It’s hard for me to fathom that school begins Monday. We just finished fair, fair clean up, after fair exhaustion week trying to catch up on everything put on the back burner because of fair.
This weekend I spent most of my days and nights putting together the fair edition.
After Saturday the swimming pool will close and next week a new chapter begins. I’m not ready.
I want more time.
So while my office door was closed most of Tuesday morning I felt justified to take off and be a part of my daughter getting to AI (artificial inseminate) her lamb. Yes it meant another late night but moments with her are precious as she will be gone a lot with school and sports soon.
The process of AI was cool. we learned a ton. The vet was from Australia, she and the family putting it on was gracious helping us to watch, ask questions, and be a part.
It was also great to see a number of youth there learning, being a part of their ag journey.
Watching the county fair youth auction this past weekend showed so many businesses and commmunity members investing their hard earned dollars in our children. I wonder what it would look like in our community if we had more ag opportunities for kids.
What if there was an FFA barn? A trailer to help them get to shows together.
What if we invested in our kids, families, and community by enclosing the swimming pool so it would be operational year round? Upgraded some of the fairgrounds so that we could hold larger conferences there?
Seeing our library’s remodel take shape was exciting and inspiring!
What if we invested in the amenities of our community? Would it draw more people here? Could we have our own swim team?
Could we have a full time recreation manager for year round activities?
I have no idea if we have the funds for these opportunities. I did not run for county commissioner and I have not checked the budgets.
I am simply putting out ideas that may be able to further our community and create more jobs and opportunities for our youth to return home.
Would we draw an optometrist again? Would we be able to build more office spaces and fill them with more businesses and store fronts.
Without vision the people perish. So I guess I am just asking what is our vision?
Where do you see our community going?
Even if you are against spending another taxpayer dollar, what if you simply entered next year’s county fair?
Did you know you can? You can enter any of the open classes. Maybe you sew, bake, or garden?
Maybe you take photos or write?
Perhaps you like legos, geology, or putting together a float for the parade.
The fair is for everyone.
No you won’t always win a purple ribbon.
I enter my photography annually knowing I will lose to our local photography gurus.
But it pushes me, it helps the fair, and maybe it inspires a child to take their own photos.
There are so many opportunities for everyone. So whatever you complete from now until next fair is eligible.
And as you peruse or scan the fair edition, maybe you see yourself in it too.
No matter what we do, we are investing our time and money. The question we ask ourselves is what are we investing it in.
Sometimes that is couch time to recoup. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But how much time would it take you to pick one thing to enter in the fair?
All ages are welcome.
What is your goal to invest in yourself? In our commmuity?
Our county commissioners put together five year plans. What if we did the same? No it won’t always work out but again, without vision the people perish.
What is your vision?
In a small town that takes a little bit from all of us.
And thank you to everyone who does volunteer at the fair, as a coach for the kids, in the community serving the public. We can’t do it without you! Thanks for making our community a better place, whatever your contribution.
It’s Tuesday morning. Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, is a federal holiday. It snuck up on me like everything else lately. So I had to knock out this paper rather quickly. It is mid June, wheat harvest is here, the fourth of July... [More]
It is mid June with a little over five weeks until the County Fair starts. We have a 4-H meeting today after we did barn chores, I took a walk, and my daughter had basketball practice and helped with our local vacation bible school. This part of parenting is running... [More]
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It’s May! April showers bring May flowers! We got rain!! Over an inch in the northern part of the county. In town, I have dandelions. They don’t look pretty. I mow and they still come up. I am torn about dandelions. Dandelions are a healthy, nutrient rich food.... [More]
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]
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]
Palmer, visiting the Vietnam memorial, found the name of one of Syracuse’s hometown heroes, killed in Vietnam, Bobby Jantz, “He was truly a good friend.” Two hometown Veterans, Van Vesper and Oliver Palmer, recently had the opportunity to travel on the... [More]
Last weekend, Ark Valley Oil opened up a new self-serve ice and water vending machine at the west end of Syracuse, on Highway 50 and N Highway 27. John Welch has had a vision for that location. When the property became available, he saw it’s opportunity. ... [More]
Drive ten miles north of Kendall where the blacktop ends, where the dust of the county dirt road flies. Travel a few more miles and on the Kearny County side of the border you will find the Horton Farmstead. Trees, farm equipment, a small backyard playground, barns, and a small,... [More]
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“Since I moved back here, everything is falling into place.” Diena Schwieterman, 1986 SHS graduate made the decision to move home. “As soon as I made the decision, it seems like everything began falling into place.” Diena... [More]
Syracuse Bulldogs power lifting successful season is ending with nine athletes qualifying for the state meet Saturday, March 29 in Conway Springs at 9:00 AM CT, 8:00 AM MT. Qualifying are Natalia Figueroa, Stella Simon, Deena Rochat, Angel Peralta, Angel Ramirez, Will Roberts,... [More]
Scams. Hackers. They are everywhere. They call your phone, text a simple hi, email you from what looks like a reasonable business. They are out for your money or your identity. We often think they get other people, not us. Local resident Ronna Simon is exasperated.... [More]
On Friday night, the stands were filled with students, parents, and spectators out to enjoy homecoming against the Sublette Larks. The pep rally started off the afternoon with contests and games to get the students excited. The JH Pep Band played, the cheerleaders performed,... [More]
Funeral Services for Lamar, Colorado resident, Richard Jones will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2025 at Life Center Church with Pastor Fabian Reyes officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of the service. Cremation will follow... [More]
Calvin Snodgrass, 79, passed away April 1, 2025 at Chambersburg Hospital, Chambersburg, PA. He was born November 11, 1945 in Springfield, Colorado, to Pearl and Ralph Snodgrass. Calvin graduated from Springfield High School and attended one year of college before being drafted... [More]
Alma Lou (Thrush) Plunkett, 87, passed away in Garden City, KS at Ranch House Senior Living on May 17, 2025. Alma was born on December 10, 1937, in Syracuse, KS to Wesley Miles Thrush and Alma Gladys Thrush, an only child. Her parents were farmers in rural Staton... [More]
A Memorial Service for James “Bub” McGee will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Bristol Grace Fellowship Church in Bristol, Colorado with Rev. Kathy Leathers officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Hartman Cemetery, Hartman, Colorado. James... [More]
A graveside memorial service for longtime Coolidge, Kansas resident Richard Helfrich will be held at 10:00AM on Wednesday, June 04, 2025 at the Sunnyvale Cemetery south of Coolidge, Kansas. Following the service a gathering of family... [More]
Harold Wayne Crawford, a devoted husband, loving father, and cherished member of his community, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2025, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, just days before his 89th birthday. He was surrounded by his family and his beloved wife, Pat, with whom he shared... [More]
Tia I. Pennell passed away on April 21st, 2025 at her home in Olympia, Washington. She was born December 11,1935 to Walter and Zelma Schmidt in Syracuse, KS where she grew up with her five siblings; Eugene, Gano, Gerard, Lorraine & Mickey. She went on to attend Syracuse High... [More]
Elmer J. Simon, 91, of Augusta, KS, passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Viewing 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary following at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025 at St. James Catholic Church. Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025 at St. James Catholic Church, Augusta,... [More]
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