KANSAS! Magazine | Winter 2016

WINTER 2016 | VOL 72 | ISSUE 4 | KANSASMAG.COM

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Classic luminary walks Burger Joints

wintertime

VOTED “A BEST SMALL TOWN IN KANSAS” BY KANSAS! MAGAZINE READERS

EVENTS NOV. 1 – JAN. 1 100 Christmas tree indoor display with antique and vintage decorations JAN-MARCH (SUNDAYS) Bleeding Kansas Lecture Series at Constitution Hall JUNE 16-17 Territorial Days SEPT. 21-23 Bald Eagle Rendezvous NOV. 19-20 Lecompton Community Pride Christmas Play 9-5pm Wed-Sat | 1-5pm Sun (785) 887-6148 | www.lecomptonkansas.com

contents features 36 |

Favorite Small Towns of Kansas

45 |

Guiding Lights

51 |

Kansas’ Finest

The votes are tallied, and we can now reveal your selections for the top small towns of our state

Luminary walks during the holiday season light up Kansas communities

The 2016 Class of Kansas’ promoters, lovers and supporters

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

departments

WINTER 2016

02

04 |

In This Issue

06 |

Editor’s Letter

09 |

This Season 10 | Culture 12 | Outside 13 | Sampler 15 | Shop 16 | Eat 17 | Ride 18 | Reasons We Love Kansas 21 | Winter 2016/17 Events

22 |

Wide Open Spaces

22 | TOURING FORT SCOTT

A historic military outpost and the town

that grew around it welcome visitors year-round 26 | THE LANDSCAPE OF KANSAS COMICS

Award-winning author Jai Nitz maps out the state

from the perspective of comic book artists and illustrators 30 | TASTE OF KANSAS: THE GREATEST GREASY-SPOON STOPS

Give the veggies a rest. Grab a burger at these classic burger spots.

59 |

KANSAS! Gallery: Winter

64 |

Winter 2016 Milestone

RILEY COUNTY | Scott Bean

KANSAS! MAGAZINE WINTER 2016

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WINTER 2016 | VOL 72 | ISSUE 4 | KANSASMAG.COM

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ON THE COVER Downtown Marysville in the evening. Photography by Andrea Etzel.

36

issue SMALL TOWN KANSAS

For this issue, we asked readers to select their five favorite Kansas small towns. But what is a small town? We decided it would be urban areas with 5,000 or fewer residents.

According to U.S. Census data, approximately 1/3 of all Kansans live in towns this size. Many of these communities play important administrative roles. Four of the five towns selected by our readers are county seats—and the one that is not was once the state capital.

THIS WINTER 11 Writers 20 Photographers

our group includes

IT’S JUST THE RHINO WAY

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

COMIC KANSAS

WINTER 2016

04

10

TINY STUDIO CONCERT

We invited musicians Steve Mason (left) and Kyle Jones to our studio to photograph their instruments for a bluegrass story in “This Season,” and it turned into our own in-house jam session. Both Mason and Jones are luthiers. Mason, of Steve Mason Luthiers and Violin Shop in Lawrence, built the banjo pictured on page 10; Jones built the mandolin with a special peghead shaped like our beloved Sunflower State.

Jai Nitz’s story on the landscape of Kansas comics 26 introduces several talented Kansans. One of these is Hal Foster, who created the legendary comic strip Prince Valiant and whose personal journey rivaled the adventures of his fictional hero. Foster grew up hunting and sailing in Canada, rode his bike some 1,000 miles to start an artistic career in Chicago, reluctantly traded “high-brow” art to Tarzan, and was forced by the Great Depression to resettle with his family in Topeka where he created one of the most influential comics in history.

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Courtesy Harold Gaston and Council Grove Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Shutterstock, Doug Stremel

IN THIS

WINTER2016

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Andrea Etzel EDITOR

Sam Brownback GOVERNOR

Robin Jennison

KDWPT SECRETARY

WWW.SUNFLOWERPUB.COM LAWRENCE, KANSAS

WWW.MCAPRINT.COM WICHITA, KANSAS

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

PRINTER

Katy Ibsen

Cheryl Wells

GENERAL MANAGER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Shelly Bryant DESIGNER/ART DIRECTOR

Nadia Imafidon SECTION EDITOR

Nathan Pettengill SECTION EDITOR

Joanne Morgan MARKETING, (785) 832-7264

Please address subscription inquiries to: Toll-free: (800) 678-6424 KANSAS!, P.O. Box 146, Topeka, KS 66601-0146 e-mail: ksmagazine@sunflowerpub.com Website: www.KansasMag.com POSTMASTER: Send address change to: KANSAS!, P.O. Box 146, Topeka, KS 66601-0146.

Please mail all editorial inquiries to: KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612 e-mail: ksmagazine@sunflowerpub.com The articles and photographs that appear in KANSAS! magazine may not be broadcast, published or otherwise reproduced without the express written consent of Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism or the appropriate copyright owner.

Unauthorized use is prohibited. Additional restrictions may apply.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Periodical postage paid at Topeka, KS, and at additional mailing offices.

Newsstand price $4.99 per issue; subscription price $18 per year; international subscription price $22 per year. All prices include all applicable sales tax.

• Multiple retail and dining options

05 WINTER 2016

KANSAS! (ISSN 0022-8435) is published quarterly by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612; (785) 296-3479; TTY Hearing Impaired: (785) 296-3487.

• Countless historic attractions and destinations • Several recreational and entertainment venues • Wide variety of cultural events and activities • Numerous lodging arrangements

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

®

FROM THE

editor

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

AS WITH MOST YEARS, 2016 WAS FILLED WITH HIGHS AND LOWS, UPS AND DOWNS. In February, I lost my mom. In losing her, I lost a part of myself. Many times over the last year I have felt simply lost. Thankfully, I come from a close family. We have a strong faith and we’ve pulled together.

My mom was a Kansas girl, through and through. She had lived across the state, grew up in Dodge City, went to high school in Wichita, LISA ETZEL Nov 7, 1963 - Feb 26, 2016 then married and raised her family in Topeka. From her kitchen to her garden, to her Jayhawks - she loved Kansas. One year for Mother’s Day, all she wanted from my sister and I was to hike the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve together. She was always ready for the next adventure, which often meant cruising backroads and wandering through the different small towns found along the way.

I always told her no matter where I went she was my home. I still feel that way. Now, when I’m feeling lost, I find comfort along those backroads. I smile when I see a rainbow. I feel a sense of peace surrounded by rolling hills. I count my blessings with each sunset.

PHOTOGRAPH Courtesy Andrea Etzel

WINTER 2016

06

ANDREA ETZEL

EDITOR, KANSAS! MAGAZINE

facebook.com/KansasMagazine

@KANSASMag

KansasMagazine (get spotted; use #kansasmag to tag us)

THIS SEASON

22

Welcome to KANSAS! magazine’s “This Season.” Here we explore what’s new and buzzing throughout the state—from restaurants and shopping to cultural happenings and attractions.

10 10 Culture 12 Outside

26

13 Sampler 16 Eat 17 Ride 18 Reasons We Love Kansas 21 Winter 2016/17 Events

22 Touring Fort Scott 26 The Landscape of Kansas Comics 30 Taste of Kansas: The Greatest Greasy-spoon Stops

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

WIDE OPEN SPACES

09 WINTER 2016

PHOTOGRAPHS (FROM TOP LEFT) KDWPT, Doug Stremel, Beautiful Isolations, Courtesy Marvel Comics

15 Shop

culture.

Bluegrass Jam Sessions

T

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

ap your feet and clap your hands at a bluegrass festival that tops the charts—the Kansas Bluegrass Association’s WinterFest February 17 and 18 at the Marriott Hotel in Wichita.

“Our mission is to promote and educate bluegrass in Kansas, and we found one of the very good ways of doing that is putting on the festival,” Mike Whitman, Kansas Bluegrass Association (KBA) president, says of the winter bluegrass festival in its 28th year.

Bluegrass bands from throughout the country perform 40-minute concerts, with five to six different bands taking the stage during three sessions of music: Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening.Two national touring acts are booked as the Friday and Saturday night headliners.

“Our main headliner Friday night is going to be The Boxcars,” Whitman says.“Adam Steffey, the mandolin player, is one of the top five mandolin players on the planet. He was with [Grammy-award winning] Alison Krauss and Union Station for years.”

The Lost and Found will play both Friday and Saturday, and Breaking Grass is the headliner band for Saturday night.The lineup changes every year, except for the annual appearance of the KBA’s youth band,Treblemakers, which has won accolades from the International Bluegrass Music Association, says Amydell Burns, KBA treasurer.

Tickets may be purchased for each session, each day, or the entire event, Burns says.“We have individual session tickets for those who just want to come to one, but you know, they usually end up staying or coming back,” she adds.

Workshops on Saturday morning typically focus on playing instruments and are led by musicians performing in the festival who usually join in jam sessions, as well.

“They are right down in the midst of it,” Burns says.“We have all the way from beginners up to these professionals jamming together.”

Whitman says people hail from multiple states just to jam at the festival.

“That’s one of the things we’re really known for,”Whitman says.“We basically have 24-hour, round-the-clock jamming going on.” kansasbluegrass.org

WINTER 2016

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Where in

KANSAS?

By Cecilia Harris

JOIN ‘EM KANSAS PRAIRIE PICKERS ASSOCIATION Auburn Bluegrass and other old-time acoustic music can be heard from area bands and other groups performing from 1 to 5 p.m. on the fourth Sunday every month from October through April at the Auburn Community Center. Also find musicians collaborating and jamming at this event. kppamusic.org EMMA CHASE FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC Cottonwood Falls Emma Chase Friday Night Music gathers musicians of all skill levels to jam at 7:30 p.m. every Friday at the Prairie PastTimes in Cottonwood Falls during the winter and outdoors when the weather warms.

Each Friday of the month features a different genre, including gospel, bluegrass, country/folk, and rock ’n’ roll.

Facebook.com/ EmmaChaseMusic

Notice anything special about the mandolin peghead?

Lawrence-based, seventh-generation woodworker Kyle Jones designed it in the shape of Kansas and put in 130 hours of work on the instrument. Steve Mason created the banjo.

