subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Published August 29, 2008 08:31 pm - PITTSBURG, Kan. — A member of the Pittsburg Board of Education has resigned after questions were raised about whether he was still a resident of the school district.

Board member resigns after questions about residency



By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — A member of the Pittsburg Board of Education has resigned after questions were raised about whether he was still a resident of the school district.

Claron “Mark” Cole, a Pittsburg attorney, announced his resignation in a letter to the board on Aug. 27.

Cole has been the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Crawford County Clerk’s office to establish whether he resides in Pittsburg — and was therefore qualified to serve on the school board — since he sold his home earlier this summer.

Crawford County Clerk Don Pyle said Cole’s address raised questions at the county level, and that his office tried “at least a half-dozen times” to reach Cole for an explanation — something he said was never provided.

“A phone call from him could have answered a lot of questions,” he said. “We’ve never been able to reach him and he’s never returned our calls.”

Globe attempts to reach Cole at his office in Pittsburg were unsuccessful. A Pittsburg home phone listing for Cole has been disconnected. He was elected to the school board in the spring of 2007. His term was set to expire in 2011.

According to the county register of deeds office, Cole sold his home at 2404 S. Stillwell St. in Pittsburg on May 28. City records show Cole had the home’s water utility service shut off in his name on May 27. Officials with the register of deeds office said Cole does not own any other property in the county.

Also on May 27, Cole filed a renewal of his Kansas law license with the Kansas Supreme Court, which lists his home address as 3900 E. 10th St., in Trenton, Mo.

Trenton is located some 220 miles northeast of Pittsburg in Grundy County, Mo. The Grundy County Clerk’s office said Cole had not filled out a voter registration card as of Aug. 29.

In the meantime, Cole continued to carry out his duties as a duly elected school board member. The position does not receive a salary or other benefits, according to school district officials.

Board minutes show Cole continued to attend board meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month, except for July 28.

On July 14, Cole filed a voter registration card with the Crawford County Clerk’s office, which listed his home address as 112 E. Fourth St., in Pittsburg, which is the address of his law firm.

Pyle said the address, which is a commercial property without residential facilities, such as a kitchen or apartment, raised red flags at the clerk’s office.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!



Featured Jobs

ORTHOPAEDIC
Specialist of the Four States is currently accepting applications for the following postiions: Physical Therapist, Occcu...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

VOLKSWAGEN, 1998 BEETLE,
black, 5 speed, looks, runs and drives great, only 84,000 miles, $3400. 417-621-0850....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

NO CREDIT NEEDED QUALIFY
for 0 down Own completely remodeled 2/2 16x80 single section manufacturered home, 2 acres, trees, corner lot, large deck...>MORE

NO CREDIT
needed qualify for 0 down Own completely remodeled 3/2 16x80 single section manufacturered home, 2 acres, new front deck...>MORE

1995 16x72 2 BR, 2 BA,
fully furnished, all appliances, 1 owner, beautiful, smoke free, must move. $17,500. (417)423-2385....>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

CRAFTSMAN
radial 10” arm saw; skil saw 7 1/4”; Singer Featherweight machine; clocks/pocket watches; 7.62-54 rifle, accessories; Ca...>MORE

1993 KUBOTA 1560
lawn tractor, 42” cut with bagger, $800. (417)364-8231....>MORE

TEA CUP
Chihuahua pup, female, shots, wormed. Information (417)843-2735...>MORE

BASS BOAT, 2005
Lowe aluminum, 17’, 2005 90 hp Mercury, 2006 trailer, excellent shape, low hours. $7,500. (417)776-8846 evenings or 417-...>MORE

10 YEAR OLD BUCKSKIN
mare, 14-hands, broke for anyone, $750; miniature Jack and bred Jenny, $400 pair. (417)434-3700....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition