emporia living 2015

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INSI

DE Emporia High School student Meg Detwiler is on a mission helping others.

Jeremy “JJ” Johns pours his heart and soul into his brews

Emporia aviator Doug Wilson took photographer Dustin Michelson for a birds-eye view of the burnt prairie.

Teen with a MissionThe Business of Brewing

Above the Hills

WORLD CHAMPION Legacy of being a

Emporia Living | 1

2 | Emporia Living

Emporia Living | 3

50 BusinessAbel and Dalia Pineda of Panaderia Progreso have a passion for baking Mexican breads.

On the Cover:Eric McCabe, PDGA World Champion, poses with his dog, Ralph.[Photo by Kevin Anderson.]

5 Editor’s note

6 Advertising index

8 FaithMeg Detwiler is focused on using her faith to help people

60 North Lyon Countycommunity calendar for 2015.

74 Council Grove community calendar for 2015.

84 Coffey County community calendar for 2015.

14 Chase County community calendar for 2015.

32 Olpe community calendar for 2015.

48 Madison community calendar for 2015.

16 PeopleEric McCabe reflects on being a world champion professional disc golfer.

26 BusinessJeremy “JJ” Johns pours heart and soul into his brews at Radius Brewing Company.

34 ArtDoug Wilson gives an aerial view of the burnt Flint Hills.

62 BusinessCoffelt Sign Company celebrated 65 years in business in 2014.

86 HistoryOne of the most influential leaders in early Emporia was O.M. “Mit” Wilhite.

68 BusinessJustin Combes turns the craft of wood floors into an artform.

tAble ofContents

PUBL ISHERChris WAlKer

SALES D IRECTORbriAnA Julo

CONTRIBUT ING WRITERSJAn huston

MorgAn Chilson

Jesse MurPhy

bobbi MlynAr

PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Anderson

dustin MiChelson

stuArt Mullenberg

Jesse MurPhy

JAKub stePAnoviC

DES IGN LAYOUTJustin ogleby,

iM design grouP

ADVERT IS ING STAFFChristine broWn

sAundrA hutChison KAthy lAfferty

leAnn sAnChez

AD SERVICESMArgie MChAley

Kelsey bArKer

dAn ferrell

PhilliP Miller

devin PArKMAn

KAtie Potter

brAdley riCe

COPY EDITORSAshley WAlKer

brAndy nAnCe

CIRCULAT ION MANAGERdestin nightingAle

ONLINEeMPoriAKsliving.CoM

FACEBOOK.COM/eMPoriAliving

TWITTER@eMPoriAliving

for More inforMAtion, PleAse ContACt:

517 MerChAnt street

eMPoriA, Ks 66801620-342-4800

eMPoriA living MAgAzine is A PubliCAtion of

76 CareerMike Law dreamed of becoming a sports radio announcer, but instead became one of the most influential broadcasters in the music industry.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

St. Patrick’s Day ParadeMarch 14, 1:00pm

Let the luck of the Irish flow during this yearly event.

Glass Blown Open & Block PartyApril 28-May 3

This PDGA National Tour event takes place on Emporia’s fantastic disc golf courses and brings in top

golfers from around the country.

Cinco De Mayo May 2, Noon-10pm

Join the festivities for this downtown block party and beer garden running in conjunction

with the Glass Blown Open.

Dirty Kanza 200May 30

Come downtown as over 1,500 riders challenge 200 miles of the Flint Hills in this world premiere race.

With our vibrant downtown, unique shopping, and world class events, there is plenty to do in Emporia. From handmade arts to craft beers, from live music to inspiring cuisine, to the stunning Flint Hills, there is always something happening. Come and enjoy it.

visitemporia.com

WHO SAYS THERE ISN’TANYTHING TO DO IN EMPORIA?

Emporia Living | 5

Welcome to our new edition of Emporia Living Magazine! The people in our community are truly amazing. The pursuits and

passions of people making a difference is inspiring. We are honored once again to highlight just a few of the people that

make our community a better place to live, work, and play. The magazine would not be possible without the hard work of many

people, so here are our thank yous:First, and foremost, is to the advertisers who made this magazine

possible. We hope you will thank them by spending your shopping dollars at their businesses.

Second, we want to thank the advertising staff: Sales Director Briana Julo, and advertising representatives Christine Brown and Saundra Hutchison. They work hard to deliver high-quality advertisements to their clients, adding to the value of Emporia Living.

Finally, a big thank you goes to Justin Ogleby and the staff at IM Design Group who pulled the photos, stories and ads together to deliver the newest edition of Emporia Living.

We had fun doing this magazine for you and we hope you enjoy it.

Editor’s Note

Chris WalkerEditor & Publisher

6 | Emporia Living

96 one The Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Adams Lumber & Homestore . . . . . . . . . . 74Affordable Tree & Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . 75Alexander Artworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Allegre Rexall Drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Amanda’s Bakery & Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Bella Rose Boutique and Tanning Salon . . . 84Bennett Dental Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply . . . . . . . 61BobbyD’s Merchant Street BBQ . . . . . . . . . 49Brown Bennett Alexander Funeral Home . . 14Buckeye Supply Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48C&D Exteriors, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Carpet Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Casa Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Citizens State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 48, 84City of Emporia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67City of Lebo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84City of Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Clint Bowyer Autoplex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Coffelt Sign Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Commercial St. Diner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Cottage House B&B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Cottonwood Falls Collectibles . . . . . . . . . . 15Elmwood Reclaimed Timber . . . . . . . . . . . 94Emporia Christian School . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Emporia Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . 4Emporia Main Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Emporia Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Emporia Public Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Emporia Realty Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Emporia State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13ESB Financial . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front CoverEvergreen Design Build . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Farm & Home Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Farmers & Drovers Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Flint Hills Beverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Flint Hills Community Health Center . . . . 71Flint Hills Roofing & Gutter . . . . . . . . . . . 53Flint Hills Shopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Flint Hills Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . 65Food For Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Golden Living Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Grand Central Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Griffin Real Estate & Auction, LLC . . . . . . 14Hannah Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Hays House Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Hill’s Pet Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Holiday Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47IM Design Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30, 31Internal Medicine Associates . . . . . . . . . . . 11JavaCat Coffeehouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56John North Ford, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Kansas Maid Frozen Pastries . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Kerri R. Thompson, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61King Liquor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Kiss 103.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85La Hacienda Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Lane Whitmore Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Lawrence Memorial Hospital . . . . . . . .61, 80Life Care Center of Burlington . . . . . . . . . . 23Longbine Auto Plaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Lyon County Historical Center . . . . . . . . . 21Lyon County State Bank . Inside Back CoverLyon County Title, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Madison News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Mark II Lumber Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Medicine Shoppe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas . 91Midas Touch Golden Tans . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Miracle Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Modern Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Morris County Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Mulready’s Pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Murphy Oil Food Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Newman Therapy Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Newman Regional Health . . . . . .Back CoverOlpe Chicken House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Olpe State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Paper Moon Antiques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Patton, Putnam & Dean, LLC . . . . . . . . . . 46Plumbing by Spellman, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Presbyterian Manor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Radius Brewing Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Ray’s Apple Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Regional Development Association . . . . . . 81Reynolds & Anliker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Rich Door Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Riddles Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1River City Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84S&A Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Satterfield Body Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Schankie Well Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Schmidt Custom Cabinetry . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Sears Hometown Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Street Tax Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Subway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Thomas Property Management . . . . . . . . . 66Thomas Transfer & Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Topeka Ear, Nose and Throat . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Trail Days Cafe & Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Valerie’s Gifts & Such . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74ValuNet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58, 59Vektek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Wagner Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Wellnitz Tree Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Williams Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

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8 | Emporia Living

Emporia Living | 9

Meg Detwiler is focused on using her faith to help people

Written by Morgan Chilson

Teen with a MISSION

PhotograPhy by Kevin Anderson

Emporia teenager meg Detwiler may be the perfect example of an olD saying about “meeting yourself coming anD going.”

The saying, which means that you’re so busy that you’re practically coming in the door at the same time you’re going out, aptly fits Detwiler’s activity level as a high school senior.

In school, she’s powerlifting, swimming, running cross country, getting top grades and taking college classes. Outside of school, she volunteers, is active in church, goes on mission trips and babysits (in her spare time).

She’s focused in a way that most teenagers aren’t. Detwiler, 17, was clearly uncomfortable talking about herself, although she admitted, “I’m a cookie-cutter Type A person. If you look it up on the internet, it tells you that you are very organized. It’ll say something along the lines of control freak, that would be me. Perfectionist — also me. I’m very hard on myself. I think the saying that you are your worst critic definitely applies to me.”

Detwiler laughed and admitted that her brothers call her the Golden Child. “That is kind of embarrassing, because they think I’m perfect at everything,” she said. “Which of course, isn’t true, because I’m definitely not perfect.”

The perception of her being good at everything she tries comes, Detwiler thinks, because she’s one of those people who tries hard at everything she does, something that ties back to that Type A personality, as well as her Christian faith.

“I grew up going to church,” Detwiler said. “I think it definitely affects everything I do. It’s kind of like my overall motivation. It’s hard to put into words. I think that my whole purpose in life, what I want to do with my life, is totally based on my relationship with God. I think if I wasn’t a Christian, then my whole life would be totally different. Obviously, I wouldn’t want to be a missionary if I wasn’t a Christian.”

Her desire to do missionary work, and possibly become a doctor, was stimulated when Detwiler and her father, Dr. Todd Detwiler, went to the Philippines on a trip through her church. Detwiler then went to Mexico for a week last summer, again with her church on a mission trip, and worked at a Missouri summer camp for disadvantaged children. The Philippines trip introduced her to a way of life that she had only read about.

10 | Emporia Living

“The Philippines was my first experience with real poverty, like intense, third-world country, living-on-the-streets pover ty,” she said. “The first morning that we got there, we took a tour of the squatter’s village, and I was just blown away. You see pictures, and you see stuff on the news, but it’s not really real. When you see the shacks that are made of plywood and sheet metal . . . it’s just different.”

It was an experience that Detwiler carried back to the United States, enforcing her determination to do missionary work and also causing her to suffer from reverse culture shock that took her a little while to deal with.

She talked about going to a home in the Philippines and seeing that four families, one with 10 children, lived in one small house, each in a corner. “When I came home and I walked in my bedroom, and I stood in my doorway and thought, this is the size of what they lived in and I complain about the size of my bedroom. It was like a reality check,” she said.

“When you come back, they don’t tell you how hard it’s going to be. There was like a week when we came back, I had some jet lag going on, so I slept a lot. I was miserable. To just look around, it killed me to look at all of the stuff I had and to think about all the stuff

they didn’t have. I know it’s not realistic to get upset about wasting food in Kansas when people don’t have food in the Philippines. But just all of the excess . . .”

Still, in her typical focused fashion, Detwiler used the experience to become aware of what needs to be done in Emporia too.

“One of the things my youth pastor told me when we got back was that one of the best things you can do for yourself in that situation is to find something similar to the work that you’ve been doing, to help your own community,” she said. “Poverty exists everywhere. I think it kind of opened my eyes to the fact

that there are people who need things here, too, not just in Third World countries.”

It was when she got back that Detwiler began volunteering once a week at Shiloh Home of Hope for Women, babysitting for children so their mothers could go to worship services.

But her heart and leaning toward people who are struggling began long before Detwiler went to the Philippines and Mexico. In eighth grade, attending a Christian conference in Kansas City, she and a friend signed up to split the cost of sponsoring a child in another country, something that she pays for with her own money.

Meg has went on several mission trips to the Philippines and Mexico to help others.

Emporia Living | 11

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Setting such high standards and adding in that perfectionism, as well, can be stressful. Detwiler said she handles stress well, most of the time.

