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Issue #107
JANUARY 2015
The Kansas Explorers Club is created to inspire, educate, and encourage the exploration and appreciation of Kansas...and to have fun doing it!
Explorers are urged to look for the rural culture elements in each town — architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history, and people.
Kansas Sampler Foundation, 978 Arapaho Rd., Inman, KS 67546 620.585.2374 kansassampler.org [email protected] / [email protected]
THE EXPLORER
HAPPY KANSAS DAY!
January 29, 2015
We are 154 years old
But it was what happened before statehood that shaped us.
It was in 1854 that the U.S. government opened Kansas for settlement. There was a rush from abolitionist Free-staters of New England and pro-slavery settlers from Missouri to come to Kan-sas in order to determine if the state would enter the union as a free state or a slave state.
Lies, deceit, murder, and mayhem followed earning Kansas the nickname Bleeding Kansas. The Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area has been formed in Kansas and Missouri to preserve and tell this story. Go to freedomsfrontier.org to find sites to visit. After the Civil War the focus was on the immigrants who came to turn the prairie into farmland.
(picture is of the state seal on the exterior of the Ness County Courthouse).
EVERY KANSAN SHOULD…
GO TO THE HOME ON THE RANGE CABIN where Brewster Higley wrote what is now our state song. The newly-restored cabin is located 8 miles north of Athol4 on K-8 in Smith County,
then one mile west.
HUG ONE OF OUR BIGGEST STATE TREES, the Eastern Cot-tonwood. Find this one in Lin-coln5 on the east end of Lincoln Avenue in the park. Con’t p. 5.
KANSAS EXPLORER #2’s
BUCKET LIST for 2015
KE #2 is me, Marci. I’ve heard rave reviews or intriguing tones about each of these places. I’m excited to visit each place, this year.
100 COW ROAD, Latham1 Does this road exist or not? Legend has it that the road is so steep that you’d have to stack 100 cows to measure the distance from bottom to top.
BLACK BISON PUB, 122 N. Main, Syracuse2 620.384.6348 . Open Monday 4-11 p.m.;
Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-11 p.m. Twenty-four craft cocktails accent the light menu items and traditional pub fare in a place that would fit in downtown Denver. Can’t wait to support and meet the owners who had this vision.
COUSIN EDDY’S VISITOR CENTER, Coolidge2 In the 1983 National Lampoon’s Vacation movie, Clark Griswold took his family on a great American vacation. On the way to Walley World in Los Angeles they stopped to see Cousin Eddy and Aunt Edna in Coolidge, Kansas. Fast-forward to present-day Coo-lidge and the creative mind of Lori Lennen, owner of the Trail City Bed-and-Breakfast. In March, she will open Cousin Eddy’s Visitor Center on the main thor-oughfare through this town of 93. How fun! p.s. This is the same county as Black Bison Pub.
EXPLORER PLACES IN GOODLAND3
Roxie Yonkey has created adventures in Goodland with her descriptions of explorer-y places. From the preserved hangar to all the easels around town, she has discovered, researched, and shared little nuances that make Goodland a must-visit for any Explorer. getruralkansas.org/Goodland/210index.shtml.
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Featuring the rural culture elements of commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history
LET’S HAVE FUN in 2015
We dare you!
Let us know when you’ve done all of these!
1. Stick your toes in one of the wading pools in Pratt6
at Hamilton and Second or U.S. 54 and S. Thompson.
2. Honk your horn at the carousel in Wilmore7 on North Main. If Ernie Grif-fin is home, he’ll open the doors and give you a ride! Best times to do this would be spring through summer. To make sure Ernie is home call 620.738.4420.
3. Rent a kayak or canoe at ACORNS Resort near Milford8 and paddle around on Milford Lake. Acornsresortkansas.com.
4. Buy picnic food at Lizard Lips on U.S. 54 at Toronto9 and then eat at nearby Cross Timbers State Lake.
5. Take checkers or chess pieces along and play on the outdoor game board at Lindsborg’s10 Swensson Park by the play-ground on N. Main.
