Mystery relative arrives at Ramona
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
Every week or so Tony Meyer calls me and leaves this message, "Have you heard anything about when the Thompsons are going to arrive?" And my reply was: "I don't know anything except what Mr. Thompson told folks when he first visited Ramona a couple months ago — he and his family will return sometime in June — and it's still June!"
I don't blame Tony for being curious — after all, it's not every day a new family moves into Ramona, especially one from California with five children. The population will soar by 7! That's newsworthy!
I was curious myself, since the Thompson family was moving from Sacramento, which is where I used to live before coming to Ramona. In addition, the Thompsons were so eager to move to the country they bought their Ramona house over the Internet, site unseen. That's the pioneer spirit!
Early Saturday morning, I spotted a long Budget moving van parked in front of the property just south of the high school. At last, the Thompsons had arrived in town.
But not all of the Thompsons. The first "wave" to reach Kansas were Jim Thompson and his brothers Bob and John, who are teachers from Sacramento. "They came to help me start reclaiming the property," said Jim.
"Traffic's going to pick up on the north end of town again," I said to Jim and his brothers as they started unloading the moving truck and I headed for home. That's what folks used to say to Pat and me when we'd arrive each summer for a month and begin our renovation projects, because people are just naturally curious about anything new that happens around town.
By lunch time on Saturday we saw Jim and his brothers again, "refueling" with the good food at the Ramona Café. Folks were curious about the three strangers sitting two tables away. "Do you know who that is?" someone whispered. I didn't reply right away — instead I went over and told Jim to stand up and I introduced everybody in the café to him — at least everybody that I knew — and it was crowded!
"Way to embarrass me," joked Jim. "Ah, get used to it," I replied. "In a small town everybody knows your business anyway — might as well get it right, and out in the open to begin with so the gossip is somewhat accurate!"
Jim's plan was to start renovating the house so his wife Terri, their five children, and his mom could arrive in a couple of weeks.
But as Saturday afternoon wore on, the brothers ran into a few "snafus" — common problems that occur when a house has been empty for too long. Jim began to wonder where he could realistically house his family in a couple of weeks.
"I'm determined to live in Ramona," said Jim. "I already love it. And I want my kids to have a 'Mayberry experience,' so I'm going to be here no matter what!"
So Pat and I mentioned our cousin's house, owned by the Lorei family, on the corner of 5th and B. In the past, the house was inhabited only for a couple of weeks each summer when we had our Schubert family reunion.
But since our cousins purchased the house several years ago, they've moved to the East coast and can't get to Kansas very easily, plus the house was needing a new roof and they weren't sure it was wise to keep investing in a Ramona house they rarely visited.
To make a long story short — Jim Thompson talked with our cousins Steve and Elyse Lorei and Jim bought a second house in Ramona — one that has electrical, plumbing, five bedrooms and is livable with much less work than the first house required.
I had my feet kicked up and was watching a movie Saturday afternoon when Jim arrived at our house announcing he wanted to buy the Lorei house. Within minutes we had our work boots on and were headed for our cousin's house, removing their belongings into one of our houses, so that Jim could unload his family's belongings from the moving van.
"Now there's a headline for your newspaper column," joked Jim. "California man moves into Ramona one day and moves again the next!"
Jim's plan is to get his family settled in the big white house with the green shutters, then work at his leisure on the property he originally purchased. "I love the land," explained Jim, "and that's what originally intrigued me about buying the property here."
Terri and Jim wanted their children, ages three to 13, to have the experience of living in a town where they can play and roam and be safe. "Where everybody knows your kids," said Jim.
When I stopped by the Lorei-now-Thompson home Monday evening, Jim's belongings were sitting on the lawn and porch. Inside the house the carpet pad was already down on the floor — laying carpet is another of Jim's skills.
"Usually putting down carpet is the last thing I'd do in a renovation," said Jim, "but since my family is coming in 10 days, I decided it would be the first."
