Repairing Missouri’s Bridges
From the very first day that you sent me to Jefferson City, I have fought vigorously for better roads and bridges. Although the progress has not occurred at the speed that I had hoped, our perseverance and determination has prevailed as MODOT has become more aware of the significant needs we have across this great state. Last week, MODOT forged ahead into an area very seldom seen by our state government when they announced their intention to use a design build approach for repairing some of Missouri’s worst bridges.
For nearly two years now, MODOT has been working to find a solution that would allow them to rebuild or replace the 800 lowest rated bridges in Missouri. It comes as no surprise to those of us who drive the roads in northwest Missouri to learn that over 150 of these unacceptable bridges are in the 16 counties that make up the 12th Senate District. As a result of MODOT’s actions last week, over 100 of the worst bridges in this state will be under contract and construction by next spring.
Having traveled thousands of miles on Missouri’s lettered routes and major highways, I understand first hand the need for these repairs. The citizens of this great state should not be forced to drive on roads that are unsafe for themselves and their families. Although the final implementation of the 800 Bridge Project has been modified from its original form, MODOT has held true to the goals and expectations of these projects while maintaining their commitment to thinking outside the box.
Our transportation infrastructure is the lifeblood of our communities and we cannot survive without safe and reliable roads and bridges. The 800 Bridge Project is an important step in improving our transportation infrastructure thereby ensuring the safety of our families and the continuation of our economy. While I will continue to fight for even greater improvements, I am hopeful that these projects mark the beginning of a steady commitment to finally bring our roads into the 21st century.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 429, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
School has Mixed Results on No Child Left Behind testing
The annual testing report for the Worth County school brought bad news and good news. The bad news is that the school did not meet the Annual Progress requirements for Communication Arts. The good news is that the school is in the same boat as the rest of the state; the state as a whole did not meet its Annual Progress requirements under federally mandated No Child Left Behind testing. And the school’s students tested either at or better than the state averages on the annual testing for both math and communication arts; in addition, the school’s students tested well above the state averages on science and met the AYP for math.
Superintendent Matt Robinson said that the state was going to switch to a growth model for evaluating schools; he said that with the growth model, the school would have come closer to passing the Communication Arts component of the No Child Left Behind testing. He said that the 2014 goals of the No Child Left Behind legislation were never going to be met and that "it was going to start hurting schools." Previously, the state had switched from a 5-tiered system to a 4-tiered system.
Robinson noted in his written discussion of the results that the AYP was only a single indicator of the school’s academic performance, as measured by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Other factors, such as graduation rates and attendance rates, were considered, and the school met all of these standards.
Robinson said that the previous model had "compared apples to oranges" because it was comparing different kids; the new model would measure how well a particular student did compared to the year before. And he said that the results, in many cases, were close enough that one or two kids could take the school from red (in need of improvement) to green.
In addition, Robinson said that the school was switching from the MAP testing to end of course tests. He said that would ensure that the students were tested on subject matter taught in the schools rather than force teachers to teach to the test. Students from third to eighth grade will still take the MAP tests.
He said that it would get harder every year to meet the Annual Progress Requirements of No Child Left Behind, but he said that it could be done in this area; for instance, he said that Stanberry and Jefferson were gold star schools for their ability to meet the progress requirements.
In addition, Robinson reported that the school’s ACT scores went up as well, continuing a recent trend. He said that was good because more students than usual had signed up to take the ACT. He said that the ability of students to take upper level classes was predictive of how well they would do on the ACT, which meant that the school’s recent move to eight-hour days was a good move; he said that would allow students to take band and FFA and other such activities and still take upper level courses and stay on track to graduate; he said that in a lot of school districts, it was a struggle to make sure that students were prepared for college and that they met new state requirements for graduation.
Robinson said that improving the school’s test scores in Communication Arts, which covers literacy and reading, would involve the whole school and not just the English class. "It has to happen in all classes across the board," he said. Since this is the first year that the school has not met the Annual Progress requirements of No Child Left Behind, there are no penalties that the school faces; if the school fails to meet the Annual Progress Requirements, they would have to come up with a three-year improvement plan. However, Robinson said that he was not waiting for the school to miss the AYP goals next year and that he was already in the process of drawing up an improvement plan for Communication Arts and working with the administration and staff.
Christina Charles, a visitor, requested that the bus stop between 8th street and Lover’s Lane, citing safety concerns and the high number of kids who lived there. There is a bus that already drives by there, but it is full. The board adopted last year’s plan; however, Robinson said that he would continue to look into ways of busing more town students. He reported that he had done some checking and that if there was no extra cost to bus the students, the state would allow them to bus more town students, but that if there was extra cost, such as an extra trip, then there would be a penalty. He said that most of the busses were full right now and that was another problem that had to be addressed; he said that he would be riding busses to see the situation for himself and to evaluate the bus drivers.
On a related note, the school received a spot inspection from the Missouri Highway Patrol, which found that there was only one defect, an upper fender light, which was immediately replaced. Board member Kevin Austin reported that he had heard many positive comments from the inspectors afterwards; they told him that there were normally a lot more problems with busses that they found during random inspections at area schools.
Debbie From of ACES gave her annual presentation to the school board. ACES is a 21-member educational cooperative designed to meet the needs of students who are special education or who are at-risk. They include an alternative school and assist districts with behavioral intervention services.
From reported on the goals and challenges of the program. She reported that the number of suspensions reported by the schools was reduced by 12%, which is over the state goal of 10%. The graduation rate for the member school districts was 95.84%; that exceeds their goal of 95%. The attendance rate last year for students was 86.48%; however, From said that it was closer to 90% this year. She said that the group that skewed the numbers were the 17-18 year olds, who are not required by state law to attend school under the Compulsory Education Act. The goal was 93%.
The number of discipline/incident referral reductions for students enrolled in the program was 38.7%. The goal for the program was 50%; there were 30 students reviewed, and 17 decreased their number of referrals by 50% or greater. From said that they were on the right track, but that it could be better; she said that there were strict protocols for when teachers were to refer students for action.
One of the areas that was in most need of improvement for the program was the number of students who transitioned successfully back to their home school or who received an alternative diploma. For Fiscal Year 2008, only 50% of students met this outcome, down from 71.91% the year before. She said that the reason was that they were heavy on older students; she said that there would be better outcomes with earlier interventions with students. She broke down the data into age groups; the group most likely not to have successful outcomes was the Missouri Options Program students.
The Missouri Options Program is a last chance program for students who are in danger of not getting all the credits they need to get a high school graduation. This is not a GED program, because students still get a High School Diploma through the program; if a student successfully completes the program, schools do not have to count them as a dropout. The program had a 42% success rate because the students enrolled are at high risk for dropping out; by contrast, the 7th to 12th grade intervention program had an 82% success rate and the elementary intervention program had a 100% success rate.
