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Now the largest area paper is on-line: www.thewamegosmokesignal.com!

WednesdayMarch 13, 2013

Wamego, Kansas

INSIDEPott Co. Commission Page 2Wamego City Commisson Page 2Wab. County Commission Page 3St. Marys Commission Page 3Obituaries Page 4Scholarship Banquet Page 10WHS Powerlifting Page 11State Basketball1 Pages 12, 13

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BETH HOWELL DAY, THE SMOKE SIGNALThe Lady Raiders made history by winning the 2013 4A State Basketball Championship on Saturday. Fronting the team to celebrate are the four seniors Lakyn Rowden, Rikki Alderson, Katie Baker and Rachel Griffitt. Full tournament coverage can be found on Pages 12 and 13 as well as spe-cial congratulations on Page 8.

Candidates Vie for Three USD 320 Seats

PAULA EBERT, THE SMOKE SIGNALFather Carl Deket celebrates Mass the day the parish honored him for 60 years as a priest.

This is the first of our candidate profiles for the April election. Only con-tested positions are pro-filed. School board candi-dates were asked their rea-sons for running, qualifica-tions and vision for their school district and given an approximate 250 word limit.

The answer to a “soap-box” question can be found on our website at www.thewamegosmokesignal.com.

Bruce Coleman has also filed for Position 4 but did not respond to our informa-tion request. Should he do so, we will add it to our candidate articles on the website. Mr. Wethington’s article was edited to fit the requested format.

Amy SchweinPoSition 4

Joe SteelePoSition 5

tom VontzPoSition 5

Rob AdAmSPoSition 6

PhiliP wethingtonPoSition 6

Flush – At a recent gath-ering to celebrate Father Carl Deket’s 60 years as a priest, he told those assem-bled that “Being a priest is the best life I could have ever had”.

He’s one of two priests celebrating their 60th; the other is Father John Dun-nivan. But Father Deket is somewhat unique, as he is still regularly serves four parishes.

Father Deket asked that no celebration be held, but

one of the parishioners told him that it would be wrong not to give people a chance to thank him, so he reluc-tantly agreed, asking for a modest gathering, just cof-fee and donuts. The hall was filled with people, glad for his ministry.

Former parishioner, Francis Slobdink, made the trip from Topeka when he heard about the celebra-tion. He was a parishioner at Immaculate Conception in St. Marys. He particu-larly praised Father Deket for being willing to be available for confessions.

“He’s a great priest, who helped us become better Catholics,” he said.

Father Dekat serves four parishes – Alma, Paxico, Flush and Wamego. Father John Pilcher is the pastor of the parishes, while Father Deket is the Senior Associate. Without the help from Father Deket, it is possible that Alma would have to be closed.

Father Pilcher said that he is a “wonderful priest, and we are truly blessed to have him here”.

Father Deket said he is

The Fruit of a Life Well Lived: Fr. Dekat Celebrates 60 Years of Priesthood

by PAulA ebeRt

The Smoke Signal

See Father DEKAT PAGE 8

I am qualified to serve on the board for several rea-sons. First and foremost, I am a parent of three chil-dren in the Wamego school system. I have spent count-less hours in the class-rooms, and leading PTO functions. I have attended

I just recently started attending board meetings as I had heard some inter-esting comments and con-cerns from parents. Once I had sat in on a few meet-ings I decided that this was something I wanted to do.

As far as qualifications

1. I have been married for 21 years (Dawn) and have four kids (Alex, Mad-die, Tori, and Gabrielle) in the district. As a teacher of civic, political, and educa-tional ideas for the last 20 years, I value public ser-vice—we all share in the

1. I am the father of two recent USD 320 graduates and was very active in the system during their time here. I stayed involved with many scholastic, athletic and extra-curricular activi-ties so I got to know, appre-ciate and work with people

1. I am seeking re-elec-tion to the School Board because I believe I can contribute positively toward decisions made regarding policies that affect our district and that all citizens should use their gifts and talents to contrib-

See Schwein PAGE 10 See Steele PAGE 10 See Vontz PAGE 10 See Adams PAGE 10 See Wethington PAGE 10

Raiders at State PowerliftingPage 11