2022 4th Quarter Newsletter

Check It Out

Argo, Isaac M., Pioneer
Brunton, William H. Early Pioneer of Elk City, Kansas
2022 Christmas Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery of Elk City, Kansas 1st Page

Around Town

Witches and Goblins were seen around Elk City on October 31st and I am sure ended with a bag full of treats. The Trunk or Treat held at the ballfield was busy and a lot of happy kids were seen.

4th Sunday breakfast sponsored by Carson Lodge #132 ended for the winter. Will resume in March

First Christian Church is preparing for their Fall Turkey Supper in November.

Elk City Seniors held their annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner for the community.

The drainage ditch on the north edge of town has been cleared by Brotherton and Raynor. There have been many others helping them. If you would like to join the projects to clean up areas of Elk City, appreciate all the efforts of citizens to make improvements in Elk City

The annual Whole Hog Sausage and Waffle supper will be held first Saturday in February. Sponsored by the Carson Lodge #132 Masonic Lodge.

The PRIDE Organization held their annual Christmas Lighting contest.

Time to say Goodbye

Terri and I came to Elk City to pastor the Nazarene Church in June 1981. Since that time Moriah and Nathan were born and raised. We dove into ministry and our community. We helped build the present new sanctuary and the parsonage, worked many years at Elk Valley and involved ourselves in our many Elk City activities where one of our biggest
accomplishments was the creation of the Freedom Sunday Fireworks celebration. More importantly, we were privileged to
minister to many families, make new friends, young and older alike, and I trust helped many spiritually along the
way. These are the memories that we will hold on to. Words cannot express how good you all have been to us.
We are grateful to have been blessed by you. But, it is time to start a new journey in our lives. Terri and I will be moving where our daughter and grandchildren reside. Our final Sunday service is January 1. We will spend the month of January packing and moving. In the meantime our congregation is seeking the Lord’s direction for a new pastor and family. Rev. Wayne Minyard will be filling in weekly until the process is complete. Support us with your prayers and
presence in worship. God Bless. Pastor Terry.

Christmas

December is a big month for most people in Elk City. Besides special celebrations and caroling with the churches. A toys for kids supper is served, price is a toy gift or donation for a toy. This year they served pulled pork with a salad, beans, bread, desert and tea or water. Lots of Elk Citians donate to this. Supper is followed by a lighted Christmas parade with quite a few floats. Santa came in at the end of the parade and stopped under the town Christmas tree and visited with a long line if kids wanting to talk with Santa and have their picture taken.

The Community Building was full of vendors if you needed to shop. The evening was very nice, moderate temperatures and no rain. Then a week later Santa arrived in his sleigh to deliver toys to the town kids. Stopping at their homes and bringing a gift to each child. Country kids went up to the fire station and met with Santa and received a gift.

We were lucky to have such a nice evening. Who was to know that a week later we would all be in the deep freeze with 0 degree temperatures and frozen water pipes It did warn up Christmas Day and has stayed pretty nice since. A week of that really cold weather makes you look forward to spring.

