Grant City Building Commission Minutes for July 20th

A Building Commissioners meeting was held July 20th, 2011, 6:30 P.M. AT City Hall
Present: Commissioners: Catherine Runde, Debbie Roach, Dennis Downing, Cathy James, and Bruce Downing. Ayvonne Morin. Carl Staton, Bridget Gibson and Jesse Stark.
Commissioner James called the meeting to order.
Minutes: Debbie Roach made motion to approve the minutes from July 5th, 2011, Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.
Dangerous Sites Procedures: Bruce Downing made motion to send out two certified letters and post the properties at 303 S Front Street, 309 S Front, Debbie Roach, seconded, motion carried.
Next tentative meeting date: August 23rd, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

Cut to the Chase -- Warning! Don't Buy a Farm and Buy THE Farm

I spotted a headline for an article in a recent issue of Time Magazine that caught my attention; it read, “Want to Make More Than a Banker? Become a Farmer!” The article quotes a Wall Street investment advisor who foresees a serious problem in producing the necessary future food supply for our growing world population. His conclusion is the world does not need more bankers, it needs more farmers.

Before you sell your home in the ’burbs and quit your job to become a farmer, let me give a word of caution; don’t buy a farm and buy the farm. When I became an employee for the Missouri Farm Bureau in 1976, times were good for farmers. A few years later saw many entering bankruptcy – and these were not newcomers to farming, but folks who knew a lot about raising crops and livestock.

In the early 70s, my wife and I were seriously considering investing in a small farm, and even came close to buying one before someone else outbid our offer. We were devastated at the time, but after going to work for farmers it dawned on me our emotional devastation would have been financial devastation if we actually had been able to buy that farm. We would not have lasted a year.

Farming is capital-intensive. When you price a tractor big enough to do the job, you’ll wonder if it shouldn’t have a Mercedes Benz grill, and the combine a Rolls Royce ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ hood ornament. When shopping for fertile farmland, consider how much of our best farmland is covered with asphalt and shopping malls and, probably, your house in the ’burbs. Wall Street investors are speculating in rich farmland, so if you are in the market you need plenty of ammunition in your wallet.

I hope the rosy projections for dramatic rises in farm income in the next few decades come to fruition – our farmers deserve it. They invest all of their money (plus what they can borrow), work long hours without benefits, and bet it all on beating Mother Nature and getting a good crop – odds and risks enough to cause a professional gambler to fold.

I am not trying to discourage you from becoming a farmer if that is your dream, far from it. If your dream is to become a farmer just so you can get rich, however, beware – you probably need to be rich first. It reminds me of the old joke where a farmer won the lottery, and was asked what he was going to do with his millions. His response was, “I’m going to keep on farming until the money’s all gone.”

Denny Banister, of Jefferson City, Mo., is the Assistant Director of Public Affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization.

Minutes: County Closes Out Three Bridges Near Denver

Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley called the meeting to order at 9:03 am
1. Jim Greechus from the Northwest Children’s Advocacy Center in St. Joseph came to discuss funding for the center. They serve children from the Worth County area. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to support the program in the amount of $300. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
2. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
3. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
4. Commissioner Rob Ruckman reported gas prices from the MFA are $3.549 for gas, and $3.849 for diesel.
5. Treasurer Linda Brown presented the weekly balance sheet and statement of tax funds for the month.
6. Pat Kobbe, EMD discussed changing the County radios over to narrow band. Ernie Miller from Midwest Mobile radio thinks we should go to narrow band at the same time as Gentry County because of the shared 911. She mailed the 1934 disaster (2010 flood) paperwork in. Pat will attend an Emergency Management Status meeting on the 26th of July.
7. Jerri Dearmont came to do a close out hearing on the grant (#139338) for 3 bridge replacements in Worth County.
195 Allen Township-Southeastern part of the county near Little Rock Creek on the east side.
172-Allen Township-Southeaster part of the county near Little Rock Creek on the south side.
185-Allen Township-Southwestern part of the county that serves as a connector between Rt C and Harrison County.
8. Economic Developer Charity Austin reported that she would be working on the Progress Organization/Grant City Chamber of Commerce Benefit Golf Tournament this week. She will also be sending out e-mails to the EEZ board members updating them on the progress of the application process.
9. Board of Equalization: Commissioners reviewed and issued court orders on additions and or abatements to the personal property and or real estate tax books.
10. Jim Fletchall Road and Bridge Supervisor Report:
· Fletchall asked about graveling the streets that run through the cities in the county. Commissioners advised Fletchall that yes that was the previous agreement.
· The big tube on CR 227 needs replaced. May need to replace the smaller ones also.
· Fletchall requested advertising for Cart/Patron gravel participants.
· Fletchall reported that he called Missouri One Call on Monday July 11th to have Windstream mark CR 199 for phone lines for construction purposes. He also called on Tues. July 12th. His case number is #111930083. As of July 18th the road has still not been marked by Windstream. Commissioner Rob Ruckman called Billy Bob Breeden on July 18th to report the issue.
· Discussed straw availability for the roadways after brush removal. Maybe land owners could provide mulch after brush is removed.
· Fletchall reported several mulching jobs that needed to be done. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to advertise for someone to mulch rehabilitated roadways. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. Motion carried.
· Discussed making a tube replacement list for future reference.
Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley closed the meeting pursuant to RsMo 610-022 at 10:50 to discuss personnel issues. Roll vote, Findley aye, Ruckman aye, Gabbert aye. Commissioner Findley brought reconvened the regular meeting of the commissioners at 11:42. Roll vote, Findley aye, Gabbert aye, Ruckman aye.
11. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to adjourn for lunch at 1:30. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Presiding commissioner Ted Findley opened the afternoon session of the meeting at 3:15.

12. While on lunch break the commissioners inspected County Roads, 196 and 199.
13. Discussed brush ordinance at length.
14. Called a company in Minnesota about a bucket for the 515 Dresser Loader.
Clerk Business
· County Clerk Roberta Owens requested a larger sum of money for the petty cash bag. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to have a $200 cash bag. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor. Motion carried.
· Commissioner Findley signed the paperwork from Boone Construction Co. to accept the concrete fill from the destruction of the old bridge on Rt PP. Clerk Roberta Owens will mail it to them.
· Commissioners OK’d Jeff Carpenter’s dozer bill for county share amount of brush removal.
15. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to adjourn at 6:20. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Route 246 to Close Again

Route 246 will close again west of Sheridan, this time to replace the Brushy Creek Bridge. The bridge will be closed approximately six to eight weeks during construction. Motorists will be required to use alternate routes. For more information, please call the Missouri Department of Transportation hotline at (888) 275-6636.

Route PP Scheduled to Close August 1st

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that Route PP in Worth County is scheduled to close at the Middle Fork Grand River bridge on Monday, August 1, 2011. Route PP will close at the bridge located approximately two miles east of U.S. 169 for six to eight weeks for a bridge replacement project.
This bridge is being replaced as part of the Missouri Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement program which will replace 802 of Missouri's bridges by the end of 2013. In Worth County five bridges are scheduled for replacement. Four of these five bridges will be completed by the end of 2011. For a complete list of bridges scheduled for improvement in Worth County visit the following website: www.modot.mo.gov/northwest/safeandsound/index2.htm#Worth
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).

Jack Remembers: Down the Tubes

In 1968, Warren Hearnes was running for his second term as Governor. William “Bill” Morris was his Lt. Governor running mate. The state was solid Democrat so they for sure were going to win. Hubert Humphrey was one of the candidates for President, and so was Bobby Kennedy. The deals started flying at our state convention. If our delegates would select Humphrey over Kennedy, which we did, and if Humphrey won the Presidency, he would name Warren Hearnes the Secretary of Education. Hearnes had done more for education in Missouri than any Governor in the state’s history. He had changed the state formula and funneled money into higher education. The University even named an auditorium after him. Humphrey also promised Delton Houchins, an attorney from Clinton who was State Chairman of the Democratic Party that he would name him Chairman of the National Democratic Party.
I was Bill Morris’ campaign co-ordinator and used this scenario, that when Humphrey appointed Hearnes Secretary of Education as Lt. Governor, Morris would be our next Governor. This made it a lot easier to get support for Morris and raise money for his campaign. Hearnes and Morris had no problem winning as Governor and Lt. Governor in November. There was just one problem. Hubert Humphrey and Edmond Muskey lost the race for President and Vice President to Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.
To make matters worse for the Missouri Democrats, and to show how the best laid plans can go haywire, Humphrey lost to Nixon in this state, which at that time was solid Democrat, by almost exactly 20,000 votes. The reason Humphrey lost was all the rednecks and union construction workers who normally vote Democrat all voted for the third party candidate, George Wallace, who received 200,000 votes.
Humphrey who was still head of the Democratic Party refused to appoint Houchins as National Chairman. All the Missouri Democrats’ big plans went down the tube because the voters had the last say.
Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com

