Year in review: PHS’s first state title in boys golf highlight’s first half of 2021

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A review of the news from the Palmyra area during the first half of 2021:

Jan. 6, 2021

With 2020 barely in hindsight, the new year started out ominously, thanks to a first-day ice storm that brought power outages and dangerous travel to the Palmyra area.

Work can now progress on the County Road 402 bridge after the county learned they have $886,905 in soft match funds they can trade for BRO funds.

Eleven PHS cross country athletes received academic all-state honors for the season. They are Casey Hathaway, Christian Drebes, Lauren Reid, Lydia Szarka, Caleb Juette, Dakota Snyder, Aly Noland, Jacob Barnes, Talon Markley, Daniel Reid and Lauren Sheputis.

Jan. 13, 2021

Workers put up a new 80-foot flag pole, one of the tallest in the area, in Palmyra’s Greenwood Cemetery last Tuesday. The pole is topped by an eagle and flies a flag measuring 25 feet in length.

Winners in the Knights of Columbus free throw contest were Alaina Keppner, Briggs Brown, Tenly Jones, Andrew Illa and Axel Brown. The will be heading to the district championship Feb. 14.

Jan. 20, 2021

Superintendent Kirt Malone will be working for the Palmyra R-I School District at least one additional year, following approval of his contract during the recent Board of Education meeting.

Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois has completed and energized the final span of the Illinois Rivers Project, a transmission line from Palmyra, Mo. to Sugar Creek, Ind.

Jan. 27, 2021

This year’s Tony Lenzini Basketball Tournament was unlike any other thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which limited the number of fans who could attend the week-long event. Unchanged was Tony Lenzini crowning the tournament queen, Drew Billups. Her court consists of Grace Krigbaum, Jansen Juette, Rylie McKinney and Tatum White. The PHS boys lost to Monroe City in the title game.

Marion County approved a budget of a little over $15 million, which includes a $1 an hour raise for employees.

The Palmyra City Council discussed traffic problems at Main and Main Cross. Police Chief Eddie Bogue informed the council of on-going traffic issues, noting there were two crashes there the previous week.

Feb. 3, 2021

Shovels had to be brought out to clear the snow dumped on the area during a winter storm last week.

The Marion County Commission will be trying to address a storm water drainage issue at the Palmyra Courthouse, meeting with the city and an engineering firm to discuss the situation on Lafayette and Dickerson streets.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association has announced a modified schedule for its postseason wrestling championships, with Palmyra hosting the District 2 competition on Saturday, Feb. 13, the first time Palmyra will host a district wresting tournament.

Feb. 10, 2021

Seven PHS athletes signed paper work to continue their education and sports careers on the university level during National Signing Day, including Lydia Szarka, Drew Billups, Ross Arch, Abe Haerr, Bennett Stice, Weston King and Brody Lehenbauer.

The Palmyra City Council awarded the bid to Bleigh Construction for repair of two of the city’s water well pumps damaged by flooding in 2019 at a cost of $790,700.

Feb. 17, 2021

The Palmyra Police Department is preparing to revive the local D.A.R.E. program, and the Palmyra Kiwanis Club donated $500 towards that program.

The Palmyra R-I Board of Education took a rare move during their meeting, voting to adopt a resolution opposing SB 55 which would take money from public schools and funnel it towards private and charter schools.

Two local scouts, Marci Bross and Livia Bross, were awarded STEM Supernova awards, the highest STEM awards in scouting. They were the only two scouts in the entire Great Rivers  Council to earn the award.

Feb. 24, 2021

With the traditional banquet not happening this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce went a different route in making is annual awards presentations: door to door.

Award winners are the late John Lewis, Citizen of the Year; Robert Stout, Volunteer of the year; Northeast Missouri Machine and Pattern, Business Hall of Fame inductee; and Randy and Michele Hopson, President’s Award.

Dyoni Mundy made PHS sports history by becoming the first female wrestler to advance to the state tournament.

