Worth County Officers for 1961

The following people served as county officers during 1961, during the Worth County Centennial Celebration.

County Judge-Loren Hart, W.J.
County Treasurer-Deva Austin
Probate Judge-Harry Kibbe
Circuit Clerk and Recorder- Audene Barnes
County Clerk-Max Beavers
Prosecuting Attorney-L.O. Boyd
Sheriff-S.A. Maudlin
Collector and Treasurer- Austin W. Adams
Assessor -Glenn Hunter
Coroner-Frank B Matteson
Public Administrator-none
Surveyor-Donald Hughes
Superintendent of Schools- Kenton Thompson

The 1961 celebration attracted thousands of people to see a variety of activities.

Missouri Guardsmen cross the state lend a hand in the northwest corner

While at their annual training in Festus, a dozen Citizen-Soldiers with the 220th Engineer Co. (Horizontal) were asked to haul their heavy equipment nearly 400 miles across the state to help with the flood fight in northwest Missouri.

The Missouri Army National Guard has been working in several counties along the Missouri River fighting to keep back the rising waters for weeks. Recently the need arose to move dirt and sand. These engineers answered that call.

“We’re one of the first ones called anytime there’s a flood duty around,” said Lt. Joe Estes, of Fenton. “We’ve got all of the equipment for it.

While in Mound City, the platoon worked alongside other area Guardsmen to reinforce a berm at Davis Creek. Battery D, 1-129th Field Artillery, of Independence, and the 1128th Forward Support Co., based in Marshall, worked in the heat with other community members to protect the town from the increasing water.

“Even though this is a small town, people are people,” said Estes.

Missions such as this are not in unchartered waters for Estes and the rest of his unit. Earlier this spring, these engineers played a major role with the daunting flood fight in southeast Missouri.

“This isn’t our first rodeo,” said Estes. “We’ve worked three [state emergencies] already and it’s just now summertime.”

The northwest Missouri flooding marks the fifth state emergency of the year. It is the second flood mission the Missouri National Guard has taken on in 2011 and the seventh flood response since 2007.

“Anytime we can get out there, there’s a personal satisfaction that comes with helping people,” said Staff Sgt. Randy Hargis, of Pacific. “You can say you took part in saving a town from a flood.”

Though these troops were called away from a two-week training with the rest of their company, both Estes and Hargis agree that the real-world, hands-on experience they are getting over six hours away from home is invaluable.

While helping fellow Missourians, these engineers can still hone their skills operating heavy machinery such as wheel loaders, dump trucks and skid loaders.

“They’re getting stick time and they were all stoked about coming here to help,” said Hargis.

“It’s a double bonus helping people out and getting training on your piece of equipment,” said Estes.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites:

www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard; www.blog.moguard.com

Businesses impacted by devastating storms may qualify for federal assistance

Following a string of devastating spring storms and rising flood waters threatening several parts of the state, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is encouraging local small businesses to contact the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for assistance in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters. The SBA offers several types of financial assistance for businesses and nonprofit organizations that have suffered physical damage or economic injury. Businesses that have not yet been affected can contact SBA to learn how to best prepare in the event of flooding or other natural disasters.

“Small businesses are the engine of our economy and ensuring they have the resources they need to begin the rebuilding process after disaster strikes is a critical step in helping our communities get back on their feet,” McCaskill said. “The SBA has begun working with businesses hit hardest this past spring and they’re prepared to continue to help across the state with other Missouri businesses that have experienced the devastating effects of natural disasters.”

The SBA has provided a detailed fact sheet on its website to help business owners find the type of assistance that best suits their needs. Once an area has formally been declared a disaster area, businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations may apply to the SBA for low-interest loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damages resulting from a disaster. So far this year, the SBA has provided over $20.1 million in disaster loans for areas of Missouri hit by severe storms, including $15.4 million in disaster loans for property and business loses as a result of the devastating tornado that hit Joplin last month.

Even if a small business does not experience property damage in a disaster, a small business owner or nonprofit organization may apply for a working capital loan from the SBA if it experiences economic injury from a disaster.

On Sunday, McCaskill will tour flood damaged areas and meet with local officials and business owners who are planning for how to recover.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Website. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

Worth County Education Foundation Provides Increased Educational Opportunities

The Worth County Education Foundation is providing increased educational opportunities for Worth County students from donations. Worth County students are using books and other educational materials that have been provided through donations of alumni.
The Foundation provides opportunities for students that are not provided for by public tax dollars. They can provide increased learning opportunities as well as educational and extracurricular experiences that the school district may not ordinarily fund or has ceased funding. The Foundation supports district goals and enhances learning experiences in the classroom and beyond. In addition, the Worth County Education Foundation provides the Worth County teaching staff with opportunities to get creative about teaching by offering grants. The Foundation is working to create a connection between the alumni of all Worth County schools, the students, and the community.
People can make donations of any amount. You can also include the Worth County Education Foundation in your estate planning. You can leave a percentage of your assets to the Foundation including personal assets such as stocks, bonds, CD’s, real estate, vehicles, or art. The donation of these gifts may even provide tax savings to your estate. You can also name the WCEF as the beneficiary of your IRA or a life insurance policy. You can also honor a loved one by designating memorial gifts and honorariums to the Worth County Education Foundation and encourage others to do so as well. Some employers will also match your charitable donation as well.
The mission of the Worth County Education Foundation is to provide financial support for all student programs. The Foundation will provide Worth County Alumni the opportunity to give something back to the school and community that nurtured and supported them during their formative years.
The purpose of the Foundation is to enhance all of Worth County students’ educational experiences by supporting them through financial gifts provided by alumni and community members. The goals are to provide grant money for student groups and teachers to enhance education and extra-curricular activities, promote scholarship opportunities, develop a close partnership between students, alumni, and the community, and develop long-range plans for various improvement projects as they are identified.
Board members are Frank Ross (President), Craig McNeese (Vice-President), Janice Borey (CEO), Rhonda Richards, Joel Miller, and Judith Matteson. To make a contribution, make checks payable to the Worth County Education Foundation, 510 East Avenue, Grant City, MO 64456. For more information, call Janice Borey as (660) 564-2655 or e-mail her at jborey@wc.k12.mo.us.

