May 2, 1996

Two memorial trees were planted at Santa Fe Elementary school this spring. With assistance from Albert Zumalt, SFE students planted a tree in observance of Arbor Day. Sherry Drunert also planted a tree at the elementary school in memory of her mother, Mrs. Ruth Lank.

The 1996 Senior Citizens Prom was held at Santa Fe High School. The theme was “Everything Under Heaven” and the event was sponsored by the Santa Fe Elementary Student Council.

May 9, 1996

Anna Lee Woodward received the 1996 Anthony Thomas Chapter DAR of Waverly “Excellence in Community Service” award. Receiving the award in 1995 was Dr. Hugh P. Callaway and in 1994 was Mrs. Richard W. Bricken.

The Waverly High School class of 1945 held a reunion at Heritage House in Kansas City, hosted by Jean & Douglas Inman.

L.B Manning signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Central Methodist College in Fayette, and Donald Edwards signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Kemper Junior College in Boonville.

Death Notices: Frances Cardwell of Blackburn, Emilie Angel Hinz of Waverly

May 16, 1996

Two Youth Specialists at the Waverly Division of Youth Services suffered broken noses after a 15-year-old youth turned violent. The teen attempted to overtake the two employees as the boys were preparing for bed, and landed one punch each before he was subdued. He was later transferred to a secure care facility. Waverly was considered a moderate care unit.

Kyle Windmeyer was valedictorian for the Santa Fe High School class of 1996 and Erica Lovercamp was the salutatorian. There were 38 graduates in the class of 1996: Julie Jeanette Baker, Tighe Begley, Justin Boehmer, Nick Boehmer, Stephanie Boothe, Angela Mae Bright, Sherry Christine Bristow, Lucretia Carol Cooper, Stacey Renee Cramer, Donald E. Edwards, Joe Frazier, Angela Renea Gregory, Brian Michael Hemme, Jeff Hilbrenner, Anne Larkin, Tamie Larkin, Diana Layton, Darren Michael Ledbetter, Tabitha Lea Lorenzen, Erica L. Lovercamp, Laura Beth Manning, Lori Miller, Shaun Moenkhoff, Courtney Montgomery, Johanna Nolte, Robert Daniel Orear, Melissa Ott, Adam Plattner, Rachel Lea Purdy, Katrina Marie Read, Crystal Rehkop, Donald Ryan Rehkop, Robert Anthony Rehkop, Christy Lynn Rogge, Jackie Staton, Chris Wasson, Kyle Windmeyer and Becky Jo Young.

Death Notices: Susie Ray Lindsey of Waverly

May 23, 1996

Six Santa Fe track athletes qualified to compete in the Class 1A State meet in Jefferson City. At State, Sean Desmond placed 1st in the boys pole vault and Stacey Miller placed 5th in the girls discus. Also competing at the State meet were Kelly Dankenbring, Kyle Lovercamp and Kyle Windmeyer. Jamie Kempf qualified for state but was unable to compete due to an injury.

Three locals obtained Master’s Degrees this spring: Christy Lou Ferguson, of Waverly, received a Master of Social Work from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kelli Blackmore, daughter of Kenneth & Barbara Blackmore of Alma, received her master’s degree in business from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Suzanne Marie Prather Hudson, daughter of Greg & Donis Prather of Waverly, received her Master of Education degree from Mid-America Nazarene College.

Santa Fe school board held a special meeting to approve documents for the authorization of $800,000 General Obligation Bonds. The board also approved the hiring of summer workers at a rate of $4.25-$5.25 for students and $5.25-$6 for adults. Bids for architectural services on the construction of 11,000 square feet of metal building additions were also discussed.

Ruth Siler and Davis Cunningham were named King & Queen at Apple Ridge Care Center.

SFHS junior Stacey Miller was selected to attend the first ever Missouri Fine Arts Academy to be held at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield.

Death Notices: Paul E. Winfrey of Waverly

May 30, 1996

The first Lafayette County Farmer’s Market was held on May 21 in Higginsville. Farmers from Higginsville, Lexington, Wellington and Waverly were present.

The Waverly Times advertised single copies of the paper for $0.30 and one-year subscriptions for $12.

The Area XI Special Olympics track & field event was held at Wentworth Military Academy. Craig Closterman of Waverly placed first in the master’s division in the mile run.

Staff at The Waverly Times published a letter in the newspaper sharing the stark reality of the newspaper business, even including detailed figures: The paper was earning just $130 in revenue per week with postage expenses alone averaging $165 per week. At the time, The Waverly Times was one of the five smallest newspapers in the state of Missouri, and the company that owned it also owned three of the nine smallest newspapers in the state. They did so because they believe that communities, even small ones, need a hometown newspaper. The article noted a period of review that would end with a decision on July 1. Ultimately, various community members offered to help with operations and the decision to close the paper was put on hold.