The annual meeting of the Parker Community Historical Society was held on Nov. 17, 1998. Election of officers was held and the results were as follows: James Wilson, President; Helen Haverfield, Vice President; Glenn Merrill, Secretary; Cheryl Erwin, Treasurer; Osee Riggs, Recorder.

John Riggs, Eugene Prentice, Velda Lemon and Dale Keitel serve on the various committees. Marjorie Prentice has also been faithful in attending and participating in the meetings. All meetings of the society will continue to be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM.

Annual dues, if not already paid, may be paid at this time. Dues are $2.50 for a single membership, $4.00 for a married couple, and a lifetime membership is available for $35.00 per person. We now have exceeded the goal of 200 lifetime memberships.

The Parker Rural High School reunion is to be held on May 15, 1999 and we will open the museum from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on that day. Due to the lack of interest and due to the nightime banquet, the museum will not be open after the banquet. We are still making plans as to when the museum will be open during Memorial weekend. There is a great need for help in manning the buildings during the time they are open.

The PRHS alumni board has informed us that the scholarship awards will be presented again this year. The board has terminated the rule that the awards will be presented to one male and one female student. The awards will now be presented to the two most deserving students selected by the board. In the letter of recommendation the following should be included: Relationship of the student to the PRHS graduate; Community, family, and school achievements; and grade point average or comparable scholastic achievement. You may also include any church achievements. Please also include plans for future educational goals and any other information you feel is important. Please get your letters to Donna Cushing, President, RR 2, Box 104C, LaCygne, Ks 66040 by May 5, 1999.

Donations since the last newsletter include newspaper articles of the Gulf War, several 78rpm records, more collection trophies, new and old calendars, scrap books (one on loan), tapes about the Centerville area made by Florence Gorrell, Franse school pictures and student records, PRHS graduation diploma and certificate, pictures of PRHS athletic teams during the early and mid 1930's, several Parker Messages, Parker Grade School souvenir presented by a teacher, A WWII Eisenhower decorated army jacket and a 1934 banquet program to be added to our banquet collection.

WOW!! The contract has been let for refurbishing the old school house (the Koontz-Skinner residence). If all goes well, we will have the building open by alumni time. What an achievement that will be!! All this would not have been possible without the help of a lot of people in the community who have donated supplies, time, and suggestions. This has been a costly project and we hope you will agree that it has been worth it when you visit the building. Special thanks to Eugene Prentice and Glenn Merrill who donated their labor and time in rewiring the building. Also to Charles Singer and Tom King who volunteered their help.

Be sure to send all address changes to Cheryl Erwin, RR 1, Parker, Ks 66072 as soon as you receive them. This is of special importance to Linn County residents who will soon be getting their new street and number assignments.

We will appreciate your cooperation in this regard. Cheryl not only keeps these records for PCHS but also for PRHS.

The PRHS alumni board has asked us to report the following: A quilt made up of blocks from the various classes at PRHS is planned for this years reunion. It is hoped that this will help the amount in the treasurers account.

The quilt will be given away at the drawing during the banquet. The tickets for the drawing are $1 each and can be purchased from an alumni board member or ordered with banquet tickets.

As of this date, the following deaths of PRHS graduates have been reported to us. These deaths have been reported since last years banquet.

Name	Class	Date of Death
Florence Hampton Page	1920	08/16/98
Leona Newton Lowe	1925	06/4/98
Minta Hampton	1936	08/5/98
Anna Barkley Gowing	1931	02/8/99
Roy Merrill	1934	06/4/98
Wanda Akers Poland	1935	09/2/98
Kenneth Byers	1938	07/25/98
Gordon Gorrell	1939	02/16/98
Dorothy Gilpin Osborn	1941	11/20/98
Edgar Webster	1949	06/13/98
Wilma Knight Henesey	1926	04/02/99