If you plan to attend, please contact the K-State Research and Extension, Leavenworth County office at (913) 684-0475, so that they can reserve your lunch.

Eldridge named commission chairman
Leavenworth County Commissioner Wayne Eldridge on Monday was named chairman of the commission.

As was expected, Eldridge was chosen to lead the commission for the next year. The chairmanship rotates among the three commissioners.

Eldridge, who was chairman three years ago, said he plans a few changes from how Bob Adams had run the commission.

“I’ll try to keep it more open,” Eldridge said Tuesday. “I’d like to have some night meetings for people, to see if they’ll attend.”

Also on Monday, the commission approved a 2.5 percent wage increase for all county employees, Eldridge said.

Novice debaters on top of the world
Tonganoxie High School’s novice debate teams looked like old pros during last week’s unofficial state tournament in Manhattan, said Steve Harrell, debate instructor.

“It wasn’t an official Kansas State High School Activities Association tournament,” Harrell said. “But it is a tournament in which all the novices, or first-year debaters, are invited to attend.”

Of 98 teams from 34 schools, one team from Tonganoxie placed 11th and another team placed third overall, Harrell said.

Placing 11th were Brian Gravatt and John Wickey, and placing third overall were Megan Needham and Andrew Becker.

“It’s fantastic,” Harrell said. “I’m really excited. It’s kind of a nice ending to a very productive novice season. The first-year kids as a group did really well this year.”

This year’s debate topic was secondary education reform, Harrell said, and added that the team will know the national topic in two weeks.

The high school’s experienced debate team qualified in the fall for nationals which will be held in Rochester, N.Y., during Memorial Day weekend. That team will go to regionals this weekend in St. Mary’s, and the state tournament will be held in Derby in two weeks, Harrell said.

Volunteers needed for Relay for Life
Plans are under way for the Tonganoxie area’s second annual Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

The 12-hour relay will be May 12 and 13 at VFW Park in Tonganoxie. Planning meetings for the event will be held the third Monday of each month, beginning next Monday, 7 p.m. at the Tonganoxie library.

According to Jerri Cooper, event chairperson, volunteers are needed. To help, call Cooper, 845-9132.

Last year, 300 team members and cancer survivors walked, surpassing the $25,000 goal by $1,500.

Randy Miller to speak to chamber members
A Kansas City radio personality will be the featured speaker at the Tonganoxie Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting later this month.

Randy Miller of KBEQ radio in Kansas City, Mo., will talk at the meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Tonganoxie Junior High School cafeteria.

“The reason we asked him was with all he says about Tonganoxie, it is pretty good promotion for us,” chamber president Pat Albert said about Miller.

Also at the dinner meeting, the Citizen of the Year Award will be presented, and new chamber board member Bill Grant, who is replacing Chris Donnelly, will be installed.

The same officers that served this year will stay on for another year, according to Albert. Other officers are Larry Shepek, vice president; Nancy Younger, secretary; and John Evans, treasurer.

Tickets for the dinner, which cost $10, are on sale at the chamber office. To reserve one or for more information, call Kathy Caenen at the chamber office, 845-9244.