Flyover People Daily News

Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette:

Cafe in the Beaumont Hotel

KANSAS DAYTRIPS

It’s summertime. And this season of lasting light allows plenty of time for day-long Kansas adventures.

Emporians have a superior starting point for daytrips. A look at the Kansas map reminds us of cities that are two hours away or less including Wichita, Newton, Hutchinson, Manhattan, Lawrence, and Kansas City. Kansas towns, large and small, offer a variety of museums and family attractions.

If you’re into boating, fishing, camping, and picnicking, eastern Kansas has many lakes and reservoirs within reach: El Dorado, Marion, Council Grove, Milford, Tuttle Creek, Perry, Clinton, Hillsdale, Pomona, Melvern, John Redmond, Toronto and Fall River.

Neighboring communities are something Dave and I hit on a regular basis, but for our daytrips, we often aim for places that are 90 minutes to two hours away. Any farther than that and the trip turns into more of a driving tour and less of a get-out-and-investigate tour.

There are many things I’d like to see in Kansas and you probably have a long list as well.

But if you’d like suggestions, here are a few of my favorite spots. I’ll include some admission fees so you can budget accordingly, but please call ahead to museums and restaurants as some have irregular hours and they are subject to change. It’s no fun to drive 70 miles just to pull on a locked door.

Lunch at the Beaumont Hotel is always fun (620-843-2422.) The tiny town of Beaumont is southwest of Eureka. While sitting in the hotel’s café, you may be able to watch small aircraft taxi in from the grass runway. Several miles south of Beaumont is the Elk River Wind Farm.

Newton is about 75 miles west of Emporia on U.S. Highway 50. I love the Blue Sky Sculpture in Centennial Park. Downtown Newton has a sprawling historic Santa Fe Depot and I’ve enjoyed meals at The Breadbasket Restaurant, 219 N. Main (316-283-3811).

Kansas Cosmosphere

The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson is high on my list of must-visits for Kansans. Those who remember the national atmosphere during the Cold War, the triumphant mission of Apollo 11, and the anxious days of Apollo 13 will be moved by the fascinating exhibits. An All-Day Pass which gets you into everything is $17 for adults; $15 for seniors and children 4-12; kids under 3 get in free. Single-venue tickets cost less (800-397-0330).

Lindsborg is a gem of a town. Check out the unique shops and galleries downtown and try some Swedish food. About 10 miles west of Lindsborg is Marquette which has the Kansas Motorcycle Museum (785-546-2449).

President Eisenhower’s Boyhood Home

On the grounds at the Eisenhower Center in Abilene is Ike’s boyhood home as well as an impressive museum that covers the events of the nation during the World Wars and his presidency (adults, $8; seniors, $6; children 8-15, $1; ages 7 and under, free. 877-746-4453.) A popular place to eat fried chicken in Abilene is the Brookville Hotel where meals are served family-style. (Reservations are advised, 785-263-2244.)

Topeka has great places to tour: the Capitol building, 300 SW Tenth (free tours M-F, 785-296-3966); the Kansas Museum of History, 6425 SW Sixth, (adults, $6; student with ID, $4; kids 5 and under are free; 785-272-8681); and the Brown v. Board of Education Historic Site, 1515 SE Monroe (free admission, 785-354-4273).

Atchison as a whole has a lot to offer. The county museum is in the old Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. 10th (suggested donations: adults $2; children $1; 913-367-6238). Adjacent to the depot is the Rail Museum. The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum is at 223 N. Terrace St. (adults, $4; children 12 and under, $1; 913-367-4217).

Also in Atchison is Riverfront Park, the International Forest of Friendship and a trolley tour which shows you some of the town’s highlights. And, seven years after I dined at Paolucci’s, 113 S. Third, (913-367-6105), I still remember their delicious Guiseppe sandwich.

Yikes, I’ve run out of room, but other favorite places include Hillsdale Bank Barbecue in Hillsdale (913-783-4333), the John Brown Museum in Osawatomie (913-755-4384), and the Osa and Martin Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute (620-431-2730).

Now go, take a trip. And then report back.

Copyright 2010 ~ Cheryl Unruh

Hillsdale Bank Bar-B-Q, Hillsdale

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Waverly

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St. Joseph Catholic Church, Waverly.

