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Pictures from 2018 Alumni Banquet, Memorial Day Program, 5K Run
2018 Alumni Banquet
The 2018 School Alumni Banquet was held May 26th at the Independence High School Cafeteria; 110 people came to enjoy the evening. The class of 1968 held their 50th Reunion, meeting in the Community Building for a luncheon and good memories. Class of 1963 had quite a few classmates at the banquet and went to Braums after the meal. Mike Eddington, class of 1968, was chairman and with the help of several alumni a great banquet was enjoyed. They brought a band (the Tumbles) in that played music of yesteryear; it was quite nice. A good meal was served by the Buster’s Catering of Neodesha. Social hour was before the main meal and a lot of visiting took place then and after the meal. Juanita Newton received the flower for the oldest alumni graduating in 1945. And Lynn ?? received the flower for traveling the farthest distance which was from Santa Fe California.
Link to Pictures of the Alumni Banquet
4th of July
Elk City 4th of July Celebration named Freedom Sunday was held Sunday July 1st. Thanks to Thaddeus Tuck for the great fireworks display. A Big crowd gathered to eat hot dogs and ice cream; some booths were available for kids, along with face painting, G.A.S.S. band out of Arkansas City played live music. The play ground was in popular demand. The end of the evening was with a great fireworks display.
Around Town
A big fireworks day is planned for July 1st, food, games, music, ending with fireworks.
4th Sunday Breakfast was busy in June
USD 446 ( Indep) served sack lunches at the First Christian Church for children age 1 through 18 during part of the summer.
A lot of Elk City Kids graduated this May, from High School, Grade School, Community Colleges, and four year College.
A new business named "Under the Kansas Sun: has started up here at Elk City. Fresh Produce will be available all summer.
FCE held their annual Guest Day in May with a salad luncheon and two lessons; "Show me the Power of Healing Foods" and the lesson entitled "Healthy Cooking Styles".
City Wide Garage Sales were held May 4 and 5th followed by City Wide Clean Up on the 10th.
Exercise Class held from 8 to 9 twice a week at the First Christian Church
Jessica Goza received the Master Teacher award.
We saw about 5 Model T, Model A automobiles gassing up at Two Squirrels (old Keli Mart).
Tid Bits by Jane
April
The whole column can be summed up in two words, IT’S COLD! Snow on April 7th, sure made the daffodils look sad! But we forget last year or the year before when it comes to weather. On April 7, 2015 we had a hard freeze that hurt the wheat and the corn, but do we remember that? The farmers have been wanting to plant corn since the 24th of March and here it is the 10th before much is planted. The ground temperature needs to be 50 or the seeds will be damaged. My soil thermometer measured the temps at 40 deg. 1-2” down on the 10th. Just when the week looks like it will be warm, there’s another cold front and freeze coming for the weekend. The wheat was probably damaged, won’t know how much really until harvest. Some gardeners got out there early and planted tomatoes, hope you can kept those alive. My little beets, lettuce, radish & onions struggled along, covering up the cabbage with buckets and straw! The asparagus is drooping & the potatoes are black. Only time will tell if the fruit trees will produce. What was Mother Nature thinking!! And just when Hale Fire Dept. thought the grass fires
were dying down, they spent another week fighting them. Sedan, Peru and Elk City have had their share of calls too. A big fire that was allegedly arson south of Elk City resulted in many towns, including Hale, being asked to respond. It was a very windy day, not to mention DRY! Steve & I headed to St. Petersburg, FL. It was 80 deg. there and the water in the bay is warm enough to enjoy. We drove and enjoyed the sites along the way. 20 hr. one way is just too far for very many visits!
When I started this the first of the month, it was cold. It has now warmed up some & hopefully the frosty nights are over by the 15th. The wind keeps blowing though! I’m playing in the dirt, farmers are planting corn, baby calves & litters of kitties being born, birds are singing, noses are running, eyes are watering… oh maybe spring is here! We could use a few spring showers for the May flowers. I’ve
actually watered my garden a couple times. It’s dry! The asparagus came up much better after I watered, as did some of the perennial flowers. Joanne Smith of Fab Creations is now printing the PRIDE newsletter for us. This is a big help, as we were going to a printer in Coffeyville. I took cinnamon rolls to the coffee crew. This was a good batch, but they are good buddies to endure eating the rolls on the days, the yeast doesn’t rise!.
What I learned this month If you say you have faith in God, THEN… have faith in God!
May
May Day was celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May baskets are made. These are small baskets usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The giver rings the bell and runs away. Have you ever delivered a small basket of flowers and quickly run away?
How’s the gardening? I had a rough time getting the early crops up due heavy rains last year the first part of May and THIS YEAR it’s too dry and hot. It’s flower planting season too. Love the flowers. One friend told me the reason I planted so many pots, it gives me something to do all summer watering them. By the end of summer, I’m tired of the watering and say, I won’t plant so many anymore. But flowers are the joy of life, plant them and enjoy! Children are also the joy of our lives, most of the time anyway. I enjoyed spending time in St. Petersburg, we played in the ocean and picked up shells for Mother’s Day.
