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Workshop Explores Family History Writing

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Guest Columnist
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The Fifty Five Plus Club in Geneseo will host “A Creative Guide to Writing Your Family’s Stories,” a presentation and discussion by Kim Stanley on March 21 at 6:30 p.m.at the Fifty Five Plus Club, 714 S. Main, Geneseo. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the Fifty Five Plus Club at 620 257-3941 for more information.

The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas. We all love discovering a fantastic tale of our family’s past—whether it be the distant relative who journeyed on the Mayflower, or the grandmother riveted airplanes at a World War II factory.

But how do we share these stories in engaging ways? This workshop provides the tools to
enrich genealogical research with story and memory so that readers will feel what it was like to be in that moment. Kim is a professor of English and chair of the Department of Modern Languages at McPherson College.

“I love helping people tell their stories,” says Stanley. “Writing is how we make sense of our
world, and how we pass it on to others.” “A Creative Guide to Writing Your Family’s Stories” is part of Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau, featuring humanities-based presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.

MKC to work with Land O’Lakes and Verizon on broadband connectivity project

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Guest Columnist
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The effort will boost wireless coverage at the Whitewater location and extend broadband connectivity to residents in the Whitewater region.

MKC announces a collaboration with Land O’Lakes and Verizon to expand broadband internet access to residents of Whitewater, KS and the surrounding community. Through this partnership, a wireless communications tower has
been built and turned on by Verizon at the MKC Whitewater facility. This effort to improve
connectivity has the potential to provide residents in this rural area with additional broadband services in their homes.

Not only is broadband increasingly critical to daily life, it also enables precision agriculture,
increasing yields, improving productivity, and boosting profits. Yet, according to the Federal
Communications Commission, more than 14.5 million Americans do not have access to
broadband, specifically in rural areas, where more than 17% of Americans lack access.
However, some claim the number is even higher, Broadband Now estimates that 42 million
Americans do not have access to broadband. This effort by MKC, Verizon and Land O’Lakes
aims to address these gaps.

This project is part of ongoing efforts by Land O’Lakes and Verizon to address the rural
broadband gap across the United States, and MKC is part of the Land O’Lakes member
network. Through its American Connection Project, Land O’Lakes, along with its cooperative
network, are helping to bridge the digital divide with awareness and advocacy.

“This partnership will bring a high-speed service option to many residents in our surrounding communities,” said Erik Lange, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at MKC. “We are excited for what this will mean to those impacted by this project and how it will allow us to better serve our member owners. We are working towards real time notifications to our member owners while in the field and closing the digital divide is critical to accomplish this.” & we are so excited to be working with MKC to bring real solutions for the lack of broadband access in these communities,” said Teddy Bekele, Chief Technology Officer at Land O’Lakes. “As a farmer-owned co-op, Land O'Lakes works to support job creation and vibrant communities where our members and their families work and live. We will continue to develop more ways to increase access to digital connectivity for all Americans.

The work we’re doing with Land O’Lakes and MKC is so important in many ways and ladders back to our respective efforts to close the digital divide and bring connectivity to rural areas,” said Andy Brady, Vice President, Enterprise Sales, Verizon Business. “The work at MKC’s Whitewater facility and in Whitewater, KS, is hopefully just the start of an ongoing
connectivity expansion effort.”

 

Spirea: New Look for an Old Favorite

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Guest Columnist
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Spireas are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. Once considered somewhat “common” or “old fashioned,” plant breeders have made vast improvements recently in growth habit, leaf and flower color, and overall garden appeal. Undoubtedly, all of the preceding were influential in prompting the National Gardener Bureau to name spirea as its “Shrub of the Year” for 2023.

The genus name, Spirea, originates from the Greek word, speira, or “wreath,” which makes reference to the orientation of the shrub’s delicate flowers. With nearly 100 species, this hardy genus of plants boasts a wide range of colorful foliage ranging from blue to yellow, red to orange, and nearly everything in between. Although native to Japan, China, and Korea, they have become American heartland landscape plants.

