A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hanging out with the Geesling and Zongker families at the Harvest Farm and Pumpkin Patch outside Turon, Kan., owned by Danielle and Eric Geesling. Both Danielle and Eric’s parents help out with the business of running the pumpkin patch and most of the men in the family continue growing wheat. For this family, the pumpkin patch is a nontraditional way to keep the traditional family farm alive and well. Although the pumpkin patch season has come and gone, the children of the family get to use this backyard playground all year.
Best,
Pat
Today, November 15, 2009 marks 50 years since the now infamous 1959 murder of members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, which was brought to the attention of the world by Truman Capote’s book “In Cold Blood.” This is a picture I made of the family’s former home in the early morning sun earlier this month. Today The Hutchinson News published the third and final part in a series of front-page stories remembering the murder, it’s impact on those involved and the region. Read more here.
-Pat
Retired Marine Corps Command Sergeant Major Marvin Lavin of Hutchinson was recognized during the Veterans Day ceremony at the VFW Post in Hutchinson on Wednesday morning, November 11. This was his first return to the post after battling illness and was helped to the event by his son John Lavin who lives in Washington state. The senior Lavin is a veteran of Korea, where he escaped from being held as a POW, Vietnam and Desert Storm.
A few photos from a trip out to Mullinville today- a few miles west of Greensburg, Kansas- with a reporter to get reactions from locals about a recent murder. Just a brief glimpse at the town.
Always ramblin’ on,
Pat
Julia Creed, 11, met the Tharp family- Melissa, Carlos, 10, and Marcos, 9, at the boys’ grandmother Pat Tharp’s home in Hutchinson on Thursday afternoon, October 29. After learning about the boys’ condition, Distrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, Creed organized a spaghetti dinner benefit to raise money to help the boys. The benefit will take place on Sunday, November 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Ave. F and Maple in South Hutchinson.
Thanks for looking,
Pat
I spent Monday and Tuesday in western Kansas doing a number of stories with a reporter. We went to “dealer school” in Dodge City and covered new trainees learning to deal casino games in preparation for the new casino opening there next month. Then we stayed that night at the historic Cimarron Hotel in Cimarron, KS. Although my allergies acted up a little, I had fun hanging out with Silver the cat and Ivy the one-eyed dog. We left early in the morning to catch sunrise at the old Clutter farm (the site of the 1959 Clutter family murder made famous in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”) in Holcomb, near Garden City, KS. The last photo is the row of Elm trees leading to the house. The 15th of November marks 50 years since the murder and we spent the day in Garden talking to people who knew the Clutters and looking through records at the county law enforcement center. We had some great Mexican food in Garden before heading back east to Hutchinson.
Cheers,
Pat