Students at the program met 84.3% of their academic plans, that was an improvement from 2007; the state goal was 80%.
ACES also offers a prevention program for schools; it has served 108 students in their home districts; 82.4% of the students in the prevention program maintained placement in their home districts.
The estimated value of services provided by ACES was $86,469 for each school district. The Worth County School paid dues and tuition for students totaling slightly over $22,000, meaning that the school saves over $60,000 by participating in the program. And board members noted that there were even more savings given the fact that it creates a better environment for students not in need of intervention.
From said that the biggest challenge was getting funding from the state to continue the program. Safe Schools funding will decrease from the current level of $400,000 this year to a maximum of $300,000 next year, depending on the ability of ACES to get funding; they can renew their Safe Schools grant, but it will be a competitive process with similar programs around the state. They will also lose $60,000 in cooperative expansion grants.
Fifth grade teacher Ginny Quick reported on her classroom’s studies. In science, they were studying weather and weather lore, including tornadoes and other extreme weather; they were making brochures about weather emergencies. In English, they were working on writing sentences and writing short autobiographies about themselves; in math, they were working on place values and decimals. Julia Moore talked briefly about her English work at the junior high and high school levels.
Elementary Principal Nancy Lewis reported in her written report to the board that 88% of families attended the Open House on August 18th; school pictures were taken on the 25th and progress reports were sent home on September 5th. The current enrollment of the elementary was 191.
In his written report to the board. Robinson said that the school had gotten a Dollar General Grant for literacy for the Junior High Enhancement class. The grant is for $4,990 and will be used to target reading, including comprehension skills, vocabulary, and fluency, and will target individual deficits as measured on the Stanford Reading Test and the MAP Test. It will be used to purchase books for classrooms, supplies, and professional development.
Robinson said that there was no more state funding for the A+ program and that the school would need to incur the costs from its own budget if they wished to pursue that designation. The renovation of the softball field was progressing; the dugouts are being put in and the fence will soon be up. Starting in October, a new 5-year Comprehensive School Improvement Plan will be developed; a new committee will be formed for that purpose.
Superintendent Matt Robinson said that the state was going to switch to a growth model for evaluating schools; he said that with the growth model, the school would have come closer to passing the Communication Arts component of the No Child Left Behind testing. He said that the 2014 goals of the No Child Left Behind legislation were never going to be met and that "it was going to start hurting schools." Previously, the state had switched from a 5-tiered system to a 4-tiered system.
Robinson noted in his written discussion of the results that the AYP was only a single indicator of the school’s academic performance, as measured by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Other factors, such as graduation rates and attendance rates, were considered, and the school met all of these standards.
Robinson said that the previous model had "compared apples to oranges" because it was comparing different kids; the new model would measure how well a particular student did compared to the year before. And he said that the results, in many cases, were close enough that one or two kids could take the school from red (in need of improvement) to green.
In addition, Robinson said that the school was switching from the MAP testing to end of course tests. He said that would ensure that the students were tested on subject matter taught in the schools rather than force teachers to teach to the test. Students from third to eighth grade will still take the MAP tests.
He said that it would get harder every year to meet the Annual Progress Requirements of No Child Left Behind, but he said that it could be done in this area; for instance, he said that Stanberry and Jefferson were gold star schools for their ability to meet the progress requirements.
In addition, Robinson reported that the school’s ACT scores went up as well, continuing a recent trend. He said that was good because more students than usual had signed up to take the ACT. He said that the ability of students to take upper level classes was predictive of how well they would do on the ACT, which meant that the school’s recent move to eight-hour days was a good move; he said that would allow students to take band and FFA and other such activities and still take upper level courses and stay on track to graduate; he said that in a lot of school districts, it was a struggle to make sure that students were prepared for college and that they met new state requirements for graduation.
Robinson said that improving the school’s test scores in Communication Arts, which covers literacy and reading, would involve the whole school and not just the English class. "It has to happen in all classes across the board," he said. Since this is the first year that the school has not met the Annual Progress requirements of No Child Left Behind, there are no penalties that the school faces; if the school fails to meet the Annual Progress Requirements, they would have to come up with a three-year improvement plan. However, Robinson said that he was not waiting for the school to miss the AYP goals next year and that he was already in the process of drawing up an improvement plan for Communication Arts and working with the administration and staff.
Christina Charles, a visitor, requested that the bus stop between 8th street and Lover’s Lane, citing safety concerns and the high number of kids who lived there. There is a bus that already drives by there, but it is full. The board adopted last year’s plan; however, Robinson said that he would continue to look into ways of busing more town students. He reported that he had done some checking and that if there was no extra cost to bus the students, the state would allow them to bus more town students, but that if there was extra cost, such as an extra trip, then there would be a penalty. He said that most of the busses were full right now and that was another problem that had to be addressed; he said that he would be riding busses to see the situation for himself and to evaluate the bus drivers.
On a related note, the school received a spot inspection from the Missouri Highway Patrol, which found that there was only one defect, an upper fender light, which was immediately replaced. Board member Kevin Austin reported that he had heard many positive comments from the inspectors afterwards; they told him that there were normally a lot more problems with busses that they found during random inspections at area schools.
Debbie From of ACES gave her annual presentation to the school board. ACES is a 21-member educational cooperative designed to meet the needs of students who are special education or who are at-risk. They include an alternative school and assist districts with behavioral intervention services.
From reported on the goals and challenges of the program. She reported that the number of suspensions reported by the schools was reduced by 12%, which is over the state goal of 10%. The graduation rate for the member school districts was 95.84%; that exceeds their goal of 95%. The attendance rate last year for students was 86.48%; however, From said that it was closer to 90% this year. She said that the group that skewed the numbers were the 17-18 year olds, who are not required by state law to attend school under the Compulsory Education Act. The goal was 93%.
The number of discipline/incident referral reductions for students enrolled in the program was 38.7%. The goal for the program was 50%; there were 30 students reviewed, and 17 decreased their number of referrals by 50% or greater. From said that they were on the right track, but that it could be better; she said that there were strict protocols for when teachers were to refer students for action.
One of the areas that was in most need of improvement for the program was the number of students who transitioned successfully back to their home school or who received an alternative diploma. For Fiscal Year 2008, only 50% of students met this outcome, down from 71.91% the year before. She said that the reason was that they were heavy on older students; she said that there would be better outcomes with earlier interventions with students. She broke down the data into age groups; the group most likely not to have successful outcomes was the Missouri Options Program students.
The Missouri Options Program is a last chance program for students who are in danger of not getting all the credits they need to get a high school graduation. This is not a GED program, because students still get a High School Diploma through the program; if a student successfully completes the program, schools do not have to count them as a dropout. The program had a 42% success rate because the students enrolled are at high risk for dropping out; by contrast, the 7th to 12th grade intervention program had an 82% success rate and the elementary intervention program had a 100% success rate.