“I like to clean when I’m stressed,” she said. “If my environment is messy, it stresses me out more. That’s one way I’m not Type A. They say that you’re organized everywhere except for your own space, but my room is spotless because it stresses me out. I think as far as dealing with stress goes, as long as I stay focused on my ultimate goal, it’s not as hard.”

Learning to fail has been a challenge. When she got a

low grade on a test, Detwiler said she cried. It was in a weighted class, so her GPA wasn’t impacted, but the high-achieving teenager doesn’t like that her unweighted grade scale means she’s not a 4.0 student.

And yes, she can laugh at that, and realize that such a perfectionist way of thinking isn’t always good. In fact, if she could change one thing about herself, it would be that tendency.

“I wish I didn’t think everything was such a big deal. I’m one of those people that it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, if I don’t do it exactly how I’ve envisioned myself doing

12 | Emporia Living

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it, it’s like the end of the world,” Detwiler admitted.

Recognizing that about herself goes a long way to learning how to deal with that aspect of her personality. With college looming, it could be an important skill. Detwiler said she’s nervous and excited about going to school.

“I’m kind of terrified. I think part of it is just with my personality, I like to plan this ahead. And I know that I’m not going to know where I’m going to college until March or April. I won’t have plans set in stone,” she said, laughing. “I’m a little nervous to move out, but I think I’m more excited about that part than I am nervous. I think I’m ready to be doing something different. I feel

like that’s one of the fun parts of life, because it’s when you get to make everything you’ve been planning happen. We’ve dreamed forever about what we want to be when we grow up, how we want to get there, and when you go to college that’s when you get to start doing it.”

Her mother, Cindy Detwiler, will be facing an empty nest when Detwiler leaves for college. “We are so lucky to have her as the last one, because we’re tired and she’s so easy,” Cindy Detwiler said, adding that her daughter’s focus has always been evident. “She just has such a love for people and causes. She does so much volunteer work; she really wants to go into missions. She is so spiritual.”

Emporia Living | 13

14 | Emporia Living

January Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls January 17 Chamber Annual Meeting at Camp Wood

YMCA

February Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls February 14 6:00pm A Night to Remember presented by Clover Cliff

Ranch B&B and Flying W Ranch February 28 9-4 Saving Grandpa’s Stories Workshop at Pioneer

Bluffs

March Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls March 3 Jane Laman Photographs on display at Chase

County Historical Museum March 7 1:30pm Flint Hills Women, Prairie Talk by Farrell Hoy

Jenab at Pioneer Bluffs March 14 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch March 16-20 USD 284 Spring Break March 21 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch March 26 12:00pm ChamberConnect meeting

April Every Friday Night 7: 30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls April 4 1:30 pm Kansas City Voices at Pioneer Bluffs April 4 Opening shows in The Gallery of Pioneer Bluffs

with Mariana Escribano and Ann Resnick April 4 Opening Reception at The Bank for Adri Luna April 11 2:30- 9:30pm Flames in the Flint Hills at Flying W Ranch April 18 Trail Ride at Clover Cliff Ranch B&B April 18 Reception with the Artists at The Gallery of

Pioneer Bluffs April 25 8:00 pm Grand Gala Ball location to be announced April 25 8:00pm CCJSHS Prom April 25 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch

May Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls May 2 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch May 2 Full Moon Ride at Flying W Ranch May 2-3 Plein Air Masterclass with Lisa Grossman at

The Gallery at Pioneer Bluffs

May 8-10 Spring in Cottonwood Falls at Cottonwood Falls Collectables

May 9 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch May 16 5th Anniversary Reception at The Gallery at Pioneer

Bluffs May 17 2:00pm CCJSHS Graduation May 22 Trail Ride at Clover Cliff Ranch B&B May 23 Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch May 24 Trail Ride at Clover Cliff Ranch B&B May 25 Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch May 30 Dirty Kanza 200 in Cottonwood Falls

June Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls June 2 Full Moon Ride at Flying W Ranch June 4-6 8:00pm Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City June 6 2:00pm Flint Hills Parade at Swope Park June 6 Opening Reception at The Gallery at Pioneer

Bluffs for Bengt Erikson & Erin Dobson June 6 Opening Reception at The Bank for Corey

Anthis June 12 Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch June 12 River Suite on the Historic River Bridge in

Cottonwood Falls June 12-14 Chamber Passport Event in Chase County

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Emporia Living | 15

June 13 Symphony in the Flint Hills June 13-14 Folklife Festival in Cottonwood Falls June 13 Trail Ride at Clover Cliff Ranch B&B June 14 Flag Retirement June 14 Evening Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch June 14 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch June 18 12:00pm ChamberConnect meeting June 20 1:00pm Public talk with Ryan Kohlmeier and Huth at CC

Historical Museum June 27 3:00pm Flowers in the Flint Hills presented by Flying W

Ranch and Clover Cliff Ranch B&B

July Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls July 1 Full Moon Ride at Flying W Ranch July 11 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch July 11 Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch July 18 1:00pm Silent Films featuring One Run Elmer and

College with Buster Keaton at CC Historical Museum

July 18 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch July 26-30 Chase County Fair in Cottonwood Falls July 31 Full Moon Ride at Flying W Ranch

August Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls August 1 1:30pm Ranching Heritage Prairie Talk at Pioneer Bluffs August 7-9 Summer in Cottonwood Falls at Cottonwood

Falls Collectables August 8 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch August 8 Opening Reception at The Gallery at Pioneer

Bluffs for Jon Scott Anderson and Justin Marable August 8 Opening Reception at The Gallery at Pioneer

Bluffs for Jose Alvarado August 8 Film Screening “Farmer John” with farmer John

in Matfield Green August 15 1:00pm WSU Professor Dreifort at CC Historical

Museum August 29 Full Moon Ride at Flying W Ranch

September Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls September 5 Trail Ride at Clover Cliff Ranch B&B September 6 Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch September 7 Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch September 17 12:00pm ChamberConnect meeting September 19 Dirty Kanza “Race The Chase” in Cottonwood

Falls September 19 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch

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September 19 12:00pm Vintage Baseball Game Emporia vs. Strong City September 19 Late Afternoon Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch September 19-26 Plein Air September 27 Plein Air Art Sale September 25-27 The Dream Ride September 26 Joyful Noise at Camp Wood YMCA

October Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls October 3 Pioneer Bluffs Fall Festival at Pioneer Bluffs October 3 Opening Reception at The Gallery at Pioneer

Bluffs for Yoonmi Nam and a juried show of Plein Air artists

October 3 Opening Reception at The Bank for Chyoko Myose

October 9-11 Autumn in Cottonwood Falls at Cottonwood Falls Collectables

October 10 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch October 24 Trail Ride at Flying W Ranch B&B

November Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls November 11 Veteran’s Day Ceremony by Charlie Rayl in

CWF November 14 Cattle Drive at Flying W Ranch November 28 Strong City Seasonal Express in Strong City November 29 Chase County Country Christmas in

Cottonwood Falls

December Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Music at the Emma” in Cottonwood Falls December 17 12:00pm ChamberConnect meeting

16 | Emporia Living

Photo by Stuart Mullenberg

Emporia Living | 17

Professional disc golfer Eric McCabe calls Emporia home, although he

spends most of his time on the road, traveling to tournaments and making

a name in a relatively new sport. He’s been playing professionally for 17 years, and in 2010 won the top tournament, the Professional Disc

Golf World Championships, sealing his reputation as one of the top disc golfers in the world. McCabe, 36, sat

down to talk with Emporia Living about disc golf, his life and his goals.

WORLD CHAMPION

Legacy of being a


18 | Emporia Living

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED PLAYING DISC GOLF?

In high school, I did gymnastics for many, many years, from probably 10 years old through high school. My coach and good friend played disc golf, and they took me out to practice one day at the only course we had in Emporia, and I pretty much got hooked on it right away. WHAT DOES HOOKED MEAN?

Since I found disc golf, I’ve been playing pretty much non-stop, every day, it seems like. The year 2000 was the year I decided to turn professional, and it was actually 2003 when I made it my career and decided to strictly play disc golf and have that be my source of income. WAS THAT SCARY?

Yes. Disc golf isn’t like your normal professional sport, meaning we’re out there grinding away every week and not making millions or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. But I didn’t have a lot holding me down, and I just basically wanted to follow my dream. WHAT DID YOUR FAMILY THINK OF THAT IDEA?

They were very encouraging; they’ve encouraged me to follow the dream. They’ve been a good support group for me in my disc golf career. I think it was 2003, when I was getting out and getting ready to do this, I’d gone to a tournament in Arizona, and I came back and was considering pulling out of a California tournament. My dad was actually the one who encouraged me to go.

My brother lives in Texas, as well (as my parents), and he’s a professional golfer, traditional golf, but he’s now the general manager of a course down there. Sports have always been in our family, so it didn’t surprise me too much when they said they wanted me to pursue this dream. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DISC GOLF. HOW IS IT SET UP? LIKE TRADITIONAL GOLF?

There are different tours and, on any given weekend, there are 10 to 30 tournaments to choose from. The majority of them have every division available from a recreational division to juniors to a women’s division, three to four different amateur

divisions at different levels, and then you get into professional play, open men and women, which are open to anyone; masters, which is 40 and over; grand masters which is 50 and over.

The rules of the golf are like a book, and ours are more like a little pamphlet, because we haven’t been around as long. It definitely is played the same, with the same terminology like pars, bogies, birdies. HOW IS THE SPORT GROWING?

It’s grown immensely over the last few years. 2003 was actually the first year that the Professional Disc Golf Association, or PDGA, started its own tour, called the National Tour, with 12 different events, I think, that they had deemed larger scale events and put more money into and made requirements to play in those events. You had to qualify. So 2003 is really where I saw a big spike in the growth of the sport. Of course, the PDGA memberships just double every year ; I believe we’re up to 70,000, where when I joined in 1996, or so, I believe, I’m number 11,000. EMPORIA HAS FOUR COURSES, RIGHT? IS THAT USUAL FOR A TOWN OUR SIZE?

Emporia, Kansas, is actually becoming more world-known as the place to go for disc golf because we’re a small community and the city backs us so well. We have four 18-hole disc courses, and we’re looking at putting in two or three more of them in a town of about 28,000 people. Per capita, we’re definitely up there. DO THE FRIGID WINTER TEMPERATURES AFFECT THE GAME? WHERE IS IT PLAYED PRIMARILY?

The tour actually starts in the month of February out in Las Vegas and Phoenix, and then works its way through California and through the southern states. It’s very, very popular in California, Texas and even Michigan. It’s cold up there most of the year, but they have a very active disc golf support.

The weather, especially (in mid-November), it’s not fun. I’m fortunate enough to have Dynamic Discs and the big warehouse that I can train all winter long in. We have a bunch of portable baskets that I’ll practice putting into or we’re getting a net we’re going to set up here in the warehouse so you can stay loose on your shots.

Emporia Living | 19Photo by Kevin anderSon

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DO YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE A LOT? Lots and lots of hours. When I was first starting out, that’s pretty much all I would do. As soon as the sun would come up, I’d go straight to the course. Some days I would stay there until the sun went down. And especially nowadays, the competition is getting younger and younger, and more athletic, and fearless, so the competition level is just ridiculous out there right now. In order to stay on top of your game, you still have to put in your hours and hours of work.

You can play on a competitive level and on a more relaxed and just a hobby level, as well. But for me, I’m definitely still in the top competition level, so I’m definitely out there still putting in my hours on the practice fields.

It’s a grind. There are people who look and say ‘man, I would give anything to be in your position.’ But it’s work. It’s definitely work. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change it for anything, but it’s definitely work.

