I am writing this on International Women’s Day. I think about how far women have come but I also love that Syracuse has always had women at the forefront. The first all female Syracuse City Council was in 1887. We have had women mayors, sheriffs, judges, and farm hands.
We are teachers, mothers, cattle ranchers. We drive buses, tractors, combines, and feed children. We are business owners. We are on the County Commissioners, City Council, Fair Board, Hospital Board, Library Board, and more. We volunteer for 4-H and help coach our kids.
Being pro women doesn’t mean anti men. In my opinion we are a team. And only when we work together for the good of our community do we have harmony.
Not to say there haven’t been challenges.
Once upon a time women couldn’t get their own credit cards. I know of a woman who tried to join FFA and ride her horse but was directed to sewing and cooking. Once upon a time police were called on my father when he was hurting my mother on the street. They didn’t ask him to stop. They told him to take it inside. When she tried to leave him, he would get her fired from her jobs.
Eventually she just left. And left us too.
I am sharing the good and the bad today because that is life.
Wherever you are today you are excelling and you face challenges.
Right now I am receiving a number of texts, phone calls, and messages because I am sharing information.
I have to laugh that people think it came from a gossip circle, a tip off from employees, or from family members.
I sat in a meeting and the information came across my table.
I am for this community and proud to be a Syracusan.
Last week I wrote about our hospital. My initial reaction about building a hospital was NO!
When I heard the hospital explain the what and the why, I understood more of why discussion on the issue is important.
I am proud to offer information in this newspaper. I do NOT take a stance on something. If I don’t share about it, I probably don’t know about it.
So here on International Women’s Day, I am proud to offer information. Not for or against, just information. Do I share more positive stories than negative? Yes.
Seeing our children succeed, seeing Syracusans succeed, makes me proud.
At a ball game, I saw an elementary student pull a Syracuse Journal out of his back pocket. He had a picture of himself. He was showing it to a friend beaming proudly.
I want to thank all the women today on International Women’s Day. I want to thank the men in their lives who support them.
I want to raise a glass to them. Tonight? LOL!
Thank you to all who are raising this next generation. Strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!
It is Tuesday morning and I am scrambling to get things finished for this week’s paper to go out. With the National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter, post offices are closed on Thursday. We were able to move printing to Tuesday morning to publish Wednesday.... [More]
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s 2025! Well it’s New Years Eve as I write this lol. It is the 140th year of The Syracuse Journal and my fifth year as editor. For someone who was always on the road, the only roots as a vagabond, I think it’s cool that I landed... [More]
Here we are, Christmas! Temperatures in the fifties and sixties doesn’t make it feel like Christmas. I feel like it should be cold, wet, and white out. There is a good chance of rain on Thursday. Moisture always makes farmers feel good. My... [More]
Here we are. Ten days left until the end of the year. While this year has flown by, I am so busy trying to complete these end of year tasks, I am not focused on Christmas. Yes the stockings are hung, the tree is decorated, and most of the presents are here.... [More]
Here is my countdown. 12 days to Christmas Eve. How are you feeling? Stressed? I know a lot of people including myself that are being pushed to their limits it seems. Where holiday music and lights were once comforting, they don’t seem to be enough. What... [More]
It’s December. My tree is up! The lights on the roof light up the night for me along with our outdoor decorations. I am still struggling that it is December. While I have many presents already purchased, ornaments hung on the tree, I can’t quite get into... [More]
It’s one week until Thanksgiving. How did that happen? Next week’s paper will go out early so that is likely my weekend job. I am thankful I can do some of that work from home. We had some flurries of snow on Tuesday that got me very excited for... [More]
Monday was a perfectly cold, crisp, fall morning. Colorful leaves falling filled the street with bright yellows, oranges, and reds. Gentle rains fell and a breeze blew in. I loved it. It felt like a moment when all was right with the world. There is an 80% chance... [More]
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]
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]
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]
