I grew up in Kansas City, MO, where I attended Grandview High School.
I received a bachelor's degree in communication from Goshen College, IN. in 1978. Since I had earned an FCC radio license in school and spun actual records for a late night radio music show I initially considered a radio career. Instead, a photo internship at the Elkhart Truth newspaper in Elkhart, IN. convinced me to pursue a career in photojournalism. I choose Ball State University in Munice, Indiana, David Letterman's alma mater. Prior to completing my master's degree in journalism however, my first wife and I formed a bluegrass band and with 2 other musicians and toured Europe for six weeks with a folk dance troupe. In 1983 I received my degree and with a portfolio of photographs in hand I started looking for a job. Several months later I was offered a staff photography position at the Journal-World.
In my spare time I play guitar and sing with two area acoustic bands, The Alferd Packer Memorial String Band and Three Bean Salad. With the two bands I've recorded six albums of music and traveled extensively throughout the state to perform. I've even been know to write songs for the bands from time to time and managed to win a couple first place songwriting awards at the annual Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield, KS. You can sometimes find my on long-distant bicycle rides. I've done the Bike Across Kansas two times, a four-day bike ride through the Black Hills of South Dakota twice and a recent Cottonwood 200 spin through the Flint Hills. In 2008 I married Karen Seibel, a long-time Lawrence resident and local yoga instructor. We live in an 1880's house in Old East Lawrence and have been re-modeling and slowly bringing the house back to shape. We have three cats, two cars, one screened porch and tons of books. We enjoy traveling and then creating books from our trips. Currently we have self-published books on trips to South Dakota, the Sandhill Crane country in Nebraska and the hot springs area of New Mexico. In 2007 I published a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Vinland Fair in Douglas County after spending nearly 25 years documenting the community event.
Recent Stories
Earth Day Events Educate and Entertain
PRESCOTT VALLEY - WOW Movies on the big screen, refreshments, a Rain Dance and heaps of information on conservation and sustainability highlighted the second annual Earth Day Celebration in Prescott Valley.
Paywall Story
For many in the north-central Kansas town of Concordia, the 67-turbine Meridian Way Wind Farm has brought the most excitement and economic promise they have seen in decades. Eight miles south of town, the wind turbines tower over 20,000 acres of wheat fields and pastures. On a clear day, the three-megawatt generating turbines — the largest on-shore models in the United States — can be seen for miles.
Interim WG&L GM: Finances not pretty
this is a subhead
The interim Albany Water, Gas & Light Commissission GM says he will leave no stone unturned in finding ways to improve the utility’s finances.
Wind farms still booming in Kansas
For many in the north-central Kansas town of Concordia, the 67-turbine Meridian Way Wind Farm has brought the most excitement and economic promise they have seen in decades. Eight miles south of town, the wind turbines tower over 20,000 acres of wheat fields and pastures. On a clear day, the three-megawatt generating turbines — the largest on-shore models in the United States — can be seen for miles.
De Barbara Jordan High School a Rice University
A sus 18 años, Selena Zermeno conoce bien el significado de luchar por lo que uno quiere. No titubea cuando dice que siempre supo que algún día llegaría a ser la primera de su clase, aunque trabajaba a la vez que estudiaba. Este año, logró esa meta. Selena se encuentra entre el 5 por ciento de estudiantes con las más altas calificaciones de su preparatoria.
Free dental services offered to uninsured, low-income children
Douglas County Dental Clinic wants to help "Give Kids A Smile." The clinic, 316 Maine, will be offering free dental services for children, ages 18 and under, on Feb. 5.
Mining waste from Oklahoma headed for Kansas highways
Mining waste from the Tar Creek Superfund site in northeastern Oklahoma is to be used on highways in Kansas.