DOES IT PAY OFF? I’ve actually won two major championships; one in

2008, which was the Players Cup championship, and

then 2010, the World Championship. I checked the other day, close to 80 total pro wins over my career.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU’RE SUCCESSFUL? IS IT SOMETHING IN YOUR PERSONALITY, ALONG WITH YOUR ATHLETIC ABILITY?

I think a lot of it is how you’re raised. And I grew up in a great family, a great loving family, and I like to think that at least I’m more mature than a lot of them and I have good head on my shoulders; when the competition level gets going, just because you have a bad hole doesn’t mean the event’s over.

The last tournament I played, a couple of weeks ago down in Texas, after the first round, I was actually 7 or 8 strokes behind the lead. Going into the final round, I was still 5 strokes back. You’ve got to put your head down and just kind of fight through. I actually ended up winning that tournament by 2 strokes. The event is never over until it’s actually over. I’m also the kind of guy that, on the course, I don’t show a whole lot of emotion. If I have a bad hole, I kind of keep it down to myself. I’m not one of the John McEnroe’s. I don’t feel like that doesn’t anything good for your game at all.


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WHAT’S BEEN CHALLENGING ABOUT CREATING A PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN DISC GOLF?

Especially in disc golf, you’re pretty much somewhat on your own. You’ve got your sponsors that support you and do what they can, but as a professional player, you’re definitely out there on your own, and growing your own name. I actually run my own Facebook page, Twitter page, and Instagram. It’s definitely different not having to rely on somebody else. In my opinion, it is actually better for the growth. It’s actually that person, it’s not an agent making the posts and asking questions or running clinics, and all that. It’s actually me doing it. I think that helps in being more admired on a professional level.

ARE THERE ANY MISTAKES YOU’VE MADE? ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? ANY BIG DECISIONS?

I’ve always looked back and wondered that, if there’s anything I could go back and change. I can honestly say that there really isn’t anything that I would like to change.

A few years ago, there was a big mix-up in the sport, the patent on the actual disc was running out, and all these new manufacturers coming into the game. That’s actually when Dynamic Discs decided they wanted to start making their own discs and being a manufacturer. I was with another company at that time; I was still with Dynamic Discs, they were more of an apparel sponsor. When the decision came, I had three or four different disc companies asking me to go with them. That was definitely one of the toughest decisions in my career to make. I chose to go with Dynamic Discs because it’s more of a family atmosphere; I feel like a part of the family at DD as opposed to more of the companies that are more corporate. IS IT CHALLENGING TO BE ON THE ROAD SO MUCH?

I’m not married; I’ve somehow managed to stay single. Not a bad thing, I don’t know if it’s a good thing. It’s tough to have a relationship with someone when you’re constantly on the road. Constantly gone. I travel so much. I play upwards of 30 to 35 tournaments a year. I’m constantly traveling, and I spent a month in Europe, playing disc golf. I do have a girlfriend now, who works at DD. She’s starting to travel more with me to events.

I have dog. His name is Ralph. He’s actually kind of a staple in the disc golf community, everybody loves the guy. He’s got his own FB page and his own line of shirts. (On Facebook, he’s “Ralph.”) He’s quite the popular guy, an Australian Shepherd, Blue Heeler mix, about 12 years old now. I rescued him. I went into the Emporia shelter, not expecting to go home with a dog, and there he was. It’s been one of the best decisions ever. I typically drive to tournaments, and I take Ralph when I drive.



Photo by Kevin anderSon

Emporia Living | 23

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WHAT DOES YOUR FUTURE HOLD?Well, I’ve been telling myself that I’m going to quit

playing, well, not quit playing but stop playing as much, I guess, as far as the tour goes, and try to build the game, build the sport more. I’ve been doing that a lot with Dynamic Disc and helping the growth of the game, and I’m still planning on playing all the big national tour and major events, but I’m also leaning more toward putting in courses. More course design. I actually just put a course in Manchester, New Hampshire. The city called and wanted me to put in a course. I’ve designed close to a dozen courses now, and I want to continue that.

WHAT GOES INTO DESIGNING A COURSE?

It helps that I’ve played hundreds. On a professional level, I know what people are looking for, I know what to steer clear of. I can put in a championship level course or I can put in a junior or kid-friendly course anywhere. Usually what it takes is getting a nice aerial footage of the property and spending countless hours just walking the property, even taking a couple of discs with me and throwing here and there, seeing what angles may work better.


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26 | Emporia Living

The Business of

Jeremy “JJ” Johns pours heart and soul into his brews

BREWING



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Jeremy “JJ” Johns used to brew beer in his garage, playing with flavors and learning the art and artistry behind creating ale. It was a pastime strictly for himself, friends and family. Today, he brews beer in 90-gallon batches and is the creator of ales served at Emporia’s Radius Brewing Co., where he’s a co-owner.

“It’s the same process, just on a larger scale, but a lot more risk involved, obviously,” Johns said. “If you mess up a batch, you’re in a lot deeper financially.”

Johns, 35, was pulled into the commercial side of beer when his friend Gus Bays, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, asked him if he’d

like to open a brewery together. Bays brought years of restaurant experience to the partnership, and Johns, who had never worked in the industry, brought a passion for beer to the business.

Was he scared?“Oh, yeah,” Johns answered,

laughing a little. “But it took us three years of planning to get the doors open. As soon as we decided we really wanted to make a go of it, I really star ted not so much brewing for myself, but brewing to learn how to make good beer that’s marketable.”

What Johns found was the same concepts applied in

brewing personal, small batches of beer as in brewing large quantities for the brewery.

“I wanted to make sure I knew the science, the basic science, of how everything worked,” he said. “Brewing is one of those things – if you can make soup, or bake a cake, you can make beer. You’re not making your own beer at that point, but you can produce beer from kits and what-not.”

Johns visited area breweries, spending some time at Little Apple Brewing Co. in Manhattan to learn the business. He said he’s found everyone in the brewing industry to be really helpful and not competitive about teaching

him their tips and tricks.Kris Bruzina, the brewer at

Little Apple who let Johns sit in on some brewing sessions, said that’s true overall in his experience. Recently, he helped two brewers opening a brewery in Salina learn to brew on a larger scale, just as he helped Johns.

“We’ve consulted with Blind Tiger in Topeka a whole lot during our days here. Everybody’s just so helpful, and just wanting to share knowledge,” Bruzina said. “There are some secrets they’re not going to give away as far as ingredients, but as far as the process goes and helping someone out, everybody is

Jeremy “JJ” Johns used to brew beer in his garage, now he is serving 90-gallon batches to customers at radius brewing co.

behind you really 100 percent.” One of the keys – and

the fun – to success for Johns came in creating his own beers, blending flavors from the four basic ingredients of beer: water, malt, hops and yeast.

“We’re lucky in Emporia, we have some of the best-tasting tap water in the world, so I don’t really have to treat it or anything,” he said. “The flavors can come from any of those four ingredients, really.”

In a simplified explanation about making beer, Johns explained, “Malt is a grain, primarily barley, sometimes wheat, sometimes rye, there’s some oats mixed in, but mostly barley. They soak it in water until it starts to germinate and then they heat it up and dry it really fast to stop the sprouting.”

“During the sprouting, enzymes are formed. So after the malt is made, they’ll sometimes kiln it to different

degrees of roastedness, they toast it. That allows you to get different flavors,” he explained. “It can end up black or end up really like grain-colored.”

Although flavors can be added to beer, Johns said most of the flavor differences in your favorite beers come from changing the hops and malt.

“The grains obviously provide a lot of different flavors, a lot of the chocolate-y flavors or kind of nutty and caramel-y flavors, will come from the grain. A lot of the citrusy and fruity flavors will come from hops, as well as floral, rose flavors,” Johns said. “Hops are really big in supplying flavor as well as being a preservative, and they add bitterness.”

Even yeast adds significant flavor, he said. Different strains of yeast come from different regions; Johns pointed to Heifeweizen beer, which is so-named after the yeast with

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which it’s made. As the yeast in that beer ferments, it creates esters and phenols, giving the beer a banana or clove-like flavor.

It’s fun for Johns to experiment with different flavors of beer, and, he said, a lot of friends were more than willing to be taste testers.

Radius Brewing’s most popular beer is its William Allen Wheat, which is what Johns called a good “cross-over” beer for people who aren’t used to drinking craft beers. The restaurant carries five beers all the time, but Johns creates special beers for different times of the year.

He brews about 300 gallons of beer a week, give or take, and it takes about six hours to brew a batch, including cleaning out the equipment, Johns said. Then the

beer has to ferment for two weeks to complete the process.

“If I run out, I can’t just whip up a new batch,” he said.

While the beer part of the business has come naturally to Johns – and he’s happy to say he hasn’t had to dump any batches (yet) – he and Bays have learned a lot about running their own business. Since opening in April, they’ve been taking it slowly, making sure they’re pleasing customers and things are working well before adding new menu items or beers.

In the future, Johns is looking forward to having special dinner and beer nights, where customers can learn about beer and try different ones they wouldn’t ordinarily try.

Jeremy “JJ” Johns prepares tanks to brew beer.

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“There’s really not much that I don’t like about it,” he admitted. “I, of course, enjoy making beer. I enjoy providing people with a that they enjoy going, and food and beer that they enjoy. I really like all of our employees. We have 35 right now, and we’re getting ready to add a few more.”

He also likes “looking at the numbers.” The brewery has not only hit their sales projections, but exceeded them, Johns said. The numbers were based on being open seven days a week, too, and they’ve only been open five.

Sure, he and Bays spend a lot of hours making the business work. But Johns spent a lot of hours managing a local auto par ts store, and this is a lot more fun, he said.

“I’ve always loved beer. I haven’t always loved good beer. I did acquire that some time ago.

It’s a labor of love,” he said. “I’m here quite a bit, but it doesn’t feel like work most of the time.”

Customers love Radius Brewery, too, and Johns said he loves to hear the feedback.

“One of the most common things we hear is when they walk in here, they don’t feel like they’re in Emporia anymore” he said. “Our goal, and it’s been our goal throughout the whole process, is we want this to feel like Emporia; we want Emporia to feel like this. We’re hoping we can kind of lead the way for other people to do similar things.”

32 | Emporia Living

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A B O V E T H E H I L L SSpringtime iS almoSt here and that meanS the Flint hillS rancherS will Set the prairieS ablaze. while many oF uS enjoy the majeStic imageS From the ground, have you ever wondered what it lookS like From the Sky? emporia aviator doug wilSon took photographer duStin michelSon up into the Sky For a birdS-eye view oF what the prairieS look like aFter being burned. thiS photo eSSay ShowS the art oF the burned prairie.

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The smell at Panaderia Progreso, a small Mexican bakery located on Sixth Avenue, is almost a tangible thing – so strong and mouth-watering that you feel as if you can reach out and touch it.

It is, in fact, difficult not to wax poetic about bakery items after wandering in the doors of the bakery, owned by Abel and Dalia Pineda. Shelves of every type of bread and pastry imaginable line the walls, and even sit on racks in the middle of the floor.

A Passion

for BakingWritten by

Morgan ChilsonPhotograPhy by Kevin Anderson

52 | Emporia Living

Abel Pineda is the pastry chef who works magic in the store’s kitchen, arriving between 4 and 5 a.m. Monday through Saturday to turn flour, sugar and other ingredients into scrumptious pastries and breads. Dalia Pineda runs the customer service part of the business, lending a hand in the kitchen when her husband needs help.

Abel Pineda began his career helping his parents in their jobs in a bakery in Mexico.