Six PHS students, including Mallory Sublette, Ashley Bode, Elijah Edwards, Belle Biswell, Emily Malone and Alexis Emme, advance to state FLBA competition.

March 3, 2021

In an unusual step since the inception of the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year award in 2001, more than one individual will be honored with that award, in fact 170 people, as this year’s award was presented to the entire staff at the Palmyra R-I School District.

The PHS varsity boys basketball team held back Highland for a 38-37 win and the school’s first district basketball title in seven years.

Six members of the PHS wrestling team advanced to the MSHASAA championships after performances during the Class 1, Sectional 1 competition. Advancing are Collin Arch, Kaden Crane, Brayden Stevens, Hayes Miller, Luke Triplett and Nolyn Richards.

March 10, 2021

Ryan Wood announced he is stepping down as PHS boys varsity basketball coach after five years so he can devote more time to his family.

The Knights of Columbus donated $1,000 to the PAWS pack program following a successful pancake breakfast in January.

Marcia Ann Humphreys and Delaney Straus were selected to attend the Missouri Girl’s State Conference.

March 17, 2021

Stuhlman Motors, which was started 139 years ago as a wagon manufacturer, but later made a thriving transition to automotive accessory installation, will cease to operate at its only location at 515 S. Main St. on March 31. 

Owners Gary, Larry and Greg Stuhlman agreed it has been a great run, but it was time to move on.

Four Panthers brought home state wrestling medals, including Collin Arch who won the 132 pound weight class title. Others winning were Kaden Crane, second; Braden Stevens, fourth; and Luke Triplett, fifth.

March 24, 2021

The Palmyra City Council approved a $7,744,045 budget for all departments, which represents a drop of
$200,000 from the previous year’s budget.

A Palmyra man, Troy Gard, won the JWCC Foundation and WGEM Career Makeover competition, earning a two-year full-tuition scholarship.

Three Panthers made the All–CCC squad, including Zane Meyers, Aaron Stamper and Abe Haerr. One Lady Panther, Rylie McKinney was named to the All-CCC girls team.

The Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club sent 10 youths to the state finals where they won seven championships and brought home 16 state medals.

March 31, 2021

Kenneth Kroencke was surprised at his daughter’s home by a visit from the Quilts of Valor Foundation of the Southeast Iowa Chapter. Kroencke, who is a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, was presented with a quilt and a certificate.

Palmyra High School hosted its inaugural track and field meet on the school’s new all-weather facilities with athletes from the other two Marion County schools, Hannibal and Marion County R-II, also joining the competition.

The Marion County Ambulance District is seeking a grant to help offset costs for assisting at vaccination clinics.

April 7, 2021

Future Engineers and NASA have announced 155 semifinalists in the Artemis Moon Pod Essay Contest, a national competition, and one of these is Livia Bross, of Palmyra.

The Palmyra City Council last Thursday gave approval for the park department to install ballpark lighting for Foster Field.

Hundreds of children gathered at Flower City Park Saturday for the annual Easter egg hunt.

April 14, 2021

A lightning strike during last week’s storm resulted in a fire that destroyed a hog confinement facility belonging to Roger Sutter in the West Quincy area.

The Palmyra R-I School District honored staff members for years of service, including Irene Brown, Jamie Hoerr, Stacey Webster, Katy Fuqua, Nick Koetters and Katie Uhlott, 10 years; Karen Pemberton,  Jen Bryan, Bruce Farabee, Kathy Ludwig and Trina Schindler, 15 years; Amy Hoerr, Janice Kroeger, Liz Lehenbauer, Josh  Edwards, Kerri LaSala, Brian Wosman, Sara Hummelsheim, Jill Engelhardt and Carrie Smith, 20 years; and Penny Coons and Missy Cunningham, 25 years.