Parnell Duck Days July 10th

Parnell will be having its annual Duck Race & Festival on Sunday, July 10th at the Parnell Park.
At 10:00 a.m., there will be a church service at the Bandstand in the Park. The Rev. Don Ehlers of the Parnell United Methodist Church will be leading the service.
From 11-2 will be the United Methodist Church BBQ. There will be grilled pork loin, hamburgers, and hot dog sandwiches and plate meals including potato salad and baked beans served in the park. From 11:00 until its gone will be homemade ice cream and cookies at the Lions Shelter House. Proceeds will go to the Parnell United Methodist Church.
The parade will start at the Parnell School. Registration will start from 10-10:30 east of the school. For more information, people can call 986-2468 or 986-2102. Judging will be held at 11:00 a.m. Ribbons will be awarded in the following categories -- floats, costumes, autos, tractors, animals, 4-wheelers, bicycles, horses, and miscellaneous. Following the parade, the Mic-O-Say Dancers and the students of Miss Whitney’s Elite School of Dance will be performing.
From 12:30 to 3:30 will be the Ramblin’ Country Band from Gentry at the Bandstand. From 12:30-1 will be the Baby Show. Registration will be held beside the Bandstand. All babies from birth to 5 years may take part. For more information, people can call 986-2468. Announcement of the winners will be held on stage during the first band break.
The annual Duck Race will start on the Platte River at 1:30. People can buy a chance at the park or contact any Northeast Nodaway PTO member or 986-3330 prior to July 10th. Northeast Nodaway Board of Education members will collect ducks at the river. First place will be $100; second place will be $75; third place will be $50. You need not be present to win.
From 2:00 to 2:30 will be the Pet Show. Registration will be behind the bandstand and winners will be announced during the second band break.
The final event of the day will be a Bingo sponsored by the Parnell Park Board. It will follow the announcement of the raffle and race winners. For more information, call 986-2102.
There will be various activities held all day. The American Legion and Auxillary will be having a bake sale, drinks, and raffles for various prizes. Boy Scout Troop 131 will be having a pop ring toss and lollipop pull. The Northeast Nodaway PTO will be having a free bounce house and face painting for kids. The Northeast Nodaway FFA will be having their animal Bingo; you can buy a chance from any FFA member that day. The Northeast Nodaway Junior Class will be having a dunk tank. The Northeast Nodaway Freshman Class will be having snow cones. There will be open horseshoe pitching located in the park by the school; bring your own horseshoes. There will be a flea market; bring your own tables. For more information, call 986-3330. You can but three raffle tickets for a dollar for hourly prizes donated by sponsors of Duck Days. There will be a list posted at the park; you must be present to win.

Jack Remembers: Legalized Robbery

Willie Sutton was a notorious bank robber. In his forty year career, he robbed a hundred banks of more than two million dollars. When asked by a reporter why he robbed banks, he replied, “Because that’s where the money is.”
Well there is a new bandit in town and his name is Sid, (actually, it’s spelled C.I.D., Community Improvement District) who has found a way to legally take our money in a plan that had to be dreamed up by a relative of Willie’s.
In my community, the C.I.D. district includes a strip center which has a grocery store and restaurant. The owner who developed this district is going to receive 1% sales tax of everything sold within the district for twenty five years. In this small district, it could mean a couple hundred thousand dollars per year for the developer. In some areas, the owner collects two or more percent sales tax and even charges the people who buy his land real estates taxes. It’s like forming a town within a town, because the city’s still get their sales taxes and real estate taxes.
The city council has to approve these districts and also have a public hearing with the developer telling them and the townspeople that without his ability to collect this tax to improve the property, he will not build in their city.
I have a friend of mine whose 250 acre farm adjoins the city limits of a community near Kansas City. He is putting his entire farm into the city limits and into one of these districts. He will receive 1% sales tax no matter who buys a portion of his farm to develop businesses. Now tell me that isn’t better than robbing banks.

Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com

Worth County Sheriff's Report of June 29th, 2011

6-20 -- Worth County Sheriff’s Department (WCSD) serves papers on Worth County resident.
6-21 -- WCSD receives calls about holes in street in front of bank. City notified.
6-22 -- WCSD fingerprints Worth County resident; “job related.”
6-22 -- Report of cattle out on Route Y.
6-22 -- Report of missing or stolen utility trailer.
6-22 -- WCSD receives call of person with possible medical problem in Sheridan.
6-22 -- WCSD investigates two minor accidents in county.
6-23 -- WCSD provides lifting assistance for person who has fallen.
6-24 -- Residents report three people on property; possibly stealing items. Sheriff’s Office investigating.
6-24 -- Resident calls to report theft of copper tubing.
6-25 -- WCSD investigates report of possible runaway; Sheriff’s Department escorts child back to residence.

To report a problem, please contact the secure phone line at (660) 564-2222. For emergencies, call 911.

Worth County Livestock Show to be Held July 21st

The Worth County Livestock Show will be held Thursday, July 21st at the Worth County Fairgrounds. The show will begin with the hogs at 9 a.m., followed by the goats and sheep and then the cattle. There will be a buyers appreciation supper provided by the families at 5:30 followed by the sale at 7. Feel free to show up anytime to see the kids, their projects, and enjoy some good food while supporting the future of agriculture at Worth County.
Donations are still being taken. Supporters can come to the sale and bid on animals, contribute to the sale pool which goes towards bidding on different animals during the sale, making a contribution to the premium fund which will be divided between all the kids showing, and making a donation towards an individual participant. Donations can be sent to Stephanie Hardy, 14431 Kenwood Avenue, Grant City, MO 64456; (660) 562-4036. Please make all checks to Worth County Junior Livestock Sale and specify where you want your money to go.
Kids showing or selling for this year’s event include Megan Cassavaugh, Daniel Craven, Corbin Davis, Will Engel, Danielle Funk, Evan Funk, Jacob Hardy, Jill Hardy, Rikky Hunt, Haley Hunt, Braidy Hunt, Allison Larison, Lindajoy Petersen, Matthew Petersen, Wyatt Rush, Wade Rush, Rilee Rush, Austin Thummel, Chase Thummel, Sydney Thummel, Jacob Wimer, and Jeremy Wimer.

Old Defiance Days: Pockets Full of Fun Puppet Show

Pockets Full of Fun had a puppet show in which the puppets played jokes. Shiloh, who didn’t want to come out of his house because he was playing video games, played several jokes on the kids present. Among the jokes he played was a spring flying out of nowhere instead of spring water, a chicken sandwich that was a drawing of a chicken instead of the real thing, a brown letter “e” instead of a brownie, and a box full of truffles that was guaranteed to make you smile that blew open instead of having truffles in it.
Theo the Chimp had all the trouble in the world blowing up a balloon so that he could make it disappear. First, he said he was monkeying around; then, he needed a magic word; then, he needed to figure out how to say “abracadabra.” Finally, instead of making the balloon disappear, he let go of it and it flew behind him and disappeared behind the stage.
Jemima the Baby Dinosaur was always trying to be helpful, but was always involved in hilarious mishaps. First, she was going to try to help around the house so she tried to make coolaide. But she tried to follow directions by adding water to the package, only to pour the water all over the package and spill it on the floor. Then she washed the floor with towels and tried to put them in the machine and started it, only to hear a strange noise and realize in horror that she had added the whole box of detergent.
Finally, she decided to try something else and this time she succeeded as she led the audience in singing “If you’re happy and you know it.”
The mishaps of all the puppets were all in good fun as they were guaranteed to make the audience laugh and have a good time. They succeeded in that score.

Gateway Singers Take Audience on a Trip Through the Years

The Gateway Singers led the audience on a trip through the years in their concert performance at the Sheridan Christian Church at Old Defiance Days Saturday evening. Jeff Blaine opened the event with prayer and the singers led the audience in singing “God Bless America” to start the performance. The event was moved from the park due to the weather.
They started by taking the audience through some popular gospel songs through the decades starting with the 1920’s and “Turn your Radio On.” The 1930’s were represented with “Life is Like a Mountain Railroad,” followed by the four-part harmony song “As you Travel Along” from 1943. The 1950’s were represented by “Along the Jericho Road,” followed by the 1960’s and “Put your Hand in the Hand of the Man.”
The Gateway Singers were formed in 1969 and they got their start logging trips all over the country, performing concerts at churches, and witnessing to hippies by rewriting popular songs with gospel lyrics. Since 1969, they have logged 2 million miles and 11,000 church dinners, but declared that Missouri had some of the best in the country. They said that many hippies were receptive to their message as they realized that Jesus was the answer and not drugs.
During the 1970’s, they began to have children and some of them sang with the singers as they traveled around the country. Now, they have 13 grandchildren. They had the audience rolling in the aisles with the 1980’s comedy “The Mississippi Squirrel Revival” about a boy who let a squirrel loose in the church and the pandemonium that it caused. The end result was 500 rededications, $25,000 in money raised, and 50 signed up for a missionary trip to Congo on the spot.
For more recent years, the singers sung “Go Jonah” to the tune of the Oak Ridge Boys classic “Elvira” for the 1980’s. For the 1990’s, they performed “God is Doing a New Thing” in rap style. By 2000, more and more contemporary Christian music had been written and they switched to modern Christian classics like “These are the Days.”
The singers did a couple of songs on fatherhood, including the popular country song “Daddy’s Hands” and another one named “I’m seeing my Father In Me” and encouraged people to be fathers to their children. “If more people were like fathers to their children, a lot of our country’s problems would be solved,” was their message.
The singers took requests from the audience, including “The Old Rugged Cross,” “I’ll Fly Away,” the popular 1970’s song “Cats in the Cradle” about lost fatherhood, and “Above All Powers.” The song “I’ll Fly Away” brought to mind some prison ministry that they do; that song was a hit among the prisoners that they performed to at a California state prison one time. One of their children was babysat by none other than “Tex” Watson, who was at one time the executioner for notorious serial killer Charles Manson but who had shown genuine remorse for his deeds and who gave his life to Christ.
In closing, they said they were thankful that they lived in a country in which they could travel freely; they performed “Proud to Be an American.” Jeff Blaine gave a closing prayer and the singers closed with “Happy Trails.”

School Breaks Even on 2010--2011 Budget

The Worth County School broke even on its 2010-2011 budget and passed a budget for the 2011-2012 school year that outgoing Superintendent Matt Robinson hopes will turn out a $62,000 surplus if everything breaks right. “We ended up close to where we thought, but not to where we wanted,” he said. The school dealt with budget cuts by the state as well as getting only half of the stimulus money that they thought they would get. Interest from deposits went from $68,000 a few years ago to $12,000 annually now and transportation funds took a big hit as well.
On the plus side, the state is starting to recover from record revenue drops and Robinson said that education was lucky compared to other areas of government like highway funding. If the school becomes eligible for Small Schools money, that could mean another $150,000; however, the school will not get it next year.
The school will now be giving ACT tests at the school. Teacher Clella Goodwin reported that it went very well and that students were much more comfortable taking it with their friends instead of being separated from their friends like they are at the university. The school will be able to give it every time next school year except for September. 22 Worth County students took the test at the school. Students from other schools can take the ACT at Worth County; one each from Albany and South Harrison came to take the test.
Junior High cheer practice will start next month; they had tryouts this month.
Robinson addressed a new rules change by the government regarding the School Lunch Program. A new rule states that students who are not eligible for free & reduced lunches should pay the same amount that the government is paying to subsidize free and reduced lunches. The new guidelines recommend that all schools raise lunch prices 5 to 10 cents every year until they get to the rate that the government pays for free and reduced lunches. The other alternative would be for the school to prove that they are not using government funds to pay for students who are not eligible.
The school cannot use 2% milk anymore; they must either use 1% or skim milk. California is already ahead of the curve; they have dropped everything but skim milk. The changes do not affect school breakfast or lunches for staff. The board voted 6-1 to raise school lunches by ten cents; Karen Fletchall voted against, saying she preferred a 5 cent increase.
Board President Jubal Summers presented a plaque to Robinson in recognition of his service to the school at the close of the public meeting. Incoming Superintendent Mike Rennells attended the meeting and got acquainted with board members and staff.
The board held an extended closed session at the start of the meeting; normal closed sessions last from 15-30 minutes; however, they held a 50 minute closed session to discuss personnel issues before opening their public session. In the one personnel move the board made, they voted to pay the preschool director a $1,750 stipend for work that they were already doing. At the start of their public session, the board added a closed session item following their open session to continue discussion of personnel matters. During citizen’s comments, Sheila Hunt addressed the board telling them that they were accountable to the voters, that they needed to seek the truth and not just believe what they were told. All school board meetings are open to the public and there are public comment periods near the beginning of each meeting where members of the public can address the board. Following the end of the public session, the board went back into closed session.
The board held a special meeting on June 9th at 8:00. The board went into closed session at that time to discuss personnel matters; they were in closed session for approximately one hour. Following the closed session, the board voted 5-0 to offer LaCosta Rennells a probationary teacher contract for the 2011-2012 school year. The board also voted 5-0 to accept the resignation of Jim Spiers.

County Commission Dealing with Problem Roads

The county commission is dealing with problem roads and is in the process of hiring a new member of the road and bridge crew this week. Road 159 near Denver has bad road conditions including water crossing the road, a bad grade, and rock going off into the ditch shortly after being put on. Raymond McElvain ordered some emergency rock for that road and Road & Bridge Supervisor Jim Fletchall will take a look and see what needs to be done. If the road goes into city limits, Fletchall said that would not be a problem since the county has delivered emergency rock to city streets in Denver before.

