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Washunga Button Winners
Colton Elsen (right) and Tanner Buchman are the winners of the 2025 Washunga Button Hunt. Elsen located the first button on Monday, the first day of the contest. Tanner and Ashley Buchman looked for the Washunga button for about 1 1/2 hours before locating it Wednesday, in the vicinity of Custer Elm. They used the clue “where the waters converge” to mean in the area where the Neosho and Elm Creek converge. Tanner had his family of “hunters” with him. Above are left to right: Ashley, Bella is on Ashley’s shoulder, Bailey is on Tanner’s Shoulder and Tanner. Ashley joked that “All those years of forcing my family to geocache paid off.” A fun fact for the family is that 10 years ago, the Buchman’s boys and their cousins were winners of the “Find the Button” contest. The winners will receive two wristbands to Washunga Days and Washunga Nights, as well as two t-shirts, two stickers and a Washunga Days tote bag.
New ranger hired, campgrounds reopening, flooding still a concern
A significant step forward has been made in addressing the staffing challenges at Council Grove Lake brought on by the federal hiring freeze. Gary Kepley, Deputy Op erations Project Manager for the Kansas Area, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Tulsa District, informed the Council Grove Republican on Wednesday that a permanent park ranger has officially been hired and is expected to be on site by the end of this week.
Calvary Lutheran Church marks 80 years of faith and fellowship
Calvary Lutheran Church, located at 715 E. Main Street in Council Grove, is celebrating a major milestone— its 80th anniversary. The public is invited to join in the celebration on Sunday, June 22, beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a Worship Service led by Rev. Adam Reichart. (Please note, this is one hour earlier than Calvary’s usual start time.) Faith Lutheran Church in Emporia, Calvary’s dual parish partner, has also been invited to join in the anniversary celebration. A potluck luncheon will follow in the adjacent Fellowship Hall. The congregation, alongside its neighbors and friends, will come together to reflect on the blessings of the past eight decades and look forward to what God has in store in the years ahead.
Hayden Massie - Dominating the diamond
The Farmers & Drovers Bank Team has been a powerhouse in the “C” age division of the Dickinson County Softball League this summer, racking up an impressive 85-12 scoring margin over their opponents. Leading the charge from the pitcher’s circle, Hayden Massie has faced 68 batters, striking out 45 while issuing just 9 walks. She’s surrendered a mere 3 runs and only 4 hits. She has demonstrated an outstanding display of control and dominance. The team’s early success is clearly reflected in their first six matchups, highlighted below as they currently hold a 6-0 undefeated record: Farmers & Drovers easily dispatched #2 Chapman on June 2 at Chapman, 18-0. They jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning after Cece Monihen doubled. Massie earned the win for the team. The starting pitcher surrendered one hit and zero runs over two innings, striking out six and walking one. Alayna Craige tossed one inning of no-run ball in relief. The reliever allowed one hit, striking out one and walking one. Farmers & Drovers amassed nine hits in the game. Haisley Villalobos and Charlotte Switzer each collected two hits. C. Monihen, Izzy Monihen, Craige, Aubrey Talley and Azlynn Adams each tallied a hit. Short stop, Peyton Ryff, delivered an amazing catch to close out the game.