One staple at rodeos across Lyon County throughout the years has been Carl Lee Stueve, according to John Sorce at the Emporia Gazette.
Stueve has been announcing for more than 30 years after the previous announcer was ready to step away. Stueve was asked to do it, and he has been announcing ever since up until this year.
His passion for the sport and ability to build relationships within the community made him a natural fit.
But Stueve’s knowledges of the riders went beyond the rodeo. He always knew about each participant and would share stories about their lives. That would make each and every one of them feel special when they had their moment in the spotlight.
A lifelong Lyon County resident, Stueve served the community for 38 years as a teacher. He taught for one year at Burlington High School before teaching vocational agriculture at Flint Hills Tech College.
Stueve was the Future Farmers of America sponsor until the program was shut down, but then went on to teach biology at Emporia High School until retiring.
Stueve has announced both ranch and 4-H rodeos at the Lyon County Fair in addition to Olpe’s Eagle Creek Saddle Club, shodeos, ranch rodeos, and youth rodeos happening in the area.
A number of current and former cowboys, cowgirls, 4-H’ers and parents spoke with The Gazette about what Stueve has meant to them and the rodeo community.
Justin Keith said, “Growing up with Carl Lee, you would always see how hard he worked to be at the top of his game, and he expressed that to the other kids and it just carries over. Whether you had a good run or a bad run, Carl Lee made you feel really good about yourself.”
Michelle Wilson said, “Carl Lee officiated the service at my mom’s funeral about three years ago, and he did an awesome job. Carl Lee has been a great family friend for a long time and is an awesome guy.”
Cole Wilson said, “It didn’t matter if it was about rodeo or not, Carl Lee knew everything about every contestant, and they were the No. 1 cowboy or cowgirl while they were competing no matter what happened.”
Michelle Corpening said, “Something I will always remember about Carl Lee announcing is he always had something good to say. He is very knowledgeable and loves the sport of rodeo, so he follows what’s going on very closely and it captivates the audience.”
Isaac Miller said, “Just Carl Lee’s voice alone got me going when we entered the arena ready to go.”
Sadie Bathurst said, “I’ve been to many rodeos, but no announcer is like Carl Lee. He is able to bring out the best in every kid and highlight them and make them feel special unlike any other announcer.”
Jesse Miser said, “Carl Stueve has been teaching kids how to rope for at least 45 years with a lot of heart and dedication.”
Cindy Bathhurst said, “Whenever they would be doing the steer riding, Carl Lee would always give the steer a name and come up with a story about them. He would always tell a story about each kid and he would know the horses as they were coming in too.”
Jennie Jenkins said, “As I’ve watched my children rodeo over the years, Carl Lee nailed everything about them and what they’ve been doing. Even if it wasn’t with the high school or with rodeo, he knew about what they were doing and had so much background knowledge on the kids.”
Jill (Jenkins) Castaneda said, “As a Stueve, Carl Lee has a genuine care that when you are around him, he makes you feel like you are the most special person on the planet. I also had him as a teacher in high school, and he made things so relatable and taught so many life lessons. He’s just a great man.”
Jake Jenkins said, “My favorite Carl Lee Stueve quote is ‘sometimes you have to slow down to be fast.’”
Jacob Miller said, “Carl Lee Stueve has announced this rodeo and several other youth rodeos in the county and area my entire life. This was the first year where I haven’t heard him announce this rodeo.”
Faith Miller said, “I did high school rodeo and 4-H, and it was always nice to have an announcer in our corner as hometown kids. Carl Lee Stueve was always very supportive of us.”
+++30+++
Lyon County Rodeo Announcer Steps Down After Serving Three Decades
Lumberman’s Passing Notable Bereavement
Sad recent passing of Bill Wolgast, 86, Alta Vista, is a major loss to the Wabaunsee County community and much broader Midwest region.
The third-generation owner of Wolgast Lumber Company followed his dad and grandfather in operating the lumber, hardware, and construction business.
Like his predecessors, Bill was a very strong supporter of his hometown serving in leadership roles on every level. If there was a need, Bill stepped forward to assist without ever being asked.
While Wolgast Lumber Company, started in 1902, was considered a local business, Bill and his family served a much wider area. They sold and delivered lumber regularly, often at lower prices than other similar businesses throughout at least six counties.
Likewise, crews managed by Bill at Wolgast Lumber constructed major homes, outbuildings, and farm structures all over the entire area.
Dedicated to the business, Bill continued working daily at Wolgast Lumber Company, generally walking there from his home a few blocks away. Gates were opened early morning and ready for regular builder customers and walk-in trade.
Open six days a week, if he had to be gone for a short time, Bill always posted a sign when he planned to return.
With somebody or a specific group always seeking donations or support, Bill gave readily generously to each and every one.
Whether church, school, athletics, musical productions, special events, every regional activity, and much more, Bill’s kindest response was always the same.
A regular advertiser in the hometown weekly newspaper and regional publications, Bill always promoted the business services although most trade was probably from the reputable word of mouth.
“The Knot Hole” was a trademark newspaper advertisement anticipated by readers to follow what construction projects Wolgast Lumber Company had underway or was providing supplies.
