A Brock Olivo jersey, hours upon hours of Sim City, an incredibly difficult college course and a relentless illness. Those were the “highlights” of Christmas in 1996. I’d been home from Kansas State for more than a year and was in my first semester at Washburn University, a place I fell in love with immediately. […]
Twelve Days of Christmas 2025, Part VI: Christmas with mono Read More »
One of my first experiences at an arcade came during a trip to Springfield, Missouri, in 1984. We had just moved to Lebanon when Dad and Mom surprised us with a trek to ShowBiz Pizza, at the time the coolest place an 8-year-old could be. ShowBiz hasn’t been a thing since the early 1990s, when
A few years ago during the annual Twelve Days of Christmas series, I wrote about my very brief second year at Kansas State. I learned a few weeks before returning to Manhattan that my roommate and best friend for life, Steve, wasn’t going back for our sophomore year. To say I was uneasy about going
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part IV: The movie ‘Dutch,’ a guilty pleasure Read More »
My first Christmas “away” was in 1999. That was my first year out of college, and though I wasn’t far from home, I was on my own and working at my first job at the Daily Reporter in Independence, Kansas. It was an exciting, fun time. I’m not even sure I’d heard of Independence in
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part III: Christmas in Independence Read More »
Only twice in 49 Christmases have I craved the toy/gift of the holiday season. The first I’ve written about in this space: 1988, the year Mom and Dad surprised us with a Nintendo after we thought we opened all the presents. The second came nearly 30 years later when, at age 40, I asked my
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part II: Craving an NES Classic Read More »
If you have any information on James “Danny” Hollinsghead, born in 1942 or 1943, please contact Ernie W. Webb III at erniewebbiii@hotmail.com. I’ve written numerous times in this space how much my late father loved the movie “Shawshank Redemption,” even if he had nightmares afterward due to his experiences in various boys homes, jails and
By Ernie W. Webb III HANOVER – Thirty-one wins. Six postseason victories. Two Lyon County League championships. Four straight playoff bids. In time, the seniors on Burlingame’s 2025 team will remember those statistics and their impressive four-year run. But, at least on Friday, those numbers didn’t provide much solace after a 64-8 loss to top-ranked
Burlingame end season with loss to Hanover Read More »
The old man would have celebrated his 81st birthday today. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than six years since he died at age 74 in August 2019. Until it was clear that he no longer wanted to fight the good fight after months of enduring bone cancer, Dad’s goal was to reach age
Happy Heavenly 81st birthday to my dad Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III BURLINGAME – I often reminisce about the old days while I’m walking the sideline during a Burlingame football game. Notice I didn’t say “good” before days, as many of those memories of Friday Night Lights aren’t exactly great ones. This Friday, I couldn’t help but think how far the Bearcats
Burlingame rolls into second round of playoffs Read More »
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Ernie W. Webb III’s “Goodbye, Butterfly: Murder, faith and forgiveness in a small Kansas town.” The chapter introduces readers to Brenda Keller and her family. To know the Kellers is to know their faith. The son of a pastor, Bob is well-versed in God’s word, and
