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Joel Klaasan, Don Ratzlaff & Diane Steiner
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
| December 19, 2004--On Hatteberg's People we travel to Hillsboro, Kansas where last March, the bedrock Mennonite Church burned. Now, the staff of a local newspaper publishes a book based on that fire. A portion of those proceeds will go to help build a new church.
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Images of Crisis, courage and commitment headline a new book about the disastrous Hillsboro Mennonite Church Fire.
"We feel like we're pretty much part of the community here. What happens here is our business."
Joel Klaassen is the publisher of the Hillsboro Free Press and a long-time book publisher. When this fire destroyed the church, he felt the paper could do more, so this book was born.
"They were trying to cut a hole in the wall (because of the fire). Yeah they were…did we get that shot?"
Then, it was up to Editor Don Ratzlaff, book designer Diane Steiner and the newspapers writers to create "Trial By Fire".
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"So it's really a story of hope, it's not so much about a tragedy."
It was perhaps Don Ratzlaff who was most conflicted by the assignment. On the day of the fire, he was there taking pictures….but he is also the church moderator….it was his 123 year-old church on fire.
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"I found it hard to do both jobs. Being a church leader, there were people I needed to talk to and sometimes I was just mesmerized by the flames. You are pretty much caught up with what is going on with the building, what the people were feeling and saying. In that moment it was more important to do that, than, I guess to be a good journalist."
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More than 800 pictures were submitted by the newspaper staff and by townspeople. It was Diane Steiner's job to create the book's look.
"We weeded it down to the best 82 (pictures). I think this is always going to be an important. This is going to be something where grandma is going to set her granddaughter on her lap and say this is where I was baptized, this is where grandpa and I got married. This is a big event. This is something that is going to be remembered for a long time."
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| When the fire hit, the Hillsboro Free Press covered the story heavily, even putting out an extra as the church burned. In just minutes, others in the community were sending pictures around the world via the Internet. Local newspapers can be the thread that holds a community together. It can also make a monetary difference. |
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As this Mennonite community struggled with what to do next, rebuilding was obvious.
So, to help, every time this book is sold, ten dollars goes to the church building fund.
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Joel Klaasan adds, "I'm very proud and pleased that we have been able to complete this project."
On site, the rubble is gone…and the only thing that remains is the sign….reading you are welcome.
So from crisis, through courage and to commitment, local newspapers like the Free Press help bridge the gap in local communities between hope and reality.
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"Images of crises, courage and commitment and those are the three things that we really wanted the book to illustrate and to tell the story of."
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The book is available through the Hillsboro Kansas Free Press Newspaper or local Hillsboro Book Stores.
You may call them at at: 620-947-5702. The cost of the book is $39.95 plus shipping and handling. Remember, ten dollars of that goes to the Mennonite Church Rebuilding fund. You may also order via e-mail at: www.hillsborofreepress.com
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