Students at the program met 84.3% of their academic plans, that was an improvement from 2007; the state goal was 80%.
ACES also offers a prevention program for schools; it has served 108 students in their home districts; 82.4% of the students in the prevention program maintained placement in their home districts.
The estimated value of services provided by ACES was $86,469 for each school district. The Worth County School paid dues and tuition for students totaling slightly over $22,000, meaning that the school saves over $60,000 by participating in the program. And board members noted that there were even more savings given the fact that it creates a better environment for students not in need of intervention.
From said that the biggest challenge was getting funding from the state to continue the program. Safe Schools funding will decrease from the current level of $400,000 this year to a maximum of $300,000 next year, depending on the ability of ACES to get funding; they can renew their Safe Schools grant, but it will be a competitive process with similar programs around the state. They will also lose $60,000 in cooperative expansion grants.
Fifth grade teacher Ginny Quick reported on her classroom’s studies. In science, they were studying weather and weather lore, including tornadoes and other extreme weather; they were making brochures about weather emergencies. In English, they were working on writing sentences and writing short autobiographies about themselves; in math, they were working on place values and decimals. Julia Moore talked briefly about her English work at the junior high and high school levels.
Elementary Principal Nancy Lewis reported in her written report to the board that 88% of families attended the Open House on August 18th; school pictures were taken on the 25th and progress reports were sent home on September 5th. The current enrollment of the elementary was 191.
In his written report to the board. Robinson said that the school had gotten a Dollar General Grant for literacy for the Junior High Enhancement class. The grant is for $4,990 and will be used to target reading, including comprehension skills, vocabulary, and fluency, and will target individual deficits as measured on the Stanford Reading Test and the MAP Test. It will be used to purchase books for classrooms, supplies, and professional development.
Robinson said that there was no more state funding for the A+ program and that the school would need to incur the costs from its own budget if they wished to pursue that designation. The renovation of the softball field was progressing; the dugouts are being put in and the fence will soon be up. Starting in October, a new 5-year Comprehensive School Improvement Plan will be developed; a new committee will be formed for that purpose.
Prioritizing Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer Applications
Prioritizing Phosphorus and
Potassium Fertilizer Applications
The increase in crop input prices has many growers concerned about what might happen if commodity prices drop. The cost of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers has increased dramatically and are at record highs. Swings in crop yields and prices provide a great amount of risk into the profitability of the operation. The need for sound planning is more important than ever.
The use of fertilizers should be used to obtain the greatest return on investment rather than to maximize yields. First, prioritize what nutrients are limiting crop yields. This is addressed by using a good soil testing program across your row crop, pasture and hay acres.
Yes, this is simple but often overlooked. We often see growers applying fertilizer rates that have traditionally been applied in the past. Our suggested strategy is to apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers by using soil testing to determine the soils ability to supply nutrients to the crop. There may be one or more nutrients limiting yields. Also, soil tests will help us identify areas where we need to apply fertilizers maximize yields.
Once you determine what nutrients limit the crop yields, next step is to correct this limitation by developing a strategy that meets the needs of crop that you can afford.
For example, if phosphorus levels are low and all other nutrients are adequate, then adding potassium would not help to increase yield. This is simple but this often ignored. If both nutrients are limiting, then it is better to apply at least a portion of every limiting nutrient rather than focusing on one.
If soil test values are well above a point where a response will not be expected, one may eliminate the nutrient and use the fertilizer dollars in a field or portion of field that will generate a return on investment.
So the strategy is to apply nutrients to portions of the field that have the highest likelihood of yield response rather than applying an average amount across the entire field. We are maximizing the greatest return on investment while maximizing yields.
Another strategy would be to focus different fertilizer applications on different fields. Often fields vary in phosphorus and potassium levels. This may provide an opportunity to prioritize different fields for phosphorus and potassium applications.
For more information contact Wayne Flanary at 660-446-3724 or Heather Benedict at 660-425-6434, Regional Agronomists with the University of Missouri Extension.
Potassium Fertilizer Applications
The increase in crop input prices has many growers concerned about what might happen if commodity prices drop. The cost of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers has increased dramatically and are at record highs. Swings in crop yields and prices provide a great amount of risk into the profitability of the operation. The need for sound planning is more important than ever.
The use of fertilizers should be used to obtain the greatest return on investment rather than to maximize yields. First, prioritize what nutrients are limiting crop yields. This is addressed by using a good soil testing program across your row crop, pasture and hay acres.
Yes, this is simple but often overlooked. We often see growers applying fertilizer rates that have traditionally been applied in the past. Our suggested strategy is to apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers by using soil testing to determine the soils ability to supply nutrients to the crop. There may be one or more nutrients limiting yields. Also, soil tests will help us identify areas where we need to apply fertilizers maximize yields.
Once you determine what nutrients limit the crop yields, next step is to correct this limitation by developing a strategy that meets the needs of crop that you can afford.
For example, if phosphorus levels are low and all other nutrients are adequate, then adding potassium would not help to increase yield. This is simple but this often ignored. If both nutrients are limiting, then it is better to apply at least a portion of every limiting nutrient rather than focusing on one.
If soil test values are well above a point where a response will not be expected, one may eliminate the nutrient and use the fertilizer dollars in a field or portion of field that will generate a return on investment.
So the strategy is to apply nutrients to portions of the field that have the highest likelihood of yield response rather than applying an average amount across the entire field. We are maximizing the greatest return on investment while maximizing yields.
Another strategy would be to focus different fertilizer applications on different fields. Often fields vary in phosphorus and potassium levels. This may provide an opportunity to prioritize different fields for phosphorus and potassium applications.
For more information contact Wayne Flanary at 660-446-3724 or Heather Benedict at 660-425-6434, Regional Agronomists with the University of Missouri Extension.
City Reports Progress on Cleanup
New Code Enforcement Officer Patsy Worthington reported that she had talked to 35 people about cleaning up their properties and that there was good progress being made. She said that most of them had either cleaned up their properties to bring them into compliance with city ordinances or had promised to do so. She said that some of the most frequent issues she dealt with were brush, weeds, abandoned houses, abandoned vehicles, and dogs. "A lot of people were unaware that these were violations or that these posed a hazard for children," she reported. For instance, a kid could get into a trunk of an abandoned car and lock themselves in.
The next cleanup day will be October 18th with brush removal days set for all day on October 16th and until noon on the 17th. Worthington said that she was proud of the community for the work that was done in cleaning up the town and that she would write a letter outlining residents’ responsibilities that will go in the next utility and tax statements.
"This one on one interaction is really helping out," said councilwoman Linda Phipps. "We have to stress the fact that it’s the law that you have to keep your properties clean and that it’s not an option. People don’t realize that it’s the law."
Clerk Ayvonne Morin reported that a lot of people had come in and paid delinquent bills over the last month.
