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Ramona: Scarecrows still the focus through October

By JESSICA GILBERT

Ramona correspondent

(785) 965-2621

Scarecrows still are our frolicking focus in these here parts. As I sit and write my column on Thursday, the judges are taking one more look at the top eight to 10 scarecrow competitors of Scarecrows on Parade to make their final choices. Our phone has been ringing with just one question being asked, "Have the judges picked the winners yet?"

"There are so many terrific displays," said Mayor Pat Wick, "and we knew it would be a challenge for the judges to pick just one winner." Hopefully the judges will have come to their conclusions by the time this newspaper goes to press.

Three sets of judges spent considerable time looking at the scarecrows. My sister and I decided to pull our nine entries out of the competition so that we could be an alternate, fill-in judge since some of the judges didn't make it to all the displays. We, on the other hand, have seen every single display at least once, and some twice, as Pat captured all the displays on video. She's turned it into a delightful DVD romp through the Flint Hills, making a keepsake for all the winners.

As we drove the country roads I just had to chuckle when I met three other cars on an off-the-beaten-track road! We had a regular traffic jam Saturday on AA Road west of Burdick as sightseeing folks headed to see the Jost's farmer scarecrow.

If decorated yards were the focus of Scarecrows on Parade, there's no doubt the winners in Ramona would be the homes of Fern Leach at 202 D and Connie Smith at 110 B. Fern just keeps adding elements to her Main Street display. This past week it was a "husband" for the graceful lady that's been standing since the first of October. Her yard is a lovely welcome into town!

Connie Smith has lots of humor in her yard. Since Connie and Dan Smith's house is on a corner, Connie has displays on two streets. There's Dracula on a bike on one street, and on B Street, a fun scarecrow that's landed in the tree after a biking accident. "I've had that old bike in the barn for a long time — finally found something to do with it," laughed Connie.

Even folks who don't reside here full-time have displays in their yards. On the southeast corner entering Ramona, Margaret Harris has been putting in a lovely garden on her corner property, recently adding a fall display and a scarecrow that we lovingly call Mrs. H. While Bob and Margaret do not live in Ramona, they participate in town events like Ramona was their home, and it's a blessing to the town.

When I saw a fall display go up just north of the Harrises I wondered how it got there because the homeowners live in Texas! "Mrs. Harris is the one who put up a scarecrow and flowers on our corner," said BJ Riddle from Texas. BJ, who inherited his uncle Leon Bura's home, has been making lots of improvements on Leon's little white house — with new siding, new windows, new roof.

BJ and his wife, Phyllis were in Ramona Oct. 6-11 — well, actually, they landed in Ramona and then promptly left on a little three-day excursion with Hope Bank. "Our first destination was Moline, Ill. to see the John Deere Collector's Center which is where souvenirs may be purchased, but also there's a mock-up of a 1950s John Deere dealership. It's so realistic there's even the smell of oil in the air," enthused BJ.

Other excursions included a paddleboat ride up the Mississippi to see the fall foliage, a visit to an Amish community, and a tour of the Bridges of Madison County. "Yes, we saw the bridge where they made the movie," said BJ.

The tour left on a Thursday and came home Sunday evening. "We were on the bus for 1,000 miles," said BJ, "but even the ride was enjoyable with bingo games and videos to help the 49 passengers forget the long ride."

Paula Fike was in Topeka recently taking care of Sara and Stewart Eell's children. "Steve and Glenda dropped me in Topeka on their way home after the 100th anniversary celebration at Trinity," said Paula. "Sara and Stewart were in Hawaii on a week's vacation so I took care of the girls. Warren came down on the 13th and stayed the weekend."

On the Fike's return trip to Ramona they stopped at Alma to catch one of their grandson, Jackson's, flag football games. "We haven't gotten to many of his games," said Paula. Jackson, who's only seven, lives in Westmoreland, and his team was playing Alma. "The game didn't last long — about 15 minutes — and they tied," said Paula.

There's news from Naomi Fike, who's still at Marion Manor in Marion. "I'm walking, and that's positive," said Naomi on the telephone this week. "I'm still doing rehab, of course. And I think about Ramona a lot, and wish I were there! I'm trying to get strong enough to be on my own again — don't know if I'll make it, but I'm trying!"

