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Lyon County, Kansas

THE LAST LYON COUNTY SALOON.

"Jointkeepers" in Olpe Feared a New County Attorney

Emporia, Kas., March 4---A saloon in Olpe, the only Lyon county town that has had saloons in many years, has closed its doors and moved its fixtures. The "jointists" were frightened by an investigation started by the new county attorney, W. C. Roberts.
(The Kansas City Star ~ 5 March 1905)

THE QUAKER DOCTRINE EXPLOITED IN KANSAS

EMPORIA, Kas., Oct. 30---Quakers holding their state yearly meeting here today, went into executive session for the trial of Sarah Ann Hinshaw, charged with violating one of the church commandments. The specific charge against Mrs. Hinshaw is that she persuaded her nephew, Archie Hiatt, to join the army during the Philippine war in violation of the well known peace doctrine of the Quakers. All the forenoon was spent in investigating the charge, but final decision as to whether or not she should be expelled from the church went over until tomorrow.

Mrs. Hinshaw is the mother of the first white child born in Lyon county. She and her family have always been among the stanchest supporters of the old-fashioned Friends church, and the old lady is deeply grieved that her actions should be questioned by the overseers at the yearly meeting.
(The Tucson Citizen ~ 30 Oct 1903)

CHARGED WITH ARSON

Arrest of L. M. Peoples of Hamilton by United States Authorities

Emporia, Kan., Feb. 16---Frank Mitchell has been in the Lyon county jail for three days charged with complicity in armson. L. M. Peoples of Hamilton was arrested today by a deputy United States marshal as the principal in the crime.

The United States marshal made the arrest because the store which belonged to Postmaster Miller of Hamilton. in Greenwood county, contained besides the $10,000 stock of merchandise some government property.

The fire which Peoples is charged with setting occurred November 13, 1899, and burned up nearly all the business part of Hamilton. Peoples and Miller were business rivals. It is alleged that Mitchell accidentally ran onto Peoples just as he was in the act of starting the fire. he left a week after the fire.

Mitchell says Peoples paid him to go, also he is said to have a letter from Peoples urging him to stay in California and promising money. The preliminary examination will be held in Topeka.

Postoffice Inspector Stice and Sheriff O'Connor of Lyon county worked up the case.
(The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital ~ 19 Feb 1901)

NEW TEXT BOOKS

Lyon County's Schools to Adopt a New Set.

Emporia, Kan., July 28---Next September the country schools will be supplied with a new set of text books. At that time the state text books will be substituted for the present set.

When the state law went into effect two years ago, the Lyon county school districts had entered into a fve years' contract with a certain publishing house to use their books. A penalty is attached for not using those books prescribed by the state law, but this could not be enforced when a previous contract had been made. Lyon county's contract expired Friday. The state text books cost less than any others used and some of them receive the commendation of most teachers.

A few of the books, however, are generally disliked by the teachers, but the system is cheaper and probably will be continued even at the expense of the pupils.
(The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital ~ 31 July 1900)

DEATH OF A LYON COUNTY PIONEER

Emporia Kan., March 14---Prof. Edward Elias, teacher of French and German at the Kansas State Normal school, was stricken with paralysis this afternoon and lies helpless in his room. Hopes, however, are entertained for his recovery.
(The Kansa Semi-Weekly Capital ~ 16 March 1900)

LYON COUNTY POLITICS

Cross Bank Failure a Factor, Says Emporia's City Attorney.

Captain W. T. McCarty, city attorney of Emporia, was at the Throop yesterday. He was in the city to look after some business in the federal court.

Captain McCarty was a confederate officer and had charge of a battery under Lee and Stonewall Jackson in Virginia. He settled in Emporia thirty-four years ago, and was aided greatly in making Emporia that it is.

In speaking of the coming compaign, Captain McCarty said:

"This will be one of the warmest political campaigns in the history of the county.

"In Lyon county, where I live, more than ordinary interest is being manifested in politics, as a result of the Cross bank failure. Some of the bank people hold office already and others want office, and the people are lining up on opposing sides without much regard to party affiliations.

"Depositors in the defunct bank can be found all over Lyon county, and some are very bitter at the thoughts of the money they lost. They are bound to have a potent influence in the outcome of the election this fall.

"There is much hard feeling against Major Hood, I. E. Lambert and Mort Albaugh for the part they took in closing up the affairs of the bank, but I think that some of the charges against them are perhaps unjust. These men are prominent in politics, however, and the charges against them are being felt in the political situation."
(The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital ~ 10 April 1900)

LYON COUNTY FOR BREIDENTHAL

Emporia Kan., April 14---The Lyon county Populist convention to select five delegates to attend the state convention at Clay Center, April 24, and eight delegates to attend the state convention to be held at Fort Scott, July 24, met in this city today. The usual Populist resolutions were adopted. Instructions were given for Bryan, Breidenthal, McNall, Martin and Stryker.