Phipps reported that there was water seeping into the deep end of the pool and that it needed draining. Workers put in some piling in the deep end to hold up the concrete; Public Works Director Carl Staton said that the city would wait until the pool renovation project was done before doing the road behind the pool because of the heavy truck traffic on that road. The city will meet with Auditor David Rowe in order to figure out how to finance the upkeep of the pool and to do budget work for next year.
Staton reported that the city crews were working on the streets and on oiling; he said that the oil cost less than expected and that the city was making progress. He said that the city was nearing the end of the second load of their oil and that they were about to start on their third. He reported that salt had gone from $52 to $60 per ton over last year and that it would cost the city $1,800 more for salt and sand. He said that more sand was needed this year because the rock for the streets was bigger this year.
The council voted to take two old pumps that didn’t work and make them into one pump that did for a cost of $4,900 for the old lagoon. The motor was bad on one and the pump was bad on the other one; Staton said that the alternative was to get a new one for almost twice the cost.
Staton reported that the lagoon permit would not be as bad for the city as expected. The city would have to take five samples for testing at an estimated cost of $185 per month and would have to conduct a wet test that would involve keeping minnows alive for 48 hours for $500.
If the wet test were to fail, the city would have to keep conducting them until they passed two consecutive tests; Staton said the nearest place that would do the test was in Pittsburg, KS. However, Staton said that Brock Pfost was trying to set up one in the area that municipalities could use. Clerk Ayvonne Morin said that a lot of the new mandates that would be coming down the pipe from the EPA would be based on the current round of testing.
Staton said that the city was trying to stretch the oil as much as possible by keeping the edges of the streets from breaking off.
Mayor Debbie Roach reported that she had checked into funding for a possible pool bathhouse/community center grant for the city and that there was a possible 55/45 match for the city on the bathhouse and that the city could take out a guaranteed loan for their share of the match. She said that one possibility was doing the bathhouse first and then the community center two years down the road. Currently, the city is paying off loans on the asphalt, backhoe, and the tractor; the asphalt will be paid off by 2013. Roach said that the city needed to sit down with City Auditor David Rowe in order to figure out how to finance these projects.
Phipps said that the new bathhouse was needed for the pool because the rafters on the current one were rotten and could fall in at any minute. The council took no action on any grants for the bathhouse or community center because Roach and council members said they wanted to meet with Rowe first.
The next cleanup day will be October 18th with brush removal days set for all day on October 16th and until noon on the 17th. Worthington said that she was proud of the community for the work that was done in cleaning up the town and that she would write a letter outlining residents’ responsibilities that will go in the next utility and tax statements.
"This one on one interaction is really helping out," said councilwoman Linda Phipps. "We have to stress the fact that it’s the law that you have to keep your properties clean and that it’s not an option. People don’t realize that it’s the law."
Clerk Ayvonne Morin reported that a lot of people had come in and paid delinquent bills over the last month.
Phipps reported that there was water seeping into the deep end of the pool and that it needed draining. Workers put in some piling in the deep end to hold up the concrete; Public Works Director Carl Staton said that the city would wait until the pool renovation project was done before doing the road behind the pool because of the heavy truck traffic on that road. The city will meet with Auditor David Rowe in order to figure out how to finance the upkeep of the pool and to do budget work for next year.
Staton reported that the city crews were working on the streets and on oiling; he said that the oil cost less than expected and that the city was making progress. He said that the city was nearing the end of the second load of their oil and that they were about to start on their third. He reported that salt had gone from $52 to $60 per ton over last year and that it would cost the city $1,800 more for salt and sand. He said that more sand was needed this year because the rock for the streets was bigger this year.
The council voted to take two old pumps that didn’t work and make them into one pump that did for a cost of $4,900 for the old lagoon. The motor was bad on one and the pump was bad on the other one; Staton said that the alternative was to get a new one for almost twice the cost.
Staton reported that the lagoon permit would not be as bad for the city as expected. The city would have to take five samples for testing at an estimated cost of $185 per month and would have to conduct a wet test that would involve keeping minnows alive for 48 hours for $500.
If the wet test were to fail, the city would have to keep conducting them until they passed two consecutive tests; Staton said the nearest place that would do the test was in Pittsburg, KS. However, Staton said that Brock Pfost was trying to set up one in the area that municipalities could use. Clerk Ayvonne Morin said that a lot of the new mandates that would be coming down the pipe from the EPA would be based on the current round of testing.
Staton said that the city was trying to stretch the oil as much as possible by keeping the edges of the streets from breaking off.
Mayor Debbie Roach reported that she had checked into funding for a possible pool bathhouse/community center grant for the city and that there was a possible 55/45 match for the city on the bathhouse and that the city could take out a guaranteed loan for their share of the match. She said that one possibility was doing the bathhouse first and then the community center two years down the road. Currently, the city is paying off loans on the asphalt, backhoe, and the tractor; the asphalt will be paid off by 2013. Roach said that the city needed to sit down with City Auditor David Rowe in order to figure out how to finance these projects.
Phipps said that the new bathhouse was needed for the pool because the rafters on the current one were rotten and could fall in at any minute. The council took no action on any grants for the bathhouse or community center because Roach and council members said they wanted to meet with Rowe first.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Letter to the Editor -- Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments
On July 25th of this year, my family celebrated the arrival of our second daughter. True to form, the new baby brought out some "big picture" thoughts; and amid the beaming grandparents, camera flashes, and sleepless nights, I began to wonder about her future – our future – in northwest Missouri.
Let’s jump forward 18 years - past all the dirty diapers, skinned knees, spelling tests and piano recitals - when Ellie will graduate from high school. After receiving a firm educational foundation from one of northwest Missouri’s outstanding school systems, she will have the option of attending the college of her choice (mom and dad bleed Bearcat green, but no pressure there). What happens next, however, is one of the fundamental questions facing northwest Missouri today. What does northwest Missouri offer that encourages young people to settle here, raise a family here, and call this region "home"? Put another way, how do we keep my two daughters, and thousands of their classmates around northwest Missouri, from graduating high school or college and then moving away to a distant city or state, taking their enthusiasm, energy and tax dollars with them?
The unfortunate reality is that northwest Missouri is losing population. In 1900, the northwest Missouri region of Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties had a combined population of 96,898. In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that same region had a population of 42,936; a loss of over 55%! Making that statistic even more striking is that, for the same time period, the State of Missouri gained over two million people, an 80% increase from the 1900 population. This loss, at least in part, can justifiably be attributed to historical or economic events beyond local control, including the collapse of regional rail lines in northwest Missouri, the Farm Crisis of the early 1980’s, the dramatic transformation of the agrarian economy away from the small family farm, and the ongoing trend towards urbanization in the United States and throughout the world.
