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Barbara Ryan receives the Volunteer of the Year 2012 for the BRHC Auxiliary.

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Frieda Ingram receives the Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Volunteer of the Year 2012 for the American Red Cross.

Trenton Rhea and family

Former Sedalian Sgt. 1st Class Trenton L. Rhea is pictured with his wife, Leah Reid Rhea, and daughters, Joanna, Abigail and Autumn. He died in Afghanistan on May 15.

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Assistant Superintendent Nancy Scott, left, gets a laugh out of Parkview Elementary School Principal Kelly Soboski's stories about Superintendent Harriet Wolfe during Wednesday's surprise celebration to mark Wolfe's retirement. Sobaski told Wolfe: "I am a 1975 graduate of this district, and I have never been prouder. ... I am proud of where we are going. Thank you for all you've done for this school district."

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State Fair Community College held its graduation ceremony on Friday. These happy Roadrunners are pictured eagerly waiting outside for the ceremony to begin. According to SFCC, a record 857 degrees and certificates were awarded to 756 candidates for graduation during Friday night’s commencement exercises, including 431 associate of arts degrees, 255 associate of applied science degrees, 34 associate of arts in teaching degrees, two associate of science degrees, 80 professional certificates, and 55 skills certificates. The numbers include students who attended SFCC-Lake of the Ozarks, SFCC-Clinton and SFCC-Whiteman AFB.

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Michal Herrington, of Sedalia, recently took this photo of a beautiful sunset. He wrote, “This was taken from the Katy Trail where it crosses Highway O in Beaman. I had just finished a five-mile walk with my friend and found this glorious sunset when we returned to our vehicles. I pulled out my phone hoping to get a picture, but had no idea it would be so beautiful!”

Sedalia Middle School students to give book review

Sedalia Middle School students Brett Grupe, left, and Joseph Snelling will give a book review on Thursday.

Big Ass Rock Festival hopes to get noticed

The Texas Hippie Coalition will be the headlining band for the Missouri Big Ass Rock Festival. They are scheduled to appear about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Democrat Salutes Washington Elementary School supporters

As a celebration for the end of the school year, Washington Elementary School supporters, from left, Joe Beykirch, Larry Foster and Tracy and Larry Husk provide hot dogs, chips and drinks for the entire school population on Friday. Also contributing and not pictured are John Foster and Chris Wallen.

A Debt Expressed

Paul Robert Ford, of Sedalia, was killed in Korea on Nov. 16, 1952. His brother escorted his body back to Sedalia. He was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery on Feb. 14, 1953.

Paul Robert "Red" Ford

Paul Robert "Red" Ford

Meth seizure called biggest in Sedalia

Officers with the Sedalia Police Department served a search warrant at a home in the 600 block of South Osage Avenue early Thursday morning and found a pound a meth, $18,500 in cash and a handgun as well as drug

packaging supplies.

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Representatives from the Sedalia Post Office and area social service agencies pose on Wednesday morning at the post office for the kickoff of the Postal Carrier Food Drive, which will take place Saturday. Postal customers may leave food out by the

mailbox for postal carriers to pick up. All food collected will be distributed locally.

Pictured, front row, from left: Cynthia Hopper, Salvation Army social work director; Julie Taylor, food drive coordinator; Mayor Elaine Horn; Jack Menges, Open Door executive director; Darren White, regional coordinator for Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri; Deborah Arney, letter carrier; and Linda Hoffmann, president of Letter Carriers’ auxiliary. Back row: Dustin Nolting, customer service worker for U.S. Post Office; Jimmy Muin, letter carrier; David Simmons, letter carrier; and Kevin Stals, letter carrier.

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Sedalia Mayor Elaine Horn, right, presents a formal proclamation in support of the Postal Carrier Food Drive to Julie Taylor, the event’s coordinator.

Center Stage dancers "Mad World"

Center Stage dancers who performed “Mad World” included Meaghan Mueller, left, Shelby Bradshaw, Meghan Horner, Elex Simon and Rachel Thompson.

Center Stage dancers younger group

Center Stage dancers who performed “Route 66” and “Boy From New York City” included Zachery Michael, front left, Paige Bradley, Livia Warren, Lindsey Curtis, Olivia Eichler, back left, Addison Trammell, Tracy Shelly, Sarah Bradbury and Emilee Simon.