6. Take a selfie on the rocks at Rock City. Cross the Solomon River in Minneapolis11 on K-106 and go about 3 miles south. Follow signs and a sandy road west for a short distance.
7. Video the reaction of those in the car when you go down the roller coaster hill. Start running the video at the intersection of K-62 and K-16 near Soldier12 in Jackson County as you head north on K-62.
8. Fly a kite on top of Coronado Heights near Lindsborg10.
9. Eat pancakes at Main Street Cafe in Durham13, Blonde Grill in Coldwater7, or Red Rooster in Harper14.
10. Buy $18.61 worth of groceries in the store in Maple Hill15, Morland16 or Mildred17.
BONUS: Stay at the Mule Skinner Lodge, Denison18. It’s a comfortable experi-ence in the most unique way. The sink is a hollow log, the shower is like a bab-bling creek.
Featuring the rural culture element of cuisine...
CULINARY BUCKET LIST
Locally-owned restaurants with special appeal are found all over the state. Here are ten dandies. Note
the open times. Let us know how you liked them.
Ad Astra Food & Drink, Strong City19 318 Cottonwood. 620.273.8440.
Open Friday-Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. adastrafood-drink.com
Craft brews and a progressive menu. The reviews are all good about this place.
Aunt Netter’s Café, 336 Elmore, Lecompton20 Open Wednesday-Sunday 6 a.m.-2 p.m.
auntnetterscafe.com The home-style food and gourmet cupcakes taste even better because the owners who grew up here just wanted to create a place for people to connect. You can feel it, too!
Bisteca, 2324 N. Kansas Ave., Liberal21 Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.,
Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. bistecainc.com Known for their steaks, their specialties are also out of the ordinary. End your meal with Crème Brulee or Caramel Sea Salt Ice Cream.
Cars on the Route, 119 N. Main, Galena22 Open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. carsontheroute.com
Remember “Tow Mater” from the “Cars” movie? The director of the movie saw a rusty old tow truck here and the rest is movie history. Inside the truck’s garage are Route 66 collectibles and tasty food!
Destination Kitchen, 115 W. Main, Norton23 Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Destinationkitchenks.com. Beyond the classy tools and gifts for the home cook is the trendy café with a brick pizza oven. The sand-wiches, salads, and soups make for a delightful meal.
Pretty Boy Floyd, 210 N. Douglas,
Ellsworth24 Open Thursday-
Saturday 5–9 p.m. 785.472.2183.
It feels sneaky to go here as you enter in the alley into the basement. It’s pretty clear that Pretty Boy Floyd would have approve of the drinks and food here.
Renaissance Cafe, 210 N. Center, Assaria25 Open Thursday-Saturday 5-9 p.m.
renaissancecafeassaria.com Steak Venato, Gnocchi Pomodoro, and Pan Fried Beef Liver are just three of Chef Kevin’s finest. You’ve got a thing or two to learn if you’ve never eaten at this former school. Make reservations! 785.822.6750.
Continued on p. 7
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Featuring the rural culture elements of geography, history...
EXPLORER CHALLENGE:
These places are hard to find —
but worth the effort.
BALA BRIDGE, Riley County25 From Riley, go 5 miles west on U.S. 77, then 1/4 mile north on K-82, and 1 mile west on Bala Road. Turn south on Lasita and follow the sign to Bala Park.
What are you looking for? A single-arch stone bridge with a 30-foot span, built in 1887 as a rail line trestle. Once you find the park, you must still find the bridge. Walk towards the back, shoosh away the spirits, and eventually you’ll lay your eyes on this grand bridge.
CRYSTAL SPRINGS, Florence13 Go north on Florence’s main street to Hillcrest Cemetery. Continue on this road and cross the Cottonwood River bridge. The road veers to the left and crosses another creek. Turn right onto Whitetail Road for a quar-ter mile and then turn right into the lane to Crystal Springs.
