Song of Souls: The Journey of a Writer

New Author Uses Painful Experience as CatalystFor First Book in Song of Souls Trilogy 

By Karilea Rilling Jungel

One deals with grief in various ways. There are the seven stages of grief; shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger and bargaining, depression/reflection, the upward turn, reconstruction and working through, and finally, acceptance and hope. And somewhere in these stages, after only 18 months of marriage to Dustin, then widowed at a young age, Christen Stovall found a way to give voice to her loss, and her book, Soulbound, was conceived.

“I decided on a trilogy in order for the characters to play out.” Christen explains that even though she picks up side jobs, her primary job is dedicated to taking her characters on a fictional journey. “When I talked to my mom about this effort, she was very supportive of me. My mother lived out in the country, so I invited her and my brother to move into town with me; it would be easier on her to get to her job, and made it financially advantageous to all of us.

courtesy christen stovall

“I started writing as a hobby in my late teens, early 20’s. I wanted to write a book, but felt I didn’t have any new idea (for a novel) back then.  About two years after my husband died, the idea for this story started building in my head, and the characters began evolving. On our vacation to the east coast in 2014, the whole outline of my story came into view, and when we returned home, it took about nine months to get the story written, and a full year before it was finally done.

“To a degree, the beginning story is based on my life. I had been home schooled, while Dustin attended Central High. Dustin and I met each other while we were still in school when we applied for auditions at our community theater. I thought then, and shared with some of the other actors, that ‘I think I really like him.’ This was well after he had been in a car accident in the winter of 2000, and Dustin had worked hard to rehabilitate his mind, body, and spirit. Not long after being in a play with him (The Odd Couple at Salina Community Theater, 2005) we started dating, because I realized the ‘crush’ was as strong as ever. I had noted that although Dustin had always been a deep person; his car accident just added another layer of depth to his persona. We were together for two years before he proposed in 2007, and we married a year later, on October 26, 2008.

“However, because he was not able to become 100% rehabilitated following his car accident, Justin’s depression from continuous physical pain had become too much for him to handle, and he died on May 1, 2012.”

In Christen’s first book Soulbound, her main character, Aislynn, draws upon Christen’s personal experience as a young widow for a character who marries her “soulmate,” only to also become a widow not long into the marriage. In this fantasy world, some soulmates are able to stay connected, which gives them certain abilities. Aislynn learns she will require training to use her powers correctly, in order that she stay sane, and not go ‘crazy’. Aislynn makes the choice to stay a soulmate and becomes soul bound. That’s when her adventures really begin.

Christen acknowledged that other facets of her own personality come through in Aislynn. “In terms of how Aislynn approaches situations, such as when bad things happen, which you can’t control, you can learn to control how it will affect you, and how you will approach your own healing. Whether you are going to be a victim, or a survivor, and grow stronger are characteristics that Aislynn takes on, and I have done the same. Close friendships are important to Aislynn. She uses the same term of endearment as I did. But she is not exactly like me. Some of my other characters are based loosely on my own friends. Family is important to her, and Aislynn feels a sense of responsibility toward other characters, as do I.”

Christen confesses that this first novel was more revealing about what she went through than she thought it would be. “I was nervous at my first reading, because (the story) was intimate to me, and shows what I went through. I’m an introvert, and it is difficult to be that open to others. But the more Aislynn grew, the more I felt I was coming back to myself, as well.” Christen imagines that her second book will show some darker sides of various situations she personally went through while dealing with her grief, which will be portrayed by her protagonist. Her third book will show a softer, accepting side of what Aislynn, as well as Christen, went through.

After Christen finishes the trilogy, she would then like to continue on with a prequel, and other writing projects.

Christen Stovall’s book can be found on Amazon.com (paper and e-book), and can be ordered directly through CreateSpace, as well as Barnes & Noble.

Abilene Cowboys Remain Undefeated As Hays Goes Down

Abilene Cowboys Remain Undefeated As Hays Goes Down

by Erik Graefe

Hays returned the opening kickoff of Friday night’s district playoff game all the way down to the Cowboy 7 yard line. For the second week in a row, Michael Anguiano’s speed prevented a touchdown on the game’s first play. Anguiano’s touchdown saving tackle set up a goal line stand for Nathan Howard’s defense, just as it had in McPherson. And, just like last week, the Cowboy defense yielded nothing, setting the tone for a game that would be lopsided in favor of the home team.

