Published by MIDWEST PRINTING
28/5
MAY 2014
How to help the Wildlife Exhibit
As we all know, the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit is only funded
through 2014. At the January meeting of City Councilwoman
Janet Miller, City Manager Layton said he was still looking for
input or re-purposing (close) the Exhibit. He promised to keep
Ms. Miller and the citizens advised; no news yet. The people
at the meeting (40-50) all spoke in favor of keeping the exhibit
open.
Many of us feel we must continue to remind all the people of
Wichita of the possible closure and encourage them to express
their concerns and support to their city councilmember. (See
list). We also need more people to “like” the Friends of the
Kansas Wildlife Exhibit Facebook page. So please get yourself,
RCA meeting attendees get behindthe-scenes look at new Events Center
friends, family and co-workers busy contacting their council
members by telephone or email and visiting the Facebook page.
If you would like to help take a survey in the park, please call
Kathy Dittmer at 262-6165.
All the city council members can be reached by telephone at
(316) 268-4331.
District I - Lavonta Williams - [email protected]
District II - Pete Meitzner - [email protected]
District III - James Clendenin - [email protected]
District IV - Jeff Blubaugh - [email protected]
District V - Jeff Longwell - [email protected]
District VI - Janet Miller - [email protected] ◆
FOR THE BIRDS
By Laura Elliott
The April Riverside Citizen's Association meeting was held at
Botanica. Linda McCune called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Officer Long discussed crime in the Riverside area. She talked
about the ongoing prostitution sting along Broadway with the
arrests of prostitutes, pimps and Johns. Residents questioned
what, if anything, was being done about the homeless at
Murdock Street Bridge. Officer Long told us about police
actions with arrests for panhandling, the camping ordinance
and the efforts of the HOT team.
She told us that larceny is typically the biggest issue for our
neighborhood. Again, she emphasized that we need to take
basic precautions like not leaving items in vehicles and locking
Please see MEETING, back page
This photos highlights the Riverside Park Bird House and Sanctuary. It was
taken in 1928. This photos and others like it can be found at
www.wichitaphotos.org.
RCA Meeting: Tuesday, May 13, 7pm
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1101 N River Blvd, Wichita, KS
Program: Old-Fashioned Potluck Dinner
2
RCA OFFICERS
Linda McCune, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264-2727
Meg Mathewson, Vice President . . . . . . . . 264-3443
Laura Elliott, Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269-3629
Gary Wagner, Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265-6886
RCA Hotline
264-2727
Call About: Code Violations • Graffiti
River/Park Trash • To be a Volunteer
Strange Activities • Traffic Problem
Emergency Call 911
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
and E-MAIL ADDRESSES
John Carmichael, Kansas House Rep. Dist. 92
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351-8892
Michael O'Donnell, Kansas Senate District 25
[email protected] . . . . . . . . 1-785-296-7391
Richard Ranzau, Sedgwick County Comm. Dist. 4
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 660-9300
Janet Miller, City Council District 6
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268-4331
Lynn Rogers, USD 259 School Board Dist. 6
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262-4716
Delana Long, CPO West Patrol - Beat 12
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350-3460
Vanessa Rusco, CPO North Patrol Beat 41
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350-3400
SCAT Hotline to Report Drug or Gang Activity . . . . . . 267-7228
Crime Stopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267-2111
Offender Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.sheriffalerts.com
Office of Central Inspection
Housing and Code Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268-4481
Graffiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268-4481 ext. 2451
City Street Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268-4091
City Street Signs, Damaged or Missing . . . . . . . . . . 268-4060
Street Lights, Out or Broken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268-4501
Westar Power Outage Reporting Line . . . . . . 1-800-544-4857
City Park Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268-4361
Ks. Dept. of Wildlife-Operation Game Thief
To report Canada Goose murder . . . . . . . . . 1-877-426-3843
Animal Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350-3360
Linda McCune, Riverside Neighborhood President
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264-2727
Jonathon Goering, Riverside Booster Editor . . . . . . . 305-2769
[email protected]
FOR SALE: Portable wheelchair ramp for van - 500lb limit $400 OBO. See at 123 W 12th St North. Call 267-7347 or
882-3785.
BICYCLE REPAIR: By appointment. Call 500-9866
HOUSE CLEANING: I'd like to find someone to do some house
cleaning at 844 Gilman. Call 267-0169.
Hat Day luncheon May 6
On Tuesday, May 6th, the 20th Century Club will have their
annual Hat Day Luncheon starting at 12:00 p.m.; members are
encouraged to invite guests for this program. The entertainment
consists of enjoying the variety of hats that the ladies are
wearing. Tickets are $9.00 at the door. Please call Marge Parsons
at 722-1057 to make a reservation.