NW Scholarship Honors Worth Native

A new scholarship endowed in honor of a 1959 graduate of Northwest Missouri State University will provide assistance to residents of Worth, Gentry, Harrison and Nodaway counties who seek a college education at Northwest.
In creating the Dr. Marvin D. Combs Memorial Scholarship, William L. Combs is honoring his older brother, who dedicated his life to practicing medicine and helping others. Dr. Combs, who died Dec. 5, 2009, at age 76, spent his career as a country doctor in the towns of Willcox, Ariz., and Albany. He was always on call, and residents knew they could reach him at home after office hours in case of emergencies.
“He contributed much to the welfare of the communities in which he lived,” William Combs said. “It seemed that a permanent scholarship in his name at Northwest would be the most suitable memorial to his life and career and, at the same time, would help good students from the counties of Worth, Gentry, Harrison and Nodaway attain a college education and perhaps continue the tradition of contributing to others.”
Born in Worth in 1933 as the second of six sons, Dr. Combs grew up on a farm near Worth during the Great Depression. Life there was not easy, but he realized the importance of an education and graduated from Grant City High School in 1951. He was drafted by the U.S. Army and served in Berlin, Germany, during the height of the Cold War.
Upon returning to the United States in 1955, Dr. Combs enrolled at Northwest and took classes to prepare himself for a career in the medical field.
“Marvin was four years older than me, but because of the time he worked after high school and his two years of military service, when he came back to start school at Northwest we were in the same class,” William Combs said. “During those years we mostly lived in the same rooming house and attended many of the same general studies classes. Our class was the first to have the commencement ceremony in the yet uncompleted new (Lamkin) gymnasium.”
After graduating from Northwest, Dr. Combs attended medical school at the University of Missouri, but withdrew after a year and raised money by working as a representative for pharmaceutical company Park Davis. Later, he enrolled at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience-College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he completed his doctorate in medicine.
Dr. Combs went on to establish a clinic in Willcox, Ariz., with a classmate and practiced successfully there for two decades while helping to modernize and improve medical care by working closely with a regional hospital. While many doctors were abandoning obstetrics because of rising insurance rates and increasing lawsuits resulting from birth defects, Dr. Combs continued. He also served as a coroner and was active in the Civil Air Patrol.
In 1983, to be closer to his family, Dr. Combs returned to northwest Missouri and started the Combs Clinic in Albany. After retiring in 2000, he and his wife, Vickey Dickerson, returned to Arizona.
To contribute to the Dr. Marvin D. Combs Memorial Scholarship, contact the Northwest Foundation at 660.562.1248, or send contributions, which are tax deductible, to the Office of University Advancement, Northwest Missouri State University, 800 University Drive, Maryville, MO 64468.

Choosing Sunglasses for Your Kids

Sunglasses may save your children’s skin and eyes later in life by blocking the sun's powerful ultraviolet rays (UVR).
Children under age 10 are at a high risk for skin and eye damage from UVR. The skin on their eyelids and around their eyes is more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin. "And until about age 10, the lens of a child's eye is clear, allowing greater solar penetration and thus greater UVR-induced ocular changes," explains Adelaide A. Hebert, MD, professor and vice chair of dermatology, University of Houston. "After that, the lens starts to become more opaque, providing better protection."
UVR exposure causes 90 percent of all skin cancers. In addition, retinal exposure to UVR is associated with cataracts and macular degeneration, both causes of vision impairment. UVR damage builds over time, so the sooner you start protecting your children's eyes from the sun, the lower their risk will be of ever developing future eye problems.
Fortunately, good sunglasses protect both the skin around the eye and the eye itself. While children under 6 months old should never be exposed to the sun, once they reach 6 months, they should wear sunglasses outside. If they require prescription glasses, they should also wear prescription sunglasses.
Keep these rules in mind when buying sunglasses for children:
· Find glasses that block 99-100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Buy ones that indicate the percentage of UVR protection they provide. The more skin covered, the better, so look for large, wraparound styles.
· Use playground-proof lenses. Kids run, trip, fall, and bounce off objects at alarming speed. Their sunglasses should match this active lifestyle. Find impact-resistant, scratch-proof lenses that don't pop out of the frames. Avoid glass lenses, unless recommended by a doctor; plastic is safer. Frames should be bendable but unbreakable. Make sure the glasses fit snugly, close to the face.
· Let them choose. You're not the one who has to wear the glasses or hear other kids' comments on them. Children – especially older kids and teens – are likelier to actually wear them if they select them themselves.
· Eyeball the glasses. Check to see that lenses are not scratched or warped and have no other flaws that distort vision. Very young children may not know to complain if the glasses are flawed, so it's up to you to check before buying.
· Double Up. Sunglasses block only rays that come directly through the lenses. The skin around the eyes remains vulnerable to rays entering though the sides or from the top, or reflected upwards off snow, sand, water, etc. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is a good backup, blocking out many rays from above and even from the sides, while also shielding the face and neck. Seeking shade during the sun's most intense hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., provides another level of protection.
"We need to teach children early the importance of wearing sunglasses – just as we teach them to brush their teeth and wear a seatbelt, so that they develop good habits that last for life," concludes Dr. Hebert.
General Health encourages you to speak with your eye care provider if you have any questions or concerns about wearing sunglasses. The Clinic welcomes most major insurances along with Medicare and Medicaid. Payments by cash, credit cards, and debit cards are accepted. The clinic is located at the junction of highways 148 and JJ in Hopkins, Missouri. The clinic page on Facebook contains updated Saturday hours.

Source: http://www.skincancer.org/choosing-sunglasses-for-your-kids.html

Brad Lager's Capitol Report -- Stretching our Transportation Dollars

The effects of the national economic downturn have impacted individuals, business owners, and entire communities. As a result, every level of government has also been impacted. In order to maintain our state’s balanced budget, declining revenue collections were offset with spending reductions. These reductions forced every department within our state government to do more with less. Quite simply, our state government is going to have to be more efficient, more effective and more impactful with every dollar it spends.
Over the last five years, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot) has spent approximately $1.2 billion per year on our state’s highway construction program. The economic downturn combined with an out-dated revenue structure has forced MoDot to reduce their annual construction budget by nearly 50 percent. MoDOT officials have proposed a multi year plan to deal with this financial challenge. By reducing staff, closing regional facilities, and selling off excess equipment, MoDot will generate an annual savings of nearly $512 million per year by 2015.
The current system of regional offices has been in place for many years, and some individuals argue that this restructuring and/or rightsizing was long overdue. While the implementation of a plan of this magnitude is not simple and will not happen overnight, there is no reason to cast aside the idea just because it is different than how things have always been done. Just like families across our state, MoDot must take the steps necessary to do the best job possible with fewer resources.
The funding of a safe and reliable transportation infrastructure must be a top priority for our state government. A robust transportation infrastructure is imperative to the economic success of our communities. Although Missourians have always been proud of our ability to “do more with less,” I will be watching to ensure MoDot does everything possible to maintain the transportation system necessary to support a vibrant and growing economy.
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 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Cut to the Chase -- Three Ears of Wheat??

Three Ears of.....Wheat? What Happened to the Corn?
Having grown up on a farm, by the age of 5 I could easily tell you the difference between a cow and horse, or a field of corn and wheat. In fact, at that age, if someone could not tell the difference I probably would have looked at them as if they had two heads and a tail.
Today, there are people who cannot tell the difference, but instead of seeing them as creatures from another planet, I see them as people far removed from agriculture. Those of us with a farming background cannot expect people to appreciate agriculture when they have never been around it.
The seriousness of this situation became apparent to me recently. I was searching a website for pictures of corn I could use on a project. I came across one picture entitled “Corn Field with Three Ears.” When the image popped up I did a double take. The picture was actually a beautiful rolling field of wheat.
At first I found the situation humorous thinking someone made a mistake, but after looking through more pictures I realized it was not a fluke. There were several other pictures labeled as “corn” that were really fields of wheat and tall grasses.
If a professional can market and sell pictures of wheat as corn, what does that say about others who have no connection to farming, yet profess to speak for agriculture? They are telling farmers and ranchers how to run their farms and make a living, yet they have little, if any, real agriculture experience.
Have they ever gotten their hands dirty? Have they ever stepped in manure, gotten dirt under their finger nails, toiled from sunup to sundown during Missouri’s hot, humid summer days, or broken ice on ponds for livestock to have water when there is a minus 10-degree wind chill?
The future stability of this world is in jeopardy if we continue to listen to people who insist they are more knowledgeable about what is best for a farm than the farmer.
I’m reminded of a popular FFA t-shirt explaining the severity of this situation. The front of the shirt has the words “Naked and Hungry.” The back says “What would you be without agriculture?”
Samantha Warner, of Archie, Mo., attends Missouri State University and is a summer intern for Missouri Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization.

Worth County Sheriff's Report for July 20th, 2011

7-11 -- Worth County Sheriff’s Department (WCSD) picks up female inmate at Raytown on Worth County warrant.
7-12 -- WCSD transports male prisoner to jail in Maryville.
7-13 -- Report of accident on Route F, car in ditch.
7-13 -- Grant City resident locks keys in car.
7-14 -- Grant City resident reports forced entry break-in at their property.
7-14 -- Grant City resident in for interview about breakin.
7-16 -- WCSD responds to verbal dispute in Grant City.

