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It's fair time
Posted Thursday, July 19, 2012, at 5:45 PMThis being fair week, almost everyone at the Tribune has, or will have, their time on the Bourbon County fairgrounds. Having grown up in New York City, I'm clueless when it comes to livestock, but I can admire the 4-H kids and the effort they put in to taking care of their animals. They also get a chance to exercise their talents in other arts as well, such as photography and fashion... -
Untitled
Posted Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 8:54 PMThere have always been NBA teams I liked and didn't like. The Lakers were always the nemesis of my Knicks (during their non-dark years), because they were too good. I further didn't like the Lakers because of Kobe Bryant and his criminal past. I really liked the Orlando Magic when the franchise first formed. ... -
New shoes
Posted Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at 8:37 PMAlas, I have had to replace a pair of sneakers. On my walks I am starting to feel the ground beneath my feet in not such a pleasant way. I purchased this pair of shoes last summer, but wore down the tread about two months ago. I didn't even wear them much except to walk... -
My first car
Posted Friday, March 23, 2012, at 9:23 PM1A recent series by one of our columnists brought to mind my first car -- a Renault Alliance. Remember those? They were endorsed by George C. Scott. My dad purchased it for me (I paid the loan off) when I got my first newspaper job in Laredo, Texas. It was fine for the first few months, but when I moved to East Texas, a more humid climate, it was like the Johnny Cash song "One Piece at a Time" -- in reverse... -
Flashback to the 80s
Posted Friday, March 23, 2012, at 9:22 PMReading a book part of which was set back in the 1980s made me think of all the bad clothing and hair that went with it. Stirrup pants, big-shouldered jackets, big hair ... I never had big hair. I had frizzy hair that stayed that way whether it was short or long. I often wondered about the people who had mohawks or locks that were short on the sides and top and long in the back -- with color. Was it hard for them to get jobs?... -
Black Rectangle
Posted Friday, January 20, 2012, at 9:03 PMThe black rectangle appeared on our Sharp TV Saturday afternoon. We had planned to buy a new remote for our Philips DVD/VCR player that day anyway because the one we had didn't work anymore. Not even fresh batteries could save it. Our first mistake was buying the wrong brand of remote control for our DVD/VCR player. ... -
The wild world of wire always has something to offer.
Posted Friday, January 13, 2012, at 9:19 PMAs a community newspaper editor, I try not to use a lot of Associated Press stories. But every once in a while, there are some worth sharing. We obviously can't get to Topeka to cover Gov. Brownback's State of the State speech, so we use wire. We can't attend Chiefs games or the Olympics, so we use wire. You get the picture... -
Snickers
Posted Monday, January 9, 2012, at 9:49 PMRecently a Fort Scott convenience store was featured in the Tribune for winning a competition among some 30 of its peers for selling the most Snickers bars. Well, fame and fortune awaits. The Pump 'N Pete's on Wall Street will be featured in this month's issue of Convenience Store Petroleum News. Manager Max Simhiser had a big grin on her face when she told me this when I went to get a USA Today one morning... -
Wildlife
Posted Friday, December 23, 2011, at 7:28 PMGrowing up in a large city, the closest thing we came to wildlife was probably the inhabitants. But living out in more of the wide open spaces, I've gotten to see many types of animals. Cows hold a fascination. They're usually found in groups, comfortably drinking from a pond or munching on some grass. They look so contented... -
Community involvement
Posted Monday, December 12, 2011, at 9:40 PMCommunity newspapers are supposed to be local, local, local, featuring local people, places, things, history, etc. But because we usually have small staffs, there are lots of things we'd like to attend and cover, but our eyes are typically bigger than our stomachs... -
No matter your party affiliation, it's always exciting to see a president live and in person.
Posted Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at 5:02 PM1You notice how when the President walks into the joint session of Congress to present the State of the Union address, they always stand and applaud and you can see that even the opposition party has to give in to the electric atmosphere. President Obama's recent visit to Osawatomie to talk about the economy gave me a chance to witness that sense of anticipation when the commander in chief walks into a hall. ... -
Congratulations to Nell
Posted Wednesday, November 30, 2011, at 7:02 PMDuring her nearly 50 years at the Tribune, Nell Dikeman has turned out miles of column inches. She is a community institution. Everyone knows her and she knows everyone. She can remember when everyone was born and could probably tell you what they're doing now... -
Walking on Highway 54
Posted Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at 5:14 PMIf you see someone walking down Highway 54, it's me. I walk every morning, mostly for exercise. But it also helps keep me sane. I think about everything and nothing at the same time. I wear a bright yellow safety vest, which is sometimes concealed -- or not worn -- when it rains. Sometimes people ask me if I need a ride. The answer is no. Although there may be times I'm tempted to take someone up on it...