The President's program starts at 1:15 p.m. and will consist
of installation of officers for the 2014-2015 calendar year, and a
Memorial Service to honor those members who have died in the
last year. ◆
Bike Walk Wichita clean up
There is an organized trail clean up on the 3rd Sunday of each
month at 2 pm. The Bike Walk Wichita needs your help. BWW
Volunteers meet at 13th & Market [north side] and clean the
trail to the north and south of 13th. For more information,
please call Barry Carroll at 262-6122 or email him at:
[email protected]. ◆
Riverside networking site
A Riverside resident has created a neighborhood site at nextdoor.
com for the Riverside neighborhood. It’s basically a social networking
site just for the neighborhood and allows ease of sharing things like
local events, neighborhood concerns, etc. Go to www.nextdoor.com
for more information or contact Brian at [email protected].
We accept
all major
credit cards.
OPEN
11th and Bitting
425-3832 Call ahead. Carryout available.
Hours
11:00am – 10:00pm Daily
3
Potluck dinner at
May RCA meeting
How about an old
fashioned potluck dinner
for fun? Our officers will
provide the meat, and you
bring the sides! Let’s all get
together to visit with old
friends and make new ones,
share ideas or concerns,
meet your new officers and
have a relaxing, fun evening together. We’ll have the plates,
utensils and drinks ready for you. Same time, same place: May
13th, 7:00 pm, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1101 N River Blvd.
Please come and join us; we look forward to seeing you there! ◆
Tulips blooming at Botanica
Botanica's tulips are now in bloom! This year we've got 56,000
tulips throughout the garden in addition to our magnolia trees,
hyacinths and 110,000 daffodils. Our new summer hours are
Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Saturday with extended hours Tuesday and Thursday until 8
p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. ◆
Midwest Historical and
Genealogical Library news
Summertime in 1870s Kansas, Wichita - Sat. May 3, 10am.
The Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Library will
combine with Old Cowtown Museum presenting ideas for you,
your family and/or organization the possibilities of volunteering
a few hours and learning what it was like to really live in the
1870s, in "your neighborhood". Learn a trade (blacksmithing,
woodworking, etc.), play games, cook in one of the many homes,
use the washboard, sell foods or play the piano in the saloon,
visit with people from other countries, -- the opportunities
are endless! Of course, the MHGS Library can always keep
volunteers busy, also!
MHGS is open Tuesday/Saturday, 9am-4pm. WI-Fi, computer
hookups, copy machine. Yearly memberships available from $25;
non-member library use is $2 per half-day. Off-street parking.
Website: http://www.skyways.org/genweb. ◆
Neighborhood Watch Captains: If you have a
Neighborhood Watch Sign in your yard, you are
encouraged to attend Riverside Citizen Association
meetings. It's a wonderful opportunity to network
with other neighborhood watch captains.
Tri-Neighborhood picnic June 1
It’s almost time again for the Tri-Neighborhood Picnic for our
Riverside, North Riverside and Historic Midtown neighbors.
Riverside will be hosting the event this year. The date is Sunday,
June 1, from 5-7 pm at the Minisa Park Shelter. Please bring a
large covered dish to share, eating utensils and paper plates.
Drinks will be provided.
The Minisa pool is open until 7:00 that evening so you might
like to enjoy a dip before dinner or maybe a little later. There
is talk of closing this pool, so we always like to support it in
anyway we can. Please join us in this effort. We look forward to
seeing all of you at this fun event! ◆
LAWN CARE LLC
Mowing  Fertilizer  Trim  Edge
Weed Control  Scalping & Cleanup
Overseeding  Gutters Cleaned
Trees & Hedges Trimmed & Removed
JERRY HECK
832-9033  734-9592
2109 W. 25th North
Wichita, KS 67204
▪ All breed dog and cat grooming
▪ More than 15 years grooming experience
▪ Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
▪ Owner a Riverside resident
www.pristinepawsllc.com
1900 W. 13th St
(Corner of 13th & Perry)
Tues-Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sat 8 am - 4 pm
Closed Sun, Mon
4
North Riverside to showcase gardens
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 6th, from 10:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m., as this is the date for the 5th North Riverside
Neighborhood Association’s Garden Stroll. This is our main
fundraiser for neighborhood projects. Committees have been
busy organizing for this year's tour, and it promises to be
another great one.
North Riverside is blessed with so many charming, fun, clever,
and traditional gardens that it is a pleasure to share more of
them. We have gardens that were started with seeds from
grandmothers to those with the newest hybrids on the market.
