Junior High Boys Dominate Home Relays; Girls 4th

The Worth County boys dominated their home meet to keep their undefeated record intact for the season. The boys finished with 100 points, followed by Tri-County with 61, Rock Port with 56, and Stanberry with 55. On the girls side, Rock Port won with 70 points followed by Gallatin with 67 and Maysville with 47. Worth County followed with 40.
In the Shot Put, Jacklyn Brooks was 6th with a throw of 31’2”. That was 7’3” behind the winning throw of Hale Craig of North Harrison. On the boys side, Truman Moore was second with 38’5 behind Shelby McMillen with 41’5”. Moore also finished second in the discus to McMillen with a throw of 119’11”.
Jacklyn Brooks was third in the discus with a throw of 70’3”. That was 16 feet behind the winning throw of Haley Craig.
The girls placed two in the Pole Vault. Tess Andrews was fourth on tiebreaks with a vault of 7 feet. Sydney Troutwine got a personal best with a vault of 6 feet to finish 5th. Ben Badell was 2nd with a vault of 8’6”.
Rikky Hunt was second in the triple jump with a distance of 28’3”. That was 8” behind the winning jump of Jackie Bradley with a jump of 28’11”. Chris Alarcon narrowly missed winning the boys triple jump with a jump of 33’6”, 2” behind the jump of Dillon Cook of Tri-County.
Brevyn Ross was third in the long jump with 16’8”. That was 1 foot behind the jump of Garrett Abbott of Rock Port. On the girls side, Worth County also finished second as Kristen Ross got a jump of 13’3”.
Kenna LaFollette was 2nd in the 100 with a time of 14.27. That was .59 seconds off the winning pace of Bailey Owens of Mercer.
Brevyn Ross was beaten for the first time of the year in the 200 as he was 2nd to John Swymeler of Tri-County. Swymeler won with a time of 25.19 and Ross finished with a time of 25.45. Garrett Abbott of Rock Port was third with a time of 25.87.
But Brevyn Ross did win the 100 Hurdles and Worth County finished 1-2 in the event. Ross won with a time of 15.49 while Ben Badell was second with a time of 16.62. In the 75 Hurdles, Kristen Ross was fourth with a time of 13.82.
The girls 4x200 Relay Team was 5th with a time of 2:05.67. The boys team of Chris Alarcon, Ben Badell, Nathan Pointer, and Shadow Briner was second in a close race with South Harrison, getting a time of 1:50.41. South Harrison won with a time of 1:49.41.
The girls were 6th in the 4x100 with a time of 58.87. The boys team of Chris Alarcon, Ben Badell, Nathan Pointer, and Shadow Briner resumed their duel with South Harrison finishing second with a time of 52.62. They were one hundredth of a second ahead of Rock Port, who finished third.
Brevyn Ross turned around and beat Swymeler in the 400 with a time of 56.35. Swymeler finished with a time of 57.37 while Drake Naylor was third in the three-way race with a time of 57.70.
Montana Lykins was 5th in the 800 with a time of 2:30.30. That was 5.55 seconds off the pace of Cory Luke of Stanberry with a winning time of 2:24.75.
The 4x400 relay team of Shadow Briner, Nathan Pointer, Alec Summers, and Chris Alarcon was second with a time of 4:26 to Stanberry.

County Commission Minutes for April 16th, 2012

Presiding Commissioner Findley called the meeting to order at 9:08 am.
1. Clerk Roberta Owens presented the Commissioners court orders on additions and or abatements to the
personal property and or real estate tax books.
2. Commissioner Rob Ruckman reported the gas prices as $3.649 and diesel as $3.949
3. Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to approve the minutes and agenda. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
4. Treasurer Linda Brown presented the weekly balance sheet, payroll and bills.
5. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to approve the bills. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
6. Economic Developer Tammy Ueligger report: Tammy reported the latest on the County Market Day. Reported that she has made some inquiries about redoing the men’s restroom in the basement. Discussed a question from Northwest Regional Council of Governments concerning any problem safety areas along the blacktops in the county. Clerk Owens will submit a form on county letterhead with the commissioners concerns.
7. Ted Rights, Missouri Democrat running for 6th District Representative stopped by to introduce himself.
8. Jim Fletchall, Road and Bridge Foreman Report
 Fletchall reported a tube on CR 84/Creek Ave. has washed out.
 CR 81/Dogwood Ave needs crowned and some ditch work.
 The crew is still working on the MAC truck.
9. Bid Opening : The commissioners opened the seal grader bids from CAT, CASE, and JOHN DEERE. This is a basic chart with the information. A more detailed chart is available in the Clerk’s office, in the official minute book.
10. This chart shows only the base price of graders. Even though the John Deere appears to be the low bid, there were other criteria involved in choosing the bid. Some of these options include trade in value, trip charges, filters, and warranty. Each company offered a discounted price if the county bought 2 graders.
CAT CASE JOHN DEERE
140M2 $263,534 H65B $201,580.00 770 G $200,300
Demo Demo $192,860 Demo $199,000
9. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to adjourn at 12:10 for lunch Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Presiding Commission Ted Findley opened the afternoon session of the meeting at 3:00. County Clerk Roberta left at this time. The commissioners appointed Jim Fletchall secretary for the rest of the meeting.
Commissioner Rob Ruckman made a motion to accept the bid from Victor Phillips/CASE for one new Tier 3 New 865B Case Grader with extended warranty, and one Demo 865B Case Grader in approximately 90 days. County will attempt to sell used graders privately. Dennis Gabbert seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to authorize Clerk Owens to advertise 2 graders on Machinery Trader.com, and other Government equipment sites. Commissioner Rob Ruckman seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
11. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert made a motion to adjourn at 7:00 pm. Commissioner Rob Ruckman second. All in favor, motion carried.

Sam Graves Receives Tea Party Challenge

Tax fighter advocate Bob Gough of Lee's Summit has filed for Congress in the newly created Sixth District, which includes Southeast Lee's Summit, portions of Eastern Jackson County, and portions of Kansas City North of the Missouri River. The District includes large portions of Missouri North to Iowa and East to central Missouri.
Bob Gough founded the Jackson County Taxpayer Association in 2000 and has been an advocate for taxpayers for many years. He joined with other tax payer advocates to defeat a recent ballot measure for an eighteen percent increase in the Lee's Summit school tax.
Bob Gough is member of several community organizations including the Kansas City Pachyderm Club, President of the Missouri State Federation of Pachyderm Clubs, Lee's Summit Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Elks Lodge, Silver Strings Dulcimer Players and the Lee's Summit Republican Club.
Bob Gough served his country in the US Army in an infantry training Brigade. He has a BS degree in Mathematics and was a high school mathematics teacher. Bob and his wife Helen have been married for thirty years. Together they have three children and three grandchildren.
Gough's campaign will focus on the fiscal damage he says was caused by last year's increase of the federal debt by $4 trillion. "I am proud to be part of the Tea Party movement. At the urging of Obama, Congress voted to increase our national debt by $2.4 trillion and to authorize Obama to increase it by an additional $1.6 trillion. Our Sixth District Congressman voted for Obama's huge debt increase bill.
"Our elected officials are using the politics of fear and division to create ruinous debt that must be repaid by our children and grand-children. Four members of Missouri's Republican congressional delegation voted for this huge debt increase. Vicky Hartzler and Todd Akin voted against the Obama debt limit increase. I am proud to stand with them on this important issue."

Area Weekly Road Work for April 25th, 2012

The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of April 23-27, 2012. Weather conditions may cause postponements in the planned work schedule. Other construction or maintenance work, such as brush removal, ditch cleaning, spraying, etc. may occur on other roadways throughout the area. Many projects will include lane closures and delays can be expected.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reminds the public to buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or log onto www.modot.mo.gov/northwest/. You can also follow MoDOT's Northwest Missouri District on Twitter at twitter.com/ModotNorthwest or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ModotNorthwest.
Gentry County:
Route CC - Crews will be pothole patching from Route 48 to end of the route, April 23.
Route BB - Crews will be pothole patching from U.S. Hwy 169 in Gentry County to Route P in Andrew County, April 24-27.
Harrison County:
Route V - Crews will be sealing the bridge at Coal Creek, one mile north of Route WW, April 23.
Route O - Crews will be doing a culvert replacement, road will be closed between Route UU and the Iowa line, April 24, 8 am - 3 pm.
Route A - Crews will be doing prep work from U.S. Hwy 69 to Route T, April 24-27.
Route 13 - Crews will be mud pumping on the bridge between 340th Street to 340th Place, April 25.
Interstate 35 - Crews will be mud pumping on the bridge at Pole Cat Creek, one lane will be closed NB, April 26.
Nodaway County:
Route WW - Crews will be pothole patching from Route M to the end of the route, April 23-27.
Route 113 - Closed at the Sand Creek bridge for a Safe & Sound bridge project. Possibly reopening the week of May 17.
Route B - Crews will be doing edge rut repair from U.S. Hwy 71 to Route 148, April 23-25.
Route U - Crews will be doing edge rut repair from U.S. Hwy 71 to Route N, April 23-25.
Route D - Crews will be ditching 1.5 miles west of U.S. Hwy 71, April 26.
Worth County:
Route T - Crews will be pothole patching from Iowa line to Route 46, April 23.
Route O - Crews will be pothole patching from Iowa line to Route T, April 26.
Route Z - Crews will be pothole patching from Route 46 to Route W, April 27.

A Moment with Mike -- Nuclear Power

There has been much discussion and serious debate in the last several years in Jefferson City concerning the future of our energy sources. Our coal plants are aging, wind energy is inadequate for a consistent supply and other sources of energy are extremely expensive to develop. The cost of permits for nuclear energy development and construction has been debated and many of you have heard of the expressed need from Ameren to start collecting money up front if they were to go ahead with plans to build another nuclear plant. Many are reluctant to do anything that may raise the rates of energy in Missouri and compromises have stalled. Missouri has some of the cheapest rates in the country at this time but we realize that with the growing demand for energy, we may have to start purchasing power from out of state sources and the prices are sure to rise.
Last week brought some welcome news for Missouri. Our state’s cooperative, municipal and investor-owned utilities have announced that they will collaborate with Westinghouse to apply for $450 million of Department of Energy (DOE) investment funding. If successful, these funds will support first-of-its-kind engineering, design certification and licensing for small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs.
Westinghouse, an international leader in nuclear technology and the development of these cutting edge SMRs, chose Missouri’s electric service providers and the Callaway Energy Center as their ideal partners in this endeavor. The engagement by citizens and businesses on behalf of a strong nuclear energy future in Missouri played a significant role in helping create the environment needed to bring this partnership to our state.
Nuclear power remains one of our state’s best options for keeping electric rates low in the long term and this project will keep nuclear power an option for the state. With an aging infrastructure presently supplying our energy and increasing federal regulation, we must continue to explore all viable options. This project could also bring important economic development benefits as a result of the development of the SMR technology, with job growth opportunities related to manufacturing, engineering, and training centers.
SMR technology has been around for decades, largely used to power nuclear submarines and naval vessels. Using this technology for electric generation is safe, and costs less to construct compared to traditional nuclear units.
This project is dependent on the support of the Department of Energy to supply investment funds, however, the collaborative efforts and the strong possibilities that arise are exciting and may open more doors relating to future energy sources. We must continue to expand and diversify our energy sources for the future if we are to remain competitive and have the advantage of reasonable rates for our citizens.
If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Worth County Vocal Music Gets I Ratings at Districts

For Solo and Small Ensemble District Contest Worth County took three solos and three small groups:
The following students took solos: Dakota Owsley received a "I" rating. Claire Andrews received a "I" rating. Brianna Fletchall received a "II" rating.
These are the following ensembles:
Mixed Double Quartet (Alaina Freeman, Claire Andrews, Jordan Hunt, Carli Jackson, Dakota Owsley, Shane Kollitz, Zach Ragan, & Clayton Ross) received a "I" rating.
Mixed Trio (Brianna Fletchall, Rebecca Moore, Dakota Owsley) received a "II" rating.
Girls Sextet (Alaina Freeman, Brianna Fletchall, Carli Jackson, Cassie Carter, Jen Runde, Rebecca Moore) received a "II" rating.
All those ensembles and solos receiving a "I" rating will be going to State Contest April 26th & 27th.
Worth County Concert Choir went to Large Ensemble State Contest in late March. The contest was held at Northwest Missouri State University. The two pieces performed were "Come To the Music" by Joseph Martin and "Follow the Golden Sun" by Ruth Elaine Shram. The Concert Choir received a "II" overall rating, but were very close to a "I" rating.
The Spring Choir Concert is May 10th at 7 pm in the High School Gym. All those ensembles and solos who received a "I" rating at District Contest, Concert Choir, and Swing Choir will be performing.

