Readers share their February stories

With this being a leap year and this newspaper being published on the 29th day of February for only the second time in the past 54 years, we asked our readers if they had stories to share about leap year.

Mary Ann Kibbe was the first to call. She said her husband, Bob, would celebrate his 21st birthday today (Feb. 29) however, will have been married for more than 50 years on his 21st birthday.

For many years the State of Kansas did not recognize his Feb. 29 birthday. As a result his driver’s license expired on March 1. That has now been corrected.

Though now living in Beloit, the Kibbes are longtime southern Jewell County residents.

Superior resident Beverly Czirr will observe her 20th birthday today. Her daughter, Genelle, has asked for a surprise card shower.

A grandmother, who prefers to keep the identity of her grandson secret, shared the following:

“We all like to brag about our grandchildren, but I have a story to tell that isn’t bragging, just interesting facts the grandchild has no control over. However, they are rather unique.”

This young man is described as the “2” guy.

The logic behind the statement: He was born as the second child in his family as well as being the second boy. He arrived on the second month, the 22nd date in the year 2002. He was born in hospital room 202.

He graduated from Superior High School in 2020. This year he had his 22nd birthday. He stands 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.

And his dad jokingly said, “He had dated 2 different girls in the past 2 years.

Elaine Pierson reported either Feb. 13 or Feb. 14 was Grandpa Irl Cocran’s birthday. Some sources say he was born Feb, 13, 1895 and some give his birth date as Feb. 14, 1895. He died May 5, 1963. He was struck by lightning three times.

Linda Hutchinson reported she had her first date with Paul Hutchinson on Feb. 14, 1995, and they were married two months later on Easter Sunday.

Kerry Sullivan Trent said Rich and Julene Sullivan were married on Feb. 19, 1966.

February had five Thursdays in 1968 and 1996.

Martina Petra noted Feb. 24 and 28 were special for her but she didn’t explain why.