On our way to Iola a couple weeks ago we saw a bald eagle east of Yates Center and last week when headed to Iola we saw two bald eagles. One adult and one juvenile in almost the same spot we saw the first one.
They are sure getting more and more plentiful. Their numbers have increased dramatically. It’s still a thrill to see them, although I was reading an article the other day that said the number of deaths was increasing due not to the poisoning of rats and mice, but lead shot.
Hunter’s are being urged to use steel shot, as the lead shot causes animals that eat other animals that have been shot to die of lead poisoning.
What does “pogonotrophy” mean?
Congrats to Justin and Michelle McCormick on the birth of their baby boy, Holt, born on New Year’s Eve. They got a tax deduction for 2025, but lost out on the first baby of the new year. I’m sure they are just happy he’s here.
We hope everyone had a safe and fun New Year’s Eve. I usually wake Wade up at 11:50 p.m. and hand him a shot of Jose Cuervo Gold, we each drink our shot, wish each other a Happy New Year, kiss, then go back to sleep. Not this year though. I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open and went to sleep at 11 pm, then lots of fireworks New Year’s Eve at midnight woke me up.
A Blessing’s Box has been installed in front of the Toronto Library. If you have extra non-perishable food items, you can place them in the box. If you need something, help yourself to a couple of items.
Hello to all in area nursing and assisted living facilities. Hello also to all in area hospitals and rehab centers.
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Joe Parks. We offer our sympathy to all others who lost loved ones this past week. May they all rest in peace.
We now have double yellow lines painted on the highway through town. Haven’t seen that in quite a few years. It will be nice to having KDOT taking care of Hwy 105 through town now. The poor old antiquated oiler that the city has is dangerous. I think that is what is wrong with it.
I can remember Clyde Boone for years wearing a pair of pants and boots that were all stuck together with tar. He said he would stand them in the corner of the old, old city shop and leave them for next time. Whether that is the truth or just one of ole Boonies many stories, I don’t know.
Answer: To grow a beard. You can really see progress on Cedar Creek Bridge. Workers were pouring concrete on the deck. Can we dare to hope that they will be done by spring?
Are you able to go into a store to get just one thing? Me, not very often.
(Intended For Last Week)
Saw something on the CBS news the other night that had me laughing. This new fad started in some big city, and other cities have quickly followed suit: restaurants are putting in large “community tables” so people have to sit with strangers. Not all the tables are that way, but there is one large table (or 2-3 tables pulled together). The purpose is so people can meet new people in a safe setting. Some of the younger people talked about what a bold new concept this is.
We small town people have been doing that forever. Nearly every restaurant/ cafe I’ve been in in a small town has a large community table where regulars sit and oftentimes people passing thru will sit at the big table and strike up a conversation with the locals sitting there. The owners at a couple of the restaurants said it was a good way to meet new people and at one place, two people who met started dating and were making wedding plans.
Gotta love our small towns.
What does the phrase “Pardon my French” mean?
Can you believe the weather we had last week? Record setting, or near record setting, all week. And the high on Christmas Day was in the 70s. But the cold weather is coming back over the weekend.
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Larry Marshall, Earl Urton, and Allen Hall. We offer our sympathy to all others who lost loved ones this past week. May they all rest in peace.
We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year. If you’re going to be drinking, please have a designated driver.
Answer: In England, in the early 1800s, people would “beg pardon” for using French words in conversation. Forgiveness was requested in these instances because most people did not speak French, and furthermore, the Napoleonic Wars had left a residue of animosity between the two countries. By the mid-1800s the phrase had evolved to refer to swear words specifically. It’s worth noting that the Cambridge dictionary defines the idiom as something to be said when pretending to be sorry for offensive language.
Quote: “As long as you can see each day as a chance for something new to happen, something you never experienced before, you will stay young.” - Sarah Louise Delany