Tid Bits by Jane

October
Do you remember the flood of October 1986??? It’s definitely not that wet this October, except in Florida.
Do you remember Oct. 15, 2020? Wow, how the weather can change. We had an ice storm that day! Fall is upon us; the falling leaves and cooler temps are good indicators. Some of the trees in the area are turning colors due to drought! Thank you Toby for pointing that out! We’ve still had some extra warm days even with cool down. It hasn’t been this dry between June 11- Oct 5th for 100 years. The roads are so dusty, the vegetation needs their leaves washed off. It is about time to let my flowers go. I feel like the blooms are the prettiest just before frost, that is the blooms that are left! The yard seems so bare when it’s time to bring the big pots in for winter. Some of my potted plants are 30 yr. old, No, I can’t let them freeze, I finally got in the mood to decorate with hay bales, pumpkins, scarecrows, corn stalks, etc. I bought some mums for color! The hog roast was a fun time with family & friends. The soybean plants began shutting down and leaves turning yellow the first of Oct. With the weather conditions so hot, windy and dry, I don’t know how any of them stayed green as long as they did. Many acres of soybeans were baled. Hay will be in short supply this winter. As the combines were beginning to roll looking for beans to harvest, farmers were also working to get the wheat planted & fertilizer spread, all the while hoping it rains enough to sprout the wheat and keep it growing. We had some promising showers come thru the area, but it never amounts to much in the rain gauge. Allison came home for a few days mid-Oct. Her trip for our family hog roast were canceled due to the hurricane. We were grateful she was able to come a couple weeks later. She was able to meet new niece, Wren . As the month closes, we see temps in the 20’s, good bye flowers and gardens, hopefully at little rain will fall and a few warmer temps. Neewollah festivities began
and the weekends begin filling up with activities as we push towards Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Annual Elk Falls Outhouse Tour will be the 18th & 19th of Nov. And the Pottery Open House. I love that weekend! What I learned this month: Love means being good to each other, waiting on each other and looking in the junk piles for possible craft ideas! Now that is true LOVE!

November
I missed my friend, Irene Sims when she moved to Wichita due to the failing health of her husband Harold. They were neighbors and would participate in the church & PRIDE events in Elk City. It’s sad to hear of her passing. Maybe she has found a peace now, she so missed her cabin in the woods and her beloved Harold. The site of falling leaves is so peaceful and calming. No, I don’t like raking them up, but it’s cool to watch them fall slowly to the ground. Just like snowflakes. We need some calming during these Crazy times for sure. It would be nice to think the country will calm down now after the mid-terms, no matter the side you voted, but I’m not sure it will. Inflation is definitely an issue for all We’ve had some nice sunny days for those like us that are still harvesting mid-month and some cold, windy,
drizzling days. Farmers don’t have very good dispositions when the crops are in the field & needing to be harvested and they don’t have good dispositions when there aren’t any soybeans in the fields to harvest. Most fields suffered from drought, but the deer damage is great too. For the cattleman needing several inches of rain and runoff for pond water, the rains are a blessing. Many are cleaning out ponds, moving cattle to find water and using rural water while they can. The Rural water districts will run short also, if it doesn’t rain significantly. The farmers on the other hand, don’t need the rain, if we couldn’t have rain in the summer to make the crop, it’s not helping now. Either way, we thank God for the rain and giving us a peace thru the hard times. I missed the Elk Falls Pottery Open house and the Outhouse Tour this year, first time in forever! I heard tour buses came this year and some new outhouses were added to the scene.

It was a beautiful outdoor wedding and a fun time visiting with friends and family that attended, as well as
spending time seeing the sights and the beach. It was mid 60’s, & cool for the Floridians, but seemed warm to all of us after leaving the freezing weather behind in Kansas! We spent Thanksgiving Day with the Huntington’s. The holiday seasons have started, hopefully you had a bountiful Thanksgiving with family & friends. Now to tackle Christmas! shopping, caroling, decorating & eating! Calorie counting is no way to celebrate. I really enjoy the fall décor and all the beautiful colors. Now it’s time for the Christmas, take down the fall & let the Christmas decorating to begin!
Many activities are going on in Elk City the next month. Dec. 4 th – Christmas Store 1-3 pm. Donations welcome of new or gently used goods, no clothing except for hats, gloves, etc. or books. Toys for Kids Dinner on Dec 10, 2022 starting at 5:00 pm at the Carson Lodge in Elk City. Bring a toy to pay for supper or make a donation. Christmas parade following the dinner. A craft show will be at Comm Bldg 4-8 pm. What I learned this month: Be thankful for the life
you’ve been given, the family & friends that have crossed your path and the God that has given you both.