County Commission Minutes for July 11th, 2011

Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley called the meeting to order at 9:00 am

1. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to approve the minutes and agenda. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
2. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to approve bills. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded. Motion carried. All in favor, motion carried.
3. Commissioner Rob Ruckman reported gas prices from the MFA are $3.479 for gas, and $3.779 for diesel.
4. Treasurer Linda Brown presented the weekly balance sheet, bills, and payroll.
5. Pat Kobbe, County EMD brought some paperwork for Jim Fletchall to fill out on the 1934 disaster (2010 flood).
6. Jim Fletchall Road and Bridge Foreman report:
· Discussed the motor for the riding lawn mower at the County Barn. May look into a used motor for it.
· Discussed having a grader crew meeting since they are hiring someone new.
· Discussed brush removal.
· Joyce Richmond requested, and was granted the brush removal cost share on CR 126.
7. Roy and Joe Davis came to ask about brush removal on CR 227. They wanted to know if they removed their brush and fence, would the County Crew be able to come right away and do the dirt work, so that they could put their fence back in. Commissioners agreed that on notification of the completed work that the County Crew could get right there and shape the road up in that area. Joe also asked the requirements for closing a road, as he wanted to close Old 169 from route E to the Iowa line.
8. Ron Roach came to request that his Emergency Rock be hauled as soon as possible on CR 256. He will set some flags as markers for the gravel haulers to go by.
9. Motion by Commissioner Dennis Gabbert to adjourn for lunch at 11:40.

Presiding commissioner Ted Findley opened the afternoon session of the meeting at 2:00 pm.

10. Presiding commissioner Ted Findley closed the open meeting at 2:02 to meet with David Baird. Findley Aye, Ruckman Aye, Gabbert Aye.
11. Commissioner Findley opened the closed session at 3:30 pm
12. Terry Sheddrick stopped by to tell the commissioners about some concrete that would be available from the bridge removal on Highway PP. They plan to start construction on August 8th. The concrete will be in 6X12 foot sections. The commissioners will call and request some.
13. Terry also reported that there is a tube washing out on CR 233.
14. County Clerk Roberta Owens presented a Thank you letter to the Commissioners from the University Extension, for fixing the doorway and sign for their office.
15. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert adjourned the afternoon session at 4:40. Commissioner Ruckman seconded. All in favor. Motion carried.

Obituary: Calvin Coolidge Rinehart 1925-2011

Calvin Coolidge Rinehart was born March 4, 1925 in Allendale to Ira and Pearl (Montgomery) Rinehart. He died July 14, 2011 at his home in Creston at the age of 86.
Calvin married Leatrice Golliday on July 12, 1946. Calvin served in the US Navy during World War II. He was a truck driver.
Calvin was preceded in death by his parents, son Steve Rinehart, daughter Diane Hartley, 5 brothers: Claude, Lloyd, Verne, Orval, and Clyde; and 4 sisters: Jeanette Miller, Myrtle Tschudin, Dorcie Rinehart, and Velma James.
He is survived by wife Leatrice of Creston; sons Danny Rinehart of Davis City, IA and Jerry Rinehart of Des Moines; daughter Debbie Burton of Maloy; brothers Leland Rinehart of Smithville and Homer Rinehart of Mount Ayr; 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Calvin will be sadly missed by family and friends.
Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City. Rev Len Green officiated. Interment was in the Allendale Cemetery in Allendale. Open visitation was held Sunday after 8 a.m. at the funeral home.

Tiger Football Camps July 26th

The Worth County Tiger football camps will be held next week beginning on Tuesday July 26th and running through Thursday July 28th. Junior high and high school football players need to report to the football field at 8:00 am each morning. Camp will end at 10:00 am each day. On Friday, July 29th, the high school players only will travel to Albany for a contact football camp. The contact camp will be from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Some other schools attending the contact camp are Albany, Maysville, North Nodaway and North Andrew. High school head football coach is Chuck Borey and he is assisted by Chris Healy and Larry Kinsella. Junior high head coaches are Chris Healy and Larry Kinsella. They are assisted by Josh Smith.
High school fall football practice begins on August 8th at 8:00 am. A parent meeting will be held on the first morning of practice at the bleachers. All football players' parents are encouraged to attend. Junior high football practice will begin the first day of school.

Lisa Littlejohn Wears Many Hats as Restoration Aide

Lisa Littlejohn talked about her work as a restorative aide at the Worth County Convalescent Center board meeting last Wednesday night. Administrator Karen Fletchall said that she would be having various employees of the facility give a talk to the board about their work at the facility. She said that she planned to have Activity Director Beth Meek next month.

Littlejohn takes over where the therapy stops for residents of the facility. She does things like one on one feeding, making sure that patients are not losing weight, and maintaining or improving the physical condition of the residents. But like most employees of the facility, she does much more than what she is asked to do. She serves on the safety committee, which makes sure that everything is safe for employees and residents; she also serves on the Employee Relations Committee, which helps maintain morale of the employees and recognize them for their service.

Littlejohn does daily exercises that are certified by the National Arthritis Foundation. One of the biggest challenges she and most of the other employees have to deal with is the constant changes that are part of the job; for instance, it used to be that she didn't worry about residents who were in hospice care. But now, she said that she works with residents in hospice care, saying that increasing range of motion is now seen as necessary to help hospice residents reduce pain and suffering. She has also helped several residents get to where they could go home again.

This year, the Employee Relations Committee has formed a Relay for Life team and they have already raised over $1,200 for Worth County Relay for Life this year. They are still planning fundraisers right up until the Relay for Life starts.

May finances were better than April's. The facility is estimated to be $49,000 in the red this year, including the one-time payments for the cooling system. Among challenges that will be faced is the push to computerize all medical records so that, for instance, the facility can share information with a hospice or a doctor. The problem is security; for instance, protecting such a system against disgruntled employees would be a main challenge. The facility had a small payment for the cooling system. They are looking for grants or loans for the boiler system; the USDA has allocated most of their funds for this year, however.

There are currently 31 residents in the facility after the population had fallen to as low as 27 at one point. Administrator Karen Fletchall said she would draw up a budget based on 30 residents, which is in line with what the facility had this year. Cost per resident was around $126 while Medicaid reimbursements were around $116 per resident. Fletchall said she was doing phone contacts and promoting the facility's short-term care services to prospective residents. She said that 20 residents plus family members and staff went outside to watch the Sesquicentennial Parade, which came into the parking lot at one point. The facility took residents to the Senior Center Potluck.

The board does not have a formal recognition policy for employees who have served for a long time, but will work with the Employee Relations Committee in developing one.

The facility is planning a celebration in honor of the facility's four star rating, which is one of the best in the area.

The board gave Fletchall direction regarding insurance people selling health insurance policies through the facility. The board felt that it would simply create more paperwork for staff and would open up a Pandora's Box of insurance salespeople coming to sell their products. Also, selling such policies would imply that the facility endorsed them and and could lead to cancellation of existing policies depending on who was ensuring people now.

One of the computer programs was having problems; it was not letting Secretary Jozy Moyer log in. The facility will call someone to look at it.

Brad Lager's Capitol Report -- Fighting for Better Roads

Fighting for Better Roads in North Missouri

The 12th Senate District has over 12,000 miles of highways and roads that are life lines to our communities and our economies. These highways and farm to market routes are vitally important arteries that help to fuel our economies and grow our communities. Unfortunately, many of our farm to market routes have been untouched for decades and are now in great disrepair.

As I travel throughout the district, I cover a lot of miles on our farm to market routes. As vehicles and farm equipment get larger, traveling on these roads without shoulders and venturing over single lane bridges that were built decades ago become increasingly more dangerous. The overwhelming majority of this infrastructure was not designed nor ever upgraded to handle the current traffic demands.

For too many years, the decision makers in state government failed to recognize the unique challenges and needs that we experience in north Missouri. As a result, we have lacked the resources necessary to ensure a reliable infrastructure that adequately and safely services our communities. Our problems with bridges, lettered routes, and highways are not matters of inconvenience; they are matters of safety and protecting the avenues that fuel our communities.

In today’s world of tight budgets and fewer financial resources, it is imperative that our state government works in a logical and responsible manner to maximize and optimally utilize the financial resources available to meet the needs of Missouri’s citizens. We never ask for too much from the state, but the time has come to put additional resources towards fixing our deteriorating lettered routes so that we have a safe and reliable transportation infrastructure serving our communities.

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 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

6 Local Students Graduate from Northwest

The following local students graduated from Northwest Missouri State:

Redding
Chris King, BS Physical Education; Zachary Lynch, BS Ag Business.

Grant City
Cassie Gilland, BS Mathematics Education.

Ravenwood
Matt Schieber, MBA, International Management Emphasis; Megan Sherry, BS Ag Business.

Sheridan
Kally Jo Wolfe, BS Animal Science.

Jack Remembers: Buy American

There is an unwritten law that all politicians, Republican or Democrat, abide by, and that is, if you are running for public office, you drive an American made car. A close friend of mine decided to run for State Representative. Only one thing wrong, he was driving a Lexus, a luxury car made in Japan by Toyota. Before he filed for office, he sold his Lexus and bought a Buick.

I checked around to see if any of our state or local politicians were driving a foreign made vehicle, and found that Claire McCaskill was driving a Ford Flex, whatever that is, around Washington D.C. Ike Skelton, who has never driven a car due to having polio when he was a boy, does own a 2003 Chevy Malibu. My favorite State Representative Joe Aull from Marshall drives a Ford Fusion. State Representative Tom Shively from Shelbyville, a friend of mine, drives a Dodge Caravan.

