Paid in full

Published February 21, 2013

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

Have you heard this story?

            A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As graduation day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, “With all your money, you gave me a Bible?” He stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family. He realized his father was very old and thought perhaps he should go to him; he had not seen him since graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, however, he received word that his father had passed away and willed all his possessions to his son. He needed to go home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers, and then his eyes fell onto the still-new Bible, just as he had left it many years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt. 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name -- the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation and the words, “Paid in Full.”

We are now one week into the period of Lent, a 40-day journey that leads to Easter. If we imagine a banner across the “finish line” of this journey, I believe those words, PAID IN FULL, are printed on that banner. For me, this is a fitting illustration of what Easter is all about. 

Keep love in your heart

Published February 14, 2013

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

            It’s Valentine’s Day, and that means love is in the air! It’s a day to smell the flowers, taste the chocolates, and pour the wine! Florists, jewelers and gift shops bank on this day. I have my husband trained, however, never to treat me to a box of chocolates, no matter how pretty the box. Don’t get me wrong… I LOVE chocolates; I just don’t enjoy wearing them!

            In honor of this special day, I’ve collected a list of sentiments about love – a veritable chocolate box of choice words – suitable for the occasion.

            Y Come live in my heart, and pay no rent. – Samuel Lover

            Y If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you. – A.A. Milne

            Y A loving heart is the truest wisdom. – Charles Dickens

            Y The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. ­– Audrey Hepburn

            Y I like not only to be loved, but also to be told I am loved. – George Eliot

            Y Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you. – Loretta Young

            Y Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. – C.S. Lewis

            Y Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. – Oscar Wilde

            Y  Immature love says: ‘I love you because I need you.’ Mature love says ‘I need you because I love you.’ – Erich Fromm

            Y Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. – Mother Teresa

            Y The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. – Victor Hugo

            Y You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. – Henry Drummond

            Y What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. – Helen Keller

            Y The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost. – Gilbert K. Chesterton

            Y ’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

            Y Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so. – David Grayson

            Y Who, being loved, is poor? – Oscar Wilde

            Y Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always ‘me first,’ doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies. – I Corinthians 13: 4-7 MSG

A Dr. Seuss perspective of our (old) computer issues

Published February 7, 2013

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

            We have told you (and warned you) that here at the Sentinel, we are in the process of updating the way we put out the newspaper. We have several new computers, and they are running new software that brings the Sentinel into the 21st Century as far as print material layout is concerned. Prior to the upgrade, our paper was laid out in PageMaker, the original desktop publishing software of choice, which was introduced in the 1980s by Adobe. In 2002, PageMaker began to be phased out and retired in the publishing industry – and now also at the Sentinel – in favor of InDesign, which is also a product of Adobe.

            There have been many tense moments, long hours, and stressed nerves within these walls since mid-December when the changeover began. But by this week’s issue, all pages of the Sentinel are now laid out in InDesign, and that is a major accomplishment that could not have happened were it not for a few very capable, extremely patient people who work for The Hays Daily News. There are still kinks to work out, templates to be made, and processes to be refined; but for the most part, the Stockton Sentinel has now come of age and stepped up to the plate with the big boys.

            From my files of important stuff, I ran across the following rhyme, written in the style of Dr. Seuss. It fairly well describes some of the goings-on around here in the months (okay, years) leading up to the new computers and new software. You really would have had to be here to truly appreciate it, but suffice it to say, that if we had put a dollar in a tin can every time Bart or Bob said, “My computer’s froze up again” or “$#!&, I’m locked up again,” the new system would have paid for itself. Finally, it came down to this:  there was no alternative other than to upgrade.

            This poem tells it better:

            “If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, and the bus is interrupted at a very last resort, and the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

            “If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash, and your data is corrupted cause the index doesn’t hash, then your situation’s hopeless, and your system’s gonna crash!

            “If the label on the cable on the table at your house says the network is connected to the button on your mouse, but your packets want to tunnel to another protocol, that’s repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall…

            “And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss, so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse, then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang, ‘cuz sure as I’m a poet, the sucker’s gonna hang.