The following delegates were selected: To Clay Center--W. H. Egolf, W. S. Williamson, Fred Fowler, John Madden, J. W. Gauze. To Fort Scott--M. A. Coppeck, W. A. Snoddy, W. S. Reser, L. O. Priest, Peter F. Yearout, Jacob Jacobs.
(The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital ~ 17 April 1900)

LYON COUNTY TANGLE

John Madden Declares War Against Representative Jesse Gray.

There is a peculiar legislative tangle at Emporia. Jesse Gray, Populist, is the present representative from one of the legislative districts in Lyon county and he is a candidate for renomination.

The Populists held their convention at Emporia about a week ago. When the convention was about to take up the nomination of representative, John Madden, who was the fusion candidate for congress two years ago, declared that if Gray should be renominated, he would stump the county against him. The convention was non-piused and it adjourned until September 10, without nominating a representative.

Word reaches Topeka that the Populists down there have decided to drop Gray, and nominate L. R. Wright.

When the United States senatorial contest was on two years ago, the legislature got into a dead lock. A combination of the field was to be made upon John Madden, which might have sent him to the United States senate. Jesse Gray, for some unexplainable reason, however, kicked back and broke up the combination, the members refusing to combine on a man who did not have the support of his home representative.

Madden suspected and still believes there was some underhand work done, but he has never, so far as is known, learned its exact nature.

It is probable, therefore, that, aside from moral and party reasons, Mr. Madden had a personal feeling in the matter, and, now that the opportunity presents itself, he proposes to even up.
(The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital ~ 13 Sept 1898)

FLIPPING FOR 60 YEARS

Kiwanis Members Keep Tradition Alive

Kiwanis Club of Emporia and the community will celebrate 60 years of pancake-flipping and feeding next Saturday, March 8, at the club’s annual Pancake Day.

When the tradition began in 1948 in the basement of the civic auditorium, it was a day-long event, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Members stamped the backs of ticket-holders’ hands so they could return throughout the day for all the pancakes they could eat at a one-time cost of 50 cents. Sausage was included with the first plate and could be purchased at added cost for those who went back for seconds or thirds, veteran club members agreed.

“And at the same time, normally, there would be a basketball tournament upstairs,” said Larry Timmons, who has been in Kiwanis since 1968. “I tell you, the fumes from our pancakes cooking downstairs went upstairs and we got lots of business from the people who were attending the basketball game.”

In the early days, pancake batter was measured and mixed one ingredient at a time, and members recalled that consistency varied from batch to batch throughout the day. One time it would be almost too thin pouring from a pitcher.

“And the next batch that you got, it was almost like they left the water out,” said Kiwanian Roy Johnson. “I remember when we did that. When we went to using ready-mixed, that all changed.”

Vern McKinzie recalled that in the 1960s, Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix and Syrup had been deeply involved with Pancake Day and even sent one of the entertainers it employed to portray the Aunt Jemima character.

“Aunt Jemima did come, and one of the things we used to get with that was we served Aunt Jemima pancakes,” McKinzie said. “In fact, we used the Aunt Jemima logo on our tickets many, many years ago. That was a part of their promotion.”

The character eventually was dropped by the company because of public pressure. Nevertheless, Aunt Jemima did come to Emporia to meet and greet the public and to entertain.

“She sang and she performed,” McKinzie remembered. “It was quite a doin’s down in the basement of the Civic Auditorium. It was ‘the’ event in town.”

Eventually, the police department expanded enough to move into the basement of the civic auditorium, and Pancake Day moved to the Anderson Building on the Lyon County Fairgrounds, the men said.

The club worked with the Lyon County Fair Association to use the building without a financial cost to the club. Instead, club members repay the fair association by working traffic and parking at major events during the Lyon County Free Fair.

The parking and venue have been an improvement for the 80-year-old club and for Pancake Day patrons, and Timmons believes the product has improved, too.

Timmons, who has become a fixture behind the grills, takes pride in turning out pancakes that are consistent, with lacy patterns of deep golden brown and a little smaller than the plates they’re flipped onto.

Timmons remembered a former pancake cook, the late Fred Fleming, who owned Fleming Lumber Company.

“Now Fred used to cook pancakes and he cooked them the size of the plate, and I never could figure out how you could put a big smear of butter on three pancakes and pour syrup on ’em when he made them so big,” Timmons said.

Pancake-eaters didn’t seem to mind.

Timmons said that batter no longer is poured from a pitcher onto the hot grill, but shot out in same-size plops from a dropper made specially for pancake-cooking.

“You have to really learn to watch them cook, when they bubble, and when to turn them and that kind of stuff,” Timmons said. “I always want to put out my pancakes exactly the way I’d like to have them — and that’s brown and done.”

