Bob Parker, Celebration of His 97th Birthday

Robert H. Parker (Bob) will be celebrating his 97th birthday on August 4, 2014.  His family will be hosting a card shower to help him celebrate.  He will be remembered by many as their rural mail carrier out of the Russell Post Office.  Please send birthday wishes to:  Bob Parker 1110 N. 6th St.  Apt 2, Chariton, IA  50049.

Don and Grace Holmes Celebrate 60th Wedding Anniversary

Randy Nickell Retires from DOT after 31 Years

Chariton Leader, April 8, 2014

Bill Howes, Associate Editor

For over the past three decades, Randy Nickell has been a constant with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT).  Nickell is a highway tech associate with the Iowa DOT and he's retiring after 31 years of service on April 10th.  He works at the DOT Maintenance Garage by Pin Oak Marsh south of Chariton on Highway 14.

Nickell, 57, has held the same position with the DOT for the past 31 years.  His position title has changed as it was called an Equipment Operator I when he started in 1983.

Nickell and his wife, Wendy, live in Russell.  Wendy is the city clerk of Russell and they've lived there for 30 years.  They have been married for 38 years.  There will be a retirement coffee for Nickell at the DOT Maintenance garage on April 10, from 1-3 p.m

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Peggy Christensen Retires from Morton Buildings after 40 Years

Chariton Herald-Patriot April 3, 2014

Bill Howes, Associate Editor

When Christensen started working at Morton Buildings, Richard Nixon was still President. Christensen has worked through eight different U.S. Presidents during her tenure at Morton Buildings.  Two months before she started, the speed limit had been lowered to 55 miles per hour on highways.  About two weeks after she started on April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's all-time  home run record with his 715th career home run.

Peggy is also known as Mrs. Claus.  She and her husband, Dick, live in Russell and they will celebrate 45 years of marriage in June.  They have also lived in the same house for 45 years.

Many people know the Christensens as Santa and Mrs. Claus as well for the times they've played the Clauses at different places.  

Peggy said that she will miss the people, both the employees and the customers, most in her retirement.  She will also miss the everyday challenge of the work.

Gayla (DeBok) Posch named 2014 Elementary Teacher of the Year

Tomahawk Elementary fourth grade teacher, Gayla Posch, was nominated by her building colleagues as a candidate for Olathe Public School's 2014 elementary teacher of the year last fall.  Olathe is a district of 23,000 students.

On Nov. 6, 2013 a district committee narrowed nominations by choosing three highly qualified elementary educators as semi-finalists in the state wide award program.

The semi-finalists were then videotaped in an interview and while teaching.  Following this, the selection committee met on December 9th to select one district finalist and Gayla Posch was selected as the 2014 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee for the Olathe Public Schools, and will now submit an application to the Kansas State Department of Education in the spring for Kansas Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Gayla Posch considers her fourth-grade students to be little banks that she invests her time in, and reaps the benefits when she asks for their attention and enthusiasm in return.

"My greatest accomplishment has to be the relationships I've built with my students and their families," said the 14 year district educator. She often attends her students' games, recitals and other events and loves hearing about and from former students who say she had an impact on their lives.

Gayla DeBok Posch is the daughter of David and Shari DeBok of Russell, granddaughter of Jo and Charles DeBok of Boone and Helen and the late Floyd Coulson of Russell.  She was a 1995 graduate of Russell High School and received her Bachelors of Education and Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, and received an ELL endorsement through Kansas State University.  Gayla and her husband, Jason, 6 year old daughter Addie and 3 year old daughter Jordyn live in Gardner, Kansas.