Five home owners are making their yards and talents available
for our project, and the ticket price is $5.00 for the tour of these
five gardens.
Again, the Stroll will highlight all parts of the neighborhood.
Starkey Music Center will serve as the headquarters, and Dee
Starkey will provide free food and drinks. Tickets will be for
sale there as well as at each featured home and at all Johnson’s
Garden Centers. Johnson’s has been a special friend to NRNA
for years, and again this year they will help with tour promotion.
We hope you have been able to drive by our Triangle Garden
at McKee and Coolidge. The hundreds of daffodils blooming
again this spring make it a bright and cheerful addition to our
neighborhood. This is one of the projects funded by the profits
of the Stroll.
The administrative costs of the Stroll do not come from the
profits. Thanks to donations from our neighborhood businesses,
we are able to apply all profits to Garden Projects to improve
North Riverside. Those businesses will be featured in a special
flier in the June NRNA Newsletter.
We are still looking for additional volunteers, so if you are
able to help, contact Debbie McCurdy [email protected] or
263-5630. ◆
6 advisory board meeting
Local film company hosting District
The next District 6 Advisory Board Meeting is set for Monday,
May
5th, at 6:30 p.m. DAB meetings are your opportunity
fundraiser concert in May
to hear about and provide input on issues coming before the
Kansas' Lone Chimney Films has announced a musical concert
fundraiser. Films produced have been shown on the History
Channel, KPTS, at the Wichita Orpheum, etc.
Jed Marum, who composed the music to The Road to Valhalla,
will be in the Wichita area on Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. and
will be playing an outdoor (weather permitting) concert at
Jubilee Presbyterian Church, 9740 N. Oliver, Valley Center, KS.
The concert is a fundraiser for Lone Chimney Films. Tickets
are $8 and can be purchased that evening. ◆
If you would like to write an article for the
Riverside Booster or have a story idea instead,
please contact Jonathon at [email protected]
or by phone at 305-2769.
Wichita City Council. If you would like to have the DAB
meeting agendas emailed to you on a regular basis, please email
Martha Sanchez, Community Liaison, at msanchez@wichita.
gov and ask to be added to the distribution list. Meetings are
held at Evergreen Recreation Center, 2700 N. Woodland, at 6:30
pm on the first Monday of the month and as needed on the third
Wednesday of the month. ◆
Check out the newest way to participate in conversations
about City issues. Go to www.Activate-Wichita.org
to share your opinions and respond to those of others.
Mattoast Painting & Studio
316-285-0760
DISTRICT 6 COFFEE
• SATURDAY, MAY 24
These gatherings are a chance to discuss local City projects/
issues, provide your input, and ask questions. We meet from
9:00am to 10:30am at Mead’s Coffee Shop, 430 E. Douglas.
That’s the northwest corner of Douglas and Emporia in
downtown. Coffee and pastries are available for purchase.
Professional painting and staining of
Interiors ♦ Exteriors ♦ Decks ♦ Fences
and everything in between!
Over 25 years of experience.
Licensed in lead abatement.
Call today for a free estimate!
Owner: Matt Habiger
[email protected] ♦ www.ugallery.com
5
Civitan Club hosting June open house
Riverside's very own service organization, the Civitan Club of
Wichita, is hosting an Open House and Ice Cream Social for the
Riverside Community on June 23, from 6:00-7:30 p.m., at the
Civitan Community Building at 901 Porter. The purpose of the
event is to let fellow Riversiders know of the work of Civitan and
the availability of the Civitan House for family and community
functions. Members of the club will be available to serve ice
cream and answer questions about the work of Civitan.
Citizens Fire Academy
classes beginning late April
The new Wichita Fire Department Citizens Fire Academy
is designed to increase understanding of fire and emergency
medical operations and to promote citizen interaction with
Wichita Fire Department firefighters. The program will enhance
awareness of the department’s capabilities and limitations;
develop realistic expectations of response times from point of
dispatch; develop cooperative relationships between firefighters
and the citizens of Wichita and encourage participations to
become more aware of the dangers of fire and benefits of fire
prevention.
Citizens must be at least 18 years of age and live in the City of
Wichita. All applicants must submit to a background check and
must sign a waiver releasing the City of Wichita of all liabilities
while participating in the Academy. There is no charge to
participants. The dates for the 2014 CFA are Tuesday, April 29th
through Tuesday, July 1st.
Classes will be held at the Regional Training Center every
Tuesday; class times will be 6:00pm – 9:00pm.
