THREE GENERATIONS OF SAME FAMILY OVERSEE NEWLY FORMED BIEHLE

BIEHLE -- Voters here elected three generations of the Buchheit family to two-year terms on the Biehle Board of Trustees Tuesday. Most of those who voted -- all seven of them -- also were family members who reside in this town 27 miles north of Cape Girardeau off I-55.

All but two of the town's nine residents and registered voters are members of the Buchheit family. All three who were elected ran unopposed.

Rudy Buchheit, his daughter-in-law, Rhonda, and his grandson Nick were elected to office. Just about every family member has served on the board since the town incorporated in 1991.

Rudy was the town's first mayor. "It lasted about half an hour and then he said he was retiring," Rhonda said.

Rudy added: "It was too big of a job." His son Kenny then became mayor. Tim Peters, one of the two non-family members, is the current mayor.

Only seven people voted in the election Tuesday, Rhonda said, because two of her children were away at college. "We forgot to tell them," she said.

Since campaigning is unnecessary, sometimes the entire town almost forgets it is an election day before anyone remembers to go vote, Rhonda said.

This year she called the voters and reminded them to vote. Only nine people are registered voters here.

The Biehle Social Club, which formed to organize youth sports leagues, serves as the community's polling place.

Although the Buchheits joke about their election races, they are serious about their commitment to the town and local fire district.

The Biehle town board was formed in 1991 to establish a fire protection district in the 56-acre Perry County community. The board meets on the second Thursday of each month.

"We do go through all the procedures for our meetings," Rhonda said, adding that they last about an hour. "We meet in the office and the doors are open so anybody can come in and share ideas."

The Buchheits initiated the community's incorporation in 1991 so that the area would have fire protection. Almost 10 years ago a fire destroyed the family-owned business, Buchheit Inc., a farm- and building-supplies store.

So Tim Buchheit, Rhonda and Ken's son found a way for the family to get fire protection for their business and benefit other residents, as well: Create a fire district for the newly-incorporated Biehle community.

Shortly after forming the fire district, voters approved a 1-cent sales tax to help with the purchase of a fire truck and equipment. The tax, raised entirely through sales at the Buchheit store, generated about $90,000. Only 25 percent goes to the town for operating costs; the rest goes to the fire district.

"Basically, we tax ourselves," Rhonda said. "It sounds simple but it's not quite that simple."

The Buchheit store and most family residences are part of the incorporated town. St. Maurus Church and school, named after Maurus Biehle, the town's founder, isn't part of the city even though it sits just across the street.

But the Buchheits say expanding their borders could be a future task. The most recent project for the town was to install street lights along Route B.

"We realized how dark it was when the kids were out for Halloween," Rhonda said, adding that the lights extend beyond the town limits to the interstate.

Before the lights were installed, fire department volunteers parked the fire trucks along the road with headlights on so that the children would be safe, Rhonda explained.

About 18 area residents serve as volunteer firefighters for the Biehle Fire Protection District. None of them live in the Biehle community, said Jeff Leible, a Buchheit employee and volunteer firefighter.

The district also serves the small communities of Freidheim, Apple Creek and parts of Longtown.