OLD APPLETON STILL AT 82

OLD APPLETON, Mo. -- Mayor Kenneth Buchheit figures the Census Bureau counted right when it put the town's population at 82 last year. That also was the town's population 10 years ago.

"Nothing has changed," he said. "I am pretty sure that is right," said the 54-year-old Buchheit, who has lived in the town his entire life.

Buchheit didn't need the Census Bureau to do the counting. "I did it in my head in December," the mayor said. "I can pretty well go up the street and count them in my head."

He said most people who grow up in Old Appleton never leave. Buchheit has been mayor of the town for about 20 years.

"I don't think they know anybody else that would take the job," he said.

Buchheit is happy with the census figure, which is higher than it was some decades ago. "It was down to 75 at one point, so we are growing," he said.

As mayor, Buchheit doesn't want the town to grow too fast. "We just have enough money to pay for city lights and keep the street up and things like that."