Common species and hybrids of this long-time garden favorite include:

  • Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) is known for its wide flower and foliage color range, and its low-growing and mounding form.
  • Bumalda spirea (Spiraea x bumalda) is similar to Japanese spirea but is a cross between S. albiflora and S. japonica. Flower color ranges from white to deep pink.
  • Birchleaf spirea (Spiraea betulifolia) is known for its larger, blue-green, birch-like leaves and stunning fall color.
  • Korean spirea (Spiraea fritschiana) is native to forests, slopes, and rocky areas and, like most spirea, attractive to butterflies. It is noted for its dark green foliage and large, white flower clusters that appear in late spring.
  • Vanhoutte spirea, or bridal wreath, (Spiraea x vanhouttei) has been a landscape favorite for many years. It is known for its vase-shaped habit, flowing, arching branches, and cascading showy spring blooms. This inter-specific hybrid often is confused with Spirea prunifolia which has doubled flowers but fewer of them.

Although the preceding species and hybrids still are widely planted, new cultivars are available that add versatility to this useful shrub in home landscapes and gardens. The following represent a few notable examples:

  • Tor Birchleaf – ‘Tor’ produces a compact mound of dark, gray-green, birch-like leaves that sport tiny white flowers in late spring. Like most birchleaf types, it boasts amazing fall color. Height: 3-4′. Width: 3-4′.
  • Glow Girl® Birchleaf – A great plant for those who need easy, adaptable color for colder climates, it produces striking lemon-lime foliage. Height: 3-4′. Width: 3-4′.
  • Rainbow Fizz™ – Aptly named, this new spirea adds a burst of color to the landscape with candy-like buds that emerge red and open to pink. Height: 3-4′. Width: 3-4′.
  • Double Play Candy Corn® –The Double Play® series of spirea are continuous bloomers. ‘Candy Corn’ makes a great landscape statement with its brilliant foliage and red blooms that show all summer long. Other Double Play® cultivars include Big Bank, Artisan, Doozie, Gold, and Red. Height: 2-3′. Width: 2-3′.
  • Pink Sparkler™ – This new birchleaf selection produces pink flowers in early summer and then again in autumn. The result is a late “pop” of color after most deciduous shrubs have stopped blooming. Height: 3-4′. Width: 3-4′.
  • Superstar® – This new spirea offers three-season appeal thanks to its stunning, scarlet red new growth in spring, its pink blossoms from May to August, and its excellent bronze fall color. Height: 2-3′. Width: 3-4′.
  • Firegold® – This new spirea bears brilliant lemon-lime foliage. Otherwise, it resembles the old-fashioned bridal wreath spirea, and arches gracefully while producing lovely white blooms in spring. Height: 4-6′. Spread: 5-7′.
  • Little Spark® – This new, compact spirea produces orangish new growth that turns yellow. The yellow leaves are held throughout the summer, even in full sun. Height: 18-24″. Width: 18-30″.
  • Renaissance bridal wreath – While more disease-resistant foliage than other bridal wreath cultivars, ‘Renaissance’ still produces classic white blooms that cover the plant. It is a selection from Spirea x vanhouttei. Height: 5-7′. Width: 6-8′.
  • Goldflame – A selection from Spirea japonica, ‘Goldflame’ bears bronze-tinged new growth in spring. It produces dark pink flowers on plants with a compact, neat growth habit. Height 3-4′. Spread 4-5′.
  • Dolchica – Unique in flower color for a spirea, ‘Dolchia’ produces graceful dark mounds of purplish flower clusters on purple-red foliage that matures in summer to green. ‘Dolchica’ is a selection from Spiraea x bumalda. Height 3′. Spread 4′.
  • Little Princess – A petite selection from Spirea japonica, ‘Little Princess’ bears showy flat-topped clusters of bright pink flowers in early summer. Height 2′ Spread 3′.
    • Snowmound – ‘Snowmound’ lives up to its name. It produces an abundance of snow-white flowers on graceful, spreading branches. Height 3-5′. Spread 3-5′.
    • Even the most compact varieties of spirea establish themselves rapidly, making them ideal choices for quick fill-in plantings, massing, hedges, and foundations.Spireas are deciduous shrubs and drop their leaves each fall. Cold hardy from USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8, they can tolerate winter temperatures as low as negative 15 to negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Best grown in full sun, plants located in shadier spots tend to become lanky and do not bloom well. Although they prefer good, well-drained soil, spireas tolerate poor soil, pollution, drought, heat, the afore mentioned cold temperatures. Once established, they are one of the lowest maintenance, easy-to-grow shrubs available to gardeners. Normally, minimal supplemental watering is needed except during very dry weather. Mulching with wood chips or shredded bark will help retain moisture.