            “When the copy on your floppy’s getting sloppy in the disk, and the macro code instruction is causing unnecessary risk, then you’ll have to flash the memory and you’ll want to RAM your ROM, and then shut down the computer, and be sure to tell your mom!”

It's the little things

Published January 31, 2013

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

            Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.

            I will admit to you all that I have issues with dark places and creepy things. Consequently, the basement here at the Sentinel office is totally off-limits to me. Just standing at the top of the steps and looking down is more than I can take.

I have ventured to the two floors above us, but nearly hyperventilated in doing so.

And for the four-plus years I have worked here, I have even been somewhat creeped out using the bathroom because it is necessary to step inside, in the dark, to find the light switch.

I blame all this inner wus on my older brother, Keith, who used to pride himself in scaring the pants off of me, the only girl in the family. My mom tells me the story (I have blocked from my memory!) of the time when my brother climbed the tree next to our house, entered through an upstairs bedroom window, then snuck down the steps. I was practicing the piano, which set next to the stairway door, when the door opened slowly and a waving hand appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared, and then the door closed softly.

White as a sheet and barely able to speak, I went to find my mom and squeaked that someone was at the stairway door. She said she was sure it was Keith. I said it couldn’t be; I knew he was outside.

Just to prove how brave (and smart) she was, she went to the stairway door and opened it, revealing that the source of my fear was, indeed, my brother, Keith.

Fast forward many years later, now at the Sentinel office…

I had never told anyone here about my anxiety issues with the bathroom. They all give me such a hard time about the basement and upper floors, I just haven’t wanted to bring more fodder to the repartee.

But this week, I got brave and solved my problem with a simple nightlight, in spite of wondering what kind of banter I may have to endure.

Surprisingly, the little nightlight has been welcomed! My female coworkers are enjoying the nightlight for the soothing ambiance that now exists in the toity! How about that? I’ve solved my anxiety issues and provided ambiance, to boot!

Sometimes, it really is the little things that make a difference!

  

Thinking beyond the desk

Published January 24, 2013

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

            The small elementary school where my husband began his education has become a shining example of how to keep a small school alive. The tiny town of Walton, located in a farming community in Harvey County about five miles east of Newton, Kansas, is home to the 21st Century Rural Life Center, one of only 17 charter schools in Kansas.

The school, which was in danger of closing its doors in 2007 due to low enrollments, has now more than doubled its enrollment and may need to begin turning students away. They have a waiting list for future years that includes children that are “on the way” but haven’t been born yet.

Where traditional schools use textbooks and repetition, the Rural Life Center is “project-based, hands-on, real life learning,” according to principal Natise Vogt. The school’s emphasis is agriculture, although they aren’t trying to make a whole school of farmers. It is the first public elementary school in the nation to completely incorporate agriculture into its curriculum. The school has a wind turbine that generates power for the school, farm animals, a vegetable garden and greenhouse –– all of which are used in the curriculum.

A typical morning for first grade teacher Johannah Hein includes collecting eggs, feeding cows, goats, sheep and pigs and straightening the barn. Second-graders learn how to clean, weigh, package and market eggs, which the school sells for $2 a dozen. Students also fill orders and decide what to do with the proceeds, which might include buying new hens, feed or hay, or giving money to the Walton food bank.

            The school has gained national and international interest due to their success. The U.S. Department of Education produced a video about Walton’s turnaround, which can be viewed on YouTube. Recently a group from New Zealand visited the school to see how it operates.

            It requires a lot of work and dedication from the entire staff since no printed, pre-planned lesson plans exist. But whatever they are doing, it is working well for them. In 2010, 97% of the students tested at or above grade level in math and 94% tested at or above grade level in reading. Overall, the school is in the top 5% of all elementary schools in Kansas.

            This story is interesting to me for a number of reasons. First, the tiny town of Walton is where my husband grew up, being a student of Walton Elementary until the 7th grade, when his family moved close to the tiny town of Goessel, where I grew up. Both he and I have rural, farming roots.

