It was another rough Thanksgiving for Jerry and Tina Coleman and their daughters, Rachel, 13, and Hannah, 11. A year ago, Jerry’s father died two days before Thanksgiving. This year, their home on Pleasant Street caught on fire two days before Thanksgiving. Thankfully, everyone made it out safely. The family credits an unusual hero for their safe exit, KC, an 18-year-old calico cat that awakened Rachel.

Tonganoxie florist Susan Quisenberry is taking her holiday decorations on the road. Quisenberry, owner of Village Floral, is decorating two rooms in Leavenworth’s Carroll Mansion for Sunday’s Candlelight Homes Tour. Helping her with the decorations are Rachel Murry and the rest of the employees at Village Floral. (Shown were Susan and Rachel making a holiday wall hanging and an upside down Christmas tree to put on exhibit.)

Birth: Brandon and Kelli Chop announce the birth of a son, Rudy James, born Oct. 31, 2002.

Deaths: Nellie Katherine (Croft) Burwell, 92, Dighton, died Nov. 26, 2002 in Eudora; A memorial service for Ann Nies Rowland, 60, Wichita, will be today in Wichita.

Bell ringers raise funds for families: Four Tonganoxie organizations — the Knights of Columbus, Chapter AT of PEO, the Tonganoxie Civic Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars — have taken over this year’s local bell ringing for the Salvation Army. (Mavis Thomas, the Salvation Army’s office administrator, said last year’s bell ringers in Leavenworth County raised $49,127. Of that, Tonganoxie bell ringers brought in $1,828. It was estimated that about $12,000 has gone back into the Tonganoxie, Linwood, Basehor and McLouth area this year to assist about 176 people. Countywide, the charity has helped 764 families with rent, utilities, food, clothing, furniture and prescriptions.)

25 years ago: Nov. 25, 1987

Last week, we announced that we had a first in the field of American Farmer award in this community. Then we learned that there was another person who received this award back in 1942 when Mr. R.L. Welton was the agriculture teacher in the local high school. His name is Mr. Maurice Black, Jr., and we have the papers in our possession and will give you details. (Article written by Helen Schilling.)

Members and friends of the Chamber of Commerce had their noon luncheon Nov. 17 at the Heritage Inn and honored the five living WWI veterans in our community. Those who were able to attend were Walt Neibarger and J.M. Jack. Three others, Norman Wiley, Frank Waters, Sr., and Martin Herrstrom were unable to attend.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kissinger announce the birth of twin sons Nov. 15, 1987. The twins have been given the names of Joseph Michael and Jeffrey Michael; Don and Joy Baragray, Boonville, Mo., are the parents of a daughter born Oct. 29, 1987. They have named her Whitney Lynn.

McLouth News: Mr. and Mrs. Lester Shughart celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Saturday with a dinner at a Lawrence restaurant, compliments of their son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Shughart, Jr., of Overland Park.

Deaths: John W. Kimmel, 72, McLouth died Wednesday; Mary L. “May” Murphy, 77, Bonner Springs, died Nov. 21, 1987; Services for Jeffrey M. Kissinger, newborn son of Michael and Tammy Kissinger, born Sunday, were at 2 p.m. Thursday; Fielden Ray Bundy, 37, Kansas City, Mo., died Nov. 19, 1987.

50 years ago: Dec. 13, 1962

Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Davidson of Linwood announce the birth of a son, Scott Wayne, born Nov. 22, 1962.

Deaths: Mrs. Fannie Elizabeth Surles, Arlington, California, age 85, passed away Dec. 11, 1962; Glen L. Meek, age 61, died Dec. 6, 1962, in Long Beach, Calif.; Vernon C. Mosser, age 56, passed away Dec. 2, 1962, at Salinas, Calif.; Mrs. Beatrice Rae Lange, age 60, passed away Dec. 6, 1962, in St. Joseph, Mo.

Linwood, Dec. 13, 1962: Mrs. Homer Bowen entertained with a birthday party honoring her daughter, Mary Ann, on her 13th birthday Tuesday evening.

75 years ago: Nov. 18, 1937

The Weekly News Reel: Mrs. Abraham Enochs of east of Tonganoxie on No. 40 is one of our “It Happened in Kansas” cartoon fans. Some time ago she submitted a story about an old Indian who lived near her former home west of Topeka. It is put in picture form in this week’s Mirror. (Next paragraph.)

From “It Happened in Kansas” by F.A. Cooper: “Heap” Big Chief: Abram B. Burnett, Potawatomie Chief (Chief Kah-He-Ga-Wa-Ti-Am-Gah) was one of the biggest Indians on record. His weight has been estimated between 400 and 500 pounds. His spring wagon was equipped with stairs to help the rotund chief reach the seat. He filled the wagon completely. He was a big man in pioneer affairs. He signed all of the Potawatomie treaties with the government in the years 1836, 1837, 1846 and 1861. He was one of Topeka’s first citizens. He was one of the wealthiest Indians in Kansas. Strangely enough, little of his wealth was found when he died in 1870. Perhaps his gold lies buried with him on his farm overlooking Shunganunga Creek near the present city limits of Topeka. It is claimed that a species of fish inhabiting the saltmarsh region of northeast Stafford County can walk. These fish are said to possess four short rudimentary legs upon which they can propel themselves over dry land.

Basehor News: Mrs. Babe Kemler entertained with a surprise birthday dinner in honor of Mrs. Mary Crady Thursday.

Our newspaper neighbor on the west, the Oskaloosa Independent, has been published by the Roberts family for 77 years, and F.H. Roberts has been in it 62 years. In last week’s paper was material written by F.H., three sons — one in China — and a granddaughter in New York City. This is an unusual record.

100 years ago: Nov. 28, 1912

Joe Wickey made a trip to the county seat Tuesday.

Farmers have been getting 40 cents for their corn at the mill this week. Prices at McLouth were 33 cents and at Lawrence 32 cents.

The Linwood Tribune is to be revived. Mr. Shepherd says he was away on a visit to Illinois, and has come back to resume the publication of the paper.

Excellent supper served by the ladies of the Congregational Church at the Angell house Saturday, Dec. 7. Hours: 4 to 10. Price: 25 cents. Everybody most cordially invited.

The team of Will Loomis ran away Monday morning while at the home of Mrs. Houston. They ran two blocks and, when they got to some hitch-racks at the Tonganoxie State Bank, they stopped without doing any damage.

A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Sheahan, six miles east, last Sunday.

Women Get Revenge: With a bonfire of copies of the Nov. 1 edition of the Ladies’ Home Journal the 20 officers of the Johnson County Suffrage Association celebrated their victory at Olathe. The publication was selected for fuel because it contained an article by Edward W. Bok criticizing women voters.

Infantile paralysis (polio) has appeared among the Eskimos in Alaska. The backward races must often sit down and wonder whether civilization really pays.