This city water source is such a surprise. It’s the 1949 building, the rock path above the building, the gurgling water coming out of the pipe and into the creek, the historical marker that make it so interesting.
FARIS CAVES, Ellsworth County24 Three miles east of Kanopolis on Avenue L, then 1 mile south on 22nd Road. The road jogs left for a short dis-tance, then south again 1 more mile to Avenue N. Turn
west and follow the road to its end. Or stop at Ka-nopolis Lake park office to verify directions.
Follow a path to these distinct openings in the sandstone bluff face. They are not only man-made spaces dug in the 1880s to be used as a
dwelling, spring house, and later a school, but after they were filled in, Annette White dug them out once again in the 1990s. Amidst the graffiti there are some markings likely made by Native Americans.
TETER ROCK, Greenwood County26 11 1/2 miles east of Cassoday, then 1 mile south into the pasture. Watch for the Teter Rock and Teterville sign be-fore turning south. You have to really be watching for it. In Greenwood County, it’s 8 1/2 miles west of Burkett corner.
In the late 1870s James Teter piled rocks as a marker to guide pioneers. Eventually the rocks were removed and used for construction materials, so in 1954 a 16-foot-slab of rock was erected on this hilltop in his honor. The view of the Flint Hills is unobstructed up here.
INDIAN MONUMENT, Geary County8 Go four miles south of Junction City on J Hill Road (exit 299). Follow the winding road to an intersection that indicates you are at J Hill Road, Skiddy, and Lyons Creek Road. Turn left (east) on Skiddy for less than a half mile.
Erected in 1920, this statue has been through weather and vandal-ism wars. Still, there is something impressive about it. At the base, it simply says, “The Indian.”
PILLSBURY CROSSING, near Manhattan25 It’s address is 7960 State Lake Road. It’s 2 miles south of Manhattan on K-177 to Deep Creek Road, 3 3/4 miles east to where the road sharply curves south, continue east 2 1/4 miles on Pillsbury Crossing Road, -a gravel road.
One of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography, Pills-bury Crossing’s flat, stone creek bottom forms a natural ford that has been a landmark for generations. If you go the right (or wrong) time of year you’ll find the area swarming with college kids out having a good time. If you have the place all to yourself, see if you can walk across the creek on the flat stones. Your experience may vary depending on how much water is in the creek.
Featuring the rural culture elements of geography...
COLLECT THESE THINGS,
THEN COLLECT YOUR PRIZE
Your Explorer prize might not be as valuable as the experience you have along the way! Tell where you collect each of these items. Turn them into the Kan-sas Explorers Club tent at the festival or send or bring to the Kansas Sampler Foundation. This is for any age. The important thing is to have fun!
A little salt rock. You have to go to Strataca (the underground salt museum) in Hutchinson27.
A vile of red dirt from one of our southern counties.
A tumbleweed, or a picture of you and a Kansas tumbleweed in the roadside.
A small container of water from Wilson Lake28.
A cotton boll from a field of cotton.
The last 6 inches of a yucca blade (any time of year).
A few wheat kernels picked up on the side of a field.
A vile of sand from one of the counties in the Arkansas River Lowlands.
At least the turkey foot of the Big Bluestem grass.
Three cottonwood leaves.
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WELCOME TO THE
EXPLORER FAMILY!
This is a list of those who have joined since the last newsletter.