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

this season

COME PLAY WITH US IN MARION COUNTY • Travel the Santa Fe Trail • Visit our historical sites and museums • Hike in the Flint Hills • Fish in our heated dock • Shop at our antique and speciality shops

We are waiting for you! Come eat, sleep and explore in Marion County!

Marion County Economic Development

230 E. Main • Marion, Kansas 66861 • (620) 382-8830 www.growmarioncounty.com

outside.

By Dave Zumbaugh

First Day Hike

A fresh start to the New Year with a hike in one of these Kansas state parks

T

he dictionary defines “grandeur” as the quality of being impressive or magnificent.Where might you find grandeur in Kansas? At a state park, of course!

Make it a resolution to reconnect with nature and rejuvenate your spirit in the outdoors on January 1, 2017. First Day Hikes have become a tradition across the country, and Kansas has some of the best.These outings are also a great way for families to get outside for some exercise, fresh air and quality time together.

There are a dozen free, guided hikes in Kansas state parks held on the first day of the New Year, covering all geographies. From Clinton State Park in the east, to the Green Recreational Trail in the southwest, the choice is yours. Make sure to bring your camera to capture memories of the spectacular scenic vistas and plentiful winter wildlife.

Explore Native-American cultural sites on certain hikes, such as Threshing Machine Canyon, near Cedar Bluff State Park, where a wagon train was ambushed by Native Americans. Or hike to the Potawatomi Mission on the grounds of the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka.

At Wilson Lake, experienced hikers can attempt a rugged trek on the Rocktown Trail with spectacular views. Less strenuous paved footpaths exist for those less mobile or for parents with toddlers, like the paved Cedar Trail, which is easily accessible but still has outstanding sights.To add fun to an outing, consider Pokémon Go or geocaching, both popular outdoor activities.

As with any foray into the wild, a simple plan is prudent. In inclement weather, make sure to dress in layers to enable you to shed a jacket when your body temperature rises from covering miles on foot. Donning a hat, gloves and water-repellant outerwear are considerations depending on conditions, and proper footwear is required. Running shoes with soft soles might not be adequate to protect tender feet.

Always carry water for hydration and snacks for energy replenishment.A compass or GPS might be a good idea for longer journeys and to determine the shortest route back to your vehicle, if your ambition happens to exceed your capability. ksoutdoors.com/StateParks/Special-Events/FirstDay-Hikes

Where in

KANSAS?

GET OUTSIDE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Interested in learning more about the birds at your feeder? Since 1900, thousands of Americans have participated in the Christmas Bird Count to collect census data on area birdlife. The information gathered is used to form conservation action plans to protect avian species.

These surveys take place between December 14 and January 5 each year.

There are more than 50 CBC surveys throughout Kansas. ksbirds.org NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION HUNTING HERITAGE BANQUET & KANSAS STATE AWARDS Wichita January 9, 2017 At one time, turkeys nearly became extinct in Kansas. Now the species thrives in almost every county, thanks to the National Wild Turkey Federation. The organization was founded in 1973 and is dedicated to reintroducing turkeys into their original haunts and protecting suitable habitats. Join in the fun at the NWTF state banquet.

(785) 243-7798

Is your New Year’s resolution to adopt a healthier lifestyle? A hike on the first day of the year is the perfect start. Hundreds of first day hikes happen across the U.S. Strength in numbers!

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

this season

this season

Beeing Champion

Students compete in Hays for a chance to be a national spelling champion.

“A

lot of very smart kids show up in Hays every spring,” shares Jan Tinkel, business manager for the Hays Daily News.

For the past four years, the newspaper has been planning and organizing one of three regional spelling bees in the state.

Covering 79 counties, their event,Tinkel says, is the largest in the state. It’s an annual event where students in first through eighth grades show up to compete for their chance at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. “We have some very bright second graders who make it pretty far in the division,”Tinkel says.

The Hays regionals competition, known as the Sunflower Spelling Bee, has averaged 80 participants, all of whom first competed in school-led bees. The regional champ earns a trip to the national bee in Washington, D.C., along with a laptop, Webster’s Dictionary and a mint series coin that represents the spelling bee.

“We have a very welcoming business community that recognizes when any group is coming to town,” says Patrick Lowry, editor and publisher of the Hays Daily News. “It’s a pretty excited child that we send off that day.”

As for the national event, it’s one that’s likely unforgettable for its participants, says Valerie Miller, spokesperson for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, who adds that enrollment is now open for schools until December 12.

“It’s a week full of fun and memorable experiences,” she says. Participants get to tour local attractions, and attend a group dinner and a dance party.

Students who are not crowned champions are welcome to compete multiple times, until they graduate eighth grade, Miller says.

“Once they’ve tasted what it’s like, it motivates them even more to come back.

That’s a testament on what a good experience it is for them and their families.”

sampler.

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS SANTA EXPRESS AND 5K RUN December 4 Bonner Springs Bring the kids to the Train Depot for a picture with Santa Claus and ride on the train.

They can enjoy reindeer games, hot chocolate and cookies in the barn. The 5K will kick off at the depot and end there with hot chocolate and a train ride for the runners. Families should check out the special onemile Reindeer Route with fun antlers for the kids. Begins at 10 a.m. aghalloffame.com

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING December 10 Hutchinson Let your kids build their own winter wonderlands during this Hutchinson holiday tradition. Bring them to Memorial Hall to decorate gingerbread houses, compliments of Hutchinson Recreation. Begins at 9 a.m.

(620) 663-6179

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

By Bethaney Wallace

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

WINTER 2016

13

Where in

KANSAS?

In 2015, a national co-champion,Vanya Shivashankar, came from Olathe, out of the Olathe News regional contest.

this season

By Patsy Terrell

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

12 DAYS December 9 The 12 Days of Christmas is Adrian’s gift to its customers.

Each night by 10, customers receive an email with a “crazy good deal” in it for the next day.

Owner Vicki Adrian selects each special the night before so it’s a surprise for everyone. It’s the only time of year she sends daily emails. People who can’t get into the store on a particular day can call, and Adrian’s will set aside whatever they want. Make sure you’re on the email list before December 9. adriansonline.com

Where in

KANSAS?

Tis the Season

Find all of your gift-giving needs satisfied at Adrian’s Boutique.

A

drian’s Boutique in Buhler is a one-stop-shop for unique clothing, accessories, gifts, kitchenware and a few hundred other things that you can check off your holiday list.The shop with such an eclectic mix is celebrating 34 years this January. Adrian’s is a cornerstone of the Buhler business community, regularly drawing customers from up to two hours away.

“We’re a destination,” says owner Vicki Adrian.

“Like many other small business owners, I’m an accidental retailer,” says Vicki.

The shop, originally known as Adrian’s A to Z, began in one room across the street from the current location where Vicki shared retail space with her mother-in-law.

Now Vicki owns two buildings, and the merchandise fills one of them.

Vicki is always shopping about six months ahead, and she keeps her customer in mind when selecting merchandise.“I’m

looking for things for Kansas women, Kansas weather and Kansas style,” she says. Her customers often prefer practical styles that match their Midwest sensibility. “I look for what fits the culture in our area,” she says.The store is about 50 percent fashion, about 25 percent gifts and 25 percent kitchen items.

Promotions throughout the year create continual excitement. One popular promotion is sisters’ weekend, a natural move for Vicki, as she is the eldest of five girls. All promotions are designed to encourage relationships.“That’s where we started.That’s where we still are,” she says.They even serve simple lunches or suppers during big promotions so customers can come straight to the store from work.

All of this attention to details builds loyalty.

In a town of about 1,200 people, Adrian’s mailing list has 19,000 people on it.They still send hand-written thank you notes and greet many customers by name.“I feel like I’m the hostess here,” says Vicki.

Adrian’s provides simple lunches or suppers during their big promotion sales so you can go from work-mode to shop-mode without hesitation or making a pit stop.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

GIFT OF GIVING November 22 The second-annual gift of giving ornament will premiere during Thanksgiving week.

Buying an ornament gives customers 20 percent off almost everything storewide.

Proceeds of ornament sales go to Hospice House of Reno County. The first year the ornament was offered, it sold out quickly. The promotion starts the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and runs through the following Monday or as long as supplies last.

15 WINTER 2016

SMALLTOWN SHOPPING

shop.

eat.

By Lou Ann Thomas

Pan-fried Chicken

F

ried chicken has been on our Kansas dinner tables for decades. Whether you’re in the mood for a special Sunday fare or looking to cure a hankering, there are a number of great fried chicken places all over the state.

One of the best known is the Brookville Hotel in Abilene, which first became known for its “family-style chicken dinners” in 1915, when Helen Magnuson Martin, daughter of the original owners of the hotel, Gus and Mae, first began offering them.Today, Mark Martin is the fourth generation of the family to serve the award-winning fried chicken from Mae’s recipe.

The chicken, which scored the Brookville Hotel a James Beard Award for American Classic Restaurants in 2007, is coated in a blend of evaporated milk and water, flour, salt and pepper, and then panfried in less than an inch of pure lard.

“The process we use has been in place for over 100 years,” Martin says.

At Wheatland Café in Hudson, owner Darrell Bauer has been pan-frying chicken for 27 years and attributes his success to using fresh chickens.

“We get our chickens in fresh then cut them up ourselves the old-fashioned way— with a wishbone,” Bauer says.

The chicken is then dredged in locally milled Hudson Cream self-rising flour, salt and pepper and dropped into the fry pan. It’s cooked for 20 to 25 minutes, then turned, and when removed, it is allowed to steam for 30 minutes. According to Bauer, this steaming adds to the tenderness and juiciness of Wheatland Café’s chicken.

The chicken is only available on the Wheatland Café’s Sunday buffet, which is served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CHICKEN CENTRAL Within the 595 square miles of Crawford County, there are six chicken restaurants.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Chicken Annie’s was the first, opened in 1934 by Ann Pichler. Pichler’s original recipe calling for eggs as the only liquid in the batter is still used today.

