Printing Notice
Due to Memorial Day holiday, the May 31 issue of The Leon JournalReporter will be distributed one day late. All copy and ad material is requested by noon on Friday, May 26. Thank you for your cooperation. Corey
THE NEWSPAPER THAT SERVES ALL DECATUR COUNTY
16 PAGES (2 sections)
USPS 310-140
Junkin’ on the Jefferson June 2-4
Five towns in two states have joined together for Junkin’ on the Jefferson. It will provide a weekend of shopping and other fun events. Bethany and Eagleville, Missouri, along with Osceola, Lamoni and Leon, Iowa are hosting this program. For more info., contact Shannon Erb at 641-4426511, dcdc@grm.net or other members of the Jefferson Highway Association in these areas. The annual citywide garage sales will also be found around Leon this weekend. Additional information and a map will be found in next week’s Leon Journal-Reporter. Rotary will be set-up outside the Decatur County Museum on Saturday, June 3 selling books and possibly the Jefferson Highway movie. If you are interested in setting up during this event, email the Leon Chamber of Commerce at info@ leonchamber.org.
Salute to Beef Producers Pages 13, 14, & 15.
LEON, IOWA 50144, WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017
P.O. Box 580, 110 N. Main, Leon, IA 50144
E-mail: jrnews@grm.net
State Champions, Class 2A, Shuttle Hurdle Relay
RUNNING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: The Central Decatur Shuttle Hurdle team of (from left ) Cole Pedersen, Carter Boothe, Cauy Spidle, and Tyler Davis, accomplished a great feat at the State High School Track Meet last week. They won the Class 2A Shuttle Hurdle Relay event with a remarkable time of 59.22. This time also shattered their own school record that was set earlier this season. The last time Central Decatur won a state title was 46 years ago. See page 6 for complete story. (contributed photo)
Leon Park and Rec Saturday Activities
Lamoni Youth Dies in Early Morning Crash, Two Others injured
The Leon Parks and Rec has organized a 2nd annual Splash Dash 5K walk or run for Saturday, May 27, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Harvey Park (swimming pool). Lots of fun activites are planned. Paper registration fee is $30.00 or on-line registrations are available at www.eventbrite. com for $32.64. Entry fees will be accepted up to race day morning. Kids 10 and under are free. All proceeds go to the
Leon Swimming Pool for new equipment and improvements. 1st and 2nd place prizes will be given to all age groups. Contact Hillary Weir at 641442-6285 or Maggie Lindsey at 641-446-8997 for questions. Ducky Derby has returned and the winner will receive a choice of a 2017 pool pass. The first duck to float around the (continued on page 2)
VOLUME 88 - NUMBER 17
Meat Smoking and Music Festival This Weekend Come on out to the Decatur County Fairgrounds on Saturday May 27th for a day filled with families, fun and music! The 2nd Annual Festival will benefit “Journey For Joy”, a non-profit foundation that supports local cancer patients and their families. To compete in the Meat Smoking Contest, just register on site from 6am to 8am. There is a $50 fee to compete and Ribs and Loins will be supplied. Judging will be at 4:30 and plates of the competitor’s delicious BB-Q (with sides) will be available at 5pm for $8 each. There will be a neighborhood garage sale and vendors in the North Pioneer Building from 8am - 2pm. There is no charge for the tables (you set up). There will be fun activities and games for the kids to win prizes too. Live music will start at 1pm and will feature some of Southern Iowa’s greatest bands including; Rick Burke, The Half Moons, Dave and Joel, Liquid Sunshine, Sierra Griggs, Rumley Brothers, Black Dirt Conspiracy and Einstein’s Junkyard. ID’s will be required. For more information, contact Steve Fulkerson 641344-6308.
Decatur County Museum Opening May 30
The Decatur County Museum will be opening next Tuesday, May 30, at 1:00 p.m. for the season. The summer hours will be Tuesdays and Fridays, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. through August.
We Did It....Now What?
