December 19, 2006 - Volume 35, Issue 6
Sesquicentennial Celecbration
to begin
Humboldt Celebrates 150 years with
yearlong schedule of events in 2007
By Bethany Wolverton, Jr.
Reporter/ Photographer
Not many things can survive for over 100 years, but in 2007,
Humboldt will be 150 years old. Members of the community will be able to
spend
the entire year celebrating the town’s sesquicentennial.
“We look back only to find the positive and strong traits of our founders
and forefathers, and look forward to Humboldt’s future,” said
Eileen Robertson, a member of the Sesquicentennial Committee. “Together,
in 2007, we embrace our legacy of 1857 and continue to move forward, creatively.”
Humboldt’s Sesquicentennial Committee was formed in early 2005 and has
been working on this celebration ever since. They were inspired by the citizens
who dared to settle Humboldt as a free state town in 1857 during Bleeding
Kansas.
Members are Roland and Linda Thompson, Dorothy Hemphill of the Humboldt museum,
Robertson, Terry Butts from Humboldt Chamber of Commerce and Biblesta committee,
superintendent of schools Bob Heigele, and mayor Tom Rutledge.
The yearlong celebration will consist of many events including, a big chili
cook-off, parades and street dances, bus tours, reenactments of Humboldt’s
history, a fashion show, and much more.
Sesquicentennial Button Courtesy of Humboldt's
Sesquicentennial Committee.
The
first event will be the chili cook-off on Jan. 20 at the high school cafeteria.
Contestants will cook and serve their chili to the judges at
5:00 p.m. and
anyone is welcome to come and eat the different varieties of chili at 6:00.
The next event will be held in February.
“On Feb. 10 at 2p.m. in the Humboldt High School auditorium, we will
be showing a double feature: two cowboy movies featuring Roy Rogers and Gene
Autry,” said L. Thompson. “We want you to enjoy a Cozy Theatre
Matinee experience, popular in Humboldt in the 30’s and 40’s!
See you at the ‘Cozy’.”
Word of the sesquicentennial has moved farther than Humboldt. For years,
two KU professors Dr. Bill Keel and Dr. Frank Baron have been interested
in Humboldt
and have studied the life of German scientist and explorer Baron Alexander
von Humboldt for who are town was named. Keel and Baron contacted Robertson
in 2004 and shared some of their findings with her. In 2005, Robertson asked
if the professors if they could bring a program “Who Was That Guy?” to
Humboldt for the 2007 sesquicentennial.
“What a treat we have in store on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, at 2:30
in the Humboldt High School auditorium, when Keel and Baron will share their
satellite production about our guy, Humboldt,” said Robertson.
The Free-Staters Band from Wichita will open the show and will be followed
by the presentation about Baron von Humboldt.
Many people have worked to make this celebration possible. Humboldt’s
City and Chamber helped with expenses, as well as community businesses. Sesquicentennial
buttons and t-shirts will be available to purchase at all events. Donations
will also be taken at the chili cook-off.
“From the beginning, the committee has been one mind and one voice,
working together to make 2007 a powerful, positive, and unforgettable Humboldt
experience,” said Robertson.
Anyone can be a part of this celebration. Volunteers are needed for many
events; those interested should contract Robertson. Volunteers of all ages
are needed
for the June 16 event “Pop Culture 50’s and Forward” parade
and street dance and the “Fashion Show 1850’s to the Present” in
August.
“To make this a successful celebration, we need big audience participation
at every event,” said Robertson.
Robertson believes 2007 is going to be a big year for Humboldt.
“The main purpose of this celebration is fellowship, food, fun and rejoicing
that we are all from Humboldt, and that is awesome,” said Robertson.
Miss Kansas 2006 visits Humboldt
By Melissa Splechter, jr.
Photographer/ Reporter
Family is important to many people. For Michelle Walthers, Miss
Kansas 2006, it is no different.
Stregthening the American family is Walther’s platform issue in the
Miss America contest, according to www.misskansas.org, and she came to Humboldt
on Dec. 4 to talk about relationships and making good decisions.
“She had a very realistic sense of showing how to be a good friend and
a good helper,” said Ashley Tull, sr.
Many students enjoyed listening to Walthers speak.
“She had a very good personality and also represented herself very well,”
said Lacey Womelsdorf, jr.
Photo By Shaela Anderson
Family Matters.