Topics included in schedule: WFD History/Introductions;
Community Risk Reduction, Fire Prevention: Inspection/Public
Education & Fire Investigations; Dispatch (911) and Emergency
Operations Center (EOC); Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation;
SCBA-Search and Rescue; Heavy Rescue/Hazardous Materials;
Vehicle Extrication; Fire Extinguisher Training; Hose
Evolutions; Simulated Fire Evolutions; Graduation.
For more information visit the Wichita Fire Department's
Citizens Fire Academy webpage at: http://www.wichita.gov/
Government/Departments/Fire/Pages/CitizensFireAcademy.
aspx. ◆
The local club currently has 28 members who are active
in support of persons with special needs. We work closely
with the Sedgwick County ARC, Special Olympics and other
organizations who help meet the special needs of our citizens.
Persons coming to the ice cream social will be able to see the
interior of the building and see if it would meet some of their
needs for a celebration venue. The building will seat 100 on
chairs and 80 around dining tables. There is a fully-equipped
kitchen with two double ovens and other amenities available.
The building is often used for birthday and anniversary
celebrations, wedding showers, first communions and
graduation parties. The historic building was first built as a
firehouse for the Riverside area.
The citizens of Riverside are cordially invited to stop by for
some ice cream and refreshments and see what we are all about.
Membership is open to all persons who have a desire to serve.
We hope to see you on June 23, from 6:00-7:30 pm. ◆
Please patronize our advertisers and thank them.
They make this newsletter possible.
35 Years Experience
6
Is that against the law in Wichita?
City ordinances address yard clippings,
sidewalks, watering grass and more
Editor's note: We include these city ordinances in the Booster to
help remind everyone what is and what is not lawful regarding
these various outdoor activities related to your property.
Be aware that it is unlawful to sweep or blow yard clippings
into the street or storm drains.
Ordinances: Title 10 Streets & Sidewalks
Sec. 10.04.030. Raking or sweeping leaves, paper, etc., into
gutters or drainage ditches.
The raking, sweeping or otherwise moving of leaves, dirt,
paper and other debris into the gutters or drainage ditches
along the sides of any street or alley in the city, without
removing the same immediately thereafter, is a misdemeanor.
(Ord. No. 16-556 § 2)
Sec. 10.04.060. Permitting water to run into streets, etc.
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, permit or allow
any water or waste to be discharged to or run into or upon
any street, avenue, alley or public place in the City of Wichita
except for storm water runoff; provided that fugitive lawn
irrigation water which does not result in spraying of water
from a sprinkler system onto the portion of a street used by
vehicular traffic, street deterioration, mosquito breeding,
excessive waste of water, odor, or other nuisance or pollution
conditions may be permitted to overflow into the street.
The owner and/or occupant of any premises upon or from
which a violation of this section occurs shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor.
(Ord. No. 41-007 § 1)
Sec. 10.04.100. Sidewalks to be kept clean by abutting
property owners or occupants.
It is unlawful for the owner or occupant of any lot or piece
of ground abutting upon any street upon which there is a
sidewalk to allow earth, dirt, filth, mud, papers, stone, snow,
ice, refuse and rubbish to accumulate on such sidewalk.
Handyman Home Repairs
(Ord. No. 35-100 (part))
Sec. 10.04.105. Property abutting public right-of-way to be
kept clean by owner of adjacent land.
(a) It is unlawful for the owner or occupant of any lot or
piece of ground abutting any street, or alley within the City
to allow filth, papers, refuse or rubbish to accumulate and
remain on that portion of the public right-of-way easement
between the traveled portion of such street, or alley and said
person's lot or piece of ground.
(b) It is unlawful for the owner or occupant of any lot or
piece of ground abutting any unopened street, or alley within
the City to allow filth, papers, refuse or rubbish to accumulate
and remain on the public right-of-way easement abutting said
person's lot or piece of ground.
(Ord. No. 38-095 § 1)
Sec. 10.04.130. Obstructing streets and sidewalks by litter,
goods, wares, etc.
It is unlawful for any person to obstruct any street, alley,
public area, public right-of-way or sidewalk in the City by:
(a) Piling, placing or maintaining thereon any filth, litter or
any goods, wares or merchandise; or by
(b) Placing or erecting any buildings or fence thereon; or
(c) Placing any benches or seats for public use thereon,
except when a street closure has been approved by the City
Council pursuant to Section 3.11.150 of the Code of the City
of Wichita.
This Section specifically prohibits the using of any public
sidewalk in the City for exhibiting goods, wares and
merchandise except by special permit granted as provided
in Section 10.04.131, and any person violating this Section is
guilty of a misdemeanor.
