Ramona
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
The r-r-i-p-p-p-p of a chainsaw is heard in the dark Saturday night, followed by squeals and screams as kids scramble out of Ramona's haunted house. "Oh! that was so scary!" says one out-of-breath youngster. "I'm going again!"
Ramona's haunted house, created as a joint effort between the Ramona Park Improvement Committee and the volunteer fire department was such a success that "going through again," could produce a rather lengthy wait. But even waiting in line was enjoyable, given the lovely weather, the full moon, and friends from the country who came into town for the fun.
It reminded me of stories I used to hear my parents tell about Saturday nights in Ramona in the "olden days" when folks from the country would come into town for an evening of shopping, socializing, and fun.
Saturday night cars were lined up and down both sides of the street upon entering Ramona, and on the north end of town, where the "haunted house" was located, there was a "minor" traffic jam for a couple of hours — no dogs in site, but plenty of parked cars!
The "haunted house" was the former Sader place on the north end of town that recently was sold to Jim and Terrie Thompson. The house has been sitting abandoned for several years. The once-pristine Sader home experienced so much neglect as it passed from owner to owner, that it now needs massive work to restore it.
"It's going to be a while before we can fix that house up," said Jim. "We were happy to help turn the house and grounds into a community event."
Jeannie Weber, who's created several haunted houses in and around Ramona over the years, pulled together a team to help build this year's haunted experience: Alan Bentz, chief of the Ramona fire department, Tonya Stroda, assistant chief, and her husband Randy, Angel Harold, and Jayme Brunner (city council members and members of the Ramona Park Improvement Committee along with Jeannie), and teenager Ben Thompson, whose parents own the house.
"We helped Jeannie build the haunted house in between classes," said Alan Bentz, who, along with Stroda, was attending fire school in Manhattan during haunted house construction.
Bringing the haunted house to life on Saturday night were a host of friends and family too numerous to mention and too mysterious to track.
The fire department added the Haunted Hayride to Saturday night's folderol. Ghostly figures were seen scurrying around Ramona to meet up with the hayrack riders and give them a scare or two as Alan pulled them around town with his tractor.
When Halloween actually arrived Sunday, it seemed rather anti-climactic after Saturday night's excitement. "I had about 13 children come by the house," reported Tony Meyer at 9:30 p.m.
Pat, Tooltime Tim, and I dressed up to meet the kids who came to our house for treats. Pat was a witch, I was Bat Woman, and Tooltime Tim was Hagar, the comic strip character.
Interacting with the kids is most of the fun at Halloween, and we delight in seeing their costumes. When Solomon Brunner and his sister, Kaitlyn arrived, she was this delicate and beautiful butterfly with gossamer wings.
As the siblings left our porch, Solomon, as an action figure from some cartoon, bumped into Kaitlyn's wings and knocked them askew. "Watch out for my wings!" the delicate Kaitlyn admonished. "If you knock off my wings — I'll knock off your head!"
We stood on the porch and laughed — this little butterfly could take care of herself!
After the trick-or-treating was over, Pat, Tim, and I waited expectantly on the porch — we were having a dinner party and were eager to see the costume creativity of our guests.
Lisa Hanschu gets the award, hands down! "This is the fourth costume I've made in the last few days," said Lisa, who came as a cat burglar — with stuffed critters coming out of pockets and handbags.
"Halloween is my favorite holiday and I love making costumes," said Lisa. The festivities began for Lisa the previous Thursday when she went to a party as a picnic table. The next night she and her friends were road signs, and Lisa's husband, Ronnie, was the road maintenance worker.
Lisa found a fascinating website that had ideas galore — even ideas that reluctant husbands would try! When Ronnie arrived on our porch Sunday night he was dressed in normal attire, except for a leaf dangling from the bill of his cap. "So where's your costume," I chided. "Don't you see it? I'm a leaf blower," and Ronnie exhaled and the dangling leaf gyrated.