December

It was nice to have all the Christmas events in full swing again this year. Toys for Kids dinner & Christmas parade were a success with cooperating weather. Santa and helpers were able to deliver toys to all the kids in town, as well as the country kids that came to town. Thanks to all those that supported the Toys for Kids project and for the Bennett, Mitchell & Meadows family for all their efforts in continuing this project for the children. We also love the Christmas tree in the middle of town, cut from Tom and Sheryl, put up by Melinda and Eric and Lucas. The Christmas parade and craft show were organized by Amber McElwain, which made for festive and wonderful community projects. Thanks to all!

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says: The hours of sunshine on Christmas Day determines the number of frosts in May? And a warm Christmas is a cold Easter! Does anyone remember last Christmas and then Easter this year. Easter was nice, but I don’t’ remember Christmas Day weather. It sounds like winter is going to arrive the week before Christmas. Negative temps and wind chills are not pleasant for man or beast. I’m tired of the wind blowing my Christmas decorations. The sunny days have been nice and a few rains might have helped some pond water, but not likely at this point. The Community Christmas Candlelight program was at the Nazarene Church on the 18th . It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Joe’s house, Joe put his Christmas tree up and other kitchen décor, so it feels so festive for coffee. We aren’t meeting at Joe’s as often, lives changes, schedules change, but we try to gather as often as we can. I’ve been watching the old Christmas movies, “White Christmas”, Miracle on 34th St., Frosty & Rudolph. Love them All!! The Osburn family gathered for Christmas Eve supper and gift exchange. The Huntington family gathered on the 17th for fun and food at our home. We enjoyed opening presents and wished Jesus a very Happy Birthday! Christmas unwrapping is so much fun with little ones. We should have their joy! Steve & I enjoyed attending open house at Pastor
Randy Beeman’s house in Indep. and Pastor Terry Marta and family in Elk City. Good food & fellowship both places and Pastor Terry’s trains were awesome. The Marta’s will be leaving for a new adventure and home at the end of the year. They have been here 41.5 years and have been an inspiring and supportive part of the Elk City Community. They will
be missed. EMAW!! Way to go K-State University. Big 12 Champs And to the KC CHIEFS! Division Champs! Of course, Pastor Beeman is a KU fan, so we have our banter about that! He just says, wait until basketball. HA Now that 2023 is here, I wonder as I wander. I wonder if 2023 will be seeing much improvement over the last couple of years.. It’s been a whole year of political upheaval, medical woes and anything else weird that can happen, will! So the following is a repeat, but I still feel this way. And it seems each year I live, these feelings seem more important. Maybe an age thing? I find the world news scary, the border problem, inflation & etc. The answer is to NOT listen to the news, I believe we need to be aware of the events going on around us & then find peace knowing God in control thru prayer.
I heard a radio commentator talking about living a fulfilled life…. Then there is the pursuit of Happiness. Are we in the pursuit of Happiness to live a fulfilled life? What is a fulfilled life? As I sit & think, Oh I haven’t done this or I should have done that… would those things have made me feel anymore fulfilled? I would imagine the meaning is something different to everyone. Some would say Travel to places you have always dreamed of, Engage in extreme sports like mountaineering, skydiving, rock climbing, white water rafting and bungee jumping. Visit an ocean and engage
in all the activities there like deep sea fishing, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling or whale watching, all these
sites are wonderful to see, but do you have to do them to be happy? Spending your free time developing a new hobby, learning a language, volunteering with a local group, or joining your local church. Have lunch with someone who did something that annoyed you and work out how you can improve your relationship with them and also forgive them. Throw a huge party for all your friends to have fun together and show them how much you appreciate them. I love a good party; I receive happiness from visiting and being around people. Then there are those who feel their life is fulfilled by just
simply enjoying the small pleasures of life like watching the sunrise and sunset from their porch swing. Reading a
good book or looking out for shooting stars, Dancing in the pouring rain with someone you love and play in the
mud. Planting a garden, growing flowers, playing with the kitties, hunting with a new puppy, enjoy spending time with your children and grandchildren and growing old with your spouse. Whatever makes you happy, go do it, but it doesn’t always have to be the wild adventure that makes us happy. Most of all, on your quest for a life fulfilled, make sure that in your pursuits, life includes Christ and that you lived in such a manner as to Honor Him and love one another.