Sally Sanchez, who translated for Abel Pineda, explained, “His job was to clean the trays. And then the opportunity came where they were going to teach him how to bake. That’s when he went in and learned how to bake the bread.”

Today, baking bread and pastries is Abel Pineda’s passion – his face lights up when he talks about it. He also doesn’t use recipes.

“I love it,” Abel Pineda said through Sanchez. “To me, it’s play. It’s a hobby. I love it.”

Abel Pineda is the pastry chef who bakes Panaderia Progreso’s bread fresh every morning, while Dalia, his wife, serves the customers.

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That’s a good thing, because six days a week, Abel Pineda makes 760 pieces of bread, depending on expected business. Their customers come from all cultures, and business has picked up since Sanchez took samples of the numerous pastries around to various businesses in Emporia.

“Since then, more Caucasians will come in because they know about this place,” Dalia Pineda said.

Sanchez added, “When I delivered the breakfast, they would say, ‘There’s a bakery here in town?’ They did not know about this place.”

Dalia Pineda enjoys the role that she plays in the bakery, making customers feel welcome. When her husband is out of town, she said that she does do some baking. When he was gone for several months one time, she said, laughing, “My breads were like rocks. But the customers kept coming.”

The couple has been in Emporia about 15 years, and they made the plunge to open their own business in August 2003. Abel had worked for another bakery, but Dalia encouraged him to branch out on their own.

“She encouraged him so they could work together,” Sanchez translated.

“I didn’t even know how to run the register,” Dalia Pineda said, laughing about the challenges of learning to operate the business.

But they knew someone who worked at the health department who helped them learn the regulations and Abel Pineda brought experience from his previous work.

They initially rented at their current location, 602 E. Sixth Ave., and the landlord eventually agreed to sell them the building. The business consumes much of their time – with only one person to help out occasionally in the store, the couple runs it from 8 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, depending on the season.

56 | Emporia Living

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Despite the pitfalls of married couples working together, the two laugh and admit they get along fine. Dalia Pineda points out that when she tries to take a break, maybe play a game on the phone, he’s constantly saying, “The bread. The bread.”

But it’s clearly a relationship that can stand the test of hours and hours working together, and laughter and lively conversations spill through the bakery.

Abel Pineda is a quick worker and has no patience for being slow.

“Can’t think too long. Gotta get the job done,” Sanchez translated.

The evidence of Abel Pineda’s dedication and fast work is found on full shelves, heaped with a huge variety of items: large chocolate chip cookies, croissants, twists, conchas, yoyos, magdalenas, rebanadas, empanadas filled with strawberry and pineapple and pumpkin.

The smells and sight of so many pastries require only one thing – a commitment to work through every shelf in the bakery, trying everything.

Nothing would make the Pineda family happier.

Thank you to the Emporia community for supporting Food For Students for the last four years. Currently, an average of 300 "to-go" bags of food are dispersed to 10 Emporia schools, preschool through high school.

For more information about Food For Students go to www.emporia.com/foodforstudents or call 620-342-4800.

Thank You!

Emporia Living | 57

MISSIONWe build futures by preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s opportunities.

CORE PRINCIPLESWe will strive for excellence and success for all stakeholders.

We will lead by example through serving others.We are committed to unity in relationships, vision, and implementation.

We will lead with integrity.

VISIONEmporia Public Schools will build a culture that guarantees success for all.

1700 W. 7th Ave, Emporia • 620-341-2200 • USD253.org

58 | Emporia Living

myvalunet.com620-208-50002914 West Hwy 50 Suite A, Emporia

Tony Menke, quality control manager at Sauder Cusom Fabrication, and Wayne Fessler, outside plant manager at ValuNet, use ValuNet’s high speed Internet on the plant floor.

Emporia Living | 59

Telephone and Internet services are critical to running any company today because customers want access and information at all times, making Emporia business owners glad they can rely on the services of ValuNet.

But along with the stability of excellent products, business owners appreciate the quality of service and additional benefits the telecommunications company brings to their work needs.

When Sauder Custom Fabrication’s Human Resource Manager Karen Brown-Gentz worked with ValuNet to switch her company’s phone and Internet service, she was surprised by how much the changes benefited her company.

“They did an audit of our phone bill, going through it to determine if there was any duplication of services, old numbers that we were paying for but didn’t need or anything that needed to be changed,” Brown-Gentz said.

What they found not only helped Sauder create a custom package of services from ValuNet, but also helped the company identify some inaccurate charges from their former telecommunications company, she said. Sauder currently is in the process of requesting refunds for third-par ty charges that had been inaccurately added to their telephone bill, amounting to thousands of dollars.

That’s an issue Sauder won’t have with ValuNet because their bill is the same amount every month. In addition, when the company received its first ValuNet bill, a representative from the company came out and sat down with her to explain the bill and confirm that it would always be for the same amount, Brown-Gentz said.

“We want to work with ValuNet because they’re locally owned and we want to keep those tax dollars in Emporia, but they are so good to work with,” she said, adding that ValuNet communicates thoroughly about

any planned servicing or issues. “We’ve never had any issue whatsoever. I think they value, they understand, that companies need to have their phone system and their Internet systems.”

That kind of communication is what makes ValuNet stand out for Kathy Ausemus, of the Stanley R. Ausemus law firm.

“If you need help, they’re here. On top of that, Brad stops by every once in a while, just to see that we are still doing fine, and everything’s going okay,” Ausemus said. “They have great service, just wonderful service. We’ve got them for everything we can get from them here at the office.”

Additional services, such as the ability to switch office lines over to two or three cell phones, make ValuNet a terrific value for the law firm, she said.

Businesses, across the board, mention the excellent service and communication provided by ValuNet, but at the core, the telecommunications company is good at what it does.

For Chris Walker, publisher of the Emporia Gazette, the high-speed Internet connection made his business more efficient. When uploading files to the printer, particularly the

large, graphic-intense files like those necessary to print the newspaper and Emporia Living, a fast connection makes all the difference.

“The Internet is our lifeline for our production,” Walker said. “Each day, we create a completely new product, and our software is all web-based. So each morning, we rely on that Internet connection to paginate, to write our stories, and we need the files to move fast. Then, once the paper is completed, we send it to our printer electronically. We come to work at 7 a.m. and by 10 a.m., our paper is sent to the printer, and there is just zero margin for slow Internet connections.”

In addition to the speed, which has decreased the upload time required to send large files, Walker said his business can’t function without the Internet. ValuNet’s reliability was an important factor in switching companies.

“We don’t have a large staff, and to be able to call ValuNet and have them come fix any issues, whether it’s an Internet problem or a telephone problem, is extremely important to us,” he said. “Their customer service is excellent. They work to find the problem and then find a solution. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable.”

The Emporia Gazette uses ValuNet to transfer large files at high-speeds.

60 | Emporia Living

City of Reading City Hall

620-699-3870 • 613 1st Street • Reading, KS 66868

DOWNTOWN READING

(620) 699-3009M-Th. 9am-3:30 pm

Fri. 9 am-9 pmSat. 6-11 am Breakfast only

Your Local Voice & Data Provider1.800.626.8859

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Ask about our money saving bundles.

Serving Allen,

Admire & Scranton

NORTH LYON COUNTYC A L E N D A R2 0 1 5

Americus DaysOctober 2 & 3rd, 2015

Americus City Wide Garage SalesJune 20th, 2015

Americus Lighted Christmas ParadeDecember 5, 2015For more information on Americus events, contact Americus City Hall at 620-443-5655.

Reading annual Fish FryJune 27, 2015

Emporia Living | 61

Always accepting new patients of all ages!

2518 W. 15th Ave • (620) 343-8000

Dr. Kerri R. Thompson D.D.S.

Street Tax Service

Glenda J. StreetENROLLED AGENT & OWNER

tax returns - bookkeeping - property management

PH. 620.342.0260 | FX. 620.342.026515 WEST 5TH AVE., EMPORIA, KS 66801

62 | Emporia Living

Emporia Living | 63

Coffelt Sign Company celebrates 65 years in 2014

Written by Jesse Murphy

Still shining THE LIGHT

Since 1949, coffelt Sign company, inc. haS been Serving the area with unique diSplayS and in unique wayS.

Current owners Rick and Staci Hamman bought the busi-ness from Staci’s parents Nelson and Donna, who were the sole owners since 1961 when Nelson took over full ownership from his cousin, Laurence Coffelt.

Staci Hamman has worked full-time for the company since 1986, one year before Rick Ham-man, which she jokingly never lets him forget.

The family business continues to run and thrive, with no short-age of work to be done.

All three of Rick and Staci’s boys — Dustin, Jesse and Levi — have worked at least part time over the years, all in the same building that Staci Hamman grew up working in along with her three older brothers.

Today, Jesse is one of the five total employees at the company, along with John Collins and Barry Kelley.

“He [Nelson] told me one time, ‘I feel like I’ve gone full-cir-cle,’” Staci Hamman said, of her father. “He said ‘I was always so proud to point up at a sign and say my little girl made that. But it’s something to be able to point up and say my grandson made that.’”

Some of the most notable projects designed, made and installed by Coffelt include the now-famous Braum’s ice cream cone and the marquee at the Granada Theatre.

The Braum’s sign was designed by Staci Hamman’s brother Dan-ny, who passed away 12 years ago. It involves 102 pieces of neon and weighs three tons. Nelson and the fabricators in the shop put it together, which was no small feat.

On most jobs within the 100-mile radius Coffelt typically covers, they are a full-service company.

They work with the customer

to tailor the sign to their need of properly identifying their busi-ness. They pay attention not only to municipal codes, but especially to the “little details,” as Nelson would say, that make the differ-ence with the finished product.

Coffelt also does contract work for many regional and na-tional companies. Business has taken them throughout Kan-sas and into Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

“We’re pretty proud,” Staci Hamman said. “I think the longer we own the company and are involved in it, the more respect I have for my parents and the hours they put into it.”

Many things have come and gone over the last 65 years, in-cluding the original Granada marquee.

“My dad was one of the few people that actually remem-bered the original colors of the sign,” Staci Hamman said. “All of the pictures of it were black and white.”

[Photo by Jesse MurPhy]

64 | Emporia Living

They finished and installed the sign, and it had the desired effect of generating public interest in funding the overhaul of the the-atre, which is once again a premier attraction in downtown Emporia.

Along with the changes of the world and the community have come changes in the industry.

Rick and Staci Hamman both agreed that the biggest change has been technology and using computers to draw up sign ideas, but other differences include how neon signs are made.

Not many people can bend glass anymore, Coffelt sends de-signs to wholesalers to make the pieces they need and pump in the different colored neon gas.

The old standards of fluorescent lighting and neon tubing are some-times being replaced by LED lighting.

“That’s a lost art, there’s only certain people that can do that,”

Rick Hamman said. “We did it here years ago, but it’s been quite awhile since it’s been done here.”

With the long days, travel time and the usual work that comes with running a business, the com-pany can have their hands full.

“It’s keeping up with the lat-est stuff and the changes in the industry as they come along, so that you can offer customers the state-of-the-art products at a reasonable price,” Rick Hamman said. “You have to keep up with the Jones’ as they say.”

And that they do, in some ways modern and yet still with the same work ethic that built the business in the first place 65 years ago.

“You can’t ever forget the in-tegrity the business was built on,” Staci Hamman said. “We’ve got a good crew, we’re very lucky. It’s more like a family.”

Emporia Living | 65

620.208.8888 • www.fhshopper.com

BETTINA SHANKB U S I N E S S MA N AG E [email protected]

LISA STUEVESALES [email protected]

Find the best deals, connect with local businesses and never miss an event with our FREE paper delivered to you weekly!

