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High Plains History
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Take a few minutes to step back in time and explore the historical events, places, persons, social movements, and humorous incidents from the centuries of human settlement on the High Plains.  High Plains History is written and produced by Skip Mancini with the assistance of historians, historical societies, and museums from across the region. 

Contact Skip Mancini about the program.

Latest Episodes
  • As my time with Velma Wancura draws to a close, Velma and I talked about some of life's nuggets. These are some of her thoughts about:Neighbors. Velma…
  • It was hard to be German during World War I. Velma Wancura's father hired extra help during harvest time. She said you had to be careful not to hire a…
  • Go back to May, 1935. Velma and Ted Wancura have a young son. They haven't had a wheat crop in years, or rain for that matter. Most of their cattle herd…
  • The mid 1930's were the dry years on the high plains. The drought has taken so much, a tornado took their home, but one young couple continue to…
  • In 1935, there had been no rain and no wheat crop for the Wancuras. One day, Velma and Ted decided to drive to Beehler to a farm sale about 14 miles…
  • The hard times began long before the dust storms that inspired movies, documentaries, and books. There was no rain, no crops, wheat was .25 cents a…
  • Velma Wancura's dad wanted to be a farmer, so he traded a house in McCracken, Kansas for a quarter of land south of Beeler. He was a good farmer, and it…
  • Can you imagine living over 100 years and only having two regrets? I can't. It is one of the things that amazed me about Velma Wancura. And to think that…
  • I met Velma Whipple Wancura two years ago. Her grandson, Dan Wancura contacted me, telling me I needed to meet his grandmother. He said the story of her…
  • Ask anyone in real estate how to choose property, and they'll tell you, "location, location, location." The White and Kirk building in Amarillo sits at…