Euphemia Zahringer

Marianne Hunter, left, examines the quilt that Laura DeVenney, center, presented to Euphemia Zahringer, right, on behalf of the Mid-Missouri Quilts of Valor group. Hunter nominated Zahringer, a World War II veteran, for the honor. The quilt was presented April 25 during Favorite Poem Night at First Christian Church.

The Democrat Salutes Warren Clark

Warren Clark recently donated 188 hand-made caps to Open Door Ministries to be given to clients. Warren and June Clark made the donation to Shirley Neff, Beneviolent Director of Open Door Ministries.

Community Snapshot: Snow? In May?

Rhonda Warnke, of Stover, submitted this photo of snow-covered flowers taken during Friday’s freak May snowstorm.

The Democrat Salutes the Sedalia Welcome Club

The Sedalia Welcome Club made a $300 donation on April 20 to the Meals on Wheels Annual Fundraiser held at Our Savior Lutheran Church.  Pictured from left are the Meals on Wheels representatives Shirley Collins, Shirley Homan, Michelle Rigney, Ways and Means Chair for The Sedalia Welcome Club, and Meals on Wheels representatives Jill Haney and Jim Meyer.  The funds were matched by Thrivent.

"Oblivion"

A scene from "Oblivion."

The Bus' proposed route expansion

The proposed new routes for The Bus would bring service to Sedalia’s outlying areas including Menard’s to the west, Smith-Cotton High School to the south and the Boonville Street trailer park to the east. All three routes would meet at State Fair Shopping Center for transfers.

Advisor proud of SCREAM’s FIRST effort

Smith-Cotton High School’s Team SCREAM recently placed 78th of 100 teams in its division during the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championships, held last week in St. Louis. Team members include, from left, Ayden Bartley, Garrett Bouslaugh, Cameron Harris, Bill Chapman, advisor Michael Wright, Keegan Kendrick, Zach Greene, Logan Meier, Zel White, Nick Wagenknecht, Spencer Hanes, Josh Mefford, Alex Hill and Bailey Smith.

UCM students get scholarships

Curtis Cooper, professor of computer science, left, presented the Ruth Allwell Moore Scholarship to Brandon Burns, Julie Cronin, LeighAnn Sherfey and Logan Keeler on March 27 at the University of Central Missouri Mathematics Awareness Banquet.

Strikers win tournament

The Sedalia Strikers under-10 soccer team won the Champions of the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper Cup on April 21 in Springfield. They beat Lambert 8-0, Fury SC 5-0 and Springfield Soccer Club 8-0 to reach the title game, in which they beat Fury SC White 8-0. Front row, from left: Hayden Herrick, Adam Webb and Lennyn DeLeon. Back row: Assistant coach Kevin Webb, Tyler Goss, Ally Woolery, Alex Walsh, Wesley Morrison, Malacki Ehlers, Eric Bennett-Wade, Sam Cash and coach Jake Herrick.

Prichard turkey

Landon Walk-Prichard took this turkey on April 6. It weighed 19 lbs and had a 10-inch beard and 1-inch spurs.

The Democrat Goes on Vacation to Cars Land

Jace, 8, and Jake Bales, 5, of Houstonia, recently visited Cars Land while vacationing at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., with their parents, Justin and Jessica Bales. While there, the brothers had their picture taken with a copy of the Sedalia Democrat. Take us on vacation with you! Readers are invited to submit photos of themselves or family members displaying a print edition of the Sedalia Democrat taken at their vacation destination. Photos will be published on Page 2 and posted online.

Community Snapshot: Colorful Visitors Arrive

Ron and Judy Camirand, of Sedalia, recently took this photo of some colorful American gold finches to their yard. Ron wrote, “The pictures show them only eating, but there are as many as 10 to 15 birds sitting on tree branches waiting their turn.” He added, “P.S. The male is bright yellow. The female is brown.”

"Lucky Stiff"

Actors in State Fair Community College’s “Lucky Stiff” include Mary Conlin (left, as Annabel Glick), Shawn Cahail (as dead body) and Zach Craft (as Harry Witherspoon).