For the purposes of this Section 'public right-of-way' shall
mean the entire width of the area from property line to
property line including that area between the roadway and the
abutting private property line.
(Ord. No. 41-521 § 1; Ord. No. 47-029, § 1, 5-16-06; Ord. No.
47-048, § 1, 6-20-06; Ord. No. 48-757, § 15, 6-22-2010, eff.
1-1-2011) ◆

If it needs to be fixed,
we can probably do it.
FREE QUOTES
Call:
316-312-9970
Paul Dattola
Street Light Maintenance
Is there a street light out on your street? If so,
please report it by emailing [email protected]
and include a pole number and address to help
locate the pole.
7
New on-line registration through public pools
45 minutes each day. Enrollment is limited to 10 students in the
beginner level classes. Swimming lessons are certified through
the American Red Cross.
Kansas has seen a slight increase in drowning, mostly in open
water settings, according to the Kansas Department of Health
and Environment.
“Drowning is the second leading cause of death in children
ages 1 to 14," said Brian Hill, Aquatics Manager for Wichita
Public Swimming Pools. “Adult supervision and swimming
lessons are the most effective way to lower the drowning rate.”
Sessions dates are:
• June 3 – 13
• June 17 – 27
• July 1 – 11
• July 15 – 25
• July 29 – August 8 at College Hill and Harvest only
Wichita Park and Recreation is offering on-line registration
for swimming lessons for ages 6 and up. The registration period
runs through May 23.
The registration fee is $25 per person. To register, please visit
www.wichita.gov and click on Park & Recreation / register
tab. You may also register in person at City of Wichita public
swimming pools beginning May 26.
The sessions last for two weeks, Tuesday through Friday, for
Wichita Park & Recreation supports 127 parks, eight
recreation centers, nine swimming pools, 52 athletic fields,
five golf courses, six interactive fountains, numerous adult and
youth-based activities and athletics programs and 2,407 acres of
rights-of-way. ◆
ATTENTION FACEBOOK USERS !
“Like” the Facebook account, GREEN
WICHITA, for photos and information
about keeping our community “GREEN”.
See website: www.greenwichita.org
8
Chatting with the Good Dr. Laura Shook
My Daddy was a pharmacist, a chemist and a wonderful cook.
Daddy knew exactly how codeine interacted with nerve cells to
reduce pain and could explain in detail how antibiotics acted
upon bacteria. In the kitchen, when creating his wonderful chili
or navy beans, he would soak the beans for three days, rinsing
the beans and changing the water each day. I clearly remember
Daddy explaining how soaking the beans allowed the sprouting
process to begin, enzymes to be activated and starches to
change.
“This seed is beginning to become a plant and will be much
easier to digest,” he said. My mother, a practical, straightforward woman, called it “soaking out the farts”.
Nuts also benefit from soaking. Almonds, cashews, pecans,
walnuts, macadamia, and pine. Almost all nuts (and grains and
beans) in their natural, raw form contain phytic acid. When a
food containing phytic acid is eaten, the acid binds to minerals
and inhibits the absorption of zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium,
chromium and manganese. Phytic acid is sometimes referred
to as an “anti-nutrient”. Soaking nuts for 8-18 hours deactivates
the phytic acid. A trip through the dehydrator will make them
crispy again.
Bread dough is rested and allowed to rise. Cookie dough is
placed in the refrigerator for 1-3 days before baking. Corn
soaked in water and an alkalizing agent is transformed into
hominy, tortillas and grits. When grains, whole or ground into
flour, are allowed to rest while in contact with water, enzymes
are activated, starches are transformed and phytic acid is
deactivated. Soaking beans, grains and nuts allows our bodies
better access to the nutrients that these foods are famous for and
improves the digestive experience..
[email protected]
807 N. Waco, Suite 21 • W
ichita, KS 67203 • (316)267-6522
This enzyme-activating-, starch-transforming-, seed-to-sprout
activity has little to do with spontaneous eating or conventional
fast-food dinning. Soaking your beans and allowing your dough
to rise has everything to do with knowing that in 3 days you
will want to eat and taking action to insure that what you eat is
nutritious and delicious. In our home, cooking a big pot of chili
on the weekend means putting the beans to soak on Wednesday.
Serving those beans with a crusty loaf of bread will, hopefully,
involve Keith making up the bread dough so it can rest in the
refrigerator for 1-14 days before baking it up as a loaf, roll or flat
bread. Reheating the leftovers? Well, that is what I consider fast
food.