The question, then, is how do we, collectively, slow and eventually reverse the decline of northwest Missouri? In 2008, the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Since 1968, we have been working to support our local governments to help slow the decline of the region. Grant writing and administration, transportation planning, environmental stewardship, economic development support, and workforce development are the tools that we use to bolster the efforts of our local governments. But like the proverbial boy with his finger in a dyke, we plug one hole only to have three more open up. Maybe what we need, what northwest Missouri needs, are more fingers.
The only real way that northwest Missouri is going to compete with the likes of Omaha, San Francisco, or Beijing, is by working together to maximize all available resources, while at the same time looking beyond traditional economic development goals to establish an environment of innovation and excitement. That is to say, we must find that "special something" that keeps our people, young and old alike, rooted in northwest Missouri. Admittedly, this is no simple task, and will require an "outside the box" development and marketing approach to northwest Missouri’s natural, cultural, and human resources. As such, it will not be accomplished by any one person or organization; rather, a regional collaborative must work together to solve these issues and promote northwest Missouri. The alternative, the continued decline of population and living standards in of our corner of the state, is simply unacceptable.
The board members and staff of the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments have spent the last 40 years passionately working for the future of northwest Missouri. It is our sincere hope that the next 40 years not only bring continued organizational good fortune, but also represent the rebirth of the northwest Missouri ideal and a renewed sense of entrepreneurship and growth for all of our member cities and counties. In fact, my kids – all northwest Missouri’s kids – are depending on it.
Tye Parsons
Executive Director
Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments
Let’s jump forward 18 years - past all the dirty diapers, skinned knees, spelling tests and piano recitals - when Ellie will graduate from high school. After receiving a firm educational foundation from one of northwest Missouri’s outstanding school systems, she will have the option of attending the college of her choice (mom and dad bleed Bearcat green, but no pressure there). What happens next, however, is one of the fundamental questions facing northwest Missouri today. What does northwest Missouri offer that encourages young people to settle here, raise a family here, and call this region "home"? Put another way, how do we keep my two daughters, and thousands of their classmates around northwest Missouri, from graduating high school or college and then moving away to a distant city or state, taking their enthusiasm, energy and tax dollars with them?
The unfortunate reality is that northwest Missouri is losing population. In 1900, the northwest Missouri region of Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties had a combined population of 96,898. In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that same region had a population of 42,936; a loss of over 55%! Making that statistic even more striking is that, for the same time period, the State of Missouri gained over two million people, an 80% increase from the 1900 population. This loss, at least in part, can justifiably be attributed to historical or economic events beyond local control, including the collapse of regional rail lines in northwest Missouri, the Farm Crisis of the early 1980’s, the dramatic transformation of the agrarian economy away from the small family farm, and the ongoing trend towards urbanization in the United States and throughout the world.
The question, then, is how do we, collectively, slow and eventually reverse the decline of northwest Missouri? In 2008, the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Since 1968, we have been working to support our local governments to help slow the decline of the region. Grant writing and administration, transportation planning, environmental stewardship, economic development support, and workforce development are the tools that we use to bolster the efforts of our local governments. But like the proverbial boy with his finger in a dyke, we plug one hole only to have three more open up. Maybe what we need, what northwest Missouri needs, are more fingers.
The only real way that northwest Missouri is going to compete with the likes of Omaha, San Francisco, or Beijing, is by working together to maximize all available resources, while at the same time looking beyond traditional economic development goals to establish an environment of innovation and excitement. That is to say, we must find that "special something" that keeps our people, young and old alike, rooted in northwest Missouri. Admittedly, this is no simple task, and will require an "outside the box" development and marketing approach to northwest Missouri’s natural, cultural, and human resources. As such, it will not be accomplished by any one person or organization; rather, a regional collaborative must work together to solve these issues and promote northwest Missouri. The alternative, the continued decline of population and living standards in of our corner of the state, is simply unacceptable.
The board members and staff of the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments have spent the last 40 years passionately working for the future of northwest Missouri. It is our sincere hope that the next 40 years not only bring continued organizational good fortune, but also represent the rebirth of the northwest Missouri ideal and a renewed sense of entrepreneurship and growth for all of our member cities and counties. In fact, my kids – all northwest Missouri’s kids – are depending on it.
Tye Parsons
Executive Director
Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments
Opinion: Hulshof Opposed Economic Support for Worth County
Opinions are the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Sheridan Express.
Hulshof Opposed Economic Support for
Worth County
by the Missouri Democratic Party
Asked what the top three priorities of a potential Hulshof administration would be in an interview following the first Gubernatorial debate, Congressman Kenny Hulshof responded, "jobs, jobs and jobs." But when he had the chance, Congressman Hulshof opposed economic packages that would have addressed the wholesale export of American jobs and instead gave priority with taxpayer money for wasteful pork projects like the Bridge to Nowhere, the Woodstock Museum and roughly 11,000 other earmarks.
In Congress, Hulshof voted against legislation supported by Congressional members Sam Graves and Jo Ann Emerson that would have provided support for expanding broadband Internet access, economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training for 55 Missouri counties, including Worth County.
Watch the video contrasting Congressman Hulshof’s words and his deeds at www.CongressmanKenny.com.
"Congressman Hulshof says all of his top three priorities would be jobs. But in Washington, when he had the chance to do something to slow American jobs going to other countries, to help areas that had lost jobs to other countries or to help build the economy in the neediest areas of Missouri, he instead gave priority to wasteful pork projects like a Bridge to Nowhere and a Woodstock Museum," Zac Wright, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman, said. "Congressman Hulshof is right about one thing. It is about priorities. But looking at his record, you have to wonder if his priorities are the same as Missourians’."
In Congress, Hulshof opposed important jobs measures, to:
· slow the outsourcing to other countries of American manufacturing jobs,
· redevelop communities whose manufacturing sectors have suffered from the influences of international trade, and;
· develop economic initiatives for distressed Missouri counties, drawing criticism from fellow Missouri Republican Sam Graves.
Instead, Hulshof gave a higher priority to spending Missourians’ taxpayer money on 11,000 pork project earmarks, including:
· The $220 Million "Bridge to Nowhere" [Anchorage Daily News, 07/30/05; St. Petersburg Times, 04/01/07]
· The Woodstock Museum [House of Representatives Vote 561, 2007]
· The Maine Lobster Institute [House of Representatives Vote 735, 2007]
· Funding For "International Asparagus Competitiveness." [House of Representatives Vote 360, 2000]
· $500,000 To Renovate A Swimming Pool In Southern California. [House of Representatives Vote 277, 2006]
· $150,000 In Funding To Upgrade "An Italian Grocery Market" In New York City. [House of Representatives Vote 334, 2006]
· An Earmark To Fund The Recruitment Of Dairy Farmers To Northeast Iowa [House of Representatives Vote 190, 2006]
· A $129,000 Project That "Would Have Doubled Retail Space Available For A Gift Shop Selling Products…Such As Christmas Tree Ornaments, Handmade Soaps And Pottery." [House of Representatives Vote 593, 2007]
· Funds To Study The Andean Knotted-String Records
· Funds To Study The Prehistoric Bison Hunting In The Great Plains
· Funds To Study The "Sexual Politics Of Waste In Dakar, Senegal,"
· Funds To Study The Social Relationships And Sexual Habits Of Phayre’s Leaf Monkeys
· Funds To Study The Why Some People Are Superstitious [House of Representatives Vote 289, 2007]
BACKGROUND: THE HULSHOF RECORD
Kenny Hulshof, in 2004, voted against increasing funding for a program that attempts "to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing…in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers."