We've had a couple Halloween parties where we try to get A.J. Svoboda to come in costume. He came as a cowboy the first year — and if you know A.J., that's what he is all the time!
When Sandra arrived as Cher, quite stunning in her red leather jacket and long black wig, we asked, "Where's Sonny?"
"He had to close down the co-op — he'll be here soon," said Sandra.
When "Sonny's" steps were finally heard on our front porch, we all started chanting "Sonny! Sonny!" in anticipation. When A.J. walked through the door I exclaimed, "It's Sonny — as a cowboy!"
No matter how hard we coaxed, we couldn't wrangle a rendition of "I've Got You Babe" out of Sonny.
Julie Kerbs of Tampa arrived at the party as a disheveled and pregnant housewife, who knows that even the worst day can be turned around by wearing a little black dress, slinging fur around your neck, and plopping a slightly askew blond wig on your head. Upon seeing Russell with a black and red Mohawk, we could understand why Julie looked a bit disoriented!
Betty and Harold Ohm were at a Halloween party this past weekend, but not in Ramona. "We were in Kansas City seeing two of our daughters and the neighbors had a party that we attended," said Betty.
"We also saw Jordan play her last soccer game, Justin play flag football, and the youngest, Devin, playing soccer," exuded Betty. Devin, who's only four, is already a good soccer player. "He made three goals during his game," said Betty, who explained that there wasn't even a goalie because the kiddies are learning the game. "All the children went home with a little trophy and Devin was so proud," said Betty.
The Ohms were in Kansas City because another daughter, JoAnn Reicher, was flying out of Kansas City to her home in Wisconsin. "JoAnn was in Ramona for a week," said Betty, "and she brought her mother-in-law, Minnie. This was Minnie's first trip to Kansas."
Marlene and Reign Anduss had family visiting the end of October. Marlene's sisters, Darlene Peterson of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Charlene Sullivan of Peabody, were in the area for a 50th wedding anniversary party and came to Ramona to see the Andusses. Marlene's cousins, George and Lois Bueker of Lincoln, Neb., surprised Marlene when they walked into the restaurant while the Andusses were serving Sunday dinner.
Norma's Attic, owned by Ramona resident Norma Bird, has relocated to The Loft in Herington, at 3 North Broadway. "I'm showing an exhibit of veterans memorabilia from now until Veterans Day (Nov. 11)," said Norma. "One of the items on display is a print that goes back to the Civil War."
If you're not familiar with The Loft in Herington, it's a nostalgic series of offices that once housed doctors and other professionals. "Don redid the tin ceilings in my small space and they look really great," enthused Norma.
The Ramona shop space will be used for storage for the time being, and if you've visited the shop in Ramona, you also know that Norma's daughter, Fern Leach and family live in part of the building.
Ramona postmaster, Kathy Werth, is back behind the window again in Ramona. She's been at the Herington Post Office for four months, while Nancy Hatterman of Lost Springs came to cover Ramona.
Kathy was asked if she'd cover the Herington Post Office on a temporary basis and she accepted the challenge. "I went from the Ramona Post Office where everything is done manually to Herington where computers are in place," said Kathy.
She said the computers are quite an asset because all window business — from stamps to money orders — are done with a computer system and at the end of the day a button is pressed and reports are generated. "In Ramona, reports are done manually which takes a lot more time," said Kathy.
Although Ramona may never be a big enough operation to warrant such a system, the post office has received a computer in the last four months and there are new services available, like the rural carrier pickup — just call 1-800-askusps and tell them you have package to be picked up. The carrier in and around Ramona, Steve Jirak, will get your package. There's no charge for the pick-up service.
What's next? Kathy hopes to get digital scales in the Ramona Post Office soon. "We're on the list to receive one," says Kathy, "and this will make mailing letters and packages easier and more accurate."
And that's the news from Ramona where we're entering the computer age, but we always hope a traffic jam is nothing more than two parked cars and a dog in the road.
