· Othar Wilson "Steve" Stapleton (1888-1963) Sheriff 1943-1947 · It’s Saturday evening, November 14, 1942, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Brothers Stevie, 8, and Billy, 10, are playing hide-and-seek in the Reno County courthouse, First Avenue and Adams Street. Their father, Steve Stapleton, 54, a deputy and sheriff-elect, is taking his turn as relief for the regular jailer, Lloyd Gardner, who receives Saturday nights off beginning at 6 p.m. * “I’ll count to a hundred before I come looking for … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Steve Stapleton
Guy Ankerholz
Sheriffs of Reno County: Guy Ankerholz
· Guy Ankerholz (1904-1991) Sheriff 1939-1943 · It’s Monday, January 11, 1943, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Juanita, 32, and Guy Ankerholz, 38, are preparing to go to the Reno County Courthouse for the swearing in ceremony of the new sheriff, Steve Stapleton. Guy will be hanging up his star after having served nearly sixteen years: two terms as sheriff, after working for three sheriffs, Fay Brown, Ed Cunningham, and George Allison. * “Remember when we first met?” asked Juanita to Guy. … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Guy Ankerholz
Sheriffs of Reno County: George Allison
· George T. Allison (1883-1951) Sheriff 1935-1939 · It’s 1:30 Sunday afternoon, April 11, 1943, in Eureka, California, in St. Bernard’s Cathedral rectory. Georgiann Allison, 19, daughter of George and Charline Allison, Hutchinson, Kansas, is marrying Richard Harmon, 21, son of J. Clair and Florence Harmon, also from Hutchinson. * It’s Sunday afternoon, April 11, 1943, near Langdon, Kansas. Daisy May Sherow Jones folds and unfolds a newspaper clipping from the society page, then … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: George Allison
Sheriffs of Reno County: Ed Cunningham
· Ed Cunningham (1896-1971) Sheriff 1931-1935 · It’s Wednesday, July 1, 1936, in Hutchinson, Kansas. “Well, look what the cat drug in,” said Fay Brown, owner-operator of the Brown Wheel night club, as plain clothes city detective Ed Cunningham walked in the door. Fay Brown and Ed Cunningham were old chums, lawmen, who had worked on the Hutchinson police force in the early 1920s and had teamed up as sheriff and under sheriff of the Reno County Sheriff’s office from 1927 to 1931. … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Ed Cunningham
Sheriffs of Reno County: Fay Brown
· Fay Brown (1891-1968) Sheriff 1927-1931 · It’s Monday, August 3, 1931, in Hutchinson, Kansas. “Buenos días mi amigo,” said Fay Brown, 40, causing Houston Latimer Whiteside, 41, to smile. It was Fay’s common greeting to those men who had served on the Mexican border in 1916 during the international trouble. “We’re sorry for your deep personal loss,” continued Fay. “Julia was a gift to Hutchinson.” “Thanks, Fay,” responded Houston, Jr. “If she hadn’t been visiting her sister … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Fay Brown
Cottonwood County
· Unintended Consequences · Previously, in Episode 1 (https://jimpotterauthor.com/cottonwood-county-kansas/), Tom Jennings was perusing a Facebook post with its many threads. The messages were overwhelmingly critical of the Cottonwood County Commissioners for considering cutting overtime pay for deputy sheriffs. Episode 2 Tom’s phone played music and vibrated. A county commissioner was returning his phone call. “Tom Jennings, may I help you?” “This is County Commissioner Guy … [Read more...] about Cottonwood County
Cottonwood County, Kansas
Let Them Eat Cake Tom Jennings was all riled up. Against his doctor’s advice, he continued to watch the news, search for news, and read the newspaper. His blood pressure spiked at each sitting. News! The doctor had also told him to lose weight, cut down on fatty food, and to exercise. Until then, as long as the national news was so confrontational, so divisive, he should just read a good nonpolitical book or listen to elevator music. As usual, Tom did what he wanted—selective listening. … [Read more...] about Cottonwood County, Kansas
Orville “Matty” Mathias
Ballplayer, Tank Commander, and Lawman David Orville Mathias, known as "Matty", came to Hutchinson, Kansas, in March 1934 to play professional baseball for the Hutchinson Larks. Born in Merom, Indiana, June 24, 1906, he was stretching it to play with the ball team which had an age limit of 26. The Hutchinson Larks existed from 1934 through 1938 (when it became the Hutchinson Pirates through 1942). It was in the Western Association of class C teams. The Larks became a St. Louis Cardinals … [Read more...] about Orville “Matty” Mathias
