31 WEEKLY 2026
AUGUST
A
B A L D W I N
C I T Y
VOL 4 NO. 31 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
ROSS EARNS SECOND PLACE IN
WORLDWIDE WRITING COMPETITION
The idea for the novel began with a real-life conversation, although Ross is quick to point out that the story itself is entirely fictional. Her daughter-in-law was married to Ross’ son, who was a minister, while her own father had spent much of his life in and out of prison. “She said, ‘Such a strange life I’m living. I’m a preacher’s wife and a gangster’s daughter,’” Ross recalled. Ross immediately knew she wanted to use the phrase as the title of a book. “I instantly thought it was the perfect title for a book and asked her if I could use it,” Ross said. Her daughterin-law agreed — with one condition: Don’t write about her life. Ross didn’t. “The story I wrote is completely fictional without a single reference to my daughter-in-law,” she said.
Baldwin City writer Jeanine Ross receives recognition for Preacher’s Wife/Gangster’s Daughter. Baldwin City writer and The Maple Weekly contributor Jeanine Ross has earned international recognition for her novel Preacher’s Wife/Gangster’s Daughter, taking second place in the fiction category of the Chapter One Writing Competition. The annual competition is hosted by Black Writers Workspace, based in Louisiana, and drew entries representing more than two dozen states and nearly as many countries. Ross, who is a consistent contributor to The Maple Weekly through her Thinking Outside the Box column found each week on page 7, said she entered the competition about three months ago — and then largely forgot about it. That changed Thursday, Aug. 20, when she received a text letting her know the winners would be announced on YouTube. “When my picture popped up on the screen, I screamed and started jumping up and down, which made
my little dog start jumping up and down with me,” Ross said. “It was a surreal moment!” Ross described her reaction as stunned, elated and surprised all at once. A Story Born From a Title Preacher’s Wife/Gangster’s Daughter is a fictional suspense story centered on a woman whose carefully constructed new life is threatened when the dangerous father she helped send to prison is unexpectedly released. Eighteen years earlier, the main character testified against her father, a violent Kansas City-area drug dealer. Believing he would remain in prison for life, she changed her name, attended law school and moved to Lawrence, where she built a career and eventually married a young minister. When her father is released on a technicality and sets out for revenge, she is forced to confront the past she has kept hidden from everyone around her — including her husband. At the same time, her husband’s potential run for mayor threatens to put her even further into the public eye.
Characters Lead the Way Ross said her writing process often begins with something small — a title she hears in conversation, something on television or even a passing curiosity about someone she has never met. From there, she begins imagining characters, their personalities and what they might say. “After that, the characters begin to form in my head and they start talking to me,” Ross said. “I just write what they say and before long, I have a book!” A book can take her as little as a couple of months to write. “I know when it’s finished when the characters stop talking to me,” she said. Ross has now written four books, self-published two and is working on her fifth. She is also searching for an agent and publisher to help take her work to the next level. She hopes the recognition from the Chapter One Writing Competition will help open that door. Ross said she entered Preacher’s Wife/Gangster’s Daughter because she believes the story has potential beyond the page. Continued on page 2
31 AUGUST
COMMUNITY
PG. 02
US-56 IMPROVEMENTS MOVING TOWARD CONSTRUCTION Baldwin City residents can expect a series of improvements along the U.S. Highway 56 corridor as a planned project moves closer to construction. The City of Baldwin City is currently accepting bids for the US-56 Corridor Management Project, with bids due Sept. 30. While a contractor has not yet been selected, the project plans provide a look at the work residents can expect to see along the highway. The project will include widening portions of the U.S. 56 pavement, realigning side streets, improving sidewalks and completing stormwater and drainage work. Improvements will also include new curb inlets, storm sewer construction and extensions to existing concrete box culverts. Together, the work is intended to
address several aspects of the highway corridor rather than simply resurfacing the roadway. The project will involve construction within Baldwin City and will likely be noticeable to residents and motorists once work begins. However, a construction start date, project schedule and information about potential traffic impacts have not yet been announced. Those details should become clearer after bids are received and a contractor is selected. Bids for the project will be opened Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at Baldwin City Hall. The Maple Weekly will continue to provide updates as a construction timeline and additional information about how the work will affect local traffic become available.
BOOKTALK RETURNS WITH ‘ON THE LIGHTER SIDE’ SERIES
It’s BookTALK time at the Baldwin City Public Library! The library’s new BookTALK series, “On the Lighter Side,” will kick off in September with Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. Community members are invited to pick up a copy of the book at the library now and then join the conversation on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. Copies are available at the Baldwin City Public Library, and no library card is needed to participate. BookTALK gives community members an opportunity to read and discuss literature together, with this latest series focusing on selections with a lighter touch. The program is presented with support from the Friends of the Baldwin City Library and Humanities Kansas.