Recommended Reading: “Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a
day: The Discovery That Revolutionized Home Baking,” by Jeff
Hertzberg, M.D., Zoe Francois and Mark Luinenburg. THIS
is the book that changed our family’s bread experience. This
is where Keith learned to make the bread dough that can rest
in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, requires no kneading and
can be quickly transformed into a loaf, roll or pizza. I am a
privileged woman.
Dr. Laura L. Shook, D. C. is a Chiropractor with an office located
near downtown Wichita KS. She can be reached by phone at
(316)267-6522 or by email to [email protected]. Articles are
archived at www.laurashookchiro.com. ◆
ADVERTISE IN THE
RIVERSIDE BOOSTER!
Contact Jonathon for more details at
[email protected] or 305-2769
9
Memories of Riverside Past
By Tom Whitney
Morning KAKEland
“or “It’s a beee-autiful
My father started
day in Kakeland today”.
in the service station
I know that many
business shortly after
long-time Wichitans
he graduated from
remember that opening,
Wichita Municipal
just as I do. Henry
University in 1932.
Harvey was another
He graduated with a
talented personality
degree in accounting,
with KAKE. Not only
but after the depression
was he the children’s TV
started in 1929 there
host Freddy Fudd and
was little demand for
Santa’s Workshop’s main
accountants, so he went
character at Christmas,
into doing what he
he was a great singer as
grew up doing on the
well. I vividly remember
family farm: he started
him singing at Riverside
working on cars, trucks
Service station attendants stand ready to assist the motoring public at the Standard Oil
Christian Church during
Company, circa 1928. The photo is courtesy of www.wichitaphotos.org.
and tractors.
Sunday worship. When
He had several
he retired from KAKE,
stations in the 45 years
he continued singing at
he was in business. He started out in a Standard Oil station on
many funerals in town. It’s no doubt there was a lot of talent at
the southeast corner of Douglas and Hydraulic. Two years later
KAKE in those early years of television.
he took over managing the Standard Oil station at First and
In 1962, my father heard that Ted Barker, the long-time lessee
Hydraulic, running both stations until 1940. In 1940, Standard
of the Skelly station in Riverside at Nims and Franklin, was
Oil moved him to their station on the southwest corner of
ready to leave the business and was looking for a good person
Murdock and Broadway, and he leased it for the next 12 years.
to take it over. Since my father had been in Riverside his entire
In 1952, he decided he needed a break and left the station
life, he didn’t hesitate to tell Ted he would take it over, even
business for four years to build homes. All of the homes he
though Standard Oil had built him a new station at the corner of
built are standing today. In 1956, he returned to the service
Thirteenth and St. Paul. That station today is the Valero service
station business and leased the Mobil station at the corner of
station. My father notified Standard Oil that he was leaving, and
north Broadway and Tenth Street. A Sullivan Family theatre was
we immediately moved into the Riverside Skelly station where
across the street on the Southeast corner of Broadway and Tenth
we worked for and with Riversiders until my father retired in
at the time. The building remains there today but is no longer
1977 at the age 68. I can recall when many Riversiders heard
a theatre. I was fourteen in 1957 and started working with my
he was retiring, they were very disappointed to lose an excellent
father in the Mobil Station. In 1958, he left the Mobil station
mechanic, and two years later, when the station was torn down
at the request of the Standard Oil Co. and leased the Standard
in 1979, many were not happy because they were losing the
station at 13th and Charles on the west side of the Big Arkansas
advantage
of having a full service facility near their homes. ◆
river and north side of 13th, where McLean Blvd. is today.
We had three popular KAKE TV personalities as customers;
Newsman Greg Gamer, Weatherman Jim O’Donnell and Bill
McLean. Greg was an excellent news reporter and a Riversider
for several years. His first residence was in the 1300 block of
North River Blvd. He later moved to the 700 block of Faulkner.
Jim O’Donnell was a cheery weatherman, talkative and
outgoing. He was proud of his Irish heritage and served as the
lead person for the St. Patrick day parades for several years. Bill
McLean was an entertaining personality. He and John Froome
were the hosts of the IGA Party Line, a show that involved a
live audience, games and music. Bill also hosted Cap’n Bill
Summer classes in June! Register today!
