July
Zel M. Fischer is Missouri’s Next Chief Justice
By order of the Court, Supreme Court of Missouri, Judge Zel M. Fischer became Missouri’s chief justice July 1. His term as chief justice will run through June 30, 2019.
Fischer grew up in Watson, Missouri, and was educated in the Rock Port public schools. He received his bachelor of arts degree, majoring in both philosophy and political science, in 1985 from William Jewell College in Liberty and his law degree, with distinction, in 1988 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Little Mr. & Miss Firecracker
Briar Daugherty, son of Drake and Kimberly Daugherty, is 2017 Mr. Firecracker, and 2017 Little Miss Firecracker is Emoree Green, daughter of Malina Green.
Around 3,000 attend
Wing Nuts Air Show
The Wing Nuts Flying Circus hosted a fly-in breakfast and air show Saturday, July 8, 2017, at the Gould Peterson Municipal Airport.
The Wing Nuts Flying Circus Fly-In and Air Show at Gould Peterson Municipal Airport was a sight to behold this past Saturday, July 8, 2017. A total of 200 planes and 3,000 people participated in the event, which included a breakfast, congressional aviation town hall meeting, and airshow.
Atchison County Fair Horse Show
Rylee Jenkins stands with her horse, waiting for the judge’s approval at the Atchison County Fair Horse Show at the Donald L. Thomson Memorial Arena in Tarkio Saturday, July 15, 2017. Seven youth participated in the show, which showcased horses in 20 different equestrian events.
2017 Parade Grand Marshals
Kevin and Nancy Hurst were chosen as the Grand Marshals of the 2017 Atchison County Fair Parade. They had some help with the candy tossing from grandchildren, Wendy and Finn Hurst, seated in front, and Tucker and Landry Hurst, back.
August
CH-F Auxiliary Luncheon
The Community Hospital-Fairfax Auxiliary members enjoyed a Derby Luncheon on July 20, 2017. Betty Lane was named Auxilian of the Year. Betty has provided several years of dedicated service to the Auxiliary with willingness to assist with all Auxiliary projects. She is always willing to help others and is a very faithful auxilian.
Fairfax Fair
The 52nd annual Fairfax Fair was held August 11 – 13 in Fairfax, Missouri. This year’s theme was “Small Town, Big Heart.” Miss Fairfax 2017 is Katy Baker. Kendal Straub is Junior Miss Fairfax, and Little Mr. and Miss Fairfax are Alex Wintz and Mackenzie Oswald. Gary and Betty Wennihan were the Parade Marshals.
MDT Woodworks, LLC opens in Fairfax, Mo.
Mike and Dana Tracy, are excited to announce a business celebration of MDT Woodworks, LLC in Fairfax, Mo., which will offer custom hand-crafted furniture and home decor. MDT Woodworks will hold a business ribbon cutting on Friday, August 11, 2017, and a grand opening celebration on Saturday, August 12, 2017. The business is located at 104 E Main Street, Fairfax.
Eclipse watch parties were everywhere in Atchison County on Monday, August 21, 2017, as they tried to get a glimpse of the total solar eclipse through the clouds and experience this once in a lifetime event. Kevin Munsey, a 1989 graduate of Rock Port High School, captured this image of the eclipse while he and a group of photographers gathered in Mackay, Idaho.
Betty Stoner will hang up the dry cleaning for the last time on September 27, 2017. Watts Cleaners, a Main Street staple in Rock Port, will close its doors that day. Betty Stoner looks forward to retirement after 30+ years at the business.
Enel Green Power North America (EGPNA) is currently renovating the former Shopko building on Main Street in Tarkio to serve as the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) building for its Rock Creek Wind Farm in Atchison County. The completed space will include a mix of offices, meeting rooms, and a storage and maintenance shop for the 300 MW Rock Creek Wind Farm.
September
The tour wagons were packed throughout the morning during the annual Graves-Chapple Research Center field day on Tuesday, August 22. More than 225 guests enjoyed presentations on a variety of agricultural-related topics. Andy Luke, MU Extension agronomy specialist is pictured having a discussion on the Dicamba tour.
Tray Lettmon, left, of St. Joseph, Missouri, drives the lane past T.J. Midgyett, right, of Chillicothe, Missouri, in the St. Joseph Shields’ practice at Heartland Rec Sunday, September 10, in Tarkio. The St. Joseph Shields, members of the American Basketball Association, will be playing home games at the Rec Center in Tarkio due to lack of an available gym in St. Joseph.
Lane, Nicholas, and Willa Gresham sit next to the donations collected for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. (Photo by Cassie Shaw)
Hurricane Harvey left a path of destruction and flooding in its wake over a huge portion of Texas, Louisiana, and southern Arkansas the last week of August, 2017. Former Atchison County residents Heather and Mike Gresham and their four children of Aransas Pass, Texas, were forced to evacuate their home as Hurricane Harvey neared the coast. They came to Tarkio to ride out the storm. They returned to Texas with a U-Haul filled with supplies donated by family and friends in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa to be delivered to Oakridge Baptist Church in Portland, Texas.
Kalvin McIntosh is retiring as Tarkio Hy-Vee Store Director after more than 40 years of service to the company.
The Rock Port Golf and Country Club held a “bragging rights only” two-person scramble golf tournament in honor of Ron Hunter, commonly known as “Goose.” Ron has selflessly donated numerous hours to the golf course this summer and has been instrumental in the course’s success as a result.
The family of Greg Chamberlain presented memorial donations and dedicated the new touchscreen interactive athletic record board on September 21 2017. The interactive touchscreen video board for all Blue Jay sports is located in the lobby of Rock Port R-II School.
October
Amber Graham has opened a clothing boutique on Main Street in Rock Port called Ella&Grey.
Amber Graham has opened a clothing boutique on Main Street in Rock Port that caters to women and children. Named after her two children, Ella&Grey sells a variety of brands of clothing, purses, accessories, and jewelry. One can find youth clothes sizes 2T-8 and women’s clothing Small-3X. The clothing also includes KanCan jeans sizes 1-15 and plus sizes 1-3. Some of the earrings Amber makes herself, using leather, and soon the store will include a small selection of shoes and boots.
The boutique is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit @ellagreyboutique on Facebook or call 816-341-5708.
Sandra Marr read a poem she wrote from the perspective of a mother to her son at C.A.R.E.’s Candlelight Vigil. Each year, C.A.R.E. hosts the vigil in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to show support to the victims of domestic violence.
Convenience Store opens in Fairfax
Running the 7th Heaven Convenience Store in Fairfax, Missouri, on opening day, Thursday, October 19, 2017, were Conner Marshall, Ryan Sierocki, Michelle Heits, owner Sonny Shafiq, Katelyn Vernon, and Ashley Sobotka. Not pictured is Lisa Hardisty.
Lady Jays win 275 Conference championship
Clinching the 275 Conference Championship 2017 Title in Union Star, Missouri, were the Rock Port Lady Jays Volleyball team. Front row, left to right -Lydia Masonbrink, Darius Skillen, Marisa Carder, Brooklyn Jakub, Catyn Chamberlain, Abbie Hale, Rachel Vogler and Harlee Pritt. Back row – Coach Jennifer Vogler, Mackenzie Lager, Johnny Davis, Alivia Baucom, Makenna Farmer, Jacie McMahon, Drue Kemerling, Abby Bradley, Kelcie Gaines, Riley Vogler, Ashley Cue, Ashleigh King and Coach Thomas Herron. The Rock Port Lady Jays traveled to Union Star Oct. 12, 2017.
The Rock Port JV team won their match in two sets, 25-19 and 25-14. The JV record is 14-1-1.
The varsity team claimed the 275 Conference championship with a win over Union Star. Set scores were 25-5 and 25-4.
