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Vol 44 No. 1
December 2022
Homeless vet village on hold
Weighty goals
Senior powerlifters chase records, competition and fitness
By Amy Geiszler-Jones When Brian Byers’ wife of 29 years died suddenly in April 2014, he turned to a familiar activity — coaching football — to help work through his grief. But it wasn’t enough. “I was at a point where I realized I wasn’t in good shape, so I started losing weight and lifting,” said Byers, who coached football as well as track and field at Wichita East High School from 2006 to 2016. “I taught weights and coached, but I hadn’t lifted since my late 20s.” He discovered that the more he lifted, the more his health statistics — his blood pressure numbers and cholesterol levels, for example — improved. His new fitness routine also helped keep away the depression “and dealing with all those things,” he said. Not long after he started lifting, Byers’ competitive nature kicked in, and at age 61, he started entering powerlifting meets. The soon-to-be 67-year-old has been racking up
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Inside: Win tickets to Jim Brickman Christmas Show
Photo by Amy Geiszler-Jones
Wichita psychiatrist Rachel Brown says powerlifting is a good way to destress.
By Mary Clarkin The pandemic has stalled plans to create a campus of cottages and services in south Wichita for homeless veterans. “We started off with a pretty ambitious plan,” said Seth Brees, board member of the nonprofit Passageways Ltd., Wichita. The vision garnered praise and pledges of donations and in-kind aid. A Passageways’ Planned Unit Development for undeveloped acres near Seneca Street and I-235 won approval from the District Advisory IV Board, the WichitaSedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and the Wichita City Council without a dissenting vote. There’s a “massive amount of support within the community for See Homeless, page 7
Nothing 'ordinary' about this teacher By Nancy Carver Singleton NEWTON — Students at St. Mary Catholic School in Newton learn reading through the gentle, patient tutelage of a woman now in her 66th year of teaching. Three hours each day, Sister Rosemary Sieg teaches first, third and fourth graders at the same school she attended. “I want to help children improve and do better with reading because that is so important,” Sieg said. For those struggling, she tries different methods. “I always think if a child has trouble, I will search and search until I can find a way to help them improve.” Children bring her great enjoyment. “I love talking to them and listening,” said Sieg, who has taught at St. Mary since 1984. “They are so smart and so spontaneous.” July 26 marked the 70th anniversary of her entry into religious life. Sieg is a member of Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and lives in Newton. “I just did the ordinary and lived each day, and all of a sudden it has been 70 years,” she said. Joshua Bargdill, who knew Sieg first through his children attending St. Mary, is now in his third year as its
Sister Rosemary Sieg enjoys teaching younger students because they "want to do everything right, and they want to please you." principal. “There is not a student I know who has not made progress with her,” he said. “But I think the more important thing they get from her is being with her on a See Teacher, page 8
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