Commissioners lined up last-minute details of the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Steve Matthews opened a road north of Road 266 that had been abandoned for the last 10 years. Fletchall thought that it would need a tube, but it does not. Road 266 is the road that links routes T and O north of Allendale near the state line. The county will now maintain it like any other road.

County Clerk Roberta Owens explained the difference between abandoned and closed roads. An abandoned road is one that the county no longer maintains because they are no longer able to get to it because of brush and weeds. A closed road is one that is closed through a formal legal process which includes letters to landowners, a process involving public input, and action properly recorded by the county; it is a lengthy legal process. Even though a road may have been abandoned, the county still owns an abandoned road. Part of the reason for the brush ordinance was to prevent the county from having to abandon any more roads because they can't get to them with their equipment. No formal records are normally kept in the event of a road becoming abandoned by the county.

The county received a complaint about Road 242 being left off the Special Rock program; that road is on a list of roads to be reviewed by the county and that could become eligible as determined by Fletchall and commissioners.

The road and bridge crew ditched the wrong side of Steve Groven's road and Groven had to fix the road up again. The road also needs mulching along the side as well. A big culvert along Road 27 south of Sheridan is giving out badly and needs a new tube in it.

Emergency Management Director Pat Kobbe reported that the state has cleared out all disaster work for 2007 subject to auditing by the state. Following the successful completion of the audit, money that is currently tied up from the 2007 disaster can be used by the county.

Community Building Fund Nets Over $2,000

The Sheridan Community Building Fund has attracted over $2,000 in pledges and donations so far and is still seeking more. The City of Sheridan is seeking to replace their City Hall while the Sheridan CBC is seeking a building to replace the schoolhouse, both of which are falling apart. The Community Building will be located south of where the present schoolhouse is and will function as both a community center and a city hall. To donate, send checks to either the Sheridan CBC, PO Box 55, Sheridan, MO 64486 or the City of Sheridan, PO Box 235, Sheridan, MO 64486. Make checks payable to the Community Center Building Fund.

Jazz Concert, Fireworks to Highlight 150 Years

The Lonny Lynn Orchestra and the largest fireworks show in Worth County history will mark the sesquicentennial celebrations in Worth County. The celebrations opened with Old Defiance Days in Sheridan and will continue with festivities from July 1st through July 4th.
On Friday, July 1st, there will be contest registration at the square at 5:30. The Grand Marshall for the parade will be announced at 6. There will be a classic drive-in at Hart’s. At 6:30, the Little Mr. & Miss Worth County Baby Show will be held and the oldest resident in the county will be honored. At 8:00, there will be a street dance on the Square and the band “Sunspot” will perform.
The main events will be held on Saturday, July 2nd. From 7-9 a.m., the Grant City Lions Club will hold a breakfast at the Senior Center. Parade registration will start at 8:30. At 9:30, there will be a flag raising at the war memorial, followed by a dedication of the new gazebo that was recently built. At 10, the parade will start.
There will be various fun events happening all day. There will be old time photos of the county at City Hall from 9-4. There will be a car and tractor show at the square from 10-3. There will be a kids water slide from 12-5.
At 12, there will be a kids movie and popcorn at the courtyard, followed by a patriotic show at 1 p.m. At 1:30, there will be a legislative presentation, followed by kids games from 2-4. There will also be a beard contest and a period costume contest. At 3, the time capsule that was placed in 1961 on the occasion of the Worth County Centennial will be opened.
The evening events will start at 5:00 p.m. Leading off will be hot air balloon rides at the Worth County practice field. The Masonic Lodge will be holding a fish fry at the Pool Park and there will also be a cake social. From 7 to 9 will be the Lonny Lynn Orchestra at the Skating Rink, which will feature Big Band Music. At dusk there will be a spectacular fireworks display, which will be the largest fireworks display in county history.
On Sunday, July 3rd, there will be a church service in the Courtyard. At 1, there will be a carry-in dinner at the Old Denver Schoolhouse in Denver. Bill Engel will open his sleigh shop and give tours. At 3:00, there will be registration for a volleyball tournament at 3:30 at the Grant City Pool Park. At 6:00 p.m., Allendale will be having a truck and tractor pull at the Rodeo Grounds.
On July 4th, Allendale will be holding their annual 4th of July Breakfast starting at 7 a.m. At noon, registration will open for the ATV run in Allendale at 1:30. From 1-6 p.m., Grant City will open its pool for a free swim.
There will be two categories of floats for the Sesquicentennial Parade -- family/generations and business/group. There will also be open classes for tractors, horses, cars, and walking entries. No one under the age of 12 will be allowed in the parade without adult supervision. There will be no undecorated entries except for antique cars, tractors, and horses. All motorized entries must be driven by licensed drivers or be accompanied by a licensed adult. Registration for motorized entries will be at the Fairgrounds at 8:30 the day of the parade; registration for floats will take place at the MFA on North Main Street; registration for horses will take place at the Grant City Sale Barn.
For more information, people can contact Lisa Hargrave, (660) 564-2288; Bridget Gibson, (660) 564-3603; or Debbie Roach, (660) 564-3698.

Opinion: The Unchanging Imperial Paradigm

The Unchanging Imperial Paradigm
by Sheldon Richman

Despite President Obama’s trumpeted force drawdown in Afghanistan, by the end of next summer more than twice as many U.S. troops will be fighting in that country’s civil war as there were when he became president in 2009. His soothing words notwithstanding, a force of about 70,000 will remain there at least until the end of 2014. We can be sure, however, that that won’t stop the president from campaigning for reelection on a peace platform.

Obama’s speech the other night was mostly show, a spectacle to make the war- and deficit-weary public think he’s taking substantial steps toward disengagement. He did something similar in Iraq, though 50,000 troops remain and are still taking casualties.

It is easy for a president to manipulate public opinion, especially in foreign affairs and most especially when the mainstream media — conservative and “liberal” — are so compliant. The war will go on, but probably under the radar more than before, just as the war in Iraq does. The public and mainstream media attitude will be, “The president said the war is ending, so there’s no need to pay attention.”

One problem: Not much is changing.

In the coming months, politicians and pundits will debate whether Obama’s drawdown is too slow or too fast. The president explicitly took a middle position between those who wanted merely a token withdrawal, such as the top military brass and Sen. John McCain, and those who want an immediate exit, such as Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.

But the pace, though not insignificant, is hardly the main issue. The main issue is the empire. If all combat troops were removed from Afghanistan tomorrow, the U.S. government would continue to treat that country like a protectorate, ready to send troops back if events are not to the policy elite’s liking. It’s the paradigm of empire that must be rejected. But Obama’s drawdown and disavowal of empire notwithstanding, the U.S. policy elite have no intention of reconsidering America’s hegemonic role in the world. To be sure, fiscal difficulties have forced a reconsideration of tactics, but the imperial framework remains. It was compactly summed up by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 as he prepared to move against Iraq’s Saddam Hussein after the invasion of Kuwait: “What we say goes.”