      Routine pruning can be done to plants that are getting larger than desired. Since spireas bloom on “old wood” (previous year’s growth), it is best to prune after flowering. In addition to heading back, spireas should be thinned from the center to improve air circulation. Unlike some landscape plants, spireas can be pruned hard (reduced by two-thirds) to rejuvenate older, overgrown plants.

      In general, spireas are not a preferred food source for wildlife such as deer and rabbits. However, their beautiful blooms attract an abundant show of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

     

 

 

 

DREAMS

By
Roger Ringer
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“HOLD FAST TO DREAMS, FOR IF DREAMS DIE,

LIFE IS A BROKEN-WINGED BIRD THAT CANNOT FLY.”

Langston Hughes

 

If you have followed me long you will realize that I am a historian as well as a storyteller. I am very grateful that my books have been so well received. I never could have imagined how far away that my books have been put for sale. As you know I have many interests and my favorite subject is western and Kansas history. When my health started to decline I had a decision to make, I could just sit down and feel sorry for myself or do something constructive.

Today’s electronic world has made it possible to do research and find information that would have taken many miles and hours to do. I have always been fascinated by the stories of the forgotten, stubborn, foolish, innovative, hard working, and brilliant people that have built the state of Kansas from the start. Many are forgotten in unknown graves and dank pages unread, and yet they had a profound effect on the nation and world. People used to come up to me at seminars and meetings telling me the stories from their town or area. What a better way to keep my mind and make sure that these people and happenings do not get forgotten.

My first three books about Kansas, published by History Press, are full of stories that even members of the communities and families have forgotten about. When I started writing down story ideas it has become a never ending series of discoveries. And most time during these discoveries I ran across more and more ideas. I just don’t write the feel good stories, I feel like I have to tell all the stories good, bad, and ugly. History is not supposed to be a feel good experience. We all learn by mistakes. We are all human, none are perfect. The one man that was perfect they killed. We are all born to die. All would like to be remembered and many aren’t.

I am happy to announce that my fourth book of Kansas History has been approved. It has taken me a year to write. It was a hard year and I needed the diversion. I am happy to announce that KANSASOLOGY has been approved and will be published during 2023. I thought the title of KANSASOLOGY was a good title to coin because it means the study of Kansas. It is also something that could not be forgotten.

Now begins the hard part. The publishing and business part is harder than the actual writing. I think everyone will be surprised at some of the stories I have found. A few have been the hardest for me to research. Some stories are longer than many in the past.

I am delighted to have my friend Martha Slatter Farrell write the forward. Also nothing could be done without my personal editor from Lawrence Mary Brohammer. Mary can speak the language that publishers speak. When I was told that my books had to be written in the ‘Chicago’ style I thought that the Chicago style was a Tommy gun in a violin case. Mary is also blessed with a lot of patience.

I will keep you all updated as to the progress of Kansaology and when it will be available.

