Ramona: Werth-Matkins household wins lighting contest
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
Dec. 4-11
For a small town of less than 100, Ramona puts out quite a few watts this time of year as most of the houses in town were adorned with Christmas lights and decorations for the annual Festival of Lights that took place Saturday.
Winning first place with a blazing and delightful display were Kathy Werth and Don Matkins. Kathy is Ramona's postmaster and a member of city council, and Don is Ramona's maintenance man, also working full-time at Cardie Oil in Tampa. They received numerous gift certificates from area businesses.
Second place winners were David and Jane Staatz, on the northwest corner of 5th and D in Ramona. David was putting up lights as late as Saturday, and the event was judged that evening. Every few days he'd put up another strand of lights, or decorate another tree, resulting in a bright holiday display.
Saturday night was Ramona's Christmas event, which always brings Santa to our Main Street. Santa was especially delightful this year — and we've had some terrific Santas — but I think Billy Alcorn's version really takes the cake. He stopped every car that entered town, chatting with the kiddies, flirting with the women, and when there were no cars in sight, he was out in the middle of the street dancing to the music that filled the air.
I teased Billy that he was the first Santa that was rated "PG-13," especially when flirting with the women. Santa had Mrs. Claus by his side most of the evening — this was Billy's wife, Rohani, affectionately called "Honey." As she watched her husband embody good ol' St. Nick, she just shook her head and laughed. "All this without even a beer," laughed Billy, referring to his high energy and antics. "I'm just naturally this way!"
The Ramona Café was full most of the evening, and it was fun seeing friends meet by chance for supper and join at a table for some good old-fashioned socializing. When I walked my mother into the restaurant she met her cousins, Adeline Bernhardt and Leona Kleiber of Tampa. They were joined by three sisters from Herington. "Before long we were chatting like old friends," said Mom. The Fikes were at another table with their son, Gary and family, and the Abeldts from Hope were enjoying supper with Tony Meyer.
Collin Bailey's house was the main attraction with his extensive train display. He had folks arriving early in the afternoon to begin seeing the trains. Tony Meyer went before the crowds showed up so he could navigate the many stairs to Collin's second floor. As he sat on a tall chair watching the train chug from room to room and through walls and over stairwells, he just laughed and said, "I feel like I'm in another world!"
"Look over in that field — there's a tractor and two men loading bales — that's you and Erich," said Paul Jones, one of the train engineers and a friend of Collin's. The details that Collin has included in his displays are some of the most delightful aspects of his layout. Many Ramona people are celebrated either with their name on a building or in small displays.
The annual festival of lights truly is a community effort, especially this year. At Collin's house he was working with Alan Bentz and Paul Jones and others to get his train displays ready for viewing and make his house ready for company. When I stopped by at 3 p.m. Saturday and gave Collin the list of folks who made reservations to take a tour, the guys were lounging on the sofa and recliners, taking a moment's respite before the frenzy of activity began.
Another attraction in town was the live nativity on display for an hour in front of Tony Meyer's home. There were several parents and their kids who presented the display, using Pat Wick's costumes. From Ramona were Angel Harold (who coordinated the nativity and is a member of city council) with her son, Caleb; Fern Leach (city treasurer) and her son, Josh; Fred Lewis and his daughter Becca from Herington; and John Gehrke from Lost Springs.
Late in November council members Art Stroda and Jeannie Weber, along with assistant fire chief Tonya Stroda, went and cut little trees out of a friend's field, and Art set them up and down Main Street. Council members set to work stringing lights and I went to town to buy more extension cords so we could light them up. I always was delighted when a citizen of Main Street would offer to decorate and light one of the trees! One less extension cord that I had to buy!
Art and Tooltime Tim decorated the big tree downtown and had to go back a couple of times to keep the lights on after a storm or two. Jeannie provided music on Main Street. Connie and Dan Smith bought train whistles for the kids who visited Collin's display. Billy Alcorn said he'd play Santa. Pat and Tooltime Tim bought and installed a train display in front of the city tree. Reign and Marlene Anduss agreed to have the restaurant open longer hours and Jeannie Weber, Pat, and I decorated downtown windows. Town residents put up a string of lights or maybe 50, young folks helped older folks put up some decorations, and together we made a little magic for Christmas.
"Those of us who have roots in Ramona are so grateful for what you all are doing in Ramona," said Mardell Hicks of Herington. As the Rev. Gene and his wife drove up and down the streets they recalled who lived where, and when they passed the house where Gene's mother used to live (home of Eugene Remmers now) Mardell said, "Oh, look, your mother would be pleased to see the lights on her house."
And then Mardell said to me as she recalled the conversation with her husband, "The old-timers would have probably been surprised, too, to see all the lights in Ramona. You know, in those days, folks weren't as flamboyant as they are now!"
Brad Brewster was a hunter staying at Cousin's Corner B&B over the weekend, and he got to experience the Festival of Lights. After enjoying supper at the Ramona Café he was walking down the street to the Barbershop Gallery and he passed some of the kids in town. "There's a lot going on in town tonight," he commented. "Yep, and it won't be this busy again until Memorial Day!" replied the girls.
Ramona was indeed busy this weekend. In addition to the Festival of Lights, the employees and customers of Tatge Manufacturing held their Christmas party at the Ramona Senior Center. Attending from Ramona were David and Mary Ann Frantz, Angel and Johnney Harold, Paul Jones, Nate Bailey, Judy Gratz, and Merv and Leona Deines. "We had a catered meal that included turkey and dressing," said Angel. "It was a great party."
Also on Sunday, the Warren Fike family gathered for their Christmas celebration at the Trinity Lutheran parish hall. "There's just so many of us that we can't all meet at the home place anymore," said Paula Fike.
Two of Ramona's long-time citizens were having health issues over the weekend while the rest of us were celebrating. Fred Utech went into the hospital Dec. 6 and returned home Dec. 11. His wife Marguerite said he has reoccurring problems with fluid building up around his heart so every now and then he has to go into the hospital and have it removed.
On Sunday morning, Alfred Sondergard was driven to St. Luke Hospital at Marion by his wife, Darlene, when he didn't feel well. "At first they thought it was a light stroke," said Darlene, "but then his doctors determined that Al's medications were the problem." Al will be in the hospital for a few days while they observe and adjust his meds.
Teresa Tajchman hosted her family's annual candy-making ritual this weekend with Vickie Jirak and her daughter, Raschelle and Candace Tajchman and daughter, Chelsey. "My aunt Evelyn and her husband Dennis, and daughter, Tiffany, came, too, from Wichita," said Vickie. "This is a ritual that we've done for eight or 10 years."
My mouth watered as Vickie listed all the different fudges and cookies and peanut butter balls they've made. "And Raschelle has created a cookbook with all our favorite recipes that we make each year," said Vickie. "And after tasting and sampling everything, who wants to eat more candy!" laughed Vickie on Monday morning.
And that's the news from Ramona where our Christmas spirits are high, and a traffic jam is two parked cars and dog in the road.
