July
Communities in Leavenworth County celebrated Independence Day with fireworks displays, parades and band concerts.

Charlie and Kathy Stimac opened Triple Creek Realty in the former doughnut shop location at 230 West Street.

Bernice Morney, Tonganoxie, was presented with The Symbol of Caregiving Award by Fox 4 and D.W. Newcomers Sons. Nellie Zacharias nominated Morney for the award, which recognizes people whose spirit and commitment make their community what it is today.

The Farmers Cooperative Association of Tonganoxie and Vet Vax announced they would merge locations and move to Vet Vax at 1203 U.S. Highway 24-40.

The 42nd annual McLouth Threshing Bee attracted hundreds of people.

Mike and Becky Derzinski’s three sons Jonathan, Joseph and Jacob were born July 8 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. The Tonganoxie couple have a daughter, Maggie, who turned 8 on July 31.

The Rev. YoungBo Lee was named the new pastor at Tonganoxie United Methodist Church.

August
The Leavenworth County Fair attracted 4-H members from across the county. Hundreds of people visited the fairgrounds in Tonganoxie during the fair, participating in 4-H events and attending the large variety of events, including a draft horse pull and livestock auctions.

The local VFW post announced that it planned to sponsor a return trip to Tonganoxie of the mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The 42nd annual McLouth Steam Engine Show and Threshing Bee provided good old-fashioned family fun. The three-day event featured a variety of engines, as well as daily parades, a moonwalk and petting zoo for children.

The Waterman family announces that it has agreed to sell the Tonganoxie Mirror to WorldWest Limited Liability Company, based in Lawrence.

Sixth Street, between Church Street and U.S. Highway 24-40 has been renamed Jarrett Street.

September
The month began with a new look for The Mirror. The 117-year-old Mirror was published under the new ownership and management of WorldWest Limited Liability Company, Lawrence. WorldWest purchased The Mirror from Don and Mary Waterman, who had owned it since 1991.

As the number of new houses built in the area continued to climb, the Tonganoxie school enrollment continued a downward slide that began in 1994. Meanwhile, at Tonganoxie High School, band director Charles VanMiddlesworth was busy guiding his students into a new musical season.

The city’s budget for 2000 would be about $1.4 million higher than the previous year, reflecting the city’s growth, said Chris Eppley, city administrator.

Along with that growth came the awareness that the city would need to explore new ways to increase the city’s water supply.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall drew crowds of people to the Reusch VFW Memorial Park during its week-long stay in Tonganoxie.

Sonic Drive-In announced plans to build a restaurant on U.S. Highway 24-40, north of Tonganoxie High School.

Sarah Jump, 17, Basehor, was crowned Miss Kansas Teen USA 2000 in Wichita and will compete for the title of Miss Teen USA in August.

As activities and growth abounded in Tonganoxie, the city unveiled its new website, www.tongie.org, designed by Jim Morey.

October
The Basehor-Linwood school district’s construction and renovation projects, estimated at $17.5 million, were in full swing and included a large addition to the high school as well as the construction of the Glenwood Ridge Elementary School. Also in the Basehor area, Jeff Himpel, Chris Garcia and Bernie Dugan held a grand opening for their new rental-storage facility.

Meanwhile, the Tonganoxie High School Chieftains football team claimed a 24-0 victory over the Basehor Bobcats. This was the Chieftain’s first win since Sept. 19, 1997.

Meier Ready Mix, Topeka, requested a special use permit to build a concrete plant in Tonganoxie at the intersection of Leavenworth County Road Five and Laming Road.Continued from page 2A

Bruce Courtney, Basehor-Linwood High School biology teacher, learned that he would be the recipient of the $25,000 Miliken Award.

The Toganoxie High School and junior high bands marched in Baldwin’s annual Maple Leaf parade.

In Basehor, members of the historical society held a groundbreaking ceremony at the society’s future museum, located at 158 Street and Parallel Road.

November
The city planning commission voted unanimously to deny Meier Ready Mix’s request for a zoning change for the concrete plant.

On Tonganoxie’s Fourth Street, the city renovation was in full swing, with old sidewalks being torn out and new ones put in. Edges of Fourth Street downtown are paved with bricks, old fashioned lampposts will be installed and trees will be planted.

Jaime Paine, a 1989 graduate of Tonganoxie High School, was hired as the city’s first full-time firefighter.

Vandals had a heyday over the weekend, causing an estimated $10,000 worth of damage to the interior of a communications tower belonging to the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Department.

Three Tonganoxie Girl Scouts, Paige Robinson, Elizabeth Higbee and Paula Prosser, hold the possibility of being pictured on the 2001 Girl Scout cookie boxes.

Wayne Eldridge, a Leavenworth County commissioner, asked state officials to investigate allegations that two other commissioners had violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

Dora “Susie” Parmer, register of deeds since 1964, announced her retirement, effective Dec. 31.

On Nov. 24, The Mirror introduced Caroline Trowbridge, Lawrence, as the newspaper’s new publisher.

December
The Sonic restaurant, scheduled for a mid-December opening, was taking applications and getting ready for business.

The city announced that a $120,000 revolving loan fund had been established to help downtown property owners finance upgrades to the exteriors of their buildings.

The Mayor’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony was Dec. 2 at Reusch VFW Memorial Park.

Holst Pharmacy and a city advisory committee met to discuss the pharmacy’s plans for a new business on U.S. Highway 24-40.

Chief of Police Bill Adkins announced a Dec. 31 resignation. A four-member selection committee began working to find a new police chief for Tonganoxie.

Everlasting Specialties agreed to buy a 10,000-square foot spec building at the Urban Hess Business Park to house their dried-flower company. Also in the works at the same area was another business, the Cabinet Shop, from Basehor. Co-owner Kenneth Lindsley said construction would begin in several months on a 10,000- to12,000-square foot structure on two lots.

Matt Bichelmeyer, owner of Bichelmeyer Meat and Grocery, announced plans to close the grocery store in January and to open a steakhouse at that site in April.

An early-morning act of vandalism on Dec. 21 left 14 Tonganoxie school buses with flat tires after stems on 30 tires of 14 buses parked at the school and at drivers’ homes were broken.

The new Sonic restaurant opened for business on Dec. 21.

On the morning of Dec. 29, there was a break-in at the Tonganoxie junior high school and high school. As a precautionary measure, law enforcement officers brought in an explosive-sniffing dog from Fort Leavenworth to comb the school. Nothing was found.

As area businesses prepared for possible problems associated with Y2K, Tonganoxie citizens were able to purchase fireworks at a stand on the edge of town.

The local bowling alley, Palace Bowl, which closed in September, was purchased by Finney and Marilyn Robbins, and would hold a chiropractic office for Rob Schuck, the Tonganoxie Fitness Center and J.A. Custom Computer.

In wrapping up the end of the century, area businessmen gave their predictions for growth in the area. Bill Altman, president of Community National Bank summed up his prediction in one word, “Bullish.”