1143 E. 600th Ave., Pittsburg Chicken Mary’s opened in 1945 across the road from Chicken Annie’s. A basic difference in Chicken Mary’s chicken is the batter, which is a little thicker.

1133 E. 600th Ave., Pittsburg

16 WINTER 2016

OTHER CHICKEN PLACES TO CLUCK ABOUT IN CRAWFORD COUNTY:

Where in

KANSAS?

Gebhardt’s 124 N. 260th Road Mulberry

Chicken Annie’s Pichler’s 1271 S. 220th St. Pittsburg

Barto’s Idle Hour 210 S. Santa Fe St. Frontenac

Chicken Annie’s Girard 498 E. 47 Highway Girard

OTHER EATWORTHY EVENTS COOKIES WITH SANTA December 4, Salina Get in the holiday spirit with this fun day for the kids, who will decorate their own giant sugar cookies, make ornaments, and write letters to Santa, whom they will get to meet. Choose from one of three sessions: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., or 1:30 p.m. rollinghillszoo.org THE A-MAIZE-ING POPCORN ADVENTURE January 29–April 2, Montezuma Who doesn’t enjoy a big bowl of fresh popcorn? This fun and educational exhibit, organized by the Purdue University Agriculture Exhibit Design Center, is designed for kids from kindergarten to fifth grade and their families.

It provides information about the history, production and nutrition of one of the country’s top snack foods.

Kids enter a maze where they can spin a drum to watch a kernel explode and learn fun and historical facts about popcorn from Max the dog, Munch, and Professor Popcorn. stauthmemorialmuseum.org

Donna Zerngast, granddaughter of Mary Zerngast, founder of Chicken Mary’s, married Anthony Pichler, grandson of founder of Chicken Annie’s, Ann Pichler.Yes, they served fried chicken at their wedding reception and opened Chicken Annie’s Pichler’s in 1970.

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

this season

this season

By Seth Jones

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

Where in

KANSAS?

M

GET IN THE FAST LANE:

KANSAS TURNPIKE FACTS

• Built in just 22 months, the Kansas Turnpike opened on October 25, 1956.

• The Kansas Turnpike pre-dates the interstate system, but over the years the turnpike has been designated as interstate.

• The turnpike has never received any state or federal tax dollars—it’s entirely funded by tolls.

• The Kansas Turnpike runs through 13 Kansas counties. Nearly 60 percent of the population of Kansas lives near the turnpike.

• Over the next 10 years, $1.2 billion in modernization, preservation and enhancements will take place on the turnpike.

Electronic, high-speed lanes will be added to three exits: East Terminal/ Kansas City, East Topeka and Southern Terminal/ Oklahoma.

Did you know there are six service areas and 22 interchanges on the Kansas Turnpike?

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

ore than 39.6 million travelers used the Kansas Turnpike last year as a means to get from one place to another quickly and conveniently.Those nearly 40 million travelers might not have thought about it as they zipped through the state, but the road connects the three largest cities in Kansas—Kansas City,Topeka and Wichita—and nearly 60 percent of the state’s population.

In October, the Kansas Turnpike Authority celebrated the 60th anniversary of the road with a campaign called 236 Miles of Possibilities. The campaign focused not on the road itself but on the many communities and events to which the turnpike provides easy access.

“Nobody drives just for the sake of driving,” says Jeri Biehler, communications manager for the Kansas Turnpike Authority.“They drive to go see these communities and take part in these events, and to connect with family and friends.”

That doesn’t mean the KTA didn’t celebrate its 60th year of moving people and goods with style. For example, the grand opening of a scenic overlook in the Flint Hills also happened in October.

“Lots of people might think the turnpike spoils the view out there, but we like to think how many people we expose to the Flint Hills,” says Rachel Bell, director of marketing and communications.“One of our board members used to say,‘If it wasn’t for the turnpike, nobody would get to see the Flint Hills.’”

Regular travelers will also be happy to hear that $1.2 billion in improvements to the turnpike, including the addition of high-speed toll lanes, are in the works for the next 10 years. Forty-four different projects will take place to preserve, modernize and enhance the KTA system. ksturnpike.com/about/long-termneeds-study

17 WINTER 2016

Celebrating 60 years of the Kansas Turnpike

ride.

this season

reasons.

By Cecilia Harris

REASONS we love Kansas

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

We search the state, near and far, to find reasons to love small towns* in our Sunflower State.

WINTER 2016

18

IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT TREE Country Christmas Trees, Wakarusa Make a lasting family memory by cutting down your own fresh tree at Country Christmas Trees near Wakarusa (population 260). Owners Eldon Clawson and Marlene Ewing have made the trek more enjoyable for children by creating “Elf Trail,” a pathway decorated with elf figures standing on wood stumps, each of which holds a written riddle for children to solve. Other family attractions beginning on November 20 include feeding alpacas, riding the five-car Kiddie Barrel Train, and visiting with Santa in the horse barn. (785) 207-5135 / cctrees.us

RANCH STYLE Spring Hill Ranch Candlelight Tours, Strong City Follow the lit lanterns to the house and barn of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve as re-enactors portray a typical night on an 1880s Kansas ranch.“This is like a window to the past,” says Heather Brown, chief of interpretation.

“We’re trying to give a true representation of what it was like for people in the 1880s out here in Chase County.” The December 3 event near Strong City (population 485) is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

To make a reservation, call the visitors’ desk starting November 14. (620) 273-8494 ext. 0 / nps.gov.tapr

*Population numbers are from the 2010 United States Census.

this season

Bargain with merchants in a noisy marketplace, gather around a fire with the Wise Men, and visit with shepherds, census takers, tax collectors and innkeepers as you journey to Bethlehem December 10–11 at the United Methodist Church in Jetmore (population 867).“There’s a lot of interaction between the characters and the visitors,”says Carolyn Tarman, event chairwoman. Even heavenly hosts appear as you progress to the star-lit stable to see the Christ child. Kids will love the camels, llamas, sheep, donkeys and goats.Admission is free, but donations are accepted; tours continue from 5:30–8:30 p.m. each night, with special needs tours at 5 p.m. For more information, contact the church office.

(620) 357-6237 / thejtb.org

REASONS

we love Kansas

Browse through 5,000 bolts of fabric—including designer prints, calico, fleece, flannel, gauze and Christmas designs—at Prairie Flower Crafts in Alden (population 148).

“It’s a destination shop,” says owner Paula Royer.

“People come here to look for fabric and supplies.”The fabric, quilt books and patterns fill three historic mercantile buildings featuring wooden floors, high tin ceilings, large storefront windows and plenty of nostalgia. Don’t miss the week-long Super Bowl Sale prior to the National Football League championship game.

(620) 534-3551 prairieflowercrafts.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KANSAS! Kansas Day Celebrations, Bird City Join the residents of Bird City (population 447) as they commemorate Kansas Day on January 29. Bird City has held a public gathering for the state anniversary each year since 1930, and residents ensure each one offers something new by selecting a theme (such as “Cattle Trails of Kansas”) and inviting an expert in that field to provide a lecture. Marsha Magley, a past president of the planning committee, says other activities include music and other programs, a potluck dinner, genealogy research, and displays of historical items such as photographs, quilts, and antique toys and dolls. The events are open to the public.

(785) 332-3360 stfranciskansas.com/Enjoy-Us/ Kansas-Day

Send your “Reasons We Love Kansas” to ksreasons@sunflowerpub.com or to Reasons, KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Commemorate the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor by viewing two traveling exhibits displayed December 7 to January 22 at the Stauth Memorial Museum in Montezuma (population 966). Infamy: December 7, 1941 is a photographic exhibit with 62 panels that illustrate the attack on Pearl Harbor,” says Raechelle Romero, assistant to the director. We Remember: Images from the National World War II Museum contains 75 images.These are a mixture of professional photographs and snapshots taken by World War II G.I.s.”

Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

(620) 846-2527 stauthmemorialmuseum.org

SHOPPING SPREE Prairie Flower Crafts, Alden

HOLY NIGHT Journey to Bethlehem, Jetmore

19 WINTER 2016

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) National Park Service, Shutterstock (5)

REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR Stauth Memorial Museum, Montezuma

reasons.

this season

events.

CHRISTMAS CITY OF THE HIGH PLAINS November 27 – January 3 / WaKeeney Daily Christmas lights show throughout downtown. wakeeney.org OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS PARADE December 3 / Lawrence One of the nation’s biggest parades of old-time wagons and horse riders. downtownlawrence.com SNOWFLAKE PARADE AND UGLY SWEATER CONTEST December 3 / Lindsborg Parade, traditional hayride and cash prize for the ugliest Christmas sweater. lindsborgcity.org CRYSTAL GALE CHRISTMAS December 8 / Hutchinson Country music legend performs favorites and holiday songs. hutchinsonfox.com 1ST INFANTRY BAND HOLIDAY CONCERT December 16-17 / Junction City Two free concerts by the military’s fine musicians. jcoperahouse.org

TRANSFORMATIONS January 14 / Lawrence 6-Year Anniversary Gala Show of charity talent and glamor performance. transformationslawrence.com

EVENTS / winter 2016 17

ALSO-RAN INDUCTION CEREMONY January 20 / Norton They Also Ran Gallery ceremoniously hangs portrait of losing 2016 U.S. presidential candidate. theyalsoran.com

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RUSSIAN NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE January 28 / Manhattan National troupe performs Cinderella. k-state.edu/mccain

PHOTOGRAPH Shutterstock

A-MAIZE-ING POPCORN ADVENTURE January 29 – April 2 / Montezuma Free exhibition honoring taste and industry of popcorn.

Stauthmemorialmuseum.org BROADWAY NIGHT WITH JERI SAGER February 18 / Pittsburg Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra presents pop-concert collaboration. bicknellcenter.com

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JULOTTA December 25 / Lindsborg Traditional Swedish Christmas church service. lindsborgcity.org

FIND MORE EVENTS AT TRAVELKS.COM Because all events are subject to change, please confirm with organizers before finalizing plans.

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fort scott touring

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

A historic military outpost and the town that grew around it welcome visitors year-round

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Formerly a hospital, this building now houses the visitors’ center for the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

By Diana Staresinic-Deane Photography by Kenny Felt

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes was inspired by an unlikely friendship between Kansas history students and a World War II resistanceforces hero.