Farmers are expected to be good stewards and take care of the soil; thus, more and more farmers are turning to no till methods of farming to preserve the top soil from washing away. There’s been more ground worked this year due to the dry conditions. The hot, dry weather doesn’t activate the chemicals sprayed on for weeds. But it’s so dry, a lot of fields don’t have any weeds growing. And if the farmer sprays too early, when it does rain the weeds will come if they spray. Ponds are low and native pasture will be short, as will the hay supply next fall. Some fescue has already died. Since writing how dry it was, RAIN, RAIN, RAIN! 2-4” of precious rain the week of the 15th and as typical kept raining! Ol Elk River is running full again. This will put the planting and spraying into full gear when it dries up.
I can stop watering for a few days! Just when we think there’s a drought, it rains. Farmers are never happy. With the Memorial Day weekend
approaching, we all will have fun with family and friends and we must not forget the men and women who died to protect our freedoms. It’s the reason all these political lefts & rights can act like nuts. Give them the respect due. What I learned this month, warm weather is here when the anaconda’s return to the chicken house, aka. black snakes. I don’t care if they are good snakes, eat mice and all that…. They
don’t do my heart a bit of good when I see one!
June
Memorial weekend was beautiful, the rains had stopped & June began with much needed sunshine. We appreciated Pastor Randy Beeman organizing and delivering the message at the cemetery with the help of Terry Marta and Adam Davidson leading prayers and music. We all miss the VFW ritual, but it was a wonderful ceremony. Monte Dunham played taps.
The farmers had their wish and were working day and night to plant soybeans before the ground dried out, which didn’t take long. They also started and finished wheat harvest in June, but just into it a few days and we have 2-3” of rain. Yes the rain was needed, but farmers are picky. It was a little too much and some of the beans may have to be replanted. I am back to watering the garden and flowers. As wheat harvest and bean planting wind down the end of June, the conditions are critical for a rain. The corn is tasseling and could sure use a
rain, not to mention the little bean sprouts trying to push thru the hard dirt. The weather forecast isn’t to hopeful, but YIPPEE on the 24th we received .75”! But as always it continues to rain until it’s almost too much. The wheat yield reports are 30-70 bu/a.
I am hoping my tame blackberries will be good and I’ve already picked a zucchini but dealing with zucchini bugs and dying plants. Good deal I know a gardener that will share his zucs!! The fried ones were sure good!!! They are one of THE WORST pests! A gardener I know reported seeds were slow coming up so he tilled and replanted and now ALL the seeds have come up, scattered around the garden. Heavy and hard rains washed the rows and I have plants scattered here and there also. The okra plants seem to be slow growing, but the cucumbers and tomatoes are producing. Daniel Boone had shoulder surgery the end of May, it was his shootin’ arm, but seems to be healing up. Can’t have him missing trapping season.
I should have mentioned Father’s Day last month; Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. A father’s influence on their children, whether biological or not, are very important to a child. Hope you all remembered the father in your life with fond memories, and whether you are a father, uncle, grandfather, step-father, I
hope you had fun and made memories with family. My dad enjoys watching the “kids” at play on the water, fishing, cooking and telling stories.
Don’t forget the Freedom Celebration on July 1st put on by the Nazarene, Methodist and Christian Churches. Should be a great time for all and thanks to Thaddeus for setting up the fireworks show with all the wonderful donations from the community. I had to get the man out of his recliner one evening to kill the first anaconda of the season! A six foot long bull snake that was full of duck eggs and were
they scrambled when he cut that snake in half, yolk everywhere. Sorry, more than you wanted to know! And a couple nights later another snake found his way to the nest, resulting in a dead chicken. Death from fright, do you suppose! Scared me, both times!
What I learned this month: Life is short and you never know when it’s the last day. Enjoy life, enjoy your family, visit your friends often, clean out your closets so your kids don’t have too!
Church News
The United Methodist and First Christian Church hosted Vacation Bible School in June.
Nazarene Church showed the move "I can only Imagine" in June, Popcorn and drinks were served to all. Nazarene Church had church picnic and fish fry in May.
Bike Across Kansas
BIKING ACROSS KANSAS (BAK) is an eight day tour originating at the Kansas-Colorado line with a route of up to 900 bicyclists, including support staff. The 44th year of the largest bicycling event in Kansas history—a 559-mile ride across the State—begins on Saturday, June 9, 2018 ending in Fort Scott, Kansas. A string of bikers passed Elk City about 7:30 in the morning heading to Fredonia, and a steady stream of bikers in groups through noon. It is quite a site to see.
The primary objectives of Biking Across Kansas are to promote wellness through bicycling, celebrate Kansas history and the beauty of its landscape, and enjoy the warm hospitality of its towns and people.
They made a stop at the Two Squirrels in Elk City. There were approxamitly 650 bikers. Shown at a stop by the cemetery where helpers had food, drinks and repairs available. The top two pictures taken by PRIDE member at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Elk City.