Freedom Fest

WHAT'S RIGHT WITH AMERICA?'– was the theme of the Church of God (Holiness) Freedom Fest on Sunday, June 28. They fed over 1,000 people and estimated that 1,500 attended the Freedom Fest Rally which featured music by Strong Tower Quartet, a tribute to politicians of integrity by Darrin Griffin, the Honorable Mike Parson as guest speaker, a tribute to men and women in uniform by Chad Pollard, a tribute to our Christian nation by Joe Trussel and music by Jeremy Oehring and One Accord. Entertainment before the rally featured the El Dorado Springs Municipal Band, Paige Esry, Larry Oehring, Karey Pollard, Tim Wilson, Strong Tower and Good Ol' Gospel Singers. The grand finale for the evening was a 20-minute fireworks extravaganza. The unedited photos of exploding fireworks caught on camera looked like: a space bird in a cage, an alien creature and rockets red glare. See page 9 of the Sun Newspaper for more Freedom Fest pictures

Relay for Life

VICTORY LAP FOR CANCER SURVIVORS – The stars of the show, the cancer survivors, walked the first lap at the 10th annual Relay for Life even by the American Cancer Society of Cedar Count held on Friday, June 26. On the second lap, they were joined by their supporters. Survivors taking the first lap were Joyce Asbell-Helms, Carleen Brackenridge, Hazel Brewer, Linda Brewer-Smith, Elmer Loyd Burns, Janice Carter, Sue Clayton, Robert Coleman, Tommy Cornejo, Sharon Cross, Nancy Cully, Khloie Farran, Georgia Flecher, Abby Floyd, Mike Frier, Daisy Johnson, Carol Lanser, Miranda Lowrey, Paul Nash, Vernone Nelson, Bonnie Nelson, Frances Pinkman, Denise Pollard, Sheri Proctor, Terry Proctor, Michelle Smith, Larry Sparks, Diane Steele, Tracy Stevens, Melanie Steward, Leland Trussell and Vera Whitesell.

Relay for Life a success

The American Cancer Society of Cedar County held its 10th annual Relay for Life event on Friday, June 26, at the El Dorado Springs High School Football field. It was a superb summer evening with several survivors, families and friends attending the 10th Annual Relay for Life event. Together, “Powering the Fight against Cancer” teams raised over $22,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society of Cedar County despite the hot and humid temperatures. Hats off to the top five Relay for Life teams; Stockton Family Dentistry – Dr. Craig Maxwell, Indefatigable, Kids Corner Day Care, Community Springs and Mid Missouri Bank–– Kent Renfro. As the survivors, teams, families and friends walked around the track they were able to enjoy a little bit of the area's finest entertainment.

“I would personally like to thank all of my committee members, teams and corporate sponsors for all of their hard work to make the 2009 Relay for Life a successful event,” stated Event Chair Janna Dody. “The 10th Annual Cedar County Relay for Life was a compelling experience and camaraderie at its best. Once again I would like to personally thank everyone for attending the Cedar County Relay for Life event and supporting your local community for such a wonderful cause.”

Relay for Life Teams were: High Hopes, Kids Corner Day Care, Indefatigable, Mid Missouri Bank, State Farm Insurance – Toshua Barnes Agency, Liberty Bank, Stockton High School, Woods Supermarket, El Dorado Springs Bulldogs, Stockton Family Dentistry- Dr. Craig Maxwell, Community Springs, Stockton High School and Floors & More.

'Happy 100th Birthday'

THIS FIRECRACKER WILL BE 100 YEARS OLD – Genevieve (Stone) Shaw was born July 4, 1909, on Main Street in El Dorado Springs. She married her sweetheart, Leslie Shaw. She is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her lifetime experiences and hobbies include: riding horseback to teach in rural schools, keeping bees and selling really good honey, farming and gardening, visiting the town's farmer's market regularly and she crocheted rugs.

To celebrate her 100th year, former students and friends can send cards and notes to Genevieve Shaw, 3010 S. 101 Rd, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744.

El Dorado Springs School ends fiscal

year with surplus

The El Dorado Springs R-II School Board ended the 2008-09 school year June 30 with an estimated ending balance of $361,860. Of that, $295,000 is in the general revenue fund, $61,000 is in the debt service fund and $8,253 is in the capital improvements fund.

The school has $2.8 million in reserves.

Superintendent Roger Barnes gave the Sun this information on Tuesday evening, June 30, after a special meeting at which board made year end budget amendments to make the 2008-09 budget match the actual figures. The board also adopted the 2009-10 budget and made some last minute personnel changes.

