Election highlights last third of 2022

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The following is a review of the news from the last third of 2022 as gleaned from the Palmyra Spectator:

Sept. 7

Country music star, Chris Janson, performed in concert in front of more than 4,000 people at the Down Country Charity Country Music Concert in the fairgrounds arena in Palmyra Saturday. The event benefited the Down Country charity. Also performing was Michael Ray.

Missouri Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting Aug. 27 featured the election of board members including Joe Swisher, Trent Gottman, Dick Disselhorst, Robert Hall, Ross Frankenbach, Shon Haerr, Butch Pennewell, Greg Straus and Jerry Schoenborn. David Wright received special honor upon his retirement from the board after 34 years of service.

Ground was broken on the new county storage facility last Wednesday morning, although an exact completion date is not determined yet. Since some of the supplies could be a longer time arriving than normal, Alicia Weiman, with Bleigh Construction told the county during their meeting last week that she could not give them a definite time on completing the project. However, Teya Stice, county coordinator, said the contract has a Dec. 20 final working day.

Sept. 14

Two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore will be vying to be crowned 2022 homecoming queen during half time of the  Palmyra Panthers versus the Macon Tigers Friday, Sept. 16. Emma Krigbaum, Abbey Redd, Alaina Loman, Taytum White and Sydney Compton are the candidates for queen for this year’s themed “No Place Like Homecoming” event. This year’s parade grand marshals are Ruben and Brenda Leffler, who are from Farmington, Iowa and Revere, Mo., respectively.

The Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission last Thursday, held the first hearing for a zoning request that, if approved, would open the way for development of a public port terminal on the Mississippi River at West Quincy.

Sept. 21

Abbey Redd, a senior, was crowned the 2022 PHS Homecoming Queen during football halftime ceremonies Friday.

Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative recently retained Growth Services Group, a national market research consulting firm, to conduct an electric vehicle charging station study for the eight member cooperatives in Northeast Power’s service territory. The market assessment reviewed data related to providing access to rural EV charging stations for the Northeast Power service territory. Data from this assessment will lead to the creation of new strategies for a sustainable long-term initiative to work with stakeholders to place EV charging stations throughout the Northeast Power service territory.

The Palmyra City Council Thursday gave its support for a proposed senior apartment complex during Thursday’s regular meeting. After three previous tries failed, the council, again lent its support for a proposed 36-unit senior apartment complex  that, if it receives state approval, would be built behind the new Hannibal National Bank facility north of the courthouse square.

Sept. 28

With the approval from the Marion County Commission, the Marion Ralls County Port Authority can develop a public port terminal on the Mississippi River at West Quincy. The Marion County Commission approved the rezoning request from commercial to industrial unanimously during their meeting Monday. The rezoning affects 87 acres situated south of U.S. 24, along the river.

The goal of Palmyra Chamber of Commerce’s first golf tournament, held June 24, was to raise money for a business development grant to benefit a member or members of the business community.  The Palmyra Chamber of Commerce Business Development Grant application is now available.   Up to a total of $2,500 in matching grant money may be awarded to one or more selected businesses registered within the city of Palmyra.   The grant program is directed at for-profit businesses.

Oct. 5

Palmyra Elementary School first graders are learning about the importance of community and their place in it. Through a Community Neighbors program, the students are finding out the importance of community through invited guest speakers as well as tours of local establishments. Palmyra Elementary School first graders last Tuesday took tours of places downtown, like a local bank and city hall, where they learned about the importances of local businesses and government institutions and how they help our community. Kristen Wilson, a Palmyra police officer and R-I resource officer, was one of several speakers to talk to the first graders about what they do and how they help the community.

Hometown utility electric line crews from Missouri and Arkansas, including one from Palmyra, are working in central Florida, restoring power in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

The PHS varsity girls tennis team earned an impressive win against Quincy Notre Dame. Palmyra (10-2) edged QND at home 5-4 last Tuesday.

Oct. 12

The Palmyra Area Ministerial Alliance is kicking off the annual Adopt-A-Child program and the community’s help is being sought.  The Adopt-A-Child is a Christmas assistance program specifically designed to help out families with young children in need in the Palmyra R-1 and Marion County R-II school districts. Each year the Adopt-A-Child program serves families in need and tries to make their Christmas more meaningful by providing for them gifts for children, basic clothing, toiletry items, and a food gift.

Doug Drake, an employee of Northeast Electric Power Cooperative, Palmyra, was honored with the A.C. Burrows Award by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives at that organization’s annual meeting Oct. 6 in Branson.