The historic National Cemetery No. 1 continues to serve as a resting place of honor for veterans.

FRIDAY Take it in, 2 p.m.

First-time visitors should stop in at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center for the latest information about events, programs and attraction hours. This downtown office is also the starting point of the city’s trolleys.

Hometown Hero, 2:30 p.m.

No trip to Fort Scott would be complete without a visit to the Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College. Born in 1912, Gordon Parks

THE REST OF THE STORY Since opening as a National Historic Site, Fort Scott has hosted exhibitions and events focusing on the location’s early role as an 1840s military outpost. Now, a new permanent exhibit, The Fight Over Freedom!

Kansas Inflames and Divides the Nation, details the fort’s history from 1854 through 1877, the period including the eras of Bleeding Kansas, the Civil War and Reconstruction. The Fight Over Freedom! is open during regular site hours, and admission is free. The exhibit is accessible for visitors using wheelchairs and for visitors with limited or no vision.

was the youngest of fifteen children to grow up in what was then a segregated community. As a writer, filmmaker, composer and photographer, he would become one of his generation’s most talented artists.

He was best known for his photojournalism in Life magazine, his semi-autobiographical book The Learning Tree, and his movie of the same name that was based on the book and filmed in Fort Scott.. This museum also tells the history of Fort Scott’s AfricanAmerican community, established by war refugees in 1862. By 1910, African Americans were nearly 20 percent of Fort Scott’s population with a thriving community of churches, schools, newspapers, parks and fraternal organizations. As the museum narrates, a controversial building plan and the introduction of a four-lane highway razed much of this community. The museum is open Mondays-Fridays, but will accommodate visitors on weekends. Call in advance, (800) 874-3722 ext. 5850.

Night out, 6:00 p.m.

After a short rest, stroll through Fort Scott’s historic downtown, the heart of this old community.

Fort Scott pavers still line the brick streets, and wayfinder signs guide newcomers to family-owned shops and restaurants. Stop off at Crooner’s Lounge for an evening of drinks and upscale food. Wintry weather is the excuse you need to dive into their soup specials. And after soup, comes the cake: leave room for a slice of chocolate decadence with Caribbean rum and butterscotch. Look for special, live performances, from jazz to ’80s tribute bands, at Liberty Theatre (just next to Crooner’s).

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fter the U.S. military established Fort Scott in 1842, soldiers stationed at this southeast Kansas outpost soon became involved in the Mexican-American War, the Plains Wars, the Missouri-Kansas border wars, the Civil War and fights over railway expansion. In 1873, events and expanding borders had effectively ended the fort’s strategic value and it shut down as a military site. But during those tumultuous three decades, a small community grew around the fort. The town persevered, expanded and helped spur the National Parks Service to recall Fort Scott to duty in 1978—this time as a historic site.

Today, both the town and the military outpost of Fort Scott remain an ideal place to visit. The combination of museums, shops and restaurants makes it a great place to explore during the winter when many other small-town attractions have closed their doors for the season.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

The Lyons Twin Mansions is a favorite place to stay for many visitors to Fort Scott.

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FRONTIER MILITARY HISTORIC BYWAY Fort Scott stands at the southern end of the Frontier Military Historic Byway, one of the state’s twelve highway routes that cross through areas of particular historic or scenic significance. Stretching 168 miles north to Fort Leavenworth, this route highlights locations related to Kansas history during the mid-1800s. For more information on this route and other byways across the state, go online at travelks.com/ksbyways.

SATURDAY Breakfast right, 9 a.m.

Nate’s Place—particularly if you are staying at the Lyons Twin Mansions which houses this café—serves delightful, fresh breakfasts. Look for their sausage burrito or, for vegetarians, one of the omelet options.

PSSST!

Here’s a local favorite …

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Pay respects, 10:30 a.m.

Take one of the trolleys across town to National Cemetery No. 1, one of the original twelve burial grounds declared as a National Cemetery by President Abraham Lincoln. The cemetery’s earliest graves include those relocated from the old fort’s cemetery as well as the remains of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Explore this cemetery on your own or join a guided tour to learn more.

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Downtown lunch, noon Feed your troops with a stop at one of the city’s downtown restaurants such as Nu-Grille or Sharky’s Pub and Grub for Americana cuisine and atmosphere.

Heroic afternoon, 1:30 p.m.

With everyone full and satisfied, take a stroll through downtown, stopping at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. In 1999, a group of Uniontown, Kansas, high school students discovered the story of Irene Sendler, a Polish resistance member who is believed to have rescued 2,500 Jewish children during World War II. The students struck up a correspondence with Sendler and wrote a play to celebrate her legacy. This project inspired philanthropist Lowell Milken and educator Norm Conard to create the center to encourage the discovery of other unsung heroes through student-driven projects.

The center’s gallery showcases some of the unsung heroes, such as Therese Frare, whose images of David Kirby humanized the AIDS epidemic, and Cher Ami, a carrier pigeon who successfully delivered a message that saved approximately 200 American soldiers during the Battle of the Argonne Forest in 1918.

Gunn Park is one of the region’s natural attractions.

Around town, 3:00 Take a short drive around town—particularly if the weather is mild—to visit some highlights of local nature such as Rock Creek Lake and the trails and playgrounds of Gunn Park.

Dinner and more, 5:00 p.m.

Visit La Hacienda for Mexican or stop in at Papa Don’s Pizza for Italian—both locations will accommodate a wide range of tastes for any group or couple. If you did not catch a show at Liberty Theatre the previous night, this could be your chance. Or, check in with the visitor’s center for other seasonal events such as community symphony and choir performances.

SUNDAY

The waterfall of Rock Creek Lake, shown in the photograph above, is a favorite spot among locals for picnics, fishing or simply scenic relaxation.

Spanning some 75-100 feet and shaped like a crescent moon, it is actually a series of three falls located on the northwest tip of the lake, just south of Fort Scott.

Perfect cup, 9 a.m.

Stop for your morning brew at Common Ground Coffee Co. Run by the Church of the Nazarene, the shop pours cups that would please any coffee connoisseur, with baked goods and sides as well.

Best for last, 9:30 a.m.

Perhaps the town’s biggest attraction is Fort Scott National Historic Site. Restored and reconstructed buildings take visitors back to the 1840s, and a new exhibit (see related story on page 23) shares the story of the fort and the people around it during the next three decades. Most of the fort’s buildings are accessible to the public. The fort’s Visitors Center (formerly the fort’s hospital) and Infantry Barracks house the main exhibits on the fort’s story. Some communities might have swept this and other tumultuous stories under the rug. The people of Fort Scott, however, made the conscious choice to examine their history and invite visitors to do the same. The result is an opportunity to explore how major events have played out and continue to affect a community at the crossroads of historical forces.

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FORT SCOTT MUSTS FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Old Fort Blvd.

Fort Scott, KS 66701 Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Free admission (620) 223-0310 nps.gov/fosc FORT SCOTT TOURISM CENTER 231 East Wall St. Fort Scott, KS 66701 (800) 245-3678 fortscott.com

Downtown Fort Scott, with restaurants and attractions, is a great base to explore the city.

A great marketing tool for your business.

TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT

Joanne Morgan

(785) 832-7264 / jmorgan@sunflowerpub.com

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kansas the landscape of

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Award-winning author Jai Nitz maps out the state from the perspective of comic book artists and illustrators

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By Jai Nitz

Kevin Nowlan illustrated the small, remote Kansas town of Queerwater Creek to host the adventures of Jack B. Quick. Image: Detail from Jack B. Quick Tomorrow Stories series, courtesy America’s Best Comics.

The hometown of Superman was featured for many decades in print, such as these DC Comics covers, but placed in Kansas since the 1986 Superman film.

Image courtesy DC Comics.

Nowlan, the artist of the Jack B. Quick series, lives and works in Sterling.

Image: Detail of Jack B. Quick Tomorrow Stories series.

Image courtesy Kevin Nowlan.

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SMALLVILLE This small, fictional town is possibly the most famous place in Kansas this side of Oz. Smallville is the spot where Kal-El of Krypton crash landed and was found by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent. While the Kent farm town was part of Superman’s origin since the beginning of the legend in 1938, Smallville didn’t get its name until 1949, and it wasn’t officially located in Kansas until John Byrne’s Superman reboot in 1986.

And since that episode, Smallville has become decidedly Wheat-State centric, showing up in 218 episodes of the eponymous television show from 2001–2011. Smallville has also appeared in the recent Warner Brothers Superman films Man of

“[Smallville] is possibly the most famous place in Kansas this side of Oz.” —JAI NITZ

STERLING The birthplace of Dillon’s grocery store chain is also home to Kevin Nowlan, universally regarded as the world’s greatest living inker (a comic-book term for the color-element artist who shapes the final images). But the highly respected jack-of-all-trades is also a world-class penciler who creates the initial drawings and a formidable letterist who places text.

He has been a multiple winner of both the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award and the prestigious Harvey Award for Best Inker. Along with Alan Moore of Watchmen fame, Nowlan is the co-creator of the critically lauded Jack B. Quick comic book hero.

QUEERWATER CREEK Alan Moore and Kevin Nowlan created this fictional town as the home to the Quick family, their farm and their boy-genius Jonathan Beauregard (or “Jack B.”) Quick. Because Queerwater Creek is the scene of most of Jack’s adventures, it has also witnessed the arrival of aliens, time travelers, fascist farm animals and the most dreaded of all antagonists—puberty.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The city of Hutchinson officially renamed itself (for a day) as Smallville to support a local comic book convention.

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hat would Kansas look like if we mapped it out not with highways, rivers or county borders, but by its contributions to the world of comic books?

“Rich,” is the answer that we got from Jai Nitz, an award-winning Kansas-based author who has written for industry leaders such as Marvel and DC Comics and whose over-the-top baddie, El Diablo, was included in the lineup of antiheroes for the summer movie hit Suicide Squad.

Here is Nitz’s comic-book-contributor tour of his home state.

