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Lewis County Fair Begins The Lewis County Agricultural Fair will begin this week with the opening ceremony scheduled for noon, July 11 and runs through July 15. The fair relies on the support of area businesses and individuals to provide quality entertainment for all ages. Please support all of the advertisers and businesses in the area who make the fair possible.
Lewis County
Serving the communities of Lewis County, Mo. since 1862 (USPS 088-820) Vol. XL New Series, No. 26 Canton, Mo. 63435 • 16 Pages • 2 Sections • 55 cents
BREAKING NEWS UPDATES AT
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Fire Destroys Canton Home
PRESS –NEWS JOURNAL ADDS TWO TO STAFF
RETTENMEIER
WOLF
The Press-News Journal has added two new members to its family. Austin Rettenmeier and Peggy Wolf joined began their duties on June 18 and June 11. Austin Rettenmeier was born in Bettendorf, Iowa on October 22, 1992 and grew up in Quincy, Ill. He attended Quincy Senior High School in Quincy, and furthered his education by attended The Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago, Ill., with a major in Digital Photography. Austin’s hobbies are playing video games, photography and nature exploring with friends. Austin joined the Press-News Journal because “I wanted to use the skills that I had aquired from both high school and college.” Austin is looking forward to bringing his creativity and ideas to the team. Peggy Wolf was born in Louisiana, Mo., and grew up in Palmyra, Mo. She attended Palmyra High School in Palmyra, Mo., and graduated from Culver Stockton College in Canton, Mo., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration and Economics.. Peggy has one daughter named Ashley who attends Truman University in Kirksville, Mo., and is majoring in English.
LONGTIME LABELLE TREASURER DIED JULY 2 A longtime servant with the city of LaBelle died last week. Anna Mae Hudson, 75, who served as tax collector for LaBelle for 32 years, died July 2 at her LaBelle home. A complete obituary is on page 5B.
SUGAR CREEK BRIDGE CLOSED Until further notice, the former Sugar Creek Bridge on Route 16 will be closed. This is part of the Missouri Department of Transportation Safe and Sound Program to replace a number of deficient bridges in Missouri.
Photos by Tej Ghosh
The home of James and Theresa Cook at 801 White Street in Canton was destroyed by fire on the evening of July 5. ABOVE - the garage was totally engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. RIGHT - The aftermath of the blaze is shown the day after the fire. No one was home at the time of the blaze. The family was on vacation in Florida.
BY RITA COX Reporter rita1@lewispnj.com
Area fire departments responded to a garage and house fire at 801 White Street in Canton on Thursday evening, July 6. Owners James and Theresa Cook and their five children were not at home when the fire occurred. The Cooks had arrived in Florida for a family vacation a few hours earlier when they received a call that their house was on fire. They immediately left Florida to make the long drive home, not sure what they would find when they got home.
Canton and LaGrange Fire Departments were both dispatched for a garage fire which was completely engulfed when they arrived and other area fire departments were soon called in as well as law enforcement, city personnel and the Lewis County Ambulance. The big historic home was almost completely destroyed. The house was once known as the Culver-Stockton Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity House for many decades. A portion of the house where names of students were written on had been preserved by the people that had remodeled the home
before the Cook’s purchased it last year and amazingly the signatures were not burned. Mrs. Cook said their future plans were uncertain at this time, but whatever happens, those signatures will be preserved. Mrs. Cook said they lost almost everything and the only clothes they have are what they had packed for vacation. The family found that the picture frames that held their wedding pictures might be able to be saved but the photos were ruined. The family dog was staying elsewhere, but all the dog toys, food, etc. were lost. The family is staying at
the Comfort Inn. Clothing sizes are: boyage 6: size 5-6 boys; girl- age 7, size 8; girl age 8 size 7; boy age 10, 32-30 mens, med men’s shirt; boy age 13, 3432 mens pants large mens shirts. The adults sizes are mens 36-32 and extra large shirt and ladies size 16 pants and 1x shirts. Mrs. Cook said the community has been very caring and she is amazed at the offers for help which the family very much appreciates. They are sad for the loss of their homes, but at the same time very grateful no one was hurt.
LEWIS COUNTY HAS BAKED IN HEAT WAVE BY DAN STEINBECK Editor dan@lewispnj.com
Lewis County got a slight break in oppressive temperatures on Sunday. After 10 straight days with temperatures at Lock 20 92 or higher, including six of those days over 100, a cooling front dropped temperatures. Lock 20 said Sunday’s high was 87, 14 degrees cooler than the day before. Twice - on June 28 and July 1, the high temperature topped out at 102. During the same 10 days prior of high temperatures, the low for each of the days ranged from 70 to 73 degrees.
Many people have taken heed with the higher temperatures and found cooler places to be and restricted their time outdoors. Lewis County Ambulance has reported one heatrelated injury to which they have responded in recent days, one each on the west and est sides of the County. However neither Quincy Medical Group Clinic in Lewistown or in Canton has reported any heat related injuries or illnesses. Lewis County Health Department does not treat patients, but Administrator Diane Lay said “We just try to remind the people in here to be smart about it (handling the heat.).”
Dr. Arvin Abueg of the Canton/LaGrange Family Practice in Canton said his clinic has not treated any heat exhaustion cases per se, but he has seen an increase in urinary tract infections which can be caused by people not drinking enough water. “In the heat, you will burn up more fluids. I tell the patients to get a clear pitcher of water that holds eight glasses of water, and by noon it should be halfway gone. Also, people should get the temperature down in the homes and follow heat advisories,” Dr. Abueg said. Abueg said he helped treat one person participat-
ing in the Hannibal Cannibal race Saturday by helping ice the man down, made sure he drank Gatorade® to replenish nutrients, and elevated his legs. As might be expected, attendance at Canton’s Sun ‘N’ Surf Pool has seen a spike in attendance. Manager Teresa McKenzie said on one of the 100-plus degree days, the crowd at the membership pool was near 75 people. Usually, 50 people can be expected. Ironically, McKenzie said when the outside temperature “cooled” to 90 degrees Sunday, there were only about 20 people were present.
Remember, Money That’s Spent In Lewis County Stays In Lewis County!
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