I decided to ask our Lafayette County officials what they drove. Kellie Ritchie Lafayette County Prosecutor drives a Chevy Traverse. Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh drives a Ford 350 pickup. Gil Rector, Northern Commissioner drives an F-250, and Dale Ensor, the County Treasurer, drives an F-150 pickup. Presiding Commissioner Harold Hoflander owns Hoflander Ford, Lincoln & Mercury dealership in Higginsville, so there is no question about what he drives.

Several years ago we were having a reception and fund-raiser for Ike at Harrisonville. A young man from Independence volunteered to help Ike whenever we needed him. He was going to help at the Harrisonville event, but was late showing up, and when he did, he was out of breath. He said his dad had given him an old Volkswagon to drive and he had parked it at the edge of town so no one would see one of Ike’s helpers getting out of a foreign made car.

If we could get everyone in the country to file for an office, all our vehicles would be Made in America.

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

Obituary: Reiko Hern 1935-2011

Reiko Hern, 76, of Grant City passed away Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Northwest Medical Center, Albany. She was born June 15, 1935 in Hakote, Japan to Sasaya Yasohati and Sasaya Tamiko. On December 15, 1961 she was united in marriage to Leland Cecil Hern in Tokyo. They returned to Grant City where they made their home. Cecil preceded her in death May 21, 2004.
Also preceding her were her parents, daughter Connie Bell, and son Kelly Hern.
Reiko is survived by daughter Cecelia Fletchall and husband Randy of Grant City, seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
She enjoyed fishing, shopping, vacation trips, quilting, and cooking for her family and friends. She will be missed by many.
Reiko has been cremated. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 15th, 2011 at Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, with visitation on Thursday, July 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Private interment will be later at the Grant City Cemetery.

Landowner Wants Old 169 North of Grant City Closed

Joe Davis, a landowner north of Grant City, asked about getting the process started to close Old 169 north of Grant City. He said he wanted it closed in part because it had become a dump site and he had to run would-be dumpers off. There would need to be easements granted to allow landlocked owners access to their property. Clerk Roberta Owens and commissioners explained the process; a lawyer would have to draw up the appropriate papers and they would have to be publicized over a period of time. There would be an opportunity for other landowners to object to the proposed closure. There is a big difference between abandoning and closing a road; abandoning a road is when the county no longer maintains it due to excess brush and other problems; however, the county still owns the road. Closing a road requires a formal legal process. In the case of Old 169, commissioners said that easement issues would have to be resolved before that road can be closed.
The new rope and pulley for the Courthouse flag arrived; commissioners were going to strengthen it before putting it up on the Courthouse.
Gina McNeese and a group of youth volunteers worked on painting the benches red to match the rest of the Courthouse. Gina and Craig McNeese then finished up on the project. The county got some positive comments about the improvement of the Courtyard’s appearance including a thank you letter from the Extension office.
While on vacation last week, Clerk Roberta Owens said that she saw the devastation of the Joplin tornado and Commissioner Rob Ruckman said that TV cameras would not do it justice.
Collector Julie Tracy explained to the commissioners that she could not give people tax receipts for proof of payment until all taxes were paid. She said that she would have to research how a charge would become a tax as far as counties were concerned. Currently, the county is seeking to enforce a voter-passed brush ordinance by sending brush letters to landowners and then doing the work or having it done and assessing costs to the taxes of landowners who repeatedly fail to comply with the letters. The county resolved one brush situation with one landowner agreeing to have needed work done after a conference call with Jim Fletchall and commissioners. Fletchall gave commissioners a few more spots which needed brush letters.
Commissioners have cited lettered roads as a major issue for the DOT; Route AA has been resurfaced; however, there are still chunks of that road that are breaking away.
Commissioners explained the procedure for employees handling county invoices. All tickets must be signed so that the county can match tickets to the appropriate fund.

Sheridan Prepares Application for Water Grant

With the approval of the Preliminary Engineering Report funds for Sheridan, the next step for Sheridan is to draw up plans for the overhaul of the water system, including replacement of water mains, meters, valves, a couple of meters that are in basements, as well as an emergency hookup to the Rural Water District west of town. The minimum size will be 6” mains if they are connected to a fire hydrant; the city will use either two or four inch mains for water lines that just supply homes and businesses.
Andy Macias of Snyder Engineering was present at the regular Sheridan City Council Meeting to draw up plans for the city. Mary Jo Riley chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Leland Wake. There will be shutoffs so that if there is a leak or a break, the whole system won’t have to be turned off like it has to now. Macias will draw up a preliminary map of where the hydrants could be and the city will get back to him after going over it. Three hydrants that are not serviceable will be replaced.
The city used copper pipes in putting in the water lines last time; Macias said that in some places, the pipes had rotted to the point where the dirt was holding them together and they had to go right up to customers’ homes to get to where there was good pipe.
At one time, the city was going to include improvements to the plant. If something were to happen to the plant, the city would need to get an emergency grant for a solution; Grant City got an emergency grant when the city nearly ran out of water and a beaver dam was the only thing keeping water flowing into the city. Sheridan has quite a few 4” lines on hand, which will save material costs.
Macias will also draw up a preliminary sewer map so that water lines don’t conflict with sewer lines. Water lines must be at least 10 feet away from fewer lines. Macias found a sewer report that Sheridan had done in 1971 when Charlie Findley was still the mayor for the town. Part of the plan will include getting cost estimates for the project; for instance, the price tag for Sheridan hooking up to the Rural Water District was quoted at $105,000 in the past.
The city got a $300 donation from the American Legion as well as some other pledges and donations for the Community Building. Donations are still being taken; over $2,000 has been raised so far. Donations can be sent to either the Sheridan CBC, PO Box 55, Sheridan, MO 64486 or the City of Sheridan, PO Box 235, Sheridan, MO 64486. People can also go to the Great Western Bank and deposit money into the account that has been set up for the building. The city is also looking into putting names on bricks; in Blockton, they did so for $50 each.

Roy Blunt: 800 Days = Still No Senate Budget

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today marking the 800^th day since the Democrat-led Senate passed a federal budget:

“As the nation marks the 29^th consecutive month with unemployment over 8 percent, Senate Democrat leaders have failed the American people by refusing to pass a budget for 800 days.

“Instead of working with Republicans to rein in spending and pay down our country’s out-of-control debt, the Democrats have proposed a second so-called stimulus after the first one failed, and they are calling for tax hikes on job creators who are already struggling to make ends meet.

“In the meantime, Washington has spent $7.3 trillion over the last 800 days. Our nation has added $3.2 trillion to the debt since the Senate Democrats passed a budget. And 40 cents of every dollar that the federal government spends today is borrowed.

“Missourians and Americans deserve better than this kind of irresponsible, inexcusable lack of leadership that the Democrat-led Senate continues to demonstrate. We must change business as usual in Washington, and I hope my colleagues across the aisle will join us as we work to get nation’s our economy back on track.”

According to the Associated Press, "Hiring slowed to a near-standstill last month. Employers added the fewest jobs in nine months and the unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent. The economy generated only 18,000 net jobs in June, the Labor Department said Friday. And the number of jobs added in May was revised down to 25,000."

Sam Graves: Small Businesses Need FTA Passage

The clock has run out.

On July 1, the European Union-South Korea free trade agreement goes into effect. Then, on Aug. 15, the Colombia-Canada free trade agreement will take effect — leaving U.S. small businesses at a competitive disadvantage in the international marketplace.

There has been recent progress on three pending trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea — but time is of the essence.

The slow progress certainly does not help our small businesses, which are already facing uncertainty because of skyrocketing energy costs, excessive federal regulations and possible tax increases. We owe it to small businesses to open new markets and lower trade barriers so they can compete with their foreign counterparts and increase their exports.

More exports means more revenue and job creation. In fact, $1 billion in U.S. exports creates 6,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the independent U.S. International Trade Commission estimates passing the trade agreements will increase U.S. exports by $13 billion and create 75,000 jobs — all without one dime of new government spending.

Phil Wise, the owner of Wise Family Farm in Harris, Mo., gave sobering testimony on the necessity of passing the trade agreements at a recent House Small Business Committee hearing. “While we sit on our hands,” Wise said, “other pork-exporting countries are moving forward with FTAs of their own with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. … [Iowa State University economist] Dr. Dermot Hayes calculates that we will be out of the Korea and Colombia markets in 10 years if the U.S. fails to implement its agreements.”

The key to America’s long-term economic recovery is held by flourishing small businesses — our nation’s most robust job creators. Small firms create more than half the nonfarm private gross domestic product and employ more than half the U.S. workforce. In fact, 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years were created by small businesses.

But we have to provide the market opportunities and resources for small businesses to compete — so they can grow and hire more workers.

With 95 percent of the purchasing market outside the U.S., small businesses and farmers understand the opportunities and benefits of exporting. Like large U.S. companies, small businesses face a variety of trade barriers that limit their ability to compete — including higher tariffs, technical standards and foreign customs regulations.

Most small firms, however, do not have the resources and capital to navigate complex trade barriers. As a result, many simply do not export. This is why passing all three trade agreements is critical. They remove both tariff and nontariff barriers, protect intellectual property and streamline the trade process.

More than 20,000 U.S. companies export to South Korea alone — and more than 18,500 are small businesses. The South Korea FTA will increase total U.S. exports by $10 billion, according to ITC estimates, including $2.8 billion from small- and medium-sized U.S. companies.