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EMPORIA In the world of comic books, the birthplace of Veterans’ Day is filled with skyscrapers and witnessed one of the most remarkable of showdowns. This was in 1988, with the release of Amazing Spider-Man #302. Written

by David Michelinie and drawn by superstar artist Todd McFarlane, this story saw Peter Parker travel to Emporia for a job, only to cross paths with a construction worker who had transformed into an evil super-powered villain after being bitten by a jackrabbit. A radioactive jackrabbit. (I’m not making that up.)

LAWRENCE This is my hometown that I share with Eisner Award-winning artist Greg Smallwood. Known for his work on Dream Thief and Marvel’s Moon Knight, Smallwood worked in advertising before moving to Lawrence, focusing on his art and taking the comic-book world by storm. He pencils, inks, colors and letters his own work and also designs logos. Smallwood deservedly won the “best new artist” Russ Manning Award in 2015.

HOLCOMB Made infamous by the tragedy of the Clutter family murders and author Truman Capote’s subsequent non-fiction account, In Cold Blood, Holcomb was also portrayed in the acclaimed graphic-novel version, Capote in Kansas. Ande Parks and Chris Samnee (an Eisner Award winner) detailed Capote’s research of the killings and the clash of cultures between the stoic but wounded community and the eccentric New York author who wandered through town with his best friend, author Harper Lee. The original graphic novel has been recently remastered in hardcover format with additional material.

ARTWORK ON THIS PAGE COURTESY Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Ande Parks, Phil Hester, Guy Majors and Greg Smallwood

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

BALDWIN CITY Many Kansans know this pleasant, small college town as the home of the Maple Leaf Festival, but Baldwin City is also home to Ande Parks, the writer and artist who lent his talent to DC Comics’ bestselling run of Green Arrow (a series in which Parks worked with famed director Kevin Smith and longtime art partner Phil Hester). Baldwin City’s comic-book standout has also written several graphic novels with local landmarks, including Union Station in Kansas City and Holcomb.

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KANSAS! MAGAZINE

OLATHE (as well as Here, There and Anywhere) I was surprised a few years ago when my niece, Hayley Nitz, asked me what I knew about the death of Adolf Hitler. It turned out she knew a lot, having explored a big “what if” of history—what if Hitler had lived? Soon, Hayley had turned her interest into a comic-book script that we published through a Kickstarter campaign and with the help of professional artists such as Greg Smallwood, Jethro Morales, Marie Enger and Chris Crank.

Granted, Hayley had some connections—but more importantly, a golden idea. Her first book, Chasing Hitler, represents a new generation of talented young writers and artists who could be growing up in any town, on any farm, at any spot in Kansas.

TOPEKA The state capital was home to comic strip giant and Rueben Award winner Hal Foster, creator of Prince Valiant, one of the world’s most popular strips. The Hearst newspaper syndicate commissioned Foster for this strip in 1936 and premiered it the following year. The company’s royalty package is believed to have been the most money ever paid to a cartoonist at the time. To this day, the adventures of Prince Valiant continue, taken up by other artists after Foster retired from illustrating the series in 1971 and from writing the series in 1980. More recently, Topeka is home to Alex Grecian, author of the popular Proof and Rasputin series.

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ARTWORK ON THIS PAGE COURTESY Jai Nitz, Hayley Nitz, Marvel Comics and Fantagraphics Books, Inc.

KANSAS CITY The comic-book world has a bad habit of confusing Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. But, then again, so do many non-superheroes. One example of this confusion is a customized 1982 comic book commissioned by Jones Store. In this issue, Peter Parker visited K.C. to do some shopping at the Jones Store. Meanwhile, Kraven the Hunter has fought and trapped the Hulk in a nearby grain silo (not too many of those in KCMO). The Hulk escapes only by changing back into Bruce Banner and getting some assistance from Peter Parker, who provides Banner some new clothes that he purchased at the Jones Store.

Obviously, the book has plenty of product placement—but no credited writer.

I suspect Jim Shooter or another Marvel bullpen writer did the heavy lifting while Sal Buscema provided the interior art. In reality, Kansas City, Kansas, is the home of Will Eisner Hall of Fame artist Richard Corben, best known for his contributions to Heavy Metal magazine.

taste of Kansas

TASTE OF KANSAS

the greatest KANSAS! MAGAZINE

greasy-spoon stops

Give the veggies a rest. Grab a burger at these classic burger spots.

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Vista Drive In, Manhattan

By Lou Ann Thomas

Photography by Beautiful Isolations

OTHER BURGER JOINTS Find a burger location nearest to you, or plan a burger tour of Kansas with these destinations.

GRANDPA’S BURGER BOX 106 W. 2nd St. | Tonganoxie (913) 369-8994 Small place with big burgers.

Carry-out only. Burgers are cooked to order, so call ahead if you’re in a hurry.

FRITZ’S RAILROAD RESTAURANT (two Kansas locations) Original location: 250 N. 18th St. | Kansas City, KS (913) 281-2777 13803 W. 63rd St. | Shawnee (913) 375-1000 Order using the phone at your table and watch as your food is delivered to you on the overhead train.

DON’S RAINBOW DRIVE-IN 3448 US 40 | Oakley (785) 672-3965 Fifties-style drive-in with “ordermatic” speakers and old-fashioned hamburgers. The Pickle-O’s are a favorite and, like the curly fries and onion rings, are homemade.

You can buy them by the bagful, so don’t cut yourself short by not ordering enough. And you might just see someone famous while you’re waiting for your order. Billings says Billy Bob Thornton has stopped in, and Adam Sandler and Adam Levine are big fans.

VISTA DRIVE IN Another longtime favorite burger place is Vista Drive In located in Manhattan. Brad and Karen Streeter are second-generation owners, and their son, Andy, now serves as general manager.

“My grandson works here now, too, so we’re on our third and fourth generations,” Brad says.

Brad attributes Vista’s success to good, high quality meat. “We still make our burgers the same way we did in 1964 when we opened,” he says. “We squeeze the patty onto the grill, which puts a good crust on it and seals the meat. We flip it, but don’t smash it onto the grill so it stays juicy.”

Each quarter-pound burger is grilled when it’s ordered so it’s fresh and just the way you asked. You can also order doubles or triples, if you need to up your patty intake.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

THE COZY INN One of the oldest and best-known burger places in the state, The Cozy Inn has garnered national attention the last few years. It was listed as No. 69 on the Travel Channel’s “101 Tastiest Places to Chow Down” and No. 6 on “America’s Top 10 Hamburgers.”

The Salina location has remained the same since it opened in 1922 with its six porcelain bar stools and counter; however, a walk-up window and outdoor picnic tables have been added.

Cozy Inn burgers are cooked on the same cast iron grill used since opening, and each is made from 90 percent lean meat.

Raw onions are fried as topper, which has led to slider-sized burgers being referred to as “aromatic sliders.”

“They all come with fried onions,” says manager Brad Billings. “You can ask for mustard, ketchup and pickles, but that’s it.

Just don’t ask for a cheeseburger because there’s no cheese in the house.”

PRAIRIE NUT HUT 1306 Quincy St. | Altoona (620) 568-2900 Known for mountain oysters and great burgers. The Rohr Burger is a crowd favorite with grilled onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese.

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hen you have a hankering for a big, juicy hamburger, nothing else will hit the spot. That’s when it’s time to hit one of these spots for a burger fix.

J’S CARRYOUT 27 Commercial St. | Emporia (620) 342-5780 Small eat-in area, carryout and drive-through window. Free softserve ice cream while you wait, or, if eating in, after you finish your meal.

taste of Kansas

BURGER STATION Anyone who loves greasy-spoon burger joints knows you can’t judge a place by its size, and that could not be truer than with Burger Station in Winfield, which is so small it’s carry-out only.

Owner Jeff Crow describes his burgers as simple, nononsense burgers. The Burger Station’s hamburgers are cooked to order, with cheese or chili, in singles, doubles or triples.

“We make old-fashioned hamburgers served with mustard, pickles and fried onions, but since our burgers are cooked when you order them, you can ask for whatever you want on them,” Crow says.

The Burger Station grinds its meat and makes its patties in house daily, as well as several of the sides like the baked beans, potato salad and chili, which you can request on burgers or fries. During the winter, the Burger Station also sells chili by the bowl, both with beans or without.

“You won’t find anything just like us anywhere else,” Crow says.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

CLASSIC HAMBURGERS

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Recipe courtesy Jerry and Jane Wohletz (Wohletz Farm Fresh) INGREDIENTS • 2 pounds ground beef • ¼ teaspoon Liquid Smoke • One package Lipton Beefy Onion Soup and Dip Mix • Salt and pepper INSTRUCTIONS Combine all ingredients with clean hands and form into six patties. Put a dent in the top of each patty so it doesn’t puff during grilling. After grilling, top with your choice of cheese (the Wohletzes prefer plain old American slices) and assemble in a bun along with some home-grown romaine, sliced Texas Super Sweet onions, homemade pickles and a slice of still-warmfrom-the- garden Jet Star—the best burger tomato ever. “They have lower acid content and don’t fall apart when you slice ‘em,” says Jerry.

—archived recipe, Lawrence Magazine Summer 2009

JIFFY BURGER If you yearn for a simpler time of sock hops and rock ’n’ roll, check out Jiffy Burger in Smith Center. With its checkered black-and-white tile floor, hot pink-and-white booths with Formica tabletops and photographs of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis hanging on the walls, you might feel as though you’ve stepped back into the ’50s.

This place has a fun vibe that invites lingering over a juicy, made-to-order burger with a side of cheddar cheese balls, fondly described by customers as “deep-fried deliciousness.”

Jiffy Burger serves a variety of burgers, including a pizza burger, which is a breaded sausage patty topped with mozzarella cheese; and the taco burger, a hamburger patty with chili seasoning, lettuce, tomato, cheese and picante sauce. For dessert, try anything from Jiffy Burger’s full dairy bar, like an ice cream soda, malt or root beer float. Poodle skirts and saddle shoes are optional.

GOLDEN Q For a sit-down setting, head to the Golden Q in Hays where you can choose from 20 different varieties of one-thirdpound gourmet burgers. All are handmade with all-natural beef and feature homemade sauces, such as queso or chili.