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United States Post Office, Waverly, Kansas.

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Franklin Thompson at the camera. He was charged with the mission of photographing the attendees at the Kansas Explorers Club “Happening” in Franklin, Kansas, on Saturday. It was Franklin’s first visit to the unincorporated community of Franklin.

Frank is a Kansas kid. He was raised in Wellington and now lives in Overland Park. He loves Kansas and often treks around the state with his wife, Nancy. (And sometimes his dog, Melody.)

Please check out Frank Thompson’s photo blog. Currently, he has a posting of the beautiful St. Fidelis Catholic Church, the Cathedral of the Plains, in Victoria.  Scroll down on his site and on the right side you’ll find a listing of previous posts. He not only posts photos but includes history about the place, such as on his entry about the Little Vermillion Crossing on the Oregon Trail and one about the Cimmaron National Grasslands.

Frank does good work.

Since 50 or so people are going to line up on the famous 1.7 mile sidewalk that connects Franklin and Arma, the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs Sidewalk , Frank Thompson and Marci Penner discuss how to get everyone in the picture.

“We could stand on the sidewalk and lean out,” Marci suggests.

A couple group photos were taken – one in which we were all standing normally, one in which we can-canned, loosened things up a bit, because the Kansas Explorers are not a stuffy bunch of folks.

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Waverly (Coffey County) is in the middle of their annual Ohio Days celebration.

The park was being prepared yesterday morning for events there.

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At the Country Diner in Colony. Quite possibly the best onion rings ever. And a hand-pattied burger.

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I had occasion to be in the KTWU studio this week and in the lobby I photographed this 2005 Heartland Region Emmy Award that the station won for the Elvera Voth Plains People segment (which, coincidentally, replayed on Sunflower Journeys Thursday evening and therefore should be on again today – Saturday – at 5 p.m. in our area, Channel 11.)

Four KTWU programs are up for Heartland Regional Emmy Awards in 2010. Results will be announced July 18.

Nominations are for:

SUNFLOWER JOURNEYS: THE BLOODY BENDERS for Historical/Cultural/Segment – Jim Kelly, Producer

I’VE GOT ISSUES for Community Affairs Program – Dave Kendall, Eugene Williams, Val VanDerSluis, Producers; Jim Kelly, Director; John Njagi, Set Design and Graphics

SUNFLOWER JOURNEYS: PLAINS PEOPLE, JOE WHITE for Community Affairs Segment – John Njagi, Producer/Director

DRACULA, THE RADIO PLAY for Entertainment Program – Jim Kelly, Producer/Director; Valerie VanDerSluis, Producer; Philip Grecian, Playwright

Read the full story here.

One of the shows up for an award this year, I’ve Got Issues, is the pilot show that I gave a commentary on, so yay!

Cheryl on TV

Hey, Peeps – sorry I haven’t been very attentive to the blog lately. Haven’t had much time to get out into the world to take pictures.

I’m working on my collection of columns and have been lost in the world of revisions. Sometimes I don’t think I can bear to read this column or that column one. more. time. But I have to.

My brother, Leon, is my editor and thus my savior. He’s one exceptional big brother. Editing is his career and he’s really, really good at it. I’m grateful that he’s willing to help me out.

Anyway, we’re making great progress. Hope to have it at the printer in the near future. With any luck, Flyover People, the book, should be available late this summer! Stay tuned for updates.

Cheryl yabbering

Council Grove

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Garnett has come up with an incredible getaway package (valued at $5,000) as a fundraiser for the Kansas Sampler Foundation.

It includes an evening of live music, an overnight stay at the Kirk House, an aerial excursion over the area – well you’ll just have to check out the ebay listing to see what a fantastic package they’ve come up with.

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Downtown Council Grove.

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Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette:

Jerry Engler of Marion with his three lighthearted “Just Folks” books.

A SWELL OF AUTHORS

James “Spike” Speicher, of Shawnee, has been a Green Beret, a police officer in Detroit, and he currently works for the F.B.I. And he’s also an author.

Speicher spent many years researching and writing “The Sumter Flying Artillery: a Civil War History of the Eleventh Battalion Georgia Light Artillery.” One of his ancestors served in that unit as did one of President Jimmy Carter’s.

