After going through several rounds of voting, USD 436 Board of Education members on Monday could not agree whether to adopt the list of supplemental duties, which includes athletic coaches and club sponsors, for the 2011-12 school year.

The end result of the stalemate? The school board did agree to delay a decision on approving the supplemental duties until July, when the USD 436 Board of Education includes three new members.

According to the minutes of the meeting, the supplemental position list was on the board’s agenda for approval when board member Robert Hawthorne presented a motion, which was seconded by board member Darlene Sanders, to approve all supplemental position contracts for the exception of the high school cheerleading coach. That cheerleading coach position is held by Vicky Deal, who is the wife of board president David Deal.

That motion failed on a 3-2-1 vote with board members Debbie Morrison, Robert Hawthorne and Darlene Sanders voting in favor and board members Mark Artherton and Suellen Holzman voting against the measure. Board member Jack Kopfman was absent from the meeting.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — Montgomery County — which has taken more than its share of economic blows in recent years — received a much-needed infusion of confidence on Wednesday.

VT Hackney, a producer of truck bodies and trailers based in Independence, announced a $3 million plant expansion that will result in the creation of 75 jobs over the course of five years.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — A New York college director will be the new president of Independence Community College.

ICC trustees on Tuesday voted unanimously to name Dr. Daniel Barwick, director of institutional advancement at Alfred State College in New York, as college president effective Aug. 1.

Barwick replaces Dr. Daniel Bain, who will leave the ICC presidential post at the end of the June.
Barwick was one of 27 applicants for the ICC presidential post and was in a field of six semi-finalists when campus interviews were conducted in late May.
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Flooding along the Missouri River has forced the Union Pacific Railroad to advance its schedule of the Little Rock Express by two days.

The special excursion train is pulled by the Union Pacific No. 844 steam engine.

The train was originally scheduled for an overnight stop on Saturday in Coffeyville.  However, that stop took place on Friday, and the train departed the Coffeyville rail yard at 8 a.m. bound for Kansas City.

The Union Pacific website expressed regret of the Little Rock Express schedule change at the last minute.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

COFFEYVILLE — Construction of the Mill Supply Apartment complex in downtown Coffeyville is done – meeting the developers’ projected June 1 completion date.

Pre-leasing for the 32 apartments has already begun.

The $4.7 million, four-story apartment complex is located at Eighth and Union streets, on the site of the old Mill Supply Building. The project was developed and built by Garrison Community Development, LLC of Kansas City, Mo.

Development of an income-based housing complex was one of the goals of city leaders following the 2007 flood that left hundreds of residents without homes.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — Four bridges on Montgomery County’s rural roads have been targeted as having critical safety issues following a recent engineering inspection.

Robert Bever, public works director, alerted Montgomery County commissioners to the engineering inspection, which was conducted by the Independence-based engineering firm of TranSystems, Inc., through the Kansas Department of Transportation.
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CHERRYVALE — Tire-eating bumps and potholes on several city streets may soon be leveled and smoothed if a plan put forward by Cherryvale city councilors is approved.

During the work session portion of Monday’s Cherryvale City Council meeting, councilors discussed the funding of street improvements for 2011. Streets that are targeted for upgrades include:

• Wilson Street, from Main to Fourth streets.

• Third Street, from Galveston to Carson streets (in three different phases).

• Montgomery Street, from First to Second streets.
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COFFEYVILLE — Coffeyville’s Fun Fest is being held this week in the downtown business district to celebrate the start of the summer season.

Sponsored by Downtown Coffeyville, Inc., events began Wednesday night with the opening of a kids’ carnival. Those carnival rides will remain open tonight (Thursday), Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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HAVANA — The Havana Spring Fling will be held in the Havana City Park on Saturday, June 11, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the annual Veteran’s Day celebration held every year.

Sloppy joes, hot dogs, chips and drinks will be served from 5 to 7 p.m., and a street dance will take place from 7 to 10 a.m. Live music will be provided by “Randy and Roger” and “Johnny Honeysuckle and the Hereford Killers.”

Those attending should bring lawn chairs for seating. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed.