Senator Pat Roberts

Kansas Chamber of Commerce

National Rifle Association

Kansas State Rifle Association

National Federation of Independent Business

During the last two days of July and the first two days of August, Dr. Jim Barrett and I taught a class for the FHSU Transition to Teaching program.  We helped to prepare 32 new teachers for their first days of school beginning in the next few days.  It is a crash course in classroom management, lesson planning, active learning/questioning strategies, and legal issues in the classroom.  What an exciting, and grueling 4 days for the instructors and the students.  One evening, as some of the students were out and about in Hays, they came across a Sue Boldra sign and posted the picture on their Facebook pages for all their friends and family to see.

We had a wonderful group of new teachers and I am always rewarded by the fact that I had some small part in molding these individuals into valuable, responsible, motivated teachers for the students of Kansas.

August 3^rd was spent visiting voters in Victoria.  Senator Ralph Ostmeyer, Ron Adams (candidate for 3^rd district county commissioner), and I walked several streets, knocking on doors, leaving information, and responding to people’s questions and comments.  After a light lunch around 1:00 at the local Library, we parted company and I headed home.  Husband Carl and I returned that evening and continued  the march through Victoria.  Lovely homes, beautiful yards – a community full of pride and Christian fellowship.  I look forward to returning to Victoria, the home of the Cathedral of the Plains, in the next few weeks.

August 4^th was an incredible day.  The temperature was much cooler, the cloud cover gave us relief and there was always the glimmer of hope that it would actually rain.  I started out introducing myself to the residents on the east side of 210^th Avenue, the street that runs down the middle of Antonino. The old stone school house that is now a private residence is such an intriguing, delightful home.  I was warmly welcomed by the residents with whom I spoke.

We left the town by way of Antonino Rd. and stopped at several farmsteads and homes along the way to Pfeifer.  The Catholic Church in Pfeifer is an incredible work of art, a testament to the faith of the early settlers!  We visited the homes and the people of the settlement, realizing that several of the residents are old friends and former students.  The town is re-energizing with young families and children.  The old grocery store/post office is now a private residence and the entire town is cradled in the shadow of the glorious church.

Driving north, then further east on Grants Villa Rd, we stopped to marvel at the well-kept, pristine farmstead established by George Grant, who is reported to have brought the first Polled Black Angus cattle to America.  The home is an amazing historic site, evidence, again, of the ingenuity and fortitude of our ancestors. 

As we continued east, then north along

Vincent Avenue, we stopped to pay homage to the parish of Vincent.  The two-room school house that is now a private residence is another one of those old stone buildings that has found new life – my heart sings when I encounter these beautiful reclaimed structures.

Stopping again at homes along the route, we met several new people and were re-connected with several friends.  We finally made it back to Victoria where we stopped at the Diner at the north end of Cathedral Avenue, close to the Interstate interchange, for a welcome respite and dinner.

I thoroughly enjoyed our day; every stop, every small town, many residents of rural Ellis County welcomed us as we handed out political brochures, visited about the drought, the weather, the beautiful country and the incredible opportunity that living in rural America offers us all.  A day well-spent and blessed!

Independence Day and The Wild West Fest took up the remainder of that first week of July.  Our oldest son and his family were with us for the first several days.  We entertained the grandsons by visiting the Hays Aquatic Park, the tennis courts, and a ballgame at Larks Park.  We enjoyed armband night at the amusement park and the fireworks on July 4^th.  We had great seats, in the pick-up with the fireworks overhead, and the two grandsons, ages 5 and 2, oohed and awed with every new burst of light, array of sparkles, and sound.

Carl and I enjoyed the music of Diamond Rio and Easton Corbin on Friday and Saturday evenings and participated in the annual parade on Sat., July 7^th.

The following week, on Tuesday, July 10^th we were invited to participate in a forum sponsored by The Big First Tea Party and held at Thirsty’s Brew Pub and Grill.  All of the candidates in Ellis County were invited to attend.  We had a good turn out and I thank the Tea Party for the opportunity.

I was invited to visit with Paul Ibbetson of Patriot Radio on Friday, July 13^th.  The interview was scheduled to air on the following Monday and, I understand, it has been aired several times since then.

