March 8, 2010
Mayor Steve Sipes stopped in recently to offer some remarks in FFF concerning New Salem, nearby Petersburg and the burial spot in the cemetery of Ann, legendary "lost love" of President Abraham Lincoln.
Steve says he grew up hearing from his grandmother, Virginia Sipes, 96, of Patterson, Ill., that the Sipes family were relatives of the Rutledge family.
The description of the relationship between Lincoln and Miss Rutledge was that the then young lawyer, Lincoln, was off on the court circuit and found that Ann had died.
Steve's grandmother all passed on that she was given to think that the Rutledges were related to a governor of South Carolina.
Steve emphasized he grew up being told of the family ties.
A loyal Panaite . . . . . That's John Carnahan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Carnahan.
Mrs. Carnahan is a resident of Heritage Manor. His dad, Ross, a member of the Sugar Creek Creamery office staff, the location of McDonald's, First and Poplar streets.
John sent us his last year's Missouri license plate - "PANA IL."
Thanks a lot, John. Hope to see you again one of these days!
John's dad, and FFF, when we were a brand new reporter, shared many bus rides to Pana Panther football games. He was a good friend and a good person.
John has been a resident of Forsythe, Mo., for many years now, and at one time had a scenic boat ride tour operation in the Branson area, if FFF's memory is correct. And we appreciate his thinking about us.
To our Pana Panthers who gained recognition making it to IHSA Sectional competition - our congratulations. Also for providing some extra-ordinary hours of entertaining and good cage play!
The loss of so many friends in recent days weighs heavily on FFF. To mention a few - Tommy Walker of Prescott, Ariz.; Mrs. Charles Holthaus, Bob Burzilaskas, Frank Bertin, and on the immediate weekend past, a friend going back to school days, a gentleman who has fought medical problems for many a year, and from whom we never heard so much as a complaint, prominent retired area farmer, Kenny Klein.
No matter what, Kenny's smiles and chuckles always came through to FFF, each time we would meet. Mrs. Klein, former Donna Goatley, is also one of FFF's schoolmates.
Our sincere sympathy to folks mentioned, and to any and all those suffering the loss of loved ones, past, present or future.
We realize that words are easy to come by, and we fall short of truly delivering comfort, but it is in fact, accompanied by a feeling of great helplessness.
From former "grad" in 1938, proud pupil of Miss Leona Schafer, university president, Dr. Linvil G. (Gene) Rich, of Anderson, S.C. writes:
"Tom,
"At 89, I am still among the living. Probably not many of my 1938 PHS friends are. I am still active and my wife, who is only 66, makes my life a charm that is still unfolding. - Gene Rich."
So Long.
