Year in Review: National champion Palmyra FFA team highlights second half of 2021

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A review of news worthy events from around the Palmyra area during the second half of 2021:

July 7, 2021

Maple Lawn Nursing Home’s long-time administrator, Jeff Funkenbusch, will be retiring later this year and is in the process of preparing his successor, Dave Stieglitz. Funkenbusch has been employed at the home for almost 32 years.

Fireworks lit up the sky above Flower City Park during the annual Fourth of July display, sponsored by the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce.

July 14, 2021

Carol Bezler, with some help from friends, Jackie Sublette and Kerry Bross, turned an old piano into a unique flower bed and shelf.

Structure, crop and road damage were discussed during the County Commission meeting, following a severe storm that struck the county last Friday evening. Straight line winds and down bursts were being blamed for the damage.

July 21, 2021

Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Taylor, Mo., will be celebrating a special event as they recognize their 150th anniversary on Sunday, July 25, with a special service.

While the Palmyra City Council unanimously accepted the lowest bid of those submitted for the city-county storm water drainage project, the Marion County Commission rejected the bid, stating they preferred one of the Marion County bidders. 

July 28, 2021

Bill Stackman, vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia, spoke during the annual Mizzou Send-Off event hosted by the Great River tigers Chapter of the MU Alumni Association.

Aug. 4, 2021

Olivia Lehenbauer was crowned this year’s Marion County Fair queen by outgoing queen, Christa Dowel. Also crowned were Adyson Davis, Pre-Junior Miss Marion County; and Alana Lemon, Junior Miss Marion County.

Heavy rains Saturday morning meant the annual fair parade was shorter than normal, but it didn’t bother the rest of the events, including the queen pageant and the Tate Shade Memorial Bull Bash.

Aug. 11, 2021

The Marion County Fair ended Saturday with the annual Super Pull event, which was attended by a huge crowd, as was the Demolition Derby on Friday night.

A standing room only crowd also attended the Sale of Champions for the Marion County Junior Fair Saturday.

Aug. 18, 2021

Palmyra and the surrounding area was hit by a powerful storm Thursday evening, which caused damage, blew down trees and played havoc with electrical power.

The Palmyra R-I Board of Education approved opening up school again this year for in-house learning, following the adoption of a safe return to school plan. 

Residents of Bailey Street told the Palmyra City Council that runoff from recent heavy rains flooded their home, something that had never happened before and indicated changing flow patterns in the neighborhood were to blame.

Aug. 25, 2021

Roger Norfolk made a stop at his old stomping grounds along with four other American Legion motorcycle riders as they were on their way to be part of the 13th annual American Legion Legacy Run, starting in Rogers, Ark. Roger is the son of the late Bill Norfolk.

In light of a new order of the Missouri Supreme Court and Hannibal Regional resources being stretched to the limit, Judge Rachel Bringer Shepherd issued a new administrative court order for the Palmyra Courthouse courtroom, whereby court participants must wear masks and socially distance.

Sept. 1, 2021

The Missouri Department of Conservation has promoted Conservation Agent Matt Markley, a Palmyra resident, to the protection regional supervisor position in northeast Missouri.

Sept. 8, 2021

A man was arrested Saturday in connection with the death of a 34-year-old Palmyra woman Friday morning. According to Police Chief Eddie Bogue, Raymond D. Gum, Jr. was arrested in Petersburg, Ill. by deputies from the Menard County (Ill.) Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Marshal Service and other agencies following a 24-hour manhunt. Gum is being charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of Crystal Cooper, who was found dead inside a parked vehicle Sept. 3.

Sept. 15, 2021

The soon-to-be-revived Palmyra D.A.R.E. program has taken delivery of a new tool for helping students face life’s challenges. The Palmyra Police Department now has a D.A.R.E car for use by the school resource officer, Corporal Patrick Anderson, who is also taking on D.A.R.E instructor duties at the middle school.

A Palmyra teacher was honored for her educational support to local Boy Scouts. Bonnie Lutener, an administrative assistant with the Palmyra R-I Parents As Teachers program, was presented the Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Teacher Award during a school assembly Wednesday.

Sept. 22, 2021

Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced last Thursday the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship program, and one of them is a Palmyra student. Evan Nierman, a senior at Palmyra High School, got the thrill of his young academic life when he learned of the prestigious honor.

Sept. 29, 2021

Five PHS girls are vying for the honor of being the 2021 Homecoming queen with one of them to be crowned at half time ceremonies during Friday’s football game against Clark County. The five are seniors McKenna Abbott, Emma Bainter and Jansen Juette, junior Abbey Redd, and sophomore Alaina Loman.

Oct. 6, 2021

Raymond Gum, Jr., the man accused in the murder of a Palmyra woman, Crystal Cooper, Sept. 3, made his first appearance in Marion County Court last Tuesday, on changes of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Jansen Juette, a senior, was crowned the 2021 PHS Homecoming Queen during halftime ceremonies at Friday’s football game, by Patty Cheffey, who along with her husband, Mark, served as homecoming parade marshals.

 Oct. 13, 2021

Construction work continues on the storm sewer project of the south and west sides of the  Marion County Courthouse in Palmyra.

With its new 501(c)3 status, the Palmyra School Foundation Inc. is ready to move forward. The foundation received the status to operate independently from the Palmyra R-I School District, although the mission is “to generate and distribute resources to enrich teaching, to inspire learning, and to enhance opportunities for the Palmyra R-I School District.” 

Oct. 20, 2021

After five years as R-I superintendent and 34 years in education, Kirt Malone has turned in his resignation due to retirement at the end of the current school year.

The Fabius Community House is marking its 100th anniversary as a center of community life in the Smileyville area between Palmyra and Taylor.

Oct. 27, 2021

Palmyra Elementary School Principal Bridgette Augspurg was hoping students could raise from $4,000 to $5,000 during the school’s two-week Read-A-Thon which concluded last week. She was off by just a little bit. Instead, the students raised a whopping $11,182 while also showing a growing interest in reading.

Mallory Comstock became Palmyra’s first girls golf state medalist during the Class 1 state tournament in Bolivar Monday and Tuesday, finishing in a four-way tie for 13th place.

Nov. 10, 2021

The Palmyra FFA’s floriculture team didn’t just win the national a title during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. two weeks ago.  They dominated. The fact that three of the four team members placed in the top four including  Ji Yong Ni, winning top individual, Evan Nierman finishing runner-up and Tim Wellman, fourth, while Augustine Mahsman also earned a gold rating very much sealed the deal.

Nov. 17, 2021

After missing a year due to the COVID -19 pandemic, the BLP organization renewed a long-time tradition by holding its annual Holiday Gift Show in the Palmyra High School gym Saturday, drawing gift buyers and crafters from all over the area.

Nov. 24, 2021

The Marion County Public Water Supply District No. 1, which distributes water to many residents of rural Marion County, is marking its 50th year of existence.

Dec. 15, 2021

The newly formed Palmyra School Foundation established to support education within the Palmyra R-I School District, has received its first major donation. The foundation announced an anonymous local family will donate memorial funds.

Dec. 22, 2021

The Palmyra R-I School District has hired Jason Harper, currently the Clark County High School principal, to fill the superintendent’s position being vacated by Kirt Malone at the end of the school year.