By staff writer
John J.D. Lester, who has been Hermann’s city administrator for less than two years, was named city manager of Chanute, Kan., last week.
The City of Chanute approved the hiring at last Monday night’s city commission meeting.
Lester submitted his resignation to the city of Hermann last Tuesday morning following the formal action by the Chanute City Commission on Monday night. Chanute has a population of just under 10,000.
Lester came to Hermann in March 2007 to replace Steve Mueller, who served as city administrator before retiring. Lester had worked as member services coordinator for the Missouri Public Utility Alliance based in Columbia. His wife, Cheri, worked as<<Full Story>>        

Top Stories Lester named city manager at Chanute, Kan. 8/20/2008 6:55:40 PM By staff writer John J.D. Lester, who has been Hermann’s city administrator for less than two years, was named city manager of Chanute, Kan., last week. The City of Chanute approved the hiring at last Monday night’s city commission meeting. Lester submitted his resignation to the city of Hermann... Hermann route for Tour of Missouri is announced 8/14/2008 5:51:59 PM By staff writer Organizers for the second Tour of Missouri last week announced more specific details of the two stages that will involve mid-Missouri towns. There will be rolling road closures as the bicycle riders race along streets and country roadways, just as there were a year ago. Hermann... Penning, Esphorst, Owsley win county races 8/5/2008 10:54:18 PM By Don Kruse Advertiser-Courier Matt Penning won the Republican nomination for northern district commissioner of Gasconade County, unseating 12-year veteran Max Aubuchon in Tuesday’s primary election. Penning, a first-time county candidate, will now face Democrat Keva Brehe Limberg in the November... Buckridge peaches rebound nicely 7/30/2008 1:08:17 PM By Don Kruse, Editor Advertiser-Courier They’re back and juicy as ever, and that’s good news for peach lovers, and a welcome relief for Larry Bock, owner of Buckridge Peach Orchards in rural Hermann. Bock, along with his crew at Buckridge, were picking peaches this past weekend for the first... Hermann's DREAM plans are reviewed 7/22/2008 5:26:21 PM By staff writer The city has completed a comprehensive downtown strategic plan for the DREAM Initiative that was reviewed at a public meeting last Thursday night. The comprehensive downtown strategic plan will be particularly useful, thanks to the help of the urban/redevelopment planning firm Peckham... Group questions accuracy of study to do 3-5 Center 7/1/2008 9:26:31 PM Members of the Gasconade County Courthouse Society are questioning one of the options being considered for a county government center, saying that a firm’s figures to convert the 3-5 Center at Owensville into a center were not calculated the same as two other options. Routes announced for 2008 Tour of Missouri race 6/25/2008 9:41:31 PM The routes for all the stages of this year’s Tour of Missouri professional cycling race were announced Monday in St. Louis by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. Stage 6 that starts in Hermann at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, will finish in St. Charles. The distance for this... Courthouse Analysis Committee presents designs to Commission 6/10/2008 4:37:32 PM By staff writer The Gasconade County Courthouse Analysis Committee made their final presentation to the county commissioners at the regularly scheduled commissioner’s meeting held at Owensville last Thursday, June 5. LOCAL NEWS Ice Cream Social and auction to benefit Rotunda restoration 8/20/2008 6:56:24 PM By staff writer The public is invited to an ice cream social and auction to benefit the Rotunda Restoration Project in Hermann’s Upper City Park this Sunday, August 24, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Rotunda. This fourth annual fundraiser for the Rotunda is sponsored by The Brush & Palette Club. Those... Rain, rain go away, area crops have had enough 7/30/2008 1:09:04 PM By Don Kruse, Editor Advertiser-Courier If you make your living farming, the heavy rain that fell on Sunday night and into Monday morning would stir emotions. After a much-needed rain that spread across several days last week, another 3-inches late Sunday in southern Montgomery County wasn’t... Plaza area for Hermann statue is unveiled 7/22/2008 5:27:49 PM By staff writer A conceptual drawing of the parkway where the statue of Arminius, Hermann’s namesake, will be located was presented last Thursday night. The artist’s rendering was displayed during Hermann’s review of the DREAM Initiative. It was designed by the PGAV Urban Consulting, the firm working... Gasconade County Courthouse Society formed, elects officers 5/7/2008 3:33:44 PM The Gasconade County Courthouse Society has been formed to support the restoration and preservation of the historic courthouse and retain Hermann as the seat of government for Gasconade County. “Our courthouse has been ignored for many years and needs immediate attention. There must be a serious effort... Hermann approved for $400,000 grant through DREAM initiative 8/14/2008 5:53:41 PM By staff writer Gov. Matt Blunt announced last Tuesday that the city of Hermann has been approved for a $399,730 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The grant will be used to continue downtown revitalization in Hermann and is part of the the... Petitions presented to commissioners for moving county seat 8/7/2008 4:58:20 PM By staff writer The Owensville Chamber of Commerce once again has presented a petition to the Gasconade County Commission to move the county seat from Hermann to Owensville. John Adams appeared at last Thursday’s commission meeting and announced that he was turning in 222 pages with nearly 3,100... REGIONAL NEWS Judge rules against commissioners in case of accepting salary increases 6/5/2008 8:45:58 AM By staff writer A Franklin County judged has ruled against two Gasconade County commissioners who took pay raises during the middle of their terms. Judge Cynthia Eckelkamp, in handing down her decision on May 19, said northern district commissioner Max Aubuchon of Hermann and southern district... Information meeting on Tour of Missouri Aug 26 8/20/2008 6:49:55 PM The Hermann Tour of Missouri organizing committee will hold an informational meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 26. This meeting will start at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Hermann High School auditorium. Hermann will be the start city for Stage 6 of the Tour of Missouri race. That stage will begin on Saturday,... Judge rules commissioners must also pay plaintiff’s attorney fees 8/7/2008 4:54:03 PM By staff writer A Franklin County judge, in her final judgement of a lawsuit against two Gasconade County commissioners, has ruled that Jerry Lairmore of Owensville and Max Aubuchon of Hermann must pay all of the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees. Judge Cynthia Eckelkamp of Union handed down her decision... SPORTS Football jamboree Friday night at Hermann High School 8/20/2008 6:57:46 PM By staff writer The Hermann Bearcats will once again be the host team for a football jamboree on Friday night, Aug. 22, at the Bearcats Stadium. Admission is $2, kindergarten through adult. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the first scrimmages are at 6:30. The same four teams will play... Virginia paddler finds river race fun, and time to reflect 7/22/2008 5:29:21 PM By Don Kruse, Editor Advertiser-Courier Dave Lincoln, 53, of Springfield, Va., was feeling some excitement last week that he should have experienced, he said, in his boyhood days while growing up on a farm near Centralia. But now he knows what it is like to explore the Missouri River by boat. “I... Tour of Missouri lures top teams from Tour de France 8/14/2008 5:55:23 PM By staff writer The Tour of Missouri, set for next month, will feature three teams that were among the top in the field at the Tour de France. That’s why organizers are calling this year’s Tour a better one than the inaugural in 2007. Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of event organizer Medalist... Fall sports practices begin at Hermann High on Aug. 11 8/7/2008 5:00:34 PM By staff writer All athletes who plan to participate in Fall sports at Hermann High School need to be ready to report for practice on Monday, August 11. Coaches for cross country, football, softball and volleyball are making plans for pre-season practices. Athletes interested in participating...