The shocking news about Wild West World’s bankruptcy filing and shutdown, just two months after the Park City theme park opened, is softened only somewhat by the prospect that the attraction could be sold and reopened. Among the regrets: If members of the community had known sooner how dire the financial situation was, more might have braved the May and June rains and last week’s heat to show their support.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
It was an interesting idea: Ask millions of people worldwide to vote on a new “Seven Wonders of the World” list to update the old wonders — you know, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, etc., most of which no longer exist.
The new seven manmade wonders unveiled Saturday include familiar icons such as the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Wall of China, but they also include perhaps lesser-known sites such as the Christ statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico.
Already, voices from UNESCO to France have been grumbling about the choices. The group would have been on safer and surer ground picking a list of top 20 or even 50 sites. After all, no pyramids? No Acropolis? No Stonehenge? And no U.S. sites? (The Statue of Liberty was an also-ran, too.)
Seven isn’t enough to encompass the world’s many wonders, if you ask us.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
It’s been a while since Bruce Cole won our cartoon caption contest, but he was back in fine form with this winning entry. As expected, lots of the entries reflected readers’ strong feelings about Attorney General Morrison and nemesis Kline. Alan Hurlbut of Wichita sent, "The Johnson County Commission just called. You can keep him if you can find a use for him." Wichitan Karen Wallace’s submission was, "What part of election does he not understand?" From Jennifer Phelps of Wichita came, "He’s sure he left those medical records lying around here somewhere." I really liked Belle Plaine resident Richard Julius’ caption: "Is Kline having a Vern Miller moment?" We were afraid, however, that the reference would be lost on a lot of people who weren’t around here back in the days when the Sheriff was jumping out of car trunks. Amy Godsey of Wichita said, "He likes getting into other people’s drawers." Suzanne Koch of Wichita sent, "Did you file him under ‘k’ for kook?" Mitch Montgomery’s entry was, "How cute! A squirrel must have stored him there for the winter!" Wichita’s Michael Linn submitted, "Meet our new poster child for family planning." Juanita Davis of Wichita sent, "You’re not going to get rid of him until you do what’s right!" Michael Welton wrote, "Mr. Morrison, I declare, you DO have a conscience that makes you in-Klined to enforce the late term abortion laws after all!" From Randall Sullenger of Wichita came, "I know we’re trying to rewrite history and the law, but that pesky Kline keeps popping up and wrecking it for us." Cheryl Sullenger of Wichita got a little wordy with this one: "Trying to shove Kline’s evidence in a drawer will not hide the truth that Tiller is doing late-term abortions on viable babies so women can go to rock concerts. It’s a shame your charges do nothing to stop that." Then there was this one from Leroy Wolf of Colwich: "He says his intentions are good (saving preborn babies), but wants to know if there’s any place he can hide from the media assault, obviously including cartoonists."
Posted by Richard Crowson
President Bush said the 30-month sentence of Scooter Libby was “excessive,” but the Los Angeles Times found that, under Bush’s Justice Department, the average sentence for those convicted of obstruction of justice — just one of four charges against Libby — was 70 months.
Will Bush show these felons awaiting commutation the same mercy?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Belated congratulations to the Wichita River Festival for its record 385,000 crowd and increased button sales. True, the May festival was fortune’s favorite this year, having booked rising star Chris Daughtry and enjoying near perfect weather. The unveiling of the Keeper of the Plains Plaza was another new draw and crowd-pleaser. But the 36th festival’s success also was a vote of public confidence in the community’s signature get-together. Here’s wishing it many more great years, as well as many more sponsors, events, volunteers, name acts.æ.æ.æ.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Comparisons of the debt loads of 2006 graduates of five Kansas state universities found that those from Wichita State had the biggest bills to pay off: an average $21,368, up from an average $18,510 for 2004 grads, according to Harris News Service. That compares with an average $19,203 debt load at the University of Kansas and $19,000 at Kansas State University. Tuition is higher at those schools, so it’s a concern that WSU’s grads are paying less but apparently owing more.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The weekend marked President Bush’s 124th visit as president to Camp David, the Maryland retreat where he has spent all or part of 386 days of his presidency. His preference, according to former Chief of Staff Andrew Card, remains the ranch in Crawford, Texas, where Bush has spent all or part of 416 days as president.
President Reagan still reportedly holds the record for Camp David stays — 186 visits and all or part of 517 days.
Bush sees each retreat, according to author Kenneth T. Walsh, as a “tool of the presidency.”
It will be interesting to see whether Bush spends more or less time at the White House as his term winds down and his time to define his legacy runs out.
Posted by Rhonda Holman