The Marion County R-II Marching Mustangs participated in the 31st annual Parade of Champions marching band competition in Kahoka Saturday along with 14 other bands from the three-county area.

The PHS girls tennis team proved dominant in winning the Class 1, District 7 team title last week in Wentzville. Meanwhile, Palmyra’s No. 1 doubles team of Maura Gottman and Molly Gottman, advanced to individual Class 1 state competition with a 6-3, 6-3 win in sectionals.

Oct. 19

The R-I School District will be better secured, following action by the Board of Education to upgrade the district’s security cameras. Superintendent Jason Harper and Jeremy Worcester, R-I technology director, reviewed requests for proposals for a new security system with the board during their monthly meeting last week. The proposals to upgrade the camera security system will include 157 cameras, compared to 90 the current system uses, and will address some areas which have not been covered in the past.

Friday was History Day in Palmyra, and Palmyra Elementary students toured local historic spots and heard presentations from members of the local historical society, the Heritage Seekers. Gary Stuhlman shows students a restored wagon made in Palmyra by Stuhlman Brothers, in the late 1800s. Students also learned about Big Spring and the log cabin located in the park northwest of the courthouse square.

Avery Morgan Trower, of Palmyra, was crowed Miss Northeast Missouri Outstanding Teen at the Miss Clark County/Miss Northeast Missouri Pageant, held in Kahoka Sunday. 

Palmyra’s doubles pair of Maura Gottman and Molly Gottman added their names to PHS sports history with a third-place finish in Class 1 doubles at the state individual girls tennis championships in Springfield Saturday.  

Oct. 26

A Palmyra Elementary School student is going to become a published author. Emmalynn Jones, a third grader, was the local winner of a flash fiction writing contest, hosted by ReadyAimWrite Kids, LLC. “This is a big deal,” said PES Principal Bridgette Augspurg, during a Friday morning school assembly when Jones was announced the winner from three finalists, that included fourth graders, Whitney Frankline and Gracie Weaver.

The School Foundation Board has set a goal to receive $50,000 in donations by the end of the year.  “This would be a big step toward establishing an endowment,” said the foundation through a news release issued Friday.

Two members of the PHS girls golf team competed last week at the MSHSAA Class 2 State Championship Tournament in Bolivar. Ella Goldinger, a senior finished in 50th place out of 81 golfers Tuesday following two rounds at the Silo Ridge Golf Course, while Ava Weiman, a junior, finished in a two-way tie for 76th.

Nov. 2

Trick-or-treaters were out in advance of Halloween Monday. Palmyra Elementary School students in costume, paraded in front of other students, teachers and family as part of the school’s Halloween Day activities. Maple Lawn Nursing Home renewed a tradition of welcoming trick-or-treaters at the Palmyra facility after not holding the event for a few years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food for purchase will be available this year at the 49th annual BLP Holiday Gift Show. The show, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Palmyra High School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will also be featuring vendors with everything from arts and crafts to clothing to jewelry to more food. The BLP organization did not sell food during last year’s Holiday Gift Show because of strict regulations due to COVID.

Palmyra’s FFA quartet that won a national championship last year, almost pulled it off again this year in a completely different competition category. The Farm and Agribusiness Management team of Evan Nierman, Timothy Wellman, Augustine Mahsman and Ji Yong Ni took second place at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 26-29. The four won the national floriculture team title last year.

The Marion County R-II boys cross country team won second place at districts Saturday and qualified for the state meet.

Nov. 9

The PHS Poms held a dance clinic for elementary and middle school students Saturday at Palmyra High School, and then gave a public performance in front of a large crowd in the gymnasium that evening. In addition to those from Palmyra, dance teams from Culver-Stockton College, Hannibal High School and South Shelby performed.

The Palmyra City Council last Thursday received the results of the annual audit of city finances. Paul Richards with the accounting firm of Wade Stables, P.C., gave a brief overview of the finalized audit of city finances and noted it was a “clean audit.

Palmyra Elementary School students, Meg Gottman and Bradey Heimer, were recently selected for the Missouri All-State Children’s Choir. The two fourth graders were among approximately 1,000 fourth and fifth grade students who auditioned from across the state.  They join a 137-voice choir that will come together to rehearse Jan. 25 and then perform a concert for family and friends the same day at Lake Ozark, Mo.

