The Valley Falls Vindicator from Valley Falls, Kansas • 1

IZ1 A a Volume 111 Member It Thnrlay, January It, last The Yalley Falls Yindicator I DEDICATED TO THE CONCEPT THAT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS STRENGTHENS DEMOCRACY VALLEY KAI.US. JEFFERSON COUNTY. KANSAS MOHH 8 Paget IS Cent i Jeff West board divided over building program City rejects all bids The Valley Falla City Council met Friday morning and rejected all bids that it received lor the water plant improvement project. The mayor and council were acting on the advice of their conaulting engineer who told them that the entire project would have to be rabid. Bidi from aix Rrma were opened Jan.

10, but all exceeded engineer1! estimate! and the amount of money the city has available. At first, the engineer thought they could delete some items from the specifications and negotiate a lower price with the low bidder, but after consultation with officials in the Department of Housing and Urban Development it waa decided to reject all bids. The city had received a federal grant exceeding 1298,000 to renovate the water plant, build a pre-sediment basin, and replace aome of tha water, mains. There is about 8288,000 available after engineering fees. Bids ranged from 8287,609 to 8844,700.

The council net 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, to open bids on the project for the second time. Meeting in special eeesion Friday were Mayor Veryle Gilteece, Linda Garbe, Janie Btrole, and Harry Leonard. seams.

When asked how he would conduct school without the building program. Self "With a shoehorn. Cook down plays the enrollment decline, saying that the district owes it to the students coming in during the next four years the best that can he provided. And, he believes, the Jefferson West district has substantial growth potential and will be among the first on the upswing in student numbers. This is not glitter and it'a not superfluous, Cook said.

It's needed. "I like to think 340 is progressiva and stays up with the educational needs of its kids, Cook said. "Wo have a mandate dropped on us and we should meet it without shortchanging the kids." Murdie noted that the building had been rearranged and altered enough, that it was time to add. There will also be a computer class added and Murdie doesn't like tbe idea of sharing a computer classroom with other subjects for security reasons. He also noted that the art room had been moved out of the basement, creating additional space restrictions.

All of the members regret that the mandate comes prior to the completion of a two-year curriculum study and some opposition is apparent because some believe the study will show where aome courses can be cut or combined with others. If the project is put up for bids, the architect expects a completion date of October or November. The next board meeting is Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the administration building.

has the money and the students deserve the beat that can be offered. Rice wants to squeese and tighten the curriculum for the moment in anticipation of future enrollment declines. President Ray White favors the building project and brake a tie vote siding with Cook, David Murdie, and Rudy Deines. Voting with Rice were John Cummings and Norman Stock-ham. Another vote will be required in March in order to submit the plans to contractors for bids.

Rice said the district added two classrooms two years ago and is out of room sgnin. He accused the system of simply expanding to fill the available space. He called the present curriculum a "grocery list" and said more subjects were offered 10 years ago when he taught there than what is offered now. He said consumer math and pre-algebra used to be taught in a general math course, but now they are separate courses filling the schedule and classrooms. He noted that forensics and speech were handled separately and questioned a course like stage craft in light of there being no room for math or science.

Rice believes now is the time to cut the number of English classes by increasing the number of students per class. He said four units of English are offered to a class of 75 students with sn average claaa size of 18. He notes that in four years the class else drops to 45 and that will mean fewer than a doxen in a classroom. David Self, high school principal, said averages cant be used; that in order to arrommodate the students with scheduling conflicts some classes are light while others burst at the Jury convicts Hannon One week ef warm weather recently waa enough to allow Fairbanks Construction, Valley Falls, la pour the concrete walls on the bnSdiag that wil bouse the baler ta heat the Valley Falls High School. But temperatures have plunged again and the project waits, covered with fresh snow, for a floor and roof before the new boiler can be installed.

