8 Monday, April 13, 1987 / University Daily Kansan Photos by Alan Hagman Right: Dave Wakefield has trimmed the hair of Mound City residents and others for almost 30 years. His barber shop is on the main downtown block of the city. Below: City Councilman Gary Schmitz, left, enjoys his early morning coffee with a friend at Scott's Drive In. Mound Continued from p. 1 at opening time, as they do almost at every day, got some coffee from Whitten and sat down near Schmitz to talk. Bruce said he had seen "changes in the roads, more houses, less farmers." Delbert Bruce, 79, wore the retired farmer's required uniform: Key Imperial overalls from Ft. Scott, a baseball cap advertising a local feed company, and a worn face. But the teen-agers, like Teresa Nation, 16, say that the town is a little boring. She prefers to drive 30 minutes to Fort Scott or more than an hour to "the city," Kansas City, for weekend entertainment. Jeremy Briggs, 7, said, "I have lots of friends here. It's a good town." But the rusted street sign at Fifth and Main in downtown Mound City also has seen a few changes. Two banks have closed in the town's history, and Mound City now supports a video store and a tainting salon. The town's only other facility is the county building and still has the lines from the basketball court on the store's four aisles. Brian Higgins, Mound City senior, was the only person from his 49-member graduating class at Jayhawk-Linn High School to enroll at the University of Kansas. Jayhawk-Linn teaches students from Mound City, Blue Mound and Prescott. The young children enjoy the town and play in the woods or the creek. Schmitz remembered playing in a tunnel that was used during the days of slavery for the underground railroad. "They don't want to raise child children among druggies, hippies and yuppies." Dawson said. "You hear so many stories." Most of his high school classmates had the wrong impression of Several residents said they wanted the town to grow a little, but most were content with the way they now lived. "There's old fourth and fifth-generation people who want it to grow," Dawson said. Randall Dawson, president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, said that business had stabilized in town. The power plant and government offices kept jobs available, and new lake developments near town also opened jobs. A safety factor is involved in keeping a town small, he said. Residents are more comfortable feel safer in a small population KU, Higgins said. "They think that all you are is a number." he said. all you are is a number, "he said. He said his classmates who stayed in Mound City still were doing the same things they did in high school — "hanging around the parking lot by Scott's." Shannon Masters, 17, stood in her driveway listening to the radio and waxing a car Thursday evening. She wore a "Class of 1988" T-shirt, and her hands were blue from the car wax. A little boy tried to look out over the screen door of her house. "That's my son," said Masters, a high school junior. Saturday night after the picture show ended. "Now there nothing on Saturday," he said, "I hope a town like this doesn't blow away." Masters smiled at the 1-year-old boy and returned to her waxing. Examples of a slow-paced country life are everywhere in this town. Generations of graffiti have been cut, written and sprayed in the courthouse belly, such as who loved D.C.W on Oct. 22, 1916. County workers often eat lunch in the bandstand on the courthouse grounds, and the only sounds accompanying their voices are a few passing cars and a lawnmower. Mound City isn't blowing away But the residents sometimes wry that the wind is coming. The door to city hall, built in 1868, was wide open. Behind the front room of the hall is the old jail. A shackle is attached to the wood-planking floor, and the iron gridwork of the cell now holds an old drum. Christmas decorations and a few ballot boxes. Dave Wakefield has had his barber shop on the main downtown block for 30 years. He was reading a Kansas City paper Thursday and already had heard that a visitor was in town. Wakefield remembered from his childhood the town barber, who worked until midnight every Kindergarteners at Mound City Grade School start each morning with the pledge of allegiance Bianchi A Whole New Experience The Flat Tire Bicycle It's light, rugged, 12 to 18 speeds, wide but light tires, flat handle bars, and reliable brakes. It will go where others can't—Trails, Country Roads, Over City Pot Holes Snow... Whether you are a serious terrain rider or a casual commuter, we have the bike for you. Prices Begin at $229 - FREE BIKE HAT WITH TEST RIDE SUNFLOWER 1804 Massachusetts * Lawrence Kansas: 66044 * 913-843-5001 NATURAL WAY Natural Fiber Clothing 820 Mass. 841-0100 Get your shorts out because it's finally here... SPRING! University Band/Concert Band Spring Concert The University of Kansas Department of Music and Dance Bresciens Music and Dance Presents THE UNIVERSITY BAND THE UNIVERSITY BAND THE CONCERT BAND James Barnes, Conductor Thomas M. Stidham, Cynthia Mitchell, Conductor Cynthia Mitchell, Trumpet soloist 8:00 p.m., Monday, April 13, 1987 Crafton-Preyer Theatre Free and open to the Public Free and open to the Public Partially funded by the KU Student Activity Fee