“Our chili has been made from the same recipe for years, and we make it year round for chili cheese fries and burgers,” says Brady Herman, general manager.

You’ll find no shortage of cheese at this location. The Pickle-O-Burger is topped with spicy, breaded, deep-fried dill pickle slices, pepper jack cheese, onions and chipotle mayo.

The four-cheese double cheeseburger comes with two patties topped with American, Swiss, cheddar and pepper jack.

No matter where you roam, when you’re ready for a good burger, it’s good to know one is never far away.

WINTER 2016

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

taste of Kansas

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FEATURES The votes are tallied, and we can now reveal your selections for the top small towns of our state.

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Guiding Lights Luminary walks during the holiday season light up Kansas communities.

PHOTOGRAPH Kevin Anderson

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Kansas’ Finest The 2016 Class of Kansas’ promoters, lovers and supporters

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Favorite Small Towns of Kansas

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Students from Lecompton Elementary School celebrate their town’s selection into the Readers’ Choice listing of favorite small towns. Photography by Emily Steele.

Small towns are a big part of our state.

Fifteen towns emerged from the initial selection to compete in the final round of voting that led to this selection—presented in alphabetical order—of the five favorites: Atwood, Council Grove, Lecompton, Marysville and Norton.

Story by Toni Dixon

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We decided to recognize our affection for small-town living with a friendly competition.

Last January, our magazine encouraged readers to submit nominations for their favorite small towns in Kansas. More than 100 communities received votes through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website, our Facebook page, written ballots and phone calls. A clear majority of votes came from within the state, but relocated Kansans and Kansas-lovers in 15 states as farflung as Washington and Virginia also voiced their picks.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Two-thirds of the land in our state is considered a rural area.

And though Kansans, like their neighbors in other states, have been increasingly gravitating to urban centers over the past years, they retain roots, family ties and beloved memories associated with the smaller dots on a Kansas map.

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People in Atwood tell you to expect a friendly smile when you arrive to the county seat of Rawlins County along Beaver Creek in the High Plains of northwest Kansas.

“It’s a very supportive community,” says Sandy Mulligan of the Atwood Chamber of Commerce.“Everyone steps up to help.” Mulligan says she sees this in the town’s revived local-owned business community that gives new life to historic locations. Atwood’s old train depot has been converted to an antique shop. The renovated, historic Jayhawk Theatre shows newly released films. My Place is a café with old-fashioned, hometown style. The old Shirley Opera House has reopened as a restaurant and boutique known as Mulligan’s on Main.Visitors and locals enjoy Park Hill Restaurant and Mojo Espresso and Bistro.

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population 1,222

county Rawlins

first stop for visitors Lake Atwood

school mascot Buffaloes (Rawlins County)

mark your calendar Smokin’ on the Beaver (October)

popular with the locals Mojo Sticky Buns (pecan rolls)

Emily Green, with the Kansas state extension office in Atwood, suggests visitors should not miss the city’s namesake lake located in a park on the north side of the city. Green describes it as “one of our most beautiful spots, a nice, shady place for picnics, fishing, canoeing or walking on the sidewalk around the lake.”The park’s pavilion is a favorite spot among locals for reunions and games of horseshoes. During summer, though, residents often migrate to the south side of the city to enjoy the pool.

If you are planning a visit to Atwood, consider scheduling it around two of the town’s annual events.

Smokin’ on the Beaver is a tasty barbeque competition with categories for beans, salsa, beer and wine. The Atwood Early Rod Run car show draws 200–300 participants from surrounding states and includes drag races and live music by the lake. Add in Fourth of July celebrations, egg hunts, and the decorated floats of the Christmas Light Parade, and you have plenty of opportunities to see the this favorite small town of Kansas at its very best.

county Norton

school mascot Bluejays

first stop for visitors Prairie dog colony at Prairie Dog State Park

mark your calendar Portrait Hanging at the “They Also Ran” Gallery (January 2017)

popular with the locals Bierocks at Pfonz’s Grill

History buffs will want to stroll through the town’s historic downtown district, stop off at the Norton County Historical Society and the replica of Stagecoach Station 15 (a stopping point along the Western stagecoach line that brought travelers such as Billy the Kid and Horace Greeley through Norton). One of the most unusual historical tributes in the state is also located in Norton—the “They Also Ran” Gallery, a portrait collection of loveable (and some not-so-loveable) losers in the U.S. presidential elections from Aaron Burr to Mitt Romney. The gallery, originally opened in 1965 and inspired by Irving Stone’s biography of presidential candidates, They Also Ran, is located in the upstairs area of the First State Bank of Norton, whose bookkeeper, Lee Ann Shearer, serves as curator and tour guide. Shearer has her favorites in the collection, such as John C. Fremont, who traveled near Norton and named the rivers in the region, and William Jennings Bryan, the populist from neighboring Nebraska, and enjoys discussing with visitors the choices for who is—and is not—included in the gallery of 60 portraits. Soon, Shearer will prepare a biography and portrait for the next addition to the gallery. On January 20, at 10:30 a.m. local time (one-half hour before the presidential inauguration ceremony in Washington D.C.), Shearer will read out the biography of the new honored “Also-Ran” and hang his or her portrait in a place of honor.

Guests are invited to attend the event, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with refreshments and a showing of the live broadcast from the presidential inauguration ceremony.

Other events in Norton include the Tri-State Toy and Collectibles Show, the Car Show, the Highway 36 Treasure Hunt, and the Halloween Festival.

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population 2,880

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Known as the Pheasant Capital, Norton is the county seat and sits in ideal hunting land of northwest Kansas, 11 miles from the Nebraska border. But it’s another animal—the prairie dog—that attracts visitors throughout the year. A colony of the critters resides at the Prairie Dog State Park, which offers camping spots and cabins overlooking the Keith Sebelius Reservoir.

The downtown features several locally owned shops and restaurants in a picturesque setting with plantings and flowerbeds.

The city also has a new aquatic center, a renovated theater run by volunteers and a local carnival.

“I love to take visitors on a tour of our community,”says Darla Beasley of the town’s chamber of commerce. She recommends stopping by Destination Kitchen, a cooking store and restaurant that serves brick-oven pizzas; Rustic Rebel, a trendy Western wear retailer; and Pfonz’s Grill for the daily special.

Lecompton was established in 1855 as the capital of the Kansas Territory prior to its entry into the Union. As the seat of government, the town witnessed skirmishes, both with guns and legislation, that was part of Bleeding Kansas.

“What happened in this town, the writing of the Lecompton Constitution, would change the country, lead to Civil War and, eventually, to the end of slavery,” explains Tim Rues, the administrator of Lecompton’s Constitution Hall Museum.“It’s a small town with a big history.”

At the heart of this history are the Territorial Capital Museum, Constitution Hall Museum and the Territorial Democratic Headquarters.

Rues describes these sites—all open to visitors—as standing at “the epicenter of the Civil War seven years before it would ignite at Fort Sumter.”

Originally named Bald Eagle, the town does indeed host ideal nesting sites for the national bird.

population 640

county Douglas

mark your calendar Territorial Days (June)

school mascot The Kaws (PerryLecompton)

first stop for visitors Constitution Hall Museum

popular with the locals Gourmet cupcakes at Aunt Netter’s Cafe

“It’s a beautiful little town on a bluff overlooking the Kansas River,” says Lynn Ward, Territorial Capital Museum curator.

Ward suggests that visitors should mix their history tours with a stop at Kroeger’s Country Meats or Aunt Netter’s Café, both locally owned shops that take pride in personal service.

“We embrace the history, but it’s also about the people and a community that works together,” says Lecompton mayor Sandy Jacquot.

The town’s citizens have converted the old high school to a thriving community center and have created a youth center as well. With a strong sense of community, Lecompton offers chili feeds, 5K runs, a citywide rummage sale, Territorial Days, Bald Eagle Rendezvous, Bleeding Kansas lectures and reenactments of the historical events that took place around the town.

Visitors are welcome at any of the events, and newcomers are welcomed into the community with open arms.

“When I moved here I wasn’t a newcomer for long,” says Cyndi Treaster, who is now involved with many of the annual celebrations as president of the civic group Lecompton Pride.

county Morris

first stop for visitors Hays House

school mascot The Braves

popular with the locals Fried chicken at the Hays House

mark your calendar Voices of the Wind People Pageant (September 2018)

“In addition to history, we have a unique downtown, two beautiful lakes, a river walk, and the start of the Flint Hills Nature Trail, covering 127 miles to Osawatomie,”Wolfe says.

Those planning a visit to Council Grove might want to consider scheduling it around the annual Washunga Days festival and the biennial Voices of the Wind People Pageant, a re-enactment of interactions and clashes between the Kanza nation and the first EuroAmerican settlers.

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population 2,105

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“Council Grove is full of history,” says Council Grove is the Diane Wolfe of the Council Grove/Morris perfect spot to start off County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. on a day’s exploration And that’s not a boast. With 25 separate on the Flint Hills historic sites, most of them on the National Scenic Byway, an Register of Historic Places, Council Grove— approximately 50-mile one of the state’s last stops heading southwest stretch of highway on the Santa Fe Trail—is rich with historic running south through preservation.“If you drive up Main Street, the Tallgrass Prairie you’re on the Old Santa Fe Trail. The entire National Preserve, past downtown is a historic district.”

Cottonwood Falls and Wolfe advises one of those historic ending in Cassoday. sites—the Hays House—as the first stop The route highlights for visitors. Built in 1857 by a grandson of some of the area’s most Daniel Boone, it stakes its claim as the oldest beautiful Flint Hills continuously operating restaurant west of vistas, including the the Mississippi. breathtaking Scenic There are more, good dining options Byway Overlook. For available, with local color that makes more information, go Council Grove a favorite. The Trail Days Café online at travelks.com/ and Museum literally brings history to your ksbyways/flint-hills. plate, with Native-American, Old World and Early American food served in the historic Rawlinson/Terwilliger Home. Tourists and locals mingle at the Saddlerock Café.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

When visitors come to Marysville, Brenda Staggenborg of the town’s chamber of commerce knows just where to take them—the Life Tiles Murals.