It sounds an odd observation to make of a team that yielded a return of 80 some yards on the first play of the game, but without question, this was the best start of the year for the Abilene Cowboys. Following the goal line stand, the Cowboy offense responded with a 99 yard drive for a touchdown. The bulk of those yards, 78, were provided by Parker O’Neal as he followed a tremendous trap block by Cale Mayden for his longest rushing touchdown of the year. On Hays’ next possession, junior Jaron Christiensen did what he has done all year long, recovering a fumble and returning the ball to his offense. This time the Cowboys would score through the air. On third down from the Hays 20 yard line, Harley Hazlett rolled out to his right and found Ben Veach in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point looked to be a disaster following a botched snap, but Ryan Wilson did what he has done all year, using his savvy and speed to outrun the Hays defenders to the pylon for a two point conversion. Just like that, the Cowboys led 15-0. Howard’s defense would force a punt on the following possession giving the ball back to Hazlett and the offense on their own 30 yard line. This time, Hazlett called his own number, following his center Andy Tope right through the teeth of the Hays defense. The Cowboy signal called doesn’t need much daylight, and Tope provided the little he did need to race 70 yards untouched for the third Abilene touchdown. With a little over one minute remaining in the first quarter, the score was 22-0 in favor of Abilene. If last week’s game was reminiscent of a 15 round prize fight, this one looked more like a first round knockout. Think early Mike Tyson.

With time running out in the first half, Hays showed signs of life, scoring on a long pass play and making the score 22-7. What followed during the final minute of the first half will be difficult to describe adequately. This author hopes that you were in attendance, because reading about the last minute of the first half just doesn’t approach seeing it with your own eyes. Perhaps Harley Hazlett wanted to make it easy on potential college recruiters by creating a highlight reel in less than sixty ticks of the game clock. Hays kicked off following their touchdown, and Hazlett fielded the kick on the second hop. The senior quarterback returned the kick 79 yards, weaving through Hays defenders and following his blocks like a 6’4” version of Tyler Lockett. For the second week in a row, Coach Adam Gantenbein’s kick return team scored a touchdown. Hazlett was not done, after all, there was still twenty some seconds left in the half. Hays would attempt a deep pass on their first play following Ryan LaCombe’s kick. Guess who intercepted it? Guess who ran it back for another touchdown with 12 ticks left on the clock? As I said earlier, you really had to be at Paul Dennis field to appreciate it. Hazlett’s pick six was disallowed because of a phantom penalty, but just like last week, Abilene’s big plays had delivered a knock out blow to an opponent at about the midpoint of the contest. At halftime, Abilene 29, Hays 7.

The second half seemed a mere formality. Senior Ryan LaCombe would kick a field goal in the third quarter, revealing a tremendously valuable asset for Coach Simpson’s team as the victory over Hays guarantees a further playoff run. Trey Bender would run for another touchdown later to bring the final score to 38 to 7 in favor of the orange guys.

The Abilene Cowboys now sport a record of 8 wins and 0 losses. All of the elements are in place for a deep run in the state playoffs. Friday night in Buhler, the Cowboys will face another undefeated team. It will take the Cowboys’ best effort of the year to defeat the Crusaders on their home turf, but what else would you want this time of year?

A Traditional Farm Life - Mapleine Pancake Syrup

A Traditional Farm Life

By Shasta Hamilton

Greetings from Enterprise, dear friends!   Today I was “taken for a ride.”  It was Mama’s maiden voyage riding in the people hauler with our boys taking turns at the lines.

Michael had the four youngest children with him on a shopping trip, so it was just the two oldest boys and I at home.  Yesterday two of our three oldest children put the first coat of primer on the people hauler, it was now dry, and we were ready to take a spin.  I elected to sit on an old towel, however, “just in case.”

I considered taking an umbrella along, as it was just starting to sprinkle when the boys got Tom and Jerry hitched, but thought better of it.  Somehow the thought of  “that crazy lady” in the back of an open horse-drawn wagon, holding an umbrella, cruising through residential areas of Enterprise, discouraged me.

Thankfully, the ride turned out being encouraging instead.  It is not very often these days I have the privilege of spending time alone with my oldest boys, so an hour’s cruise around our fair city was a pleasure.  Each one took a turn in the driver’s seat while the other sat in back with dear old Mom, and it was very interesting, indeed, to observe their differences in technique while handling the horses.

