Plattsburg Christmas Honorees See who has been selected as this year’s Person of the Year, Parade Grand Marshalls. || PAGE A3
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Thursday, December 5, 2024 | Plattsburg • Lathrop • Gower • Cameron |
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CITY OF CAMERON
City council hears input on the city hall dilemma by jamey honeycutt leader publisher
Public outcries prompt more repair options for useless city hall Monday night’s Cameron City Council meeting was one of the shorter meetings of the year, but a pro-
ductive meeting nonetheless, with three items passed unanimously, library board appointments and upgrades coming for Recreation Park. During public comment, Huston Jack approached the council with an alternative idea for the
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Helping those in the path of devastation by brett adkison leader editor
In late September, Hurricane Helene made landfall and devastated parts of Florida and Georgia before it weakened and headed inland. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean the storm’s wrath was over. The Category 4 hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved over western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, where it dumped historic amounts of rain. The region was already saturated with rainwaters from the previous days, and the new down-pouring overwhelmed rivers, creeks and infrastructure. Between the flooding and high winds, trees were toppled, taking out power lines. Homes were swept away, roads
failed, and more than 100,000 residents were without power. Water and wastewater treatment plants were overtaken by the floods. In Lathrop, business owner Heather Menteer wasn’t just startled by the devastation, but also by how quickly the nation’s attention seemed to shift elsewhere. “The fact that it just wasn’t on national news for more than a day or two confused and frustrated me so much,” said Menteer, who owns and operates Oak Street Tattoo. Families were reeling after losing loved ones. Many others remained missing. Their stories crossed the nation through social media and independent news outlets. “I was heartbroken for these ||Continued on A3
city hall problems. Jack suggested that the city ditch rehabbing the ailing city hall in lieu of a different, more streamlined pole barn-style building located at the new ballfield complex. “We have had good luck with our Morton Building south of town,”
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scratch. The council seemed impressed by his ideas and invited him and others to attend a town hall discussion located at the Tyrrell Theatre at the Cameron Regional YMCA on Monday, De||Continued on A2
The Lathrop FFA Chapter organized its 2024 Mules Pack Meals Campaign, as LHS students and staff packed more than 30,000 meals on Tuesday, November 26. Those meals will go to help those in need in Lathrop and the area not just this holiday season, but far beyond. For more photos, see page A12 of this edition. photos courtesy of lathrop ffa
HOLIDAYS
Community Christmas this weekend leader editor
THE LEADER
add dual-use parking that is desperately needed, and that all utilities are already available. Other suggestions online have included repurposing the community center, as well as razing the entire structure and starting from
MULES•PACK•MEALS
by brett adkison
Lathrop’s Heather Menteer (second from left) and volunteers dropped off needed supplies in eastern Tennesse after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. submitted photo
said Jack, speaking of CP Excavating’s building, adding, “I think this could be a cheaper alternative than what you are talking about with this city hall.” He suggested that by relocating city hall to the ballfield complex, they could
Communities throughout Clinton County are ushering in the holiday season with annual Christmas events. The 14th Annual Plattsburg Community Christmas will be Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7, in downtown Plattsburg. Friday’s festivities will start with train rides from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (in front of the Community Courtyard),
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games and more from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Locust Street), Kids’ Holiday Small Mall from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Club Pulse), and a visit from Santa at 6:15 p.m. at The Backyard. The Forever Christmas Bazaar, Sweet Shoppe and Cafe Noel will be from 5 p.m. to 8 :30 p.m. There will also be crafts and photos with Mrs. Claus from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tinnen Town Hall, coinciding with the Festival of Trees, which will run throughout the month.
The main event starts at 7 p.m. with the annual Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting at 7 p.m., followed by the Lighted Christmas Parade. The awards and auction will follow the parade at the courtyard. Saturday will be packed with fun, including the Christmas Homes Tour (ticket required) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Church Open House from 10 a.m. to noon. Photos with Santa will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
All-KCI Football Selections
Thanksgiving Fun and Service
See which student athletes in the conference earned postseason honors for their play
Students at Ellis Elementary and Lathrop Elementary had some fun ahead of the break.
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the Community Courtyard. There will also be face-painting, crafts and a balloon artist. There will also be train rides Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Kids’ Holiday Small Mall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See the Plattsburg Community Christmas page on Facebook for more information. Cameron will have its annual Festival of Lights on Friday, November 30, ||Continued on A2
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VOL. 130, NO. 5