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Families find healing after postpartum depression By Karrey Britt kbritt@ljworld.com
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories on postpartum mood disorders.
Rob Roberts/Photos Special to the Journal-World
TOM STEELE, BASEHOR, says he’d rather spend his time on his Harley or with grandkids than frittering it away on the Internet.
Digital divide: Not everyone views Internet, smartphones as advances By Rob Roberts rroberts@theworldco.info
ANDRA GONZALEZ, OF SHAWNEE, right, sews while chatting with neighbor Cena Burge. Gonzalez prefers communicating the old-fashioned way — by letters, landline or face to face.
In 1812, a group of English textile workers known as Luddites destroyed new labor-saving equipment that threatened their livelihoods. Two hundred years later, the term “Luddite” survives, with a broader definition as a person opposed to technological changes — such as the Internet. According to internetworldstats.com, only 21 percent of the North American population does not use the Internet — meaning no email or Facebook, no Skyping or Web surfing. Statistics for northeast Kansas were not available. But a search using old-fashioned means identified a few resi-
dents of the region doing without modern communication advances for reasons ranging from financial to philosophical. Tom Steele, 67, of Basehor said he steers clear of the Internet because of concerns over privacy and his own temperament. “I go to the library once in a while and fiddle on their computer,” the retired grocery hauler said. “If I get mad there, I won’t tear it up. But if I had a laptop at home, I’d probably throw it.” During one brief period after an employer stopped mailing pay stubs, Steele recalled, he began using a computer at work to access payroll data. Please see TECH, page 4A
Two years ago, Karen Meats thought she would be celebrating the joys of being a grandparent after her daughter, Sara Vancil, had a baby girl, but it ended up being what she described as a nightmare. “It was probably the most terrifying thing that I have ever witnessed,” she said. “It was like I lost my daughter.” Lawrence resident Vancil, 32, a financial aid administrator at Kansas University, suffered from severe postpartum depression after the birth of her first child, Tessa. She believes there were a number of things that contributed to the mental illness, and it started with a rare birthing experience where Tessa was born in just two hours. When Vancil went home, she was unable to eat and retain the food, and she couldn’t sleep. Then, she had issues with breast-feeding. “I’m a very Type A person, definitely on top of things and in control,” she said. Suddenly, she felt out of control. “I started developing anxious thoughts like, ‘I can’t do this,’ ‘I want my life back,’ Please see DEPRESSION, page 7A
Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
SARA VANCIL LAUGHS WITH HER HUSBAND, BRIAN, as the two sing with their 2-year-old daughter, Tessa, during a children’s sing-along class at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center on June 5. Immediately after Tessa was born, Sara experienced a severe case of postpartum depression for about three months. She was hospitalized three times before she began to feel like herself again.
Salvation Army leaders called to new position ————
Capts. Wes and Susan Dalberg leaving Lawrence for similar post in Illinois next week By Andy Hyland ahyland@ljworld.com
Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
WES AND SUSAN DALBERG will be leaving their posts and relocating to Decatur, Ill., after seven years in Lawrence.
Wes and Susan Dalberg said there’s a lot about leading the Salvation Army in Lawrence that they’ll miss. The holidays are one, for sure, Susan said, with the toy shop program and turkey distribution. Wes said he’ll miss the people and being connected to Kansas University. The couple have led Lawrence’s Salvation Army since 2005, and will
began their careers as officers in the Salvation Army before stepping away from the profession for 22 years. They came back, though. “It’s a lot more fulfilling doing what God called you to do,” Susan said. “There are days that you ask, ‘Why did I do this?’ But not many.” A reception for the Dalbergs is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Salvation Army, 946 N.H. A farewell service for them
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be leaving to take on a similar position in Decatur, Ill. “Even when I go to Decatur, my full room of KU stuff will still be a full room of KU stuff,” Wes said. “None of that Illini stuff.” The couple met while attending a training session for Salvation Army officers. “Thirty-three years later, here we are,” Susan said. “And we still like each other.” She said the couple
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is set for 10:45 a.m. June 24 at the Salvation Army. The new corps officers, Matthew and Marisa McCluer, are scheduled to begin in their new positions June 26. Susan Schneweis, chairwoman of the Salvation Army’s local advisory board, said the Dalbergs have been excellent corps officers. “We’re very, very sorry to see them leave,” she said. She said the Dalbergs were good at keeping
lines of communication open with the Lawrence community and working with a diverse group of people. “The new people have some pretty darned big shoes to fill as far as keeping up with all of that,” Schneweis said. Wes recalled how the decision to close down the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter wasn’t an easy choice. The decision let the Lawrence Please see SALVATION, page 2A
Lecompton to celebrate history
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Vol.154/No.170 36 pages
Territorial Days commemorates an event from the Bleeding Kansas era. Outside of a battle re-enactment, though, the emphasis will be on family-friendly fun. Read what all the even has to offer on page 3A.
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