Empires always require myths, and the U.S. empire is no different. In the days before Obama’s speech, McCain and others campaigned for no more than token drawdown by asserting that Afghanistan would become a threat to the American people if the U.S. military disengaged, just as it did — supposedly — after the Soviets withdrew in 1989. “We withdrew from Afghanistan one time,” McCain said. “We withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban came, eventually followed by al-Qaeda, followed by the attacks on the United States of America.”

That is empire-serving nonsense. The policymakers did not abandon Afghanistan; they tried to micromanage it in defiance of Afghan history and culture. As Michael Scheuer, who once ran the CIA’s bin Laden unit, wrote in 2009, “In the immediate post-Soviet years, then, Washington spent tens of millions of dollars to try to form exactly the same type of strong and centralized Afghan government — the type of regime that historically causes war in Afghanistan — it is trying to form today.... The Afghans wanted no part of the secularism the U.S.-led West insisted on then....” Instead of letting the conflicting Afghan factions find some way to peace after a decade of brutal Soviet intrusion, American policymakers fanned the flames of civil war.

In any event, it was neither neglect of Afghanistan nor intervention there that prompted al-Qaeda’s attacks on 9/11. Rather it was half a century of U.S. support for brutality in the Muslim and Arab world, from Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians, to the corrupt monarchy in Saudi Arabia, to the torturous secular dictatorships in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries.

Regardless of what Obama does in Afghanistan, as long as the U.S. government eyes the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia the way an imperial power eyes its colonies, there will be threats to contend with. The path to American security lies in renouncing a foreign policy designed to rule the world.

Sheldon Richman is senior fellow at The Future of Freedom Foundation (www.fff.org) and editor of The Freeman magazine.

Grant City Council Minutes for June 21st , 2011

A Regular Board of Aldermen meeting was held Tuesday June 21, , 2011, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

Present: Mayor Debbie Roach, Cathy James, Catherine Runde, Dennis Downing, Bruce Downing. Clerk Ayvonne Morin, Jesse Stark, PWD: Carl Staton, Bridget Gibson, Patsy Worthington.

Mayor called meeting to order.

Minutes: Cathy James made motion to approve the minutes as written for June 7^th, 2011, Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.

List of Bills/Supplies: Catherine Runde made motion to approve the list of bills/supplies, Cathy James,

Seconded, motion carried.

Service Contract/Sheriff: Tabled to July meeting. Mayor will contact sheriff.

Worth Co. Economic Developer: Charity was absent. Catherine Runde made motion to approve $100.00 donation for the July 24^th, Golf benefit for fireworks for next year, Cathy James, seconded, motion carried.

Water Contract/Ordinance: 3536: Cathy James read twice by title, “An Ordinance to approve a contract with the PWSD#1 for the purpose of supplying water”, Bruce Downing made motion to approve Bill# 6212011, Ordinance # 3536, and Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.

Playground Mulch: Dennis Downing made motion to approve the mulch from Entire Recycling, and hauling for $3,032.00, Cathy James, seconded, Catherine Runde voted nay, motion carried. Ms. Runde wanted further information and clarification concerning the mulch. Clerk instructed to pay for it out of the Park 2% Fund.

Downtown Project: Clerk contacted Randy Mendenhall and they are planning to have everything completed in the next week/week and half. KCP&L will be here next week to pull the wires and the electrician will be in to put the lights up. As long as the weather cooperates and no unexpected events arise, project should be finished in time for the festival.

Web-site: No report on the web-site.

Sign: Mayor will meet with Francis Goff June 22, 2011 concerning the sign.

Sewer: Tabled to July meeting.

Bids/Bathhouse Doors: City received no bids.

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Pool/Bathhouse: Cathy James made motion to approve the quote for fencing at the bathhouse, from

Dustin Strueby, $1000.00 for materials, less than $1000.00 for labor, Bruce Downing, seconded, motion carried. After discussion, board decided to bid out for labor only to put the roof on the bathhouse. A special meeting will be held July 5^th, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. to open bids. Prevailing wage will apply.

Trails: Clerk instructed to place ad to bid out for concrete for the trails. This has to be a Mo-Dot mix.

Bid deadline July 5^th, 2011.

Back to School Fair: Board approved a $25.00 donation.

PWD: Carl Staton gave progress report for the month. Carl also stated cycle bar needed some repairs, cost estimated around $800.00. Bruce Downing made motion to approve the repairs, Dennis Downing,

seconded, motion carried.

Building Permits: Permits approved for Gary Owens, Brad Behrens, and Don Morin Jr.

Mayor called for a five minute break. 8:15 p.m.

Mayor called meeting back to order 8:20 p.m.

Catherine Runde made motion to adjourn meeting and go into closed session, pursuant to:

610-021 (1) litigation and 610-021 (3) employees, Dennis Downing, seconded, motion carried.

Meeting adjourned.

Closed Session: Bruce Downing made motion to adjourn closed session and resume the regular meeting, Dennis Downing, seconded, motion carried, regular meeting resumed. 9:20 p.m.

Mayor called regular meeting back to order.

City Code: Dennis Downing made motion to release the insurance funds that has been in holding from the fire for Dennis Adams, and Carol & Karyn Pickering, Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.

Mayor approved $100.00 donation to send to Joplin, Mo.

Bruce Downing made motion to adjourn meeting, Cathy James, seconded, motion carried, meeting adjourned. 9:45 p.m.

Four New Roads Closed Due to Missouri River Flooding

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that the following roads have been closed or impacted due to flooding (changes are in bold):

ATCHISON COUNTY:

• Route V - Closed near the Iowa state line.
• Interstate 29- Closed to all traffic (northbound) at mile marker 110. Traffic is being diverted at Exit 110 to U.S. 136.
• U.S. 275- Closed near Hamburg, IA.
• Route 111 - Closed from Route Z in Atchison County to the town of Craig in Holt County.
• U.S. 136 - Closed west of I-29. This blocks access to the Missouri River Bridge at Brownville.
• Route D- Closed between Route A and U.S. 136
• Route U - Closed between U.S. 136 and County Road 280.
• Route E - Closed between Route U and MO 111.
• Route A - Closed between County Road 175 and Route B.
• Route BB - Closed between County Road B Ave. and Route A.