November
Texting and driving kills 1 teen sends two more to hospital~
The above headline happens more than you think. Was the text worth the life it can take?
A docudrama was held at the practice field in Rock Port Wednesday, October 25, 2017, for Rock Port, Fairfax, and Tarkio High School students. The drama was held to show the students the dangers of distracted driving, in this case, texting while driving. It’s always a tragedy to have someone injured, let alone die from distracted driving. Pictured above are Atchison County Coroner Shawn Minter, left, heading out from the scene after loading up Kelcie Gaines, middle, who was pronounced dead at scene of the crash. Pictured at right is Cindie Gaines, Kelcie’s mother. She is hysterical after her daughter was declared deceased at the scene. Atchison County Sheriff’s Deputy Devon Sons, left, and Rock Port Police officer Derek Morriss, right, try to keep her away from the crash site.
Ceremony honors Rock Port Elementary as National Blue Ribbon School
Pictured with the National Blue Ribbon School banner that will hang in the elementary are the entire elementary student body and faculty, along with the school board and special guests.
New Historical Sign Marks Rankin Mule Barn and Home Site
Gayle Alexander, the great-great-granddaughter of David Rankin, unveiled the David Rankin historical marker that was erected near the North Polk Schoolhouse in Tarkio at 10th and Park streets on Thursday, November 16, 2017.
The Rankin mansion at 10th and Park Streets, Tarkio, c. early 1900’s is pictured above. The home was located where the one-room schoolhouse museum now stands. David Rankin is standing at right in the photograph. (Rankin Family Collection Photograph)
This is a close-up of the Mule Barn with cupola, from a postcard published at the time of Rankin’s exhibit at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. (Rankin Family Collection Photograph)
David Rankin is pictured at his home in Tarkio. This photograph appeared in a major story in the Saturday Evening Post April 2, 1910, titled “America’s Greatest Feeding Farm.” Rankin died at age 85 on October 18 of that year. (Rankin Family Collection Photograph)
THS Musical Theatre Dept. to present “Big Fish”
Fairfax Light Night was held Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the Fairfax City Park. A live Nativity (above, included, from left to right, Taya Lewis, Jesse Graves, Bryce Enyard, Jon Graves, Beth Graves, James Zumbrunnen, Amber Zumbrunnen, Jackson Zumbrunnen, Jaycee Graves, and Braden Graves).
December
Gretchen Tharp (RP) and Lauren Quimby (TKO) sign letters of intent to play golf at NCMC
59th Mound City Invitational All-Tournament Team
The 59th Annual Mound City Invitational Basketball Tournament All-Tournament Teams included, from left to right: front row – Jaycee Graves, Kelcie Gaines, Victoria Nauman, and Kameron Freemyer; and back row – TJ Mitchell, Tucker Schwebach, Landon Poppa, Matthew Poppa, Evan Elam, and Caden Linthicum. Not pictured are Kristin Herndon, Virginia Kruse, Elizabeth Kruse, and Gage McAdams.
East Atchison Winter Wonderland Homecoming Royalty
Tarkio High School’s Basketball Queen and King were Tawni Martin and Colin Joesting. Crown bearers were Owen Vette and Ava Brown.
Fairfax High School’s Basketball King and Queen were Max Hopkins and Shelbey Morris.
Do It Best in Rock Port held a drawing December 16, 2017, for a DeWalt cordless tool set. Ticket sales raised $710, which was donated to the Rock Port Backpack Buddies program. The winner of the drawing was Jim Hickok. The Backpack Buddies program greatly appreciates Do It Best and their employees, as well as everyone who participated by purchasing a ticket. It is with efforts like this it keeps programs like this going.
Ashley Dalton, front left, a postal carrier for the Tarkio Post Office, was recently honored for detecting leaking gas in a customer’s home. Also pictured are Misty Stadalman, Daisy Gibson, Barney Farley, Ed Hunkins, and Mike Gast.
