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The murder trial of Lakievius Eleby got underway in Lamar superior court Wednesday morning with opening statements and witness testimony. Realtime trial updates follow... [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

Truck driver Larry Dobbins spent a late night playing cards at a mobile home on Hwy. 36 East Feb. 11 and decided to spend the night on the couch. He awoke the next morning to tragedy. [Full Story »] 

Jury selection in the murder trial of Lakievius Eleby was completed at 4:30 p.m. Monday [Full Story »] 

The Lamar County commission and the Lamar sheriff's office are offering a new, automated severe weather warning system. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

Two sisters who suffered severe smoke inhalation after being trapped in a mobile home fire here Feb. 12 died last week and were laid to rest Monday. [Full Story »] 

A joint funeral has been set for young fire victims Anna Hambrick and Hailey Power [Full Story »] 

Hailey Power died just after 9 a.m. Friday after being removed from life support. [Full Story »] 

Ten-year-old Anna Hambrick died at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday. UPDATE: Hailey Power showing some improvement. [Full Story »] 

Two girls remain in extremely critical condition following a Sunday morning fire at their mobile home at 1927 Hwy. 36 East Sunday moring. Meanwhile all nine persons involved in the fire have been identified and the cause of the blaze has been narrowed down. [Full Story »] 

Herald-Gazette subscriber Elliott Shimley blasted the county in a letter to the editor this week regarding being billed for fire fees he had already paid. We have had dozens of similar complaints. County administrator Bob Zellner promised a response by Friday, Feb. 3. We are still awaiting that response.

Here is Schimley's diatribe:

I received Lamar County’s letter on Jan. 20 accusing me of non-payment of the “carefully considered” fire and ambulance fees. As to the commission’s definition of “carefully considered,” in an article in The Herald Gazette on Dec. 7, 2010 the following is noted: From commissioner Nancy Thrash on small businesses: “I think we did some of them an injustice;” and from chairman Jay Matthews: “The process may be confusing” and he is “drafting an explanatory letter to be posted around the county” and “printed in the paper.” [Full Story »] 

Early voting for the Super Tuesday March 6 Presidential Preference Primary starts Monday, Feb. 13 and goes through March 2 at the Lamar County board of elections and registration office.
[Full Story »] 

James “Axel” Wiley, leader of the Boxing Club at the Lamar County Activity Center, could be found outside the county courthouse Tuesday as he protested a year-long suspension of his parental visitation rights. [Full Story »]