Hupt. Jerry Fuqua said the present system Is adequately heating the high school building, but that a leak fat the underground steam pipe has a tendency to averheat the library. A new school addition waa built over the top ef the buried steam pipe and the school beard has opted to add another heating system rather than duplicate Boys BB teams to tourneys Basketball games scheduled for Jefferson County high schools for Friday, Jan. 20, are: Royal Valley at Jefferson West; McLouth at Jefferson County North; Perry-Leeamptoo at Eudora; Valley Falls at Horton; and Oskaloosa at Jackson Heights. Next week the six county boys teams will play in tournamenta In six different locations as follows: Valley Falls at Tnnganoxie Tourney, Jan.

24-28; McLouth at Baldwin Tourney, Jan. 28-27; Jefferson County North at Immaculate Tourney, Jan. 26-28; Perry-Lecompton at Waahburn Rural Tourney, Jan. 24-28; Jefferson West at Nemaha Valley Tourney, Jan. 25-28; Oskaloosa at Savior of the World, Jan.

28-28. Jan. 10 Scares Boys DeBolo 72, Perry-Lecompton 66 JCN 58, McLouth 54 Hiawatha 81, Jefferson West 80 Girls McLouth 51, JCN 41 Jefferson West 48, Hiawatha 87 Troy 54, Oskaloosa 80 Jan. ISScerea Boys Perry-Lecompton 80, Piper 58 Jefferson West 58, Sabetha54 Girls Osksloosa 48, McLouth 42 Pleasant Ridge 67. JCN 45 Jefferson West 59, 8abetha 89 Perry-Lecompton 52, Piper 32 Jan.

14Bearea Boys Roseville 89, Valley Falls 58 Girls Valley Fails 40, Roseville 88 applies for water grant By Clarke Davis The Jefferson West school board took another step eloaer to a 8200,000 building program at the high school Monday night. It directed Topeka architect Joe Terrill to prepare plana that can be submitted for bids at the March meeting. The project haa a one vote majority. Opposing sides debated the topic for two and a half hours and fielded questions from patrons who cams to the meeting to learn firsthand the reasons behind the pro- Architect's estimates were much higher than the administration had predicted and caused Supt. Ron Burgess to trim his expansion request to one laboratory science room and one regular classroom.

Terrill estimates a price tage of 8188,700. The architect offered three pro-posala. Adding another classroom to the preceding plans would cost 8228,800 and a third proposal which included some storage space by enlarging one of the locker rooms would cost 8283.000. Burgesa has wanted to limit the project to the amount of money the district will have in the bank without additional tax revenue or the use of bonds. He ssid the district would have 8200,000 in capital outlay by this summer.

Capital outlay la the fond used to make expenditures for buildings and grounds and is funded by a 4-mill levy. The administration is proposing the expansion to meet state mandated increases in the math and science curriculum. Leaders in the verbal debate for the opposing forces were Bud Cook and Bill Rice. Cook says the district JAAA pre-plan hearing Friday The Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging will conduct a pre-plan hearing at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan.

20, at the Valley Falla Senior Center. The hearing will be held to gather Information from the public on types of programs needed to address tho needs of the elderly. The agency serves the tri-county area of Douglas, Jefferson, and 8hawnee Counties in planning and funding programs for the elderly. Programa hi Jefferson County funded for the agency are transportation, muKi-phasie health screening dinks, information and referral, congregate and home-delivered meals, and legal services. The agency is funded through the Kansas Administration of Aging and the tri-county dty and county funds.

The public la invited to attend. Threshers Byl snare Bowen The Meriden Antique Engine and Threahars' Asaodation waa chartered Oct. 4, 1978, with ahowgrounda located on a 10-acre alto northeast of Meriden on K-4 highway. The growth and development of the aecociation will he explained through a series of articles by Mrs. Bowen that will bo published periodically.) Tho Meriden Antique Engine and Thrashers' Association's latest project in a log cabin which is being constructed oast of the sawmill on the ahowgrounda.