Jim Thompson is a computer expert in the areas of networking, website design, and computer repairs. His wife Terri is a certified nursing assistant.
Three cheers for the Thompsons: one for the talent they bring to the community, another for the renewed life they're going to give a couple of old homes in town, and a loud hip-hip-hooray to see that the pioneer spirit is just as alive today as it was when the first wagon trains touched the soil of Kansas.
Being a modern-day pioneer has distinct benefits — chief among them that the journey isn't typically life-threatening, and today's "wagon trains" have "BUDGET RENTAL" painted on the side, with A/C in the cab!
While we were moving furniture Saturday afternoon there was a barbecue party going on at Bob and Debra Hare's home. "It was Robert's 34th birthday," explained Debra when I inquired about all the cars parked around their house.
"We had a big barbecue outside and his mom, brothers, grandkids, and friends from work came for supper." Most of the family guests were from Herington. Bob's work friends were from Alco Warehouse in Abilene, where Robert works.
Betty and Harold Ohm were in Platte City over the weekend of June 13-14 on a special excursion — to see their granddaughter Jordan Richardson perform in a cast of stars at the Weston Community Theatre presentation of "Oliver."
"Jordan was the youngest cast member," said proud Betty. "I was so amazed. She did so good singing and dancing."
It's typical in a playbill to list the actors and something about each performer. Under Jordan's name it reads: "Jordan is a recent kindergarten graduate from Platte City. Jordan has wanted to perform on stage her 'whole life.' " Jordan is six years old.
Saturday morning we got a phone call from Teresa Guerrero of Wichita, asking if we'd have the museum open for viewing. We agreed to give a personal tour, with the caveat that this was not your typical museum. "It's family and town memorabilia," said my sister, "and I can't guarantee there'll be something here that will be meaningful to your family."
But the Gutierres family was determined to come and when they arrived their purpose became clear. "Dad mentioned to me a long time ago that he'd like to visit the place of his birth," said Teresa, daughter of Ramon Gutierres, "and Dad was born in Ramona in 1923."
"We wondered if Ramon's name was given him in honor of the place of his birth," said Ramon's wife Clara. "Ramon's father lived with us for a while," Clara continued, "but we never thought to ask some of these questions about Ramon's early life." As a result, nobody knows how long the Gutierres family lived in Ramona or where they resided.
Ramon and Clara Gutierres were accompanied on this nostalgic trip to Ramona by three of their daughters, Antoinette, Patsy, and Teresa. Ramon, who now is 80, was a railroad worker for the Rock Island Railroad — a profession he shared with his father, Jesus Gutierres.
There's something magical about folks just dropping by Ramona in search of their past. Even though we found no school pictures with kids having the name Gutierres, we nevertheless made a connection with Ramon and his family. And now they are part of our collective history.
"Send a picture of your parents and brothers and sisters," said my sister Pat as Ramon and his family headed for their car. We couldn't find record of Ramon's past, but as of Saturday, he and his family are now part of our present history.
If you wander into Ramona this coming Saturday and want to have lunch at the Ramona Café — you'll be disappointed. The café will be closed this Saturday because Marlene and Reign Anduss will be attending Marlene's family reunion at East Lake in Harvey County.
I asked Marlene if her family was going to be so lucky and have her pies for dessert. "No," she quickly replied with a grin, "I'll probably make my coleslaw."
The family event starts Friday evening with a hamburger fry and is followed by a covered dish luncheon on Saturday. "Afterwards we hold an auction to raise money for next year's reunion," said Marlene. "I usually create something that has to do with family history," Marlene continued. "Last year I put my grandparent's picture on coffee mugs and auctioned them. My daughter Marsha usually brings some of her cross-stitching."
Marsha's boys Matt and Brian brought some friends along and came to visit their grandparents this last Saturday. "They said they'd come if I made a pumpkin and cherry pie," said Marlene. After lunch they reciprocated with a favor — I noticed the grandkids in the back of the café helping wash dishes.
