Local News
Year in Review No. 2: Veteran's memorial built in Lebanon
Lebanon — Following years of controversy, the Boone County Veterans Memorial was approved and built in Lebanon Memorial Park, dedicated on Veterans Day Nov. 11.
But it was an uphill climb for proponents of the memorial. The Lebanon Parks and Recreation board of trustees narrowly approved the memorial 3-to-2 at their June meeting. Some board members cited an irresponsible use of green space as the reason for their opposition.
Parks Superintendent John Messenger said he was comfortable with the plan presented, with the VFW and American Legion responsible for upkeep and liability of the 60-foot-wide memorial, as long as they kept their promises.
Work began on the memorial in early August and it was dedicated Nov. 11 in a ceremony that hundreds of community members attended.
“This means quite a lot,” said 87-year-old Esther Mott, whose late husband Alexis was a prisoner of war in Japan during World War II, at the dedication. “I’m so glad they’ve done this. I only wish (Alexis) was here to see it, too.”
Plans for the memorial seemed to have completely stalled in 2008, after three years of planning, personality conflicts and growing controversy.
The park board voted in 2008 not to build the memorial in the park, citing concerns about maintenance and security, but veterans’ groups held tight, saying a monument honoring soldiers and sailors from Boone County belonged there.
The move to build the memorial began in 2005. More than $105,000 was raised for the project, and excavation of a site in the park began in August 2007. Then-Mayor Jim Acton ordered the work stopped and, shortly after, then-parks and recreation director Roger Neal was fired.
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Boone County 4-H program honors 10-year members
Boone County 4-H 10-year members were recognized during a special program in the Witham Health Services Pavilion at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds Wednesday.
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Grand champ lamb goes for $11,000
After bids for Samuel Mattingly’s grand champion market lamb languished in the low four figures for several minutes at Thursday’s Boone County 4-H Fair Livestock Auction, someone on the right side of the floor at the Witham Health Services Pavilion decided it was time to speed things along.
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Local celebrities race for Kiwanis Saturday
Ten celebrity racers were signed up to race in the Lebanon Kiwanis Grand Prix as of Wednesday, but Donna Boyland of the Kiwanis is expecting several more to sign up before Saturday’s big race.
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Taken by surprise
After hours of working with a menagerie of animals in front of a series of judges, it took Austin Chandler an extra moment to realize that it was his name announced as the 2010 Boone County 4-H Supreme Showmanship Contest winner.
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Kise fire victims need help moving
Some residents of apartments destroyed in a fire Sunday at Kise Estates, in the 1900 block of Lafayette Avenue, have been told they must move out by tomorrow, and they have encountered an unusual problem — a shortage of rental trucks and trailers.
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Gentry, Chandler tops at swine show
Stephen Gentry and Austin Chandler took top honors at the 2010 Boone County 4-H swine show Tuesday at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds.
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Nicley done, redux
The 2010 4-H dairy show started without a hitch Monday afternoon, and it ended rather Nicley.
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Poultry project popularity growing
Tuesday marked the largest poultry show ever at the Boone County 4-H Fair, said project leader Doug Akers. More than 300 birds were entered by 80 members.
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LFD’s third station to open in spring
Construction of a $2.25 million public safety building on Hall-Baker Road should begin this September, with completion next spring.
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Park pool hours will change next month
Hours of operation are changing at the Memorial Park Pool.
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