Rural Messenger Drop Locations

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February 9, 2026

Buhler
Sunny’s Cafe
400 S. Buhler Rd.
Buhler, KS 67522
*Entrance is on Dirks St.
Post Office
106 N Main St
Buhler, KS 67522

The Mustard Seed
214 N Main St
Buhler, KS 67522

Inman
Post Office
210 S Main St
Inman, KS 67546

Harvest Cafe
112 S Main St
Inman, KS 67546

JumpStart
111 E Center St
Inman, KS 67546

McPherson
Dillons
1320 N Main St
McPherson, KS 67460
*Middle of store near customer service.
Tractor Supply
1330 N Main St
McPherson, KS 67460
(back of the store near restrooms)

Dairy Queen
1435 N Main St
McPherson, KS 67460

Antique Store (delivering to owners house)
1139 Northglen St.
McPherson, KS

Bomgaars
2204 E Kansas Ave
McPherson, KS 67460

Walmart
205 S Centennial Dr
McPherson, KS 67460

Moundridge
Moundridge Food Market
101 S Avenue A
Moundridge, KS 67107

Hesston
Kropf Lumber
400 N. Lancaster Ave.
Hesston, KS 67062

Post Office
120 W. Knott
Hesston, KS 67062

Newton
Dillons
1216 N Main St
Newton, KS 67114

Drubers Donuts
116 W Sixth St
Newton, KS 67114
(leave in a plastic bag outside front door if not open)

Meridian Grocery
101 S Meridian Rd
Newton, KS 67114

Bomgaars
321 Windward Dr
Newton, KS 67114

Park City
Leekers
6223 N Broadway Ave
Park City, KS 67219

Auntie C’s
425 E 61st St N
Park City, KS 67219
(leave in a plastic bag outside front door if not open)