#6377 Arlene & Dick Westbrook, Salina #6378 Kelly Sauvage, Falun Gift from #6189 Lois Applequist, Falun #6382 Brett Nelson, Holton #6384 Alan & DeAnn Hauser, Humboldt #6385 Greg & Deb Koch, Baileyville #6386 Dane and Kenzie Olejnik, St. Marys #6387 Dean & Sandi Patterson, Inman Gift from Dave, Becky, Devon & Bradon Patterson #6388 Marilyn Sharkey, Oskaloosa Gift from #2629 Virginia Richards, Perry #6389 Brandon Riffel, Ottawa Gift from #6293 John & Julie Riffel, De Soto #6390 Connie Brax, Salina #6391 Sue Anderson, Lawrence #6392 Judy Loganbill, Wichita #6393 Sarah Morrison, Lakeville, CT #6394 Dave Azwell, Osage City #6395 Douglas Schamle, Hutchinson #6396 Beth Weddle, Concordia Gift from #6220 LaDeana Mullinix, Farmington #6397 Dort Goodman, Sabetha #6398 Albert Riffel, Herington Gift from #6293 John & Julie Riffel, De Soto #6399 Terry Finney, Garnett Gift from #2690 Norma Varvel, Gridley #6400 Paul & Diane Thiessen, Inman Gift from Dave, Becky, Devon & Bradon Patterson #6401 Chandra Stuchlik, Scandia #6402 Darlyne Standley, Courtland Gift from #6401 Chandra Stuchlik, Scandia #6403 Stacy Davis, Elmdale Gift from #6401 Chandra Stuchlik, Scandia #6404 Adam Pickett, Arlington #6405 Paul & Nancy Miller, Alma #6406 Kay Huffman, Newton #6407 Leslie Struckhoff, Burlington #6410 Max Dame, Gainesville, FL #6419 Stephen Rose, Hillsboro #6420 Robert Gatton, Council Grove #6421 Richard & Jody Koerner, Auburn
Continued from p. 1
KE’s #2 BUCKET LIST
ELK RIVER HIKING TRAIL, near Independence29
Even walking just part of the15-mile nationally recognized trail at Elk City Lake will show some stunning views of the lake and dramatic rock for-mations. The lake is one mile west of Independ-ence, north of U.S. 160.
FLY BOY BREWERY & EATS, 105 N. Main, Sylvan Grove5
785.526.7800. Open Thursday-Saturday 5-10 p.m. Chef Grant Wagner is French trained but he’s making the most of the opportunity to showcase his cooking skills at this family-owned and trendy-looking brewery in Lincoln County.
NATIONAL DEPRESSION GLASS MUSEUM, 117 S. Washington, Wellington30
ndga.net/museum.php 620.326.6400 The national organization chose Wellington as the museum home for American-made glassware from the years of the Great Depres-sion. I’m prepared to be impressed! (Closed Jan.-Feb.).
SMOKY VALLEY RANCH, Logan County31 Two hiking trails make it possible to enjoy the chalky badlands and shortgrass prairie of this Nature Conservancy acquisition, Smoky Valley Ranch. The Conservancy chose these 4,000 acres be-cause of their value as a “living repository of geological, paleonto-logical, archaeological, historical and cultural history.” Buffalo roam the prairie and I hope to see them! From Oakley, take US-40 west to the western edge of Monument, Kansas. Turn south on 350th Road for approximately 15 miles to reach the hiking trail.
TRADHUSET, Lindsborg10 trad-hus.com 855.872.3487
Located in a second-floor carriage house amidst the coziness of downtown Lindsborg, the Tradhuset (Swedish for “the tree house) is a peaceful, private and perfect getaway spot. It is a roomy, open-floor-plan studio with a full kitchen and a furnished deck. Stay for a weekend or a month!
VERRUCKT, Kansas City32 schlitterbahn.com/kansas-city
I’m nervous already but we’re going to “do” the Verruckt, the world’s largest waterslide at Kansas City’s new Schlitterbahn Waterpark. WenDee and I will actually slide down this 168-foot structure and have our stomach’s tumble with the 50-foot drop and the water blast up a steep incline. Bring it on!
KANSAS SAMPLER FESTIVAL Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wamego’s33 city park $5 Kansassamplerfestival.com
Kansas Explorers, if you dare to attend this event you will leave with dozens of daytrip
ideas that will change your life!