and Popeye. He always opened his shows by saying “Good
10
Events Calendar
MAY
2 - Leonardo Da Vino: Metalsmithing CA
3 - Playing with Pinterest WPL
3 - Summertime in the 1870s MHGS
5 - District 6 Advisory Board Meeting ERC
6 - Hat Day Luncheon TCC
8 - Lone Chimney Films Fundraiser Concert JPC
9 - Leonardo Da Vino: Metalsmithing CA
10 - Adult & Me Workshop: Mother’s Day CA
13 - RCA Meeting/Potluck Dinner GDLC
14 - Globe Trotting with Flair WPL
16 - Workshop: Finishing Techniques/Fixing Mistakes CA
16 - Leonardo Da Vino: Metalsmithing CA
18 - Bike Walk Wichita Cleanup
20 - Open Books/Minds Books Discussion WPL
24 - District 6 Coffee MCS
27 - State Tax Policies & Budget Cuts WPL
30 - Leonardo Da Vino: Seashell Mosaics CA
30 - Final Friday CA
JUNE
1 - Tri-Neighborhood Picnic MPS
6 - North Riverside Garden Stroll
23 - Civitan Club Open House/Ice Cream Social CC
WPL - Wichita Public Library (Central)
WAM - Wichita Art Museum
MHGS - Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society
CA - City Arts
OCM - Old Cowtown Museum
MAIC - Mid America All-Indian Center
EP - Exploration Place
GDLC - Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
TCC - 20th Century Club
MPS - Minisa Park Shelter
ERC - Evergreen Recreation Center
JPC - Jubilee Presbyterian Church
MC - Mead's Coffee Shop
CC - Civitan Club
This article appeared in the May 22, 1889, edition of the
Wichita Eagle (courtesy of the Kansas State Historical Society's
on-line newspaper archives).
Col. Murdock, of the Wichita Eagle, has established his
sobriety, but he is laboring tremendously to prove that he
is not a woman hater. He has knocked one important prop
from under himself in denying that he is red-headed. -Kansas City Gazette.
If everybody will but concede that we are not a rumbloated apologist for the sneaking joint we shall die happy,
even if we have to wait until we get to heaven to convince
the women that we do not hate, but love them. No red
headed men are even permitted to reach heaven, for
obvious reasons.
SHOOTING AFFRAY
WINFIELD SLATTER AND WELLINGTON STARNES
DISAGREE ABOUT CHICKENS
Yesterday afternoon, about 2:30 o'clock, Winfield Scoot
Slatter, was shot and mortally wounded by Wellington
Starnes.
The trouble that led to the tragedy seems to be of long
standing. The two men were neighbors, Starnes living
with his wife and three children at 519 North Water;
Slatter with his landlady, Mrs. Smith, the next door south.
A few days ago they had some trouble over that old time
neighborly chickens in the garden racket. Yesterday
afternoon they met almost in front of the old Benevolent
Home and the racket was renewed. Starnes, it appears,
accused Slatter of poisoning his chickens, which had
died some time before. The latter denied it and Starnes
said that he knew no one else mean enough to do it. He
commenced the firing. The first shot was fired when
tho two men were standing very close together, Slatter
evidently having his side toward Starnes and the ball made
but a slight flesh wound just over the heart.
Slatter then dropped the revolver which he had in his
hand and turning ran towards Main street closely pursued
by Starnes who continued to fire at him.
Slatter reaching the Ritchie boarding house about
midway between Central and Third of Main went within
and told Mrs. Ritchie that he had been shot. She insisted
upon his lying down, but he refused to do so, saying that
he had not as yet commenced bleeding.
Drs. Fordice and Van Nuys were sent for and they
arriving commenced an examination of the wounds....
At the hour of going to press Slatter was still alive, but
fears are being entertained that he would not live until
morning. ◆
11
Important Law, Fire and Emergency Information
Riverside Neighborhood Crime Report
Aggravated Assault - 1
Aggravated Battery - 1
Battery - 4
Burglary - 5
Destruction to Auto - 2
Destruction of Property - 3
Disturbing the Peace - 1
Larceny from Auto - 2
Larceny Other - 2
Misc Offenses - 1
Robbery from Person - 1
Stalking - 1
Suspicious Character - 2
Unlawful Possession of Marijuana - 2
Spring temperatures have spurred neighbors to go outside
and enjoy time together around a fire pit or chiminea. The
City of Wichita Fire Department wants everyone to be safe
and aware of the rules regarding Recreational Fires.
The International Fire Code, as adopted by City Ordinance,
has several areas of regulation concerning the different types
of burning operations. A recreational fire is considered a
small fire on private property involving appropriate fuel such
as firewood or limbs. Part of the code that addresses this
is 307.4.2 Recreational fires. This section mentions the fire
cannot be within 25’ of a structure or combustible material.
Also, the size limit of 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height is
covered in 307.4.
1. Is the fuel pile the correct size or smaller?
2. Is the fuel appropriate? No finished lumber or rubbish is
allowed.
