Pott. Cownty, and other Toons

Rutting Season in Pott. Cownty

2006-10-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

Once again Autumn has returned to the flinthills. Each season brings changes, and this one is no different. One change of note is the retirement of Jim and Jean Travis from the Westmoreland Recorder with the recent sale of the paper.

I never heard anything from the new owners regarding their intent to continue Pott. Cownty and so I emailed them. From John's reply is seems they are unsure what they want to do regarding a cartoon at this time, but said that I could go ahead and submit cartoons for the remainder of October.

As I am facing major surgery in a little over a week and would have to do triple time to complete cartoons ahead of time, and as the new owners have not shown any indication that they necessarily are "Pott. Cownty" fans.... I have chosen this as what seems to be the right time to end my ten+ year career with the Recorder. The Cartoon, number 515, depicted above will be my last submission to the Recorder.

What's new now????? Now, there are no limits - Pott. Cownty will continue - following my recuperation, with a new look....... "Pott. Cownty, Free Grange." Prepare to be amazed, shocked, and upon occasion......politely offended. Ya'll come back now....hear?

Aleah Mahan, Editorial Cartoonist

FAREWELL TO JIM 'N JEAN

2006-09-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

This week's issue of the Westmoreland Recorder will be the last under the helm of Jim and Jean Travis. It has been a little over 10 years with all the news that's fit to print and all the Pott. Cownty Toons that have been fit to print or not. Jim and Jean Travis have been the most excellent of publishers in working with this cartoonist, allowing me almost total artistic license with the toon.
Thanks Jim and Jean for allowing me to do one of the things I truly love, cartooning! It's been a great adventure and one I will always remember.
-Aleah

JEANS THAT FIT?

2006-09-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

COWS ON A PLANE

2006-08-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

I have not seen the movie, Snakes on a Plane," starring Samuel L. Jackson yet.... However, he has inspired me nonetheless and the combination of that inspiration, and my faithful pen and paper have resulted in.....COWS ON A PLANE

Ghosts of Agendas.......

2006-08-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

Barb Moves

2006-07-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

I read once again, in the commission minutes that Barb had moved. She not only moved once, she moved three or four times. Sometimes Tom would move, I think perhaps Stan moved once, but nobody had Barb beat..... Why was she moving? My interest level waned a bit, and I can't remember why she was moving.... I was only intrigued that she was the original mover of many motions in the commission meeting. It is too bad this is Barb's last few months as a commissioner. From what I have read over the years, Barb Kolde is definately a mover and a shaker in Pott. County!

Skydiving Commissioners

2006-06-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

Holsteins Take the Plunge!

2006-05-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

Holstein Take Charge of Commission

2006-05-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

A NONY MOOs

2006-04-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

Anonymous Anonymous

2006-04-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

A wise man, Massad Ayoob once said, You're born with intelligence, but not with ethics.

We learn ethics by the examples of those who touch our lives whether it is our family and friends, our neighbors, teachers, real life heros or heros in movies and on TV. They all inspire us in one way or the other.

Their examples are stronger teachers than any book we can read or any class we can take on Ethics.

A good lesson to remember for ourselves.....what lessons are we teaching by our examples? Apparently, the "anonymous" letter writer of Pottawatomie County, Kansas must have received some negative influence on the road that has brought him or her to where they are now. We can only hope that "Hambone Anonymous" has very little contact with impressionable youth.

Good luck, Pott. Co. Sheriff's Office in tracking down Anonymous and bringing his career in the letter-writing business to a halt.

Fred, You Gotta Love Him....NOT!

2006-04-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

Strange, that Fred Phelps continues to spread his hate of homosexuals after all these years. Strange, that he goes all over the United States to do so and someone hasn't "made his day." Strange, that when in San Francisco, his group was chased away by tomato-pelting bystanders, and yet in Topeka he is allowed to "do his thing" because he has the right of free speech.