A strong supportive family man, Bill was especially proud of his wife Stena, and their four sons in community, church, athletics, and musical accomplishments.
Likewise, his sons’ personal careers and life achievements along with those of their children, his grandchildren, and great grandchildren were quite special to Bill.
With Bill’s knowledgeable architectural plans, directions, guidance, and dedicated workers, Wolgast Lumber Company constructed the present ranch home as well as a major outbuilding with special addition.
Very few, if any, have ever served more generously than Bill Wolgast.
Reminded of Acts 21:20: “He was an enthusiastic supporter.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XVIII–36–9-2-2024
Carpenter ants
I have been getting questions about ants hanging around trees recently. These large, dark brown to black ants can range from ¼ inch up to ¾ inch for a queen. Carpenter ants seek soft, mushy wood to excavate for nests but may move into sound wood as the need arises. They do not feed on wood as termites do but remove what is needed to build galleries in which to rear their young. The sawdust is ejected and forms piles that can help locate a nest. Carpenter ants feed on honeydew given off by aphids, other insects, animal remains and household food scraps. As stated before, they do not feed on wood.
Carpenter ant infestations in trees normally begins in an area where the wood has already started to decay. These insects are not directly harmful to the tree but are making use of wood that is already starting to decay.
Control is normally not warranted unless the tree is acting as a bridge for the ants entering a home or other structure. Carpenter ant nests in structures must be controlled. If control is deemed necessary, locate the nest by looking for sawdust piles and then the area of entry where the wood is rotted. Use a pyrethroid such as permethrin (Hi-Yield 38 Plus Turf, Termite & Ornamental Insect Spray; Bonide Eight Vegetable, Fruit & Flower Concentrate; Bonide Eight Yard & Garden RTS and Hi-Yield Garden and Farm Insect Control) or cyfluthrin (BioAdvanced Carpenter Ant & Termite Killer Plus) that is labeled for trees or other structures.
A State Of Confusion
“The weather is almost always something other than normal.” Andy Rooney
I guess I’m what the looney left calls a “climate denier” as I don’t believe in man-made climate change. As such I’m always looking for data that will help me prove my point so I was elated to receive from my buddy Darol a map of the “all time” statewide high temperature readings for every state. It was made by Chris Martz using data from NOAA, which is short for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Although the map said it was for “all-time” the earliest statewide high temperature reading I found was for Montana in 1893, when it reached 117 degrees 131 years ago.
If you divide the 131 years that we have data for by the number of states that tells us how often a state should have reached their highest temperature, which turns out to be every 2.62 years. That means in the first 24 years of the 21st century nine states should have set new records for their “all time” high temperature.
We’re told over and over again that we’re experiencing the hottest temperatures ever recorded so guess how many states experienced their highest temperature on record in the 21st century? It wasn’t nine, in fact it was far less. Only THREE states reached their highest temperature, Washington in 2021, Colorado in 2019 and South Carolina in 2012. That’s it. Does that sound like global warming to you? I didn’t think so.
A quick survey of the map indicates that many of the states had their highest temperature ever recorded during the “dirty thirties” when there were far fewer cars on the road than there are now. So fossil fuel burning cars must not be the culprit. Right? The year 1936 seems to be the most prevalent year in which states had their highest temperatures and in that year there were only 128,053,180 people in the U.S, far fewer than the roughly 340 million in the country today. If man is capable of changing the weather wouldn’t you think that temperatures would be much higher when the population is almost tripled? But that’s clearly not the case.
My home state, California, achieved its highest temperature ever in Death Valley in 1913, which is also the national record. The highest temperature ever recorded anyplace on earth was in Libya way back in 1922 when it reached 136 degrees. One would think that if cow farts caused the global temperature to change wouldn’t you expect a higher temperature in Texas which has many more cattle than Libya ever did. But the highest temperature ever recorded in Texas was 120 degrees back in 1936. So cows must not be the culprit.
Hmmm… somehow the theory of man-made global warming is falling apart.
The most dramatic temperature swing ever recorded in America happened one day in January in 1943, when South Dakota went from minus four degrees to 45 degrees in two minutes! That’s a 49 degree change in 120 seconds! South Dakota also has the distinction of being the state with the coldest day in February, 1936, at minus 58! Five months later in July they had their hottest day on record at 120 degrees.
Now, that’s climate change!
Yet no one back then was insisting we all drive electric cars and have solar panels on their roof. If the climate change fanatics did a little research they’d find that most of America’s weird weather happened in the distant past, yet no one back then was altering their entire lifestyle because of it.
But I’m not finished debunking the theory of man-made climate change. The world’s greatest rainfall total occurred in 1966 when nearly 72 inches of rain fell in one 24 hour period. The five deadliest tornadoes in American history all occurred between 1840 and 1936. People may claim that we’re having more cyclones, tornadoes, hail and earthquakes due to man-made climate change but the facts don’t support them. The fact is that our climate is caused more by the shift of continents, solar activity and something called Milankovich Cycles (whatever that is) than it does the fact that our Climate Czar, John Kerry, has a carbon footprint bigger than Sasquatch with his 6 houses, 12 cars, two yachts and private jet.