Celebration Of Life For 101-Year-Old Rancher, War Veteran, Community Servant Phil George

By
Frank Buchman
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“I can’t grieve. Phil had such a good life, got to do everything he wanted, a loving family, strong faith, a long life. How can I grieve?”
When sympathies were being expressed to Julia George after the passing of her husband of 73 years, she responded without remorse.
That positive feeling of heartfelt faith was reshared by an overflowing-church of family, friends, and neighbors at his life’s celebration.
Philip Woodbury George, 101-years-old, passed away February 12, in Emporia, with sacred memories February 25, at the Lebo Methodist Church. Julia George, 95, was in the front pew.
While funerals are generally intentionally sad occasions, this was not like that. Apparent laughter, grins and nodding smiles were commonplace as family, compadres, fellow-veterans, clergy shared remembrances of Phil George serving others.
Pastor Lori Schwilling concisely summarized best. “Once upon a time, a farm boy named Phil married a farm girl named Julia. They turned a schoolhouse into a farm home with beloved children of God lovingly caring for livestock and land. Phil now has a new home in Heaven to live happily ever after.”
Grandchildren reflected memories of “Papa” and recited Bible passages symbolizing the Phil George life.
Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…” Psalm 101: “I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise…” Romans 14: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions…” Romans 8: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”
Common thread among his beloved grandchildren’s reflections. “Papa was patient, humorous, a storyteller with the strongest love for God, Grandma Julia, family, and his livestock.”
Born September 14, 1921, Phil grew up at Sunbyrne Farm on the Osage and Coffey counties line east of Lebo.
Second oldest of Frank and Harriet George’s four children, Phil attended the one-room Elmwood School and was active in 4-H. He graduated from Lebo High School in 1939 and started studying agriculture at Kansas State University.
Just before his junior year, Phil enlisted in the U.S. Navy in part out of respect for his high school friend. Harold “Skinny” Spatz was serving in the Army Air Corps and volunteered for the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. That resulted in Spatz being captured, tortured, and ultimately executed after his plane crash landed in occupied China.
During World War II, Phil participated in multiple significant battles even sinking the Japanese battleship Yamato, biggest in the world. He flew more than 25 missions with the first flights to return over mainland Japan after the Doolittle Raid.
For his combat service, Phil earned the Air Medal, Gold Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Presidential Unit Citation.
“Probably now, one of the last great heroes of World War II has slipped into history,” said friend, fellow-veteran (serving in Vietnam) Jim Whitaker. “Phil George flew his plane #129 off the brand-new USS Hornet CV12 for the rest of the war after the original USS Hornet CV8, Skinny Spatz’ boat, was sunk during the Battle of Santa Cruz in Solomons.
“I was honored to escort Phil to Kansas City where he repeated war stores tempered with a few farm tales for more than three hours. Audience members corralled him in the aisle afterwards wanting more stories,” Whitaker noted. “Phil never forgot anything that happened to him after third grade and could repeat it verbatim, what a fabulous storyteller.”
At the celebration and later the Phil George grave, Whitaker placed a Soldier’s Cross on black granite with rifle bayonet centered in the gold star honoring the deceased veteran.
After the war, Phil George came back to college, was on the livestock judging team, and graduated with an animal husbandry degree in 1947. He returned to the farm and married Julia Gardner, Hartford farm girl who graduated with a degree in home economics.
His old Elmwood School building was purchased and converted into a residence for the couple, their three sons, Jay, Phil, Vern, and daughter Frances.
Dedicated first to family and faith, Phil was a rancher who served the community, an especial proud American Legion member. He had the honor of carrying the United State flag from horseback in the Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades annually with the last time when Phil was 99-years-old.
Devoted to the ranch operation, Phil had a Hereford cowherd and raised Quarter Horses ridden for handling cattle. In recent years, it was common to see Phil sitting straight in the saddle horseback checking pastures or moving cattle almost daily.
Nephew pastor George Pasley reflected. “Uncle Phil knew his whiteface cows each by name, his labor of love. Phil was their shepherd as God is our shepherd.”
Spending time assisting his uncle in earlier years, Paisley insisted, “Uncle Phil was the hardest worker I’ve ever known. He just wore me out trying to keep up with him.
“I heard a lot of memorable stories from Uncle Phil, but not nearly all of them. He lived 37,000 days and could remember what happened just about every day.”
The George family has had land along Frog Creek since the 1880s with multiple generations of neighbors helping one another. Eldest son Jay insisted, “Dad served God as a steward of the land, grass, water, livestock with the strongest work ethic.”
Still, Phil George wasn’t the most organized farmer, according to namesake son Phil. “Dad would lose something and spend half a day trying to find it. Dad really didn’t know how to build fence, so cows would often get out, He’d get them in, patch the fence with baling wire, and not think any more about it.”
Yet, middle-son Phil credited, “Dad lived through 18 presidents, 26 governors, 16 Kansas senators, 56 supreme court justices… From no phone to cellphone, Model-T to four-wheel drive pickup, Dad saw more changes than others ever have or will.”
Faith, family, and community “were important to Dad,” emphasized son Vern. “He never had problems with people. Dad knew everybody and loved every one of them.”
An avid sports fan, Phil grew up listening to baseball on the radio. He celebrated his 100th birthday by attending a Kansas City Royals baseball game.
Recovering after hip surgery, Phil’s main concern when a grandson visited was getting the television tuned for the Super Bowl. Sadly, Phil George with family beside him passed away that morning before being able to watch the football game.
Special celebration music was Home On the Range by Steve Sergeant and How Great Thou Art by Martin Jones. Recording of “Grandpa” by The Judds was played. Congregation joined in singing appropriate hymns from sheet music.
More than anything else, Phil liked to visit with everybody about everything. Whatever the occasion, Phil was the last to leave, always caught up in remembering and relating stories of bygone days.
The funeral director pointed out, “This is probably the first time Phil George has not been the last one out of the church” There were 11 casket bearers and 23 honorary bearer’s indicative of the vast family and friendships of Phil George.
Appropriately, a cowboy carrying the American flag was mounted on a ranch stallion leading the cemetery procession. Two mounted outriders followed, one leading a saddled riderless horse. Phil’s boots were reversed in the stirrups representing a fallen leader looking back on his troops for the last time.
A draft horse team drawn box wagon carried Phil George in a flag draped casket to Lincoln Cemetery.
Military graveside service included gun salute and taps by American Legion and Navy flag presentation for Phil George’s final resting.
“Amen” seeming most appropriate was repeated by the large gathering celebration.
+++30+++