Michelle Walthers, Miss Kansas 2006, shows students
a picture of her family. Walthers spoke to
students on Dec. 4 about the importance of good family relationships.
Jason Feeback, counselor, organized the event.
“What she said will help me encourage HHS students to take chances in
trying out new opportunities in life,” said Feeback. “I liked
her message about family and making good decisions.”
Walthers grew up in Towanda, Kansas. She attended Circle High School and then
Butler Community College. Since becoming Miss Kansas, her life has expanded
even more.
“My realm of influence has gone from Towanda to the whole state of Kansas,”
said Walthers. “I’m enjoying every minute of it!”
Her family is very important to her and has been supportive.
“My brothers and sisters gave up all of their Christmas presents just
to be able to come to Miss America in January, and my parents have really
become my right and left arms,” said Walthers.
Many high school students are looking to find something to do
on the weekends. The Fire Escape Coffee House may be a place for them to check
out.
On Nov. 18, the Coffee House hosted its third annual Reality Check, a youth
rally with bands, speakers, and many prizes. It was open to all high school
and college age youth.
“Overall, I think the night went really well,” said Chelsy Wright,
sr. “The band rocked my socks and the message was awesome.”
Many prizes such as iPods and Xboxes were given out at Reality Check, but
the night was not all about winning prizes and listening to a band play.
D.J. Dangerfield, Interconnected youth minister, was brought in to give a
lesson so the teens would focus on the real meaning behind Reality Check.
“The best part was probably listening to DJ Dangerfield speak,”
said Wright. “He has an awesome testimony and is able to put things
into perspective.”
Photo By Chelsy
Wright
Encore.
Janelle Herder and Michaela Myer, srs., and Tyler Hundley,
jr., cheer at the Detour180
concert held at the FireEscape Coffee House on Nov. 24
Besides large youth rallies, the Coffee House occasionally brings
in bands to play a concert for a couple hours. On Nov. 24, a band called Detour180
held a concert at the Coffee House.
“The night was awesome,” said Janelle Herder, sr. “Detour’s
concerts are always a blast. They are my favorite band that plays at the Coffee
House.”
The band consists of five members; all are willing to take time to visit with
fans.
“They were really cool and they didn’t act like they were any
better than anyone else,” said Cameron Stuart, fr. “I also thought
it was cool to have Morgan [Lawrence, guitarist] and Neal [McCulloch, drummer]
come to FCA.”
Detour180 is originally from New Zealand but moved to Nashville, TN a year
and a half ago. When they still lived in New Zealand, they would travel to
the States and always stop by to play a concert or two at the Coffee House.
Now that they live here, they come to Chanute more often.
“There wasn’t a best part of the concert,” said Herder.
“The whole night was awesome. They always leave the stage with the crowd
wanting another song.”
Bond Issues Projects moving
forward
By Katie Hauser, sr.
Editor-in-chief
At their Dec. 11 meeting, Board members congratulated the FFA
agronomy team for placing seventh at the FFA National Convention. Six FFA
members told the Board about the contest and about the convention.
Board members learned that the projected construction completion has been
pushed back a few more weeks to March 15. Construction is still progressing.
The Board approved a bid for a new freezer/cooler unit at the high school
and is looking at bids for a security system. Action on a security system
will wait until current projects are further along and the Board decides if
the link between the middle and high school buildings will be fully enclosed
or just covered.
Board members authorized Heigele to purchase a portable stage for the new
field house as Heigele has found one to buy for the district.
Angela Henry from the Iola Safe Base gave the Board a report about the health
fair at the district’s enrollment this year. She said that everything
went well and is willing to write for a grant to have another health fair.
Kay Bolt, elementary school principal, told the Board that Cox was going to
have an Internet safety presentation later this month at the school.
Bolt also said that the Giving Tree at the school library was doing well.
Community members have purchased 35 books so far.
K.B. Criss, middle and high school principal, said that the greenhouse was
nearing completion and that he is going to incorporate the greenhouse into
vocational classes.
The formula has been released to compute Standard of Excellence for last year’s
state assessments. Criss said that he believed the school achieved the Standard
of Excellence in both reading and math.
Heigele gave Board members the gas and utilities costs of last year and this
year. He said that the district was seeing a savings with the new energy efficient
features.
Back to Top
Back To Cubtracks