Page 5
Continued from page 1
EVERY KANSAS SHOULD
LEARN ABOUT THE TALLGRASS PRAIRIE. The Flint Hills Discover Center in Manhattan25 is the place to learn about the geology, biology, and cultural history of the last remaining tallgrass prairie in North America. Make sure to watch the introductory 15-minute video. Flinthillsdiscovery.org.
SPEND TIME WITH BUFFALO. Here are three differ-ent but excellent experiences that will educate you about buffalo, our state animal, and take you into the herd. Call ahead!
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Canton10. One of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography. 620.628.4455. Maxwellwildliferefuge.com
Indian Creek Bison Ranch, Haven27. 620.921.5184. Indian-creekbison.com.
Lawrence Foundation
for Buffalo Preservation and Agricultural Heritage. Clifton34. 785.455.3707. Wildlifeconservancy.us
TOUR THE STATE CAPITOL, Topeka35 The renovation of our state capitol not only left the copper dome looking buffed and beautiful but the
inside was refreshed as well. The art-work, the marble, the copper columns, everything looks magnificent. The interpretive displays educate visitors to the story of our state and this capitol.
The steps to the dome are now open. Make sure to enjoy the sculptures on the lawn, as well.
VISIT THE 8 WONDERS OF KANSAS. Visit the web site, 8wonders.org, or buy an 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook to find your way to the overall 8 Wonders of Kansas:
Cheyenne Bottoms & Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Barton36 & Stafford Counties37.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, Abilene38.
Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center, Hutchinson27 Kansas Underground Salt Museum (Strataca),
Hutchinson27 Monument Rocks/Chalk Pyramids, Gove County39. St. Fidelis Church, Victoria40. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Chase County19 The Big Well, Greensburg41.
It’s a quest idea!
TRAVEL WITH A LAWN CHAIR
and stop at these places to read! In fact, maybe you’ll find a place in every one of the 105 counties to stop and read a bit. Some time a bench is provided for you. Sometime that lawn chair will come in handy. Here’s are some location ideas:
GAZEBO IN THE SQUARE, Humboldt17 (Allen County): Place your lawn chair inside this beautiful 1905 bandstand in Humboldt’s downtown square.
PAWNEE ROCK HIS-TORIC SITE, Pawnee Rock36 (Barton County):
One-half mile north of U.S. 56 on Centre, you’ll find this restful hilltop Santa Fe Trail stop.
SHOAL CREEK that runs through Schermerhorn Park near Galena22 (Cherokee County). That’s right. Put your lawn chair in the shallow creek and while the clear stream cools your toes, do a little reading!
Set up in front of a natural landscape and read until sunset. These are the Chalk Pyramids in Gove County39. The bluffs at Cedar Bluff State Park in Trego Co.42 have a natural rock bench far above the water.
ROCK BENCHES, Mill and Section Line, Plainville43 (Rooks County): Keep your lawn chair in the car. These unusual rock benches were placed in the city park after World War II as advertisements for Home Oil Company.
ROCKS at Rock City near Minne-apolis11 (Ottawa County): Some rocks are formed just for reading, or, uh, maybe for taking a snooze. In Minneapolis,
cross the Solomon River on K-106 and go about 3 miles south. Follow signs and a sandy road west to get to Rock City. Fee during the season.