Happy New Year to all!

What I learned this month: We can easily get caughtup in thinking petty things will make us happy or change our lives, when a child said to me, “we should be happy with a warm home, love of family and the simple pleasures in life, because our world may still change into something we don’t recognize and all those petty things that seemed so important won’t matter at all.

Alumni

1962

NOTE: This Alumni info has a newspaper clipping, no date and no newspaper mentioned. I assume it would be Elk City Sun around date of Alumni.

E.C.H.S. Alumni Banquet held Tuesday Evening.

150 alumni and friends attended the annual Elk City High School Alumni banquet held Tuesday night in the high school auditorium.
Invocation was given by Myrtle Elmore-Cox and an excellent dinner was served by the ladies of the Christian church. After dinner group singing was led by Vada Brown Wright accompanied by Marilyn White-Inlow, Cassius Davis (1891) of Casa Grande, Ariz., Samuel Davis (1892) of Glendale, Calif., Mrs. Mae Harmon-Cox (1894), Elk City, and Bestow Shaffer (1897) of Independence, all who graduated prior to 1900 were present.

Nelson Lucius president, presided at the meeting and introduced Noel (Shorty) Aemisegger who served as toastmaster for the evening. The program consisted of a reading by Candance Warren, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Warren; a vocal solo by Patricia Tharp; and a piano solo by Rita Inlow daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Inlow. The roll call of classes and business meeting followed and new officers were elected for the coming 1963 year as follows President, Bill Newkirk; vice president, Jane Boylan Clark; secretary and treasurer Marie Whistler Hiatt.,

The pleasant evening closed with the Alma Mater and social hour. A nice total was collected to help the school buy a P. A. system.

Persons who helped make this banquet a success are: Program committee; Sandra Aemisegger, Coleen Keeley, Table and decorating committee: Lyle Bruce, Opal Frazier, Karen Osborn, Roberta Leonard; serving committee: Willa Widick, Bernice Lessman and Christian Church; Tickets: Leon Newkirk, Jane Clark; nominating committee: Helen James, Ruby Henderson, Esther James, 1962 officers: President, Nelson Lucius; vice president Kay Reed; Secretary and Treasurer Raydene James Benfield.

Note: the minutes read as the newspaper has stated except as follows:

Committees:
Serving - Willa McKkinzie, Widick, Bernice Merritt Lessman for the Christian church
Program: Sandra Morse Aemissegger, Coleen Merritt Keeley
Table Decorating: Lyle Bruce, Opal Ringle Frzier, Karen Bryant Osborn, Roberta Leonard
Tickets: Leon Newkirk, Jane Boylan Clark
Nominating Helen Newkirk James, Ruby Ford Henderson, Esther Ware James

Financial Report
Bal Forward $48/01
Tickets Sold 172.50
Collection 56.55
Total 277.06

Expenses:
Elk City Sun for printing $28.60
Table Napkins 1.11
Christian church (#1.00 a plate) 148.00
Elk City High School 59.35
Total 237.06
Balance on hand $40.00

Note: also enclosed was reference sheet as follows:

To help those who know as little as we did when we came into office. Prepared by Raydene James Benfield 1962 Sec. Treas.

Printing: 475 post cards printed
200 tickets
200 Banquet programs

John L. Miller of the Sun Office has copies of each of these in his files and will even purchase the post cards for you if you wish, at no extra charge. Just send him the necessary information and he knows just how everything goes. The association has not been sending cards to Independence and Elk City Alumni but I wonder if that personal note wouldn't get a larger attendance of home folks too. There are so many right here that don't even go. Cards are sent by April 15 so that those far away may have time to plan to come.

Committees: to be appointed by officers at least a month ahead of time.
Serving Comm.: The Christian and Methodist churches take turns doing this, so the Methodist wills serve in 1963.
It is a good idea to appoint a chairman or make sure plans are started.

Program comm.: prepares all the program except perhaps getting the toastmaster, which the officers may wish to do.

