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Letter to the editor – ‘A special lady’

By Staff | Sep 19, 2001

A special lady

To the editor:

Etta Kay “E.K.” Elston was indeed a very special lady. E.K., as most of us called her, passed away on Sept. 2, 2001. This lady was 88 years old and she spent her entire life thinking of others and enjoying each day to its fullest. She was so much more than a homemaker, although she was that also.

E.K. was very active in the First Congregational Church and Plymouth Guild. Until the last couple of years, in the fall you could find E.K. at the church, helping to make the several hundred fresh apple pies that have been sold by the church for several years. All of us have enjoyed them over the years.

You would also see E.K. attending several of the school’s sporting events. It never made any difference to her if she knew any of the participants or not. She loved sports. She was honored in 1991 by the Tonganoxie Booster Club by being named Booster of the Year. She was proud of this award, and it was placed in her kitchen. When she wasn’t attending a school sporting event, she would sit in her chair watching a game on TV and listening to another one on her radio.

She contributed so much to the Tonganoxie community. In February 1994, she was chosen as Tonganoxie Citizen of the Year by the chamber of commerce. She was shy about receiving recognition of any kind because she didn’t feel that she had done anything special to receive it. She just did what she enjoyed helping other people.

She kept in touch with former Tonganoxie residents who had moved away from our city, young people serving with the armed forces or attending college, through letters and telephone calls. Whenever she heard of anyone she knew who was expecting a new baby in the family, she started making receiving blankets for them. They were always soft and warm, as was E.K.

We can’t say enough about E.K.’s love of life and people. Her love and humor will be missed by all of us.

Her fellow bridge players:
Mary Ann Allen,
Colene DeHoff,
Ferry Evans,
Aiko Gouge,
Rosemary Hunter,
Anna Lea Tanking and
Deloris White.

Letter to the editor – “It’s in the numbers”

By Staff | Sep 19, 2001

To the editor:

The date of the attack: 9/11 9+1+1=11.

September 11th is the 254th day of the year: 2+5+4=11.

After Sept. 11, there are 111 days left to the end of the year.

119 is the area code to Iraq-Iran. 1+1+9=11

Twin Towers: standing side by side looks like the number 11.

The first plane to hit the towers was Flight 11.

State of New York the 11th State added to the Union.

New York City 11 letters.

Afghanistan 11 letters.

The Pentagon 11 letters.

Ramzi Yousef 11 letters (convicted of orchestrating the attack on the World Trade Center in 1993).

Flight 11 92 on board 9+2 11.

Flight 77 65 on board 6+5 =11.

George W. Bush = 11 letters.

Timothy McVeigh executed on June 11.

God put the right man, at the right place at the right time.

Dave Taylor,
Tonganoxie.

Letter to the editor – “Proud to be an American”

By Staff | Sep 19, 2001

To the editor:

The heartbreaking events of last Tuesday left me stranded in Raleigh, N.C. A co-worker and I rented a car and drove 18 hours to get home. The spirit of unity and patriotism we encountered as we passed through five states was incredible.

American flags were hanging from overpasses and buildings, flying from tractor-trailer rigs and hanging off of construction equipment. Someone hung an American flag from a light pole at a rest stop. Signs that normally advertise the special of the day were instead sporting “God bless America” and similar slogans.

My eyes watered as I finally reached Tonganoxie after midnight Friday and signs from the bank to the Outpost displayed “God bless the USA.”

It struck me that the monster who did this united our nation like no one else could. I have never seen such patriotism in my lifetime.

In the coming days, our leaders will make some hard decisions. Our military will be asked to do some difficult things. Many families, including my own, will be affected by these actions.

Please pray for our leaders and our soldiers and continue to support them.

I am now more than ever proud to be an American.

Kerril Bauerly,
Tonganoxie.