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 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]
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]
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]
Monday night at home at the Herndon Gym, the Junior High boys swept Lakin! Head coach Vance Keller said, “We’re a young team with only six eighth graders and 12 seventh graders. We’ve had six total that started the season with injuries so we haven’t had... [More]
Looking for a way to serve the community? Looking to expand your knowledge base? Maybe you want to be on the front lines helping others? Maybe becoming a first responder is in your future. Hamilton County EMS Director Alan Hanson is putting on an Emergency Medical Responder... [More]
Many may remember as a kid playing with Hot Wheels, building a town, using items from around the house for buildings, or perhaps building a town outside in the dirt. But it is the kid with farming roots that added fences made from sticks, pulled grass and put in the fence for... [More]
The annual Border Wars Tournament is in the books. This year was larger than last year with 36 total games over three days. Kansas took on Colorado. Coming in from Colorado were teams from Eads, Las Animas, Stratton, Cheyenne Wells, and Lamar (JV only). Kansas teams... [More]
The Great Hamilton County Treasure Hunt ended on December 8 at 10 am when Aaron Plunkett and team solved the mysterious location of the buried $2,000.00. The hunt arranged by Jim Barrett had many teams signing up online to receive clues by mail. Barrett said, “I sold... [More]
The Herndon Gym was filled with excitement for the annual Alumni Scrimmage Saturday, November 30. Admission was a donation to the Hamilton County Food Pantry and fans could enjoy pulled pork sandwiches and homemade desserts with proceeds to benefit the basketball program. ... [More]
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) announced Scott Goodheart of Pratt, Kansas became the Director of Officials. Goodheart serves in the role that Francine Martin fulfilled during the 2022-23 school year, the first year for this position at the KSHSAA.... [More]
Veterans Day, the day we honor all veterans who served in times of war and peace. Veterans day, originally Armistice Day, marking the end of WW l which ended on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. This tradition of honoring veterans during school... [More]
Brandon Batchelor is a husband, father, and grandfather who was diagnosed with ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes the gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ... [More]
Shannon Rose (Hyatt) Chambers passed away January 2, 2025 at the Greeley County Hospital, in Tribune, Kansas. She was the daughter of Albert Hyatt and Donna Marie Strickland-Lopez. She was born September 6, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. Shannon grew up in Guerneville... [More]
Jesus “Chuma” Manuel Apodaca Leyva passed away January 12, 2025 at the Hamilton County Hospital, in Syracuse, Kansas. He was the son of Celso Apodaca and Rafaela Apodaca Leyva. He was born April 10, 1942 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Chuma lived in Mexico for... [More]
Pamela Kay LaCost was born February 18th, 1965 in Syracuse, KS. She realized her final wish by passing away peacefully at her residence, surrounded by family and loved ones, on January 3, 2025, at the age of 59. Affectionately known to everyone as Pam, she spent her life caring... [More]
Funeral Services for Larry G. Sitts will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 13, 2025 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, Colorado. Interment will follow in the Holly Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 12,... [More]
Rhonda Sue Haslett, 73, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away at her home on December 29, 2024. She was surrounded by her family who lovingly cared for her during her brief but courageous battle with cancer. Rhonda was born on September 24, 1951, in San Diego, California. She was... [More]
Rohn Kester, 59, passed away on Friday, December 6th, 2024 in Trenton, Nebraska. He was born at the Hamilton County Hospital on February 22, 1965 in Syracuse, Kansas. The son of Thomas and Betty Kester, he grew up in Syracuse where he attended Syracuse High School... [More]
Charles “Carl” Gould was born on May 18, 1956, to Dennis and Karleen (Helfrich) Gould in Syracuse, Kansas. He grew up in Syracuse, where he attended school and graduated from high school in 1975. After graduation, Carl worked for various farmers in the area but... [More]
Vaughn Chamberlain, 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Harlowton, Montana, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. He was born at home on September 21, 1930, in Syracuse, Kansas, the son of Artimus & Evadee (Craven) Chamberlain. Vaughn... [More]
©2025 The Syracuse Journal. Powered by Pluto Sites.