This project waa instigated by Keith Jackaou, Valley Falls. Keith looked into the possible restoration of this building when ho Warned tho owner waa going to tear it down. Biding had boon used in later years which helped preserve tho cabin. Tho owner, Don nory, donated the cabin hp moditioRo A complete story on this cabin was printed far IBs Vindicator In a March, 1982, Issue. The cabin approxl-129 years old.

Benedict born in Germany in 1822, i ta this vicinity and homestead-ad the land in 1864 where be built this house, living here until hk death in 1907. A more recent artiefe waa niihHchnl In this paper last Oct. 8 telling of tho disassembling and moving of tho cabin to tho peccant on tho ahowgrounda by Ronald D. Harmon, 87, Meriden, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter Jan. 14, at Oskaloosa.

in ths September shooting death of his wife, Karan Harmon, 88. The Jefferson County District Court jury deliberated more than 10 hours over two days bsfore finding Harmon guilty of the felony charge. Harmon originally had been charged with first-degree murder. The manslaughter charge waa one of the lesser offenses included in the instruction given to the jury by Associate District Judge Gary Naf-siger. Nafxigvr ordered a preaentence investigation and set a post-trial motion hearing and sentencing for Feb.

18. The class felony charge carries a possible prison term of a minimum of from three to five years and a maximum of from 10 to 20 years. Harmon must serve at least the three-year minimum because a firearm waa used in the crime. Harmon's attorney, Dennia The Mayor alao is seeking letters from the city fire chief and State Fire Marshal. Mayor Henning aaid that the city has had difficulty in keeping the water supply maintained.

Ha said a leak is keeping the supply low and that it hasnt been found. Vincent Jacks, a representative of Jacks and Associates, said documentation la important and diacuased tho (Continued on Pago 2) Associates, Kansas City, to them In applying for a community development block grant. Mayor Henning said that Jacks and Associates has been successful In getting grants approved for small cities. The firm helped Effingham apply for a grant which was approved. The Mayor exphdned the three methods In order to fund the project, raising taxes, bonds and grants.

The Mayor said the council wants to apply for a grant In order not to increase taxes. Mayor Henning said the city water system has inoperable values, corroded lines and that nitrates have been found in one of the eitys water wells. The Mayor explained that the council also needs letters from businesses describing how water system breakdowns effect business. wreck Nellia-Haggo Funeral Home, Valley Falls, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Neurological Institute equipment fond, In care of the funeral home.

rebuild log cabin Hawver, Topeka, asked tha court to reduce Harmon's bond from 8100,000 because he waa convicted on a lesser charge. Nafxiger took the motion under advisement. Mrs. Harmon died Sept. 27 after she waa shot once in the forehead with a .22 caliber revolver.

The defense claimed that the gun discharged accidentally and that Harmon didn't know that hia wife of 14 years was in the bedroom until after the ahot was fired. The shooting occurred Just minutes after the couple returned to their Rock Creek home from a private party in Meriden. Testimony during the trial indicated that Harmon waa angry when the couple left the party because he had seen his wife walking with another Harmon testified that his anger waa directed not at his wife, but at the man who walked with her. After the verdict waa announced Hawver said he would file motions requesting a new trial and a Judgment iff acquittal. good shape.

The window frames and several window panes had to bo replaced. There haa been a good response ef donations and help. Donations toward tha cabin are still being accepted at ths Valley Falla and Meriden banka. Meetings are held the fourth Sunday of each month at tha fire station In Meriden during the winter months and at the ahowgrounda In the summer at 7 p.m. Refresbmouta are served after each meeting.

Everyone is welcome. rostered an the threahh bee 1 killed, 1 injured in K-16 Winchester Winchester eHixens were urged on Jan. 11 to write letters to the city council describing in detail the problems they have incurred with the citys water system. The documentation should Include the type of Winchester is in the preliminary stages of applying for a Single purpose community development block grant for approximately 8317,000 to fond repairs to the citys water system, repair streets torn up to repair the system and dig an additional water well. The city council called the town meeting in order to gain input from eHixens.

