John Beal

John Beal is a contributor to The Shawnee Dispatch, Bonner Springs Chieftain and Basehor Sentinel. He retired in February 2008 as editor of those newspapers.

Recent stories

Be thankful you’re not a columnist
By John Beal
November 25, 2008
Writing a column ought to be easy. After all, you just sit down and write, right?
Honesty: the cost of maturity
By John Beal
November 19, 2008
When my oldest daughter was about 3, I took her and her brother to the movies. I don’t remember the title, just that without having seen it I thought it would be apt for viewing by children 3 and 5.
2 years in ‘a green and pleasant land’
By John Beal
November 13, 2008
I see that Rotary International is having its annual convention next year in Birmingham, England.
Cat’s bad attitude beats dog-gone luck
By John Beal
November 5, 2008
I’ve been wondering if maybe I shouldn’t take back all the bad things I wrote about our cat.
Edwardsville Council puts off City Hall space study
By John Beal
October 29, 2008
The Edwardsville City Council balked Monday at spending $6,000 to have an architect conduct a study into consolidating spaces in City Hall.
Cats suffer human housemates
By John Beal
October 23, 2008
It was a rough week for the cat. First the house was full of visitors, then the turmoil and trauma of a trip to the vet.
Stillness around house says grandkids have left
By John Beal
October 15, 2008
The house is blissfully quiet once the children and grandchildren have gone after a weeklong visit, but there is something – a sadness, almost, that lingers in the air. Oh, it’s not really a sadness, perhaps, but just a sort of vacancy.
DIY projects lack finishing touches
By John Beal
October 9, 2008
Before any project is complete, there comes a point where its final shape and appearance are easily apparent: a sort of almost-complete, if you will.
Railroad’s glory days captured in art exhibit
By John Beal
October 1, 2008
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by trains.
Beal: Weather is pleasant, but give me all four seasons
By John Beal
September 24, 2008
No seasons? How boring. Without suffering through the dog days of August, how would we appreciate the balmy days and crisp nights of autumn? Absent the rigors of winter, what would be so special about spring

Full story list

Recent photos

Darrel Donahue discusses his World War II memorabilia with Brad Harrington, left, Mary Ann Allen and Sheila Miller (in green coat). The large map at left traces Donahue's progress through German with Gen. George S. Patton's Third U.S. Army.

Slaves huddle in fear in this scene from "Underground," presented last weekend at the Lyric Theatre by Culture House. Among them are Jamaica Tomlin, left, and her brother, Montero, right, students at Clark Middle School.

James Clark serves up a sausage order to Scout Matthew Taylor at Boy Scout Troop 149's pancake feed Saturday at Bonner Springs United Methodist Church. Meanwhile Allen Holder, center, dispenses coffee.

Mike Pasquale of Bonner Springs takes a second helping of sausage for his family at Saturday's pancake feed put on by VFW Post 6401. The event was held to raise money for scholarships.

Retired teacher Edna Kloepper accepts the Bonner Springs Community Service Award from Mayor Clausie Smith at Tuesday night's Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner at the Edwardsville Community Center. Taking a photo of Kloepper, in the background, was Marilyn Allen. Harold "Woody" Berry received the award for Edwardsville, but was unable to attend.

Full photo list