News: Kansas

Prairie Winnies
State Club
By Rosetta Bartels

Marci Penner of the KS Sampler Foundation has been working toward preservation of the rural culture of KS and has been helping the small towns of our state find ways to be viable communities. The Prairie Winnies State Club spent two weeks in September helping further the cause. We traveled in a caravan to several towns and, as Marci recommends, spent a little money whenever we stopped our rigs.

The caravan began after the Heartland Winnies Chapter's campout in McPherson. The first stop was in Hutchinson at the KS State Fair where we spent three days enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the fair. We enjoyed gathering together regularly to share what we had seen and done. On the way to Wilson Lake, the group stopped in Great Bend to tour the Fuller Brush factory—the only place in the world that Fuller brushes and other products are made. The time at Wilson was mostly downtime so we could rest up from the fair.

Sunday we headed for Ellis, stopping in Victoria to attend church at the Cathedral of the Plains— one of the Eight Wonders of KS. After a delicious lunch served by the Vice President, Neal Haerich, and his wife, Joyce, we toured the church and learned about the history of the Volga Germans who settled the Hays area of KS. While in Ellis we toured two factories, Enersis that makes big batteries and Wheel Chairs of KS that manufactures several kinds of equipment used in care of medical patients.

We then headed for Hill City with a stop in Wakenney to see the new National Veterans Cemetery. That was an inspiration and educational stop. The county fairground in Hill City was our camping spot in Graham County. While in Hill City, we traveled to Logan to visit the Dane G Hansen Museum where we saw the works of ultra realistic sculptor, Marc Sijan. His works have to be seen to be believed. The next day we went to Nicodemus and visited the National Historic Site. Nicodemus is the only existing black town west of the MS and was founded following the Civil War by ex-slaves from KY.

Other stops in the Hill City area included Damar, a French Canadian Village, and its Catholic Church, St. Joseph's. Another interesting stop was visiting the studio and trophy room of Russell Hull, a musician and bow hunter. Sunday Luke Owens, a high school student in Hill City, shared his song-writing talent and musical skills.

During the 17 days we were on the road together, we enjoyed hours of conversations, laughter, lots of good food, beautiful KS scenery, and found a greater appreciation of our great state. Our hosts, John and Sandra Veh, Errol and Cindy Conn, and Randall and Phyllis Weller did a great job planning this event.

Sandra Veh 785-421-5470

Heartland Winnies
Local Chapter
By Marilyn Loeffler

Sept. 11, twenty-seven of our members gathered at the McPherson RV Ranch and Horse Motel for a weekend of touring area museums and other local places of interest. Our hosts were Marge and Gil Green, Anita and Don Singular, and Rosetta and Bob Bartels. Friday started with a 45-minute trolley tour of the historical areas and other points of interest. After the trolley tour, we walked around the corner to the Opera House where renovation work was being done. Our guides provided an interesting history of the building and the work that is being done. A "second" grand opening is scheduled for early next year. Lunch was at our choice of several unique restaurants in the downtown area with time available for shopping. In the afternoon, some were off to the McPherson Museum and to the Mid KS Model Railroaders Museum, while others spent the time shopping, visiting, or resting.

Saturday the afternoon trip to Canton, KS to see the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge was moved to the morning. We took a very interesting and informative hour tram tour out on to the prairie to get an up-close and personal look at the buffalo. The afternoon was free to do whatever we chose. Dinner was at Montana Mikes and followed by an evening at the campground visiting, listening to the K-State football game, and/or playing cards.

Sunday we enjoyed a finger food breakfast followed by a worship service lead by Gil Green with music provided Anita Singular.

Erwin Loeffler 316-283-4758

Winnebago-Itasca Travelers