18 South Commercial St.343.6411 • fax 343.9233

banners • graphic designsign fabrication, installation & maintenance

vinyl graphics • aerial reach trucks

Proudly Serving The Area Since 1949

66 | Emporia Living

David Traylor Zoo of EmporiaCome Visit the Zoo!

The zoo is open from 10am to 4:30pm. Bio facts and outreach animals can be viewed

in the Zoo Education Center from 1-4pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Call (620) 341-4365 if you have any quesitons. Hope to see you soon!

www.zoo.emporia-kansas.gov

Emporia Municipal Golf Course1133 S Highway 99Emporia, KS 66801

(620) 343-5610

www.emporiagolfcourse.com

Animal Shelter1216 Hatcher

Emporia, KS 66801(620) 340-6345

Monday-Friday 11am-2pm

www.petfinder.com/shelters/KS100.html

Water & Sanitation Service 104 E. 5th Ave., Emporia, KS 66801

(620) 343-4244Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Emporia has won the prestigious title of2014 Best Tasting Water in the World

as well as Best Tasting Water in Kansas, more than any other city in Kansas.

www.utilities.emporia-kansas.gov

Code Services/ Planning & Zoning

Engineering/GIS

521 Market St. • Emporia, KS 66801(620) 343-4274

522 Mechanic St. • Emporia, KS 66801(620) 343-4260

www.development.emporia-kansas.gov

Whether your project is big or small, Emporia’s One-Stop-Shop for Development Services is the place to go for a wide variety of permits.

www.fire.emporia-kansas.gov www.police.emporia-kansas.gov

Ask about Our Lower Rates...• FREE Visual Estimates• Packing and Crating• Electronic Moving Specialists• Local and Long Distance Moves

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www.thomasunited.com

Since 1945

Family owned over 60 years.

That family works together, blending ideas from everyone involved to get the best product, Rick said.

“It’s the quality & service that will make or break a business,” he said. “That customer is depend-ing on you and a lot of times the sign is the difference between someone stopping there, or go-ing on down the street.”

“We have to be innovative and come up with new ideas all the time, something different so that every customer knows they’re special and you’re doing the best job you can to identify their business to the public so you’re not just doing the cook-ie-cutter stuff.”

Coffelt Sign Company, Inc., is

located at 18 S. Commercial and can be reached at 343-6411.

Aside from large signs, they also do vinyl lettering for semis, awnings, banners and fleet vehi-cles, both commercial and indus-trial. Coffelt has highway adver-tising signs for lease in the area. A maintained fleet of aerial reach trucks allows them to work up to 90 feet with welding and lifting capabilities.

“We’re pretty proud of this place.” Staci said about taking over what her parents were able to create and continuing their legacy. “I’m very blessed to have had the opportunity to work side by side with Rick and my parents all those years and now with our sons as well.”

Emporia Living | 67

David Traylor Zoo of EmporiaCome Visit the Zoo!

The zoo is open from 10am to 4:30pm. Bio facts and outreach animals can be viewed

in the Zoo Education Center from 1-4pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Call (620) 341-4365 if you have any quesitons. Hope to see you soon!

www.zoo.emporia-kansas.gov

Emporia Municipal Golf Course1133 S Highway 99Emporia, KS 66801

(620) 343-5610

www.emporiagolfcourse.com

Animal Shelter1216 Hatcher

Emporia, KS 66801(620) 340-6345

Monday-Friday 11am-2pm

www.petfinder.com/shelters/KS100.html

Water & Sanitation Service 104 E. 5th Ave., Emporia, KS 66801

(620) 343-4244Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Emporia has won the prestigious title of2014 Best Tasting Water in the World

as well as Best Tasting Water in Kansas, more than any other city in Kansas.

www.utilities.emporia-kansas.gov

Code Services/ Planning & Zoning

Engineering/GIS

521 Market St. • Emporia, KS 66801(620) 343-4274

522 Mechanic St. • Emporia, KS 66801(620) 343-4260

www.development.emporia-kansas.gov

Whether your project is big or small, Emporia’s One-Stop-Shop for Development Services is the place to go for a wide variety of permits.

www.fire.emporia-kansas.gov www.police.emporia-kansas.gov

68 | Emporia Living

Justin Combes turns the craft of wood floors into an artform


Distinctive FLOORSJ ustin Combes

began his professional Career as a teaCher, but every night he piCked up a paintbrush to make extra money to support his family.

A chance encounter while he was at a local paint store led Combes in a different direction — one that has allowed him to create works of art that people walk on every day.

Combes, of Lebo, installs, renovates and lends an artistic eye to create unique wood floors for residential and commercial customers. That first customer — when he was a moonlighting painter — hired him to build shelves in rentals. Then one day told him a unit needed the floors sanded.

Combes had never done that before, and he said so, straight up. But she told him he was handy, he could do it. Little did he know . . .

“When I got done she was happy, but if you and I were standing on that floor right now, I’d lie to you and say ‘I didn’t do it,’” he said, laughing about his first effort. “Then she had me do another one. Then I did a neighbor’s. Then I did another teacher’s. Then another’s, and before I knew it, I quit teaching/painting and was doing teaching/floors. That was 27 years ago.”

Wood floors were undergoing a renaissance when Combes started his business. From the 50s to the mid-80s, carpet reigned as the flooring of choice for many, he explained.

But as a new appreciation for wood floors hit home design, Combes found himself

in a business that just kept growing, eventually allowing him to quit working as a teacher and spend his career adding the warmth of wood to home and commercial spaces.

What Combes found as he expanded his business was that he loved working with different varieties of wood, even hand-scraping his own for today’s popular hand-made looks, and, whenever possible, creating eye-catching designs. He jokes that the he likes to go into a barn, accompanied by his cat and his dog, “Poptart,” and “get my Amish on,” doing the almost meditative work of scraping and preparing wood for floors.

From inlaid medallions to “painting” in wood by mixing varieties and shades, to putting in reclaimed barn wood floors, Combes finds joy in his work.

In Dr. Tracy Tucker’s home, Combes was able to tap into his creativity, putting in a woman sitting in a moon on Tucker’s bedroom floor, and a unique design that Tucker said looks like a stack of wood in her living room.

“Justin did a really amazing job for me,” she said, adding that a rough wood wall allowed her to put her personality into each knothole, which is filled with trinkets she found while traveling. “He’s great. He really is. Most of the contractors, surprisingly, when you give them leeway to do something creative, they all want to do something creative. When they get a chance to do something fun, they kind of jump on it.”

Combes said he loves the opportunity to stretch his abilities, and he gathers ideas for wood-floor designs wherever he goes.

PhotograPhy by Jakub Stepanovic

Emporia Living | 69

70 | Emporia Living

“I drew things on napkins, if I saw something – I might be looking at a window and would draw something up and tuck it away,” he said, adding that he’s gotten a lot of design ideas from stained glass windows or quilts.

Custom work isn’t a large percentage of his business, and Combes spends most of his time putting in wood floors that meet the needs of the families he works for.

“I’ve been in it 27 years. I’m still grateful when the calls come,” he said. “You never know when they’re going to stop. I haven’t run out of work – I think the first year that I quit teaching and went full-time with the floors, I had one January with no work. I remember thinking about it, how I got up that morning, and it was odd, my wife would hardly ever say, ‘What are you doing?’ and she said, ‘So what are you doing today?’ and I go, ‘Nothing.’”

Stressed out about his decision to quit teaching full-time and whether his business would do well, Combes said he was surprised when his wife jumped all over his “free time,” filling it up quickly with projects she had on hold. So, would someone drop by Combes’ home and find stunning wood floors? He laughed.

“I did this 18 years before my wife ever got a hardwood floor,” he admitted. “You’d find brown carpet in my bedrooms. Pretty standard number 2 red oak, the dining room has a little bling.”

Combes told a funny story about how that dining room floor happened – it had to do with a fed-up wife wondering why her floors weren’t nice – but said quickly, “Don’t put that in there.”

He laughed at a reference to the old wisdom, “The cobbler’s kids have no shoes.”

Still, while his house may not be a showpiece of his wood artistry, Combes’ mark is on the floor in 48 area counties. His business has grown through word of mouth, although Combes Custom Wood Floors does have a Facebook page, which features numerous photos of his work.

As his business grew, he’s found he actually can’t take on every customer who calls. Add in a body that’s starting to protest

Justin Combes sands a reclaimed wood floor in preparation of sealing it with a top coat.

Emporia Living | 71

O U R P R I M A R Y C A R EI S S E C O N D T O N O N E !

Introducing Dr. Amanda Ruxton! Dr. Ruxton is an osteopathic physician with a “whole person” approach to medicine instead of only treating symptoms or illnesses. Her practice areas include family medicine, pediatrics, gynecology and low-risk obstetrics.

With additional training in the musculoskeletal system and the body’s interconnected nerves, muscles and bones, Dr. Ruxton provides Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, diagnosing illness and injury with hands-on care, and encouraging the body’s natural tendency toward good health.

SERVICES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, INCLUDING:· Pediatrics· Women’s Health· Neuromuscular Medicine· In-House Lab

· Prescription Assistance· Same-Day Appointments· Free Transportation· & More!

Lynn BridgeAPRN-C

Joan GrotherAPRN, FNP-C, WHNP-BC

Amy SeimearsAPRN-C

Joyce ShivelyAPRN, FNP-C

Heather McCullough APRN-C

Margaret WrightAPRN-C

We work hard to offer quality healthcare for everyone who walks through our doors – regardless of

income or insurance coverage.

In 2015, let us help make your health a priority!

72 | Emporia Living

Rich Door co.Sales & Service on all makes and models

439 S Prairie • Bill Redeker 620-343-1060Fax 620-343-2667

Commercial & Residential Overhead Doors Midland Doors

& Liftmaster Operators

State of the Art No Stitch Cataract SurgeryGlaucoma • Laser Surgery • Retinal Diseases

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Satellite offices in Chanute, Iola, Burlington, Council Grove, Eureka,

Herington, Hillsboro, Marion, Osage City, & Manhattan

1602 W. 15th Ave., Ste B • Emporia, KS 66801620-342-6989 OR 800-794-1209

Michael G. Reynolds, MD

Wayne L. Anliker, MD

AdvAnced eye Surgery center, PA1602 W. 15th Ave., Ste A • Emporia

620-343-7200

Physicians & SurgeonsEYEReynolds & Anliker

as a result of hours bent over on the floor (“I have knees like the bottom of an elephant,” he said.), and he’s slowed down a bit.

“I get the shots in my back and when the weather turns, I do too,” he said. “When the weather turns, my mood turns.”

Weather, in fact, has quite an impact in Combes’ business on more than his mood. Explaining how humidity and temperature affect wood is a large par t of the education he does with customers.

When the heat turns on in the winter and the air dries out, wood floors will shrink a little bit, and Combes has had customers call about the gaps in their floors, not understanding what’s happening. The key is to determine whether the gaps – or the opposite when it’s humid, pushing and in extreme cases cupping – are normal or if something was done wrong during installation.

Combes said he installs wood with about 7 to 8 percent moisture content, which mimics what you’ll typically find in Kansas homes. He said people with wood floors should watch as the weather changes, and if they star t to see gaps, add some moisture to the air, trying to keep it around 50 percent humidity, or if they see cupping, get the air conditioner turned on to reduce the humidity.

“Gaps are the nature of the beast, and as long as they’re minimal, it’s normal,” he said. “But if you did something wrong you’ll have real problems. You kind of have to know what you’re doing. Every trade has its little tricks.”

Anyone hiring Combes can rest assured their wood floors are in the hands of an expert – not to mention, a warm, funny guy who is passionate about what he does.