Passing the trade agreement with Colombia would also increase opportunities and level the playing field for small businesses. Most Colombian exports already enter the U.S. duty free, while U.S. exports face tariffs as high as 35 percent. Lowering the barriers would generate an estimated $2.5 billion per year to the U.S. GDP and increase exports by more than $1 billion.

“My customers [in Colombia] have been paying 20 percent tariffs on hundreds of thousands of dollars on my imported products, and this has reduced the range of items that they could purchase from me,” said Roy Paulson, president of Paulson Manufacturing in California.

In addition, more than 7,200 small businesses now export to Panama. Passage of the FTA with Panama would allow more than 88 percent of U.S. exports to enter duty free and increase U.S. exports by a whopping 145 percent.

The benefits of these three job-creating agreements for small businesses and our economy are too big to move this slowly. It’s time for America to get in the game.

The longer we wait, the longer small businesses will be at a disadvantage, which means waiting longer for a full economic recovery.

Lauren Null Attends Truman Summer Orientation

Lauren Null of Denver, Mo., recently attended the Truman State University Summer Orientation Program on campus in Kirksville, Mo.
Incoming Truman students and their parents attending a one-day summer orientation were able to enroll in classes and visit with currently enrolled students as well as Truman faculty and staff about transitioning to college life. The goal of the program is to welcome and introduce all first-year students and their families to the University.
Null is the daughter of Theran and Cindy Null and a 2011 graduate of Worth County R-III High School.
Founded in 1867, Truman is Missouri’s only highly selective public liberal arts and sciences university. Truman was ranked No. 1 by Consumers Digest on its list of “Top 50 Values for Public Colleges and Universities” released in the magazine’s June 2011 edition. Last fall, U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 edition of “Best Colleges” ranked Truman as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region for the 14th consecutive year. Other recent accolades include Washington Monthly, which listed the University in the top 10 for its “2010 College Rankings,” rating Truman as the No. 6 master’s university nationwide. Truman was the only Missouri school ranked in the top 50 and was the No. 1 public school on the list. The Princeton Review has named Truman one of the nation’s 50 “Best Values” in public education. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine lists Truman among its 100 Best Values in Public Colleges while Forbes included Truman on its national “Best Buy” list.

Sesquicentennial Ends Up $2000 in the Black

The Worth County Sesquicentennial ended up around $2,000 in the black after almost all of the expenses were accounted for. Among the events that went well were the kids slide, the 1960's drive-in at Hart's, the church service, and the Lonny Lynn Concert. The Worth County Commissioners are seeking items to be stored in a time capsule that will be placed in the Courtyard in September. Some of the left-over items will be donated to local organizations for their use. Excess funds will be donated to help restore the mural in the old Courtroom. The committee got a letter of congratulations from Northwest Missouri State University President John Jasinski.

Parnell Post Office to Cut Hours

The Parnell Post Office will cut its hours back effective immediately. The changes took place Saturday Morning (July 9th). Chandra Hopkins, who delivered mail for the Parnell Post Office, will deliver mail out of the Sheridan Post Office. All Parnell addresses will remain the same, as will the zip code. The hours of the Parnell Post Office will be reduced from 12-4 from Monday through Friday and from 12-2 on Saturdays. Andrea Leader, who was the old postmaster for Parnell, has been reassigned elsewhere. Janet Mullock, the substitute postmaster, worked Friday afternoon and will work there until the Post Office finds a postmaster for the Parnell office. The Post Office stated in its latest periodical that their losses this year were greater than last year and that they were in danger of defaulting unless significant changes were made in Congress.

Learn How to “Eat Well, Be Well with Diabetes”

By Kelli Wilmes, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist

If you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, managing your blood sugar, planning healthy meals, and living a healthy lifestyle can be challenging. University of Missouri Extension is offering a series of classes for people with diabetes and their families and friends.

“Eat Well, Be Well with Diabetes,” is a four-class series designed to teach people how to self-manage their diabetes with a strong focus on nutrition. Each two-hour class will focus on meal planning using the Plate Method, understanding carbohydrate counting, blood sugar management and monitoring. Each class member will have the opportunity to taste test easy and healthy recipes during each class session and will receive copies of all recipes to take for home use. “Eat Well, Be Well with Diabetes” is designed to enhance, not replace, diabetes education provided by a certified diabetes educator or other qualified health professional.

Classes will be from 6:00-8:00 P.M. on Thursdays, from August 11 to September 1. All four sessions will be held at the Nodaway County Extension Center, 403 N. Market St, Room 308 in Maryville. The cost of the class is $25 per person or $40 per family (2 people). Pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is August 5. If you need special accommodations because of a disability please notify when registering. For more information or to pre-register call the Nodaway County Extension office at (660) 582-8101.

Grant City Class of 1951 Holds 60th Reunion

The Grant City High School (now known as Worth County R111) class of 1951 met June 25th, 2011 for a noon luncheon at Oldtowne Café in Allendale.
Marilyn Calhoun and Joyce Smetzer were at the registration table.
There were 27 classmates and 21 guests welcomed by Carmetta Jackson. Jerry Allee gave a prayer before our sit down luncheon, which was served by two capable college students Ashley Reynolds and Keely Cook.
The class recognized these two young ladies, the cook Wanda Lynch and the owner/manger Amanda Hughes for the good service, food and nicely decorated tables.
Each classmate was recognized and spoke briefly about what had changed in their lives since our reunion 5 years ago. Present were Jerry Allee, Marilyn (Proctor) Calhoun, Leroy Carroll and his wife Madonna, Theresa (Eighmy) Combs and husband Warren, Allen Downing and wife Barbara, Opal (Harding) Fuller and husband Dick, Lou (Bressler) Goff and husband Francis, Kathleen (Glick) Groom and sister Evelyn Weaver, Lavaun (Austin) Hann, Shirley (Nelson) House, Carmetta (Maudlin) Jackson, Helen (Cottrell) Laval and husband Lindy, Vernon McCord and wife Beverly, Rose (Motsinger) Merrill and husband Dean, Max Murdock and wife Rochelle, Roberta (Jennings) Parker and husband Jim, Charley Pickering, Donna (Rinehart) Richards and husband Charles, Bob Sego and son Patrick, Joyce (Gabbert) Smetzer and sister Sharon Foster, Jack Taylor and wife Glenda, Wilda (Fletchall) Tullis and husband Bill, Dale Tulloch and wife Dona, Donnie Waldeier and wife Ann, Connie Wilkinson and wife Mary Bea, Jeanie (Marler) Willey and husband Gerold, Bill Wilson and wife Norma.
There were 63 in our class and we are the largest class to graduate from this school to date. We are saddened by the death of 22 classmates and Roberta recognized them individually.
Some triva about our reunion was that Shirley Nelson traveled the longest distance coming from Andalusia, AL. The youngest classmate was Leroy Carrol1. Barbara Downing was attending for the first time. Lou and Francis celebrated their 60th Anniversary in June also. Kathleen was getting ready to go on a 45 day trip to Alaska in July. It was agreed that the grandchildren and great grandchildren were a very special part of our lives.
Letters were read from the following classmates who could not attend. Dean Conard, Margie (Hughes) Dennis, Jewell (Brown) Griffin, Deloris (Hunt) Osborn, Joan (Wilkerson) Prichett, Kenny Sparks, David Stanton and Adrain Weigart. Those who called that they could not attend were Martha (Rinehart) Groom, Rosalie (Shannon) Pigg, Mary Lou (Hunt) McCormick, and Ila (Weddle) Callaway.
There was no response from Mary (Mathews) Nevels, Neal Mann, Leroy Hern, and Roberta (Lamb) Farmer (who later told me she forgot it). We missed everyone who could not attend. The classmates present want to try to meet in 2 or 3 years. Hopefully we can.
Those donating to our goodie bags were Worth County Education Foundation Fund with post-it notes, magnets and flyers; Great Western Bank furnished pens; Roberta, Marilyn and Carmetta baked nut bread for each bag. Table decorations also used as door prizes were made by Joyce and Opal. Lavaun donated black and gold napkins for the table and black balloons with 60th on them for a balloon contest; Gerold Willey won that prize (but Gerold we didn’t call you windy) which was a gold colored Wo. Co. School Christmas Tree Ornament donated by Carmetta. Black and gold name tags with a tiger head on them were made by Opal. Monetary gifts to help with expenses were donated by Jeanie Willey and Jack Taylor.
--Submitted by Carmetta Jackson

Cut to the Chase: Country Girl

Country Girl
By Diane Olson

You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. As a child growing up in a small farming community, I was often envious of my city friends. After-school hours found my brothers and me arriving home to complete daily tasks. My counterparts in town did not have those commitments, and were free to go out and play.

Time puts things into perspective. Years after leaving my rural roots, I realized the valuable life lessons provided by this ‘work-study’ upbringing. I had hands-on experience with farm life and insight into how my food and fiber was produced.

While attending the recent National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, I was reminded of my strong roots in agriculture – roots most other Americans don’t share.

Most students sitting in classrooms across the country are four generations removed from any hands-on experience with production agriculture. Yet, all of them benefit from what agriculture provides each day – food, clothing, shelter, school supplies, medical items, transportation, sports equipment…the list is endless.

