Odd years technically mean reassessments for property taxes. Reassessments usually mean tax increases for owners.

Buchanan County Assessor Scot Van Meter's office managed to avoid a countywide reassessment in 2007, and he said he's trying again this year. Such a six-year freeze is rare, but necessary, he said.

"We're in extreme times right now," Mr. Van Meter said. "No assessor in their right mind wants to raise appraisals knowing that the market's going down."

The Missouri State Tax Commission evaluates county assessments to make sure they're keeping up with market values. Mr. Van Meter described a kind of push-and-pull between the state and county assessors, who are under local pressure to keep taxes low.

Mr. Van Meter said assessors are eyeing possible state Legislature efforts that would require a freeze.

Crude pipeline

under way

Construction on a second pipeline through Buchanan County is ready to roll this summer.

TransCanada's Keystone Oil Pipeline project will carry crude oil along the same path as the Rockies Express West natural gas pipeline, which was constructed in 2007. The west-east route begins near Contrary Creek at the Missouri River, follows south of Agency, to the east county line near U.S. Highway 169 South.

Heavy construction will begin around June 1, said Keystone representative Jim Prescott.

The Keystone pipeline will not interrupt rural residents as much as the previous pipeline. Mr. Prescott met with county commissioners and said the company will bore beneath roads rather than cut through them, allowing roads to remain open.

The pipeline begins in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, and comes south to Steele City, Neb. There it splits in two. Buchanan County is along the east leg, which carries the crude to a Conoco-Phillips refinery and a storage facility in Illinois.

Sheriff wary of drama

Steven Zorn's sentencing raised the eyebrows of Sheriff Mike Strong. Mr. Zorn pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of month-old Cora Jean Lockhart.

The sentencing audience included about 20 family members of both Mr. Zorn and the victim, some of whom sat next to each other. Nothing ensued, but it was enough to put Mr. Strong on the edge of his seat in the courtroom.

He asked for a second bailiff and placed the two deputies more strategically in the room. Mr. Strong said the bailiffs would change strategies for future high-profile hearings.

Judge Kellogg

gets a clip

Forgive this bit of fashion news, but perhaps the only newsworthy hair at the courthouse is Judge Dan Kellogg's - or used to be.

Mr. Kellogg's mane had been seen for years at the bench, bouncing behind him on runs, and on stage as Ebenezer Scrooge. No longer.

Joe Blumberg covers the Buchanan County government and courthouse. He can be reached at joeblumberg@npgco.com.