HOLT COUNTY:

• U.S. 159 - Closed from Route P to the Nebraska state line. This blocks access to the Missouri River Bridge at Rulo. Recommended detour: U.S. 36 at St. Joseph.
• Route 111 - Closed from Route 118 to U.S. 159.
• Route W - Closed from I-29 to Route 111.
• Route 111 - Closed from the junction of Route 111 & 118 to the City of Craig.
• Route 118 - Closed from MO 111 to Route P
• Route P - Closed from MO 118 to MO 159

For more information about this or other projects being handled by MoDOT, please call our toll-free customer service hotline at: 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (1-888-275-6636).

Missouri Guardsmen volunteer to fight flood

Throughout northwest Missouri it’s common to stumble upon people helping people during this time of distress. Not because they have to, but because they want to lend a hand. Two Citizen-Soldiers with the Missouri Army National Guard on flood duty are doing just that.

Sgt. Clint Bain, of Blythdale, and Spc. David Baker, of Albany, volunteered to be a part of the flood fight.

“We usually volunteer every time,” said Bain. “That’s just part of the Guard duty.”

These Soldiers have been working a security detail at Big Lake, Mo., this week, posted at checkpoints around the area. Though this is their first flood duty with the National Guard, they both have served in other state emergency situations, including the blizzard that hit Missouri earlier this year.

“That’s what we signed up to do,” said Baker. “I know if it were my Family that was in a disaster, we’d hope and pray somebody would come to our aid.”

“I joined to protect my Family and Families that live around me,” said Bain. “That’s part of our duty to come out here and help out as much as we can.”

The Citizen-Soldiers drill with Battery A, 1-129th Field Artillery in Albany. Bain and Baker, along with other fellow artillerymen, are working in Holt County supporting local authorities, such as the sheriff’s department.

While on mission, Soldiers are in constant communication with the Tactical Operations Center in Maryville, calling in reports every hour.

Bain has served in the National Guard for five years. He is a correctional officer at Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron.

Baker has served three years in the National Guard and also farms row crop and raises cattle in Albany.

The Missouri National Guard is mobilized under the authority of Gov. Jay Nixon and reports to local civil authorities. The Missouri National Guard will remain on duty until released by the Governor and local civil authorities.

Second Harvest Says Recent Legislation Would Gut Aid Programs

by Second Harvest

After nearly 20 years of bipartisan commitment to ensure funding for critical nutrition assistance to our country's most vulnerable, the House of Representatives voted last week to gut funding for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in a move that seeks to deny nutrition assistance to as many as 350,000 newborns, very young children and mothers in HB 2112.

WIC provides funding for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Additionally, the same piece of legislation dramatically cut funding to the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Food Supplemental Program (CSFP). CSFP is a Federally funded program, which has had success improving the health of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, other new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six, and elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods. TEFAP supplements the diets of low-income needy persons, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance.

TEFAP and CSFP programs provide more than half of the food distributed by Second Harvest Community Food Bank across our 19 county service territory. Second Harvest will be re-evaluating how to feed the local needy due to these cuts.

Recently Second Harvest joined food banks from around the country in releasing the results of a nationwide study of food access. That study concluded that low income residents of Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas are missing 8.7 million meals annually. If enacted as written, this bill would remove access to an estimated 500,000 additional meals exploding our local meal gap to 9.2 million.

“To put that number in perspective, imagine your child or your parent ending a day having missed a meal because their house or apartment was completely devoid of food. Then consider that single occurrence happening 9.2 million times a year mostly in the lives of young children and the elderly,” says Second Harvest Executive Director David Davenport. “This is the worst kind of public policy - it's ideology over common sense, it's poor bashing to satisfy the worst kind of political behavior. Low income Americans don't have much of a political voice, they cannot hire lobbyists and they do not make contributions to political campaigns. The poor just try to survive.”

Summer 2011 has Second Harvest partnering with Brittany Village Apartments in a pilot program to provide supplemental food boxes for 150 low income families. They can expect 25 pounds of dry and canned goods and additional produce to be delivered in June, July and August. According to program director Linda Laderoute, “We hope that this will enable us to support hungry families this summer and expand to meet the greater need next summer.”

Summer is rough on many of our children. Often times, hungry kids can't wait to get back to school so they can have at least two balanced meals a day. They exist on minimal resources during the summer and research indicates that even mild under-nutrition during critical periods of growth impacts the behavior of our kids, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development. For more on Summer Hunger visit the Harvest Blog: http://www.ourcommunityfoodbank.org/blog_site

With the measures taken this month to cut critical nutrition assistance to families with children, summertime for our nation's children will likely continue to be a time of great need in this country. To see how your State Representative voted and voice your concern regarding HB 2112, see the following links: http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/112/hr2112
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll459.xml)

Editor's note -- Congressman Sam Graves voted for this legislation.

To make a donation to Second Harvest follow this link: http://www.ourcommunityfoodbank.org/give_money

Senators Seek to Combat Illegal Tunnel Activity on Southwest Border

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill along with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) introduced legislation to combat illegal tunnel activity on the Southwest border of the United States. The Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011 would provide law enforcement and prosecutors additional tools to locate tunnels, identify criminals and punish those involved in illegal activity.

“Last year, we passed legislation to help secure our Southwest border by increasing law enforcement and judicial resources and providing aerial surveillance drones. This legislation addresses those who have literally gone underground in an effort to bypass detection. This is a commonsense piece of legislation that will improve agency coordination and response when it comes to combating illegal tunneling and securing our border,” said Senator McCaskill.

The Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011 will:

· Make the use, construction or financing of a border tunnel a conspiracy offense;

· Include illegal tunneling as an offense eligible for Title III wiretaps even when there are not drugs or other contraband to facilitate a wiretap;

· Specify border tunnel activity as unlawful under the existing forfeiture and money laundering provisions to allow authorities to seize assets in these cases.

Last year, McCaskill was successful in passing a law that provided $600 million in border security resources without adding to the country’s deficit. The bill was paid for by raising fees on companies that choose to outsource high-paying American jobs. The additional fees provided millions to fund an increased Border Patrol and National Guard presence, judicial resources, and unmanned aerial vehicles along the border.

Companion legislation will be introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas).

Worth County History for June 30th, 1948 -- Scary accidents are nothing new.