CUTLINES
Philip Woodbury George, 101, Lebo rancher, war veteran, community leader, passed into eternal life February 12, 2023

Married more than 73 years, Julia and Phil George are in the portrait displayed during his life celebration which Julia, 95, attended.

Proud of serving in the Navy during World War II, Phil George remained active supporting the nation’s freedoms. As an American Legion leader, on horseback Phil traditionally carried the American flag in local parades the final time when he was 99-years-old.

Four horses led the Phil George funeral procession to Lincoln Cemetery at Lebo. The American flag bearer was followed by two mounted riders and Phil’s riderless horse with the veteran’s boots reversed in the stirrups representing a fallen leader looking back on his troops for the last time. A draft team horse-drawn box wagon carried Phil George in a flag draped casket to his final resting place.

Family and friends gathered as bearers carried the American flag draped casket with Phil George from the draft team drawn box wagon for interment at Lebo’s Lincoln Cemetery.

Friend Vietnam War veteran Jim Whitaker provided this photo of Phil George difficult to view at the left inspecting his World War II Navy airplane #129 on the USS Hornet after typhoon damage.

Jay George, right, oldest son of Phil George, accompanied the team drawn box wagon carrying his Dad to final resting in Lincoln Cemetery. (Jim Whitaker photo)

Appropriately a patriotic celebration as flags blew brilliantly in the wind as Phil George funeral procession arrived at Lincoln Cemetery. (Jim Whitaker photo)

A horse-drawn box wagon carried Phil George into Lincoln Cemetery with American flags brilliantly blowing the warm winter day’s wind. (Jim Whitaker photo)

A Solder’s Cross was placed beside the coffin during the Phil George Life Celebration and then at his Lincoln Cemetery gravesite by friend Jim Whitaker.

There were 11 casket bearers and 23 honorary bearers for the Phil George Life Celebration at Lebo. (Jim Whitaker photo)

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