On July 9, 2004, "the House passed a bill…that would attempt to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing $110 million in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
The bill (HR 3598), passed by voice vote, would reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, a nationwide network of more than 400 not-for-profit centers that provide manufacturers assistance such as worker training, advice on business practices and instruction on the use of information technology."
Congressman Hulshof voted against an amendment to more than double the authorization for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which has helped Missouri businesses, including Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo.
Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo., created 185 jobs with the help of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. [House of Representatives Vote 355, 2004, and Manufacturing Extension Partnership, http://blue.nist.gov/ss/F643247A9866C3D185256F8E0066AD80]
Kenny Hulshof, in 2007, voted against a bill to help 55 economically distressed counties in Missouri "with high poverty and unemployment rates." Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." It also would help these counties with economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training.
"The legislation would have authorized $1.25 billion for five regional economic development agencies. Modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission and aimed at areas with high poverty and unemployment rates, the commissions would be charged with establishing economic development plans for their respective regions."
One of the five regional commissions would be the Delta Regional Commission, which would include "the counties Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscott, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Wright in the State of Missouri."
Another of the five regional commissions would be the Northern Great Plains Regional Commission, which would include "the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan, and Worth in the State of Missouri." [Text of H.R. 3246, Printed in the Congressional Record on 09/17/07]
Kenny Hulshof, on October 4, 2007, voted against H.R. 3246. He was one of 154 House members who voted with President George W. Bush against this bill to "set up five regional commissions across the country, all with paid staff to assess the economic needs and coordinate economic development strategies. It also would approve grants to states, local governments, nonprofit agencies and tribes for infrastructure, job skills training, tourism promotion and local assistance in areas such as health care." [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007, and The News & Observer, 10/08/07]
"At least 40 percent of the funds would be used to develop transportation, telecommunications and basic public infrastructure.
The remaining money would be used for economic development activities that include job training, public services, conservation, tourism and renewable and alternative energy projects." [San Antonio Express-News, 10/05/07]
Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." [Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 10/06/07]
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson voted with Graves to pass this bill. [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007]
Hulshof Opposed Economic Support for
Worth County
by the Missouri Democratic Party
Asked what the top three priorities of a potential Hulshof administration would be in an interview following the first Gubernatorial debate, Congressman Kenny Hulshof responded, "jobs, jobs and jobs." But when he had the chance, Congressman Hulshof opposed economic packages that would have addressed the wholesale export of American jobs and instead gave priority with taxpayer money for wasteful pork projects like the Bridge to Nowhere, the Woodstock Museum and roughly 11,000 other earmarks.
In Congress, Hulshof voted against legislation supported by Congressional members Sam Graves and Jo Ann Emerson that would have provided support for expanding broadband Internet access, economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training for 55 Missouri counties, including Worth County.
Watch the video contrasting Congressman Hulshof’s words and his deeds at www.CongressmanKenny.com.
"Congressman Hulshof says all of his top three priorities would be jobs. But in Washington, when he had the chance to do something to slow American jobs going to other countries, to help areas that had lost jobs to other countries or to help build the economy in the neediest areas of Missouri, he instead gave priority to wasteful pork projects like a Bridge to Nowhere and a Woodstock Museum," Zac Wright, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman, said. "Congressman Hulshof is right about one thing. It is about priorities. But looking at his record, you have to wonder if his priorities are the same as Missourians’."
In Congress, Hulshof opposed important jobs measures, to:
· slow the outsourcing to other countries of American manufacturing jobs,
· redevelop communities whose manufacturing sectors have suffered from the influences of international trade, and;
· develop economic initiatives for distressed Missouri counties, drawing criticism from fellow Missouri Republican Sam Graves.
Instead, Hulshof gave a higher priority to spending Missourians’ taxpayer money on 11,000 pork project earmarks, including:
· The $220 Million "Bridge to Nowhere" [Anchorage Daily News, 07/30/05; St. Petersburg Times, 04/01/07]
· The Woodstock Museum [House of Representatives Vote 561, 2007]
· The Maine Lobster Institute [House of Representatives Vote 735, 2007]
· Funding For "International Asparagus Competitiveness." [House of Representatives Vote 360, 2000]
· $500,000 To Renovate A Swimming Pool In Southern California. [House of Representatives Vote 277, 2006]
· $150,000 In Funding To Upgrade "An Italian Grocery Market" In New York City. [House of Representatives Vote 334, 2006]
· An Earmark To Fund The Recruitment Of Dairy Farmers To Northeast Iowa [House of Representatives Vote 190, 2006]
· A $129,000 Project That "Would Have Doubled Retail Space Available For A Gift Shop Selling Products…Such As Christmas Tree Ornaments, Handmade Soaps And Pottery." [House of Representatives Vote 593, 2007]
· Funds To Study The Andean Knotted-String Records
· Funds To Study The Prehistoric Bison Hunting In The Great Plains
· Funds To Study The "Sexual Politics Of Waste In Dakar, Senegal,"
· Funds To Study The Social Relationships And Sexual Habits Of Phayre’s Leaf Monkeys
· Funds To Study The Why Some People Are Superstitious [House of Representatives Vote 289, 2007]
BACKGROUND: THE HULSHOF RECORD
Kenny Hulshof, in 2004, voted against increasing funding for a program that attempts "to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing…in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers."
On July 9, 2004, "the House passed a bill…that would attempt to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing $110 million in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
The bill (HR 3598), passed by voice vote, would reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, a nationwide network of more than 400 not-for-profit centers that provide manufacturers assistance such as worker training, advice on business practices and instruction on the use of information technology."
Congressman Hulshof voted against an amendment to more than double the authorization for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which has helped Missouri businesses, including Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo.
Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo., created 185 jobs with the help of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. [House of Representatives Vote 355, 2004, and Manufacturing Extension Partnership, http://blue.nist.gov/ss/F643247A9866C3D185256F8E0066AD80]
Kenny Hulshof, in 2007, voted against a bill to help 55 economically distressed counties in Missouri "with high poverty and unemployment rates." Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." It also would help these counties with economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training.
"The legislation would have authorized $1.25 billion for five regional economic development agencies. Modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission and aimed at areas with high poverty and unemployment rates, the commissions would be charged with establishing economic development plans for their respective regions."
