Around and about

Charles E. “Okie” Snedeger, Lawrence, will celebrate his 80th birthday with a reception from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Lawrence Visitor Center, 402 N. Second. He requests no gifts.

¢ Mildred J. Lyons, formerly of Lawrence, will celebrate her 100th birthday on Aug. 21. Cards may be sent to her at: 1434 N. Armour, Wichita, KS. 67206.

¢ Nic and Cathy Bandelier, Kansas City, Kan., announce the birth of their son, Kyle Jay Bandelier, born May 24, 2005, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

Maternal grandparents are Curt and Debbie Anderson, Lawrence. Paternal grandparents are Susan Bandelier, Lawrence, and Dave Bandelier, Kansas City, Mo. Great-grandparents are Janet Todd, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Gordon Todd, Kansas City, Mo. Great-great-grandmother is Mary Bissey, St. Petersburg, Fla.

¢ The 65th annual Ruhnke family reunion will be Aug. 28 in the Fellowship Hall of Christ Lutheran Church in Wathena.

A potluck dinner will begin at 12:30 p.m. Drinks will be provided. The festivities will include: Bingo and “Family Show and Tell.”

Officers for the reunion are: Gayle Maschewski, president, Fairview; Susan Ruhnke Rogers, vice president, Manhattan; and Stacy Gerhardt, secretary/treasurer, St. Joseph, Mo.

¢ Shawn Turner, Ottawa, attended the FFA State Presidents’ Conference July 26-30 in Washington, D.C. The conference helps strengthen skills in leadership and citizenship while attendees discuss FFA business and explore the heritage of the nation’s capital. Turner, Kansas FFA state president, is the son of Lyle and Kathy Turner, Ottawa.

¢ Kristin Bock, Lawrence, made the spring 2005 semester dean’s list at Baker University by receiving a 4.0 grade-point average.

¢ The OWL Applause Committee has honored the following properties:

¢ 610 Ohio. The restored cottage owned by Alan Martin.

¢ 700 Ind. Constance Wolfe and John Novosel have added a gable roof to their flat-roofed garage. Stone walls and paving were added to the backyard along with a new fence and plantings. They also had their house painted.

¢ 801 Ill. Gwen McPherson and Randy Farr have repainted their house.

¢ 710 Mo. Nick Schmiedler’s residence has unusual and whimsical “folk art” sculptural elements in the garden and along the alley.

Plaques will be in place at these homes until the end of September.

¢ Emily Lysen, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, for her performance during the spring semester. Lysen, an environmental science major, received at least a 3.75 grade-point average during the semester.

¢ The Averill-Butel-Butell-Jardon family reunion was July 17 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Baldwin. Attending the 150th celebration were 79 direct descendants from families that came to this area between 1855 and 1858.

Members shared family pictures and information. A catered buffet was served.

During a short business meeting, Carl Butell was re-elected president.

Those attending from the area were Ernie and Clara Butel, and Jim and Barbara Butell, Lawrence; Kenneth and Kathleen Butel and Larry and Delores Averill, Wellsville; Brock and Gabe Butel, Overbrook; and Carl, Susan and Bryan Butell, Floyd and Peggy Ford, Bill and Deneese Jardon, Doyle, Becky, Megan and Emily Jardon, Delores Jardon, Pat Jardon, Marvin, Norma and Kathy Jardon, Harold and Wincel Jehle, Bud and Shirley Jardon, John Jardon, G. Robert Butell, John and Anne Jackson, Dorthea Jackson and Bonnie and Ava Huntoon, Baldwin.

The next reunion will be July 16, 2006, at the church.

¢ Erin Suffron, a 2001 Lawrence High School graduate, received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in May from Washington University in St. Louis. She is the daughter of Nancy Kollhoff, Rossville, and Don Suffron, Topeka.