            Schools everywhere –– especially our small, rural schools –– have to become creative and take whatever initiative is necessary to remain viable and keep the doors open. Walton’s “21st Century” model is a wonderful example of that kind of forward thinking.  

With strings attached

Published January 17, 2013

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

            Show of hands:  How many of you are parents of a child with a cell phone?

            Okay, you can put your hands down now. But here’s another question. What are the rules of behavior that you presented to your child prior to presenting him or her with that cell phone? Okay, I can tell I lost a few of you there. You didn’t verbalize any rules of behavior? Oh, I know… your kid is the most responsible kid you know. But seriously, I hope there are strings attached to your child’s phone, that you are holding onto the loose end of the strings, and that, most importantly, your child knows you are holding the strings.

            Before I go any further, let me just say that I’m glad I don’t have young children in this highly-charged digital age. Don’t get me wrong – I love it, myself. And that’s not to say that we didn’t have our own things to deal with when we were raising our children. Every generation has a whole new array of things to worry about when it comes to raising kids. But the digital element now has more far-reaching effects.

            You may have seen the story about Janell Hofmann, a mother of five from Cape Cod, Mass., who gave her 13-year-old son, Gregory, an iPhone for Christmas. The phone came with strings attached. Eighteen strings, to be exact, in a written code of conduct for her son to agree to and sign in order to receive the phone. Her first order of business:  “1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren’t I the greatest?”

            Mom Hofmann goes on with the list of 17 more expectations, including points such as: You must share passwords with a parent, answer their calls, hand over said device early on school nights and a little later on weekend. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs. On this, she adds: “Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some birthday money. It will happen; you should be prepared.”

            She requested that he not text, email or say anything through the device that he would not say in person, or would not say out loud if his parents were in the room. Also, the phone does not go to school; instead, have live conversations with the people you text, so as to develop a life skill. You must avoid hurtful texts and porn, and do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else’s. “Don’t laugh,” Mom writes. “Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear—including a bad reputation.”

            “Keep your eyes up,” Mom writes. “See the world happening around you. Take a walk. Listen to the birds. Wonder without googling.”

            After listing all 18 points of the contract, Mom finishes the contract by telling her son, “Most of the lessons listed here do not just apply to the iPhone, but to life. You are growing up in a fast and ever-changing world. It is exciting and enticing. Keep it simple every chance you get. Trust your powerful mind and giant heart above any machine. I love you. I hope you enjoy your awesome new iPhone. Merry Christmas!”

            Gregory agreed to the terms of the contract, and I bet things are going just fine. Certainly he may mess up. He may get the phone taken away from him. That’s covered in item 18. But Mom says then “we will sit down and talk about it.”

            Therein lies a very important point for all parents—talk about it. But don’t wait until something goes horribly wrong or the phone is busted or lost. Talk about it now and every chance you get. Make sure they know your expectations and your rules.

            And don’t worry about being viewed as a helicopter parent. Spend your time worrying about what might happen if you don’t have any rules.

            To read the full iPhone contract written by Janell Hofmann, go to: www.janellburleyhofmann.com.        

Dream headlines for the Stockton Sentinel in 2013

Published January 3, 2013
Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

Westhusings to build truck stop at south end of Stockton

Both boys and girls Stockton Tiger basketball teams heading to State!

City gets preservation grant to repair brick Main St.

Solomon Valley Manor to build assisted living complex

Antique stores open their doors to the public

Josh Groban to headline Nova Theatre fundraiser

Local FFA chapter brings donkey basketball to Stockton

Stockton Ministerial Alliance to close Food Bank due to lack of need

State's newest wind farm to be constructed between Stockton and Plainville

Plans to build terminal underway for busy Rooks County Regional Airport

Wilkens to expand, adding 50 new jobs

Manufacturing plant to be built at industrial park bringing potential of 250-300 jobs to area

School district to push bond issue for new high school

City approves plans for new swimming pool and water park

Local KAY chapter receives national recognition for its anti-bullying program

Local churches to add additional worship services due to crowded sanctuaries

“Good Morning America” comes to Stockton... America's best place to raise a family