The Missouri Farm Bureau Agriculture in the Classroom Program includes a unique online resource for educators and students called Webquest. One of the workshop offerings at this year’s national conference showcased this educational tool. Participants, be it educators, volunteers or program directors learned about this unique approach to helping students understand the important role of agriculture .

This web-based program helps teachers integrate agricultural concepts into their curriculum while making learning fun. This resource is hosted on the Missouri Farm Bureau website www.mofb.org. Click on Ag in the Classroom to view all the resources and links for classroom use.

If you click on Webquest, you can choose from 51 complete lessons ready for using. Hook the computer up to an interactive whiteboard and you have hours of learning for the students. Each lesson is teacher-created and contains a teacher page, live links to appropriate websites, an evaluation rubric and alignment to both state and national learning standards.

Not everyone can experience agriculture first-hand, but children can learn to appreciate what this important industry provides through Ag in the Classroom. Encouraging educators and families to utilize this resource builds a better understanding of agriculture, the source of food and fiber.

(Diane Olson, of Jefferson City, Mo., is the director of promotion and education for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization.)

Worth County Sheriff's Report for July 6th, 2011

(Last Week’s Items)
6-27 -- Grant City testing their alarm system.
6-27 -- Nodaway County has arrested Worth County resident on P&P warrant.
6-28 -- Sheridan resident asking about parking enforcement.
6-28 -- Midwest Radar in to certify Sheriff’s radar unit.
6-29 -- Worth County Sheriff’s Department (WCSD) works funeral traffic.
6-29 -- Missouri State Highway Patrol in with papers for prosecutor.
6-29 -- Resident asking about truck inspection.
6-29 -- WCSD serves papers on Worth County resident.
7-1 -- WCSD investigates 4 suspicious people in north part of county.
7-2 -- Unknown caller reports large party at Denver Access.

Sam Graves Cosponsors Bill to Protect Cigar Companies from Regulation

Congressman Sam Graves has cosponsored a bill that would protect cigar manufacturers from FDA regulations. The bill, HR 1639, would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify the FDA's jurisdiction over small businesses involved in the sale, manufacture, and distribution of traditional and premium cigars. The bill goes on to limit the FDA's jurisdiction over traditional large and premium cigars and prohibits the secretary of the FDA from promulgating any regulations on any matter that involves such products.

The bill defines traditional large and premium cigars as any roll of tobacco that is wrapped in leaf tobacco, contains no filter, and weighs at least six pounds per 1,000 count; it does not include cigarettes or little cigars. The bill does not define small businesses.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Health.

Grant City Council Minutes for July 5th, 2011

A Special Meeting was held Tuesday July 5th, City Hall, at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Debbie Roach, Aldermen: Dennis Downing, Bruce Downing, Catherine Runde and Cathy James. Clerk: Ayvonne Morin, PWD: Carl Staton, Jesse Stark, Bridget Gibson, and Patsy Worthington.
Mayor called the meeting to order.
-Bids/Bathhouse Roof: No bids were received. Volunteers have starting working on the roof. Next scheduled work day Saturday July 9th, at 8:00 a.m.
-Bids/Concrete Trails: No bids were received for a Mo-Dot Mix. Tabled to July 20th, meeting.
-Bathhouse Doors: Since no bids were received from June 21, meeting, the board solicited from Worth County Lumber Yard. After review, Catherine Runde made motion to approve the bid from Worth Co. Lumber, $5019.90, Bruce Downing, seconded, motion carried, with Dennis Downing abstaining.
-Medical Insurance: Employee medical insurance is up for renewal with increase of 18% .Clerk instructed to contact Bill Dierenfeldt about pricing.
-Home Based Business: Discussion only.
-Zoning: Clerk to contact City Attorney about some zoning issues.
-2010 Audit/Budget Amendments: Mayor and Board will review the 2010 audit.
-Employees:
Catherine Runde made motion to adjourn meeting and go into closed session pursuant to: 610-021(3) Employees, Cathy James, seconded, motion carried.
Closed Session: Catherine Runde made motion to adjourn closed session and meeting, Dennis Downing, seconded, motion carried, meeting adjourned.

Grant City Building Commission Minutes for July 5th

A Building Commissioners meeting was held July 5th, 7:05 p.m. at City Hall.
Present: Commissioners: Catherine Runde, Debbie Roach, Dennis Downing, Cathy James, and Bruce Downing. Ayvonne Morin. Carl Staton and Bridget Gibson.
Commissioner James called the meeting to order.
Minutes: Catherine Runde made motion to approve the minutes from March 24th, 2011, Dennis Downing, seconded, motion carried.
Dangerous Sites Procedures: Debbie Roach made motion to approve for two ownership/encumbrance reports from Worth County Abstract, properties located at 303 S Front Street, 309 S Front, Grant City, Catherine Rude, seconded, motion carried, with Bruce Downing voting nay.
Next tentative meeting date: July 20th, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. Before the regular Board of Aldermen meeting.

McCaskill Presses Corps to Stop Sending Letters Seeking Land Purchases

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is working to stop poorly timed letters that the Army Corps is sending to landowners impacted by the record flooding. These letters, intended to gauge landowners’ interest in selling all or part of their land to the federal government for the purposes of fish and wildlife habitat restoration, have been sent despite the fact that residents along the Missouri River basin have been struggling to fight historic flooding for the past several weeks.

The issue was widely discussed during McCaskill’s visit to flooded areas in Northwest Missouri this past weekend. In a letter to Brigadier General John McMahon, Commander and Division Engineer of the Northwestern Division of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), McCaskill calls for the Corps to stop issuing letters to landowners during this extraordinary event.

McCaskill further stressed that this is a trying time for many communities and residents along the river’s reach, and it’s improper for the Corps to issue such letters when those affected continue to work around the clock trying to prevent the loss of their livelihoods.

Obituary: John Phillip Craven 1948-2011

John Phillip Craven was born March 10, 1948. He passed away July 4, 2011 at his home in Sheridan, Missouri.
John was preceded in death by an infant daughter Tara, his father, William Craven and grandparents.
John is survived by his wife of 33 years, Teddy Craven of the home, daughters: Ginger Craven of Austin, Texas, Amy Groeneveld of Puyallup, Washington, Lori Burns of Maryville, granddaughter, MacKenzie Groeneveld, mother, Norma Craven of Grant City, sister, Vickie Swoboda (Paul) of Kansas City, brother, Craig Craven and wife of Kansas City, step-mother, Doris Craven and nieces and nephews.
Graveside Services and Interment will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, July 7, 2011 at the Grant City Cemetery in Grant City. Open visitation after 8:00 A.M. Wednesday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City.

Obituary: Judith Ann McNeese 1943-2011

Judith Ann McNeese died peacefully in her home early in the morning on July 5, 2011. She was born March 23, 1943 to Wilson and Winifred (Parman) Osborne in Kansas City, Missouri. She spent most of her adult life as a beautician while living in Grant City. She enjoyed family, friends, gardening and pets.
She is preceded in death by her father and is survived by her husband Ronald McNeese, son Craig McNeese, daughter-in-law Gina McNeese, grandson Bryson Scott all of Grant City; daughter Angie Lamb and son-in-law Darrell Lamb of Allendale; mother Winifred Switzer of Hot Springs, AR; brother Mark Hedden and sister-in-law Patti Hedden of Riverside, CA; uncle W.T. Osborne of Grant City; sister and brother-in-law John P. & Carolyn Jones of Grant City; brother and sister-in-law Bob McNeese and wife Jayne of Northglenn, CO; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, all who have given her great joy.
Judy graduated from High School in 1961 and was married in September of the same year.
Visitation was held 9:00 Friday, July 8th at the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home with the funeral following at 10:00 p.m. Interment was in Allendale at the Kirk Cemetery. Memorials should go to the Mission Possible Center or the Grant City CBC Toys for Worth County Kids Fund, both in care of the Great Western Bank of Grant City.

Grant City Health Insurance Up 17.9%

The Grant City Council learned at last Tuesday’s special meeting that their health insurance would go up 17.9% over this year’s figures for next year. The city currently has a Trustmark plan; there are currently six full-time employees who buy health insurance through the city. The city will look into other alternatives.
The city once again received no bids for the bathhouse roof; the city will try and complete the project with volunteer labor. There were no bids for the concrete or trails; the city learned that they could solicit individual businesses if there were no bids. Worth County Lumber submitted a bid for the doors for the bathhouse which the council accepted.
The council gave Clerk Ayvonne Morin permission to do legal work necessary to update the city’s zoning ordinances. Morin said that the current zoning was too confusing and that she wanted to ensure that everything was zoned correctly. The city will add permitted uses to areas currently zoned C3.
The city got back the audit from 2010. The council will look over the budget for 2011 as well as the audit and revisit it at a future meeting.
The lights have been turned on and the lines will be painted for the Downtown Renovation Project.
The council went into closed session with Code Enforcement Officer Patsy Worthington.

Jack Remembers: Letters from Readers

I have received several letters in response from my two columns about proper display of the flag and remembering Pearl Harbor. Dixie and Bill Clapper from Macon who read “Jack Remembers” in the Shelbina Weekly contacted me about flying the flag, as did Nancy Hammond, who read my column in the Lexington paper while visiting her 93 year old aunt. Jack Robinson, a Korean veteran from Oak Grove also responded to this column and said if I had anyone who was having trouble displaying the flag properly I could send them to him.

