tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29504598793758942862011-04-21T16:44:47.372-07:00Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-56163079261182189312008-09-03T07:07:00.000-07:002008-09-03T07:15:57.923-07:00

If you enjoy a little history, you'll like the serpent. If you don't like history, well, you'll just see an indention in the grass.But I like history. I found the story is interesting -- the shadow of a serpent eating an egg, art developed by Native Americans several centaries ago. There probably other intaglios once, before farming and other practices covered them up. While some see a serpent, I

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-32361154024973254602008-09-03T07:04:00.000-07:002008-09-03T07:06:50.133-07:00

Earth depression a remnant of American-Indian civilizationAmy BickelThe Hutchinson Newsabickel@hutchnews.com LYONS - On a hill amid the pasture, something mysterious emerges from the mixed-grass prairie. Just off U.S. 56 near the Rice County seat of Lyons is a flowing earth depression that's 160 feet long.It's smaller than one would think, but delicate. It stands out distinctly - tightly

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-45971929802011565652008-08-25T13:36:00.001-07:002008-08-25T13:36:46.330-07:00

If you haven’t been to Beal Orchard in Harper County, you should go.If only for nostalgia purposes.The trip was great. The peaches were wonderful. There is even a little place in Harper where they serve the best shakes.Called the Country Creamery, owner Jim said a couple families have come by on a cross country journey in search for the best shake.He said a few months later, he received a letter,

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-19596845582354802832008-08-25T13:27:00.000-07:002008-08-25T13:34:23.152-07:00

HARPER - A cardboard box in hand and sweat beading from her brow on this 100-degree day, Lesley Wedman plucked crisp peaches from the rows of trees drooping from the weight of the succulent fruit. Sure, a trip to the grocery store would have been quicker and cooler, she said.However, Wedman wants an experience."You don't get the full experience at the grocery store," she said as she stood in

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-89668854644558067932008-08-05T19:13:00.000-07:002008-08-05T19:16:39.354-07:00

Amy BickelThe Hutchinson Newsabickel@hutchnews.comABILENE - At age 8, Nick Brummer was in awe as he stared down at the marble slab marking the remains of a former president."Is this really where he's buried?" the Rossville boy asked his grandmother, Laura Lohmeyer, who nodded quietly.Although the generation that knew Dwight D. Eisenhower as a victorious general and likable president is aging, the

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-22495345161053557672008-08-05T18:56:00.000-07:002008-08-05T19:08:30.924-07:00

I'd like to think I'm six degrees removed from a president.My grandpa had an old truck with an "I like Ike sticker on it."My grandmother graduated from Abilene High School about 20 years after the famed president.So, the one-tank trip to Eisenhower's native Abilene was a great experience. I had no idea how much this little Dickinson County town has to offer.There's a library and a great museum.

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-61064558862938751482008-07-12T20:43:00.000-07:002008-07-12T21:00:00.857-07:00

I grew up in Gypsum, population around 400 people. The tiny Saline County town doesn't have much -- a hardware, a gun store and a part-time gas station.We do have a red sign on the edge of town proclaiming our only claim to fame: Steve Fritz.I don't personally know Steve. I know his dad, Pee Wee, who runs the part-time gas station and who fixed my green Ford pickup numerous times. Faded, on the

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-22905929204170785732008-07-02T10:28:00.000-07:002008-07-02T10:36:12.758-07:00

Amy BickelThe Hutchinson Newsabickel@hutchnews.comCOUNCIL GROVE - Take a walk along the Kanza Heritage Trail, past a monument, ruins of huts and a reconstructed earth lodge.It's here the Kaw Indians lived for more than 25 years, as well as a vice president.The monument is visible from the paved county road - sitting high on a hill in the middle of a stretch of tallgrass prairie that waves with

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-23435367840236181172008-06-29T20:52:00.000-07:002008-06-30T05:07:17.916-07:00