“They come to life,” says Staggenborg of the mural.“If you move fast, they move fast. If you go slow, they go slow.”

Each of the three murals contains 90 glass tiles with embedded images from Marysville’s history. As a viewer walks past the mural, these images change, reflecting the changes in Marysville’s history. Marysville, which began as a ferry stop across the Big Blue River at the border of Kansas and Nebraska, grew up quickly as a vital crossroads.

The legacy of the Pony Express is still very much alive in Marysville, where a Pony Express barn stands and the state’s oldest continuously run civilian post office continues to deliver the mail.

Another town legacy has a more murky origin, but a delightful result—a unique population of squirrels with coal-black fur. Local lore is that the squirrels jumped the train of a traveling carnival in the 1920s and have been making their nests in the trees of Marysville’s parks and homes ever since.The community has proudly embraced its runaway rodents, calling itself “Black Squirrel City” in their honor and preparing to erect 21 squirrel statues throughout the town in late 2016.

Other new features in Marysville include a zero-entry, heated swimming pool with slides and the 11.5-mile Blue River Rail Trail that runs through the state border and connects to the Chief Standing Bear Trail in Nebraska.

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population 3,295

county Marshall

first stop for visitors The Life Tiles Murals

school mascot Bulldogs (since at least 1938, though there’s always a push for “The Squirrels”)

mark your calendar Big Blue River Days (June)

popular with the locals Homemade cheesecake at Toledo’s

If riding or walking the trail gives visitors an appetite, they can stop at The Wagon Wheel, Las Cabanas, El Ranchero, Penny’s Diner or New China Buffet.Toledo’s Coffee and Deli attracts the morning crowd, and Landoll Lanes bowling serves up food and sport.

Visitors are encouraged to stop in at Marysville during the city’s annual celebrations: a car show, the Big Blue BBQ, the Mother’s Day Market, the Pony Express 120 Gravel Dash and the Big Blue River Days, a three-day celebration incorporating all of the best barbeque, car shows, quilt displays, tractor show and more. But visiting Marysville is always a pleasant experience.Any time of year, the squirrels, trails and murals are waiting for you.

KANSAS!

The one-mile drive takes you through Pratt’s oldest and most scenic park, illuminated by thousands of lights and animated displays.

Lemon Park Lights has expanded into its neighboring park, Sixth Street Park, with animated displays depicting the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Lemon Park Lights will be lit from dusk to 11pm nightly from the 1st Saturday before Thanksgiving through January 1st.

KANSAS VOICES WRITING CONTEST

Like to write?

Enter the Kansas Voices Contest by sending in your short story or poetry to Winfield Arts & Humanities.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY Bill Stephens, Robbyn Hodgs, Emily Green, Matt Wolters, Harold Gaston, Bob Collins, Mindy Andres, Lee Ann Shearer, Darla Beasley, Brenda Staggenborg, Diane Wolfe, Deidre Knight, Lynn Ward, Tim Rues, Paul Bahnmaier, Charlene Winter and Pitts Photography.

For more information, visit

www.winfieldarts.org or call 620-221-2161

Kansas

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Last year, our readers selected the best things to do in Kansas. Next year’s opportunity to cast a ballot promises to be something related to food. (Yum!) This year’s small town competition garnered much attention across the state with thousands of votes cast. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Underwritten by Winfield Convention and Tourism

43 WINTER 2016

The Readers’ Choice selection has been an important part of our magazine.

Deadline for entries March 10, 2017 Reception with performances held on May 6, 2017 Entry fee is $4.00 per story or poem. $1,000 in prizes being awarded

Soundscapes 4th annual Music Composition Competition for Kansas Residents

by Winfield Arts & Humanities Council

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Reception with performances held on April 22, 2017

At Baden Square in Winfield, KS Cash prizes given to winners of Formal and Song-writing categories.

620 221-2161 | winfieldarts@gmail.com | www.winfieldarts.org

The LMC works with students and teachers around the world to develop projects on Unsung Heroes in history.

Come see their awardwinning exhibits on display!

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 10-5 Sat 10-4 1 S Main St Fort Scott, KS 66701 | 620-223-1312 | www.lowellmilkencenter.org

KANSAS! MAGAZINE WINTER 2016

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L I G H T

luminary walks during the holiday season light up kansas communities. story by Amy Bickel

photography by Kristen Garlow Piper

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Hutchinson resident Rachelle Bryan will begin helping illuminate her neighborhood—one candle at a time.

Soon, block-by-block, the warm glow of more than 13,000 luminaries will outline the entire Hyde Park community, beckoning bundled-up visitors to partake in the longtime holiday tradition in the century-old district. Each year on the weekend before Christmas, residents in nearly every house in this borough unite to place sand-filled bags of candles along walkways, streets and drives in the heart of the city. The result is likely the state’s largest luminary display.

For Bryan, who has lived in Hutchinson her whole life but moved into the Hyde Park neighborhood just a few years ago, the tradition is new, but she has fully embraced the spirit of the season. Like most in the neighborhood, she decorates her home, makes seasonal treats like cheeseballs, cookies and hot chocolate, then invites her friends and family for a festive evening. Relatives have even played Santa, greeting families who pass by her home on 23rd Avenue.

“It’s great to see the innocence in a rough world anymore,” she says.

“It’s great to have everyone enjoying themselves and remembering what the season is about—spending time with family and friends and having fun together.”

Of course, decorating homes, trees and bushes with twinkle lights is a decades-old American pasttime. Residents in Hyde Park, though,

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Hyde Park neighborhood in Hutchinson

PHOTOGRAPH Kevin Anderson

Holiday luminary walk at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

DYCK ARBORETUM OF THE PLAINS’ WINTER LUMINARY WALK November 25–26 December 2–3 Where: 177 West Hickory, Hesston Cost: $5 for adults, $4 for members, seniors and college students and $2 for children 3 to 15.

Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Dyckarboretum.org

OVERLAND PARK ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS’ HOLIDAY LUMINARY WALK November 25–26 December 2–3 December 9–10

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Where: 8909 W. 179th Street Overland Park

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Cost: $8 Arboretum members (online); $9 nonmembers (online); $10 at the door.

Children 5 and younger are free.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. opabg.org

HUTCHINSON’S HYDE PARK LUMINARIES December 23 Where: From 18th to 23rd avenues and Main to Monroe streets Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Cost: Free

along with arboretums in Hesston and Overland Park, embrace a Christmas custom that dates back to 17th-century Spain, where, according to one version of the tale, residents burned bonfires along roadways and church yards—symbolically lighting the way for the Christ child.

Except, in these Kansas communities, they are lighting a trail for families ushering children and couples holding hands, along with groups of friends and carolers who come to enjoy the nighttime scene.

A NEIGHBORHOOD WALK In Hutchinson, the tradition started in 1983 when Bruce Klosterhoff, who lived on 20th Avenue at the time, got the idea after viewing luminaries in Santa Fe, New Mexico, says Tom Dooley, who was Klosterhoff’s neighbor. The display started as candles glowing around one square block. The next year, residents along another block wanted to join in, and the area lighted grew every year.

Klosterhoff eventually moved, but he jokingly told his homebuyer, Jim Sunderland, that if he bought the house, he’d have to take over the luminaria. Sutherland did until he moved a few years ago.

Gail Barnes and her husband, Chris, have lived in the neighborhood 12 years. Gail and Autumn Westfall organize the luminary walk, which is in its 33rd year. The tradition, Barnes says, includes more than 200 homes illuminated by more than 13,000 luminaries.

Residents pay $25 each year to help cover the cost of supplies as well as food, drink and the hayrack rides.

By 6 p.m., most of the quaint neighborhood is candlelit. The horses and hayrack are ready for riders and the Boy Scouts are preparing to serve gingersnaps and hot drinks in the park.

Megan Gottschalk-Hammersmith and her husband, Tom Hammersmith, were excited to take part in the annual rite when they first bought their home across from the park a decade ago. Now their children—Owen, 6; and Eli, 2—are helping fill and set out the luminaries. Their daughter, Anna, not yet one year old, will experience the tradition for the first time this year.

“Our 6-year-old just loves the luminaries,” Gottschalk-Hammersmith says. “He loves to help put the candles out. It’s tradition.”

It’s also magical, she adds.

“When you go out to light the candles around 6 p.m., there is a quietness. There is an excitement in the air. Then there is caroling by a high school group or another organization, and it just sets the mood.”

PRAIRIE TRADITIONS Instead of turkey dinner together on Thanksgiving, Hesston residents Vonnie and Gerhard Fast and their children—son Aron and daughter Beth, along with their families—celebrate the holiday on Friday—with everyone gathering for an array of hot

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WINTER 2016

soups. Before they sit down for dinner, they don their coats, hats and mittens and trek the half-mile from their home to Dyck Arboretum of the Plains where nearly 900 luminaries warm the stark prairie.

“They are powerful memories for our grandchildren,” says Vonnie, whose grandchildren range from 8 months to age 12. “It’s the beautiful light, it’s the s’mores and the smell of the firewood burning...that make it special.”

They also look forward to seeing how the arboretum staff changes up the scene every year. One year, they listened to readings at different stations of Willa Cather’s My Antonia.

Past themes have included Laura Ingalls Wilder and The Nutcracker. Sometimes there are live animals, and there are always groups singing carols along the path.

Scott Vogt, Dyck Arboretum’s executive director, says the walk started in 2001 as a fundraiser, as well as a way to give visitors a view of the winter prairie. The paths are lit by strings of white lights and the candles, which are placed in mason jars. Families can roast marshmallows for s’mores over a bonfire as part of the experience.

This year’s Luminary Walk will honor the arboretum’s 35th anniversary, Vogt says.

“It’s just a unique event, and one of the things I love about it is just seeing the prairie in a winter setting,” Vogt says.

“It is a nice way to highlight the prairie as it sleeps.”

Meanwhile, for 17 years, the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens has transformed into a winter wonderland of candles and lights. The mile jaunt goes through the arboretum’s gardens and woods, and features live entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides, hot cider around a campfire and a mystical village, says Katharine Garrison, the special events and education coordinator with the arboretum.