When our boys have not been handling horses these days, their free moments have been occupied by other aspects of the great outdoors.  Last weekend found Michael and the boys primitive camping in a pasture along the Saline River.  As I understand it, “authentic” cow patties added to the “pioneer” ambiance of the event. 

The girls and I couldn’t resist our own campout here at home--Holiday Inn style—complete with an indoor camp supper.  Our eight-year-old daughter fried potatoes in one skillet while I handled the Spam in another.  As usual, she put bacon grease in first to melt, but this time something just didn’t look right.  It melted instantly and had a strange syrup-like texture.  I tried not to panic, but it was obvious something was very wrong here. What could have possibly happened to our bacon grease?

The potatoes browned much more quickly than usual, and stuck and burned to the bottom of the pan.  It was like when sugar caramelizes . . .Hmmm.

Turns out it was sugar carmelizing on the bottom of the skillet.  A sniff of the jar confirmed my suspicions; the faint maple scent was the final clue I needed.  Somehow a jar of our homemade maple syrup for pancakes had turned into a beige-colored, sugar–crystallized, bacon-grease-impostor.  Next to it in the door of our fridge, in an identical glass jar, was the real thing!

We immediately added bacon grease to the pan, and finished browning the potatoes.  Surprisingly, the combination of sweet maple syrup and smoky bacon grease was actually quite tasty!

While I don’t think we could—or perhaps should--duplicate that dish again, it might be fun for you to try making your own pancake syrup at home next time pancakes or waffles are on the menu. 

At our house, and now at The Buggy Stop, we prefer Mapleine Imitation Maple Flavor for this application.  My husband grew up with homemade Mapleine syrup on his pancakes, and so we relive those childhood memories every time we have pancakes or waffles.  Interestingly, the box it comes in still looks the same as it did in Michael’s childhood. 

It is hard to find, however.  In the last 10 years or so we’ve only been able to find it at small grocery stores supplied by Affiliated Foods.  Most recently we ordered some through the kind folks at the Chapman Food Mart.

The secret to success is to get the sugar fully dissolved without boiling it too long and making candy.  At the other end of the spectrum--as we are all too aware of--is not completely melting the sugar.  In this case, a few weeks of aging in the fridge turns out a pretty good imitation of bacon grease.

Mapleine Pancake Syrup

1 cup water

2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon Mapleine Imitation

Maple Flavor

1.  In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil.

2.  Add sugar and cook and stir until sugar is completely dissolved; remove from heat. 

3.  Add Mapleine and stir.  Serve over Buttermilk Pancakes or Waffles.

Yield:  2-1/4 cups syrup.

Copyright © 2015 by Shasta Hamilton

Shasta is a fifth generation rural Kansan now residing in Enterprise, Kansas.  She and her husband own and operate The Buggy Stop Home-Style Kitchen with their six home-schooled children.  You can reach The Buggy Stop by calling (785) 200-6385 or visit them on the web at www.thebuggystoprestaurant.com.

Whitehair Serves As Officer On State Board

Whitehair Serves As Officer On State Board

Carol Whitehair, Director of Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County, is serving as president-elect of the Kansas Home Care Association Board of Directors.

Carol Whitehair, Director of Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County, has been elected to serve as President-Elect of the Kansas Home Care Association Board of Directors.  After serving a year in this position, Whitehair will step into a two-year term as Board President for the statewide association.

Whitehair has been in the home health care profession for twenty-four years, including serving as the Director of Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County for over thirteen years.  She has been a member of the Kansas Home Care Association Board of Directors for nine years, first representing agencies in the official sector and then as an at-large member.  She serves as the chair of the Medicare/Medicaid Committee and has served numerous times on the association’s annual meeting committee.

Kansas Home Care Association promotes, develops and fosters high standards of patient care in home care and hospice services for Kansans.  Formed in 1973, the association is the state’s leading organization representing home care and hospice, providing leadership, support and services to the home care and hospice industry in Kansas.  The association provides education to over 100 members and engages in the legislative and regulatory process impacting the home care and hospice industry.  The board of directors, staff, and members of KHCA represent the interests of home care and hospice when collaborating with local, state, and national groups and organizations on issues facing the industry.

MHS Athletic Trainer Program Assisting Solomon High School

MHS ATHLETIC TRAINER PROGRAM ASSISTING SOLOMON HIGH SCHOOL

Jessi Divilbiss, Certified Athletic Trainer with Memorial Health System Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine, will be assisting Solomon High School with athletic trainer services.