This is what remained of a truck that was involved in a early morning crash last Wednesday morning near Lamoni where one youth was killed and two others injured. (contributed photo)
A Lamoni youth lost his life in a horrific auto accident, while two others were injured last week, while en route to school. At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, according
to the Iowa State Patrol, Logan Gilliland, age 16, and his brother, Landon age 14, a passenger, were traveling north bound in a 1993 Chevy pickup on Elk Chapel Road, south and west of Lamoni, when the
accident occured. Gilliland ran a stop sign at the intersection of 300th Street and was struck broadside on the driver’s side by a vehicle driven by Gracelyn Martin, age 16 of Lamoni. Martin was eastbound in a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Logan died at the scene, while his brother was ejected from the vehicle and was later transported by Life Flight to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Martin was transported to the Decatur County Hospital. The patrol indicated that the Gillilands were not wearing seatbelts. The condition of Landon Gilliland or Martin were not ascertainable at press time. The accident was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, assisted by Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, Leon Police officers, Lamoni Police officers, EMS, and Decatur County Ambulance.
Courthouse Memorial Day Weekend Hours
The Clerk of Court’s office will be closed on Friday, May 26, due to state furlough. The Decatur County Courthouse will be closed on Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. The jail/ dispatch will be open. The Board of Supervisors will gather on Tuesday, May 30, for their regular meeting.
Some are checkin’ if it’s signed, some are too afraid to check, while others are not worried at all. The final thought of almost every graduating senior, jokingly “Is it signed?” Fifty-nine seniors walked across the stage Sunday afternoon to receive their diplomas to finish one “chapter” in their young lives and start a new one. Congratulations to the entire Class of 2017.
Seniors Recognized During Awards Night Shawn Swanson National Honor Society, Academic Letter Clayton Smith Silver Cord Lillian Simon Iowa State Bar Assoc Award, Central Decatur School Foundation Scholar, IGHSAU Basketball Scholar, Miles Horn Memorial, Iowa State Academic Scholar, National Honor Society, Academic Letter, Presidential Academic Award Tara Showers Blood Donor of Distinction, Bernie Logsdon Memorial, Clarke Co Old Iron Scholar Justin Shields Great Western Bank Scholar, Decatur Co Cattlemen Scholar, Leeper Foundation Scholar, Decatur Co Soil Conservation Scholar, Anita Leeper Memorial, Dennis Showers Haystack Memorial, Kirkwood Leader of Tomorrow Scholar, Academic Letter, National Honor Society, Presidential Academic Award Mackenzie Rumley Academic Letter Hannah Roberts Academic Letter, National Honor Society
Vanessa Reed Arion Award, Academic Letter, Presidential Academic Award Trae Reed Blood Donor of Distinction Taylor Proctor Bernie Logsdon Memorial Kyle Potter Darrell Johnston Memorial Lauren Palmer Academic Letter Keaton Minnick Clarke Old Iron Scholarship, American Legion Scholar Chance Masters Bernie Logsdon Memorial, Fort Scott CC Rodeo Scholarship, Academic Letter Alayna Link Comm Health Ctr of So Iowa Scholar Mary Lindsey Unity Club Scholar, Arion Award, Blood Donor of Distinction, Knights of Columbus Scholar, Jeff Bennett Memorial, Silver Cord, John Untiedt Memorial, Drake Univ Legacy Scholar, Drake Univ Presidential Scholar, Drake Univ Vocal Scholar, Academic Letter, National Honor Society Phillip Kunze
Silver Cord, Knights of Columbus Scholar Kade Kelso Central Decatur Booster Club Scholar, Bernie Saggau Award, Grand View Univ Presidential Scholar, Grand View Wrestling Scholar, Academic Letter, National Honor Society, Presidential Academic Award Brianna Keeney DMACC Foundation Scholar, Academic Letter, National Honor Society, Presidential Academic Award, Silver Cord Madison Johnson Academic Letter Joey Johnson Blood Donor of Distinction Jentri Hullinger IGHSAU Basketball Scholar, Blood Donor of Distinction, Academic Letter, National Honor Society, Presidential Academic Award Meghan Horney CDEA Scholar, Academic Letter, National Honor Society Haylee Horn Decatur Co Farm Bureau Scholar, Miles Horn Memorial, University of Rochester Dean’s (continued to page 12)