BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

Even though USD 447 Board of Education members viewed Monday’s monthly meeting solely by candlelight and flashlight, a dimly-lit board room did little to hide one school official’s frustrations regarding an anticipated tax hike for USD 447 patrons.

Conducting Monday’s meeting by candles and flashlights due to a power outage, the school board learned that USD 447 is projected to see a more than 18 percent reduction in property values as the board prepares the 2010-11 budget plan, which has to be approved in August.

That 18 percent drop in property valuations — caused largely by reductions in oil and tax production in the local school district that encompasses Wilson, Neosho and Montgomery counties — will likely force the school board to raise the district’s mill levy, also called a tax rate, by more than 4 mills for the 2010-11 budget year.
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INDEPENDENCE — The 89th Annual Montgomery County 4-H Fair got underway on Tuesday, July 13, with a fashion fair held in the Independence Civic Center.

Several dozen 4-H youths donned their own garments and modeled purchased clothes for a slate of judges.

The 4-H youths will return to the fair next Tuesday, July 20 at the annual Style Revue at the Independence Memorial Hall.

Prior to the Style Revue, the coronation of the 4-H fair king and queen will be held at 7 p.m., in Memorial Hall. Representatives from each 4-H club in Montgomery County are vying for the royalty title.

More fair events will continue at Riverside Park in Independence on the following dates:
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — The Independence Community College trustees have one less member this week due to the resignation of trustee Tim Emert on Tuesday.

Emert, who was not present at Tuesday’s monthly trustee meeting, tendered his resignation after accepting an appointment as a member to the Kansas Board of Regents.     As a result of the resignation, trustees will seek candidates to fill Emert’s seat, which expires on June 30, 2013. Applicants must be patrons of the Independence Community College tax district.

A notice of vacancy and instructions for interested candidates will be printed in an upcoming edition of the Independence Daily Reporter. Trustees hope to have a list of interested candidates for their consideration in August.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

CANEY — USD 436 schools will be open to out-of-district students for the 2010-11 school year due to a unanimous vote by the USD 436 Board of Education Monday.

School board members agreed with a recommendation from Superintendent Danny Fulton to keep the district’s doors open to out-district students based on availability in the classroom and also on previous academic and classroom behavior.

Board members Mark Artherton, David Deal, Robert Hawthorne, Suellen Holtzman, Debbie Morrison and Darlene Sanders voted to maintain the out-district policy. Board member  Jack Kopfman was absent from Monday’s monthly school board meeting.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

CHERRYVALE — A massive thunderstorm that brought 80 to 100 mile per hour gales and several inches of rain to Cherryvale on Monday night left a mess for area residents to clean up.

Even though numerous trees fell victim to the fierce winds, the total amount of damage is not believed enough to warrant a disaster declaration by the state or national government, said Jim Miller, Montgomery County’s emergency preparedness director.

“It looks to be primarily tree damage,” said Miller, “and the amount of damage isn’t enough to meet the state or federal criteria to attain government assistance.”

The storm rolled into Cherryvale between 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., and brought wind speeds of more than 75 miles per hour.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

COFFEYVILLE — Greg Allen, who has served as chief of the Coffeyville Fire Department since 1998, has announced his immediate retirement.

Announcement of Allen’s departure came at Tuesday’s Coffeyville City Commission meeting.
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