About FlyoverPeople

Yep, we are the flown-over people, here on the ground in Kansas, watching the jets scratch the sky.

My name is Cheryl Unruh. I write.

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Each Tuesday, my Flyover People columns appear in The Emporia Gazette.

Most of my writings are about living on the prairie, where the land stretches miles ahead of us, but also reaches behind us, to the beginning of time.

And the blue sky — while I can write so much about the blue sky, all I am ever saying is “thank you.”

Email me: flyoverpeople @ gmail . com

or snail-mail me: Cheryl Unruh, P.O. Box 1215, Emporia, KS 66801

  1. April 2nd, 2009 at 07:22 | #1

    Thank you so much for the comment you left yesterday. I’ve been repeating the mantra you suggested and already see it could really change things. I need all the help I can get on this one–thanks again.

  2. May 15th, 2009 at 06:58 | #2

    Cheryl, i am enjoying your news and pictures now that i am on hose leash. you could tell dave to back up next time he takes your picture.
    just kidding!!! were there any fish below that falls?
    your friends
    brigitte and max

  3. July 3rd, 2009 at 22:09 | #3

    Hello Cheryl, I just happened upon your site, and I absolutely love it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of Kansas and for your wonderful way of putting it all together. I will be visiting often.

  4. elebrown
    July 4th, 2009 at 10:11 | #4

    We all consider Cheryl as a “Kansas Treasure”–and with her hubby, Dave, it’s a DOUBLE KANSAS TREASURE!

  5. July 4th, 2009 at 22:50 | #5

    Well worded Ele. I agree 100%

  6. Steven Hall
    July 10th, 2009 at 10:02 | #6

    Hi Cheryl,
    Are you ever in Salina? I remeber as a little kid going across Kansas on a family vacation and stopping in Salina at the “Spin and Span” cate. Is that still standing? I thought it was the coolest place. We also stopped in Garden City at the World Largest Swimming Pool except it was green so we didn’t go swimming?

    Steve

  7. Sally Turner
    July 19th, 2009 at 23:06 | #7

    Hi, Cheryl!

    Enjoyed your pictures of all the changes in Emporia. Looks like progress. Just an FYI: The first Jimmy Johns was here in Charleston, here I live now. They are over the Midwest now, too! College kids love those sandwiches.

    Thanks again for all the updates. –Sally

  8. July 20th, 2009 at 08:23 | #8

    We saw 2 Jimmy Johns for the first time in Kansas City this past week. They are rather close to each other, but they sure do a lot of delivery to St Luke’s Hospital. We didn’t stop at one of them, but perhaps we will have to try them sometime.

  9. August 5th, 2009 at 21:58 | #9

    Hey Cheryl! Sorry it took me time to reply to your email, I’ve been out of town, started a new job, etc. I agree with your observation about our website…we didn’t design it, but it’s functional for now, and we’ll buy some software to remedy the name mishap. Hope all is great for you. I’m enjoying your site and insights! Best, Lisa S.

  10. August 5th, 2009 at 22:01 | #10

    P.S. Thanks for linking our site. 🙂

  11. David Schau
    February 18th, 2010 at 09:48 | #11

    I recently spent some time in the Flint Hills. Found them to be a beautiful place, particularly in the spring. I also stumbled on Lindborg on the way to someplace else–great way to find the unexpected. And unexpected it was. Wonderful people, vibrant downtown, excellent food. Proved to me that the prairies have a special beauty like the mountains in my state of
    West Virginia

  12. Steve Harmon
    July 1st, 2010 at 08:29 | #12

    Cheryl,
    thank you! I read your site on a regular basis while overseas. Huge boost to my morale and the perfect reminder of home. I appreciate your work.

  13. Leonard Biggs
    October 21st, 2010 at 14:12 | #13

    Annual Fall Chili and Soup Supper St. Teresa’s Catholic Church @ 1002 S. 4th St, Madison KS Homemade Pies, Soup, Chili and Raffles. At the Church, Sunday, October 23rd starting at 4:00 PM. All for a free will offering.

  14. March 28th, 2011 at 14:53 | #14

    Hi, Cheryl!

    I just wanted to tell you how much I have been enjoying your wonderful book. Every entry is like a delicious meal that I want to savor! I am honored and humbled to work with you and I can’t wait to see what you write next. Although we have never met, after reading your book I feel like you are a long-lost friend!

    Mark

  15. March 28th, 2011 at 14:56 | #15

    Why, thank you, Mark! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the book and so glad to have you for a friend. I hope to meet you in person one of these days. 🙂

  16. March 28th, 2011 at 14:58 | #16

    And, Mark, I so appreciate all of your meteorological expertise that I use in my writing!

  17. July 10th, 2011 at 00:21 | #17

    Came across your website and love the photos of the Ks buildings, food, etc. As an ex-Kansan living in the Blue Mountains, Australia, I will enjoy visiting your site whenever I’m homesick.

  18. January 26th, 2012 at 18:34 | #18

    I would like to share my blog, Gumbo Girl, with you http://joelleford.blogspot.com It showcases my collages made to illustrate my memories pertaining to growing up in the South during the Fifties. Two collages with short texts are added each week. I hope that you will look at Gumbo Girl, and share the information with others. All of the collages will be shown next summer at the Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, and Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur, TX. Thank you . Joelle

  19. January 27th, 2012 at 09:17 | #19

    Thank you for adding Gumbo Girl to your list of blogs – and so quickly. I just learned about your site and enjoyed looking at the photos.

  20. Marcia MacLennan
    September 21st, 2013 at 16:04 | #20

    I have just found your book Flyover People at the Salina Library. Thanks for a wonderful read. I have just retired from English/Religion teaching at Kansas Wesleyan and now have more time to think, read and perhaps write about Kansas. My husband , retired from Bethany College this fall also. We are co-pastors of two ELCA Lutheran Churches in the country ( Excelsior in rural Wilson, and Denmark just north and west of Lincoln. We are the only Lutheran pastors that we know of in Kansas who have two outhouse churches! We will read your message regularly Thanks..Marcia MacLennan

  21. September 21st, 2013 at 16:24 | #21

    Thank you for your kind words, Marcia! I’m glad you found and enjoyed my book.

    You live in a beautiful part of the state. Dave and I have enjoyed touring north central Kansas. I hope you and your husband will have time now to see and read and write about Kansas yourselves.

    I post the weekly columns each Tuesday here on my blog – and I always link to it on my Flyover People Facebook page.

    It was great to hear from you, Marcia. Thanks for your note.

    Cheryl

  22. eleanor browning
    September 22nd, 2013 at 16:00 | #22

    Hi Marcia,
    I’m a member of an ELCA church here in Emporia, St.Marks. What is an “outhouse” church? ….do you have a website???

    thanks,
    ele

  23. Rick Clawson
    March 22nd, 2015 at 00:40 | #23

    Hi, Cheryl. I’m up late, browsing the internet and decided to take a peek at “Flyover People” to see what’s going on. As a matter of fact, I was pleasantly surprised to see some new postings on this sight. I was under the impression you had given up the effort of putting new material on here. And I say “Thank You for this.” Though I don’t often go this way much, now, it is appreciated the hard work you have dedicated to this enjoyable site. Thanks, Friend. Rick

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