· Episode 4 · In an earlier episode, Deputy Tom Jennings was assigned to investigate a theft of soil from a county ditch. The call to 911 had come from a Road and Bridge employee. Upon the deputy’s arrival, he discovered it was only an Amish women recovering her eroded garden soil after a heavy rain. Even though Jennings considered the theft call ridiculous, he questioned the woman and collected information for a case. He decided to make a report so that the facts would speak for … [Read more...] about Road and Bridge Department
Behind the Books Blog
Deputy Jennings Apologizes
· Episode 3 · Previously, in Episode 2 (Deputy Jennings and the Black Buggies), Jennings worried if the Old Order Amish were upset with him for his response to a 911 call. * Rosannah knew everyone, even the babies. She watched as the familiar buggies moved up the driveway and parked by the barn. Tractors stopped on the shoulder of the road as if they were prepared to participate in a farm auction. Like marching soldiers, a few teenage boys carried rakes and shovels over their … [Read more...] about Deputy Jennings Apologizes
Deputy Jennings and the Black Buggies
· Episode 2 · Previously, in Episode 1 (Topsoil, the Story: Deputy Tom Jennings Meets Rosannah Yoder), Deputy Tom Jennings responded to a 911 call to investigate theft of soil from a county ditch. Upon arrival, he met resident Rosannah Borntrager Yoder. * Driving his horse and buggy, Jacob Yoder arrived at the scene of the so-called crime. He and his wife, Anna, carried a buggy-full of grandchildren—five of them belonging to Rosannah and Adam. Anna held the youngest in her arms. All … [Read more...] about Deputy Jennings and the Black Buggies
Topsoil, the Story
· Introduction to Topsoil · A friend of mine shared one of her concerns by posting it on Facebook. Here’s a portion of that post: “The ditches are being dug out along the county road by our house, and I’m seeing many truckloads of soil being trucked away to who-knows-where. Things like this should probably not bother me, but I feel sorry for the farmers of the adjacent fields who lost all that topsoil and will never see it again.” After additional interactive posts by other people on the … [Read more...] about Topsoil, the Story
Memories Make Memoirs
· Susan Painter · The older you get—hopefully—the more memories you'll have to write about. Recently, I’ve run into a number of former students from my days as a School Resource Officer when I was a sergeant with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. Since I visited the schools for so many years, like full-time teachers, I continue to refer to these young people, now adults, as “my” students. One student reminded me that he had a really tough time in school due to being bullied. He … [Read more...] about Memories Make Memoirs
Meeting Authors
· H.B. Berlow · A few weeks ago sixteen artists gathered at the Wichita Library to recite their poetry accompanied by music. In short time I learned that one of those poets, H.B. Berlow, also writes crime novels. By the time I arrived home to Greater Medora, I had a Facebook friend request from Berlow. I accepted. A day later I could barely believe my eyes! H.B. had posted a mugshot that looked like it belonged in my “Wanted” postcard collection. He commented: “This is career … [Read more...] about Meeting Authors
Talking Tombstones
· Henry Hartford in Two Worlds · If you’ve heard of Talking Tombstones then you probably know that real people, now deceased, have their stories brought to life in an abbreviated forum. In Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, contemporary actors, often affiliated with Stage 9 (run by the Hutchinson Theater Guild), transform into dearly departed residents from a distant era. Thanks to Talking Tombstones, the attendees who visit Hutchinson’s Eastside Cemetery each October, learn a great deal in a … [Read more...] about Talking Tombstones
Historical Research and Writing
· "King of Hypnotists and Mind Readers" · Do you enjoy historical research? I love it! As I've mentioned before, I collect "Reward" postcards because they are an enjoyable slice of history. The cards describe people who are wanted for various crimes. My high-visibility favorites are jail escapees and murderers. A majority of these postcards are from the the time period 1880 to 1920. When I examine "Reward" cards, the descriptions make it easy for me to imagine the person wanted by the … [Read more...] about Historical Research and Writing