Atwoods
5501 N Air Cap Dr
Park City, KS 67219

Wichita
Walmart
3030 N Rock Rd
Wichita, KS 67226

Andover
Kansas Medical Center
1124 W 21st St
Andover, KS 67002

Ace hardware
642 N Andover Rd
Andover, KS 67002

Post office
211 N Andover Rd
Andover, KS 67002

Atwoods
426 S Andover Rd
Andover, KS 67002

Poplar Restaurant
127 US-54 W
Andover, KS 67002

Augusta
Tractor supply
10025 SW Diamond Rd
Augusta, KS 67010

Walmart
719 W Seventh Ave
Augusta, KS 67010

Wichita
Hudson antique market
6401 E Kellogg Dr
Wichita, KS 67207
United States

Yoder meats
6458 E Central Ave
Wichita, KS 67206
United States

Barney’s
3108 W Central Ave
Wichita, KS 67203

Spring Clean Laundromat
345 W 29th St N
Wichita, KS 67204

Sutherlands
2263 N Amidon Ave
Wichita, KS 67204

Copper Oven
2409 W 13th St N
Wichita, KS 67203

Spears
4323 W Maple St
Wichita, KS 67209

Spring Clean Laundromat
416 N Ridge Rd
Wichita, KS 67212

Jimmy’s Egg
8728 W Central Ave
Wichita, KS 67212

Riverside Café
9125 W Central Ave
Wichita, KS 67212

Dog & Shake
8800 W Maple St
Wichita, KS 67209

Tuta’s Teriyaki
1212 S Tyler Rd
Wichita, KS 67209

Tractor Supply
9425 W Kellogg
Wichita, KS 67209

Dog & Shake
4323 S Seneca St
Wichita, KS 67217

Gotta Stop
5600 W MacArthur Rd
Wichita, KS 67215

Shulte Food Mart
11012 Southwest Blvd
Wichita, KS 67215

Country café
2804 S Seneca St
Wichita, KS 67217

El Mexico
2544 S Seneca St
Wichita, KS 67217

Hupp
728 E Harry St
Wichita, KS 67211

Goddard
Bomgaars
20200 W Kellogg Dr
Goddard, KS 67052

Garden Plain
54 Station
29622 W Harry St
Garden Plain, KS 67050

Post Office
412 N Main St
Garden Plain, KS 67050

Cheney
Benny’s Burgers
610 N Main St
Cheney, KS 67025

Casey’s
425 N Main St
Cheney, KS 67025

SPK Grocery
412 N Main St
Cheney, KS 67025

Burrton
The Barn
307 W Dean Street
Burrton, KS 67020

Post Office
106 E Adams St
Burrton, KS 67020

Halstead
Halstead Market
145 Main St
Halstead, KS 67056

D’Angelos
247 Main St.
Halstead, KS 67056

Post Office
319 Main St.
Halstead, KS 67056

Bentley
Post Office
140 S Wichita Ave
Bentley, KS 67016

Sedgwick
Post office
415 N Commercial Ave.
Sedgwick, KS 67135

Dollar General
205 First St.
Sedgwick, KS 67135

Valley Center
Big Larry’s
328 S Meridian Ave
Valley Center, KS 67147

Post Office
205 E Main St
Valley Center, KS 67147

Colwich
Post Office
417 W Wichita Ave
Colwich, KS 67030

Kraus Foods
219 E Chicago Ave
Colwich, KS 67030

Andale
Post Office
318 N Main St
Andale, KS 67001

Brunin Cafe
320 N Main St
Andale, KS 67001
(leave in a plastic bag outside front door)

Country Acres Market
310 Andale Rd
Andale, KS 67001

Yoder
Carriage Crossing
10002 S Yoder Rd
Haven, KS 67543

Yoder Farm & Ranch
9911 S Yoder Rd
Haven, KS 67543

Yoder Grocery
3514 E Red Rock Rd
Haven, KS 67543

Haven
Post Office
106 N Kansas Ave
Haven, KS 67543

Rural Messenger
101 N Kansas Ave
PO Box 485
Haven, KS 67543

Old office – Rural Messenger
115 S. Kansas
Haven, KS 67543-0485

Kwik Shop
100 E Industrial Dr
Haven, KS 67543

Dollar General
101 E Industrial Dr
Haven, KS 67543

Maize
Ace Hardware
5204 N Maize Rd
Maize, KS 67101

Rose Hill
Casey’s
1314 N Rose Hill Rd
Rose Hill, KS 67133

Louis Rose Hill Cafe
107 Butler Rd
Rose Hill, KS 67133

Derby
Ace hardware
317 N Rock Rd
Derby, KS 67037

Riverside café
824 N Baltimore Ave
Derby, KS 67037

Dillons
200 W Greenway St
Derby, KS 67037

Atwoods
333 Red Powell Dr
Derby, KS 67037

Walmart
2020 N Nelson Dr
Derby, KS 67037

Dairy Queen
314 N Baltimore Ave
Derby, KS 67037

Mulvane
The Grill
222 N Second Ave
Mulvane, KS 67110

Laurie’s
113 W Main St
Mulvane, KS 67110

Post Office
116 W Main St
Mulvane, KS 67110

Wellington
Walmart
2022 E 16th St
Wellington, KS 67152

Post Office
221 W Harvey Ave
Wellington, KS 67152

Haysville
Leekers
201 N Main St
Haysville, KS 67060

True Value
325 N Main St
Haysville, KS 67060

Digital Edition 02.11.26

By

tammiehoeme

-

February 9, 2026

0

Digital Edition 02.11.26

Lettuce Eat Local: Be My Chai-Lentine

By

Guest Columnist

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February 9, 2026

0

Amanda Miller
Columnist
Lettuce Eat Local

We have a list of potential baby names, saved in a document on Brian’s phone for easy access when inspiration strikes. A few have been sitting in our minds for a decade, since we thought about kids plenty in the years we tried to cling to hope and prayed that they would come.

Some were apparently really good ideas, as everyone else also thought so in the intervening years, and now those names are running and crawling all around out there. We don’t prefer names that are too popular in general, especially with a not-so-creative last name like Miller, so those are out by default, and then of course if the names are too popular in our proximity, it doesn’t work so well either. For example, Oliver would have been at the top of the boy list, but now there are at least four in our close circles (two of whom are nephews).

Names have to be phonetic — if you see it, you can say it (I know, I know, Kiah is pushing it a little). Names also have to pass the Brett Test, where we assess how/if Brian’s brother could make fun of the kid’s name (not that he would, but how easily he could come up with something), and thereby the baby’s future susceptibility to societal nicknames.

