CHERRYVALE — The ceremonial closure of the Kansas Army National Guard Armory in Cherryvale will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 6.

The Kansas Adjutant General in December announced the closure of the Cherryvale armory along with 17 other National Guard armories across Kansas. The City of Cherryvale has agreed to assume ownership of the armory with plans of converting the facility into a community recreation facility.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

Cherryvale Chamber of Commerce members learned of a variety of projects now underway by the City of Cherryvale during the chamber’s annual membership banquet on Monday.

Held in the Kansas Army National Guard Armory, the membership banquet was attended by about 40 persons, some of whom enjoyed rounds of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker at the conclusion of the banquet. The banquet was geared around a poker theme.

City administrator Greg McDanel updated the chamber on several city projects, including:
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

A Kansas Legislature audit report concerning consolidation of Kansas school districts as a cost-savings measure is generating ample comments in school board offices and in the state capitol this week.

The report, issued late Monday by the Legislative Post Audit Committee, was requested to determine the cost savings that could be derived if more Kansas public school districts were to consolidate or merge.  Lawmakers emphasize that the report is not a proposed plan, nor even a specific legislative bill; the audit report is merely a guide to examine for future discussions.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

CHERRYVALE — Grim faces were prevalent around the USD 447 Board of Education meeting table Monday after board members discussed budget cuts for the 2010-11 school year.

Reductions in state support for public schools is prompting the school board to wield a budget axe, and it’s a position that doesn’t please board members and Superintendent Randy Wagoner.

“Once you get to this point, there are options for us to consider, but none of them are happy options,” said Wagoner.

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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

CHERRYVALE — More than $120,000 in state funds will be used in Cherryvale to assist the town with an upgrade of Main Street later this year.

The City of Cherryvale was notified last week that it was a recipient of a $120,408 Community Development Block Grant which will be used to upgrade Main Street, from Liberty Street to Montgomery Street. The City of Cherryvale will match the grant dollar for dollar, bringing the total project to more than $240,800.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

The formal ceremony will likely be held in March to signal the change of ownership of the Cherryvale’s Kansas Army National Guard Armory to the City of Cherryvale.

City administrator Greg McDanel told city councilors at Monday’s meeting of plans by the Kansas Army National Guard’s top brass to hold a formal ceremony — likely in early March — as the armory is closed. The City of Cherryvale has agreed to accept ownership of the building, which is slated to officially take place on Feb. 28.
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Some Cherryvale city residents will see a slight increase in their monthly trash rates while others will see a decrease in their monthly trash bills as a result of a new contract signed between the Cherryvale City Council and Allied Waste on Monday. Allied Waste is the city’s trash provider.

City councilors voted unanimously to adopt a trash contract whereby trash rates will increase 45 cents per month for those city trash customers who do not use an Allied Waste poly-cart. Trash customers who do use the company’s poly-cart will see a $1.55 per month drop in their trash rates as a result of the new contract.

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The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department on Friday released the names of the communities where 18 of its 56 National Guard armories will close in early 2010 due to state budget cuts.

Cherryvale is among the 18 towns that will lose their armory. Other Kansas communities to see the closure of their armories are Atchison, Burlington, Chanute, Council Grove, Fort Scott, Garden City, Garnett, Goodland, Horton, Kingman, Larned, Phillipsburg, Russell, Sabetha, *Salina East, Troy and Winfield. (*Salina East building will remain open for Guard use, but armory operations will be transferred).
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