While the anti-funeral picketing bill continues its way to becoming a law, Fred continues to picket funerals of anyone who has died of aids, of soldiers - because the Army has the don't ask, don't tell policy, fallen coal miners - because that state's congress didn't pass the laws that Fred Phelps thought they should. Strange, that someone in the depths of grief, hasn't at least cleaned Fred's plow. So, Fred continues on, spreading his hate on the streets and passing it down to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who we often all see on the street corners of Topeka. There is a group called "Not Today Fred" that have picketed opposite whatever corner Fred's group (Westboro Baptist Church) happens to be on. I'm not sure if they are still active or not, but it was nice to see them out letting Topeka know that we aren't in denial about Fred.

Fred keeps hanging on to this mortal life, but one day, he will learn that his posters which say that God laughs when gay people die, are wrong. God won't even laugh when Fred dies, but probably a lot of us will.....

April Fools, Clocks, and Cows

2006-03-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

Darts Smarts

2006-03-20T18:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, under the auspice of "Animal Control" practices, dogs and other pets are not treated humanely. Darting, when not used to subdue a vicious animal, in my opinion is inhumane. Animal control officers in Riley County very rarely resort to darting.

Below are some links of other animal control and pound issues that show the continued need for groups like the Pottawatomie County Caring Hearts Humane Society to be a watchdog!

Peta's attempt to improve conditions at the shelter in Corpus Christi and their animal control practices

Result of Peta's action in the Corpus Christi case

Helping improve shelter conditions

Animal control officer beats dog

Voter BeWare!

2006-03-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Voter BeWare......
Voter BeWare....your vote counts more than you realize!
Before long, voters will be filing into precinct voting centers and penciling in their choices in city goverment elections. And, though our city officials may be over only a small percentage of issues in comparison to the state and federal level, it is the elections that we, as voters, can make the biggest difference in! Our city officials make decisions that affect us more personally, than do our state officials - who more often than not affect only our pockets!

9 - 1 - 1, What's Your E-MOO-Gency??!!

2006-02-27T10:41:00.000-08:00

Cartoon Violence - Udder Chaos

2006-02-19T18:24:00.000-08:00

Al Queda ain't got nothing on the Holsteins of Pottawatomie County!

NO MORE BAD HAIR DAYS!

2006-02-19T18:21:00.000-08:00

After years of bad hair, bedhead days..... The Holsteins of Pottawatomie County are relieved to have RickHasenbank and the Rock Creek Barber Shop!

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT????

2006-02-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

Breaking news was reporting on KMAN radio out of Manhattan, Kansas on February 3rd that on the previous afternoon the Pott. Co. Courthouse was shut down while an exterminator was brought in to treat a flea infestation. An employee had noticed bites after coming in to work after hours.

2006-01-12T04:26:00.000-08:00

Just because we're a small town, doesn't mean we are short on entertainment. Come one, come all....just come early to make sure you get a seat at the next "Bob and Tom" show presentation at the Westmoreland City Council......

Weather in Kansas.....Whether or Not?

2006-01-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

Are we going to have winter in Northeast Kansas this year or not????? The Pott. Cownty cows hope so....

The weather in Kansas.....it gets crazier and crazier each year. Remember when winter was really winter here???? Global warming, perhaps? It seems that recently, each year in the mid to late Fall, Winter and early Spring, we are having temps that allow us to wear short sleeves, shorts even!!!!

Happy New Year!

The Ghosts of Commission Meetings Past, Present, and Future

2005-12-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

The use of Agendas is a new procedure at the Pottawatomie County Commission meetings, and like all new things....it takes a while to work the kinks out.......

The Gift of a Cold Nose, Warm Heart, and Wagging Tail

2005-12-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

The Pottawatomie County Caring Hearts Humane Society devotes countless hours improving the quality of life of homeless and abandoned pets in Pottawatomie County. They are working on a website, and once that is up and running, I will provide a link to it. Until then....keep them mind if you would like to provide foster care for a pound pup, volunteer some time, or donate cash.
My husband and I rescued both of our dogs from humane societies. Sparky, a chihuahua/papillion mix from Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka, and Pogo, an english setter from Boonville Humane Society (Missouri).