“Author Archive”
Stories written by Kevin

Statues Lee and Jackson

Growing up in Virginia gave me more than school days and that of coming of age during trying times in our contemporary history; it gave me a better understanding of our shared history. Many of us, my age, maybe a bit younger and definitely those who are older, remember the civil rights movement and what [...]

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World War I Museum Offers New Insight Into Grandfather

Howitzers and mortars, once used o the battlefields of France now sit as grim reminders of the war to end all wars.

John Cyrus Orr from Freeport, Kan., 9 miles east of Anthony, fought and was wounded at the St. Mihiel offensive in France at some point between Sept. 12 and 15, 1918, during the war to end all wars, World War I. Orr had been, like many Kansas men, drafted as a private in the 89th [...]

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Finding Family

By Kevin Gray I know what critics say about social networks like Facebook: spending time on a keyboard is instant isolation, your information goes public, cyber bullying and crime’s a constant concern, personality brain disorders, and all that lowered face-to-face communication. But just like anything else, the key is moderation. Negatives aside, social networking comes [...]

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Back To School

From what I’ve noticed already, the new school year appears to be off to a great start and, hopefully, still new and exciting for students, teachers, administrators, support staff and parents. I know a few moms are probably sad to part with their little ones, but I suspect there are many parents happy to have [...]

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Streetscape Dedication Tonight

nws STREETscape076 071410

Lookin’ good, Osawatomie; you’re lookin’ good! The new downtown streetscape project came in as promised, and I make sure to cruise that block every-single-time I’m in town. I’ve also been telling folks elsewhere to check out the new Osawatomie downtown look: new street, new parking stalls, new sidewalks, pretty brick work, new street and stop [...]

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Webster’s Joy Of Reading Opens New World At Tri-ko

Everyday at 11 a.m., senior citizens and a few who are younger gather around Foster Grandparent Helen Webster in the Retirement Room at TRI-KO Inc. in Osawatomie. With newspaper in hand and wearing her pink smock, Webster begins by reading the Osawatomie Journal and other newspapers before moving on to short novels. Currently, Webster is [...]

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What I Learned At The Workshop

I learned something last week at my Memory to Memoir workshop about how others see me. The workshop began back on the first of June and two of the participants chose to carry on through July and into August. I’ve known for a lifetime that teaching is a two-way street, which is why I love [...]

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