BookTALK: Standing in the Rainbow When: Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. Where: Baldwin City Public Library Free Estimates! Insured!
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CITY SETS REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE AND BUDGET HEARING The Baldwin City governing body will hold its Revenue Neutral Rate and 2027 budget hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m. at the Baldwin City Community Center. The public hearing will provide taxpayers an opportunity to hear information and voice questions or objections regarding the City’s proposed use of funds, the amount of ad valorem property tax and the Revenue Neutral Rate. The hearing is part of the City’s annual budget process and will take place during the Sept. 1 meeting. When: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at 7 p.m. Where: Baldwin City Community Center
Continued from page 1
“I truly believe it will make a great movie one day, but first it must be recognized,” she said. “Winning second place in this competition is just the beginning of this process.” Recognition Fuels What Comes Next For Ross, the award carries particular meaning because sharing creative work also means opening yourself up to criticism and rejection. “Writing and actually sharing it with others is a very scary thing because you put so much of yourself into your work,” she said. She said writers have to learn not to allow rejection to stop them from creating. Recognition like this, however, provides a reminder of why taking that risk can be worthwhile. “I am humbled by this recognition, and it has given me fuel to keep moving forward,” Ross said. That forward momentum includes continuing to write, searching for the right representation for her unpublished work and completing book number five. “I am a writer. I am a storyteller. I am a channel for change, and I will continue to be that,” Ross said. “Coming in second place in this kind of competition has only strengthened my resolve and solidified that I am on the right track.” Readers can find Ross’ books online through Amazon or locally at The Town Galleria, 715 Eighth St. in Baldwin City. And those who want to read more from Ross don’t have to wait for another book. Her Thinking Outside the Box column appears regularly on page 7 of The Maple Weekly. “It is my most fervent desire that you follow my column in this newspaper and keep encouraging me to continue,” Ross said. “Your support is more valuable than you will ever know.”
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31 AUGUST
COMMUNITY BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL SEEKS COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR CAREER EXPLORATION DAY Baldwin High School is looking for local businesses, organizations and professionals interested in helping students explore future career opportunities during a Career Exploration Day planned for January or February 2027. The event will connect students directly with professionals from a wide variety of industries, giving them a better understanding of available careers, what dayto-day work looks like and the education, training or certifications needed to enter different fields. Community participants will be asked to prepare a 20- to 30-minute presentation covering their business or organization, career opportunities within their industry, typical job responsibilities, education and training requirements, salary and benefits, advancement opportunities and the skills
employers look for in future employees. Presenters should be prepared to give their presentation at least twice as students rotate through different career sessions. BHS is currently gathering interest from potential participants, with the final date, schedule and additional details to be announced as planning continues. Businesses, organizations or individual professionals interested in participating are encouraged to contact Baldwin High School Assistant Principal Kelli Haeffner at 785-594-2725 ext. 206 or khaeffner@usd348.com. The goal of Career Exploration Day is to expose students to the many possibilities available after high school while strengthening connections between Baldwin High School and the local business community.
NEW TRASH PICKUP SCHEDULE BEGINS SEPT. 2
Baldwin City residents are reminded that a new residential trash pickup schedule will begin Wednesday, Sept. 2. Under the new schedule, all residential trash pickup will take place on Wednesdays, regardless of where residents live in the community. New Schedule Begins: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026 Residential Trash Pickup: Every Wednesday
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FALL POTLUCK TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL CIVIL WAR HISTORY An upcoming fall gathering will give community members a chance to enjoy dinner together while learning about a local man whose service during the Civil War became part of a larger story of veterans across the country. The Fall Potluck Dinner and Program will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Guests and visitors are welcome to attend. The evening will begin with social time at 5 p.m., followed by a potluck dinner at 5:30 p.m. Meat will be provided, and those attending are asked to bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share. At 6:15 p.m., Daryl Callahan, D.O., will present “Col. Sandy Lowe: Local Man, Civil War Leader, and Member of the Brotherhood of Veterans.” Lowe was from the Willow Springs area and participated in significant events during the Civil War. The program will explore his military service as well as his involvement with the Brotherhood of Veterans. The Brotherhood of Veterans eventually helped lead to the formation of the Grand Army of the Republic, commonly known as the GAR, an organization for Union veterans of the Civil War. The Sept. 12 program will offer an opportunity to learn more about Lowe and the connection between local history and the experiences of Civil War veterans across the nation. The event is open to guests and visitors, with social time beginning at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
