Don't forget your raisin'
Don’t forget your raisin’.
I laugh because when I first heard this, I thought what do raisins have to do with the storyline of the show I was watching - Country Music by Ken Burns.
Then I got it. Don’t forget where you come from.
I remember growing up we didn’t go on vacations. My dad just had the week off.
But this past weekend, I went away for a few days to the Florida Keys on an incredibly restorative trip with my husband and daughter. We fished, swam, relaxed, saw stingrays and sharks in the ocean. We visited the southernmost point in the US and went to the Hemingway house and museum. We bought books at the gift shop and saw six toed cats. We played mini golf and ate amazing seafood - mahi mahi, red snapper, oysters and more.
While we were eating, the local restaurant hosted a special event giving toys to kids in a group home. Fancy brand new Jeeps pulled in from a local dealership. And I started to cry. I wanted to take those kids home with me. This Christmas these children are in foster care. They don’t have families or their families to celebrate with.
I was filled with a torn heart - how much beauty I had in my life and how hard it is to know that many don’t have anything.
I am not God. I didn’t design what I was given with. Many times I had prayed I wish I had never been born. The fighting in my house, the constant moving, the police, it wasn’t easy and many times the choices in my life made it worse.
But today my life is good because of God and because of the willingness to work harder and push for what I needed.
When I moved here, brick buildings were built by the US Government for lower income families that were structurally more sound than many of the homes locals had paid for and lived in their whole lives. And many people were more than perturbed.
If you worked hard for everything and someone came in to bring something nicer for someone who didn’t, it might upset you too.
Today the wind is starting to blow like mad. Already blowing dust and over 75 mph. No idea what the storm will bring but many kids are safer at school than they are at home, in trailers.
From interviews and stories over the years here, even before I had the newspaper, I know many grew up with very little.
Some had bedbugs, no electricity, or didn’t know what a pillowcase was. Someone received an orange as their Christmas present and they were grateful for fresh produce.
The world is a crazy place with so many in need and so many with more than they could imagine.
What do you do?
I guess you try to enjoy every bit of what you have. You make the most of whatever you are given, and you work hard to pursue your dreams. Right now wherever you are, you have more than many.
“‘Maybe, Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, in fact, means a little bit more.”- How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
As we prepare for this wonderful holiday, lets not forget all we have been blessed with. Maybe give a little more this season to a church, to a group home, to a family.
Maybe fill your heart remembering we were given the greatest gift of all, Christ who died for us.
OPINIONS
God Shows Up
There has been a lot of hurting people in our community lately. Death of a loved one, accidents, learning of an illness. Fire blazes to the south of us. Many I know are in pain, and have encountered hard times. Over the last week I have heard some troubling stories... [More]
More love, less hate
Happy Thursday! I am writing this Wednesday morning . When this paper goes out, I need to start on next week’s, the final edition of the year. There won’t be a newspaper for January 1, 2026. The calendar last year left zero room for a break and I am desperately... [More]
Purpose in the Pain
It’s November! It’s a beautiful cool, fall Wednesday morning as I write this. I took a walk with my dogs, chatted with my friend, and coughed. But the cough has been way better! Tuesday was Election Day. The contest for mayor of Coolidge was one many were watching.... [More]
Fruit of the Spirit
October is here! The cool mornings are lovely! Looking forward to cooler afternoons too! Thought I would share some quick updates. My respiratory junk is not wanting to exit this human. Got another round of antibiotics and more breathing treatments. Thankfully I am improving. ... [More]
Where Can God Use You Today?
A long haired shaggy white dog, likely a Great Pyrenees, showed up at our farm last week. After a couple of days, we saw it wasn’t going anywhere. We started to feed it. He let us get closer. What we found was a skinny, malnourished dog with a horrible case... [More]
How Vulnerable Are You?