Memorial Health System Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine will be assisting Solomon High School with athletic trainer services.   Jessi Divilbiss, LAT, ATC, will be working with the Solomon High School athletic program once a week during sports practice to provide preventive care, follow up on recent injuries, and assess injuries that occur during practice. 

Divilbiss received a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Emporia State University.  She has also completed pre-med coursework with an emphasis in biology.  While in school, Divilbiss served as an athletic trainer with the Emporia State University football team and also has experience with the Solomon High School athletic program.

For more information regarding MHS athletic trainer services contact Jeff Sanborn, Memorial Health System Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Director, at 263-6664.   

Presidential Brown Bag: Ike and Dutch: Mentor, Protege and Common Sense

Presidential Brown Bag

Ike and Dutch: Mentor, Protege and Common Sense

A brown bag discussion set for October 29 will examine research on Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. The program, "Ike and Dutch: Mentor, Protege and Common Sense," will be led by author Gene Kopelson. It is scheduled for noon in the Visitors Center Auditorium of the Eisenhower Presidential Library.

Kopelson's talk is one of the major themes of his forthcoming book, Reagan's 1968 Dress Rehearsal: Ike, RFK, and Reagan's Emergence as a World Statesman, to be released in 2016 by University of Southern California Figueroa Press. According to Kopelson, the book will include newly discovered historical information that behind the scenes Dwight Eisenhower was Ronald Reagan's hidden political mentor.

Kopelson is president of the New England chapter and on the Board of Trustees of the Theodore Roosevelt Association. As a historian, he has published works on Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet, Ronald Reagan's 1966 campaign and Mexican American voters, the 1968 Nebraska and Oregon Republican primaries, and Washington State Republican politics in the 1960s. He and his wife Mindy update teacher-student books and video teaching trunks at the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP OFFERED IN ABILENE

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP OFFERED IN ABILENE

Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County is offering a Bereavement Support Group that is being held on Monday nights beginning at 6:00 for six to eight weeks at the Home Health and Hospice office, 1111 N. Brady, Abilene.  The first meeting is November 2.  Chris McKee, LSCSW, Bereavement Counselor, serves as the group facilitator.

This eight-week workshop is designed to help individuals work through the period of transition, allow time for sharing personal experiences and feelings, and provide guidance toward learning and coping skills.

The sessions are free; however, a donation to cover the cost of materials is accepted and appreciated. Persons interested in the support group are encouraged to bring along a supportive person. This group is open to the public and pre-registration is not required.

Anyone with questions should contact Home Health and Hospice of Dickinson County at 785-263-6630 in Abilene.

Why Not? Abilene Not Participate In Joint Justice Center

Abilene City Management Perspectives

Public Facilities

There has been a lot of discussion in the community about the City Commission's decision to not participate in Dickinson County's proposed joint justice center. For all intents and purposes, the issue has been "tabled" for the foreseeable future. What does this mean, and what is the impact to the City of Abilene?

The City Commission did not articulate when they would want to continue a conversation about public facilities when they last discussed the matter. However, it may be prudent to allow the issue to rest for several years until such time as the City has options available to finance such facilities without requiring a significant increase in taxes.

Presently, I do not know what the cost is of participating in a joint justice center with Dickinson County. What I do know is that taxes will need to increase whether the City participates in the justice center or pursues its own facilities. The reason for this is twofold:

·      If Dickinson County elects to build the facility and finance it without requiring the City to "pay rent," Abilene residents will see an increase in taxes because they are also residents of Dickinson County.

·      If Abilene participates in the facility and is required to pay for its portion of it (the most likely scenario), taxes will also have to increase for Abilene residents because the City will have to generate enough revenue to pay for the financing of its portion of the facility.

In either scenario, the laws of economics apply and taxes will increase because the facility will have to be paid by someone (i.e., Dickinson County residents and Abilene residents). 

Property taxes are presently needed to pay for much needed School District improvements and planned County projects and service expansions. By waiting, the City can defer a potential tax increase until it has available debt and revenue capacity. Deferring action also allows the City to minimize any potential tax increase by allowing the City Commission to decide to use existing revenues that are being presently used to pay for other capital projects.