CONTACT JENNI TO ADVERTISE IN THE MAPLE WEEKLY! jenni@baldwinmaple.com
PG. 03
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE BLACKJACK BATTLEFIELD AND NATURE PARK! The Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park was jointly purchased in November 2025 by Baldwin City and Douglas County. These two groups are working together to stabilize, protect, and enhance the property. An Advisory Board was formed with members from Baldwin City and Douglas County. This group is developing the short- and long-term vision and goals for the battlefield and park. The Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park Advisory Board is looking for public input to help shape the vision and make recommendations for the future of the park. Your feedback on this survey will help develop a planning framework to support this important historic site. Link to the survey:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/VQwAWq5xzi
• Find more information about the park, Advisory Board, and survey at dgcoks.org/hcc (scroll halfway down) • The survey will also be available at Third Friday, August 21, at the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society booth, in front of 705 8th Street. We appreciate your participation! The Advisory Board
31 AUGUST
USD348
PG. 04
WRIGHT NAMED SPORTS IN KANSAS PRESEASON GOLFER TO WATCH Baldwin senior enters final high school season after third-place finish at Class 4A state tournament Baldwin High School senior Peyton Wright is heading into her final season of high school golf with another statewide recognition already to her name. Sports in Kansas recently selected Wright as a Preseason Golfer to Watch, highlighting the three-time All-State golfer and the impressive résumé she has built during her first three years at BHS. Wright finished third at the Class 4A state tournament last season, shooting rounds of 85 and 76. The performance continued a streak of top-eight finishes at state throughout her high school career. She placed fifth in 2023 and eighth in 2024. She is also a three-time First Team All-League selection and has earned back-to-back All-Area Player of the Year honors. Wright won both league and regional championships in 2024 and 2025. Her success hasn’t been limited to the high school season. Wright won the 2025 Optimist Junior International Regional Championship and Central Links KC Tour Championship, along with a Notah Begay qualifier. She has also won the Topeka Junior Golf Tour six consecutive times. During the spring and summer of 2026, Wright added six more first-place finishes to her résumé, including a threeday Hurricane Junior Golf Tour national tournament championship at Shirkey Golf Course. Now, Wright is looking forward to one more season competing alongside her
Baldwin teammates. “I am incredibly excited for this year and all the memories senior year will bring,” Wright told Sports in Kansas. “This is an incredibly special group of girls that works very hard but also enjoys the ride of it all.” Wright believes the Bulldogs have an opportunity to make her final season a memorable one. “I believe this team has a chance to do something very special and I am super thrilled to lead and be alongside it,” she said. “My personal goal is to enjoy every second of it and focus on my process only when it comes to competing.” Success Beyond the Golf Course Wright’s athletic accomplishments extend well beyond golf. She is also an All-State basketball player and an AllState long jump qualifier in track. Away from athletics, Wright plays trumpet and guitar and writes some of her own music. Athletics also run in the family. Her father played baseball at Allen County before pitching at the University of Kansas, while her mother competed in softball and volleyball at Baker University. Wright has not yet decided where she will attend college, but she plans to continue her golf career at the collegiate level. For now, her attention turns to one final season representing Baldwin High School — one that begins with Wright once again among the golfers to watch across Kansas.
ADVERTISE IN THE MAPLE WEEKLY! CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS! jenni@baldwinmaple.com
Photograph by Casey Wright
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31 AUGUST
USD348/BAKER U
PG. 05
BHS SPORTS THIS WEEK Aug. 31 – Sept. 5 MONDAY, AUG. 31
4 p.m. — Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Olathe North 4:30 p.m. — Freshman Girls Volleyball vs. Louisburg 5:30 p.m. — JV Girls Volleyball vs. Louisburg 6 p.m. — JV Boys Soccer vs. Olathe North 6:30 p.m. — Varsity Girls Volleyball vs. Louisburg
TUESDAY, SEPT. 1
6 p.m. — Varsity Girls Flag Football at Osawatomie 7:30 p.m. — Varsity Girls Flag Football at Saint Thomas Aquinas
THURSDAY, SEPT. 3
3 p.m. — Varsity Girls Tennis at Chapman 4 p.m. — Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Ottawa 5 p.m. — Varsity Coed Cross Country at Anderson County 6 p.m. — JV Boys Soccer vs. Ottawa
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4
7 p.m. — Varsity Boys Football vs. Hiawatha
FUN FACT: HIGH FIVE FRIDAY!
Friday mornings come with a few extra high fives at the Baldwin Elementary Primary and Intermediate Centers! High Five Friday has become a weekly tradition students look forward to, with groups from Baldwin High School and Baker University visiting the schools to greet students and start their Friday with a little extra excitement and school spirit. High school athletes and student organizations can take a turn, along with Baker University athletic teams and organizations. Last Friday, the Baker Wildcat women’s wrestling team helped kick off the new school year with High Five Friday, lining up to welcome students and send them into the school day with plenty of high fives. It’s a simple tradition that connects Baldwin’s youngest students with the older students in their community — and gives kids something fun to look forward to every Friday morning!