One of the five regional commissions would be the Delta Regional Commission, which would include "the counties Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscott, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Wright in the State of Missouri."
Another of the five regional commissions would be the Northern Great Plains Regional Commission, which would include "the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan, and Worth in the State of Missouri." [Text of H.R. 3246, Printed in the Congressional Record on 09/17/07]
Kenny Hulshof, on October 4, 2007, voted against H.R. 3246. He was one of 154 House members who voted with President George W. Bush against this bill to "set up five regional commissions across the country, all with paid staff to assess the economic needs and coordinate economic development strategies. It also would approve grants to states, local governments, nonprofit agencies and tribes for infrastructure, job skills training, tourism promotion and local assistance in areas such as health care." [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007, and The News & Observer, 10/08/07]
"At least 40 percent of the funds would be used to develop transportation, telecommunications and basic public infrastructure.
The remaining money would be used for economic development activities that include job training, public services, conservation, tourism and renewable and alternative energy projects." [San Antonio Express-News, 10/05/07]
Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." [Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 10/06/07]
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson voted with Graves to pass this bill. [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007]
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tigers Drop Ten Inning Thriller to Gallatin
Coming off a 10-0 loss to Jefferson and facing a team that took the Eagles to the wire last year in postseason, the Tigers had every reason to be down. But they took a high-powered Gallatin team to 10 innings before falling to the Bulldogs 6-4. "Coming off a tough loss, we really played ball out there," said Coach Todd Simmons on his team’s ability to play with the powerhouse teams of the area. "I was worried about coming off a tough loss, but we played with a lot more confidence tonight," he said. He said that they struggled with it early, but that it grew as the game went on.
Worth County and Gallatin are no strangers to playing extra inning games against each other; this was their third extra inning game against each other in four years. In 2005, Worth County and Gallatin played a 16 inning marathon before Tiger standout Tiffany Troutwine hit a two-run home run over the short fence in Gallatin for the winning runs; Gallatin returned the favor by beating the Tigers on their home field in extra innings in 2006.
Gallatin looked like they would follow Jefferson’s lead and blow Worth County right out of the field in the top of the first as Ashley Owens hit a double over Keely Cook’s head in left field and stole third, Courtney Ray walked and stole second, and Shelby Chadwick doubled over Cook’s head in left field and then went to third on a wild pitch after Maggie Strange stuck out. But then Breanne Brammer hit a grounder to Megan McClain at third; she threw to first and Chadwick broke for home. But Chadwick was thrown out at the plate for the double play; that play seemed to boost the confidence of the Tigers.
Worth County went in order in the bottom of the first and then had two outs with nobody on as the Tigers were having trouble against a fast pitcher. But then Brooke Adams singled down the right field line, Tonya Troutwine hit a double over the right fielder’s head for a double, and Adams came home on a wild pickoff throw to cut Gallatin’s lead to 2-1.
Gallatin went scoreless in the top of the third thanks to an over the shoulder catch by Brooke Gilland on a play in which she ran to the edge of the grass to snare the pop fly. In the bottom of the third, Jessica Borey tripled down the left field line with one out, but Megan McClain popped out and Brooke Gilland grounded out to strand her there.
In the top of the fourth, Tonya Troutwine made an over the shoulder catch of a pop fly as Gallatin was unable to score in that inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Keely Cook hit a rocket to right field for a single. Ashley Reynolds forced her at second, but Brooke Adams bunted and was safe at first as Gallatin threw it away and Reynolds went to third. Tonya Troutwine was safe at first on an error as second baseman Rebecca Mott bobbled a grounder and Reynolds scored. But Delaney Davidson popped out trying to bunt and Troutwine was doubled off first to end the fourth.
In the fifth, Delaney Davidson struck out the first two Gallatin batters, but Ashley Owens struck again; this time, she hit a shot off Megan McClain’s glove that rolled away from her and Owens was in standing up with a double. She went to third on a wild pitch; Courtney Ray walked and stole second; Owens scored on a wild pitch. Strange then singled to left to score Ray, but Tiger catcher Jessica Borey threw her out stealing to prevent any further damage.
Amanda Downing flied out to start the bottom of the fifth and Borey got down in the count 0-2 to Gallatin pitcher Carly Boyd. But Borey fought back as she fouled one pitch after another out of play; she finally walked after a 12-pitch at bat. Megan McClain reached on an error as second baseman Rebecca Mott bobbled the grounder; Brooke Gilland laid down a bunt and was safe as first baseman Wren Tolen dropped the throw and Borey scored all the way from second to cut the Gallatin lead to 4-3. McClain went to third on the error. Brooke Gilland stole second and the Gallatin catcher tried to throw her out stealing despite the first and third situation, but her throw went into center field and McClain scored to tie it at 4-4.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Boyd hit a line shot off Tonya Troutwine’s glove for a single, but Wren Tolen popped out to Ashley Reynolds for the third out; Tolen collided with Reynolds after the play, and Reynolds was badly shaken up, but she stayed in the game.
Worth County went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and Gallatin went down in order in the top of the seventh; Tonya Troutwine made a running catch sprinting into foul territory of a Ashley Owens popup. Megan McClain reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as thirdbaseman Courtney Ray bobbled a grounder, but she was thrown out stealing to end the seventh and send the game into extra innings.
Ray slapped a single down the first base line, and two groundouts advanced her to third. But Nicole Everman missed a chance to put Gallatin ahead when her sharp grounder past third that would have been extra bases went just foul, and she grounded out to short for the third out of the inning.
Worth County loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth as Brooke Gilland reached on an error as Ray bobbled yet another grounder, Ashley Reynolds was grazed by a pitch, and Adams grounded into a fielder’s choice and Gilland beat the force play at third. But Tonya Troutwine’s fly ball to left was not enough to score Gilland from third, and Gilland was picked off third to end the inning.
After Troutwine snagged Boyd’s soft line drive, Tolen walked; however, Savannah Butcher grounded out to first and Kaddie Mott was caught looking to end the ninth. Worth County went down in order in the bottom of the ninth and Owens led off with a single past Troutwine at second and stole second. Courtney Ray popped out, but Strange hit a sharp grounder that Brooke Gilland was able to knock down, but there was no play anywhere and Gallatin had runners on first and third with one out. Chadwick lined out to Troutwine, who tried to throw to third to double off Owens, but the throw got away, Owens was safe at home on a close play, and Gallatin took the lead at 5-4. Nicole Everman’s pop fly single made it 6-4. Gallatin loaded the bases as Carly Boyd singled and Tolen walked, but Butcher struck out to end the inning.
Megan McClain hit a poop fly single down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the tenth, but Gilland struck out, Keely Cook grounded into a force play, and Ashley Reynolds was out on a long fly ball to right to end the game.