Table & Decorating Comm.: This is the hard one. This comm ;sets up all the tables, decorates and sets them complete and cleans up tables afterwards. The Assn has tables artificial flowers and part of a roll of table paper. These things and the songs sheets are in the janitor room at the high school. Other tables are at the Methodist and Christian churches.

Tickets Comm.: Leon Newkirk and Jane Clark are almost a standing comm., they have done it so many years.

Suggestion: A host and hostess (or something on this order) I found this year one couple who knew no one. He said that he left Elk City right after graduating in 1936 and this was the first time he had been back and he didn't know one familiar face. This may be true of others and also there are the shy ones who would like to be introduced to those they do not know. The officers are usually to busy thinking about what's done and what's not to do this and I think this maybe an answer.

Hoping that these things will help have a more successful banquet next year Good Luck

The Good Old Days

Note: taken several runaway horse and buggy articles found in Elk City Newspaper.

taken from Elk City Sun dated July 22, 1910

A Runaway - A horse belonging to C. J. Phelps caused a little excitement Tuesday afternoon. It was tied to a rack and in some manner slipped off the bridle and becoming frightened at something proceeded to put on a Marathon race over a large part of the city. The outfit finally collided with a pile of casing in the rear of the gas office, the horse breaking loose and running until almost exhausted. The damage to the buggy and harness was only a few dollars.

taken from Elk City Sun dated April 16, 1915

A Runaway - A horse driven by Mrs. W. G. Sumner ran away Wednesday afternoon on Main street and caused considerable excitement. A piece of the harness broke when the horse was passing the Hotel Elk and the horse ran South to the post office, thence East half a block to alley back of Clark Bros. store, where it was stopped by Roy Anderson. Mrs. Sumner displayed good presence of mind by holding to the lines and guiding the horse past obstructions. A shaft was broken out of the buggy and the harness slightly damaged.

Elk City Enterprise dated June 8, 1899

An Exciting Runaway - One of the most exciting runaways were witnessed on the streets of Elk City occurred Wednesday evening. About half past seven O'clock Mrs. C. R. Woodworth accompanied by her daughter, Mona, and Mis Maud Freeman, drove up to the post office. The two young ladies left the buggy and Mrs. Woodworth started to drive away when the horse, a young animal just recently broken to drive, took fright at something and started to run up the street. A young man named Carter , who was standing in the post office saw the horse start and made a run for him. Carter was swift of foot and caught the horse by the bridle but being a light man he was unable to stop him. He made up in grit, however, what he lacked in weight, and maintained the hold for almost a block but was finally knocked down and run over. He felt on his back, both wheels ran over him lengthwise and the horse stepped on his right leg. He came out of the scrimmage very much disfigured and scarcely able to walk but no bones were broken.

After ridding himself of Carter the horse made straight for the corner of Fred Pappe's house, and in attempting to turn west there the buggy was upset throwing Mrs. Woodworth onto the stone pavement and leaving the top of the buggy with her. She was picked up insensible and it was supposed, dead, and carried into Mr. Pappe's house where Dr. Wright made an examination and found that besides being very much shocked and bruised her injuries were not of a serious nature.

As the rear end of Rubles Livery barn Bob Cross was working and seeing the horse and remains of the buggy coming up the alley he jumped the fence with the intention of stopping them but the horse, instead of stopping, made a bolt for Bob, knocked him down (or scared him so badly he fell down) and walked over him. Bob was uninjured.

Obituaries

Bruce, Melissa Jean passed away October 1, 2022 burial in Oak Hill Cemetery

Darbro Anna Marie (Gentry) passed away October 17th burial in Oak Hill Cemetery

Sims Mary Irene, who passed away at the age of 93, on October 17, 2022.

Bower, Everett Frances, 81 Tuesday, December 13, burial in Havana Cemetery

Dunham, Robert Bruce, age 59 died December 11th burial

Sanders, Ronald D. 84, passed away on Saturday, November 26, burial in Oak Hill Cemetery