Kristen Dymacek

Recent stories

Parade to feature Santa Fe Trail
By Kristen Dymacek
October 14, 2004
The selection of John Jackson as this year’s Grand Marshal for the Maple Leaf Festival seemed obvious to Nancy Crisp. In a year when the festival’s theme is “Celebrating the Santa Fe Trail,” she said it’s appropriate to honor Jackson because of his dedication not only to the Maple Leaf Festival, but to the Santa Fe Historical Society as well.
Everyone always loves the Maple Leaf parade
By Kristen Dymacek
October 14, 2004
Lloyd Lam believes, whether it’s the marching bands, the floats or the car clubs, there should be something in the Maple Leaf Festival grand parade to amuse almost everyone. “There’s just a lot of fun stuff,” Lam, parade organizer, said.
As always, there will be plenty of craft booths
By Kristen Dymacek
October 14, 2004
Sharon Vesecky believes everyone should be able to find at least one craft booth that will interest them at this year’s Maple Leaf Festival. Approximately 400 booths will line the streets of Baldwin, offering a wide variety of items for people to see, eat and buy.
Students at school early for band camp
Kristen Dymacek
August 12, 2004
Baldwin students don’t officially start school until next week. But don’t try telling that to the high school band members. They’ve already been at school for nearly a week. More than half of the Baldwin High School band members have spent their last full week of summer vacation in band camp, donating several hours a day to rehearsal. “We have so many things to do,” band director Will Cooper said. The band camp isn’t mandatory, but Cooper said he strongly encourages his students to attend. “Musically, it gives us a huge head start,” he said.
Baldwin hires new police chief
By Kristen Dymacek
December 10, 2002
The search is over. Baldwin City has a new police chief. Monday night the Baldwin City Council unanimously chose Mike McKenna, 56, a retired Wichita police officer, as head of the local police department. McKenna, who was one of four finalists picked by a search committee, takes over the Baldwin City Police Department position, which was left vacant after Steve Butell’s resignation earlier this year. McKenna, a native of Wichita, said he plans to start getting acquainted with the police department and the town next week, but will officially begin the job on Jan. 2. “It’ll be a new year with a new chief,” McKenna said.
United Way benefits Baldwin
By Kristen Dymacek
September 18, 2002
Every year at this time, the United Way of Douglas County begins fundraising campaign in the hopes of receiving enough donations to help the many organizations it supports. Paul Vander Tuig, the Baldwin United Way Campaign 2002 chair, said even though the United Way receives donations from people in Baldwin, he’s afraid a myth keeps many from donating. “There’s the belief that you donate to the Douglas County United Way, but then Baldwin doesn’t see the benefit back from that,” Vander Tuig said. But that’s not the case. In fact, he said nearly 2,000 Baldwin residents were positively affected through individual services or educational outreach provided by the county’s United Way. “Even people that receive services from UW might not be aware of it,” he said.
City to pay part of police overtime
Maple Leaf Committee gets help with expenses for festival
By Kristen Dymacek
September 18, 2002
It took nearly an hour, but the Baldwin City Council and Maple Leaf Committee finally reached an agreement Monday night about who would pay what for police overtime during the Maple Leaf Festival. The city council approved in a 3-2 vote, with Council Members Ted Brecheisen and Todd Cohen voting against, to have the Maple Leaf Committee pay a maximum of $2,500 for police overtime for this year’s festival. The city will pay for any overtime in excess of that amount.
Park’s significance beneficial to Baldwin
By Kristen Dymacek
September 18, 2002
Black Jack Park is a small fenced-in area that sits on a gravel road a few miles east of town. It’s a neatly mowed section with a few picnic tables under a shelter and a grill. But it’s more than just a cute park for a picnic. Two monuments sit in the middle of section, one rather large that explains the significance of the area. Some people are very familiar with the area’s historical significance. But Brenda Day is afraid not everyone knows just how important Black Jack Park is, not only to Baldwin, but to the United States.
No verdict in Meeker shooting trial
By Kristen Dymacek
April 3, 2002
It has lasted a week and testimony has still not concluded in the trial for a man charged in the October shooting in Baldwin. Testimony will continue today in the trial for Stephen Meeker, 35, a former Baldwin resident, who is accused of shooting and wounding Steven Swafford, 31, Lawrence. Continue to check the Signal’s Web site for the verdict. Meeker is being tried on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and attempted aggravated battery stemming from a shooting that took place the night of Oct. 14 in the 1200 block of Bison Court in west Baldwin.
Council sets meeting on electricity, water
By Kristen Dymacek
April 3, 2002
The Baldwin City Council has not forgotten about the city’s electric and water problems. At Monday’s city council meeting, the council set a committee of the whole meeting for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at the Baldwin City Public Works office to take a closer look at the electric and water utility issues and concerns facing Baldwin. The meeting is open to the general public.

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