchased a farm near Waconda Springs, three miles east of Cawker City in an area now covered by the Waconda Reservoir. After her grandfather’s death in 1918, Martha’s father, Nick, ran the farm. That is where she was raised with her eight...
Diana Kay Jacobe of Deshler, 74, the daughter of Elmer and Bernice (Young) Kolling was born Jan. 13, 1946, in Deshler. She died Jan. 1, at Parkview Haven Nursing Home in Deshler. Diana grew up in Deshler attending school and graduating from Deshler High School with the Class of 1964. After graduation, Diana was a switch board operator at the Deshler Phone Company and worked for Gord’s resturant and bar. Her main job of more than 32 years was working for Blue Valley Community Action Head Start where she was teacher aide and the cook. She m...
Irene Rosa Fintel, 94, was one of six children born to Henry and Hannah (Collmann) Peters, on Feb.12, 1926, in rural Hardy. She died Dec. 28. Irene attended School District 87 rural Deshler. She was united in marriage to Vernon L. Fintel on Feb. 14, 1947, at St. John Lutheran Church, rural Byron. This union was blessed with three children: Warren, Charles and Vicki. They made their home on the farm between Byron and Deshler until 1991. They then moved into Deshler. Irene was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, Deshler where she was a Sunday...
James Franklin Garst, 92, of Mankato died Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at his residence. He was born Sept. 18, 1928, in Delphos, Kan., to Alfred and Velma Gertrude (Jamison) Garst. He was one of 11 children born to them. He served in the United States Army, during the Korean War from Jan. 11, 1951 to Jan. 11, 1953, and was honorably discharged in Aniston, Ala. On Nov. 8, 1950, James was united in marriage to Letha Modlin. They celebrated 70 years of marriage this past November. To this union two...
Donald J. Lyne, 69, of Superior died Sept. 30, 2020, following a brief battle with cancer. Don was born July 14, 1951, the second son of William ‘Minor’ and Patricia (Sorensen) Lyne. He grew up in Gothenburg, Neb., moving with his family in 1967 to North Platte, where he graduated with the Class of 1969. Don entered the Navy in 1970 receiving an honorable discharge. Don lived in several places before settling in Superior. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was preceded in death by his par...
Ronald Eugene Aksamit died Jan. 1, on his homestead near Eagle River, Alaska with his wife of 43 years by his side. He was 80 years old. Ron was born on July 10, 1940, to William and Rose (Kucera) Aksamit. He grew up on the family farm three miles south of Deweese, attended Pleasant Hill Elementary School and graduated from Nelson High School. After his freshman year at Univerity of Nebraska at Lincoln, Ron was asked by his aunt and uncle to drive a pick-up truck they had purchased in Colorado to Anchorage where they lived. He arrived in Alaska...
Sharon Ann Wilson was the fifth of six children born to Robert and Betty (Fobes) Wilson was born on March 25, 1957. Sharon was a typical farm girl growing up southwest of Mankato. She began grade school at Ionia and later transferred to Jewell schools, where she graduated from high school in 1975. Sharon grew up with three older brothers, Bob, Jerry and Rich; one younger, brother, Curt; and one older sister, Diane. An older brother, Larry died at birth. Her early life consisted of the usual farm chores inside and out. She enjoyed the outdoors...
Irene Faye Brainard, the daughter of Loren and Margaret Myers, was born on Oct. 20, 1946, in Superior, Nebraska. She died Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at her home at the age of 74 years, 2 months, 26 days. Irene was the oldest of nine siblings. While growing up, she attended Star country school in Jewell County, Republic public school and graduated from Superior High School in 1964. She attended Hastings Beauty Academy, and CNA-Med Aide at Kaw Valley Tech College. She was a member of Centennial...
Willard (Bill) Bruce Railsback, 83, of Peetz, Colo., died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Sterling Colo. Bill was born Oct. 28, 1937, on a farm in Mitchell County, Kan., to Joe and Olive (Rarick) Railsback. He grew up with three brothers, Robert (Bob), Frank and John. Bill grew up on a farm near Ionia. He graduated from Jewell High School in 1955. After graduation he attended Fort Hays State University and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After serving his time in the military, he moved back to Jewell County and began farming. Then...
