By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Country correspondents Joyce Kyle and LaVonne Ammeter, both of rural Burns, are preserving the last vestiges of the original Burns News through their weekly contributions to the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin.

Their collections allow readers to stay in touch with neighbors and friends.

The Burns News was established in 1935 and had several owners before being purchased in 1968 by William Krause, editor of The Peabody Gazette. Krause purchased the Florence Bulletin at the same time.

All three papers were incorporated into one publication and renamed the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin.

When Hoch Publishing Company purchased the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin in 2001, Kyle and Ammeter had been country correspondents for the newspaper for many years. Their work continues.

Kyle lives in Summit township but collects news from Milton township, where the town of Burns is located. The 82-year-old correspondent has a list of people she calls every week. She said she reports their activities for the enjoyment of others.

“I find the time to do it,” she said.

She said she would appreciate it if people in the Burns area would call her with their news. Her phone number is (620) 726-5852.

Ammeter writes the Ammeter News as a contributing writer. She originally collected news from people in the Burns area, but she said they became more hesitant to share news of their activities.

“We live in a world that’s not very sociable anymore,” she said, “but I still enjoy visiting with people.”

Her work has become a mission of love for family members and friends who live outside the area and desire to read about what is going on in her life and community.

She said her friends in El Dorado tell her not to quit, so she keeps going.

Ammeter is willing to report any news people in the Burns community want to submit. She can be reached at (620) 726-5835.

Family and friends gathered Saturday at Burns Community Building to help Ammeter celebrate her 80th birthday.