However, my Remember Pearl Harbor column got the most response, and I thought I would reprint a letter from Jim & Sheila Davis, Lafayette County, that said it best.

We were very impressed your article that ended with “remember Pearl Harbor”. My husband worked for Ford for almost 35 years and to see all of these foreign cars on the road is very disheartening. Neither of us can understand how so many of them are sold here in the USA. To make it even worse, you see many, many of the elderly (who should very well remember Pearl Harbor) driving these imports. In my opinion, they should be ashamed of themselves. There are many models of cars made in the good ole USA to chose from, why do they chose the import instead. It can’t be because of cost, for they are no cheaper. I know some will say of their import that it was built in the USA, but do they stop and think that profits from that vehicle will go to the country of origin.

I admit we do buy imported items, for today one can’t help to do so. If we find American made we buy it, but these things are getting harder and harder to come by.

Thanks again for your article and thanks for letting me vent. Keep on reminding American that they need to buy American when they can!!

Jim & Sheila Davis, June 21, 2011

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

Obituary: Connie Kay Campbell 1943-2011

Connie Kay Campbell, 68 went home to be with her Lord and Savior after a courageous 1 year long battle with Leukemia and Breast Cancer, on Saturday June 25, 2011 with her loving family at her side. Services will be held at 3:00 P.M., Thursday, June 30, 2011 at the Moses Lake Alliance Church, 1100 N. Grape Drive. Interment will follow at Guarding Angels Cemetery, 2595 Road L N.E. The family will greet friend from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 29th at Kayser's Chapel.
Connie was born at her grandmother's home in Sheridan, Missouri on a "very" cold day on January 20, 1943 to Ernest (Tine) Hawbeck and Bertha Mae Wilson Hawbeck.
Connie spent her early years in Sheridan, MO and attended Sheridan schools & Graduated from Sheridan High School in 1961. Connie married her high school sweetheart Robert Gartside and to this union two daughters, Roxanna Kayle and Rhonda Dee were born.
When Bob and Connie were divorced, Connie and the girls moved to Washington State and made their home for a number of years in White Salmon, WA. Later they moved to Moses Lake, WA, where Connie was hired by The Spokesman Review Newspaper in July 1977 as the first and only female District Supervisor and she continued to work for them until her untimely death.
In the winter of 1978, Connie met the love of her life, Tom Campbell. They were married on June 2, 1979 and they continued to make their home in Moses Lake. WA.
Connie has always been the heart of her family. She enjoyed spending time with all of her grandchildren. She loved telling them stories, playing with them and watching them grow. Connie has always been an active member of The Moses Lake Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. She was active in many youth ministries, women's prayer groups and was also the meal coordinator. She was also a Foster parent for many years.
Connie is preceded in death by her grandmother, father, brother Frankie, her sisters Ethel and Phyllis, and step-son Tom. Connie is survived by her 103 year old mother Bertha Hawbeck, her husband Tom, daughters Roxi (Scott) Mortimer of Wilson Creek, Wa, Rhonda (Joe) Rodriguez, Moses Lake. Sisters Evelyn (Richard) Jobst of Independence, Mo, Roberta (Jerry) Card of Moses Lake. Grandchildren: Kevin (Shawna) Adamson, Matthew Campbell, Megan Adamson, Ashleigh (Nathan) Laney, Jeremy (Jodi) Rodriguez, all of Moses Lake. Jaclyn (Bob) Johnson, Ellensburg, Wa, Alisha (Darren) Larsen, Wilson Creek, Wa. Great Grandchildren; Kaitlyn, Alexandreya, Jayson and Daphney Laney, Elijah and Izaac Adamson, all of Moses Lake. Alaynah Campbell, Peoria, Illinois and Karrah Larsen, Wilson Creek, Wa and numerous nieces and nephews.
Connie touched the lives of many, and will be deeply missed by all who loved her. We rejoice for her knowing that she is in the arms of the Lord.

Evelyn Groom Recalls Teaching at Denver School

Denver held an open house for their two-story schoolhouse Sunday afternoon and is continuing the process of restoring the old schoolhouse and turning it into a museum. Currently, they are about to start painting the building. More work needs to be done on the inside and some of the windows need to be replaced. LaDora Combs and others have put together a lot more historical records in the last year including records of Denver businesses as well as records of many of the rural schools including Sheridan, Allendale, and Worth. The Carnegie Library in Albany donated a microfilm reader that will be used for people who want to read microfilms in the future; Ms. Combs said she has many of those. There are also many newspaper clippings about Denver as well as information about the original settlement of Denver back in 1840.
Present at the open house was Evelyn Groom, who taught at the Denver School from 1960-1964, when it closed. After the Denver School closed, she taught at the Worth County School until her retirement in 1992; she taught first through 3rd grade at Denver. She has taught most of the people who grew up in Worth County at one time or another. Prior to Denver, she had taught all the grades at Amity and had taught grades 3 and 4 in Allendale at the age of 18. In total, she taught for 41 years.
Groom said one of the biggest changes that she had was from teaching many different grades to one grade.
She said that it became a lot easier to teach when she only had to do one lesson plan instead of several. She said that the big challenges that she faced in Denver were the lack of technology. For instance, back in those days, there was one phone at the front of the building and you had to call the operator and get her to connect you to the outside world. She only had one blackboard to work with and relied a lot on the workbooks that the school used.
Once she became teacher at Worth County, she taught with Vanda Terry and they could do a lot of things together that they couldn’t have done in the earlier one-room schools given the fact that they only taught one grade instead of several.
Recently, Ms. Groom celebrated her 80th birthday and got two dozen roses “from your most difficult student,” who turned out to be Chuck McCrary. She says she hears from a lot of her students.
If there was any lesson most likely to be learned by students who had Ms. Groom, it is to live life to the fullest. Despite being 80, she is starting a new life as she will be marrying John Ruby this August and will move with him down to Nixa, MO. She had been going to dances where she met Mr. Ruby. “I feel just as young as I did when I was 30,” she said. “People can have a great time no matter how old they are.”
A free meal was served and a local group of people played patriotic music.
Galen Ruckman, who grew up going to the Denver school, said it was the greatest place on earth to grow up. “We entertained ourselves,” he said of the days before kids had Internet or cell phones or TV. Ruckman went to Denver school for 10 years and had Gwanetha Parman and Dean Tandy as teachers. Ms. Parman later married Ed Girling of Sheridan. “Parman was a really good teacher who was very patient with us,” said Ruckman. “We could be really rowdy, but she was strict on discipline. Now, teachers can’t do anything anymore.” Of Ms. Tandy, who taught grades 1 through 3, Ruckman said, “She put the power to me and I’m glad of it.” Students were always expected to turn in their lessons promptly but Ruckman said he thought that he didn’t have to and told her so. He said he changed his mind in a hurry and was always the first to hand in his lessons after Ms. Tandy got done with him.
Ruckman said that he had a lot of fun doing track, basketball, and baseball. Baseball games were played outside the school building. Basketball games were played in a gym where you couldn’t put too much arch on your shots because the ceiling was so low; they would routinely play neighboring schools in athletic contests. Ruckman said that the teachers at Denver were really good about working with students as individuals; “If you needed help with something, they would give it to you,” he said.

Kenneth Thompson Remembered as Strong Band Teacher

Mr. Kenneth Thompson was remembered as a strong community leader and band director who always wanted the best out of his students. He was honored as well as Glenn Miller, who got his start playing musical instruments in Worth County at the Lonny Lynn Orchestra Concert Saturday.
“Kenneth was a good band director and civil leader,” said John Andrews to the Sheridan Express. “He started a lot of programs both in the school and community. He started the band boosters club and got the whole community involved in supporting the band.” Thompson would go out of his way to bring stuff to Worth County; he would show people technology before it became commonplace, for instance. Andrews said that Thompson saw himself as a teacher both inside and outside the classroom and knew a lot of different topics. For instance, he started a housing program for the community in which the students would build houses to sell to residents. And his bands would routinely place first at band competitions around the area, a standard that is still being followed today.
Some former students talked about the impact that Mr. Thompson had. For instance, Carolyn Hardy said that Kenneth Thompson helped her husband, David, progress to the level where he could play in the Northwest Concert Band.
Another student, Dwayne McClellan, said that Mr. Thompson was demanding in a good way. “He always made sure you did it right,” he said. “His goal was to always have the best band yet.”

Scott Houk, a student of Mr. Thompson’s, said that he remembered Thompson for his ability to put together good musicals for the school. “We had a lot of fun with those and he was very creative in his approach,” said Houk. “A lot of the things he did were ahead of his time.”
Both Judy Houk and Bev Ruckman said that Mr. Thompson always had a way of getting you to want to do better. For instance, he would have the band march to the Square and back -- you didn’t just go to the square, you marched. He would always get together jazz bands for community events as well; they would typically play openers before the main event. “He got everything out of you and everybody wanted to join,” they said. “He taught whatever you needed to know.” Students were given responsibilities as well; for instance, Houk was expected to keep everyone else in line and count off the steps for the rest of the band to follow.
Craig McNeese, who went out for band from grades 5 to 12, said that Thompson was very disciplined in his approach. “We expected to win every contest that we entered in,” he said. “He had a unique way of having you do things like spins and turns that we did.”

