Mark Rountree

Mark Rountree

Follow the money before it’s too late

To the editor:They always say, “follow the money.” So I did. And what I found should alarm every taxpayer in Leavenworth County and across Kansas.When I began fighting the injustice of the Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID), I thought it was just one bad policy.

Lions look to make the next step

LANSING – A small senior class has not dimmed expectations for the Lansing High School football program. Just one season removed from playing in the sectional title game, coach Rick Pollard is looking for his crew to take the next step.“Our senior class is pretty small, so the next men up are going to be juniors that haven't played a lot of varsity,” the veteran mentor said.

Pleasant Ridge looks for comeback season

EASTON – It is impossible to ignore the positivity around the Pleasant Ridge High School football program as it enters the 2025 season. Coach Spencer Foster’s team is not running from the difficulties of last year’s winless season.

Community is the key to a fulfilled life

What makes for a good life? That is the question a Harvard research study has been considering for more than 80 years. Robert Waldinger is currently the head of long-term study, and his work was distilled into a book called “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.” If that seems too long for you, I encourage you to listen to the TED talk on YouTube which has over 28 million views.

Share your tailgating tales and Friday night traditions

By the time you read this, the five area high school football teams will be less than one week away from playing in games that count.It is a thrilling time for all high school sports fans, as the beginning of football season also marks the reintroduction of our tightly knit communities rallying around our young student-athletes. Yes, football season also means tailgating season has begun.While I am thinking specifically about Lansing’s highly organized tailgate road, I am also aware that each of the other schools has its own Friday night traditions throughout the season.