Page 6
#1499 Jean Buoy, Concordia #1552 Lisa Brumbaugh, Emporia #1558 Eric & Kathy Sexton, Derby #1559 Tom & Florence Haskett, Emporia #1574 Ralph & Helen Vogel, Inman #1589 Riley & Sara Winkler, Lawrence #1599 Madlyn & Dale Swenson, Concordia #1602 William Small, Hutchinson #1650 Pat Haberer, Russell #1748 Anne Schmidt, Abilene #1770 Judith Johnson, Wichita #1828 Steve & Rosslyn Schultz, Lucas #1861 Brian, Robin, Melissa & Kelsey Pressnall, Bel Aire #1889 Ron Jones, Salina #1943 Donna M. E. Walker, Johnson #1958 Donna & Francis Wiley, Lawrence #1969 Mary Johnson, El Dorado #1977 Brian Snodderly, Topeka #1997 Shirley Jensen, Waterville #2026 Mary Lou Pickler, Ulysses #2060 Teresa Woodhead, McLouth #2104 Lori & Tom Parker, Blue Rapids #2123 Jenny & John Davis, Wichita #2240 Bruce Hogle, Overland Park #2252 Jerome Morgan, Salina #2323 Bill & Eleanor Miller, Topeka #2387 BarBara Wright, Anthony #2388 Patricia & David Flores, Northridge, CA #2423 Betty Purcell, Topeka #2428 Annette Douglass, Topeka #2690 Norma Varvel, Gridley #2781 James & Leila Smith, Garnett #2786 Dave Welfelt, Newton #2806 Ray Demuth, Dodge City #2809 Janice Carter, Overland Park #2829 Jo Anne Balthazor, Clyde #2899 Mozetta Schoenecker, Wichita #2903 Joyce Kraus, Wilson #3089 Fred & Connie Neufeld, Inman #3117 Ken McCosh, Manhattan #3254 Joe & Jennifer Kyner, Mission Hills #3260 Ed & Marilyn Armstrong, Mulvane #3355 Jim & Jane Taylor, Wichita #3414 Kathy & John Triplett, Junction City #3507 Doug & MarSue Mackey, Lawrence #3599 BJ & Jonell Davies, Wichita #3606 Melvin Yarnell, Osborne #3693 Ruth & Glenn Rodden, Beloit #3718 Norman Pihl, Salina #3746 Anita Byers, Hot Springs Village, AR #3760 Johnny Maupin, Dodge City #3771 Helen L Graves, Salina #3858 Jim & Betty Scheller, Salina #3907 Jerry Hager, Ford #4001 Kathy Yarrow, Wakefield #4031 Judy Foster, Wichita #4034 Elizabeth Jo & Becky Ann McRae, Herington
THANKS RENEWERS!
This is a list of those who have renewed between the last newsletter
and January 15.
#38 Susan Puls, Hutchinson #43 Kathleen & Larry Whitmer, Zenda #71 Joyce Thierer & Ann Birney, Admire #82 Jane & John Rhoads, Wichita #93 Murray, Nadine & Alyssa Reimer Penner, Wichita #99 Karen Sturm, Caldwell #120 Marlene Natoli & Barbara Cordts, Olathe #122 Milton & Darlene English, Pratt #129 Tudy Y. Haller, Lawrence #131 LaVeda Cross, Lewis #134 Mike, Jo, Regina & Anne Dowling, Derby #137 Carlene Hall, Toronto #185 Barbara Shunn, Concordia #186 Russell & Ralph Phalen, Osborne #205 Duane & Kathy Schwab, Ellinwood #280 George and Mary Downing, Emporia #304 Karolen & Jim Harrouff, Emporia #333 Paul & Linda Beckman, McPherson #368 Jonathan Wimer & David Oakley, Mayetta #378 Clark & Lynda Huffer, Glasco #429 Dee & Harold Metz, Washington #501 Paul Bahnmaier, Lecompton #521 Vera Schesser, Wichita #549 John & Susan Howell, Wichita #569 Walt & Margaret Hays, Osawatomie #596 Sharon Anderson, Lindsborg #598 Gary & Kay Nelson, Wichita #692 Sharron Hamilton, Salina #755 Dottie Harder, Topeka #758 Lisa Perez Miller, Pratt #821 Tom & Gerry Winters, Wichita #921 Rick & Donnis Shipley, Hutchinson #940 Craig & Kelle Goodman, Ness City #962 Art Warren, Wichita #1004 Elouise Miller, Topeka #1008 John C. Liston, New Castle, WY #1011 Calvin Hawkins, McPherson #1012 Crystal Kennedy, Berryton #1033 Bill & Susan Bunyan, Dodge City #1050 Glynn Brown, Kansas City #1051 Paula Phillips, Lawrence #1074 Joe Hubbard, Osborne #1165 Albert Hamscher, Manhattan #1195 Donna Long, Scott City #1259 R. Douglas Ackley & Malley Sisson, Manhattan #1282 Lucille Flynn, Pratt #1424 Sharon Kessinger, Marysville #1470 Shirley Hart, Gilroy, CA
