Year in review: Annual Chamber banquet awards highlight first part of 2023
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The following is Part 1 of a three-part series reviewing the events of the past year:
Jan. 4, 2023
An explosion and fire destroyed a rural home just south of Palmyra Wednesday afternoon. An elderly couple, Kenny and Delma Shannon were in the house at the time, but managed to escape without injuries. The fire is believed to have been touched off by a propane tank leak and explosion.
Marla Meyers signs paperwork Friday making it official as she takes over the Marion County clerk’s position from Valerie Dornberger.
The Palmyra High School boys and girls basketball teams received top seeds for the Tony Lenzini Tournament.
Jan. 11, 2023
The city will seek voter approval in April for a $15 million no-tax bond issue to allow the city to borrow $15 million to fund waterworks and sewage system improvements, and a three cent marijuana sales tax.
The Palmyra Police Department has three new patrol vehicles after a long wait. While waiting on delivery, one of the older cars became a casualty due to a three-car crash last Monday.
District I Circuit Clerk Cheryl Damron was sworn in by Circuit Judge Rachel Bringer Shepherd.
Jan. 18, 2023
Heather McChristian, long-time owner of HATS Restaurant, was named Citizen of the Year, Merkel Metal Recycling Roll-Off Container Services was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame, Amanda Haeberlin was recognized as the Educator of the Year, and seven-year-old Johnathan Trenkamp was honored as Volunteer of the Year during the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet.
The Palmyra R-I Board of Education heard a presentation from Tanner Adams, a social studies teacher at the high school, on what it would take to start an esports program at the high school.
The PHS varsity boys basketball team ended a three-game winless streak and opened Clarence Cannon Conference action with a 54-49 win over Centralia Friday, while the varsity girls opened conference play with a 63-18 win over Centralia and defeated Kirksville at home last Tuesday.
Jan. 25, 2023
Tony Lenzini crowned Taytum White this year’s Tony Lenzini Basketball Tournament queen during ceremonies last Tuesday evening. Her escort was Luke Shepherd. Also vying for the title were Sydney Compton, Ashley Bode, Abbey Redd and Clare Williams.
Revenues and expenditures do not balance in the 2023 Marion County budget, but thanks to a healthy 2022 bottom line, the county could end up with a $3.34 million ending balance at the end of 2023.
The Marion County R-II Homecoming queen candidates are Natalie Nick, Tristen Holt, Kennedy Bock, Shayleigh Whetstone, Riley Holt and Grace Jensen-Page. The crowning will take place immediately following the games on Jan. 27.
The Lady Panther defense falters in the Tony Lenzini Tournament title loss to Canton, 76-61, while the PHS boys varsity basketball team was unable to finish in a 35-34 loss to Van-Far during the title game.
Feb. 1, 2023
R-II held its annual homecoming celebration Friday during which Tristen Holt was crowned as this year’s queen.
A long-time Palmyra landmark was torn down last week. The building that once housed Hutch’s Dinner Bell as well as a service station, but has been vacant for decades, was demolished and cleared away. The building was located on the east side of N. Main Street, next to the Main Street Lanes bowling alley.
The PHS varsity girls basketball team remained undefeated in conference play with league wins over Brookfield and Macon last week.
Evan Pennewell, a sophomore at PHS, completed in the boys pole vault competition at the 2023 Rock Chalk High School Open and raised his personal record by one foot. His record now stands at 13 feet.
Feb. 8, 2023
Palmyra Parks & Recreation is hoping to obtain grant funding for a major walking trail project that could revitalize a little used part of Flower City Park. The department is seeking a $250,000 Missouri Department of Natural Resources grant to go to completing a half-mile multi-use trail looping around the western side of the park.
Beard Implement showed off its new expanded facilities during a Business After Hours evening involving both the Palmyra and Hannibal Chambers of Commerce.
Feb. 15, 2023
The Marion County Library held an African American History Month program for fifth graders at the Palmyra Middle School Thursday. W.T. Johnson, a local historian, presented the story and the life of Carter G. Woodson, the father of African American History Month.
Palmyra’s Ellyse Lorenson earned herself a second straight trip to the MSHSAA Girls Wrestling Championships with a second place finish at the Class 1, District 2 Tournament in Wentzville Saturday.
The PHS boys were seeded first and the girls second in the Class 3 District 6 Basketball Tournament in Monroe City Feb. 20-24
Ethan Hall and Ayden Shortridge, two 4-H members from Marion County reported on their experience on the Missouri 4-H State Shooting Team. Hall took third place and Shortridge and Hall as part of a team took fifth place nationally.
Feb. 22, 2023
Two annual Palmyra events drew large crowds Saturday evening at their respective venues. Around 375 people attended the annual Daddy/Daughter Dance, hosted by Palmyra Parks & Recreation, while scholarships were presented to 30 students during the annual Lewis & Marion County Cattlemen’s Association steak dinner and live auction.
Dalton Hill will fill the newly formed position of strength and conditioning head coach at Palmyra R-I for the coming year. He will also serve as the high school’s new weights, fitness and physical education instructor.
The Palmyra city Council voted unanimously to go on record of supporting Proposition A, property tax issue for Maple Lawn Nursing Home.
Two members of the PHS boys wrestling team, Collin Arch, a senior, and Luke Lawson, a sophomore, advanced to the state tournament following district competition.
March 1, 2023
Nobody stood taller on the medal stand for four years than Palmyra’s Collin Arch, who completed a sweep of four state wrestling championships Saturday in Columbia, coming the 37th Missouri high school wrestler to accomplish the feat.
Effective immediately, couples may fill out their marriage license application online prior to coming to the recorder’s office to receive their license.
March 8, 2023
Replacement of the bridges at the intersection of Main Cross and Bradley streets took a big step toward reality last Thursday when the Palmyra City Council awarded the construction bids to Bleigh Construction Company which will do the project for $648,526.28.
Donna Goodin was sworn in as Marion County collector by County Clerk Marla Meyers last Tuesday. Goodin was elected in November.
March 15, 2023
Tiffany Neff, a senior at Palmyra High School, rebuilt and restored the 1917 Norfolk and Western caboose on the grounds of the Northeast Missouri Old Threshers in Shelbina to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award.
The Boots-Dickson Post 174, American Legion Auxiliary has selected four girls from Palmyra R-I and Marion County R-II to attend the 2023 Missouri Girls State. They are Shayleigh Whetstone, Maggie Keim, Ava Weiman and alternate, Katherina Mehling.
The Palmyra Food Pantry has been busy preparing Easter Baskets to be given away the next four weeks to patrons of the food pantry.
March 22, 2023
Mallory Sublette and Ken Disselhorst are two of those to be honored during the United Way’s 2023 Evening of Philanthropy April 21.
Palmyra’s Bear Bock was named the Class 3, District 6 Player of the Year and was joined on the all-district team by Carson Hicks.
Three Lady Panthers were named to the Class 3, District 6 All-District Basketball team, including Candra King, Sydney Compton and Clare Williams.
Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club is taking 17 qualifiers to Missouri USA Wrestling State Championships, including Gatlin Kroeger, Noah Heimer, Cael Wilt, Aidyn Bryant, Keynu Neiswender, Ava Rife, Kinsley Rife, Rigsby Sutter, Dawson Costello, Behrett Lorenson, Emmett Lorenson, Ace Harper, Henley Sow, Westin Jones, Blake Rife, Michael Hines and Eli Sutter
March 29, 2023
Eight candidates are running for the three seats on the Palmyra R-I School Board. Those running are Leisa Hinkle, Kevin Hillman, Chris Turner, Jeff Weaver, Beau Hicks, Danielle Heimer, Amber Gottman and Doug Meyers.
Running for three seats on the Marion County R-II School Board are Michael Lauber, Ashanti Anderson, Todd Goldinger and Aaron Zook.
Shelley Lewis, Palmyra, and her two daughters, Amy and Amanda, had a unique experience while on a trip to Disney World. They were randomly selected to be grand marshals of the Festival of Fantasy parade.
April 5, 2023
Funding has been awarded for this year’s Volunteer Fire Assistance grants and both Palmyra and Marion County R-II received grants. Palmyra received $2,218.71 to purchase several pieces of equipment while Marion County received, $4,000 to be used for purchase a slide-in skid unit.
Following an investigation into texts sent using Palmyra R-I School District electronics, four Palmyra R-I School faculty members, Marty Smyser, Kevin Miles, Tyler Krietemeyer and Mark Hoerr, have submitted their resignations.
Candra King shattered the school record in the shot put, throwing it 12.43 meters during the South Shelby Open last Monday. The old record of 12.27 meters was held by Diamonique McGruder.
April 12, 2023
The sun was shining bright, although the temperatures were a little cool, for the community Easter Egg Hunt at Flower City Park.
Local votes approved a no-tax bond issue to help fund Palmyra utility projects, but could not help push the Maple Lawn property tax issue to victory during the General Municipal Election
Jeff Weaver, Doug Meyers and Leisa Hinkle were voted to the R-I board, while Aaron Zook, Michael Lauber and Todd Goldinger won positions on the R-II board.
Two members of the Palmyra High School Science Olympiad team, Atticus Bross and Chloe Welch, completed at the state competition at Missouri State University.
April 19, 2023
A full roster of 152 participants both professional and amateur, competed at the Flower City Open disc golf tournament over the weekend.
Mayor Rusty Adrian broke a tie vote in favor of approving the Palmyra Board of Public Works budget for the coming fiscal year. The tie-breaking voter came after three city council members, Brock Fahy, Ellen Goodwin and Pam Behring, voted against the budget over raises in employee pay.
April 26, 2023
Kaden Conners and Jeorgia O’Brien were crowned prom king and queen during ceremonies Saturday evening. Other candidates were Emma Krigbaum, Bronson Juette, Abbey Mann and Jose Juarez.
Brian White left Palmyra for the west coast after high school to become a filmmaker, but that hasn’t meant he’s forgotten his roots. In fact, the opposite is true as he has put all his money into his biggest project to date, coming back to Palmyra for an entire year to make a film in which he hopes to capture a true and honest depiction of life in the Midwest.
Hannibal Regional Auxiliary recognized Raymond and Janet Taylor as the Volunteers of the Year at the annual Service Awards Luncheon April 17.
The FFA food science team of Gianna Mahsman, Blaydn Buckwalter, Mitchell Hocking and Lynton Bock took first place honors at the state contest while Gracy Fessenden took top individual honor in floriculture.
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