Bob and Rita Brady, along with Al and Darlene Sondergard, are giving Ramona Senior Center a facelift. The former school house, turned senior center, is getting its trim painted, and it looks lovely.

Another building getting a renovation in town is a house that's been for sale on 208 East 2nd Street. It's one of the oldest houses in town — I can see it in the oldest photographs of Ramona — and because of its historical significance I hoped it would be sold to somebody who cared. And it was!

Reign and Marlene Anduss recently purchased the property and Reign already has set to work removing the fence that surrounded part of the house, trimming trees, and cleaning up.

"It's my winter project," said Reign. "In the summer I have my garden. In the winter, well, I can't just sit in this chair and sleep!" he laughs. The Andusses, who own Ramona Café, haven't decided what they'll do with the house once it's renovated. For now, it's just Reign's winter hobby.

My sister, Pat and I also have a winter work project. We signed papers with Dolores Siggs, who was representing the Utech siblings, Oct. 13 to purchase Erich Utech's house at 411 E in Ramona. (The home also was the residence for Junior Hanschu's parents before Erich bought the house.)

We were most fond of Erich and since his little house is adjacent to our own home, buying the house seemed like the right thing to do. We plan to make it the third house in our trio of guest houses, naming it "Sonny's Bunkhouse," because Sonny was Erich's pet name. Our other two houses are decorated with a feminine flair and Sonny's house will be a western theme. We'll finally get to use all our more rustic decorating ideas.

"You are going to take care of renovation projects before you decorate, aren't you?" admonished Tooltime Tim, who's part of all our work projects these days. Pat and I nodded like good little girls, even though the structural projects are the least fun! Our goal is to have the house ready by next Memorial Day when the Schubert family gathers for reunion and the internment in Lewis Cemetery of our dear uncle, Hank Schubert.

Many of the Utech cousins gathered in Herington at St. Paul's Lutheran Church for the William Schlesener cousins reunion. Fred and Marguerite Utech of Ramona were there. "Most of our brothers and sisters were there," said Fred. "The only one missing was Grace, who lives in Georgia." Fred estimates there were 45 cousins present at the luncheon.

This weekend the Utechs will be busy again. "We'll be baby-sitting the three Js," chuckled Fred, who was referring to his three great-grandsons who have wonderfully unusual names — Jorge, Jakob, and Jaxxon. "Jayson (the boys' father) is going to work on his land seeding grass while we watch the children — two of them have soccer games," said Fred.

Tony Meyer had guests this past Wednesday when his brother, George, and wife, Millicent, and daughter, Elaine, stopped by on their way home from a trip to Missouri. "It's been awhile since I've seen my brother and sisters," said Millicent, "and when our daughter flew out this way, she said she'd drive us, which was wonderful."

Living in the country has had some surprises for me — one of the more delightful ones was finding Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, where once a year, a dozen or more renowned blues artists converge for five-hour nightly concerts on Friday and Saturday in mid-October. I admit that I rarely stay up until one in the morning, except when these concerts roll around each year.

My sister and I have attended this event for two years and wouldn't miss it. Joining us this year were our cousins, Ken and Becky Peoples, of Haysville. Ken is a bass player for The Night Watchmen, a blues band from Wichita.

The highlight of this year's concert was a six-year-old drummer, CamRon Ballou, who played with his grandfather, Classie Ballou, and other family members. This youngster brought down the house! When I talked with his grandmother, who happened to be sitting in front of us, she said her grandson has been playing drums since he was two years old.

"It's a gift he has," she said. "My husband would sit by his cradle when CamRon was an infant, and play the drum beats with his hands on the side of his cradle." I was reminded that we are all born with talent — it often just takes someone to awaken it in us!

Halloween weekend Ramona's haunted house will come to life. The haunted house will be open from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. The house is located on the north end of D Street and is sponsored by the Ramona Park Improvement Committee. They've been working for more than a month to create this spooktacular Halloween experience. The Ramona Fire Department adds some excitement with the hayrack ride, which also was a big hit last year.

And that's the news from Ramona where a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.

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