The City of Edna received a letter on Jan. 14 that it had received a CDBG Improvement Grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce (KDOC) in the amount of $392,440 for a sewer project. The improvements, however, will amount to $784,880 after a 50/50 match from the Edna community.
This had been the City of Edna’s third application. According to City Clerk, Joyce Rossom, the citizens as well as the governing body are pleased to receive this award. These items would be too costly for the community to handle alone.
Three pump stations will be upgraded. The grant will replace a forced main to increase capacity. The 8″ sewer lines will be cleaned, televised and inspected. Some will be replaced and repaired and approximately 66 manholes will need rehabilitation due to age. The rock rip rap will be installed on the interior walls of three sewer lagoon cells to prevent further erosion.
KDOC has had an effective history of helping small rural communities complete infrastructure projects that are too costly for the communities.

Floyd Cavitt Jr. gets misty eyed when he talks about the events of the past few days.
First was the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Oswego which, once again, Cavitt headed.
“We had a good turnout,” said Cavitt. “Everyone talked about Dr. King’s dream which lives on today.”
Guest speakers included Phil Blair, Juanita Armstrong, Georgella Caldwell, Elaine Washington, Martha Gatewood and Tony Cavitt.
Providing music were Floyd Cavitt Jr., Paulette Horn and Fannie Bassett, along with the St. Paul United Methodist Church, Labette Correctional Camp Choir, Hamilton Chapel Choir, Southeast Kansas Men’s Choir and the Joplin Choir.
Lunch was prepared by Floyd and Carol Cavitt and desserts were prepared by the St. Paul United Methodist Church.
The keynote speaker and winner of the King Humanitarian Award was Coffeyville Mayor Virgil O. Horn.
Pastor Mary Alice Knewtson closed the meeting with prayer.
This was the 16th year for the annual MLK celebration in Oswego.
“People in this country are finally coming together,” said Cavitt, referring to Barack Obama’s inauguration which was held Tuesday.
“I remember being in the hospital on election day back in November, so I didn’t even know the outcome until the next day. I cried.”
He added, “President Obama is a very smart man. I think all the people coming together will last.”
“Dr. King is smiling, I’m sure of that,” he said.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded the boil water advisory for the City of Chetopa.

KDHE issued the advisory on January 16 due to a line break that resulted in a loss of pressure to the water distribution system. Laboratory testing indicates no evidence of contamination, and all other conditions that place the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.

For more information, see the Jan. 21 issue of the Labette Avenue. To locate previously posted death notices, enter the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page. Labette Avenue publishes death notices free of charge. Paid obituaries ($20) are printed in their entirety in the Labette Avenue and online at www.taylornews.org/lba.

Marguarette G. Baunhofer-Davis

CHETOPA—Marguarette G. Baunhofer-Davis, 91, of Chetopa, died at 3:45 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, at the Chetopa Manor Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Community Bible Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the Chetopa Manor Nursing Home. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Marguarette was born Sept. 24, 1917, in Charleston, Okla., to James Joseph and Silvia Esther (Warner) Dixon. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school there, and later moved with her family to a farm outside of Chetopa.

In the early 1960s, she was ordained as a minister in the Assembly of God. She was a member of the First Assembly of God in Chetopa, where she loved teaching Sunday school and had served as church secretary for several years. Through the years, she had pastored at churches in Columbus and Bartlett, Kan., and had held numerous revivals in various towns. She also had worked in food service at the Oswego Hospital for several years, retiring from there in 1984.

She enjoyed reading, flower gardening and yard work.

She and Lee Baunhofer were married. He preceded her in death in 1966. She and Wayne Davis were married. He preceded her in death in 1996.

Survivors include two daughters, Debbie Crumrine, Chetopa; and Mickey Bogle, Chetopa; two grandchildren, Roger Wayne Bogle and Trudi Jo Vail; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Ewers, Chetopa; and Ruth Coonley, Aurora, Ill.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Loren Dixon; and one sister, Dorothy Rupenthal.

Edna “Red” Wiseman

OSWEGO—Edna “Red” Wiseman, 53, of Oswego, Kan., passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, in Oswego.

Memorial services will be Saturday, Jan. 24, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church with Rev. David Domanski officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with the church serving as custodian.

Edna was born Sept. 22, 1955, in Oswego, the daughter of Mandes and Delores (Jarman) Becker. She graduated from Labette County High School and Labette Community College earning a degree as an LPN.

She married Michael Dean Wiseman in 1973. Edna was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oswego.

