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USPS-299800 Vol.136, No. 34 Bevier, MO, 63532 • 8 Pages • 1 Section • 75 Cents
Serving Macon County Since 1876 Subscribers to the Home Press are the nicest people! This week we salute
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Meet Callao American Legion Post 360
Lauretta Vance Macon, MO COX GRADUATES FROM NAVAL RECRUIT TRAINING
CLAY COX Clay Cox of Macon graduated from the Navy’s Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL. Cox received honors for firearms qualification and for physical fitness. He is the son of Donald Cox and Diana Stonecipher. Cox is a 2011 graduate of Macon Co. R-1 School. He will be assigned to a nuclear submarine upon completion of his training.
A livery stable once sat on the lot where the Callao American Legion Park is now, but in the 1920’s, after WWI, Callao Post #160 purchased the stable and the adjacent lots, tore down the stable and seeded the lots. A monument, honoring WWI servicemen, was erected on the northwest corner of the lot. There was a surplus cannon available and it was acquired and placed on the north side of the park. In recent years a Howitzer cannon was given to
the post by Bucklin American Legion Post 57, and it is on the west side of the park. A stage was built by the community on the back corner of the lot, and the Callao Fiesta was held there for several years, as well as the Callao Centennial Celebration in 1958. The stage was later moved to the north part of town at the Fiesta grounds. In recent years the park has been improved. The Callao Heritage Society, who
are owners of the Swan Lake School, housed to the south of the park, approached the Legion members, and were given permission to build a gazebo, cement walks around a flower bed, and leading to the gazebo, plant shrubs and flowers, a cement bench by the flower bed and a statue of a service person holding a flag of the United States in the center of the flower bed. They also paid the light bill for the year so the statue could be lit at night.
The park is used every year for the annual Memorial Day program, picnics in the gazebo, weddings, music in the park, and ice cream suppers. A sign at the northwest corner tells the publlic it is “The Callao American Legion park” One of the recent groups who came to have their picture taken there was the Macon County Sheriff’s Department.
MACON COUNTY FAIR THEME WINNER
STUDENT OF THE WEEK JONATHAN BASLER
ABOVE - Timothy Johnston of Macon has been chosen as the 2012 Theme winner for the Macon County Fair. Artwork submissions are accepted each year for the contest. RIGHT - Johnston’s winning drawing features animals in a wagon with a horse driving a tractor to the fair.
JONATHAN BASLER Parents: Steve Basler and Kerri Miller Favorite Subject: Business Extra Curricular Activities: Varsity Baseball, National Honor Society, Student Council Future Plans: To attend MACC and then transfer to MU to major in Radiology.
Timothy Johnston, 11 year old son of Mark and Frankie Johnston of Macon, is the 2012 Theme contest winner for the Macon County Fair that will be held July 8th through the 15th. Every year 4-H members have the chance to turn in a picture they have drawn to be entered in the contest. The winner will have his or her picture on the Fair Tshirts that is given to the kids
and the theme of the winning picture will be the theme of the fair. “This year the fair committee had the most entries making it the biggest turn out they have ever had.” Said Frankie, Timmy’s mother Timmy has been a member of the Atlanta Home Pioneer 4-H group since he was 5 years old. He is active in 4-H shooting sports, showing horses, ducks, tur-
key, chickens, gardening and sports fishing. Timmy is one that has never been into staying inside and playing video games, he prefers to be outside with his animals or hunting. Timmy received an art kit for his birthday one year and has really enjoyed drawing. One of his drawings was printed in the 2010 phone book. For an eleven year old,
Timmy has vast knowledge of outdoor sports. He shoots bows, guns and has even mastered the art of tanning hides. His favorite things are shooting his 22, trapping, baseball and taking care of his animals. When attending the Macon County Fair, you will be able to see Timmy’s exhibit featuring the hides he has tanned as well as many wearing the t-shirts with his winning design and theme “Lets Go To The Show”.