Emporia Living | 73

State of the Art No Stitch Cataract SurgeryGlaucoma • Laser Surgery • Retinal Diseases

Consultation & Surgery

Satellite offices in Chanute, Iola, Burlington, Council Grove, Eureka,

Herington, Hillsboro, Marion, Osage City, & Manhattan

1602 W. 15th Ave., Ste B • Emporia, KS 66801620-342-6989 OR 800-794-1209

Michael G. Reynolds, MD

Wayne L. Anliker, MD

AdvAnced eye Surgery center, PA1602 W. 15th Ave., Ste A • Emporia

620-343-7200

Physicians & SurgeonsEYEReynolds & Anliker

74 | Emporia Living

Council Grove/Morris County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Calendar of Events

April Spring Crank Up Tractor

Show, Alta Vista Business Expo, Council Grove

May-SeptemberMorris County Farmers Market

JuneMud Run, Alta VistaWashunga Days Festival,

Council GroveRun-Shunga 5K Walk/Run,

Council GroveArts in the Park, Council Grove

JulyFireworks on the Santa Fe

Trail, Council GroveIndependence Day Boat

Regatta, Council GroveIndependence Day

Celebration, White City3rd of July Celebration, WilseySanta Fe Trail Ranch Rodeo,

Council GroveLadies Night Out, Council GroveMorris County Fair, Council

Grove

AugustMorris County Youth Rodeo,

Council Grove

SeptemberOld Settlers Days, Alta VistaMother K 5 K Walk/Run,

Council GroveLabor Day Celebration,

BurdickAn Evening on the Riverwalk,

Council GroveCommunity Wide Garage

Sales, Council GroveMCHF Golf Tournament,

Council Grove

OctoberFall Ranch Rodeo & Youth

Ranch Rodeo, Council Grove

Halloween Happenings & Parade, Council Grove

Prairie Smoke Off, White City

NovemberGathering in the Grove Fine

Art Show & Sale, Council Grove

Candlelight Charm, Council Grove

Collective Souls Showcase, Council Grove

DecemberKaw Mission Holiday Open

House, Council GroveSanta Land Celebration,

Council Grove

Trails Day Cafe & Museum

Trail Days Cafe & MuseumHistoric Place to Eat & Learn

803 W. Main St., Council Grove, KS • Mon. - Sat. 11am - 8pm(620) 767-7986

Downtown Historical District—a shop filled with unique gifts and great kids’ toys.

Checking out the Kitchen Room is a must!

Downtown Historical District—a shop filled with unique gifts and great kids’ toys.

Checking out the Kitchen Room is a must!211 West Main Council Grove (620) 767-6318211 West Main Council Grove (620) 767-6318211 West Main Council Grove (620) 767-6318

Valerie’s Gifts & Such —

115 E.MainCouncil Grove(620) 767-5219

Adams Lumber & Homestore203 E. Main St. • Council Grove, KS 66846

web: adamshomestore.comMonday-Saturday 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

620-767-5818Phone:

201 West Main • P.O. Box C • Council Grove, KS 66846620-767-5138

MEMBER

Full Service Banking in the Flint Hills for over 130 years

FREEMOBILE

BANKING

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COUNCIL GROVE KANSAS C A L E N D A R2 0 1 5

Emporia Living | 75

614 CommerCial St. 620.343.9866

O p e n T u e s d a y - s u n d a y 6 a m - 2 p m

Voted4 years in a row!

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www.markiilumber.com

Certified arborist insuredfree estimates

• Tree Trimming • Stump Grinding • Snow Removal

• Lawn Maintenance • Insured

Providing Quality Tree Care for more than 15 years.

serving emporia proudly

Orlando Z. Argüello

Affordable Tree & Landscape, Inc

“The Company That Cares”620-342-4898

[email protected]

DR. WOOD IS CURRENTLYTAKING APPOINTMENTS

Her special areas of training include:

• Prenatal Care and Delivery• High Risk Pregnancy• Well Woman visits

• Contraceptive Management• Hormone Therapy• Menopausal Care

• Sexual Dysfunction• Pelvic Pain

• Urinary Incontinence• Abnormal or Heavy

Menstrual Cycles

Dr. Patricia A. Wood is an OB/GYN

physician practicing full time at the Family Health Center in

Council Grove.

(obstetrics and gynecology)

F O R A P P O I N T M E N T S C A L L 6 2 0 - 76 7 - 5 1 2 6

76 | Emporia Living

The Star MakerMike Law dreamed of becoming a sports radio announcer,

but instead became one of the most influential broadcasters in the music industry

Written by Bobbi Mlynar


78 | Emporia Living

As a young man growing up in Emporia, Mike Law imagined a career in broadcasting. Though he worked to make that happen, becoming one

of the most-influential broadcasters in the music industry had not been part of the plan.

“I really fancied myself as somebody who was going to do play-by-play and doing sports somewhere,” Law said during a recent telephone interview. “... That was my dream.”

Instead, he is one of the go-to authorities for successful artists and for those who want to be. Not his original dream, to be sure, but a good alternative, nonetheless.

Law, whose professional name is Mike Kennedy, is program manager and morning show host for KBEQ-FM, 104.3, in Kansas City.

His on-air expertise and his innate ability to pick the next big hits have put him at the top of his field and brought national recognition and fringe benefits he’d never dreamed of.

He recently was flown to Los Angeles

to look at “kind of a country project” Lionel Ritchie was doing, and soon will be flown to a session pairing up Jason Aldean and Bob Segar. Another project involving Zac Brown and Jimmy Buffett gave Law an opportunity to “hang around Jimmy and kind of pick his brain a little bit.”

“It’s a cool thing to be invited, that somebody cares enough about your opinion that they’ll take the time and effort to fly you out to hear somebody,” Law said.

Hall of Fame Sandwiched between those appearances

and others, Law was in Wichita on Oct. 19 to be inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame during the KAB annual convention.

This month, he’ll again be seated in the artists’ section at the Country Music Association’s annual awards ceremony.

“Combine that with the morning show and with the extracurricular activities that we do, which is a ton, and that charity work that’s

always involved with the radio station, it eats up a lot of time,” Law said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s never been really like ‘work.’”

Law has been involved in broadcasting for 37 years, as a sports reporter, radio personality, salesperson, program host, and station owner in Florida and Kansas. He’s worked in television, too, a sideline he continues when he fills in as a co-host at a Kansas City NBC station.

He’d begun informally as a statistician for KVOE’s announcer Lyle Brown, when the Law and Brown families were neighbors on Prairie Street. Brown had invited the sports-loving Emporia High School student to assist him in covering EHS sports.

He continued on the air at KXXX and KTCC as a student at Colby Community College and later at KVOE/KFFX as a student at Emporia State University, earning degrees in both broadcasting and business administration.

Law worked for a time at KQ2TV in Great Bend and at KHOK radio in Hoisington as well, moving to Kansas City in 1988. He has been at KBEQ since 1991.

Mike Law, right, sits in on a staff meeting at KBEQ radio in Kansas City. Law is program director in addition to a morning disc jockey.

Emporia Living | 79

“Mike was the first to play bands like Rascall Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Big and Rich, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and Eli Young Band, and has been nationally recognized several times by Billboard Magazine as Program Director of the Year,” according to the program produced for the KAB Hall of Fame awards.

“In 2012 and 2013 he was named ‘Best Personality’ and ‘Morning Show of the Year’ from the Country Radio Broadcasters,” the program stated. “This year he received the Media Legend Award from Media Mix of Kansas City.”

Law also has been named as one of Country Music’s Top 15 Decision-Makers by Music Row magazine; Best Program Director in America, large market, all formats, by Radio Ink Magazine, which also awarded him “Best Country Program Director in America” every year from 2003 through 2014, with the exception of 2007.

Law also is included on “Country Radio Power List.”

Those credentials prompt record label representatives to bring in new artists and

well established ones to meet with him and to listen to their music.

“Then you might sit there and go, ‘Oh my God, that’s one of the coolest songs I’ve ever heard. I can’t wait to get it on the air.’ And you might walk into the studio and put it on right there,” Law said.

Something like that happened when Law got hold of Rascal Flatts’ first single.

“It wasn’t supposed to be out, but I got hold of it,” Law said. “... We put it on the radio and it went crazy from there.”

There are times, too, when the music isn’t what the public wants to hear, or the well-known artist has fallen short on a new song. It’s up to Law to give an honest assessment.

“It has happened on many occasions,” he said. “But the ones that are true friends and true artists, if you tell them it’s not up to the standards that we expect from artists, then they’ll appreciate it –and if they hear it from more than one person, then they know that they’ve missed. I’ve had very few over the years actually get mad, if you’re straight up and honest with them.”

Go with the gut The decisions that rest on his shoulders

can be risky, he said, and he must rely on his own “gut feeling” and be willing to step up and commit to a new song or a new ar tist.

“It’s pretty easy to play it safe, and I have just chosen not to do that,” Law said. “We try to play it smart, but not safe.”

He said he’s had his share of mistakes in predicting hits, and has felt dumb more often than smart. But artists, producers, record label executives, and his peers apparently disagree; they seek him out.

“It is an unbelievable benefit of this job and this career,” Law said. “There’s no question.”

As the leader among major national markets, Law is in demand for his opinion, and for his presence at social events, awards shows, and in the homes of the artists.

He was one of two program directors brought in last year for an American Idol taping that included “hanging out with Keith Urban” and dinner afterwards, and that was not an isolated incident.

Mike Law (left), whose professional on-air name is Mike Kennedy, chats with a morning co-hosts Whitney Abernathy and Joshua James recently at KBEQ radio in Kansas City.

80 | Emporia Living

“It could be dinner with Toby Keith, it could be dinner with Shania Twain,” Law said. Twain had showed up at his office years earlier, as one of the young hopefuls who want Law to play their music. Twain went on to win Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1999.

Those types of encounters are not unusual.He and his family have stayed at the home of Tim

McGraw and Faith Hill, and with Lionel Richie, among others.

“Lionel Richie’s one of the most exciting places I’ve been, because I love Lionel Richie and I love the Commodores,” Law said.

Worth the effort The trip to Kenny Chesney’s home proved to be

arduous from a travel standpoint, but well worth the effort.

“I was lucky enough to go to Kenny Chesney’s island home and hang out there,” he said. “We had to fly in, then we had to take a ferry, then take another ferry to where Kenny lives, then kind of take a shuttle to get up the hill to Kenny’s place. Once you did, it’s pretty amazing.

“To get up to his place you’ve really got to want to get up there.”

After his morning radio show, Mike Law takes his dog, Niles, for a walk around the corner from the station in Westport. Below, after his radio show, Mike Law checks his cellphone for texts and emails in his office at KBEQ radio in Westport. His collection of memorabilia recalls his years working in the music industry.

Emporia Living | 81

82 | Emporia Living

The home on the hill offers a spectacular view of nothing but the bay and nearby islands.

The Law-Chesney friendship is one of many that have developed through their professional associations over the years.

Long-time friend John Rich has been close to Law since before Rich left the Lone Star band to go out on his own. When Rich eventually linked up with linked up with “Big Kenny” (William Kenneth Alphin) to form Big and Rich, the pair brought their music to Law.

“We just jumped all over that,” Law said. “John’s been a good friend for a long, long, long time.”

Not many years ago, Rich finished an out-of-state performance, boarded a plane and arrived around midnight at a party to celebrate Law’s 50th birthday anniversary. Rich gave him “a pair of really cool boots” that Law said he wears about once a year ; the rest of the time, the boots sit on display at his home.

Garth, Madonna and Mick One of his favorite memories involved

Garth Brooks — then playing at Kemper Arena in Kansas City — and Law’s daughter Abby, who was about 7 or 8 years old at the time. He’d taken her with him to meet the superstar.