Worth County and Gallatin are no strangers to playing extra inning games against each other; this was their third extra inning game against each other in four years. In 2005, Worth County and Gallatin played a 16 inning marathon before Tiger standout Tiffany Troutwine hit a two-run home run over the short fence in Gallatin for the winning runs; Gallatin returned the favor by beating the Tigers on their home field in extra innings in 2006.
Gallatin looked like they would follow Jefferson’s lead and blow Worth County right out of the field in the top of the first as Ashley Owens hit a double over Keely Cook’s head in left field and stole third, Courtney Ray walked and stole second, and Shelby Chadwick doubled over Cook’s head in left field and then went to third on a wild pitch after Maggie Strange stuck out. But then Breanne Brammer hit a grounder to Megan McClain at third; she threw to first and Chadwick broke for home. But Chadwick was thrown out at the plate for the double play; that play seemed to boost the confidence of the Tigers.
Worth County went in order in the bottom of the first and then had two outs with nobody on as the Tigers were having trouble against a fast pitcher. But then Brooke Adams singled down the right field line, Tonya Troutwine hit a double over the right fielder’s head for a double, and Adams came home on a wild pickoff throw to cut Gallatin’s lead to 2-1.
Gallatin went scoreless in the top of the third thanks to an over the shoulder catch by Brooke Gilland on a play in which she ran to the edge of the grass to snare the pop fly. In the bottom of the third, Jessica Borey tripled down the left field line with one out, but Megan McClain popped out and Brooke Gilland grounded out to strand her there.
In the top of the fourth, Tonya Troutwine made an over the shoulder catch of a pop fly as Gallatin was unable to score in that inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Keely Cook hit a rocket to right field for a single. Ashley Reynolds forced her at second, but Brooke Adams bunted and was safe at first as Gallatin threw it away and Reynolds went to third. Tonya Troutwine was safe at first on an error as second baseman Rebecca Mott bobbled a grounder and Reynolds scored. But Delaney Davidson popped out trying to bunt and Troutwine was doubled off first to end the fourth.
In the fifth, Delaney Davidson struck out the first two Gallatin batters, but Ashley Owens struck again; this time, she hit a shot off Megan McClain’s glove that rolled away from her and Owens was in standing up with a double. She went to third on a wild pitch; Courtney Ray walked and stole second; Owens scored on a wild pitch. Strange then singled to left to score Ray, but Tiger catcher Jessica Borey threw her out stealing to prevent any further damage.
Amanda Downing flied out to start the bottom of the fifth and Borey got down in the count 0-2 to Gallatin pitcher Carly Boyd. But Borey fought back as she fouled one pitch after another out of play; she finally walked after a 12-pitch at bat. Megan McClain reached on an error as second baseman Rebecca Mott bobbled the grounder; Brooke Gilland laid down a bunt and was safe as first baseman Wren Tolen dropped the throw and Borey scored all the way from second to cut the Gallatin lead to 4-3. McClain went to third on the error. Brooke Gilland stole second and the Gallatin catcher tried to throw her out stealing despite the first and third situation, but her throw went into center field and McClain scored to tie it at 4-4.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Boyd hit a line shot off Tonya Troutwine’s glove for a single, but Wren Tolen popped out to Ashley Reynolds for the third out; Tolen collided with Reynolds after the play, and Reynolds was badly shaken up, but she stayed in the game.
Worth County went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and Gallatin went down in order in the top of the seventh; Tonya Troutwine made a running catch sprinting into foul territory of a Ashley Owens popup. Megan McClain reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as thirdbaseman Courtney Ray bobbled a grounder, but she was thrown out stealing to end the seventh and send the game into extra innings.
Ray slapped a single down the first base line, and two groundouts advanced her to third. But Nicole Everman missed a chance to put Gallatin ahead when her sharp grounder past third that would have been extra bases went just foul, and she grounded out to short for the third out of the inning.
Worth County loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth as Brooke Gilland reached on an error as Ray bobbled yet another grounder, Ashley Reynolds was grazed by a pitch, and Adams grounded into a fielder’s choice and Gilland beat the force play at third. But Tonya Troutwine’s fly ball to left was not enough to score Gilland from third, and Gilland was picked off third to end the inning.
After Troutwine snagged Boyd’s soft line drive, Tolen walked; however, Savannah Butcher grounded out to first and Kaddie Mott was caught looking to end the ninth. Worth County went down in order in the bottom of the ninth and Owens led off with a single past Troutwine at second and stole second. Courtney Ray popped out, but Strange hit a sharp grounder that Brooke Gilland was able to knock down, but there was no play anywhere and Gallatin had runners on first and third with one out. Chadwick lined out to Troutwine, who tried to throw to third to double off Owens, but the throw got away, Owens was safe at home on a close play, and Gallatin took the lead at 5-4. Nicole Everman’s pop fly single made it 6-4. Gallatin loaded the bases as Carly Boyd singled and Tolen walked, but Butcher struck out to end the inning.
Megan McClain hit a poop fly single down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the tenth, but Gilland struck out, Keely Cook grounded into a force play, and Ashley Reynolds was out on a long fly ball to right to end the game.
County Commission Minutes for September 15th, 2008
Meeting was called to order at 9:00 am by Presiding Commissioner. Members present: Mozingo, Calhoon and Waldeier.
1. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to approve the September 8, 2008 as read. Commissioner Mozingo seconded. Motion carried.
2. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to approve the Agenda. Commissioner Calhoon seconded. Motion carried.
3. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to approve and pay bills. Commissioner Calhoon seconded. Motion carried.
4. Dick VanVactor reported on 911 progress. A sign survey will be conducted in the near future.
5. Pat Kobbe, Emergency Management Director came in to remind the Commissioners the SEMA briefing tomorrow morning at 9:00 am.
6. Bob Meek came to the Commission to discuss noxious weeds on road rights-of-way in the county. After discussion it was determined that the road in question was a state road. Commissioner Mozingo contacted Marty Liles of MoDOT, Maryville office further discussion will be held.
7. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to adjourn, Commissioner Calhoon seconded. Motion carried, meeting adjourned at 11:15 am.
1. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to approve the September 8, 2008 as read. Commissioner Mozingo seconded. Motion carried.
2. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to approve the Agenda. Commissioner Calhoon seconded. Motion carried.
3. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to approve and pay bills. Commissioner Calhoon seconded. Motion carried.
4. Dick VanVactor reported on 911 progress. A sign survey will be conducted in the near future.
5. Pat Kobbe, Emergency Management Director came in to remind the Commissioners the SEMA briefing tomorrow morning at 9:00 am.
6. Bob Meek came to the Commission to discuss noxious weeds on road rights-of-way in the county. After discussion it was determined that the road in question was a state road. Commissioner Mozingo contacted Marty Liles of MoDOT, Maryville office further discussion will be held.
7. Commissioner Waldeier made a motion to adjourn, Commissioner Calhoon seconded. Motion carried, meeting adjourned at 11:15 am.
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