Thanks for your patience last week. I am still recovering but have returned to the land of the living! I get frustrated with how slow it takes to recover sometimes when really I should focus on the fact that I am recovering. I truly feel like I am getting stronger and then... [More]
Let God
It’s the first week of September. After I get the paper onto stands, we are headed to the state fair. They changed some of the stalling procedures this year for sheep which leaves some unknowns for us. But every year we go, we learn new things. After my irritation and frustration... [More]
Breathing Space
I slipped away for a quick getaway for back to school clothes shopping, visiting family, some good food, and a trip to Barnes and Noble. We left Thursday afternoon and returned Sunday. It was triple digit heat when we left our sheep in good hands to be taken care... [More]
More Opinions
- Building Moments and Memories
- When you don't win
- Where the Frustration Grows
- What's the Lesson?
- There's A Place For You
- Here I am God
- Hurry Up and Slow Down
- Looking for the Good
SPORTS
HI-PLAINS ALL LEAGUE
The Hi-Plains League has announced recipients of all-league basketball honors. The selection process begins when individual coaches submit names. The players are then voted on by the other HPL coaches. However, coaches may not vote on their own players. Syracuse High School... [More]
SHS CHEER TAKES SECOND
Small but Mighty! That is the name high school Head Cheerleading Coach, Marcos Valadez put on the 2024-2025 squad last summer, “We may not have the numbers, but our team has overcome adversity and is always stepping up to the challenge.” Proving this, the Syracuse... [More]
BULLDOGS OPEN FALL SEASON WITH FIRST PLACE FINISH IN GOLF
The Syracuse Bulldogs Ladies Varsity Golf Team took first at their season opener in Stanton County on Tuesday afternoon. They shot a team score of 207 at the Prairie Pines Golf Course in Johnson. The varsity team is Lanee Owens, Bronwyn Lewis, Sammy Schwieterman, Maddy... [More]
LEWIS HEADS TO STATE TRACK
Qualifying members of the high school track team traveled to Hill City Thursday, May 16 to compete in the 2-A regional meet against 15 teams, Ellinwood, Ellis, Hill City, Hoxie, Lincoln, Meade, Medicine Lodge, Oakley, Plainville, Smith Center, Stanton County, Sublette, Thomas... [More]
BULLDOGS TAKE SECOND AT REGIONALS - HEADED TO STATE
The Syracuse High School boys golf team battled breezy conditions on Monday May 13 competing in the 2-A Regional meet on their own Tamarisk Golf Course. Adjusting to windy conditions and competing at home paid off for the Bulldogs Monday, placing second, qualifying... [More]
STATE GOLF RESULTS
State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams. On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]
JH BASKETBALL WINS
Junior High Boys Basketball A, B, and C teams travelled to Elkhart on Monday, November 21. The A team won 41-34, B team won 26-21, and C team lost to Elkhart 13-20. Head Coach Vance Keller said, “Elkhart was a tough win for both the A and B teams but both grinded... [More]
LADY BULLDOGS BORDER WARS CHAMPIONS!!
The Lady Bulldogs were undefeated during the Border Wars, defeating Eads on Friday, 42-7 and Walsh on Saturday 62-5, bringing their record to 3-1. But the winner wasn’t announced until Tuesday evening. Syracuse Athletic Director Josh Johnson explained, “It came down... [More]
More Sports
NEWS
Everybody Has A Story: Dana Watts - From Syracuse To Washington, D.C.
