From the files of the March 29, 1984 edition of The Ellsworth Reporter.

A LICENSE TO CARE ...

Babysitting is Jessie Kralik’s life

Jessie Kralik has the special gift of sharing her loving care with other people’s children.

That’s one reason her Ellsworth home has been filled to its stateregulated capacity since she became a licensed babysitter close to 15 years ago.

It means a lot to Jessie to be home when her own children come from school. That’s why she began babysitting in the first place — to earn an income while staying at home.

“It just takes two incomes for a family to make a go of it,” Jessie said. Her husband, Harold, is employed by Kohls Construction.

Recently she refused a job offer from outside her home.

“I considered the job but it was a terrible feeling just thinking of giving up all these children. I decided I just couldn’t part with them, they’re so special,” she said.

Jessie is special to the children and their parents too. When Cathy Soukup picked up her three last Friday after completing her mail carrier duties for Ellsworth’s rural Star Route for the day, she said, “I’m never worried when Jessie keeps our children and she’s kept all of them since they were two and three weeks old.” Cathy and husband Jerry’s children are Jarred, 7; Abby, 5; and Megan, 18 months.

The Kraliks’ youngest child, Chuck, a fourth grader, “has never had to play by himself, so he’s bored when the kids aren’t here,” said his mother.

Some children arrive at Jessie’s as early as 6:45 a.m., and the last ones leave soon after 5 p.m., weekdays. Throughout the day, some leave while others come and Jessie takes it all in stride.

The children learn early to respect Jessie’s discipline and routine. A typical day means breakfast for the early arrivals, playtime, then snacks around 10 a.m., lunch at about 11:30 a.m., and storytime before naps. An afternoon snack is also provided.

“I like to have the children down for their naps by the time Harold comes home for his lunch. This allows us quietness with our meal,” she said.

Organization is the key for the smooth operation of a day care home, Jessie learned long ago.

“There’s always grocery shopping after the children leave. I always need milk,” she said. “The snacks and meals must all consist of nutritious foods and beverages, no pop, no Koolaid, no presweetened breakfast foods.”

While some registered babysitters might be reluctant to become licensed, Jessie says, “It’s no problem to comply. The health department does come in and checks once a year, but it’s for those safety things — like keeping medicine out of the children’s reach — that we should observe anyway for the safety of our own children.

“It’s the same way with discipline. I don’t let them (the children) get away with things. Most of the time they’re good, but every now and then I have to correct them because they’re kids. If they misbehave, I have this one chair they must sit on — that’s more punishment than anything. It works,” she said.

While some babysitters prefer not to care for infants, Jessie does take care of babies.

“Babies do take more of my time, but they aren’t the wear on our house like the older ones,” she said. “Just recently we installed new carpeting.”

Jessie is looking forward to babysitting the Kralik’s first grandchild. Their daughter, Sue, and her husband, Richard Arensman, are expecting their first child. The Kraliks have another daughter Sherry, 16.

“I regret that I didn’t keep a list of all of the children I’ve taken care of, but there have been dozens and dozens,” she said.

“I just hope some others begin day care homes. It’s so hard to tell parents I don’t have an opening, especially for babies,” she admitted. “I don’t know what I’d do without it. Babysitting has grown to be my life, aside from my family.

136 YEARS AGO

March 2, 1884

It has been suggested that street lamps placed on the corners of the principal streets of our city would not only be an ornament, but a very useful convenience, and one that we hope our city “dads” will consider.

M. Gray has added the room used as a tin shop, to his hardware store.

The new firm of Janzen & Westerman, who succeeds the old firm of Foster & Janzen, comes before the people of this county this week for the first time. This firm fully sustains the reputation of the old one, as Mr. Westerman comes to us as a miller of large experience before a resident of this county for several years.

An effort is being made to raise sufficient funds to purchase land adjoining the city for fair grounds.

On last Sunday afternoon and evening, a very large prairie fire was seen about three miles south of Ellsworth.

111 YEARS AGO

April 1, 1909

Jimmie Johnson is building an automobile shed at his home on Kansas avenue.

J.A. Paull went to Salina Monday morning by train and returned overland in the afternoon with a new Overland automobile.

At the congregational meeting held last Monday evening in the Presbyterian church, theerection of a new church building was discussed. It seemed to be the unanimous opinion of all that a new house of worship is needed and the trustees were authorized to take steps immediately to see what can be done toward the erection of such a building. The pastor called the roll of membership that shower 189 communicant members. The following were elected trustees for the ensuing year: Messrs. Harry Work, F.D. Sperry, Robert Allan, D.H. Fraker and Earl Flanders.

86 YEARS AGO

March 29, 1934

Order a choice ham for Easter morning, only 16 cents a pound. Thorpe’s Market, Phone 7.

Hans Seitz and Agnes Hodgden, both of Seitz drug store, were in Wichita last Friday and Saturday attending a group meeting of the Rexall dealers.

C.D. McIlree, carrier on route number one, speaks of drifts of dirt following the big blow a week ago last Friday on the north line of the county as much as four feet deep. On the south side of snow fences in places,it was piled nearly to the top of the fences. It was drifted across some east-west roads like heavy snow.

Albert Burmeister has opened a 3.2 beer parlor on West Second Street, just west of the Pflughoeft produce building. This is the seventh 3.2 or stronger beer place in Ellsworth, equaling one for every 300 inhabitants.

Phil Beatty, Jack Silverwood, Jack Rice, James Kincaid, and Mary and Frances O’Donnell, students at the state university, arrived home from Lawrence Wednesday evening to spend the Easter holidays with their parents.

Big dance at Wilson Opera House, April 2nd. F.J. Leshosky Orchestra from Cuba, Kansas, will play popular and old-time music.

61 YEARS AGO

April 2, 1959

The spectacular basketball record chalked up by the Ellsworth Bearcats in their 1958- 59 season is the most outstanding in the last thirty years. A great part of this commendable record is due to Derril Gwinner, a junior at EHS. Gwinner has been selected to the All-State first team; to the All Southwest Area team, both selections being made by the Topeka Daily Capital; and was selected to the All-Area team by the TV station KCKT, Great Bend. Gwinner gave credit to his coach, Tom O’Dell, and the wholehearted cooperation of his teammates and reserves, Gene Parrish, Larry Sears, George Gregory, Roger Hoopes, Jay Buehler, Richard Daniels, Ronnie Katzenmeier and Robert Schmoekel.

The historic items on this page appear as they did in the original publication.