I have a passion for ghost towns and cemeteries. I've traveled to many in my short time on Earth. Dunlap's black settlement and its cemetery may be my favorite.I first went to Dunlap in 2001 0r 2002 for another newspaper to write a story of its history. Once there, I visited with a couple of residents, who knew the history of this former exoduster settlement.Dunlap was started as a primarily

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-77997982775783797372008-06-27T06:38:00.001-07:002008-06-27T09:46:11.540-07:00

About a half decade ago, I met with the Kaw on the hill where the monument to an unnamed Indian sits.Their idea was intriguing-- to turn their former home into a historic place -- a learning center and nature trail that could be a potential draw for the Council Grove area.It's here the Kaw Indians lived for more than 25 years, as well as a vice president. The monument is visible from the paved

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-13322875687912759122008-06-08T07:36:00.000-07:002008-06-08T07:57:02.196-07:00

Rock City is just that, a bunch of rocks.I'll admit I probably wouldn't make the trip without the one-tank trip series. And I definitely won't make it twice.I'm just not that into rocks.It costs $3 to see a bunch of rocks, if you're an adult. It's 50 cents for children.They say the money goes to upkeep and the wages of an employee.But I wouldn't pay $3 to do this. I felt kind of bad for the girl

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-8077014338533693912008-06-08T07:30:00.000-07:002008-06-08T07:35:37.710-07:00

June 1, 2008 Here, the rarest of animals do dwellBut you can find them, including an orangutan and exotic rhinos, with little effort. Amy Bickel The Hutchinson News abickel@hutchnews.com SALINA - Robbie likes women. Especially blondes. Sometimes he's shy around them. Other times, he shows off a bit.And if the more than 160-pound orangutan could talk, he'd tell you it is human-watching

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-35194191401999076442008-05-31T17:03:00.000-07:002008-06-01T03:46:22.436-07:00

Call it an exotic trip close to home.That's the point of the one-tank trip - to find the unique of Kansas and explore. So, if you haven't been to Salina, then you should plan day out.It helps the zoo was built a decade ago, making it one of the most up-to-date zoos around. The animal exhibits are visitor friendly. There's no big chunk of concrete barrier like at some zoos. Aside from the

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-64609844460795629552008-05-31T13:11:00.000-07:002008-05-31T13:39:49.116-07:00

I had heard about NASCAR's first winner being a native of Halstead. Coincidentally, there was a NASCAR-themed restaurant in this little Harvey County town that had some relics of the guy whose name is often forgotten by even the biggest NASCAR fan.With all the racing fans we have in Kansas, I thought it would be a great story. However, sometimes stories just don't work out.Halstead native Jim

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-17140949878475533652008-05-30T20:24:00.000-07:002008-05-31T05:38:36.393-07:00

This was my favorite one-tank trip of 2007. But then again, I'm a little biased when it comes to Barber County. It has to be one of the most beautiful parts of Kansas.For this story, I interviewed Elmer Angell. I had seen his seed sign during my travels along the scenic roadway. He wasn't home, so I looked his number up and called him when I got back to work.Before making the call, I didn't know

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-72562502237564285632008-05-30T08:16:00.000-07:002008-05-31T17:38:18.219-07:00

Stan Engdahl died last year. He was a great tour guide when I went to Marquette for a one-tank trip in July 2007. His legacy, however, lives on through the Kansas Motorcycle Museum, and it still is very interesting if you enjoy racing sports and motorcycles. The museum added an addition this year to display more items. Stan's wife still is a curator.What I enjoyed the most was the Indian

Blog by Amy Bickelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007051247940174466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2950459879375894286.post-3770104582471066542008-05-29T19:08:00.000-07:002008-05-29T19:23:26.204-07:00

Here's one of the first one-tank trips from the 2007 series. For those who haven't been to Lucas' Garden of Eden, I'd highly recommend it. My favorite part of this whole story was interviewing Dinsmoor's 79-year-old son, who is a successful professional and lives in Colorado.For the most part, Lucas and the Garden's owners have kept the site up in good shape.If you go, Lucas is known for its

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