Graeber, longtime public servant, dies at 87
Clyde Graeber, who represented the Leavenworth area in multiple positions in state and local government, died Sunday.
He was 87, according to an obituary prepared by Davis Funeral Chapel.
Graeber served as the mayor of Leavenworth and represented the area in the Kansas House of Representatives. He also served as the state treasurer and secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
He more recently served on the Leavenworth County Commission.
“I really enjoyed working with Clyde,” County Clerk Janet Klasinski said.
She said Graeber was a true gentleman who cared about each person in the county.
First candidate files for Leavenworth City Commission
One person has already filed as a candidate this year for the Leavenworth City Commission.
Griff Martin filed as a candidate Friday. County Clerk Janet Klasinski said Martin is the only person who has filed as a candidate for local races that will be on the ballot in November.
The filing deadline is June 1.
Various positions in local city governments and school boards will be up for election this year.
There will be three positions up for election on the Leavenworth City Commission.
Martin, 37, said raising the quality of life for families and pushing for strong economic growth are priorities for him as a candidate for the City Commission. Protecting individual liberties is another issue he cited as a priority.
Petition not valid
The Leavenworth Times
A petition seeking the repeal of the city of Leavenworth’s mask order does not contain the required number of signatures, the county clerk said.
County Clerk Janet Klasinski said the petition needed 695 signatures of people who are registered to vote in the city of Leavenworth in order for the document to be considered valid. But Klasinski said the petition was five or six signatures short of the number needed.
April Cromer, who was involved in the petition drive, said the petition was turned in with 844 signatures.
But Klasinski said many of the signatures could not be counted. She said more than 20 people signed the petition more than once. Some of the people who signed the petition are not registered voters. And some of the people who signed the petition do not live in the city.
Leavenworth to consider extension of mask order
Opponents submit petition
The Leavenworth Times
As Leavenworth city commissioners prepare to consider an extension of a mask order, signatures are being checked on a petition from a group seeking to repeal the order.
When they meet this evening, commissioners are scheduled to consider an extension of an ordinance that requires people to wear masks or other face coverings in public spaces in the city of Leavenworth.
Commissioners approved the ordinance in November in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The ordinance, which was approved by a 4-1 vote, will expire at the end of Sunday if it is not extended.
Group seeking repeal of mask ordinances
A group of local residents are collecting signatures in an attempt to repeal city mask ordinances.
If enough signatures of registered voters are collected, the issue of whether to repeal the mask ordinances for the cities of Leavenworth, Lansing and Tonganoxie could be placed on ballots for a special election.
The governing body for each of the three cities has passed an ordinance that requires people to wear face coverings in public spaces. The ordinances were approved as a way to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
A countywide mask mandate is not in place for Leavenworth County. County commissioners opted of the governor’s mask order but recommend that people wear masks.