Accident Causes Serious Injury at Wilcox

An accident in Wilcox, between Maryville and Burlington Junction caused a serious injury last Monday night at around 11:15 p.m. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2003 Chrysler Cruiser driven by Gregory Leslie (50) was northbound on 71 when it traveled off the right side of the roadway and traveled through a ditch when it began to overturn. The vehicle then struck a telephone pole and continued to overturn as the driver was ejected. The vehicle came to rest on the east side of the roadway facing southeast on its wheels. Leslie sustained serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The cruiser received extensive damage and was towed from the scene.

Steve Schulte Scores 1st Points for NEN Boys in Track

Steve Schulte became the first Bluejay to score all year for the boys track team, getting 6th in the Triple Jump with a distance of 35’6”. He had been coming close all year and finally got over the hump at the Warrior Relays Thursday in Albany.
Steve also competed in the long jump but did not place, getting a distance of 15’7.
In other action, Andrew Faustlin was 11th in the 100 with a time of 13.30. He came close to a personal best in the 200, getting 26.99 and 11th place there.

Shayna Dougan Leads NEN Girls in Albany

Northeast Nodaway’s girls had several members gone due to state FFA, but they still collected points at the Warrior Relays Thursday afternoon. They collected their 2nd highest point total of the year thanks to the efforts of Shayna Dougan in the 300 hurdles. She finished with one of her best times of the year at 57.11, good enough for second place, behind only Megan Poppa of Albany.
Shayna also placed in the 100 Hurdles, winning her heat and finishing 7th overall, matching her personal best with a time of 20.92. Katrina Freemeyer was 9th with a time of 22.52.
Northeast Nodaway’s other points came from Holly Redden, who placed 4th in the High Jump. She had a height of 4 feet, good enough to place her for the first time all year.

NEN Girls Get Season High in Team Points

Coach Vance Proffitt made some changes in the girls track lineup for the Tiger Relays and it paid off as the Bluejays finished with their highest point total so far this year with 17.
First of all, Proffitt moved Michelle Schulte from the 800 to the 1600, which she had not competed in for the last three years. But Michelle was up to the task of handling the longer distance, getting a personal best time of 6:11.21, good for second place. That was 20 seconds behind the pace of Jamie Luke of Stanberry.
He also had Michelle do the 300 hurdles. Both Michelle and Shayna Dougan finished just out of the money, but Shayna got a personal best with 56 seconds. But the 4x400 Relay Team of Shayna Dougan, Kerrigan Adwell, Katrina Freemeyer, and Michelle Schulte finished 5th with a time of 4:52.
Taryn Farnan matched a personal best and finished fourth in the High Jump with a height of 4’8”. That was 4 inches off the height of Rachel Thomsen of North Harrison.
Northeast placed two in the Triple Jump as Michelle Schulte was 5th with a distance of 29’10”, her best jump of the year. Taryn Farnan placed for the first time, getting a jump of 29’6”.

Lawmakers propose leaving fathers out of adoption decision.

After a six-year custody battle in the Missouri's court, lawmakers aim to allow an adoption of a child to take place without the father's consent.

The bill was written in response to a 2007 Supreme Court case.

In 2004, Craig Lentz and girlfriend Ibbaanika Bond had a child. Lentz did not have his name put on the birth certificate because he was waiting for the results of a DNA test to prove he was the father of the child.

Missouri law requires that a father must declare paternity within 15 days of a child's birth. While waiting to receive the results of the test, the 15 days had passed. After this time, the child was placed in the home of a couple in Texas, for the purpose of adoption. The child was placed temporarily with the Texas family, who filed a petition for transfer of custody and adoption of the child, which stated the father was unknown. Bond agreed to the adoption.

When Lentz was notified of the adoption proceedings, he filed with the putative father registry and an amended birth certificate was issued, listing Lentz as the father. Lentz sought to intervene in the adoption, claiming that he was the father of the child.

The House passed a measure that would allow the adoption of a child to take place without the consent of the father, if he has not previously developed a consistent and substantial relationship with the child.

The definition of "consistent and substantial relationship," has not been specifically defined in Missouri law. The bill seeks to express clearly the actions a father must take to develop a consistent and substantial relationship.

Under the legislation a father must provide prenatal financial support, child support payments and have consistent contact and visitation with the child.

Missouri's Senate votes to expand charter schools

On Wednesday, April 11, the Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill expanding charter schools throughout the state. Currently, charter schools are only allowed in St. Louis City and Kansas City.

The difference between metropolitan, suburban and rural districts has been central to education policy issues such as regulation of charter schools, school funding and allowing students to transfer from unaccredited districts.

Democratic Sen. Maria Chapelle-Nadal represents a St. Louis County district that stretches from University City to Hazelwood. She spoke against the bill in question saying that, while several St. Louis city senators were in favor of the legislation, it would negatively impact her district.

"St. Louis city school district is nothing like the University City school district," Chapelle-Nadal said. She said her constituents would be against using their tax money to fund charter schools.

During an exchange with a fellow Democrat, Sen. Joseph Keaveny from St. Louis City, she spoke about how the population shifts out of the city have impacted the county districts. Keaveny was in favor of expanding charter schools, saying that it's important to keep people in the city by offering more options.

"We lost a significant number of young families because of the quality of education," Keaveny said. "Charter schools have kept people in the city."

Meanwhile, legislation to deal with inequities in the state's school funding formula are stagnating in the legislature.

State budget sent to Senate floor with freeze on public education funding.

Missouri's $24 billion budget was sent to the Senate floor Thursday, April 12, with a near stand-still level funding for public education.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, said this was probably the most difficult budget year ever. The budget in the Senate is $86 million below what the House had passed last month, but freezes funding for K-12 and higher education.

Colleges and universities were facing a 15 percent cut under a proposal from Gov. Jay Nixon, but were spared when the House passed its budget last month. The House was able to fund public universities at the same level as last year through a $40 million boost from a national settlement against mortgage companies and cuts to a $28 million health care program for the blind.

Schaefer's committee also endorsed the House plan to keep funding stable for K-12 education, including a $5 million increase recommended by Nixon. Despite the small increase, the formula for funding local school districts is still below the recommended amount in state law.

The lack of adequate funding means the rural schools without a large local tax base will continue to lose funds disproportionately to suburban schools with higher local revenue.

The Senate Appropriations Committee also kept funding for higher education equal to last year, but it did not go along with the House's cut to the blind. Schaefer proposed a new plan to fund the 2,800 people who do not qualify for Medicaid benefits.

Schaefer's proposal would require people on the current program to now pay a $111 premium and a $600 deductible to receive state medical coverage. Those costs are based off the average amount paid by a state employee.

Tax credits have also been a discussion point for the state's budget. Although the General Assembly has twice failed to cap some of the existing programs, some senators may be looking at the budget to address the issue.

Sen. Will Kraus, R-Jackson County, said the state could have a lot more money to spend if tax credit programs were reined in and capped. Schaefer said there could be some discussion on the Senate floor, but it would be "outside the scope" of the budget.

Schaefer said it was unrealistic to assume "everybody's problems are going to be solved by putting in the budget."

Weekly Road Work for April 18th, 2012

The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of April 16-20, 2012. Weather conditions may cause postponements in the planned work schedule. Other construction or maintenance work, such as brush removal, ditch cleaning, spraying, etc. may occur on other roadways throughout the area. Many projects will include lane closures and delays can be expected.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reminds the public to buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or log onto www.modot.mo.gov/northwest/. You can also follow MoDOT's Northwest Missouri District on Twitter at twitter.com/ModotNorthwest or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ModotNorthwest.
Andrew County:
Interstate 29
Crews will be working on the decks of various bridges northbound and southbound from Exit 53 to Exit 60, April 16-20
Gentry County:
U.S. Hwy 169
Closed at the Old Channel Island Creek bridge for a Safe & Sound bridge project. Possibly reopening the week of May 16.
Nodaway County:
Route WW
Crews will be pothole patching along the entire route. April 17-20.
Route 113
Closed at the Sand Creek bridge for a Safe & Sound bridge project. Possibly reopening the week of May 17.
U.S. Hwy 71
Crews will be sealing patches from U.S. Hwy 136 to Route FF, southbound only, April 16-17
Route PP
Crews will be pothole patching from the U.S. Hwy. 136 intersection south to Route 46, April 17-20.