Mayor Robert Henning aaid that the council has been concerned about the city water ay stem and haa been examining it for four to five months. The council is using Jacks and Arse Vocational Technical School at Atchiaon. Darveaux waa a member of St. Marys Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Valley Falla. He waa married to Donna Sue Hridges March 18, 1980, at Valley Falla.

She survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Cassandra Sue Darveaux, of the homo; hia parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barnard J. Darveaux, Valley Falls; two sisters, Mrs.

Cynthia Boyd, Topoka, and Cathryn A. Darveaux, Valley Falls; three brothers, Gerald J. Darveaux, William J. Darveaux, and Bernard J. Darveaux all of Valley Falla; and a grandmother, Mrs.

Mary Darveaux, Falls City. Masa of Christian Burial waa celebrated Tuesday morning, Jan. 17, at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Valley Falls. Officiating at tho service waa tho Rev.

Fr. William G. O'Shea. Englebert Houorta was soloist and Mrs. Tom Bhrimpiia, organist.

Burial was In St. Marys Catholic Comstory, Valley Falla. Pallboarsrs were Gerald J. Darveaux, Stovoa E. Darvoaus, Paul L.

Tarry, Cletua Eagolkon, Thomas E. Shepard, and Bradley Tillery, members and other interested parties. A map of the log cabin waa drawn prior to tho move by Gary Bowen. Every log, floor piece, window, etc. waa numbered and these numbers were then marked to coincide on the materials at the building torn down piece by piece and moved to the present site.

Members worked Oct. 8 tearing it down and moved It Oct. 9. Tho cabin now about half com piste. All but a few logs were In Quote I goon working for the same reason that a hen goes on laying H.L.

Moncken The weather Tuesday. Jan. 10 ...25 12 .00 Wednesday, Jan. 11 85 18 Thursday, Jan. 12 .29 18 .00 Friday, Jan.

13 21 9 Saturday, Jan. 14. 18 7 Sunday, Jan. 15.... 22 10 Monday, Jan.

18.... 20 -2 News Briefs Jan Armstead reported Saturday that than ware 18 cardinals in tho backyard of tho family's Valley Falla home. Tha family throws broad enunba to tho birds. Bill Westbrook, Valley Falls, was tho winner of a quilt hi a drawing hold Saturday at Dodie'a Caauala, Valley ralla. Tho quilt waa mads for Linda Evorhart, Topoka.

Everhart and hor qufit wore featured In Tho Vindicator Doe. 29. Pro coeds of tho drawing will go to tho EUe Wood had to bsipta bor fight against birth dsfoets. Elio is tho throe year old daughter of Roger jndthWcod, Darrel Joseph Darveaux, 28, Valley Falls, was killed late Friday evening, Jan. 13, when his westbound 1989 Chevy jackup left K-18 six miles west of Valley Falla and overturned.

Darveaux waa thrown from his vehicle when it overturned and died bum a broken neck, a Kansas Highway Patrol dispatcher aaid. David L. Abramov Its, 20, Valley Falls, a passenger in the truck at the time of the accident, waa taken to the Jefferson County Memorial Hospital, Wine heater, where he waa admitted for treatment of a fractured small born In hia right leg and a laceration to his right cheek. He was released from the hospital Sunday and la convalescing at his home. Darveaux was a welder and worked at Iowa Boof Packing Co.

at Garden City. Ho formerly worked at We-Mac at Atchiaon. Darveaux waa born Aug. 24, 1967, at Falls City, tho son of Bernard J. and Rita Kooiser Darveaux, and came to Valley Falla with hia parents when bo waa 1 month old.

He attended Valley Falla whore ho participated in basketball, and track. He learned welding at Northeast Kansas.