Never Waste Dreams Book Review by Jim Potter * Author Gloria Zachgo reminds me of a professional juggler who flawlessly keeps a half-dozen balls rotating in a perfect arc. The performance appears effortless. Zachgo’s sequel novel, Never Waste Dreams, is exceptionally well-written. The literary Kansas characters I encountered could have been my ancestors, fighting drought and loneliness while raising a family on the treeless prairie. Gloria Zachgo is an expert on planning and plotting. … [Read more...] about Never Waste Dreams Book Review
Hutchinson News
Sheriffs of Reno County: Mr. and Mrs. Sheriff
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Mr. and Mrs. Sheriff * One day a newly elected sheriff, a bachelor, asked the retiring sheriff if he could give him any advice on running the jail. The veteran sheriff replied, "Yes, get married as soon as possible." * In its first 150 years, Reno County has elected thirty-two of its thirty-three different sheriffs. This book will introduce each one of the lawmen chronologically, in separate chapters, … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Mr. and Mrs. Sheriff
Sheriffs of Reno County: 1872-2022
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Preface * Books don’t just happen. While growing up, I heard stories that triggered my imagination. Stories are seeds to an author. When planted and nourished, they can become a bountiful harvest. In my case, there are several reasons why I wanted to research and write about the sheriffs of Reno County, Kansas. When I was growing up, I regularly watched weekly westerns on television. My … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: 1872-2022
Reno County: She Killed Her Husband
Reno County: Girls in Jail
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Girls in Jail * It’s Monday afternoon, August 1, 1949, at The Fox theater in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mrs. Sheriff, Ruth Graves Dixon, 54; and her sister, Charline Graves Allison, 60; are talking prior to the start of the picture show, The Barkleys of Broadway, staring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. * “How’s the jail treating you?” asked Charline, as she crunched her buttery popcorn. “After … [Read more...] about Reno County: Girls in Jail
Reno County: “Matty” Mathias
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) "Matty" Mathias * It’s noon, Thursday, July 5, 1945, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Harry Smith, 58, owner of Smith’s Flower Shop, 2606 North Monroe, is wearing a freshly cut red rose in his suitcoat buttonhole. * Lulu Morse Stapleton, 51, enters the display room and gravitates to the bell-shaped lilies. She bends over and inhales the sweet aroma. Harry approaches with a greeting. “Welcome, Mrs. Sheriff. … [Read more...] about Reno County: “Matty” Mathias
Reno County: My Dad, the Sheriff
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) · My Dad, the Sheriff It’s Sunday afternoon, January 10, 1943, at the home of Juanita Mae Chambers Ankerholz and Guy Leo Ankerholz, 829 East 6th Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas. Their daughter, Dona “DeNean,” 10, is writing a school report that’s due the next day. * “Mom,” said DeNean, “my teacher said we should write on something, but not everything.” “She’s correct, you want people to learn about a … [Read more...] about Reno County: My Dad, the Sheriff
Reno County: That’s Him
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) · "That's Him." It’s Sunday night, August 7, 1938, in Hutchinson, Kansas, at the Charline and George Allison home, 309 West 16th Avenue. George, 55; Charline, 54; and their daughter, Georgiann, 14, are playing cards. * “Dad, now that Rosanna Sandberg has positively identified her kidnapper, do you think she’ll sleep better tonight?” asked Georgiann. “Sure thing,” answered George. “I think the fact … [Read more...] about Reno County: That’s Him
Reno County: What Happened to Morality?
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) What Happened to Morality? • It’s Friday, June 6, 1924, outside the Reno County courthouse in Hutchinson, Kansas. Reno County Sheriff Jesse Langford, 45, and his wife, May Burkhalter Langford, 42, are walking to their sheriff’s residence next door, east of the courthouse. * “He thought he could get away with murder,” said May to her husband, Jess, referring to Dr. Kenn B. Uhls, 31, of Overland Park. … [Read more...] about Reno County: What Happened to Morality?
Reno County: Good-bye, Rosa Carney
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Good-bye, Rosa Carney • It’s Wednesday morning, June 1, 1921, at the Reno County sheriff’s residence attached to the jail, 15 Avenue, East, Hutchinson, Kansas. Rose “Eva” Hopper Clark, 44, jail matron; and Minnie Marshall Deck,35, custodian for traveling prisoner Rosa Carney, 37; are talking prior to collecting prisoners for the train trip to Lansing State Prison. * “Please be careful,” said Eva, as … [Read more...] about Reno County: Good-bye, Rosa Carney
