This week our church experienced two losses, and the pastor has been involved with two memorial services. One person, Tom, was a little older than I; he was a faithful pastor, youth camp director, and respected scholar who died after a long illness. The other was years younger, and his passing was sudden and shocking. All this week, folks have spoken of Logan's positive, friendly interactions, even up to the last time we saw him Sunday playing bass guitar.
Those of you who read this column are already ahead of most of your neighbors an friends. Some people seemed surprised bylocal issues facing the community, but not you.
You’ve already read the stories about proposals to education. You’ve already read Starley Craig’s concerns over programs, programs and more programs that get printed right here.
In 2019 I was wrongfully accused of “mistreatment of an elderly dependent.” However, as Susan Thacker, Editor-in-Chief of The Great Bend Tribune, pointed out, “J. Basil Dannebohm had one of those cases that never made it to trial before it was dismissed.”
The incident was the result of a poorly contrived retribution attempt aimed at tarnishing my reputation as a public political figure. However, the facts of the case spoke for themselves. Prior to seeking legal counsel, I contacted investigators and voluntarily sat down to answer their questions. Moreover, I insisted on being given a polygraph test. Similarly, I insisted that investigators extract all data from my mobile phone, tablet, and personal computer. This included call logs, documents, photographs, text messages, apps, emails, and social media. I had nothing to hide and knew that the truth would ultimately prevail. I was prepared to fight the charges, retaining one of the leading attorneys in the State of Kansas. However, the case proved too weak to hold up in a court of law and all charges were later dropped. The expense of the charade fell on the taxpayers, and I was never required to enter a plea.
All across the state, Kansans have been enjoying or perhaps dealing with the snow for more than a week. I have heard countless people remark that there's been more snow than we have had in years. It definitely feels like the longest snow streak we have had in the 12 years I have lived in Kansas.
There are a lot of people who hate snow. It is cold and messy. It can be dangerous and inconvenient. Others see snow as beautiful, helpful and fun. For me, snow feels like home and is a great source of joy.
Here I am again with my feet up and phone in hand hearing about the sixth major fire in what seems to be targeting one huge incapacitating area of California.
Let’s go back a few years to the incident that destroyed Maui, remembering the unusual pattern of destruction: nothing covered with that strange color of blue was burned, especially Opra’s and Don Johnson’s properties; the cars not protected had pools of metal that could not be melted by anything have; 10 out of 11 school buses burned, the 11th unaccounted for (used to transport the 1000 missing children possibly), and we’ve never heard about them since.