June 30th, 1948
Scary accidents are nothing new, but one of the scariest of all time happened two miles south of Grant City on June 22nd, 1948. A collision between Frank Snyder of Bethany and Dale Bressler of Grant City knocked down and snapped a power pole and knocked out power to Grant City for over an hour. Rescue workers risked their own lives by moving power lines so that they could rescue the victims from the cars. Thankfully, nobody was killed.
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The Tiger Inn, owned by Cliff Hamblin, caught fire on June 28th and burned down. There was a near total loss of stock.
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Japp Dalbey set a course record for the Grant City Golf Course for the time with a score of 28. He got birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 7th, and 9th holes.
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Highway 46 from Hatfield to Route 69 near Eagleville got a hard surface for the first time.
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The willingness of people in the area to give for cancer research is nothing new. Worth County was recognized for giving 162% of their quota to the American Cancer Society, or $533.85, which was among the highest in the state.
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There were weekly band concerts every Saturday night in the Worth County Courtyard. Walter Cummings was the band leader. They played a mixture of patriotic and popular tunes. Numbers played for Saturday, July 3rd, 1948 were the Star Spangled Banner, Klaxon March, Harmony Queen Overture, E Plurbus Unum, Trombone Toboggan, It Had to Be You, The New Colonial March, 2nd Connecticut March, Now is the Hour, On the Mall March, and the Washington Post March.
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Home Oil Supply, managed by Rex Fisher and Leah Wolf, became Boll Implement Company, run by Victor Boll.
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Negative campaigning was just as much of an issue in 1948 as it is now. If you’re wondering about the vicious nature of the attacks on Obama’s citizenship, there were dossiers about the candidates’ personal lives thrown out there just as much in 1948 for public consumption.
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An offbeat news story -- a rat got into a radio and tangled up the wiring so that the owner could not hear any radio stations, but could hear all of the long distance telephone calls coming to and from the local telephone office.
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Kelso Park west of Grant City was still there -- it was used for the annual Farm Bureau Picnic on July 9th, 1948.
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Stevens & Spainhower Motors of Grant City proclaimed that the new 1949 Ford was “truly a NEW car -- all ties with the past are broken!”
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Eighmy & Willhite Motors said that the new Studebakers featured the “1st new idea in car styling in years!”
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Sheridan had its own lumberyard -- Snowden Lumber Company, with locations in both Grant City and Sheridan.
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Dalbey Lumber Company -- “We simply remind you a home will endure for over 300 years and still have substantial value after having given shelter to generation after generation. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, a home is the investment of the century because it costs less than anything else of importance.”
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Showing at the Grant City Theater, sponsored by Standard Motors of Grant City: “So you want thrills?” and “Woody Woodpecker.”
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Myrtle’s Chick-a-Dee Cottage, located in the house just north of the LDS Church in Allendale, featured home style chicken and pork chops by reservation only every day at noon except for Sundays at 2.
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Murray Thompson, GOP Candidate for Governor, made a campaign stop in Worth County on July 5th to meet supporters.

Brad Lager Vice Chair of Disaster Recovery Committee

Thousands of Missouri families, residents and businesses that have been impacted by a number of natural disasters across the state will soon confront less red tape based on the work assigned to the Senate Interim Committee on Natural Disaster Recovery. Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, created the committee to examine what actions the Legislature should take in order to best assist Missouri residents and local governments as they recover and rebuild.

“Thousands of Missouri families have been in harm’s way this year because of natural disasters, and for many more, their way of living has been threatened,” Mayer said. “As lawmakers, it is our job to make sure government is helpful, rather than a burden, in the rebuilding process. That is why I created this interim committee to look at all aspects of recovery and the role government should play.”

Missourians across the state have been plagued recently by both natural and man-made disasters:

§ Dec. 31, 2010: Storms and tornadoes struck nine Missouri counties (Carter, Christian, Dent, Franklin, Phelps, Polk, St. Louis, Stone, Webster) and the city of St. Louis killing five people.

§ Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2011: A blizzard brings record snow to 44 counties, triggering a State of Emergency.

§ April 22: Tornadoes in the St. Louis metropolitan area destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and led to the temporary closing of the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

§ April 19-27: Heavy rainfall leads to levee breaches and flash flooding in the counties of Barry, Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Christian, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Lawrence, Madison, Maries, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Francois, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne, Webster and Wright. Poplar Bluff’s flood receives national attention while hundreds of homes and businesses are damaged across the state.

§ May 2: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers chose to blow open the levy at Bird’s Point opening the Bird’s Point-New Madrid floodway on the Mississippi River in Southeast Missouri, ultimately flooding more than 100 homes and 130,000 acres of prime farmland, with some still under water today.

§ May 22: A F5 tornado tore through Joplin, killing 154 people and destroying more than 8,000 homes and businesses in Jasper and Newton counties.

§ May 25: A tornado struck Sedalia causing damage to area homes and businesses, and injuring 25 people.

§ June 15–present: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began releasing a record 150,000 cubic feet per second of water from Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota triggering flooding along the Missouri River, expected to remain through summer.

Mayer named Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, as chairman and Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, as vice chairman. Mayer said both senators represent districts that have been and are currently being tragically impacted by a tornado and flooding, respectively. Mayer said Richard and Lager are committed to making sure Missourians do not have to battle government in their efforts to recover and rebuild.

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NATURAL DISASTER INTERIM COMMITTEE

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The Senate Interim Committee on Natural Disaster Recovery is comprised of three subcommittees charged with focusing on specific areas of response and recovery. Those subcommittees are: Emergency Response, Fiscal Response and Insurance Response. Each subcommittee will work with the appropriate administrative agencies in order to make preliminary reports to the committee’s chairman before the annual veto session held Sept. 14.

Other senators named to the committee include (listed by subcommittee):

Emergency Response – Sen. Mike Kehoe (chairman), R-Jefferson City; Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit; Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington; Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City; and Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City.

Fiscal Response – Sen. Kurt Schaeffer (chairman), R-Columbia; Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown; Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla; Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis; Sen. Tim Green, D-Spanish Lake; and Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City.

Insurance Response – Sen. Mike Parson (chairman), R-Bolivar; Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville; Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa; Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield; Senate Minority Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence; and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.

To learn more about the interim committees announced this week, visit www.senate.mo.gov.

