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Connie Hancock (Jonesy’s), left, and Steve Hancock (Signature Masonary) have donated a bicycle to be given away during the 2009 Christmas on Main Street.

It’s this Saturday, Dec. 5!!! Don’t miss out on all the fun at Christmas on Main Street sponsored by the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce.
   The day’s events include the PTSA “Breakfast with Santa” from 8-10 a.m., at the Senior Center. Krispy Kreme donuts and drinks will be available. The visit with Santa is free (you can just come for the visit) and don’t forget to sign up to win a sled and snowsuit for a girl and boy donated by PTSA. The bicycle donated by Signature Masonry will also be given away at this time. Steve and Connie Hancock, of Signature Masonary and Jonesy’s Café respectively, have donated a bicycle to give away at Breakfast with Santa – Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Senior Center. It will be on display in the window of D&D Variety. To enter for the drawing residents must spend $5 at five different Paris area businesses. Simply have the clerk at the business write the business name and their name on the back of a form students brought home or pick up extra forms that are available at Paris Elementary School and the Paris Area Chamber office, and turn it in to the chamber office (use night deposit slot in Extension door) or bring to the breakfast.
   Come back to the Senior Center for the chamber soup/chili luncheon from 11a.m. - 1:30 p.m., and check out all the silent auction items and place your bids. The auction will conclude at 1:30 p.m. Items for this auction are currently on display in the D&D building windows. Country Homemakers plan to sell raffle tickets during the day and the winners will be announced at the turkey/noodle supper at First Christian Church (sponsored by Monroe County Young Farmers & Ranchers).
   Everyone in the community is invited to come to sing Christmas carols around the courthouse Christmas tree at the hours of 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. All children and adults welcome. Place your bids for the Christmas trees donated by the Monroe County 4-H Clubs starting at 1 p.m. Trees will be on display in the foyer area and the silent auction will conclude at 4:30 p.m., with proceeds going to support “Kids Helping Kids”.
   Shop around town all day and into the evening starting with the Paris Patriots 4-H Club morning bake sale at Paris Hardware, vendors at the courthouse from noon - 4 p.m., (At Home America – Heather Shultz, Mary Kay – Gail Gamboa, Streak-free clothes/wooden rose bouquets, etc. - Joyce Wagner, and Usborne Books – Peggy Ashbaugh are scheduled so far), and visit Mclaughlin’s Western Store Open House from noon – 7 p.m.
   “A Patriotic Christmas” parade will begin at 5 p.m. Contact David Eales 327-4192 or Gina Raines 327-4181for a spot in the parade. Prizes for the parade winners include: First place -$50 for float & non-float donated by Dr. Bob Swartz and Agnew Funeral Home. Second place - $25 donated by Mike’s Body Shop and Shelter Insurance – Russ Thomas. The parade announcer will be in front of the chamber office. Parade winners will be announced at the turkey/noodle supper at First Christian Church (sponsored by Monroe County Young Farmers & Ranchers) – to begin right after the parade.   2613 0949 12/3/2009 hdl

Xi Gamma Rho sponsors annual craft show

Local sorority Xi Gamma Rho held their annual craft show on Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Paris R-II High School Gymnasium. Lunch was served by the Paris Lions Club. According to the sorority members the event experienced good attendance this year. Left to right: First row - Mary Sue Branham, Joyce Hammond and Zelmajo Ragsdale. Second row - Becky Vanlandingham, Sandra Francis and Hazel Herron
      2614 0949 12/3/2009 hdl

NECAC has been able to weather what its president calls the “dark clouds” of the economic downturn by focusing on service to clients.
   NECAC, the North East Community Action Corporation, highlighted the successes of the last year and looked ahead to 2010 at its annual meeting Tuesday night.
   The event, attended by almost 200 people, was the first such gathering the agency had sponsored since 2007.
   “As so did many other non-profit organizations, government agencies and private businesses across the country, the NECAC Board of Directors voted to cancel last year’s annual meeting due to the national distressed conditions,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick. “It was not a time for annual meetings, corporate celebrations or office Christmas parties.”
   Patrick said that instead of focusing on doom and gloom, NECAC was aggressive in seeking new funding sources and adapting programs to meet the needs of the disadvantaged people it serves in 12 Northeast Missouri counties.
   Highlights included more than $7 million for affordable housing developments, $500,000 for housing revitalization, the launch of NECAC family planning services in Monroe County and $244,000 of additional funding for the Home Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program.
   Patrick said the agency also will be eligible for an additional $3.7 million over the next two years for the home weatherization program and $1.2 million for the agency’s community services programs from the federal stimulus.
   One of the developments yet to come is construction of a new Marion County service center to replace the one at 917 Broadway in Hannibal. Details will be announced soon.
   The agency has a budget of $26.7 million, $2.8 million more than last year and the largest in its 45-year history. There are more than 140 full-time and more than 250 part-time employees.
   “We will have many challenges and opportunities during the coming year and I am confident in the resources, experience and dedication of our board of directors, employees and volunteers,” Patrick said. “And, as usual, I expect we will meet these challenges head-on and will prevail.”
   NECAC board members were formally installed at the meeting. They include:
   • Lewis County: Jesse Roberts, Charles Walters and John Bracey.
   • Lincoln County: Matt Bass, Leroy Braungardt and Fred Layton.
   • Marion County: Lyndon Bode, Paul Maddox and Roy Hark.
   • Monroe County: Mike Whelan, Ron Greeson and Darla McClain.
   • Pike County: Curt Mitchell, the Rev. D. Randall Cone and Bette Maxwell.
   • Ralls County: George Lane, Dyas Keith and Debra Catlett.
   • Shelby County: Glenn Eagan, Debbie Coonrod and Troy Dawkins.   2615 0949 12/3/2009 hdl

The Missouri Department of Transportation has extended its emergency declaration waiving some regulations to help farmers harvest their crops and haul them to grain elevators and processors. The emergency declaration allows farmers to run their loaded trucks at 10% above the required weight limit and to ignore the hours-of-service requirements. The emergency declaration has been renewed until Dec. 22.
   “The wet spring caused a lot of farmers to get a late start planting their crops, and the heavy rains we received this fall made it tough to get those crops out of the fields,” Sen. Wes Shoemyer said. “Farmers are making good progress and this extension will help us finish the job.”
   Under MODOT’s emergency declaration, Missouri farmers are required to follow these guidelines:
   • Loaded, gross weight cannot be greater than 10% above the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle licensed weight;
   • Limit the transport of row crops from the farm to a local storage facility and empty return trips to the farm;
   • When crossing a bridge, the driver must not exceed 45 mph and must center the truck between the two lanes of the bridge;
   • No interstate travel is permitted
   • While transporting crops from farm to storage, farmers are not required to follow hours-of-service laws, and;
   • Farmers must carry a copy of the emergency declaration in each vehicle that operates in response to these relief efforts.
   With the extension, Sen. Shoemyer again reminds everyone to be aware of the increased agricultural traffic in the next couple of weeks as farmers rush to complete the fall harvest.
   “Please be alert for slow-moving trucks and combines on our rural roads,” Sen. Shoemyer said, “and make it a safe and successful harvest.”
   Farmers can download and print an emergency declaration by visiting the following website: www.modot.org/mcs.
   Information is also available at the Department of Agriculture website at www.mda.mo.gov.   2616 0949 12/3/2009 hdl

The Paris R-ll Preschool will have a Christmas Program Monday evening, December 7thin the Elementary Cafeteria. The morning class program will start at 6 PM and the afternoon class will start at 7 PM. The children will sing songs and fingerplays they have learned through out the year as well as Christmas songs. The public is invited to attend. Students in the morning class are Emilee Apel, Leo Bounds, Macy Bush, Mason Edwards, Ben Forrest, Foster Forsyth, Hunter Hargrove, Devin Jones, Donald Jones, Gavin Kirklin, David Knight, Reid Miller, Trentin Minks, Colton Poddany, Anna Raines, Ella Raines, Baylee Wade, Maddie Wheeler, Rance Wheeler, and Danica Wormington. Students in the afternoon class are Zachary Baker, Ryan Breid, Gavin Bybee, Robert Conboy, Zackary Conboy, Madi Crow, Sierra Davis, Gunnar Fountain, Charlie Fox, Joey Gibbs, Garrett Henry, Colton Kendrick, Kloie Kirkwood, Meghan Kirkwood, Paris Lehenbauer, Libby Vannoy, and Collin Young.   2618 0949 12/3/2009 hdl