She is survived by a daughter, Kelli Haraughty, husband Thomas, and son Michael Anthony of Oswego; a son, Shaun Wiseman, wife Mollie, and their daughter Terra of Oswego; a sister, Eudora Evans of Oswego; three brothers, Eugene Becker of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Everett Becker of Oswego; and Edwin L. Becker of Girard; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband on March 11, 1983; a son, Tony; and a grandson, Tyler Michael Wiseman.

Mary Louise Shearer

COLUMBUS—Mary Louise Shearer, 87, of Columbus, Kan., died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at St. John’s Maude-Norton Hospital in Columbus.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, in the Murdock Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dennis Johnson of the Sherwin Christian Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Park Cemetery, Columbus. Family and friends will gather at the Murdock Funeral Home an hour before services for a time of visitation.

Memorials may be made to “The Columbus Community Foundation” with the funeral home serving as custodian. A register book may be signed or condolences left at www.murdockfuneralhomes.com.

Wilma (Phillips) Welden

WICHITA—Wilma (Phillips) Welden, 88, of Wichita, Kan., and former southeast Kansas resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at the Catholic Care Center in Wichita.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan.17, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 to 8 p.m., Friday.

Wynema J. Thrasher

COLLINSVILLE, Okla.-Wynema J. Thrasher, 81, retired Welch, Okla., city clerk, died Wednesday.

No services are planned. Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home, Collinsville, Okla., is in charge of arrangements.

The Labette vs. Cherryvale wrestling dual at Labette County High School that was rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20,  has been canceled.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Chetopa, which is located in southeastern Labette County.

A water main break has resulted in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Whenever such a loss of pressure occurs, it is possible for contaminants to enter the system. Also, chlorine residuals may drop to levels that are inadequate to protect against bacterial contamination.

Once water service is restored, customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

* Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.

* Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.

* Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach
per gallon of water.

* If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

The advisory will remain in effect until testing of water samples indicates no evidence of contamination and all other conditions which place the systems at risk
of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. The city and/or KDHE will notify media when the boil water advisory has been rescinded.

Day and Zimmerman Inc., Parsons, has announced that further layoffs in the near future are likely.
A maximum of 120 employees could potentially be laid off, company officials said.
With no new major military contracts acquired as hoped, DZI could not justify keeping all employees in its work force at the Parsons site.

Labette County will seek an extension of a 1 percent sales for another five years, according to action by the county commission on Monday.
The sales tax is used for property tax relief in the county and eight towns sharing in its distribution. The tax is set to expire in August 2011 but local entities will need to budget a year in advance so the tax question will be placed on the April 7 election ballot.
Commission chairman said since the sales tax is used for property tax relief, it would raise taxes approximately 8 mills if the sales tax is not renewed by voters.

The primary/general election for open positions for cities and schools in Labette County will be held on March 3 or April 7. The filing or withdrawal deadline will be at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The last day to register before the general election is Monday, March 23.
The following positions will be available:
Altamont (4-year terms) - Mayor, whose position is now held by Herb Bath. Two council positions will be open for election. Those are presently held by Dru Parlett and Mary Shields.
Bartlett (2-year terms) - Mayor, whose position is now held by David Brown. Five council positions will be open for election. Those are presently held by Anthony Allison, Russell McConnell, Douglas Ramey, Amy Graves, Jim Houston.
Chetopa (4-year terms) - 1st Ward Council now held by Michael D. Rumbaugh, 2nd Ward Council now held by George W. Huber and 3rd Ward Council by Debra Crumrine.
Edna (4-year terms) Mayor whose position is now held by W. V. Stine, Jr., and two council positions now held by Henry Acridge and Denzil Smith.
Mound Valley (4-year terms). Three council positions now held by Rex Kesler, David H. Winters, and Alex Ybarra.
Oswego (4-year terms) At Large Council positions now held by Glenn Fischer, Ty Lewis and Jane Rea.
The USD #504 School Board (Oswego) with 4-year terms include three positions now held by Dee Brown, Steve Lewis and Lewis Riley.
The USD #505 School Board (Chetopa/St. Paul) with 4-year terms includes positions now held by Member 4 Sandra Krider; Member 5 George Davis, and Member 6 Ron Wood.
The USD #506 School Board (LCHS) includes three positions with 4-year terms now held by Ron McMunn, Position 4; Leon Allen, Position 5; and Jennifer Mathis, Position 6.
The Labette Community College Board of Trustees (4-year terms) has three positions open now held by Robert Brandenburg, Wanda Maxson-Ladage and Sophia C. Zetmeir.