#4141 Barbara Anderson, Iola #4199 Bonnie Deiter, Garnett #4261 Dan Wagner, Paxico #4287 Warren & Claire Willenberg, Wichita #4376 Greg Donahue, Plains #4397 Susan Taylor, McPherson #4525 Beverly Sharp, Overland Park #4530 Marlene Salsman, Winfield #4546 Robert Brown, Salina #4600 Bonnie Danley, Kansas City #4625 Francene Davis Sharp, Wichita #4774 Concha Walker, Wichita #4866 Bill Wilson, Claflin #4883 Linda Sue Rice, Manhattan #4904 Dale & Alta Snapp, Wamego #4929 Stan Landwehr, Wichita #4953 Stephanie Wacker, Wichita #5281 Dick Siemer & Denise O'Leary- Siemer, Wichita #5292 Ina Garrison, Clyde #5337 Jeff & CJ Hanson, Muscotah #5379 Verda Green, Odessa, MO #5436 Florence & Howard Loomis, Pratt #5452 Kayla Savage, Manhattan #5542 Ruben Schuckman, Hays #5548 Norma & Wayne McCallister, Norcatur #5562 Eric, Lisa, Nicholas & Lydia Hays, Leawood #5571 Wayne & Karen Peterson, Topeka #5578 Bernard & Kay Neubauer, Grantville #5606 Joyce Stryker, Waterville #5612 Ed & Marta Howe, Eskridge #5877 Kerry Green, Kansas City #5878 Bridgette Jobe, Kansas #5888 Dorlan Bales and Kathryn Damiano, Wichita #5892 LeAnn Cox, Hutchinson #5917 Jan & Julie Steen, Arlington #6031 Bill & Bunny Heins & Rylee Coy, Emporia #6039 Susan Draper, Colby #6046 Cindy Gilmore, Liberal #6079 Julie Alderson, Topeka #6099 Travis, Stacy, Amelia & Truman Barnes, Greensburg #6170 Ronda, Chuck, Gwen, & Emily Crossland, Atchison #6189 Lois Applequist, Falun #6212 Melinda Pierson, Munden #6220 Ladeana Mullinix, Farmingon #6222 Channing & Dina Cox, Topeka #6223 Jay Anderson, Abilene #6230 Brian & Chepina Rumsey, Manhattan #6241 Elizabeth Stewart, Topeka #6250 Doc & Marcia Abbick, Milford #6293 John & Julie Riffel, DeSoto #6370 Tim & Nancy Brock, Topeka
FOLLOW ERV
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Page 7
Kansas Explorers Club Membership and Renewal Form
Explorers Name __________________________________________________ Names for family membership: _______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
First-timer __________; Renewal ___________ ; Renewers, list your Explorer number (if you know it) _____________________________
Phone _________________________________________ E-mail __________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________ City ____________________________________ State ______ Zip ___________
Gift membership to: ________________________________________ Mailing address __________________________________________
This is a gift from: __________________________________________________________________________ (Gift card will be enclosed).
Annual dues: Individual membership $18.61; family $30. (Family membership prior to #881 is grandfathered in at $18.61)
Check is enclosed _________ or Visa or Master Card #____________________________________________________ Exp. date _______
Name on card _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
I’d like to add a donation to support the ERV research trip _______________. My payment is for _____ years of membership.