The Ramona Café will be open as usual on Sunday and Monday.
Last week I promised news of Ramona's Fourth of July events. Here's the scoop. The theme is "Clown Around in Ramona." The festivities begin with The Ramona Café and Uncle Haney's barbecue — both will be open at 11a.m.
Afternoon activities are being presented by Jim and Jeannie Weber of Weber Trucking and they are:
1:30-4:30 p.m. — Tractor Show with trophies being awarded for people's choice, best restored, best unrestored, and worst shape overall (but it must run). You must be pre-registered to enter the show. Call Jeannie Weber at 620-382-4514.
1-2 p.m. — Kids Games: toilet paper wrap, hoola hoop contest, water balloon toss, and piñatas.
2-4 p.m. — Karaoke sponsored by Weber Trucking.
4:30-5 p.m. — Lawnmower races and farm tractor turtle races, also sponsored by Weber Trucking.
4-7 p.m. — The Dirt Gambler's Museum will be open showing Ramona Schools, Kids and Their Toys, Military Memories, and Fashion Foo Foo.
5-8 p.m — BINGO! at the Ramona Senior Center (they'll stop long enough for the parade).
6 p.m. — Parade registration at the former barbershop, downtown Ramona. Mayor Connie Smith will be registering all parade entries.
7 p.m. — PARADE. Prizes are awarded for creativity and rendition of the circus theme. There are three parade categories: Single Entry ($1 for kids, $2 adults): Bikes, motorcycles, cars, tractors, wagons, skates, on foot, stilts, etc. Animal entry: ($1 kids, $2 adults) Horses, dogs, cats, goats, calves, general "wildlife." Floats: ($1 kids, $5 adults) On truck bed or truck and trailer. Kid entries are for children 12 and under.
First and second winners in each category will receive cash prizes (ranging from $10-$50) and third place winners will receive gift certificates.
7:30-9:30 p.m. — The Alex Stuchlik Polka Band, sponsored by Lisa and Ronnie Hanschu, Tom and Lori Moldenhauer, Frank and Anna Mae Stika, and Wagon Wheel Express.
7:30 p.m. — Ice cream at the Ramona Senior Center.
8:45 p.m. PARADE PRIZES. Cash prizes are provided by Agri-Producers, Cow Camp Inc., DC Trucking, City of Ramona, Cousin's Corner Bed & Breakfast, and Tatge Mfg. Gift certificate prizes by the Ramona Café, Al's Café, Butch's Diner, Norma's Attic Antiques, Barnes Food Center, and Pizza Hut.
The raffle for two bikes (provided by David and Jane Staatz) and the barbecue grill (provided by Jim Brunner) will be awarded following the parade prizes. Raffle tickets are $1 each and are on sale now at the Ramona Post Office and will be sold on the afternoon of the Fourth. Proceeds will benefit the Ramona Improvement Committee (formerly the Centennial Committee.)
9:30 p.m. — FIRE WORKS, sponsored by Tampa State Bank, DC Trucking of Ramona, and other private Ramona citizens. Ramona Fire Chief Robert Prine and his assistant Alan Bentz will be in charge of igniting fireworks.
Folks participating in the planning of this event are Norma Bird, Jeannie Weber, Mayor Connie Smith, Pat Wick, and Jessica Gilbert.
Questions about the parade? Call Jessica, 785-965-2621. Questions about the tractor events and games? Call Jeannie, 620-382-4514.
A reminder to Ramona residents that the firing of fireworks in the City of Ramona is permitted only at Freedom Field and during the evening fireworks display. Marion County law states that no fireworks are permitted in Marion County without an official permit from the county.
The Ramona fireworks display is permitted at Freedom Field because of a city proclamation signed by Mayor Connie Smith June 9 at the last city council meeting. The proclamation was filed with the Marion County Sheriff's office.
And that's the news from Ramona where things are poppin' even without fireworks, and a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