The Marion County R-II boys cross country teams finished 13th out of 16 teams at the MSHSAA State Class 1 Championships in Columbia Saturday. The top finisher for Marion County was Porter Britt, who placed 67th out of 171 runners.

Nov. 16

Local veterans were recognized for their service to the nation during special Veterans Day assemblies held at the Palmyra R-I and Marion County R-II schools.

Palmyra High School’s winningest football coach resigned from his coaching duties last Thursday. Kevin Miles, who compiled a 90-52 record during his 12-year tenure at Palmyra, stepped down after easily his toughest season, during which the Panthers went 0-10 after  having to forfeit its lone victory.

Marion County voters were, for the most part, in lock-step with their counter parts around the state during last Tuesday’s General Election. Only 44 percent of the county’s voters bothered to cast ballots, but they helped elect Republican representation locally and elsewhere.

Another early sign of the Christmas season was apparent at Palmyra High School Saturday, with the annual BLP Craft show. The large and small gymnasiums were filled with vendors offering holiday crafts, food and products during the all day event which was being held for its 49th year. It’s the biggest fundraising event of the year for the BLP organization which donates money to local organizations.

Collin Arch, a senior at Palmyra High School, signed a letter of intent Monday to attend Northern Illinois University where he will be a member of the wrestling team.

Nov. 23

Palmyra and the area were turned into a pre-winter wonderland, albeit for a brief time Tuesday morning. About two inches of snow came down over night and into the morning, flocking the trees and codring the ground. The snow was pretty much all gone by mid afternoon

The Palmyra Chamber of Commerce has awarded its first two Business Development Grants. And the recipients said they were pleasantly surprised and  believe they were very helpful to their businesses. Receiving the $2,500 grants were Zane Meyers, who recently opened Meyers Barber Co in downtown Palmyra, and Katelyn Ferry, owner of Simply Picked Country Store on Marion City Road along the east side of U.S. 61.

The first place winner in the Palmyra R-I School District Christmas card design competition is Kinsley Rife, a fourth grader at the elementary school. The second place winner was Cole O’Brien. The card winners are selected by the district school board.

Nov. 30

With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror, the Christmas season took over in Palmyra over the weekend. The Palmyra Fire Department gave rides with Santa Saturday afternoon. The tradition has been going since 1981. In fact, one rider, Lisa Bross, said she has been taking the ride for 35 straight years. City employees were busy, too, putting up decorations around town.

A Panther was named to the  2022 Northeast Media Class 2 All-District Football team. Aaror Ritchey, a junior defensive back, made the squad.

Dec. 7

Two members of the PHS cheerleading team recently enjoyed the thrill of performing at Disney World in Florida. Gabi Cissna, a junior, and Elina Reed, a sophomore, participated in the Varsity Spirit Spectacular, Nov. 17-21, at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Dec. 14

Marion County Ambulance will continue to expand coverage and see an increase in training after the district board approved a $5,967,320 balanced budget during their meeting last week.

There were celebrations Saturday evening as PHS varsity boys and girls basketball teams earned championships at the Monroe City Tournament. The boys team put on a defensive clinic as they won their game 45-29 over South Shelby. That followed a thrilling 56-54 victory by the Lady Panthers over South Shelby. It was the first double sweep for Palmyra at the tournament since 2013, as both teams went to 6-0 to start the season, energizing fans for the rest of the season to come.

Dec. 21

The Palmyra City Council is considering placing two issues on the April 4 municipal election ballot. If given final approval at the next meeting, Jan. 5, the ballot issues would seek voter approval of $15 million no-tax bond issue to fund major water and sewer projects, and set a three-cent sales tax on the sale of legal recreational marijuana within the city limits.

Palmyra R-I students can feel a little more secure following action by the R-I Board of Education to purchase a new district-wide camera system. The board approved the purchase from USA Wireless, Quincy, Ill., during their regular meeting last Tuesday evening.

Dec. 28

Santa was a little late delivering to the Palmyra Fire Protection District, but at least the present came in time for Christmas. Earlier this month, the department took possession of a brand-new fire truck, a 1,000 gallon pumper that will become the lead vehicles to calls as soon as it is prepared and ready to go. “It will be the first one out the door,” said Fire Chief Gary Crane of the shiny box-shaped truck painted in the familiar Palmyra green with gleaming silver fittings. “It’s going to be a good addition for us,” he said.

A total of 102 children from 44 families were given a brighter Christmas thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations that donated to the Palmyra Area Ministerial Alliance’s Adopt-A-Child program this season.