On Sat., July 14 the Ellis County Fair was scheduled to begin.  That morning I attended the memorial service for George Wall, a good friend that frequented our Sportsman’s Supply store often in search of hunting and fishing supplies.  I taught with his wife Margaret for many years at Hays Junior High, then Felten Middle School, and was saddened to hear of his passing. Our condolences to Margaret and their family.  Daughter Darcy was also a student of ours at the junior high.

That same day, I travelled to Salina to attend the wedding of my nephew Chris and his bride Kristen.  Weddings are always blessed and beautiful events.  There I met up with our second son, his wife, and our 8-yr old granddaughter.

The following week was spent checking out the Ellis County Fair, walking the fairgrounds, perusing the wonderful 4-H displays and products, appraising the livestock, and enjoying the festive flavor of the fair.
I believe the triple digit heat had a negative effect on the fair turn out, until the sun went down.  The rodeo, car races, demolition derby, musical events, etc., were well-attended and enjoyed by all who would brave the heat.  Even the amusement rides garnered greater activity in the “cooler” hours of evening.  (Although jackets and sweatshirts were never viewed as necessary apparel.)

Friday and Saturday of that week, Hays was host to the Blues, Barbecue, and Bargains event, and I found myself working in the beer garden.  A holiday atmosphere with great food and great music was a colorful draw for our community and another respite from the heat.  Around 36 barbecue chefs extraordinaire exhibited and offered their fine cuisine and the aroma of barbecue delicacies mixed with the “sounds of the blues” filled the air.

The following week found me travelling to Emporia for a KCSS (Kansas Council for the Social Studies) board meeting as the plans for the fall conference were reviewed and established.  I also attended a meet and greet for Republican candidates in Topeka.

On Wed., the 25^th, local candidates were invited to a meet and greet sponsored by SEIU Local 513 Area Council, the service employees union from Hays and Ellis County.  Several candidates were in attendance and many of the members were former students and friends, so we had a very nice evening visiting with this group. I want to, again, thank the SEIU for hosting the event at the VFW Hall and allowing us the opportunity to visit with the local membership.

The final few days of July will be spent getting our signs out and up, talking to the residents of the 111^th district, and teaching a 4-day Transition to Teaching Induction class.  Dr. Jim Barrett and I will help get 26 or so new teachers in an alternative certification program ready for the new school year.  I always look forward to working with these bright and eager new teachers ready to embark on a very exciting and rewarding career.

As the month winds to a close, we can look forward to a primary election, the start of school, sports team practices, and — hopefully, cooler weather.  I look forward to an exciting August!

We were entered in the parade, Carl drove the truck and I shook many hands, introduced myself to many attendees, and handed out Sue Boldra “sunflower” stickers to a couple of hundred children (and some adults).  My former students are always good sports when I offer them “stickers.”  I have had the pleasure of working with and teaching some of the best people in the world.  Wonderful young people who have grown into wonderful adults.  I am well-blessed!!

Had a great time, a great meal, and wonderful camaraderie.  We live in an incredible place in this world.

Please check out the pictures.

I met a lovely young woman named Rachel Bird who had done some research and compilation of data about the Republican Party in Kansas.  She is also involved in starting a strong organization of Young Republicans of Pawnee County.  Good luck to her.  I am always impressed with the strength of young people who realize the importance of political efficacy.

About 20 residents, mostly residents of LaCrosse, but also from Ellis County, a gentleman from Topeka, and several law enforcement personnel were in attendance. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dan Keener, the chairman of the Rush County Republicans, and was re-acquainted with several lovely ladies that I had met at Ron and Cathy Sandstroms’.

After Congressman Huelskamp’s introduction concerning the dire straits of our nation’s economy with the use of some charts and graphs, the questions/comments centered around agriculture, HB4646, energy supplies, and the President’s war powers.  The meeting went well, but it is obvious that more and more people are growing concerned with the direction our nation is taking.  Burgeoning debt, fewer controls, bureaucracies with increasing power and oversight, and distrust are recurring topics of discussion.

I have included pictures of the day in front of the Rush County Court House.