And then of course, we want it to sound nice, to have someone or something meaningful attached to it, to yell well. We have to have male and female names ready, since only the ultrasound tech, midwives, and Jesus know what the baby is, but I am fairly confident of both the boy and girl options I have for Green Bean. I’m still just waiting for Brian to come up with (what I consider to be) good ideas.

One he’s been lackadaisically tossing out there lately, mostly in jest — I think — is Valentine. It would be a family name, hearkening back to Brian’s great-grandpa, so that’s sweet. I’m just not sure “sweet” is enough to get our potential son away from the vibes of Valentine’s Day.

To be fair, Valentine’s Day does have rich value attached to it, far beyond sappy cards and stale sweetheart candies (which honestly I think are delightful), far beyond roses and chocolates (again, actually pretty delightful). The choice that husbands and wives make to love each other is worth celebrating far more than once a year. Even when the celebrated love is not romantic, like between parents and children, classmates, or however valentines are sent, it’s important to tell the people that we love. Clearly a little more true love in action would not be a bad thing these days.

We have Saint Valentine to thank for this reminder to say “I love you,” although specific details of who he really was are uncertain. One of the three Valentine contenders was a priest in Rome who, upon the emperor outlawing marriage for young men since they make better soldiers without a family, continued to marry couples in secret. The two other now-sainted Valentines were also brave third-century Italians who put their faith and other people above their own safety, all resulting in a martyr’s execution. According to History.com, “Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure.”

So okay, not the worst guy to have associated with a name. I’ll think it over…while I enjoy a little extra dark chocolate and some pink tea.

Salty Pink Kashmiri Chai

This tea is something else! We got to experience it at a Pakistani cafe, and I was immediately enchanted. Though not culturally a Valentine’s Day drink, it’s a surprising pink color, so I think it’s perfect — and in its Kashmir region of origin, potential daughters-in-law can be judged on their ability to make it, so if it goes well, that can be romantic. The tea color is created by chemistry, is served piping hot, is a little nutty, and is both sweet and salty, so it continues to lend itself to punny Valentine’s similes.

Prep tips: this is not the spicy chai we are more accustomed to, so be prepared. Don’t skip the nuts; strange as it seems, they are essential.

4 c cold water

2 T plain green tea leaves

¼ t baking soda

6 cardamom pods, crushed

1 cinnamon stick, broken

3 c milk

¼ t pink salt

sugar/sweetener to taste

¼ c crushed pistachios and/or almonds

In a stainless steel pot, bring water, tea, baking soda, cardamom, and cinnamon to a rolling boil. Simmer vigorously for 10-15 minutes, until the liquid reduces by about half — hopefully it will be a very dark reddish color. Remove from the heat, and carefully pour back and forth between another pot or something for a couple minutes, to aerate and lightly froth it. This will probably be a mild catastrophe. Pour this through a fine-mesh strainer, and return to the pot; add the milk and salt and bring just back to a simmer at the edges. Aerate again by pouring back and forth a few times, then pour into cups. Stir in sugar to taste, and garnish with the chopped nuts.

Kansas Wheat History, Archived by Hale Library

By

Guest Columnist

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February 8, 2026

0

Contact: Marsha Boswell, [email protected]

For the audio version, visit kswheat.com.

For nearly six decades, the Kansas Wheat recipe book has been a tradition of consumer education, with editions dating back to the mid-1960s. Produced to help families confidently prepare wheat-based foods at home, the books have evolved alongside changes in nutrition science, baking practices, and consumer tastes, while continuing their intended purpose of connecting Kansas wheat farmers with the people who use their product. That legacy is now being preserved at Hale Library, Kansas State University’s library, assuring the full catalog of this outreach effort remains available for future study and reference.

Produced by the Kansas Wheat Commission, the recipe books date back to the 1960s and have served as a trusted resource for families learning to bake with Kansas-grown wheat. Distributed nationwide, the booklets combined tested recipes with practical baking guidance and science-based nutrition information.

Over time, the publications became more than collections of recipes. They documented how wheat foods, consumer trends and nutrition messaging evolved, while maintaining a direct link between Kansas farmers and the people using their product every day.

