Golden City Homecoming Info Inside!
©2014 Serving Lamar, Golden City, Lockwood, Jasper, Sheldon, Mindenmines and Liberal for 144 years. Incorporating The Daily Democrat, Golden City Herald & Lockwood Luminary.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
2 SECTIONS, 12 PAGES
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Domestic violence resolution adopted
LAMAR-The Barton County Commission has adopted a resolution denouncing domestic violence and increasing court costs for maintenance of a shelter for victims. Previously, judges have levied two dollars in court costs in cases to go toward operation of Moss House in Nevada, the shelter for victims used in the 28th Judicial Circuit. That levy will now increase to four dollars.
Three area postmasters to retire
Three area postmasters, Lori Yokley, Liberal, Carol Gaines, Sheldon,and Edythe Weaver, Bronaugh, plan to retire this month. All have over 20 years of service as postmasters. Yokley started her career as casual/PTF clerk in the Nevada, Mo., post office in November, 1988. On August 2, 1997, she was appointed postmaster at Mindenmines. She was transferred to the Deerfield Post Office on November 21, 1998 and served there for seven years. Other towns that she has held officer in charge positions include Moundville, Rich Hill and Liberal. Yokley was appointed postmaster of the Liberal Post Office on March 22, 2003 and has served the Liberal community for the last 11 years. Yokley said, “She has really enjoyed the wonderful community and customers and feels very blessed to have been able to serve you all. After 27 years of service to the United States Postal Service, it is in my plans to return back to our farm in Moundville and enjoy my family, friends and life.” A retirement reception and get-together will be held in her honor on Monday, Sept. 29, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Liberal Community Building in the North City Park. Yokley’s retirement date is Tuesday, Sept. 30. Gaines has served as postmaster at the Sheldon Post Office since May, 2000. Gaines' career with the postal service began as a PTF clerk in the Appleton City Post Office on September, 1989. see POSTMASTERS, page 2A
INDEX
SECTION A Area News.................................. 2 Friends & Family....................... 3 Friends & Family/School.......... 4 School.......................................... 5 Sports.......................................... 6 SECTION B Area News.................................. 2 Records....................................... 3 Legals........................................... 4 Legals/Classifieds....................... 5 Area News.................................. 6
The Lamar Tiger football team rides along in the 2014 homecoming parade, held September 19. Coach Scott Bailey walked beside the team trailer as they circled the Lamar Square.
A large contingency of students gathered at the bandstand on the northwest corner of the Lamar Square to spur on the Lamar Tigers as they were set to play Butler for the homecoming contest on September 19.
October 11 to be busy day on Lamar square By RICHARD COOPER Democrat staff writer
LAMAR-A considerable part of Monday night’s Lamar City Council meeting was devoted to activities that will occur, October 11, on and near the Lamar square. That will be Wyatt Earp Day, which replaced Apple Days last year, and will be expanded this year. Astra Ferris, chamber of commerce director, told the council stressing a historical theme is a great improvement over the previous Apple Days theme, and greatly increased interest has already been apparent. She requested closing the entire square that day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The council readily approved the request. Vendors will be on the outside edge of the square, and she said there are 101 spaces available. Already, 65 of the spaces have been filled. She added that the chamber has already had inquiries from Arizona and Kansas, other areas where Wyatt Earp achieved fame as a lawman. Also, there will be three shootout demonstrations that day. The council also approved the closure of 11th Street from Broadway to Poplar as well as Poplar from 11th Street to the Masonic Lodge parking lot. That closing was requested by the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks to allow what is called a Pink Apple 5K Fun Walk. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Approval was granted to a third request from Bubs Hohulin to close 11th Street from Gulf west for a half block to
the alley to allow an auction in front of the mural on the building on the north side of 11th. This closure will only include the north lane of 11th and will last from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Water and sewer rates will increase starting with October usage, and the increase will appear on November bills. The increase Lamar Democrat/Richard Cooper will be phased in at Lamar was recognized as a Purple Heart City at Monday night’s city 10 percent the first council meeting. Presenting a plaque to Mayor Keith Divine were, year and another left, the State Adjutant of the Order of the Purple Heart, John D. 10 percent the sec- Dismer, and Commander of Chapter 621 of the order, Paul E. Weeks. ond year. This is designed to close an annual loss of just over $55,500 Purple Heart, headquartered in Budget Committee Chairman in water billings. Based on a Springfield. Also participating Steve Gilkey that he keep a remonthly use of 5,000 gallons, in the ceremony was John D. cord of the amounts and numa residential customer will be- Dismer, state adjutant for the ber of times the original city gin paying $3.84 for each 1,000 order. The Purple Heart is one budget has been exceeded. Pargallons during the first year. of the oldest and most honored tially responsible for the size of The monthly sewer charge will awards to military personnel, the bids was the use of a new amount to 120 percent of the conveyed only to those wound- underlay known as “Glaspave,” monthly water bill. Council- ed in combat in service to their which is supposed to extend the man Mike Hull felt two con- country. A similar presentation life of the asphalt surface. City secutive 10 percent increases was made to the Barton Coun- Administrator Lynn Calton were too great for such a short ty Commission on August 11, confirmed he has learned from period of time, and said the in- designating Barton County as a several sources that Glaspave is creases should be spread out in Purple Heart County. far superior to the previous unsmaller amounts over a longer APAC-Missouri, Inc. was the derlay, Petromat. period. He cast the only “no” lowest of three bidders to ap- Near the conclusion of the vote when the council adopted ply one and one-half inches meeting, City Clerk Traci Cox the ordinance. of asphalt overlay to several told the council that the audit Following the reading of a city streets in the annual street of the city, which began Thursproclamation by Mayor Keith maintenance program. The bid day, was completed Monday. Divine, a plaque was presented of $144,862 exceeded the bud- It was conducted by Marshall to the city recognizing Lamar geted amount for the project by Decker of Springfield. Cox said as a Purple Heart City. Making $18,000, but the council voted the results of the audit will be the presentation was Paul E. to amend the budget and award presented at the November 17 Weeks, commander of Chapter the contract to APAC. Coun- meeting of the council along 621 of the Military Order of the cilman Hull recommended to with recommendations.
Committee to recommend no change in zoning ordinance By RICHARD COOPER Democrat staff writer
LAMAR-There will be no recommendation to change any part of the city zoning ordinance. That was the consensus among all members of the city council’s Ordinance Committee at the conclusion of a noon meeting, September 22, called to consider such a request. The matter stemmed from the closure of a small trailer park at 8th and Mill. The La-
mar United Methodist Church has purchased the property and intends to use it for other purposes. The church has issued several deadlines for removal of the one remaining mobile home in the park. The owners have proposed moving the trailer to a location at 17th and Highway KK, but that location is not zoned as a trailer park. An amendment to the zoning ordinance, added January 20, 2014, specifies trailers may only be moved into designated trail-
er parks. Building Inspector Greg Coats told the committee that the trailer owners had considered relocating the structure to the 17th and Highway KK location for well over a year. However, seven months before the owners made known their intentions, the city council approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance requiring only trailer parks. Coats added that the council had been considering such a requirement
long before enacting such a ban. City Attorney Steven Kaderly told the committee that making an exception would set a precedent that would create future problems as others would likely seek similar exceptions. He said it would create a “gray area,” and ordinances need clearly to be black and white to be enforceable. A poll of committee members showed all agreed, and no recommendation for change will be made.
Be sure to have your little ghosts and goblins stop by the Lamar Democrat (North of Memorial Hall) on October 31st from 3-5 p.m. to get spooktacular treats!