The 0.35% sales tax allocated to pay debt service for improvements to the Library and Pool will sunset in 2018. This sales tax generates about $470,000 per year. Additionally, the five mills dedicated to pay debt service on bonds issued for the E. First Street Project will not be required for this purpose after 2022. The five mills currently generates about $260,000 used for debt service. Combined, these two revenue sources represent about $730,000 that could be used for future debt service payments. This amount of revenue would service approximately $14.1 million dollars of principle over twenty years. 

Another consideration is that the City's outstanding G.O. debt will be $6.87 million less than it is today. The City has about $2.3 million of G.O. debt against its statutory debt limit of $7.8 million. The statutory debt limit is calculated by taking 15% of the City's assessed valuation. By state law, the City cannot issue G.O. debt in excess of its statutory debt limit unless certain exceptions are used. For example, G.O. debt backed by special assessments does not count against the statutory debt limit. The City could issue $5.5 million of G.O. debt today, although maxing out the G.O. debt limit is probably not a prudent course of action to take. Waiting allows the City to retire some of its outstanding debt so as to allow for a fiscally prudent financing of future capital projects.

Finally, participating in the joint justice center with Dickinson County does not address all of the City's facility needs. By moving the Police Department to a new facility, the existing City Hall building will become that much more vacant and would no doubt continue to further deteriorate. Would it be affordable to maintain the areas that would become vacant in this scenario for the foreseeable future? The prudent path forward would be to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses all the public services needs currently housed in City Hall. Without such a plan, taxpayers will merely continue to fund the slow deterioration of an old building that has become obsolete with time. 

Eisenhower Foundation Ed Program Gets New Technology

TCT GIFT TO EISENHOWER FOUNDATION ENHANCES FIELD TRIPS TO PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

There's an app for that! School field trips to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home are being enhanced by the addition of 25 iPad minis recently donated by TCT, Inc., a telecommunications company headquartered in Council Grove, Kan.

According to Emily Miller, Ike EDucator, the donation enables students to research historical information online when participating in Ike EDucation programs offered on-site at the Eisenhower Presidential Library. Ike ED offers a variety of educational curricula to meet the age level and needs of visiting students and teachers. The Eisenhower Foundation established Ike EDucation in 2013. It offers K-12 school groups complementary programs and activities that relate the life and times of the 34th President to today's students.

The on-site programs at the Eisenhower Presidential Library allow students to hold pieces of history - objects such as diaries, maps, and photographs - as they draw conclusions about the object's significance to a world event. A study of the weather on D-Day might include a secret military document describing the weather requirements necessary for a successful invasion, a weather balloon artifact, and the name of a meteorologist who reported daily to Eisenhower. With the addition of the iPad minis, students can conduct further research by online before stepping into Eisenhower's shoes to decide whether to commence or delay the D-Day invasion.

"The students are able to access information online, such as primary documents and videos," Miller says. "For example, in our program Holocaust: From a Name to a Number, students can scan a QR (Quick Response) code to watch interviews of actual Holocaust survivors and hear stories about the atrocities they endured at the hands of the Nazis."

TCT supports the communities it serves by funding local grants, sponsoring area events, providing numerous scholarships, and contributing to charities as well as civic and service clubs, according to Angie Schwerdtfeger, TCT's director of public relations.

"We know that a lot of students in our service area participate in this program, and we thought this was a great way to marry historical programs that teach kids about history, about leadership and about responsibility, with technology that is going to grab their interest," she says. "It's fine handing students a pamphlet, but that's not going to engage them as much as technology will, and therefore they are going to learn things because they are excited about the technology. We're hoping that through this technology, they will get more excited about leadership, responsibility and history."
TCT opened a Solutions Center in Abilene to service customers in the surrounding area, Schwerdtfeger adds, and contributing the iPad minis to the Ike Education Program is just one way the company supports the region.

PUBLIC WELCOMING RECEPTION FOR NEW PHYSICIAN

Abilene, Kansas

PUBLIC WELCOMING RECEPTION FOR NEW PHYSICIAN

Memorial Health System is hosting a reception for Dr. Amanda Baxa on November 3 welcoming her to Heartland Health Care Clinic.

The public is cordially invited to attend a come-and-go welcoming reception for Dr. Amanda Baxa on Tuesday, November 3, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Memorial Hospital lobby, 511 NE 10th St. Abilene, Kansas, Refreshments will be served.

Dr. Baxa provides family medicine including a special interest in obstetrics.  She is joining Heartland Health Care Clinic, and is now accepting appointments for patients of all ages.  Heartland Health Care Clinic can be contacted by calling 263-4131