Opinions

A few weeks ago at the Grow Ellsworth County Annual Meeting, Marci Penner was telling those gathered that the upcoming Big Kansas Road Trip is an opportunity for city folks to come experience rural life. She used the example that some people have never seen a cow before.

The early history of Kansas is filled with enough daring and intrigue to fill a goodsized library, and yet we know so little about those who rode the dark trails of destiny and the remarkable events that drew them to live extraordinary lives.One such individual was John “Jack” Harvey.

Photojournalism was my path into the newspaper world.With a camera in my hand at the age of 16, I was fortunate enough to hang out with the photo staff of my hometown newspaper, The Wichita Eagle.

When the end-of-trail cattle towns are recalled, the names of Abilene and Dodge City lead the conversation. Newton, Ellsworth and Wichita were all busy cattle centers, but there were other cattle towns that are rarely recognized.

Apparently, science has spoken, and I am not impressed with the conclusion. I recently came across an article that had me shaking my head. Then I did a full investigative deep dive into the subject matter.

Dodge City came by its reputation honestly. “The Beautiful Bibulous Babylon of the Plains” was a magnet for adventurers and opportunists of all kinds.

In the digital age, the world’s knowledge is at our fingertips. The days of looking through a card catalog and hunting down the right book are all but gone. In fact, we now use a computer to order the right book or look up the history of the Dewey Decimal System.

Levi Richardson had been around Dodge City from its very inception. Like so many who came to this western country, Richardson made a living at whatever came his way.For several years, he cowboyed for Henry L. Sitler.

USD 327SuperintendentSeeing the signs of spring popping up makes this a fun time to enjoy the good work happening in our schools and all around our communities. It is hard to imagine a more welcoming and caring place to learn, work and raise a family.

William H. Middaugh arrived on the front range of the Rocky Mountains in the middle of the 1859 gold rush. Middaugh was born near Painted Post, N.Y., in 1814. By 1836 he married Mary Marvin and was living in Erie, Penn., building wagons.