Society

 After 38 years of working in the banking industry, Hawthorn Bank vice president Mary Gemes is retiring on Friday, November 2.

Mary was hired as a bank teller by Osage Valley Bank president Orla Crudginton back in July of 1975.

“I really didn’t have any training except for Mrs. Louise Campbell’s classes at Warsaw High School, but I learned on the job,” said Mary.

Mary took off a few years when her children were born but returned to the bank in 1980 where she would continue to work for the remainder of her career.

The 18th Annual Oktoberfest was held in Cole Camp on Saturday, October 13, with a warm reception, but cold weather.  About 300 people attended, with the majority of participants in the morning hours when the temperatures were mildest.

Fun, food, spooky decor and prizes greeted 42 disabled adults at a zombie themed Halloween Party on October 12, at the Warsaw Shrine Club. It was made possible by a cooperative sponsorship between the Center for Human Services (CHS) in Sedalia and the local Shrine Club, aimed at providing an opportunity for the attendees to get out in the community, socialize and have fun. Friends and family were also invited, increasing the number of people at the event to about 90.  

Dakota Todd, the son of Lyle and Shannon Schoolfield, was born without a right hand and a right pectoral muscle caused by a birth defect called, “Poland Syndrome.” Also, his right shoulder is higher than his left. Poland Syndrome, named after the British Surgeon Alfred Poland, is a rare birth defect characterized by underdevelopment or absence of the chest muscle on one side of the body and usually also webbing of the fingers of the hand on the same side.