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Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Ethan and Morgan Jones, LaSada Lodge

“LaSada.” That is said to be a Native American term for “place of peace.” It is also the name of a beautiful hunting lodge, shooting range and event venue located in rural Kansas.

man and woman standing in front of Kansas sunset
Ethan and Morgan Jones

Ethan and Morgan Jones are the owners of LaSada Lodge near Russell. Ethan grew up in Arkansas as an outdoorsman, hunting and fishing. He joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Riley. He later transitioned to the National Guard and studied Wildlife Outdoor Enterprise Management at Kansas State.

Morgan is originally from Colby and came to K-State where she earned a degree in journalism with a minor in business. One of her roommates was dating a soldier who introduced her to Ethan, and Morgan and Ethan ultimately married.

The young couple considered their future careers. “She wanted to have an events center, and I wanted to do something relating to hunting,” Ethan said. Then they learned about the LaSada Lodge near Russell.

LaSada Lodge has a rich history. It began as a dairy barn constructed in 1898 on a foundation of native limestone collected on the property. Years later, the barn was remodeled to become lodging for a hunting lodge. Previous owners named it LaSada, a “place of peace.”

In 2018, Morgan and Ethan purchased the LaSada Lodge. They remodeled and expanded the facility. Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Ethan and Morgan Jones, LaSada Lodge”

Senator Bob Dole

The businesses downtown are active. The brick streets are quiet. Two schoolboys are walking home with their bookbags. To the south, pickup trucks and livestock trailers are clustered around the sale barn. Downtown, a large 4-H clover is painted on the intersection of Main Street and Wisconsin Street.

Portrait of Senator Bob Dole
Senator Bob Dole

This is Russell, Kansas: Quintessential small town America. The flags in this community are flying half-staff today, because the citizens of this rural community are mourning their favorite son who served his country his entire life.

Robert J. Dole was born in Russell in 1923. His parents had modest means, operating an egg and cream business. Young Bob was a bright and athletic kid who went to the University of Kansas to play basketball. His studies were interrupted when World War II hit and he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

In 1945, as a second lieutenant, Bob Dole was leading his troops into battle in the mountains of Italy when he was struck by an enemy shell. When his fellow soldiers saw the extent of his injuries, they gave him a shot of morphine and used his own blood to write the letter M on his forehead so a medic would know that he had already been administered the drug and would not give him another shot which would prove fatal.

In the military hospital, his fever soared to nearly 109 degrees. It looked like he would not survive, but his life was saved by a new medicine, streptomycin, which was an experimental drug at the time. He pulled through but was despondent about losing the use of his right hand and arm.

Continue reading “Senator Bob Dole”