Something to consider about Chetopa: they once cheated to win a catfish contest and then stole the trophy. So, plus 50 points.
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Ernest Eaton, 85, of Burlington, said after the city proclaimed itself to be Catfish Capital of the World, officials from Chetopa protested.
For years, the southeast Kansas town had claimed to be the state's catfish capital. Eaton said the challenge resulted in a fishing contest between the two cities involving "The Sportsman's Friend" host Harold Ensley, perhaps as judge.
"There was a catfish trophy that was to go to the town that caught the biggest catfish," Eaton said. "Burlington caught the biggest catfish during the contest."
Then, the mayor of Chetopa told possibly the biggest fish tale in Kansas history. He said the spoonbill was part of the catfish family and since fishermen there had caught a spoonbill larger than any catfish hooked at Burlington, the trophy should go south.
Surprisingly, the Burlington mayor fell for the story hook, line and sinker.
But Eaton, an insurance agent and farmer at the time, foiled the Chetopa mayor's plan. He said he asked the Burlington mayor to bring the trophy to him so he could see it before it was shipped to Chetopa. While he distracted the mayor, a secretary stole the trophy.
Eaton kept the trophy for a while and then gave it the Jaycees. The last he knew, it was at the Eagles lodge.
"It didn't make it to Chetopa," he said. "A spoonbill is not a catfish."
But Loy, the bait shop owner and former Jaycee, said there's more to the story.
After the trophy was stolen by Eaton and his accomplices, some men from Chetopa visited Burlington, swiped the trophy and took it back to their hometown.
"Then some Burlington guys (went down there and) swiped it back," Loy said.
That supposedly set off years of orneriness between the two communities.
Toni Crumrine, Chetopa city clerk, said Chetopa has abandoned the world title and now claims to be Catfish Capital of Kansas -- a claim that stuns Eaton.
"Oh, no, we won that," he said. "How can they be the Catfish Capital of Kansas if we're the Catfish Capital of the World?"
But, Chetopa isn't losing any sleep over it. That city has another title to boast about, even though it's a little nutty.
"Chetopa," Crumrine said, "is state-sanctioned as the Pecan Capital of Kansas."
