Bill Snead / LJWorld.com

Staff

Bill Snead

Recent stories

Couple resumes normal life after ‘arduous’ cancer treatments: By Bill Snead; March 21, 2010; In January 2008, John Ross had his annual physical. He felt good. He knew he’d get some grief about his cholesterol but he was working on that.
J-W senior editor uncovers memories upon return to Washington: By Bill Snead; June 17, 2007; It’s been four months now since I’ve been back working at the Washington Post and its Web site. Before returning to the Journal-World in 1993, I had the good fortune of spending 21 years here.
J-W editor recounts road trip to D.C.: By Bill Snead; April 23, 2007; Driving from Lawrence to Washington, D.C., is really no big deal. Pull onto the Kansas Turnpike, turn right and in 18 hours or thereabouts, you’re there.
Kathy’s long journey: Despite battling cancer for more than two years with few lucky breaks, this Baldwin City mom lost neither her sense of humor nor her competitive spirit; By Bill Snead; February 25, 2007; Editor’s Note: Baldwin City resident Kathy Jardon fought cancer for more than two years. From conversations and her journals, Senior editor Bill Snead found that battling cancer can be a full-time job.
Photographer to share tales of world travel: By Bill Snead; November 15, 2006; While Bruce Dale was shooting exclusively for National Geographic, he had more than 2,000 photographs published in its Society’s books and magazines.
Doctor’s other office: By Bill Snead; October 15, 2006; Doctor Marilee McGinness usually does surgeries in Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s operating rooms twice a week. She does less complicated versions in her office. About 80 percent of her work involves women’s breasts. Two weeks ago, she worked three different days in the operating rooms and removed six breasts from four patients.
Short cut to recovery: By Bill Snead; October 15, 2006; Debbie Meyer’s life had become an emotional yo-yo with too much downspin. Two months earlier, on a Saturday morning, Dr. Marilee McGinness had driven from Lawrence to Meyer’s home in Lenexa to personally deliver bad news. Meyer’s breast biopsy, taken the night before in McGinness’ office, was positive. She had cancer.
Love blossoms after 30-year wait: By Bill Snead; September 10, 2006; Dot and Gary Beckner are sitting on their living room couch, near the Douglas County Fairgrounds, blissfully recounting their unusual love story. They’re close enough you couldn’t get a piece of paper between them. Gary’s arm is draped gently around his wife’s shoulders. They’re both 53 and have been married “nearly 11 months.”
Retired educators celebrate 50 years of marriage in Maui: By Bill Snead; August 27, 2006; Darrell and Carol Falen have warm memories of their wedding day. It was June 23, 1956, at Winfield’s First Methodist Church.
Old-timer’s seen bad days - and good: By Bill Snead; August 7, 2006; Toby Dietz is standing on a little piece of the 580 acres of farmland and pasture he still owns about two miles east of Ness City.

Recent photos

John Ross prepares for one of his radiation treatments in this photo, wearing a protective mask at the Lawrence Cancer Center.

John Ross meets with some of the members of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital oncology staff wearing shirts that he bought for the group in this 2008 photo. He also handed out wrist bands that read Rossie Posse.

John Ross, right, was told in 2008 that he had a stage IV cancer in the base of his tongue. He and his wife, Cathy, left, were told it was treatable, and that experience lasted nearly two years.