Tatge Mfg. owner visits Ramona
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
Laughter rolled out of the van before anybody actually emerged from the vehicle. "We're the 'Ramona Rowdies'," announced Jeannie Weber as she emerged laughing from the van along with 10 other folks who'd gone to the Salina Spring Fling. "I think we need T-shirts!" she said. Jeannie accompanied her mother-in-law, Norma Weber, on the excursion that was sponsored by the Ramona Senior Center.
Don Bird played chauffeur for the group of 12, driving the Marion County van/bus, which makes these trips so delightful and convenient.
Going on the Spring Fling adventure April 3rd were Bob and Rita Brady, Reign and Marlene Anduss, Don and Norma Bird, Treva Schneider, Frances Buxman, Norma Weber, and Jeannie Weber, all from Ramona, and Art and Joann Kropp from Herington.
"When the various senior organizations were announced at the Spring Fling, we realized we needed a name," said Norma Bird, president of the Ramona seniors. "So we picked the name 'Ramona Rowdies'."
"I enjoyed the music most," said Frances Buxman as she described what happened at the Spring Fling. "There was a high tenor who performed and he sang so high that some thought he was a woman. He had talent; he knew what he was doing!"
Beside professional talent, they also had a talent show consisting of talent from the crowd that attended. Don Bird was one of the brave souls who entered, telling some his funniest jokes. "Don was good at joke telling," said Frances. "Getting up front didn't bother him!"
"I was a nervous wreck," admits Norma, "but Don was fine and his jokes went over really well."
"The talent show entertainment is what I really enjoyed most," said Treva Schneider. "And they announced the oldest people at the event — there was a man who was 105 and a woman 103."
Everybody in the Ramona group probably came home feeling like a spring chick!
"There were a little over 1,000 people at the event," said Norma. "They even recognized the couples who had been married over 50 years and had them sit at special tables decorated with flowers — there were a lot of couples. The longest married couple had been married 65 years."
And the party wasn't over when the group got on the bus to return home. "We stopped for ice cream," added Frances.
"So what do you think about these excursions sponsored by the senior center?" I asked Frances. "Oh, Treva and I are going on the next trip to Wichita!" said Frances. Indeed, the trip to Wichita is so popular, there are just two seats left on the bus. Wanna go and become a "Ramona Rowdie"? It's May 1, "Copa Cabana" at Crown Uptown Theatre. Call Norma Bird at 785-965-7135.
April 1 was a busy day at the senior center as folks came to vote. "We've had a record number come to vote," said Darlene Sondergard, who was one of the election board personnel.
Indeed, it was downright exciting to see so many folks running for office for Ramona's city council. Ten Ramona residents were vying for the six positions open (mayor and five council seats). While results were reported in last week's newspaper, the write-in votes had not been tallied until this last week, and the write-ins affected the final results quite dramatically.
After all the write-in votes were tallied the official Ramona City Council is as follows: Mayor, Connie Smith; City Council members: Reign Anduss, Angel Harold, Jeannie Weber, Kathy Werth, and Pat Wick.
Each person who volunteered to serve on the council, whether they won or not, was giving a gift to the community, and it was encouraging to see such enthusiasm. Truth is, there are a myriad of ways to make a town flourish — for some it's serving on city council, for others it's keeping the park beautiful, running a restaurant, attending events, planting flowers in your yard, saying a good word about your neighbor.
And that's the news from Ramona where we're all doing our part to create a beautiful place, and a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
Upcoming Ramona Events:
April 13: Game Night, 5 p.m., at the Ramona Senior Center. Bring snack foods.
April 17: Luncheon at the Ramona Senior Center. Bring a dish, join the fun.
May 1: "Copa Cabana" at Crown Uptown Theatre, Wichita, sponsored by the Ramona Senior Center. (Norma Bird 965-7135)
May 10: May Tea Party, 2 p.m., at the Lutheran parish hall, Ramona. Hosted by The California Sisters. (785-965-2621)
May 26: Memorial Day celebration, sponsored by the Ramona Improvement Committee.
