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

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
Leisures of road trip wane on way home
By John Beal
September 11, 2008
Vacations have a life of their own. I mean, you can be going along, having the time of your life, enjoying the mountains or the seashore or the canyons of Broadway, in whichever is your holiday spot of choice, only to realize that the vacation is over. Where you really want to be is home.
Eyes, stomachs filled on cruise
By John Beal
September 4, 2008
There’s no excuse for going hungry on a cruise ship. The cruise lines have figured out that the way to the traveler’s heart is through his stomach.
They don’t call them Badlands for nothing
By John Beal
August 27, 2008
The words “hell” and “devil” crop up often in the place names of western South Dakota.
Cussing can bring color to drab of language, old age
By John Beal
August 21, 2008
My stepfather had a saying about advancing age. “Growing old is no disgrace,” he would say, “but it’s sure inconvenient.”
Drama, hoopla draw of Beijing Olympics
By John Beal
August 14, 2008
With almost two weeks of events yet to unfold as I write this, it’s a little early to talk about how the Beijing Olympics stand up against previous editions.
Tough transit choices loom
By John Beal
August 6, 2008
The situation seems almost untenable and it’s not going to get better any time soon without some careful thought and a lot of hard work
Beal: A modest proposal to encourage voting
By John Beal
July 29, 2008
Swift’s essay, “A Modest Proposal For Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland from Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public,” bemoaned the poverty that gripped Ireland. Now, after the passage of almost 300 years, I have a modest proposal of my own.

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Recent photos

Painstaking craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident in this example of the quilter's art.

With quilts from the Bonner Springs United Methodist Church's United Methodist Women's Quilt Show laid out on the pews for all to see, two women in the background begin folding one of the heirlooms.

As mistress of ceremonies Connie Drummond, left, describes the quilt, Kristen Smith holds up a quilt she made. The "Color Wash" quilt was pieced together of hand-dyed fabric.

Several copies of a quilting journal are laid out for participants to examine.

Mary Clark, left, and Judy Anderson (back to camera) hold up a "scrappy" Irish chain-style quilt at the UMW Quilt Show Saturday. About 50 women attended the event.

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