Letters (May 25, 2016)

Let’s look out for all our neighbors

I just read the article written by John Schlageck (May 18 issue), Kansas Farm Bureau commentator, that said the success of a community was marked by neighbor helping neighbor—this being our rural and urban neighbors.

Looking to the federal government for solutions to their “success” or “failure” was wrong.

I grew up on a farm in southeast Marion County. My father was the “poster person” for this “barter” system at harvest time and for silo filling.

In the 1940s he owned the threshing machine that was used to bring in the sheaves of wheat from the field, and thresh the seed from the heads for the farmers in the Summit community.

It didn’t make any difference as to the amount of acres the farmer would have, they all continued to help in the task until the last neighbor’s harvest was in the bin.

I found a clipping from the 1959 Peabody weekly newspaper telling of a reunion of 12 neighbors who gathered at my folks’ home for an ice cream social.

I was not very old at the time of the original socials that were enjoyed, but I remember the fun the youngsters would use to create a fake campfire by pouring water on the dry ice used to preserve the many gallons of ice cream that were served.

For the many neighbors who attended this event each year, the fellowship and feeling of accomplishment of their deeds ran high.

John mentioned this same feeling as those neighbors who helped our neighbors in southwest Kansas whose grass, hay, fencing, and even the livestock were destroyed by the fires this spring.

Why am I writing this letter? Any person who does not stand up and proceed as my parents did when I was growing up will not enjoy this feeling nor will the economic development of Marion County change for the better. Each of us should continue to consider all residents in Marion County as our neighbors and step up to do what you can, no matter your age or financial status. We all have our part to play.

The youth can begin by learning the responsibility of caring for a few chickens in their backyard and share the eggs with a neighbor. The teenager can volunteer to paint a house or barn to spruce up the neighborhood. The young adult or retired person can volunteer to serve on a committee—and be welcomed by the rest of the group. Parents can take time from their social media instruments to learn about the local government, state, county and city, to make sure the needs of all their neighbors in Marion County are being served.

Lastly, encourage, compliment and put forth the best interest of all who work in Marion County.

Mary Olson

Marion

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