EXPLORER TRACKINGS
Despite the chill, KE’s #3198 Rick and Jane Hitchcock enjoyed a tram ride at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge near Canton10. They were lucky enough to see elk!
KE’s #1229, Wayne and Elaine Hemmen, did some birding at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and Cheyenne Bottoms and then took in the Shafer Art Gallery at
Barton Community College at Great Bend36. They said it was a treasure to learn about bronze sculptor Gus Shafer as well as to see Pat Potucek’s murals.
EXPLORER QUEST DECLARATION
KE #3783 Joyce Jordan is making it her quest to see all the painted quilt panels on barns, homes, and other struc-tures in Kansas. To date, there are over 200. With the help of her navigator husband,
James, she has had a good start finding the quilts in Cowley44, Butler1, Marion13 and Harvey45 counties.
ksflinthillsquilttrail.blogspot.com sunflowerpiecemakers.com/barntour.html wichitacounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Quilt
-Block-Map.pdf
Continued from p. 2
CULINARY BUCKET LIST
The Gathering Place, 105 N. Main, Stafford37 Open Wednesday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-
Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. 620.234.5400. Gathering around quality food always makes for an excellent time. You’ll find occasional entertainment here, too. Find them on Facebook.
Timken Hill Bar & Grill, K-96, Timken46
Open Friday 5-10 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. 785.355.2355. Every-body says you have to go here — so we will! Find them on Facebook.
Sake2Me, 700 Main, Hays40 Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and
5-10 p.m. 785.301.2999 Facebook.
So many sushi rolls to choose from! The Cali Gold Roll is crab, cucumber, avocado, topped with masago, sesame seeds. A Bonito Roll is avocado, cream cheese, spicy crab, outside wrap topped with flame seared salm-on, spicy mayo, and bonito flakes.
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Non-profit organization U.S. Postage
PAID Permit No. 24
Inman, KS 67546
THE EXPLORER #107
c/o Kansas Sampler Foundation 978 Arapaho Road Inman, Kansas 67546
IF IT’S TIME TO RENEW THERE WILL BE A NOTICE ABOVE
YOUR NAME ON THE ADDRESS LABEL AND AN INSERT.
Page 8
Return Service Requested
Use a credit card to renew or join online at explorekansas.org.
FIND EACH COUNTY HERE
PLAY EXPLORER AUTO BINGO!
Explorekansas.org—choose Auto Bingo link on right
In the last few years, we’ve been posting an Explorer auto bingo form online for you all to enjoy. It’s a fun family activity and makes road trips go faster occupy-ing kids (of all ages). The first Explorer member to achieve auto bingo blackout in 2014 was KE #6079 Julie Alderson. Will she be a repeat champion? The eight rural culture elements are used as cate-gories with five boxes beneath each. So, for in-
stance, for customs, the first box is a skating rink. If you see one you put an X in the box. Other items in that category are a pedes-trian bridge, a town with street signs in school colors, someone driving a golf cart around town, and an action item: swinging on+ an old-fashioned swing in a park with a teeter totter nearby.
If you don’t have a printer, contact us and we’ll send you a bingo sheet.
A Loving Explorer Farewell
Kansas Explorer #9, Milferd Penner, my dad, died on November 4, 2014. The original explorer in our family, he and Mom would take us three kids on numerous adventures around the state. One trip that sticks in my head was the one when he said, “We’re going east until we can’t go any further.” What a cool thing to do, and we definitely saw some unexpected things that day. We always had bird charts, bird books, and binocu-lars. We took a picnic basket on many an outing. When Dad and I started writing guidebooks and doing Kansas programs in 1990 we shared a great deal of road time. I’d ask him about everything from telephone poles to farm equipment, from downtown businesses to the weather. He seemed to have an answer for just about everything and it was always a thoughtful, in-depth answer. He loved hearing about our adventures and was a big supporter of the Kansas Explorer Club concept—and everything we did. I’m sure lucky to have had this guy for my dad. (Photo credit: TinaRae Scott)
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