New Gazebo Dedicated at Sesquicentennial

The new gazebo and bench were dedicated in memory of the late Kevin Austin Saturday morning in ceremonies. Funds raised in lieu of flowers for Austin as well as volunteer labor helped pay for construction. Charity Austin, widow of Kevin, thanked all the people who put in time to help build the gazebo in time for the Sesquicentennial. Among the people and businesses who helped were Davidson Construction as well as Chevy Davidson personally, Monticue Construction, Goff Construction, Worth County Lumber, Gary and Roberta Owens, Brian Monticue, Dick VanVactor, Lenny Campbell, Terry Sheddrick, and Rhonda Mullock. It was put together despite various weather extremes from extreme heat to extreme cold. Fern and Haley Sheddrick, Linda Brown, Bill and Julie Tracy, Barb Findley, and Roberta Owens helped put together the garden that surrounded the gazebo.
Gene Austin, Kevin’s father, said that Kevin grew up in the city but came home to Worth County after Dan and Naomi Whitehouse bought Country Corners. He said that Kevin loved people and loved to talk about what was going on around the community. “He just wanted to make this a better place to live,” he said. Austin grew up in Worth County but left in 1960; he thanked the community for standing behind Charity. “Kevin was so full of life; hopefully, it will inspire all of you to do great things,” he said.
Len Green, who was Kevin Austin’s pastor, talked about the story of Joseph, who was taken to a place he did not want to go but went on to protect Egypt against a famine as well as the rest of the Middle East as second in command there. Pointing to the time where there came a generation which forgot about Joseph, he said that it was good for the monument to be there so that Kevin could be remembered. He noted that the gazebo was an idea in the mind of Kevin, who wanted to give something for the community to use in the courtyard.
Green said that he missed Kevin’s trademark laugh. “I’ve got a video of him laughing during one of our Christmas productions and that will be one of the most precious things I’ll have to remember him by,” he said.
A letter from former commissioner Bill Mozingo was read. Mozingo was unable to be there that morning but wrote that he was proud of how much Kevin had done under difficult circumstances and remembered him as a person who wanted to make Worth County a better place to live.
The memorial bench that goes with the gazebo has a picture of Kevin on the front. On the back it states, "Kevin Austin loved this community. He considered it an honor to serve and work on behalf of Worth County. His legacy will live on as we give back to our community and make it the best it can be for future generations to enjoy.”

Brad Lager's Capitol Report -- Celebrating our History.

Celebrating our History

The birth of our great nation began with a small group of colonist determined to push back the world’s most imposing empire. Through unity and a common belief in less government and greater freedoms, this band of believers forever changed the nation that would ultimately become the greatest example of freedom and democracy the world has ever seen.

The Fourth of July is our opportunity to celebrate what it means to be an American. It is a time when people across this great nation pause to acknowledge the freedom of self-governance that joins us together as one nation. It is a time for us to think about the courage and devotion of those who laid the foundation for our liberties and the sacrifices and commitment of those who still defend it today.

The foundation of this nation began with a belief that people possess fundamental rights and governments are formed to protect these rights. Government is granted its authority only through the consent of the people it serves, and its citizens have both the authority and the responsibility to initiate change when these rights are violated. Most importantly, our founding fathers understood that although they may hold great respect for a portion of their government, they had a duty to fight for a better way of life for their children and grandchildren. Because of these beliefs and their willingness to risk everything in their quest for liberty, we have inherited the greatest nation in the world.

Everyday, as I enter our State Capitol, I am reminded of the efforts of our founding fathers. They rose to fight against oppressive government and high taxation in order to form a more perfect union. As we craft public policy, deliberate and debate the issues, and ultimately cast votes, we are exercising the most fundamental principles of our democracy. These freedoms were not free in 1776, and they are not free today. They have been purchased with blood, and washed with tears. The price is sacrifice, hardship, and often the loss of life. Our Founding Fathers have passed the torch to us, and it is now our responsibility to ensure that our government remains responsive to the needs of its citizens without infringing on our fundamental rights as individuals.

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 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

County Commission Minutes for June 27th, 2011

Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley called the meeting to order at 8:59 am
1. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to approve the minutes and agenda. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
2. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to approve bills. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded. Motion carried. All in favor, motion carried.
3. Commissioner Rob Ruckman reported gas prices from the MFA are $3.529 for gas, and $3.859 for diesel.
4. Treasurer Linda Brown presented the weekly balance sheet ,bills, and payroll.
5. Charity Austin, Economic Developer reported that they will be setting Kevin’s memorial bench tomorrow morning June 28th.
6. Pat Kobbe came to present the Agriculture Emergency Task paperwork. She also brought a list of emergency contact numbers. The final paperwork has been turned in for the 1708 FEMA disaster. The next step is an audit of the paperwork. She also had Findley sign off on some Incident Command paperwork that will now be going through the MoKan office.
7. Raymond McElvain came in to discuss the problem areas of CR 159 by Denver.
8. Jim Fletchall Road and Bridge Foreman report:
 Fletchall will inspect CR 159 for McElvain, but he thinks it is mostly in the City limits.
 Willa Gibson on CR 174 has the fence removed and wants Fletchall to clean out ditches and shape up the road.
 Ruckman and Findley mulched 80-90% of the roadway on CR 163.
 Fletchall will inspect CR 254 to see if it needs a tube.
 Tina Rinehart called with concerns about the brush letter.
 Jeff Carpenter requests county share for .6 of a mile of dozing.
 Fletchall asked the commissioners about buying some straw to have on hand. Findley has 15-20 bales that he will donate.
 CR 27 has a box culvert giving out.
 Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to pay for the gravel to fix Steve Grovin’s road, CR 130, due to a mistake made by the County crew. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. Motion carried.
9. Pat Kobbe came to present the Agriculture Emergency Task paperwork. She also brought a list of emergency contact numbers. The final papers have been turned in for the FEMA money 1708 disaster. The next step is an audit of the paperwork. She also had Findley sign off on some Incident Command paperwork that now will go through the MoKan office.
10. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to go into closed session pursuant to Missouri Statue 610-022 at 11:00am for job interviews. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded. Roll vote, Ted Findley aye, Rob Ruckman aye, Dennis Gabbert aye.
11. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to come out of closed session at 12:10. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. Roll vote: Ted Findley aye, Rob Ruckman aye, Dennis Gabbert aye.
12. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to adjourn for lunch, and inspection of some county roads. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded. Motion carried.

Presiding commissioner Ted Findley opened the afternoon session of the meeting at 3:20.

13. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to go into closed session at 3: 50 pursuant to Missouri statute 610-022, for job interviews commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded, Roll vote: Ted Findley aye, Rob Ruckman aye, Dennis Gabbert aye.
14. Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley brought the meeting out of closed session at 4:15. Roll Vote: Ted Findley aye, Rob Ruckman aye, Dennis Gabbert aye.
15. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to adjourn at 5:50 pm. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. Motion carried.

Obituary: Gladys Dannar 1925-2011

Gladys Marie (Chenoweth) Dannar of rural Worth County passed away Saturday, June 11, 2011 at her home near Oxford while under hospice care.
Gladys was born March 1, 1925 southwest of Darlington on the Chenoweth family farm. She was the seventh of nine children born to Delner and Inace (Gillespie) Chenoweth. She attended Darlington School.
On April 5, 1941, she married J.W. “Buster) Dannar. To this marriage were born two sons and one daughter.
She was a farm wife who worked alongside her husband in the fields in addition to keeping house, growing a garden, and cooking. She was universally known among her grandchildren for making the world’s best noodles, cinnamon rolls, and pies. Dinner at grandma’s was always a holiday meal no matter what day of the year it was. No visitor at her table ever left hungry.
A Christian woman of strong faith and love, Gladys was baptized into the Long Branch Church in her youth and was active in the Worth Baptist Church her entire adult life. She loved her church and her church family, spending countless hours cleaning the church and organizing dinners.
She was preceded in death by her husband Buster, her parents, four sisters, Dorothy Hammond, Goldie Boatright, Auda Bratcher, and Agnes Langford and two brothers, Robert and Clyde Chenoweth.
Survivors include Larry (Sarah) Dannar, Trenton; J.W. Dannar Jr., Ravenwood; daughter Lana (Bob) Wake, Grant City; brothers Emmett Chenoweth, Darlington; and Cliff Chenoweth, Kansas City. She is also survived by nine grandchildren; Jeff (Donna) Dannar, Theresa (David) Watkins, David Dannar, Kelly Dannar, Adam (Lauren) Dannar, Thad Dannar, Lacey Wake, Chad (Sabrina) Wake, Kayna (T.C.) Cameron, nine great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at the Worth Baptist Church on Monday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m. George Miller and Paul McKim officiated. Interment was in the Grant City Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Andrews Funeral Home.

Todd, Jordan Harding Attend Boys State

Todd and Jordan Harding attended the Missouri Boys State conference from June 11th to 18th at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. They completed their junior years at Worth County R-III and were selected based on their leadership and citizenship skills. They were sponsored by Worth County American Legion Post 92. Boys State is a pure democracy in that all citizens may vote and are eligible to hold office. The program is designed to educate and train Missouri’s leaders in functional citizenship, leadership, and government. Nearly 1,000 student leaders will build an entire state government in a single week. Missouri Boys State is sponsored by the Missouri American Legion.