That connection is especially visible through the work of Cindy Falk. Falk began working with the Kansas Wheat Commission in 1985 after receiving a phone call inviting her to serve as a volunteer Speak for Wheat spokesperson. Beginning in 1988, she contributed to 38 editions of the Kansas Wheat recipe booklet, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1966. Under her influence, the booklets became a widely recognized Kansas Wheat resource, distributed across Kansas and nationally to represent wheat farmers and Kansas agriculture while helping families feel confident using wheat foods at home.

Now housed within the Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections at Kansas State University, the collection shifts from a kitchen staple to a research resource. The department serves as the official repository for Kansas State University records and a center of research for cookery, Kansas history and the consumer movement. Preserving these recipe books recognizes the role agricultural communications play in forming food knowledge, consumer confidence and understanding of farming practices.

Recipe books often reflect daily life more clearly than formal reports. Ingredient substitutions, preparation tips and seasonal themes capture how families cooked, learned and gathered. For researchers, they offer insight into nutrition education, regional food culture and the communication strategies used to connect producers with consumers over decades.

By archiving the collection, Kansas State University helps safeguard a piece of Kansas agricultural history that began with wheat farmers and ended at kitchen tables across the country. What started as practical guidance for baking bread now acts as a record of how a state’s signature crop was shared, taught and trusted for generations.

Learn more about Kansas wheat outreach and education at kswheat.com.

“Spring into Seasonal Allergies”

By

Guest Columnist

-

February 8, 2026

0

The groundhog may have seen his shadow, but Spring will be here soon. While many of us look forward to warmer days and blooming flowers, those who suffer from seasonal allergies know that the return of grass, budding trees, and blooming flowers can lead to more sneezing than smiles. Welcome to the Spring allergy season.

If your seasonal allergies seem to be getting worse each year, it is not in your head. A Study from the National Academy of Sciences in 2021 found that over the last 30 years the North American pollen allergy season has increased by approximately 20 days. Pollen concentrations have also risen 21%. The Spring tree pollen season has been starting earlier and the Fall ragweed season has been ending later.

Seasonal allergies can develop at any time in one’s life. The most common risk factor for developing seasonal allergies is family history. If have family members with allergies, you have an increased risk of developing them as well. Seasonal allergies are the sign of an overactive immune system that has mistakenly identified harmless substances, like pollen, as dangerous threats to the body. This triggers an inappropriate defense response that leads to the common symptoms of allergies like runny nose, congestion, watery eyes, itching, and sneezing. The immune system is trying to fight pollen like it would fight a cold. This is why it can be difficult to differentiate between allergies and illness.

There are a few ways to help decrease the risk of children developing allergies. Several studies have shown that children who visit a farm in their first year of their life or have furry pets have a lower risk of allergies. In that first year of life, the immune system is busy trying to figure out what things the body needs to defend against and what things are safe to ignore. The environment on the farm has so different allergens, that it allows the immune system to become tolerant of the harmless pollen and animal dander. However, once someone has allergies, and the immune system is sensitive to these substances, further exposure to allergens that are on a farm will not help. It will just make the allergy sufferer more miserable.

The first line over-the-counter treatment for seasonal allergies is intranasal corticosteroids such as Fluticasone (Flonase), Mometasone (Nasonex), and Budesoninde (Rhinocort). These nasal sprays have been shown to be more effective than over-the-counter oral antihistamines such as Loratidine (Claritin), Fexofenadine (Allegra), and Cetirizine (Zyrtec). If the spray does not give adequate control, then adding an oral antihistamine can help.

If these medications are not effective, then seeing an Allergist is the next step to enjoying everything that comes with April showers and May flowers. The groundhog says we have six more weeks to prepare for Spring. Regardless of when it comes, everyone can enjoy Spring if they understand seasonal allergies and how to treat them.

Dr. Jill Kruse is a hospitalist at the Brookings Health System in Brookings, SD. She serves as one of the Prairie Doc Volunteer Hosts during its 24th Season providing Health Education Based on Science, Built on Trust. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok. Prairie Doc Programming includes On Call with the Prairie Doc®, a medical Q&A show (most Thursdays at 7pm on YouTube and streaming on Facebook), 2 podcasts, and a Radio program (on SDPB, Sundays at 6am and 1pm).