Members and their families, plus Boy Scouts and young Kiwanis affiliates, will heat up the cooking grills early on Saturday in preparation for the 7 a.m. rush. A former member, the late Al Bowman, was legendary for coming in around 4 a.m. to start setting up and making coffee, members said.

When serving begins, members will be on their feet, hustling to serve their customers’ needs, from start to finish. It’s an enjoyable time, the men said, despite the effort required.

“The people that work together, we’re just a team,” Timmons said. “It’s fun. It isn’t tedious or anything. It’s just kinda fun.”

If you go

WHEN

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8

WHERE

Anderson Building, Lyon County Fairgrounds

WHAT YOU GET

All the pancakes you can eat plus one sausage and one milk, unlimited coffee

TICKETS

$4 in advance

At the door: $5 adults, $4 children age 4 through 8; 3 years and younger eat free.

IN ADVANCE

Purchase tickets at The Shopper, 718 Commercial St.; Daytons Hobbies and Crafts, 811 Commercial St.; or call chairperson Barbara Blaufuss at 366-2415
(Emporia Gazette ~ Saturday ~ 1 March 2008

OLPE WATER PROJECT IS ON HOLD

OLPE — A grant the city of Olpe needs to take on a $2 million water project didn’t come through for the city, putting the project on hold.

Olpe Mayor Jerry Tempelmeyer said the grant would have allowed the city to construct a 150,000-gallon water tower and install new water lines. The $2 million needed was nearly 50/50 for each component. Part of the reason the water project is needed is to help provide water for a new housing development, which is under construction.

“We got that new development and that’s one thing they asked from us,” he said. “It’s not just for our current residents but also for our future residents that are coming down the road.”

Tempelmeyer said the city applied for a Community Development Block Grant and a grant through the Regional Development Association. The first grant fell through and then the RDA grant didn’t come through. Their grant was moved to the Iola RDA office and the city was told there wasn’t any money left for the Olpe grant. Tempelmeyer said the news of the funding falling through does not stop the project.

“We need to try to figure out where we are at on this,” he said. “This doesn’t mean the project is done, just a small setback.”

Tempelmeyer said Olpe officials will meet with the RDA to figure out if money will be available later this year or in 2009.

“This water project was put together to help water pressure for current residents and future development,” he said. “So it is important for us to stay on top of any grant money that is available and where the city of Olpe stands compared to other community projects in the state.”

In other Olpe news, Tempelmeyer said the speed limit on Highway 99 going through Olpe will be raised from 30 mph to 35 mph. The city is opposed to the speed limit increase, Tempelmeyer said, because of children crossing the highway to go to and from school.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Wednesday ~ 12 March 2008)

EMPORIA MAIN STREET ACCREDITED

Emporia Main Street is now a accredited through a national main street program, Kayla Oney, executive director of Emporia Main Street announced this week.

Oney announced in a press release that Emporia Main Street now is accredited as a 2008 National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. More than 700 Main Street programs were accredited this year.

“We congratulate this year’s accredited National Main Street Programs for meeting our established performance standards,” said Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement and support, in addition to establishing a solid organization with sound management that is committed to long-term success.”

The National Trust Main Street Center works in partnership with coordinating Main Street programs throughout the national to identify the trust’s 10 performance standards.

“Emporia Main Street has enjoyed several successful events this year and the volunteers deserve recognition for all their hard work, dedication and commitment to downtown and the Emporia community,” Oney said.

For more information on the National Main Street Program accreditation visit www.mainstreet.org/nationalprograms.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Wednesday ~ 9 April 2008)

FROM JAIL TO ALTAR

Queer Conceit of Lyon County Lovers Causes Trouble

Bride Came to Town Arrayed in Male Attire and Both She and Groom Are Landed in Jail

Special to the Capital.

Emporia, Kan., Jan. 21---Queenie Martin and John M. Austin were married late this afternoon at the courthouse by Judge R.M. Homer. The wedding was the termination of an escapade that landed the young couple in the Lyon county jail only to be released after the wedding ceremony above referred to. The groom is a young farmer who resides in the north part of Lyon county, about nine miles from Emporia. He is related to some of the wealthiest and best known citizens of the county. Yesterday he was noticed walking about town in company of another slight built young fellow, and the suspicion was aroused that the latter was a girl. The two were stopped by Sheriff O'Conner, when the suspicion was changed into a certainty, and they were locked up. Both gave fictitious names, and told romantic stories. Both agreed, however, on one point, that they had come to Emporia to get married. Today Judge Homer told the youth that unless he gave his proper name, told the truth and married the girl, he would senf them both to jail ofr three months. The above names were then confessed to. Friends who knew them were sent for. Judge Homer married them and sent them home rejoicing at accomplishing their first purpose, but considerably cut up because of the notoriety gained.
(Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital ~ 25 Jan 1898)