3. Are the winds at 15 mph or less?
4. Is the fire at least 25’ from any structure and are there
measures in place to hamper fire spread (this can be
interpreted to give people leeway of being closer, but no closer
than 15’)
5. Is there water or another extinguishing agent ready?
6. Is the fire being attended at all times?
7. Is the fire creating a nuisance to others? Smoke blowing
into someone else’s home is grounds for extinguishment.
Fire crews are always authorized to extinguish any fire
they deem is not safe or is creating a nuisance. This does
not mean it will result in a citation, but one can be issued if
they feel the code was violated. If you ever see a fire that you
are concerned about, especially an unattended fire, please
call 911 so the fire crews can look into the situation. You
can always tell dispatch you do not want to be contacted
personally but will talk to crews over the phone if they need
more information.
For more specific information you can call the Fire
Prevention Division of the Wichita Fire Department during
business hours at 268-4441.
Anytime you spot graffiti on public or private property,
please use the following email address to report it to the
Office of Central Inspection: [email protected].
To expedite your report, please use an exact address if you
can find it, or be very specific about the location. Graffiti on
private property is the responsibility of the property owner to
remove. The City is responsible for removal on public
property. In either case, staff will notify the appropriate party
to request removal.
When to make a 911 call:
•
•
•
•
•
To Report a Medical Emergency
To Report a Fire
To Report a Crime
To Report Suspicious Activity
To Report Activity That is Harmful to a Person,
Animal or Property
If it is NOT life threatening or if someone or something is
NOT in immediate danger, call the WPD west substation at
350-3460 from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
Or, if you have a complaint or concern about something
occurring in Riverside, you can call Community Policing at
337-9126.
Report a Problem On-Line: You can now report a variety of
problems on-line through this web link. You can report junk,
trash, weeds, housing violations, nuisances, building code
violations, storm-water problems, sign violations and more.
There is even an option for you to track your complaint if you
wish. Give it a try next time you see something that needs
reported.
12
MEETING, from page 1
our vehicles.
Kathy Dittmer gave a short report on concerned citizens who
are organizing to save the Riverside Park Wildlife Exhibit. The
Wildlife Exhibit funding runs out at the end of the year.
Linda McCune spoke briefly on the Letter to the Editor from
the Tri-Neighborhood Citizen group (Riverside, North Riverside
and Historic Midtown) that was published in the Wichita Eagle
on April 7, 2014. The letter was in support of maintaining
and building a strong and desirable city incorporating our
established and vital inner-ring neighborhoods. Linda
suggested that we should consider a PR person to represent our
neighborhoods.
Marty Miller, Executive Director of Botanica, gave us an
excellent presentation on developments in the gardens. He
showed us the plans for the Chinese Garden of Friendship. He
went into detail on the styles of the buildings, the layout and
the history and reasoning of the features. Some of the planned
features are unusual and quite beautiful. Our local Chinese
community and Wichita’s sister city, Kaifeng, have been a
significant influence on the design and development. The
Chinese Garden is scheduled to open in the fall. Additional
information and artist renderings of the garden are available on
Botanica’s website: http://www.botanica.org/gardens/chinesegarden-friendship
Botanica’s new Events Center is nearing completion. We had
the opportunity to tour the unfinished facility to get an idea of
the layout and amenities. The facility will be used for meetings,
weddings, performances and more. Features include a large
changing room for brides and performers, restrooms, and a large
catering kitchen. One impressive detail is the large stained glass
dome that once graced the former Looking Glass restaurant.
As the tour drew to an end, we stood at the open door of the
new Event Center looking out over the gardens. The last red and
orange of the sunset was fading from the sky as dusk settled in.
Birds were fluttering about, calling and looking for their roosts
for the night. The air was clear and cool. It was a serene ending
to a Kansas spring day and RCA Meeting. ◆
Animal placement organization
needs volunteers on Saturdays
The Life Animal Placement and Protection organization needs
additional volunteers to clean indoor cat areas. All supplies are
furnished, and you will not have to do litter box duty!
LAPP is seeking adults and teens (must be 15 years or older); no
small children, please.
All these animals are awaiting adoption. Brighten their day, and
yours as well, by helping. Please call Sharon to volunteer at 316207-7977. Work hours are between 9am to Noon on Saturdays.
LAPP is located at 310 W. 45th St North, Wichita, KS. ◆
Riverside Pet Directory
Lost & Found: Call 264-7068
YOU’RE NOT ALONE. IMPROVE YOUR LIFE.
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of challenges including relationship issues, grief, depression,
school problems and anxiety. Visit us at www.FCScounseling.com.
Celebrating National Mental Health month.
Fact: Your mental health can affect your physical health.
Call today for an appointment. 316.264.8317