April 21, 2021

The Palmyra City Council welcomed the first new mayor in 14 years as newly-elected Rusty Adrian was handed the gavel from Loren Graham, who chose not to run again.

This year’s seniors will see a return to a more normal graduation as the R-I Board of Education set graduation for Thursday, May 20, at the Palmyra Athletic Complex with no attendance restrictions.

The PHS varsity baseball team continued to dominate the opposition, going 3-0 last week and stretching its winning streak to five.

April 28, 2021

Brody Lehenbauer and Sophie Hoerr were crowned king and queen during the PHS Junior-Senior prom. The rest of the court included Zane Meyers, Caroline Kizer, Abe Haerr and Drew Billups.

Marcia Bross of Palmyra, was recently honored by the Marion County Extension for her induction into the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame.

Among the investments announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture was a $135,000 grant to assist MFA Oil Company with fuel distribution facilities, including one in Palmyra.

May 5, 2021

Palmyra utility customers are feeling the ripple affects of the polar vortex that all but crippled Texas electrical grid in February. 

Palmyra’s Board of Public Works issued May bills that included a $7 extra line-item charge per meter. The charge will be assessed for the next 24 months in order to cover higher power costs.

May 12, 2021

The Palmyra boys varsity baseball team won the CCC title when they beat South Shelby, 12-4, to capture an undefeated conference championship.

Work began to rebuild the west wall of Zion Lutheran Church in Palmyra when Vanderhaar Masonry took down the wall which was deemed structurally unsound.

May 19, 2021

Palmyra High School Principal Jared Pontius was named principal of the year for the NEMO region of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.

May 26, 2021

Seventy-eight PHS senior received their diplomas during commencement ceremonies held at the football field, including Lauren Reid, who was named valedictorian and Christian Drebes, who was salutatorian.

The 2021 Panther boys golf team added a coveted state championship trophy to the school’s collection last Tuesday, winning the Class 2 title in Bolivar. Team members are Laydin Lochman, Jacob Webster, Elijah Edwards and Bray Shively.

The PHS girls track team came home with seven medals form the Class 2 state championships, while the boys brought home four

Delaney Straus closed out her stellar high school track and field career by winning three medals at the Class 1 State Championships.

The PHS boys baseball team blew away the competition for the Class 3, District 7 championship.

June 2, 2021

The late John Lewis was selected as the first recipient of the Fallen Hidden Hero award presented by Our Hidden Heroes, a local company dedicated to supporting and raising awareness of first responders. 

Morgan Oles was named class valedictorian and Sam Bridgman was named salutatorian, during the Marion County R-II graduation ceremony Sunday, during which 12 students received their diplomas.

June 9, 2021

Robert M. “Bobby” Dodd, a local veteran and longtime active member of the American Legion, will be the grand marshal for this year’s Flag Day parade.

Amanda Lewis, Palmyra, will be competing for the third time in the Miss Missouri Pageant next week, while Mallory Sublette, also Palmyra, will be participating in the Miss Missouri Outstanding Teen pageant.

June 16, 2021

The Palmyra R-I staff and personnel will received a raise, following approval by the R-I Board of Education of an $11.2 million budget for FY22.

Missouri Rural Electrical Cooperative celebrates its 85th anniversary this month.

A parade and flag raising ceremony returned as Palmyra celebrated Flag Day last Saturday.

June 23, 2021

Three local rodeo stars -all Andersons- have been competing on the national level recently. Sheyenne Anderson took second place in goat tying in the national competition, while her siblings, Cooper and Rylee, were to compete that week.

The Palmyra City Council opened the way during its regular meeting Thursday for moving ahead with a storm water drainage project to be completed jointly by the city and the county.

Palmyra’s ace pitcher, Bennett Stice, earned all-state honors, courtesy of the state’s baseball coaches.

June 30, 2021

Deb Brown, an authority on creating thriving downtowns, led a round-table discussion as part of an initiative by the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments, as a way to generate ideas for improving Palmyra.