See Veterans' Day Tributes & Tractor Supply Insert Inside!
Serving Lamar, Golden City, Lockwood, Jasper, Sheldon, Mindenmines and Liberal for 143 years. Incorporating The Daily Democrat, Golden City Herald & Lockwood Luminary.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2013
DON’T MISS... Helping Hands has successful food drive
see page 3A
Metzger’s Mutterings
see page 4A
Patrick to speak at Liberal Veterans' Day assembly
see page 4A
Veterans' Day tributes
2 SECTIONS, 12 PAGES
Fanning honored by Hospice Compassus Hospice Compassus utilizes some of their veteran volunteers to do a pinning ceremony to patients that are veterans. The volunteer visits the patient’s home or nursing home, to honor them for their military service. At the visit a script is read, recognizing them for their service. The patient is then saluted by the volunteer, followed by the volunteer attaching a flag pin to the patient’s clothing. The patient also receives
a framed certificate. Hospice Compassus Volunteer Steve Patterson recognized James Fanning on October 16. Fanning was drafted into the United States Army in 1944 when he was 18 years old, ing used today. serving from 1944 to 1946. While serving he was a construction engineer Fanning was sent to Ft. Lewis, Washingand helped build an airstrip in Japan. Ac- ton for boot camp and spent time in France, cording to Fanning, the airstrip is still be- as well as Japan and Batangas, Luzon.
see page 4A
Students of the Week
see page 5A
STAR Students
see page 5A
Lamar football players receive Big 8 All Conference Honors
see page 5A
LHS Theatre Department to present "Only An Orphan Girl"
see page 5A
Tigers terrorize Bulldogs on Halloween
see page 6A
Tremendous progress over last six months reported by BCMH
see page 1B
Liberal Area Civic Group holds monthly meeting
see page 2B
Midwest Tae Kwon Do observes 20th anniversary
see page 6B
County officials attend MAC Conference
see page 6B
Weather Forecast
see page 6B
INDEX
SECTION A Correspondents ........................ 2 Friends & Family ...................... 3 Friends & Family/School ......... 4 School/Sports ............................ 5 Sports ......................................... 6 SECTION B Area News ................................. 2 Records ...................................... 3 Records/Legals .......................... 4 Legals/Classifieds...................... 5 Area News ................................. 6
The Lamar R-I School District has officially started Phase 2 of the building project. Phase 2 will include the demolition of the 1936 building, the final piece to becoming an asbestos free school, as well as new classrooms, gymnasium, offices and a band room that will also serve as a safe room. New water, gas and electric lines will also be installed, providing a more efficient system for the school district. Lamar R-I Superintendent Dr. Zach Harris says, “It is our goal to continue to provide high levels of education for our students while continuing to move the district forward with building renovations.” Staff and students are familiar
Lamar football game moved to PSU
Due to inclement weather and probability of storms, the second round district football game will be moved to PSU's Carnie Smith Stadium. The Lamar Tigers will host Warsaw at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Admission will be $5. Please visit www.lamar.k12. mo.us for up to date details.
with the sounds of construction in the area as the district is now entering the final days of Phase 1. Phase 1 included a complete overhaul of the West Elementary and Middle School HVAC systems, new
windows, doors, floors and roofs. Improvements were also made at the high school with a new roof, doors and the addition of central heat/air in the gymnasium. The district will continue to
work with the local historic society to preserve the many memories that are associated with the “old high school.” Dr. Harris says, “The district see LAMAR R-1, page 2A
A servant of Missourians and an independent thinker By RICHARD COOPER Democrat staff writer
richardcooper@lamardemocrat.com
My first encounter with Ike Skelton was in 1970 when he ran for the Missouri Senate. I lived in Sedalia where I taught history and government at Smith-Cotton High School, but occasionally filled in at the news department of Radio Station KDRO. My time at the station varied widely, but Friday afternoons and evenings generally found me operating a one-person news department. Whenever Ike Skelton came to town, almost always on a Friday, naturally I drew the assignment to cover his visit. This would continue through two terms as state senator and after he went to Washington to represent the Fourth Con-
gressional District, of which Pettis County was a part. Ours was not a friendship but certainly immediate recognition. Since Whiteman Air Force Base was roughly 15 miles west of Sedalia, he was in town quite frequently. Ike was a strong advocate of military preparedness and made sure that Whiteman had everything it needed. Ike Skelton was a Democrat but had strong conservative convictions that occasionally had him breaking with his party’s leadership. He opposed abortion and any further restrictions on firearms ownership. He was relentless in his support of the military and kept Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood in the forefront of bolstering American military strength. After I retired from education in 1992 and moved to Lamar shortly afterward, redistrict-
ing would place Barton County in the Fourth District, and I would encounter Skelton again and again. My most enduring memory of Ike Skelton was at the height of the Iraq War when he came to Lamar completely unannounced to visit National Guardsmen at the local armory. So many had been called to active duty and deployed to Iraq. There wasn’t a single member of the County Democratic Committee present and not one member of the news media, except for myself. I learned of the visit on a tip from someone at the armory. Ike said he just wanted to thank the guardsmen for their dedication to duty. He spoke briefly in measured terms to the assemblage and then shook hands with every single guardsman in the building. He would repeat that gesture at every National Guard armory in the Fourth District. Ike Skelton served his constituents and his nation well. His time in office served as a good example for both Democrats and Republicans to emulate.
Free Thanksgiving dinner to be served
LOCKWOOD-It’s time for the 10th annual “Come-N-Dine Thanksgiving Dinner” to be held Thursday, Nov. 28, 12 noon. Everyone is invited to attend and join in this time of fun, food and fellowship. A menu of the following is planned: turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans,
P.O. Box 458 | 100 East 11th Street Lamar, Missouri 64759-0458 Phone: 417-682-5529 | Fax: 417-682-5595 info@lamardemocrat.com | www.lamardemocrat.com
corn, cranberry sauce, rolls, dessert and drinks. The group will once again be using the Family Life Center, 410 Main St., Lockwood. Anyone that is running a little late, don’t worry, please still come. This is a community event for everyone. It does not matter your age or where you live. Everyone is welcome to
Be sure to send us your recipes for the holiday cookbook!
attend. There is no charge for the dinner. The meal is sponsored by everyone that makes donations to the dinner. It is not sponsored by any one organization or group. For more information, to make a donation, to volunteer or if a ride is needed, call Shirley at 816-476-2311.