The former president wrote a blurb for the book and also sent along one of his previously unpublished poems which Speicher included in the volume.

Speicher was one of 56 writers at Town Crier’s Author Extravaganza on June 26. I visited with 10 of them.

Robert Collins, of Andover, has published about two dozen books, including three novels, two biographies, a book of short stories, and various books about railroads and Kansas counties. When I asked him which book was his favorite, he was quick to say, “Lisa’s Way,” a novel he describes as low-tech sci-fi. “I spent 20 years trying to get her story down and another five trying to get it published.

Emporian M.E. Williams said, “All my life, I had wanted to write a book.” He’s fulfilled that dream by writing not just one, but four books in the fantasy genre, and is pleased with how his writing has improved. “The fourth book was very satisfying,” he said.

From Independence, Bradly Brackenbury offered two poetry books. By publishing his poems, he hopes to encourage more of a writing atmosphere in his town. And on a personal level, he said about his poetry, “I need to express what’s going on and to chronicle my life. It’s cool to look back and see where I’ve been.”

A professor of creative writing at ESU, Kevin Rabas brought his two books of poems, “Bird’s Horn” and “Lisa’s Flying Electric Piano.” He also has two manuscripts that he’s starting to shop around to publishers. One is a book of short fiction, the other a book of poetry.

Jerry Engler, from Marion, says he’s often asked if the humorous stories in his three “Just Folks” books are true. All fiction has some truth to it, he said, because every writer builds stories from life experiences. His latest book is titled “Highly Embellished Truth and Some Poetry.” And, with a laugh, said he’s thinking about calling forthcoming books “Complete Concoctions” and “Pretty Good Lies.”

A journalist, Engler said he once reported for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He mentioned covering Emporia’s 1974 tornado for the Topeka newspaper and recalled the kindnesses extended to the “Stauffer guys” by the folks at The Emporia Gazette. “They let us use their typewriters and their phones,” he remembered.

Donna Dilsaver, of Wichita, who once worked in corporate communications, has written an autobiography: “An American Woman’s Zest for Living.” She wrote it for her granddaughters because she couldn’t find a contemporary record of a woman who had stayed where she was, had a family, a satisfying career and was active in community service.

Reg Redding and Ray Haskell

Reg Redding and Ray Haskell, of Wichita, co-authored “The Game of Wealth: a strategy for winning wealth and living a full life.” The book is about enriching one’s personal life as well as increasing one’s wealth. Redding said, “Faith, fitness, family and friends are more important than financial wealth, and if you don’t have those four things then the money won’t mean that much to you.”

“Prairie Meals and Memories” is the book Carolyn Hall of Shawnee has written which includes 35 stories and 104 recipes. In the book, Carolyn shares her memories from her childhood on a farm near Olmitz in Barton County. She told me about a particular wheat harvest during which her father was in a half-body cast and neighboring farmers showed up in their combines to help out. “That’s the kind of stuff I don’t want people to forget,” she said.

Fifty-six authors, countless stories. Applause goes once again to the dedicated gang at the Town Crier Bookstore for another successful, crowded, book-signing event.

Copyright 2010 ~ Cheryl Unruh

Cheryl E-town, columns, events, other people's stuff

…but when you eat at the Hays House in Council Grove during strawberry season, it would be a shame not to jump into a piece of their strawberry pie. That’s whipped cream on top (although it kind of looks like homemade ice cream.) Yum. The crust was excellent.

Cheryl small towns, vittles

“Lantern Light” by Master Ye Yushan has recently been delivered from China. The sculpture was unveiled on Topeka’s Washburn Campus on June 15.

It’s near Henderson Learning Resources Center.

An exchange of art between the U.S. and China celebrates 30 years of peace and friendship between the two countries. Topeka was one of four cities to receive a piece of Chinese sculpture. Other cities are Atlanta, Newark, N.J., and Washington, D.C. ‘Lantern’ spotlights Topeka.

As part of the art exchange, Kwan Wu’s sculpture, “The Gates of Peace” was unveiled May 15 in Kwan’s hometown of Nanhai, in Guangdong, China. Wu is a U.S. citizen, a Kansan, and lives in the K.C. metro area.

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