What a hard column to write. I joined part of this story 24 plus years ago. I needed a job with insurance due to life changes. Rita Moore knew me and told the owner of The Gardner News she should hire me to fill the position. I had never turned on a computer. Never handled office phone calls, basically knew anything about the workings of a newspaper office. She told me it was a sink or swim and I guess I swam. That was how I went to work for Rhonda Humble. The office had just moved to a bigger building out on East Santa Fe Street. She was publishing The Gardner News, The Spring Hill New Era and the Santa Fe Shopper. I can’t remember how many people were working there at the time. It was always a very busy, productive, happy place.

Within a short time she was also putting out La Presencia Latina and The African Voice. It was a good time for newspapers.

Hours in a newspaper office are varied. Her son Brandon spent a good time of his younger years in the newspaper office, he basically grew up in the business. Rhonda held the position of President of the Kansas Press Association during those earlier years. She was always busy with newspaper business. Election years found local and state politicians heading through office.

We were protested by the church group from Topeka at one point I can’t remember exactly what it was over. But she took it all in stride.

She always knew the hard questions to ask the local city of governments. They didnâ•™t like it when it appeared in print for everyone to see. She never ran for mayor, but more than once she wanted to run a mayor out of her office.

She believed very strongly in transparency in government. She never gave up trying to make sure the voters knew what the people in city halls were doing. Government needed to be questioned and answers needed to be good ones. She believed in the underdog. She took on the fight for the people who didnâ•™t know where to look for help. She had many employees over the years. She knew lots of people and touched many lives. She was old school journalism to the very core. Sunshine and safe travels, old friend. You are dearly missed. Rhonda Humble retired on May 2, 2022. She passed away on September 24, 2022. The world now has one less Publisher, editor, writer, journalist and of course friend for a lot of us. Her Mark passed several years ago. She leaves her son Brandon. He is also an Editor. Her daughter in law Katie her grandchildren Vaughn and Grace. Plus, many family members who she loved dearly. Rhonda disliked cold cloudy days. I hope there is much sunshine where she has traveled. I know she has found those who have gone before her. I hope they are all having a laugh over the state of politics these days. The world has lost a Newspaper Woman. She was one of a kind.