With one last echoing drumroll reverberating off the stage walls, the LED-light display ticked off the final Lions Club WPSD Local 6 Telethon of Stars donation amount Sunday to a round of applause as it flashed six golden figures.

The 56th annual telethon — the overnight, live-televised fundraiser for regional organizations that help disabled children and adults — rolled in $326,400 in community donations as this year’s celebrities and musical guests took to the stage for a final song in the 15th hour of goodwill.

“I just want to thank the community for what they do for us,” said Lori Devine, telethon chairwoman. “I’ve lived in this community almost my whole life and it’s such a unique, giving community. It’s so overwhelming every year to see what they do.”

The money will help ensure quality of services and programs for clients of four regional centers: Easter Seals West Kentucky, TLC of Southern Illinois, St. John’s Community Services-CDS of Tennessee and Easter Seals Southeast Missouri.

While last year’s Telethon of Stars went off air with $346,787, eventually reaching $540,000 after additional donations after the event, Devine said considering the economy and local company layoffs, the community stepped up to help even when the times were rough.

The telethon has raised more than $23 million in the past 55 years of on-air fundraising.

Kaler voted Paducah mayor

When Robert Coleman dropped out of Paducah’s mayoral race in September, Gayle Kaler continued to campaign. She was opposed only by write-in candidate Renee Raney, but Kaler continued spreading her mission to potential city voters throughout the fall.

“I didn’t do as much door-to-door campaigning as I would have liked,” Kaler said. “But I got out there and ran commercials and met as many people as possible. I still wanted that big affirmation. I told people I wanted to feel the love.”

Kaler received that affirmation after the Nov. 6 election when she was elected mayor with an unofficial tally of 7,874 votes.

Kaler was a three-term city commissioner and served as mayor pro tem for four years before announcing her run for mayor in December.

Kaler has owned Chantilles, a hair salon at 540 N. 32nd St., for 42 years and noted that she will be the first working mayor since Robert Cherry. She also takes on the role of the first female mayor since Gerry Montgomery, 17 years ago.

Kaler will replace three-term mayor Bill Paxton, who had reached the term limit.

Edward Leon Dodge named Distinguished Veteran

Edward Leon Dodge doesn’t often discuss the battles he fought during World War II. The veteran says he takes more pride in the victories he’s won at home.

Dodge, a Calvert City native, was honored for his service in Kentucky and abroad in a ceremony at American Legion Post 31, 425 Legion Drive.

Friends, family and McCracken County and Paducah city officials lauded Dodge for his contributions to a local fire department and his participation in the creation of memorials for both World War II and the Korean War.

Dodge served as chief of the Paducah Fire Department for 17 years, where he pushed to build three new fire stations and a training complex.

Dodge was also instrumental in making the Korean War Memorial, located in Dolly McNutt Plaza, a reality.

At a ceremony on Nov. 6, Judge-Executive Van Newberry presented Dodge with the Alben Barkley Distinguished Citizen’s Award, which he said is rarely given.

Newberry and Paducah Mayor Bill Paxton also gave Dodge the Paducah-McCracken County Distinguished Veteran’s Award.

Veterans receive the annual award based not only on their military service, but their continued contributions to the community, Paxton said.