Staples Historical Society secretary Mary Stangle Hess (right) shows off the cake presented to her and fellow SHS board members at the group's May 21 monthly meeting. Pictured (front row) are SHS Treasurer Sally Gorton, Donna Miller, Harold Moffett, (back row) Jim Mohler, Joyce Mohler and SHS president Amy Hunter. Board members and other SHS members pitched in to buy the cake and present her with a gift in appreciation for her work regarding the lengthy legal dispute which has recently been resolved. Stangle Hess was the board's legal affairs person regarding recent issues. A second lawsuit between the board and the attorney for a former board of directors was dismissed earlier this year by the district court, with the attorney ordered to pay for the SHS board's out of pocket expenses in defending the case. He initially filed suit against the SHS, seeking a purported $14,000 in legal costs. ( Staples World photo by Tom Crawford