The Labette County Farm Bureau presented the 2008 Natural Resources Award to Howard and Geta Markley during the annual meeting of the Farm Bureau last Saturday night in Altamont.
Howard and Geta Diediker who reside in the northwest corner of Labette County near Dennis, were presented the Labette County Farm Bureau 2008 Farm Family of the Year.
See complete details of the meeting and stories about each of these award winners in this week’s Labette Avenue.

Lucas J. Nodine graduated from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan., on May 17, with the degree of Juris Doctor. After passing his Kansas Bar exam, taken the end of July, a swearing-in ceremony was held on Sept. 26 in Topeka.
At Washburn, Nodine served consecutive terms as at-large representative on the Student Bar Association, Vice-Chair for the Budget and Finance Committee, Co-Chair for the 2007 Election Committee and Student Representative for the Library Technology Committee. His activities included Washburn Business Law Society, Washburn Intellectual Property Society, and Washburn Student Trial Law Association. Nodine received the Washburn Law Alumni Scholarship and the Delano and Gayle Lewis Endowed Law Scholarship while attending Washburn Law.
Prior to attending Washburn, Nodine graduated from Pittsburg State University in December 2004, with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and minors in Business Administration and Mathematics. Nodine graduated from Oswego High School in 2000.
Nodine owned Oswego Internet from March 2002 until July 2007, when he closed the business to pursue his law degree. He is the managing member of Nodine Legal Technologies, LLC, a technology solutions provider for the legal community.
Nodine is the son of Gina Rae and Clifford Davis of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Larry and Pat Nodine of Broken Arrow, Okla. His grandparents are Darlene and Eldon Harshaw of Oswego, and Kay and Kenneth Nodine of Fairland, Okla.

Five general election ballots were sent by email on Monday to local military personnel serving overseas, according to County Clerk Linda Schreppel.
‘This is definitely breaking ground on a new idea,” said Schreppel.
Military personnel have always been able to vote through conventional absentee ballot methods, but this is the first time the voting has been offered by email.
She said the five Labette County residents were sent ballots along with instructions and a caution that they would sever their right to cast a secret ballot.
“I will be the only one who knows who they vote for and we have a procedure to make sure their wishes are honored,” said Schreppel.
If the military personnel choose to email it to Schreppel, they can do so. Her process will be to print out the email, place the printed ballot in an envelope, seal it and staple a copy of the email to the envelope so it can be verified on election night.
She asked the soldiers to send their ballots as an attachment then type in the email message box: “By casing this ballot in this manner, I (state your name) voluntarily sever my rights to case a secret ballot.”
Military service personnel also may return their ballots by U.S. Mail. They should mark “Election Ballot” on the lower left of the envelope if they mail them.
Anyone with questions about this procedure may contact Schreppel at 620 795-2138.

Republicans from all over southeast Kansas will be heading to the Parsons Municipal Auditorium next Sunday, Oct. 5, for what is being called the SEK Republican Rally.
Mike Howerter, Labette County chairman of the GOP Central Committee said the state’s top party officials will be speaking at the rally. U.S. Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts will both attend this rally. Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and State Treasurer and congressional candidate Lynn Jenkins will also be speaking. Christian Morgan, the excutive director of the Kansas Republican Party, will make a presentation for John McCain and Sarah Palin.
“With this cast of all star speakers, we should have a good turnout,”  Howerter said.
It is  unusual to get this many top government officials to visit the smaller Kansas towns, said Howerter who also is serving as co-chair of the rally.
Labette, Montgomery and Neosho Counties are all sponsoring the rally. People from all nine southeast Kansas counties have been invited to attend.
Pat Houser, Neosho county co-chairwoman said, “This is like something that would normally only happen in Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City.”
Admission to the event is free. Those who attend will also receive free McCain/Palin bumper stickers and yard signs, as long as supplies last. There will also be a free drawing.
Event organizers said they had to do a fund raiser to purchase the McCain/Palin bumper stickers and yard signs. “Obama has raised a lot more money than McCain,” Howerter said. “Most of John McCain’s money is being spent in the swing states. That’s why you have seen very few McCain/Palin yard signs in Kansas.”
Republicans are being urged to attend this meeting and get involved and learn what they can do to help.
The Parsons Municipal Auditorium is located at 17th and Main in downtown Parsons. The doors will open at 2 p.m. and the rally will begin at 3 p.m. Parsons was chosen because of its central location in southeast Kansas.
The rally should be over before 5 p.m.
For information contact Mike Howerter, 421-0260.