“Garth said, ‘Can Abby have some cookies?’’ Law recalled. “Garth Brooks goes to the kitchen and brings out a plate of cookies for my daughter. That was probably one of the coolest things right there.”

Outside country music, meeting Madonna a couple of times was “OK,” but an encounter with Mick Jagger provided one of his most-unusual experiences so far.

Law had flown to New York City to attend a performance at Webster Hall after Jagger came out with his solo project.

“A few of us went upstairs to the after-party and I see Mick Jagger in this flowing dress, and it looked like he had make-up on,” Law said. “It was just the weirdest thing ever.”

On the go While he appreciates the social perks

that come along with his own celebrity, he’s well aware that the position also opens opportunities for him to help others.

He credits his employer more than himself for working to help non-profits that almost invariably involve children.

“When you have this kind of tool, then why not take advantage of it and let it do the good work for you?” Law asked. “It’s not just about me, trust me. It’s about what this 100,000-watt radio station can do for people.”

His philanthropic activities include — but are by no means limited to — the Fore the Kids Golf Tourney for Children’s Mercy Hospital, multiple events for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Q-104 Golf Tourney to benefit Children’s Mercy South Hospital, and the Tux & Boots event to benefit Therapeutic Riding Academy for disabled children. Law has helped raise more than $1.2 million for those charities alone.

“We do as much as humanly possible and there’s a lot of it that’s off the radar, and I’d like to keep it that way,” Law said. “... It’s more about the station than me personally, but I have my special charities that I want my station to support and we do...

“Children’s Mercy Hospital is probably one of our biggest focuses here for sure, and for me personally, and the individuals that I know that are involved.”

Law also serves on the board of trustees for Emporia State University Foundation and on the board of directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Next? Law has built a solid foundation of success

that might be enough for a less-competitive man. Perhaps it’s the sports connection that shows him there’s another award to work toward.

“The Country Music Hall of Fame,” Law said. “It’s one that’s on my sights. I hope I get lucky enough for that.”

Law is the son of Mary Ann Law of Emporia and the late Don Law. He is married to Nycki Pace, who is on a morning show at a competing radio station in Kansas City.

Mike Law will sometimes bring his dog Niles to the station and into the sound booth.

Emporia Living | 83

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86 | Emporia Living

By Jan Huston | Lyon County Historical Society

One of the most i n f l u e n t i a l leaders during E m p o r i a ’ s early 20th century glory

days was O.M. “Mit” Wilhite, owner of the Mit-Way Hotel.

Wilhite, born in 1867 and reared in Lyon County, led the way in a myriad of projects to benefit the town and county until his tragic death in 1933.

Wilhite first made his break into business in 1890 when he bought a half interest in a restaurant on

Commercial Street. In 1893 he bought the stone building north of his restaurant, a building that had been formerly operated as a tin shop. Wilhite remodeled the building and went into the hotel business, moving his family into the upper story and living there until 1916 when the family moved into a home on Wilman Court.

Community booster, anti-segregationist

From his early years, Wilhite was a community booster. Since he had

played baseball in the 1880s and 1890s, he continued his interest in managing town teams, specifically the Emporia Maroons. At a time when professional baseball was becoming more and more segregated from 1895-1899, Wilhite stood proudly for the skill of the player, regardless of the color of his skin. An African American student at the Normal School (ESU), Gaitha Adolphus Page participated in numerous activities, including debate, football, and baseball, as well as writing a weekly column for the Topeka Colored Citizen.

O.M. ‘MIT’ WILHITE

EMPORIA’S CHAMPION

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When one of the professors at the Normal objected to allowing Page to be on the traveling team representing the town, Wilhite responded firmly. While hosting an event at his hotel honoring the state champions, someone questioned whether Page should be served with the rest of the group.

Wilhite stated, “I guess if Page is good enough to teach my daughters up at the Normal, he’s good enough to eat with anybody in this crowd.” The banquet was a big success, and the school and town gave Mr. Wilhite their hearty approval.

By 1899, however, troubles began to surface. Segregationists made it more and more difficult for good black players to be accepted on Kansas teams. Emporia, though, signed two African American players, one of them Page, for their 1899 professional team for the fourth time in five years.

When Emporia signed a new white player in the summer, the new man initiated a guerrilla campaign against his black teammates. He intentionally muffed several plays, in an attempt to sabotage the black players’ performances. Over time

he recruited several teammates and allied himself with some important members of the community, most significantly the town umpire.

With several Emporia players purposefully not playing defense, the team began to lose decisively. Local press in Emporia was critical of the entire situation; eventually the Emporia team was dissolved. Mit Wilhite consistently opposed segregation and advocated equal opportunities for black athletes, but most whites just became weary of the agitation and resigned to the exclusion of blacks.

Wilhite donated the original athletic field used by college football and baseball teams to Emporia State Teachers’ College in March of 1903.

88 | Emporia Living

Play ballThe original athletic field used

by college football and baseball teams was donated to Emporia State Teachers’ College by Wilhite in March of 1903. Prior to this gift, the field, scene of many games, was called Mit-Way Park. Mit-Way Park was a combination facility probably situated along Merchant Street about where the Science Hall is today. A large grandstand stood in the southwest corner of the field. To the north further along Merchant Street was a row of bleachers. In baseball season the ball diamond was laid out over the football field. The grandstand was a regular corner

design with heavy “chicken wire” stretched over the front of it. For football games, spectators occupied both the bleachers and the stands. The board of regents accepted the gift of Mit-Way Park, designating it “The Normal Field” in 1903.

Later in 1914, Wilhite again became interested in supporting town baseball when the Kansas State League ball team was brought to Emporia. He went to Soden’s Grove and built on bluegrass sod one of the finest minor league playing fields in the country. By 1930, though, Wilhite was complaining about the condition of the field.

“Two balls were lost in the high weeds back of first base Sunday,” he

reported in the June 24 Gazette. “Gloves and balls are lost in right and center field. A fan living 15 miles away volunteered to bring in a mowing machine. No foul lines are marked, no flags are up, coaches’ boxes, if marked at all, generally are backwards. No batter’s box and no 45 foot line are marked, and home base and pitcher’s box need working over.”

The diamond was in shape by July 3, thanks to Wilhite.

“Mit Wilhite, friend and father of Emporia baseball, has taken over the grounds this week with the avowed intention of having the field in tip-top shape for the holiday series,” the Gazette reported.

A parade travels down Commercial Street in front of the Mit-Way Hotel.

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As an avid gardener, Wilhite took his landscaping tools to the park every day to make improvements. He cut weeds bordering the fences, trimmed trees, cut out foul lines, and had the outfield mowed.

Using his influence, Wilhite arranged to have the city grader work the road around the grandstand. He had the infield gone over to remove pebbles, and with the help of friends and town craftsmen, base lines were staked out, coaching lines were drawn, and the pitchers’ mound and batters’ boxes were repaired.

In an amusing sidelight, Mit Wilhite also created a special cheerleading group called the Knothole Gang for this 4th of July weekend. With an eye to keeping unsupervised kids out of the grandstand and giving more room for adults, Mr. Wilhite had a special row of seats back of third base constructed for the gang.

All kids not accompanied by parents were requested to meet Mit at the scoreboard when the game began. They would not be admitted unless they joined Wilhite’s Knothole Gang. After the first inning the gang marched down to their new seats and gave a special yell taught them by Wilhite.

Meanwhile, Wilhite succeeded in the hotel business, allowing for gradual improvements. He extended his 3-story structure back to the alley, and in 1900 he bought the lot to the south for the price of $10,000, at that time the highest price ever paid for an Emporia building site.

There he built the section of the hotel that contained the lobby and main dining room at a price of $50,000.

To the north was an old building operated as a billiard hall. About 1906 or 1907, he purchased this property and remodeled it to a modern billiard hall. The hall and a newsstand occupied the first floor, and on upper floors he added more hotel accommodations.

A city ordinance closed the billiard hall in 1914, but later it was reopened. The Mit-Way and the billiard hall stood at 510-514 Commercial until 1990 when they were razed. Flint Hills Eye Care now occupies those lots.

A love of musicAmong Wilhite’s many interests was bands.

For years, he was the drum major of the old Second Regiment band. Toward the end of his life, he continued to lead the Emporia neighborhood band, “one of the best bands to be found this side of Sousaville,” the Kansas City Times reported. He promoted favorable legislation and bringing expert musicians to town.

Emporia developerNow here’s the important part: A

short list of some of Wilhite’s projects includes being a central figure in the fight for a new courthouse in 1901; he led the fight for a bond election to bring the

Orient oil and gas production company to Lyon County; he was instrumental in getting Commercial Street paved; he worked to give a company a franchise to pipe natural gas to Emporia from the Chase County gas fields; plus, credit must be given to him for bringing streetcars in Emporia. In 1917 he was chairman

of the legislative committee for Kansas that secured passage of important bills to protect hotel men from the no-funds check artists.

In his work for oil development, he rode thousands of miles throughout the county securing leases in an effort

to shape up drilling blocks, and then he was influential in bringing the wildcatters who drilled the wells to Lyon County. Eventually, he also worked for the Virgil fields, developing that territory.

When the “New” Santa Fe Trail was being designed, Mit Wilhite served as president of the highway 50S association.

In those days, 35 miles an hour was considered fast, but at times, Pete Newton had the car up to 50...The back of the front seat of the new car was scratched where Mr. Trigg braced himself.

The Mit-Way Hotel building way stood at 510-514 Commercial St. until 1990 when it was razed.

90 | Emporia Living

As chairman of the Chamber of Commerce good roads committee, he saw the necessity of paving Highway 50 across the state.

Seeing the letting of the contract for the work across Chase and Lyon Counties was the realization of one of his fondest dreams. He himself painted and placed road signs virtually all the way from Emporia to Kansas City.

His interest in cross country driving began early. He once recalled a wild 300-mile auto ride he took in 1912 from Hutchinson to Kansas City over the new Santa Fe trail.

Newton Brothers car dealership of Emporia furnished a Buick touring car for the trip. Included as passengers were Gov. George Hodges; Ralph Faxton, president of the trail; Fred Trigg who represented the Kansas City Star ; and Wilhite.

The goal was to show that dragged roads would permit a car to travel 300 miles in one day.

“In those days, 35 miles an hour was considered fast, but at times, Pete Newton had the car up to 50. The governor liked the speed, but Mr. Trigg, who sat in the rear seat, was frightened all the way. The back of the front seat of the new car was scratched where Mr. Trigg braced himself,” wrote Wilhite.

Later the Governor showed a pile of letters from people who condemned him for the ride which they said encouraged fast driving. The car beat the train making the same run that day.

Although not originally in favor of developing a Country Club in Emporia, once he put himself to it, Wilhite spent many days supervising labor gangs

working to improve and landscape the property. Along with C.H. Newman, Wilhite then transformed a gravel hill and feed lot south of the Country Club into one of the most beautiful residential sections in Emporia

In the midst of his community projects, Wilhite found time to raise a garden of blue-ribbon vegetables. Wilhite rescued his award-winning display of tomatoes, potatoes, radishes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, cucumbers, beets, pie plants and other vegetables when a strong wind hit the fair tents in 1921.

He also exhibited his collection of gold coins for a banking class at the Teachers’ College in 1929. His set included a $4 piece that never was officially issued and a $10 piece that was minted without the denomination stamped on it.

Lake WalnutsIn 1931, O.M. Wilhite was appointed

assistant game warden for Lyon County with his appointment accepted by Alva Clapp, state fish and game warden. Wilhite’s project this time was to oversee development of the Lyon County State Park and Lake Walnuts recreation area near Reading.

