Rodich honored with surprise dinner

The Sunset Manor of Frontenac was the scene of a reunion of sorts on Aug. 30. The fete was a surprise dinner arranged by Kathleen Brown-Secora. Present were several guests with ties to Arcadia High School.

Marie Kunstel Rodich, the guest of honor, is a l945 graduate of the high school and was the valedictorian of her class. Rose Shular Campbell, not only a former student and outstanding athlete but also a former AHS home economics and business teacher, was present. Also attending was Chuck Corporon, a former classmate of the honoree and student of Rose.

Marie, Kathleen and Rose are members of a Slovene singing group named Zivio Slovenci, and the group performed at various functions in Arcadia for several years.

Other attendees, also members of the singing group, were Jonnie and Luela Ziebert, Lottie Mocnik, Margaret Scott, Emma Louise Ales, Frances O'Blak, Velda and Wayne Lehman, Dick Raunikar and Debbie Lornshek.

After the dinner, Marie, Rose and Chuck had a visit with another former Arcadian, Betty Thayer Baima, classmate of Marie and Chuck and student of Rose.

On Sunday evening, Aug. 28, Pat Wright of Englevale, Kan., prepared a family dinner in her home to celebrate her sister Yvonne Whetzell's birthday. Those in attendance were Yvonne and Tom Whetzell of Liberal, Steve Whetzell of Englevale, Terry and Etta Smith, Valerie and Austin Smith and Ronnie and Virginia Smith.

Charis Johnston announced on the outdoor bulletin board that the Bearcat Cafe in Arcadia opened on Sept. l. Arcadia residents were pleased to see the cafe active once again.

Bill and Karen Watt, Napoleon, Mo., as well as Delton Watt Jr., Fayette, Mo., and friend Katy from Bartlexville, Okla., spent two days last week visiting their mother, Mae Watt.

Another visitor was her cousin, Ernestine Berkey. Mae was pleased to attend Methodist church services the first Sunday morning in September. Other recent visitors were Wayne, Christie Parrish and grandchildren, Allyson and Karter Dugan, rural Arcadia.

From Nell Dikeman's 1961 column in the Fort Scott Tribune we read that Nancy Brown, Arcadia, wrote that a one-night old-fashioned revival was put on at the Cato Church near Arcadia. It was in response to a demand by Nelson Corporon's Pittburg Sunday School class, none of whom had ever witnessed a service of that kind. It was planned and conducted by the late Rev. G.W. Corporon, former pastor of that church.

This is to remind everyone of the Kansas Sesquicentennial activities scheduled for this fall in the Cato School near the Cato Church. Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22. It will be presented by the Cato Historical Preservation Association.

For more information see www.catoschool.com.

Charles Cable, pastor of Arcadia Christian Church, attended his 57th high school reunion on Saturday in Lamar, Mo.

Friends are sorry to learn of the death of Jack Birdsell, 82, on Aug. 15. He was an Arcadia High School graduate in l947. His sister is Shirley Garrett of Arcadia and his brother is C.W. Birdsell of Fort Scott. Our condolences to the family.

Rhonda Plotner, former Arcadian now living in Pittsburg, has announced the birth of a daughter, Moyra JoLynn Simpson, on Aug. 28 at Via Christi Hospital. The baby was welcomed by sibling Malaki Aaron Simpson-Fyock. Maternal grandarents are Barbara and Allan Pederson, Salome, Ariz. Great-grandmother Lorene Gibson and uncle Clay Carrington are from Arcadia.