Grant City Gets Bargain for Rubber Mulch

The Grant City Council voted with a 3-1 vote to buy rubber mulch for the Pool Park at a bargain price of $2,744, which was much cheaper than they normally would have gotten. Mayor Debbie Roach said that the vote was necessary because the company was trying to move supplies out in advance of the Missouri River flooding and that it was a need for the city in order to comply with the latest ADA requirements. If they had not approved the purchase, Roach said they would have had to wait until after the flooding. Catherine Runde voted against it, saying that the city should have taken more time to consider such an offer.
There were complaints about the caulking on the sidewalks, which was sticking to peoples’ shoes and getting on peoples’ carpets. Some areas are being roped off in order to allow time for the caulk to dry.
There were a lot of positive comments about the appearance of the sidewalks as the project is nearing completion. Getting up the new street lights is dependent on the weather as well as coordination between the contractor and KCP&L. The positive comments included one from Annette Weeks of Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation, which helps businesses in a six-county area including Nodaway and Worth free of charge.
The city will meet some more with Francis Goff to discuss putting up the new sign near the Dollar General Store.
There were no bids for the bathhouse doors; the city will check on their options as contingencies for receiving no bids were not clearly spelled out in the grant.
The city voted to bid out the roofing project, citing a lack of volunteers and citing busy weekends this weekend and next. The city will have a special meeting on July 5th to open bids for various projects. Councilman Dennis Downing will draw up the specs for the roof. Bidders for the roof will require an OSHA safety card, proof of liability insurance, and must pay workers prevailing wage.
The council directed Public Works Director Carl Staton to take down two light poles that are in front of the pool. The city has already taken down one.
The city voted to donate $25 to the Back to School Fair.
Public Works Director Carl Staton reported that city crews have been mowing, weedeating, and doing roads; he said that crews hoped to have the streets on the square swept in time for the Sesquicentennial. He said they were patching potholes, including one on the square. The city repaired a break in an 8” main and put in water and electric lines to the Courthouse. The city will replace an $800 sickle bar that broke off one of the mowers. A grate in front of the Times-Tribune building needs repaired because it represents a tripping hazard.
Councilwoman Cathy James said that weeds needed to be cut by the Yetter Building; the council had Bridget Gibson of the Sesquicentennial Committee talk to Ronnie Supinger about moving his cars off the square as well as having Jim Carlson move his sheet metal off as well.
The city voted to donate $100 to the City of Joplin for tornado relief.
The council went into closed session with Code Enforcement Officer Patsy Worthington to discuss personnel matters as well as potential pending litigation.

Five Tigers Selected for Missouri Eight Man All Star Game

The Missouri 8-Man Football Coaches Association will be hosting its third annual Missouri 8-Man Football Senior All Star Game on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at William Jewell College in Liberty Missouri.

38 of the state’s top 8-Man senior football players have been invited to participate in this event. They will report Thursday, July 7^th to William Jewell College and practice for three days as a member of either the Blue or Red team before the event.

The teams will be coached by area 8-Man football coaches from the eight teams that made the state playoffs last Fall. Coach Chuck Borey of Worth County is the head coach of the Blue Team. He is assisted by Mike Seifert of North Andrew, Roy Noellsch of Nodaway-Holt, and Andrew Webster of North Nodaway (previously of Tarkio in 2010). The Red Team is led by head coach Brian Messer of Mound City. He is assisted by Dan Collins of Stanberry, Kurt Thacker of Hardin-Central, and Phillp Dean of Miami of Amoret. The teams were “drafted” by the coaches; thereby pitting previous teammates against one another in certain instances. Five Tigers were selected. Alex Harmening will play for the Red Team while Adam Summers, Brian Hall, Cody Green, and Wyatt McClain will play for the Blue Team.

“This game showcases some of the best 8-man talent Missouri has to offer. It is such a privilege to get to work with some of the players against whom I have coached,” said Coach Borey of Worth County R-III. “We are very grateful to the William Jewell College’s coaching staff and administration for the use of their facilities. Two players will receive a scholarship from the 8-Man Football Coaches Association. Everyone has a great time, and we encourage anyone who is a fan of football to attend.”

Admission is $7.00 per person. Gates open up at 5:00 p.m. T-shirts and DVDs of the game will be for sale throughout the contest. All proceeds go to the Missouri 8-Man Football Coaches Association. For more information and to purchase a highlight DVD, please go to http://mo8mancoaches.com.

Big Lake receives security support from Missouri Army National Guard

The Missouri Army National Guard continues to support flood missions in northwest Missouri and has added a security presence at Big Lake. A small contingency of Citizen-Soldiers are providing round-the-clock checkpoint security in the village assisting the Holt Co. Sheriff Dept.

The eight Soldiers are part of Task Force 110, led by Col. Greg Mason. The task force is providing flood relief efforts along the Missouri River starting with Atchison Co. in the northwest corner, down to Cooper Co. in the center of the state.

The troops on this mission serve with the 1-129th Field Artillery headquartered in Maryville. A tactical operations center is also set up in the Maryville armory providing support to area flood missions.

Another eight-man team, also with the 1-129th Field Artillery, remains on duty in Atchison Co. providing presence patrols in coordination with the Atchison Co. Sheriff Dept.

The Missouri National Guard encourages safety at all levels. Citizens should be are aware of surrounding conditions before movement.

The Missouri National Guard is mobilized under the authority of Gov. Jay Nixon and reports to local civil authorities. They will remain on duty until released by the Governor.

County Receives Donation of 1829 Family Bible

The county received a donation of an 1829 family Bible from the John Solomon Mosbarger family. John Solomon Mosbarger was born in 1806 and married Eliza Walker. Wayne Mosbarger sent the bible from Washington because the family wanted the Bible to return to Worth County, where the family had strong ties. The Mosbargers were among the earliest families to settle in Worth County.
Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley left early to attend a funeral.
The county is going through the stretch of the year where very little tax money is coming in. In addition, there is pressure on the county finances this year from having to replace tubes that are just a year old.
The county is now licensed to broadcast narrowband. Ernie Miller from Midwest Mobile helped the county get their sheriff and ambulance services licensed free of charge.
State Representative Mike Thomson sent the county a state and US flag to be flown at the Sesquicentennial this year.

Jack Remembers: Hackley School

Phil Campbell, a small town in northwest Alabama, got hit by a tornado recently. Lo and behold, men by the name of Phil Campbell came from all over the country and England to help clean up their namesake according to the TV news.

I also have always liked my name. Several years ago, I was selling units of limited partnerships in farms located in my area. I also had a farm operation including raising hogs. I had several dozen investors from the Kansas City area and decided to expand into New York City where the money is. I had a list of potential investors including doctors and corporate executives. I sent them a letter saying I would be in town, and headed to New York City.

First on my list was the President of Hanes Hosiery. When I got in the city I called for an appointment. His secretary answered and when I said I would like to meet with him, she said he was so busy that it would be impossible, but when I insisted she said, “Wait a minute”. I could hear her talking to someone. She came back on the phone and said he would make time to see me and to come right up to the 50^th floor where they were located in a high rise office building. I was ushered in to the most lavish office I have ever been in. When I told him I was a hog farmer from Oak Grove, Missouri, and wanted him to invest in a farm, he exclaimed “A hog farmer from Missouri!” Then he said, “My two kids go to a private preparatory school, one of the most prestigious in the United States called The Hackley School in Terrytown, NY. When my secretary said Hackley, I thought you were someone from the school. I am not interested in a farm in Missouri.” He had me escorted the fifty floors down and out into the street.

If Hackley School ever gets hit by a tornado, I will not be there.

Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com