He had helped get the state park for the county, and he was a stockholder in the development corporation for Lake Walnuts. Wilhite and H.W. Glass partnered in a dream of a playground adjoining the lake site to the south. The men purchased 240 acres from a man named Gillespie of Council Grove. Eighty acres fronted on Reading road that they saw as eventually being broken up into small plots for country homes.

Back of that 80 were 160 acres to be developed into a golf course with a lake as a water hazard. The north 80 acres contained the lake and cabin and camping sites. Featuring the highest hill for miles around, that 80 also afforded an excellent view of the surrounding country including the state lake site.

Wilhite and Glass expected to spend $8,000-$10,000 on their project and were happy to break even as they created this recreation area. The dam for Lake Walnuts was begun in April of 1931 on the 240-acre tract. The earth dam was planned to be half a mile long (583 feet) and 21 feet high at its highest point. It was to back up water the length of an 80-acre draw that ran through the property. It would have a surface area of between six and seven acres. The dam was on the north edge of the property along the line of the township road that separated the Wilhite-Glass property from the state park site.

Pursuing a policy to employ Lyon County labor, the owners contracted with Sam Evans and James Newman of Reading to construct the dam. Fifteen men and teams were on the job of the dam site in April.

Typical of Wilhite, he planted many trees on the site: several chestnut trees and 50 Chinese elms joined the many scattered trees, plum thickets, wild shrubs and vines, catalpas and mulberries, hackberries, walnuts and dogwoods already there.

He took care to clear away brush and trash, preserving all wildlife while cutting away only the trash. Plum thickets, wild grapes and gooseberries were preserved although sometimes transplanted to more suitable places.

July 9, 1931, saw 100 4-H campers enjoying club camp at Lake Walnuts. Since there were no buildings on the site yet, tents were used for quarters with girls high on the hill overlooking the lake and boys’ tents at the foot of the hill close to the new lake.

County agents from Lyon County, Chase County, and Morris County were in charge of the camp. Field study trips of the area accompanied much recreation in the lake. Boys visited nearby farms to judge livestock, and girls worked on demonstration teamwork.

Baseball leagues were organized for both sexes as well as daily swimming. Tents were rented from Emporia Tent and Awning, and 4-Hers slept on hay covered with canvass.

Later that month Wilhite and Glass celebrated the grand opening of the Lake Walnuts golf course where visitors were welcome to use the course free of charge. The greens were reported to be in perfect condition and the fairways well-mowed.

Emporia Living | 91

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Over 100 district golfers played during the day, and Wilhite and Glass paid $3 for each birdie made by amateurs. The course continued to be operated without fee charge until the final nine holes were completed. All players were satisfied that the course would develop into a beautiful 18-hole layout.

Singlehandedly, he posted more than 40 signs warning that anyone found carrying firearms or trespassing in the game refuge at the state lake would be subject to arrest. He had arranged to have 10 pairs of pheasants released on the state park property, and hoped that hunters would help protect the birds so they could get a good start.

He felt it was the duty of every person in Lyon County to get a fishing or hunting

license. The state would then receive money to be put back into the park for improvements. He was dedicated to the development of the park.

Skirmishes with the cityBack in Emporia, a little bushwhacking

episode Wilhite initiated involved skirmishing with the local chief of police, D.P. Cowan and the Mayor C.A. Bishop in 1931. Wilhite had been dissatisfied with the administration of the city’s police department for months. After almost running over an opossum when driving home, he reported to all he met that the opossum was probably looking for a job on the police force.

Later, Chief Cowan hung a red tag on

Wilhite’s car parked in the alley behind the Mit-Way Hotel in violation of city ordinances. Wilhite paid a $1 bond with the remark that the “opossum was pretty cheap at that.”

The next morning he wired a sign reading “OLD MAN’S HOME” to the railing near the city clerk’s office in the city building (which was then located on the northwest corner of the intersection of 5th and Merchant, across north from where the sheriff ’s department is today).

Wilhite had been asking the city to clean up the lot behind the city building to make it into a parking lot and a site for 4-H fairs and other attractions. At that time the lot was covered with brick bats, old ties, machinery, and other junk.

Emporia Living | 93

“I’ll bet I didn’t even get to first base,” Wilhite said when he finished appealing to the city commission over the idea. The mayor had answered, “It’s worse than that, Mit. You didn’t even get credit for a time at bat.”

However, several days later the lot was cleaned, and the city had installed a catch basin to give the lot drainage. As for the sign, Wilhite’s fight was with the head of the police force “who only fills the chair with his trousers,” claimed Wilhite. The mayor tore down the sign as he turned red in the face. Wilhite was always looking for a way to improve the town, while also wielding a tongue-in-cheek retort.

Register of Deeds records show that a Sept. 19, 1932, sheriff ’s deed foreclosed on the Lake Walnuts property, and Wilhite and Glass issued a quit claim deed to Silas Davis.

The Lake Walnuts Improvement Company also quit claimed to Silas Davis. The next day the land was sold to Emma Kennedy with a mortgage to Silas Davis; the following year she sold the land to H.W. (Hod) Farrow who then owned the land

for 13 years. What happened to Wilhite’s grand dream for this property? Had the Great Depression stepped in to shut off the flow of money for recreation?

That same year, Wilhite was asked to reprise a part he had played 33 years earlier as judge of a cake-walking contest staged by Bert Rich. Ten colored couples from neighboring towns cake-walked as part of Billie Williams’ “Cotton Pickers Revue.” Rich had organized the 1931 show featuring several new numbers, blues singers, and a chorus all to be presented on stage at Emporia High School. Wilhite was chief judge of the event.

The battle over a legacy

But pain was to end the life of this man who had given his community so much. On March 31, 1933, his body was found in a sand trap west of No. 8 green at the Country Club with a .38 caliber pistol by his side.

A letter to the family stated, “Nannie, my leg is gone. I have tried to forget it, but constant pain keeps me nervous all the

time. I can’t work in the garden or at the hotel. I don’t want to become a care – this is the best way out. All the family have been good to me, and Nannie is the best woman on earth. Goodbye, Papa.”

The letter was found by Mayor Frank Lostutter, son-in-law of Mr. Wilhite.

In an old incident, Mr. Wilhite had shot himself while at his home in 1918. The bullet missed his heart and lodged in the spine after penetrating his stomach. He underwent an operation to remove the bullet, but the attempt was unsuccessful. It was feared he would die or be permanently paralyzed, but the paralysis eventually left him.

Years later in 1932, he underwent a second operation to extract the bullet. Upon examining the 15-year-old wound, the surgeon decided serious complications might develop. Mr. Wilhite was left in excruciating pain.

His death took one of the town’s most picturesque characters and a man who had touched the town in so many ways. Tributes were planned to honor the memory of “Mit” Wilhite.

Nannie, my leg is gone. I have tried to forget it, but constant pain keeps me nervous all the time. I can’t work in the garden or at the hotel. I don’t want to become a care – this is the best way out. All the family have been good to me, and Nannie is the best woman on earth. Goodbye, Papa.

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Although the $600,000 city hall and civic auditorium could not be dedicated to any one individual, a letter testifying to the fact that Wilhite had always worked for the good of the town and was one of the leaders who laid the groundwork making the building possible was sealed in copper and placed between the bricks of the south wall of the new building.

Mrs. Wilhite was proud of this tribute because she said he had selected this site on the block bordered by 5th and 6th and Market and Mechanic as the perfect place for an auditorium. The letter was placed on the south elevation between the first and second courses of face brick in the angle of the building between the fire and police departments.

Following his death in 1933, it was proposed that Lyon County State Lake be named Lake Wilhite in memory of his commitments as a road booster and as fish and game warden. The naming was approved by Governor Alf M. Landon and the head of the fish and game commission.

Civilian Conservation Corps workers built the dam which held back the water covering 150 acres. By 1937, though, little more had been done. The Gazette was wondering about the use of Federal funds for state parks. Since Lake Wilhite was a state lake, perhaps a national forest ranger could superintend the planting of the area around the lake with CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) boys doing the planting.

With the county commissioners’ intervention, a warden from the state game department could police the park and make it a beauty spot to attract people from all over this part of Kansas, the Gazette reasoned.

A 1939 Gazette editorial argued that the lake should be known as Lake Wilhite since O.M. Wilhite worked so hard for securing the location of the lake. The editorial claimed, “The game department once officially designated the lake north of the Reading road as Lake Wilhite, and Lake Wilhite it should be, with no nonsense about it,” but there was resistance from folks in the Reading area.

Nevertheless, in 1940 a group of Wilhite’s friends erected a white stone memorial on the south shore of the lake. Measuring 7 feet high and 3 feet square, the monument had a bronze plaque memorializing Mr. Wilhite. Today the monument still stands in a rather remote area, but the plaque has been pried off. No one even remembers that the lake was once known as Lake Wilhite.

In August of 1941 a tragic accident on the lake claimed the lives of two Emporia boys. Four

young men had been boating on the lake when a sudden gust capsized the boat, throwing all into the water.

Two made it safely to shore, but exhausted from the effort, they were unable to help their friends.

The loss of life stimulated the Reading Postmaster W.R. Jones to write a letter to the director of the State Forestry Fish and Game Commission asking why action had not been taken to improve the park and lake. Although blueprints had been drawn up two years earlier, nothing had been done about

construction of projected bathing beach, boat docks, and bath houses.

Leslie Fitts, editor of the Reading Herald, pled for improvements and supervision and protection of lake users.

“For years it has been standing out there – a potential death-trap,” he wrote. “Once in a while a game warden visits it – otherwise, there is no supervision… There is nothing at hand for help. Perhaps it suits the public better for the lake and grounds to be wild and untamed, but we must not be shocked at tragedy if that is so.”

Wilhite was an anti-segregationist at a time while professional baseball was becoming more and more segregated. Wilhite proudly stood for the skill of the play, regardless of the color of his skin.

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Mr. Fitts did not blame the boys. It was their right to be there. But he did feel the blame lay with the people of Reading, Lyon County, and the state of Kansas for not demanding protection at public lakes. He even claimed the Reading Herald should accept a share of the blame because they never went to press in the eight years of the lake’s existence to demand supervision.

In Fitts’ editorial, he continued with the controversy over the lake’s name. He pointed out that the Gazette always referred to it as Lake Wilhite, but his point was that no one could separate Mit Wilhite from Emporia; however, the lake is in Reading territory.

Wilhite was no longer alive, and although the writer had the utmost

respect for the man as a sportsman and a man who always played by the rules, even Mr. Wilhite would probably turn over in his grave every time he viewed the neglected and dangerous lake and park he helped promote.

In response, the Gazette wrote that the people of Reading could never have swung the influence to get the lake without Wilhite’s help. Wilhite was public spirited to an exceptional degree, wrote The Gazette, and because of his efforts, the lake should continued to be known as Lake Wilhite.

Even as late as 1958, in his “Museum Notes” Orville W. Mosher, Lyon County Museum Curator, still referred to Mit’s value to the town of Emporia. “He marshaled parades, drew conventions to town, managed

baseball teams and bands with great skill, developed the north end of town, planted fruit trees everywhere, and triggered the interest in establishing at Reading the lake that Governor Woodring christened Lake Wilhite.”

As William Allen White wrote even before Wilhite’s death, “O.M. Wilhite has done more effective public work for this town than any other citizen. If he should be paid at the rate of even a dollar a day for the countless days he has spent working for Emporia unselfishly, wisely, and paying his own way as he went, he would be today one of the richest men in town. For 40 years through thick and thin, Mit Wilhite has been Emporia’s champion, her best citizen. He can be depended upon to be unselfish.”

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emporia living 2015

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