31 AUGUST
COMMUNITY
PG. 06
August 31
EVENTS
Tech Time
Baldwin City Library, 2-3 pm
September 5
Flower Pressing and Drying Workshop Vinland Valley Nursery Must Pre-register
September 10
Explore Baldwin Series Ad Astra Alpacas 5-6:30pm
September 11-12
Friends of the Baldwin City Library Mum Sale Baldwin City Library, 8am-6 pm
Locally grown by Enright Gardens. $14 each or $11 for members.
September 12
BC Fashion Show 2026
Lumberyard Arts Center, 4:30pm
September 18
September Third Friday Market
September 11
Downtown Baldwin City, 6-9pm
Baldwin City Distillery, 5-7 pm
October 7
Happy Hour
Paint the Town Purple Parade & Pep Rally for all!
CREATE YOUR OWN FUTURE WE CAN HELP YOU S TA R T O R G R O W Y O U R BUSINESS IDEAS!
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Welcome Center Opens:
10 am
Services Start:
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(785) 594-2100
31 AUGUST
COMMUNITY DON’T LIE TO YOURSELF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX By Jeanine Ross
We as humans have some peculiar ways of doing things. We create our truths to support our insecurities and the lies we tell ourselves about ourselves, and it’s making therapists rich! Have you ever said, “Everybody does it this way” or “I could have done it if it wasn’t him/her” or how about “It’s not my fault.” I know you’ve said it because we’ve all said it, but it’s lies we tell ourselves. Why? Because in the moment, we feel better about a thing. It’s a kind of salve we put on our ego that temporarily makes us feel good about ourselves. The problem is, we never go back and change it in our minds. Fortunately, our minds always know what the truth is, and no matter what we tell ourselves, our minds follow the truth. It’s only when we keep trying to live the lie that our lives become confused and confusing. Let’s consider what therapists do for a living. They don’t have a magic wand that fixes everything. They don’t have all the answers, and they don’t fix anything! What they actually do is lead you back to the truth. They help you unravel the conscious and unconscious lies you’ve told yourself and you’ve been trying to live. Some of those lies you inherited from your parents, neighbors, and your environment, and some of those lies you’ve created yourself, based on what you’ve unconsciously seen and heard your whole life, or as a salve when your ego gets bruised. All a therapist does is ask you questions that make you think. They give you scenarios that make you reconsider why you do what you do. They listen (really listen) to your issues and challenges; they
find the tiny piece of thread that will unravel your issues one at a time, and they gently pull on it. If you have an open mind, you will watch in awe as the knot that brought you there begins to loosen. I am a strong advocate for therapists. When my husband died from cancer at age 44, and my son died from cancer at age 38, and my bipolar daughter left her infant son with me and disappeared, I blamed myself for all of it. I thought there had to have been something I should have done, or something I overlooked, or maybe even something I caused. Eventually, I ended up in therapy, and I worked with my therapist for two years. It was the best thing I ever did for myself, but not the easiest. At the end of that two-year period, I knew two things for sure. I would never lie to myself again, and no matter how much you love someone, you are not responsible for their journey. I have said all of that to say this: no matter what you decide to tell the world, lying to yourself is a recipe for disaster. Being absolutely honest with yourself is hard because you have to admit those truths that expose the tender spots your ego is trying to protect. But being absolutely honest with yourself is the only way to live a life of peace, acceptance, understanding, and compassion for yourself and all of mankind. Take responsibility when it truly belongs to you and accept it when it doesn’t. If you are not sure about how to differentiate between those two things, find a good therapist and let them help you unravel that knot that keeps you making the same mistakes over and over again. If I can do it, you can do it. Don’t let fear stop you cause you’re better than that. So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
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PG. 07
CHAMBER MEMBERS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN SEPTEMBER MEMBERFEST The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce is giving its members a special opportunity to showcase their businesses and organizations during the final Third Friday Market of the 2026 season. The Chamber will host Memberfest during the Friday, Sept. 18, Third Friday Market, inviting all Chamber members to set up a booth at no cost. The September market will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will give participating businesses and organizations a chance to meet community members, share information about their services and promote or sell products. The free booth opportunity is available to Chamber members even if they plan to sell items during the event. The Chamber hopes Memberfest will provide another way for its members to connect not only with Baldwin City residents, but also with visitors who come to town for
the popular monthly market. Registration is required. Chamber members should register for the September Third Friday Market and select the “Information Only” option when signing up, even if they intend to sell products. Members who previously paid for a booth at the September market may request a refund from the Chamber. Memberfest will coincide with the last Third Friday Market of the season, offering local businesses and organizations one more opportunity to gather downtown and connect with the community. Businesses and organizations that are not currently Chamber members can also learn more about joining the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce by contacting the Chamber at 785-594-3200 or director@ baldwincitychamber.com.
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