The board accepted the resignation of Chrisy Ast after 14 years as an excellent kindergarten teacher. She has been hired away by the Nevada School District, where she resides and where her daughter will enter kindergarten this fall. The board hired Jean Myers, a first year teacher, for the kindergarten position. The board also hired Gerald Kirbey, retired Elementary principal, as an e-MINTS trainer. The board hired Kathi Barnes as co-student council counselor (with Evelyn Boyle) to fill the vacancy left by Amy Shimek's departure.

The 2009-10 budget estimates $11,157,326.05 in revenues and $11,402,379.08 in expenditures. The budget shows a $37,619.07 surplus in the general fund, a zero ending balance in the teachers' fund as usual, a $628.10 deficit in the debt services fund and a $282,044 deficit in the capital improvement fund. That last figure is deceptive, Supt. Barnes said, because the school district has been building up the capital improvements fund as part of a five-year plan. The new budget is not able to show that the school district has been saving money to spend in this school year on improving the campus. For example, last year the school board transferred $582,00 into the capital fund.

Supt. Barnes said that each year the auditors advise the school board on the amount they can transfer from the general fund to the capital improvements fund – a transfer that can only be made once per year. He said the school board usually transfers that amount.

Supt. Barnes said now that he has the budget out of the way, he will concentrate his efforts on writing a FEMA grant requesting construction of a school/community storm shelter at the school. FEMA would pay 75% of the cost if the application is successful. The maximum FEMA grant is for $3 million. The school would have to pay for any–“improvements” to the basic structure.

Special Road to start repairs

The El Dorado Springs Special Road District board met Monday, June 29, in the district headquarters.

Present were Board Members Jack Eaves, Ron Swopes and Lalan Cole – presiding along with district employees Carl Swager and the bookkeeper, Linda Breeden.

The board approved the payment of bills totaling $4,304.17 of which $1,155.43 was to El Dorado Springs for 25% of the property tax receipts for the month, $1,167.11 to West Pipe and $878.77 to Larson Farm and Home for a joy stick controller for the mower. The little device which controls the hydraulic pumps isn't much bigger than a half dozen packs of cigarettes.

Swager reported that he has been mowing and will replace two culverts Thursday and clean out another. He said he will start road repairs soon doing chip and seal in spots or sections of existing paved road which need it. He will order cold mix to repair chug holes before he applies chip and seal.

Swopes asked Swager the cost of chip and seal. Swager said it costs about $5,000 for a half mile of roadway: 1,000 gallons of road oil at $3 per gallon and 20 tons of chips at $8.50 per ton plus labor and use of equipment.

As of May 31, the district had $54,450.90 in the checking account and $135,946.62 in its money market account. After paying bills and employee salaries, the district had $47,000 in checking on June 29.

The board set the next meeting for 5:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, in the district headquarters on First St. south of Hwy. 54.

All Post Offices open July 3

All Post Offices in the U.S. Postal Service's Kansas City-based Mid-America District, which covers west, central and southwestern Missouri, and the far eastern portion of Kansas, will be open on Friday, July 3, but many will shorten retail lobby hours and close at noon. Regular mail delivery for July 3 will be unaffected by the change.

Revised hours have been posted at each Post Office and commercial customers are asked to check with their Bulk Mail Acceptance Unit for July 3 hours of operation. Customers may call 1-800-ASK-USPS for information about specific Post Offices. In addition, mail should be deposited into blue collection mailboxes by noon for early pick-up on July 3. Customers requiring postal services later that day are encouraged to contact their local postmaster.

Post Offices will be closed Saturday, July 4. Sunday/Holiday Express Mail only will be delivered on the Fourth of July. All Post Offices will be open and regular mail delivery will resume Monday, July 6.

ElDo Municipal Band weekend schedule

by Lillian Sunderwirth

• Friday, July 3:

1. Night Flight

2. Americana

3. This Land Is Your Land

4. Iron Count

5. Polka

6. Peacemaker

7. Silver Talisman

8. Trombones

9. Zacatecus

10 Night In June

11. Selection

12. Selection

13. God Bless America

Note: There will be no Band concert on Saturday, July 4.

• Sunday, July 5:

1. Call To Victory

2. Dixie Land Salute

3. Trombones

4. Sacred Book

5: Polka

6. Washington Post

7. Just A Closer Walk With Thee

8. Selection

9. El Capitan

10. Selection

11.Salute To The Promised Land

12. God Bless America

13. Star Spangled Banner

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Pound Pets

BLACK LAB WITH WHITE ON CHEST - male, approximately 1 year old, needs good home.

Call the Animal Control officer for adoption information on animals in the City Pound 876-2313

Call the Animal Control Officer at 876-2313 for current animals available for adoption.

Due to imposition of City ordinances, all animals will be

kept a maximum of 10-days before euthanazation.

Anyone interested in adoption of animals or making a donation for their care should contact the Animal Control Officer at 876-2313 before 3 p.m. weekdays.