Whaddaya Know: What area high school produced both Noble Prize and Heisman Trophy winners? (Answer on page 8)
Vol 40 • No. 5
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Blazing a trail
African American history mapped across Kansas
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By Amy Geiszler-Jones From stops on the Underground Railroad to the headquarters of abolitionist John Brown, a new history trail in Kansas spotlights sites that shaped history in Kansas and the nation. The Kansas African American History Trail launched earlier this year at its Wichita site: The Kansas African American Museum (TKAAM), housed in the former Calvary Baptist Church at 601 N. Water. Once part of a thriving black neighborhood, the 1917 building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail – which organizes eight already established historical sites – is the result of a $135,000 grant from Photos courtesy of The Kansas African American Museum the Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded to TKAAM in 2016. coordinator for the trail and president a repository for a collection of photographer Gordon Parks’ works, The sites are not only educational of TKAAM’s board. Ayres, who led TKAAM’s effort in becoming but inspiring, said Ted Ayres, project See History Trial, page 22
April 2019
Back to work: Seniors train for new jobs
By Joe Stumpe Larry Crosswhite got used to a certain kind of reception as he tried to re-enter the workforce. “Most people, when I would appear for a position, I think they took a look at me and decided they didn’t want me because of my age,” the 67-year-old Wichitan said. Thanks to the Senior Community Service Employment program operated by the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, Crosswhite is working again. It’s a part-time job for a nonprofit organization, so Crosswhite isn’t exactly getting rich. But it provides income and he’s picked up employable skills and experience he didn’t possess before. The federally-funded program is designed to do just that for people 55 and older. Participants are paid the See Senior Jobs , page 7
She leads ‘Wild Women of the Wilderness’
By Joe Stumpe NEWTON – When Marlis Nickel was growing up, schools didn’t offer much in the way of sports for girls. So she’d jog to school carrying her trombone and books. Fast forward about seven decades and Nickel hasn’t slowed down much. At least four mornings a week, she and friend Sue Olsen can be found at the YMCA here. They work out in classes called Muscle Pump, Body Design, Turbo Kick and Fierce. “We realized we were the oldest people in the class and quickly named ourselves ‘The Fierce Old Ladies,’ Nickel, 79, said. The classes help Nickel get ready for another group activity – mountain hiking. As a charter member of the “Wild Women of the Wilderness,”
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Marlis Nickel and friends tackle southern Colorado mountains every summer. made up of friends and family, Nickel Nickel had always considered goes on weeklong hikes through the herself fairly active but stepped it up Colorado Rockies each summer, carry- after one her oldest daughter, Marcia, ing everything she needs on her back. See Wilderness , page 6 “My trail name is ‘Blaze,’ she said.
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging or call your county Department on Aging: 1-855-200-2372
Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800- 279-3655 Harvey County: (316) 284-6880 or 1-800-279-3655