She described herself as a “bookie”! She loved to read growing up, and she considered herself a bit of a bookworm. Her story began on May 29, 1978, born to Ron and Becky Watts (now Wallace). Dana began her life in Bryan, Texas, but moved to Syracuse when she was just... [More]
Bennett is Reserve Champion In Arizona
Cole Bennett has been riding horses since before he could walk. His tireless efforts sometimes come with broken bones, soreness, and not much glory. But eventually, things pay off. Last weekend, Cole competed at the NRCHA Kimes Ranch Western Derby in Scottsdale,... [More]
Angie Moser Retiring, Running For Commissioner
After 23 years serving the public in the Hamilton County Clerk's Office, Angie Moser is retiring. On Tuesday morning, she was honored by the Commission. Her actual retirement date is June 15. The Hamilton County Republican committee will meet on June 10 to make a... [More]
C Double Liquor Open House
It was a busy Saturday as alumni gathered all over town. The Sand Dunes were busy, and It was a beautiful day to check out the new, improved, and redesigned C Double Liquor store, formerly the Liquor Shack. C Double Liquor & Laundry, LLC is owned by brothers Casey... [More]
Airborne electromagnetic survey of Ogallala aquifer conditions planned in southwest Kansas
LAWRENCE — Beginning in late May and continuing until late July, residents of southwest Kansas may see a low-flying helicopter towing a large hexagonal frame. This aerial arrangement is part of a project to map groundwater conditions in the Ogallala aquifer in Southwest... [More]
Everybody Has A Story: Jenny (Verry) Holdredge - From Syracuse to Doctorate
“If you want to get it done, get a woman to do it! “SHE” is Jennifer Suzanne Verry (ALWAYS known as Jenny), born October 1, 1977 to James and Valerie Verry in the small town of Belle Fourche, located on the northern slopes of the famous Black Hills... [More]
Area Rain Brings Hope To Farmers
Rain kicks off farming season and brings farmer optimism. Many are out planting corn, spraying for weeds, or working the ground with chisels, sweeps, and disks. The question on everyone’s mind is how is the wheat? We have endured many of the harsher elements this... [More]
More News
- Cruisin’ Into Car Show - Best Turnout In Ten Years
- Coolidge Bridge Opens
- Plunkett Elected to Kansas Angus Association
- Out With The Old: City Wide Cleanup
- Aguilera Appointed to City Council of Syracuse
- Main Street Market Opens With Limited Hours
- Giving Back To Community Brings Joy
- Honduran Man and Kansas Woman Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Custody of an Unaccompanied Alien Child
OBITUARIES
Cynthia Anne Long
Cynthia Anne Long, age 89, of Winchester, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the Evergreen Health & Rehab Center. Cynthia was born on November 19, 1936, in Syracuse, Kansas, to the late Albert Mickey James and Rowena (Lockridge) James. She pursued... [More]
Jamie (Kennedy) Coleman
Jamie Alyn (Kennedy) Coleman, age 54, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on July 23, 2026, in Syracuse. She was born on January 7, 1972, in Wichita, Kansas, to James Allen Kennedy and Diana Grace (Vernon) Kennedy. Jamie began her life in Wichita and she moved with her family... [More]
Pedro “Pete” Torres Rodriguez
Mass of Christian Burial for Holly, Colorado residents, Pedro “Pete” Torres Rodriguez will be held at 2:00 p.m. and Rosary prior to the Mass at 1:30 p.m., Monday, July 27, 2026 at St Frances of Rome Catholic Church in Holly, Colorado with cremation to follow. Pedro... [More]
Richard “Dick” H. Sharp
Richard “Dick” H. Sharp, a longtime resident of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on July 6th, 2026. He was 86 years old. Dick was born on June 8, 1940 in Sidney, NE to Lawrence and Dorothy Sharp. He grew up in Sidney and graduated high school there. After serving... [More]
Carla (Pfefferkorn) Younger
It is with great sadness that the family of Carla Marie (Pfefferkorn) Younger announces her passing from this life on Friday, June 26, 2026 while surrounded by her loving family. Born on March 2, 1944 in Beloit, Kansas to Carl Henry Pfefferkorn and Gertrude Elizabeth... [More]
Fern Maxcine Shetterly
Fern Maxcine (Campbell) Shetterly was born August 15, 1932,in Holly, Colorado to Roy and Augusta Campbell. She died in Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 23, 2026. Maxcine was born into a hardworking farm family during the height of the Great Depression.... [More]
Bonnie (Stevens) Adkisson
Bonnie Deloris Adkisson (Stevens) Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend, Bonnie Deloris Adkisson (Stevens), passed away peacefully with her family by her side on June 5, 2026, at the age of 93. She was the true heart and soul... [More]
Johnny DuVall
Funeral services for John “Johnny” DuVall will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Lamar Christian Church with Pastor Paul Floyd officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Granada, Colorado. Visitation will be held from 4:00... [More]
More Obituaries
- Eldon “Skip” Reed
- John “Skip” Conard, Jr.
- Peggy Hatcher
- Sharon Ann (Taylor) Englert
- Boyd “Pete” Dwight Bezona
- Larry Vaughn Meyer
- Eva Jane Schmidt
- Pauline Fecht
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