Children can also give Santa their wish lists at Santa’s Woodland Depot at the Train Garden.

It takes volunteers about two hours to light the candles, but it is worth it, says Garrison, noting the event has grown very popular. They have added a third weekend, and altogether the luminaries draw 13,000 to 15,000 people each year.

“It’s just really peaceful,” she says. “The woodland areas at night with the candlelight are pretty magical.”

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KANSAS! MAGAZINE

The 2016 Class of Kansas’ promoters, lovers and suppor ters

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As Kansans, we know our homeland is far from nondescript. It’s diverse, vibrant and rich with history. The individuals in the 2016 class of Kansas’ Finest are going above and beyond to share the golden glory with the world, and for that reason, they belong to this exclusive group of valued advocates for state tourism.

BY MEGAN SAUNDERS

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

CHERYL

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Cheryl Unruh is the first to admit that she was a “town kid”—although perhaps a stretch in cozy Pawnee Rock—but has always been a country girl at heart.

“My brother and I spent many weekends on Grandma’s nearby farm,” Unruh says. “We walked the pastures, explored the barn, studied the clouds and counted stars. All that time at Grandma’s grounded me and gave me a strong sense of belonging.”

Today, Unruh turns her appreciation for land and sky into graceful essays, memoirs and poetry. She is the author of Flyover People: Life on the Ground in a Rectangular State (2011), and Waiting on the Sky, both recognized as Kansas Notable Books. These works are in addition to numerous poems, many of which can be found on her website, cherylunruh.com.

“A sense of place has been a steady centerpiece of my work,” Unruh says.

“Many of the essays in my books are actually love letters to Kansas. I write about images and scenes that most Kansans know by heart.”

Unruh is infatuated with Kansas’ countless landmarks, both for their historical and cultural value, but it may come as no surprise that Pawnee Rock State Park is among her favorites. “The Rock,” as it’s called, is an outcropping of Dakota sandstone surrounded by farmland. A spiral staircase leads to a viewing platform that features a 360-degree view of the Kansas landscape.

“As a kid, I would go to The Rock with my friends to go sledding, chase lizards or watch sunsets,” Unruh says.

“That view—it’s home to me.”

FAVORITE KANSAS ATTRACTION: Pawnee Rock State Park

FAVORITE KANSAS ATTRACTION: Fort Larned, Fort Riley and all military posts

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When Dr. Brewster Higley built a cabin in Smith County in 1872, he couldn’t have fathomed how “Home on the Range,” the poem he penned in that location, would influence not only the state but also the world. El Dean Holtus is making sure Higley’s legacy lives on far beyond where the deer and antelope play.

In 1947, “Home on the Range” became the state song, and the owners of the cabin, Ellen and Pete Rust, resisted high-dollar offers to own a piece of history. Today, the cabin and surrounding 240 acres are managed by their nephew Holtus, along with other family members. Holtus has lived six miles southeast of the cabin all of his life, in the home his father built in 1914.

“It may sound corny, but there’s no place like Kansas,” Holtus says. “You can’t beat being out in the country like we are. The range is unbelievably quiet.

It’s not a static site; it’s dynamic.”

Holtus and his family supervise and monitor the cabin and its history for year-round, daily visitors.

He has welcomed visitors from all over the world and all ages, including many school field trips.

One of Holtus’ favorite daily rituals is checking footage on the cabin’s security camera, but not for standard surveillance reasons.

“I see people visit the cabin throughout the day, and they walk in like it’s a cathedral,” Holtus says.

“They stand in the center of the cabin silently and look around. When I see the admiration and respect for history they have, that’s a great reward.”

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

EL DEAN

HANNAH

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

KANSAS’ FINEST JUNIOR

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Hannah Heatherman has a long list of reasons she enjoys Bike Across Kansas, the annual cross-state cycling tour: the beautiful Kansas scenery, historical stops, and, of course, plenty of pie. However, her favorite BAK memories revolve around people.

“Throughout the course of eight days, 900 people from completely different backgrounds come together to form the best community you can imagine,” Heatherman says.

“There are always hiccups and some adversity, but we always end the ride closer than we started.”

Heatherman, a freshman at Kansas State University, rode in her first BAK tour in 2013 with her father. She had never biked more than 12 miles in a day, but when her father promised her a new bike, Heatherman accepted the challenge. Now, several years later, she not only has ridden across Kansas in the annual event four times, but is also on the BAK committee.

“I wholeheartedly believe that BAK positively impacts our riders and the communities we travel through,” Heatherman says. “It’s a week of healing and learning about yourself, surrounded by great people.”

In the 2014 BAK tour, Heatherman and her fellow riders experienced firsthand the generosity of Kansans while encountering a frightening storm in western Kansas. She remembers a group of strangers who sheltered her and helped her survive the difficult ride. While the storm wasn’t enjoyable, Heatherman says the experience showcased the BAK community’s dedication to one another.

“Some people think it’s crazy to spend a vacation biking across Kansas, but witnessing the hospitality, kindness and beauty of the people and places in our state, all from a bicycle seat, offers a soul vacation you can’t find anywhere else,” she says.

FAVORITE KANSAS ATTRACTION: Flint Hills

FAVORITE KANSAS ATTRACTION: Arikaree Breaks in Cheyenne County

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

TOBE

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The simplest way to describe 100-year-old Tobe Zweygardt might be “artist,” but that’s not giving him enough credit. Other descriptors include welder, metal artist, tour guide, historian, and perhaps, architect. To Delphine Zweygardt and her siblings, however, Tobe is also a father.

Today, Tobe lives in a nursing home in St. Francis, his lifelong community. His daughter, Delphine, says her father looked for any opportunity to serve the state and community he loved, particularly at the Arikaree Breaks, an expanse of deep ravines and gullies surrounded by native grassland.

“He was so involved for so many years,” Delphine says. “He loved the Breaks and gave tours to people from all over the world. Travelers would seek him out for his expertise.”

What Tobe may be most known for, however, are his windmills, metal art created from barbed wire. Through the years, he crafted hundreds of windmills, many of which are displayed in St. Francis’ Cheyenne County Museum—which he also helped build.

“I’m full of pride about Dad, and the community is too,” Delphine says.

“He’s been such an inspiration in all he does and is committed to the area’s history. He was born on a farm outside of St. Francis, and the community treasures him.”

The list of Tobe’s accomplishments goes on: he tore down an old depot and built a barn with the wood; he was a respected welder, often getting inspired at 3 a.m. to start working; he built the grandstand for the Cheyenne County fair; and, notably, he built a life-size teepee at the infamous Cherry Creek Encampment to honor the Native Americans who survived an 1864 massacre.

“He did all this with only a gradeschool education,” Delphine says. “Dad is part of the community’s heritage.”

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

CHARLIE

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Charlie Meade was born to be a marshal in a very literal sense. More than 80 years ago, the driver of the ambulance delivered him, and he happened to be a U.S. marshal.

“I figured since I was brought into this world by a marshal, I ought to be one,” Meade says.

In 1965, he became a Dodge City marshal, which the town used in place of police. Instead of police uniforms, the marshals wore black pants, white shirts, ties, hats and cowboy boots.

“That’s still how I dress today,” Meade adds.

Meade has since retired from law enforcement and was named a special deputy marshal by the U.S. Marshals Service. Rather than kick back on the historical property he calls home—his backyard served as a piece of the infamous Dodge City cattle drives—Meade found another way to be part of history.

In 2005, he helped establish the Trail of Fame, a walking tour that follows a set of medallions set in the town’s Front Street sidewalk. The medallions honor historic cowboy landmarks, actors from the TV show Gunsmoke, famous characters such as Wyatt Earp and others.

“So many places in the world have lost their history, but it’s our future,” Meade says.

True West magazine named the guided tours one of the nation’s best interpreted walking tours. Meade speaks about historical events and people as though they are his own memories. And why not? He lives it every day.

“My favorite historical location is about 75 yards from my home,” Meade says, of a canyon that was once full of longhorn cattle waiting to be shipped by train to Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City. He sat many times on the ridge of this canyon and watched the longhorns below. “I’m so fortunate to be a part of this history and to have met so many wonderful characters in my life.”

FAVORITE KANSAS ATTRACTION: His own backyard

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To be nominated as one of our Kansas’ Finest is a KANSAS! magazine honor.

Through a committee of tourism counterparts, we select a small group of impressive state advocates to include in each year’s winter edition.

If you’ve been welcomed to this elite class of Kansas’ Finest, your work has inspired Kansans and we wanted to recognize you for all that you do. We’ll be on the hunt throughout 2017 for the newest members of the Finest crew.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

KANSAS’

KANSAS!

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Working antique oil equipment and artifacts

There is plenty to see and do in Kansas.

Be sure to call ahead for complete details.

Kansas Oil MuseuM 383 E. Central, El Dorado, KS

eldoks.com

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DOUGLAS COUNTY | Jeff McPheeters

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HODGEMAN COUNTY | Eugene Thieszen

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SCOTT COUNTY | Alan Hutchins

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DOUGLAS COUNTY | Leilani Tuttle

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SEDGWICK COUNTY | William Johnson

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milestone DEBORAH IRENE BRYANT

Fifty years ago, Kansas was celebrating a historic first whose value remains a topic of debate. Sure, the state had already sent a native son to the White House (Dwight Eisenhower, 1953), but it had never captured the crown of Miss America.

Not, at least, until 19-yearold Deborah Irene Bryant from Overland Park dominated the national contest’s swimsuit category and held her own in a dramatic interpretation of “The Miserable Miserliness of Midas Moneybags” to win the title of Miss America 1966.

Bryant would go on to make numerous official appearances across the United States and in Kansas, such as a meeting with Governor William Henry Avery, his wife and a bevy of military escorts shown in this photo taken at the official residence of Cedar Crest. Kansas’ first crown victory was followed by additional Sunflower State wins of the 1968 and the 1997 crowns.

Scott Bean Photography K A N S A S L A N D S C A P E A N D N AT U R E P H O T O G R A P H S

785-341-1047 | SCOTT@SCOTTBEANPHOTO.COM

www.scottbeanphoto.com

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Kansas State Historical Society

Miss America, 1966