A Moment with Mike -- Winding Down the Session

With five weeks left in session, the tension and apprehension grows as the hundreds of pieces of legislation move forward and we try to discern which would be good for the state of Missouri. One bill that was passed out of the House last week that I feel strongly about is HB 1549. It would modernize our state’s “no call” list to include cellular phones. The “no call” list, which is designed to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls, currently applies only to landlines. It is a service that nearly 2 million Missourians utilize. However, we have seen the use of landlines diminish as more and more families have moved to using cell phones exclusively and it is apparent that our “no call” list needs to make the transition as well.

Our attorney general’s office, which is responsible for maintaining the list, says it fielded more than 22,000 calls in 2011 complaining about unwanted telemarketing calls. Many of those calls went to Missourians’ cell phones. This year we hope to protect all phone users, both landline and wireless, from these undesirable solicitations. I believe that most Missourians would appreciate this change.

Another piece of legislation passed last week in the House would provide new ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment that would pave the way for a voter identification requirement here in Missouri. The new language is necessary because of a ruling made by a Cole County Circuit Judge that called the current language insufficient. The judge asked the legislature to revise the language and that is exactly what we did. We believe this is an extremely important issue that Missouri voters will overwhelmingly support. It is imperative that we protect the integrity of our elections process and by requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote we can take an important step toward eliminating any chance of voter fraud. The proposed constitutional amendment would also allow the establishment of an early voting period. These are issues we believe the people of Missouri want and it is our hope they will have the chance to vote on them in November. We now look to the Senate to follow our lead in approving this legislation so the new ballot language can be put in place.

You may not have seen it on any official list of holidays but a significant national observance is scheduled for April 17. This is a symbolic day where Americans can observe what has come to be known as Tax Freedom Day. It is on this day that Americans will have earned enough money to pay their federal, state and local taxes for the year. The total bill amounts to $2.62 trillion in federal taxes and $1.42 trillion in state and local taxes. The April 17 date is based on the idea that Americans collectively would have spent nothing and dedicated all income from January until that date toward paying their taxes. At that point we have earned enough to fulfill our tax obligations and we can then spend the rest of the year spending our money as we see fit. Obviously this is symbolic in nature but illustrates the tax burden that Americans carry and shows why we in Missouri are reluctant to raise taxes in any form. The idea that we lose more than three months of our labor and income each year to taxation is something we should all consider.

If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection for Worth County

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments announces a Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Waste Collection to be held Saturday, April 21, 2012 in Nodaway County. The collections are open to residents of Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth Counties only. The event will be held from 8 a.m. until noon at the Nodaway County Maintenance Barn located at 1516 E. Halsey, Maryville, MO 64468.

A variety of acceptable wastes will be collected at the event. Examples of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) are: fertilizers, pesticides, household chemicals (bleach, ammonia, and cleaners), batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, mercury, antifreeze, paint, and varnish. The following items are disallowed: motor oil, syringes, prescription medicines, compressed gas cylinders, smoke detectors, commercial waste, radioactive waste, explosive waste and unknown wastes.

DO NOT MIX HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE TOGETHER; KEEP IN ORGINAL PACKAGING.

Examples of Electronic Waste (E-waste) to be collected are: computer monitors, computer hard drives, computer accessories, fax machines, televisions, microwaves, and cell phones. For a complete listing of acceptable wastes please visit www.nwmorcog.org. On the website there will also be proper disposal techniques described to dispose of the unacceptable wastes.

Minimal fees will apply for proper disposal of waste to help offset the high costs of recycling and proper disposal.

1. Each participant must pay $5 to dispose of HHW.
2. There is a $10.00 fee/per unit for each TV. Computer monitors, microwave ovens and all other acceptable electronic waste is free of charge.

Collection is open to residents of Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth Counties. Photo identification is required. Businesses are not eligible for the program and are subject to the rules established by the Missouri Statues regarding HHW/E-Waste Disposal.

Hazardous products are used for cleaning, painting, beautifying, lubricating and disinfecting the house, yard, workshop and garage. The average American home accumulates more than 100 pounds of hazardous products by storing it in their basements, closets and garage. The health of our community and the environment is endangered when these types of products are discarded in storm drains, household garbage, or sinks. In 2007, the amount of electronic waste discarded such as TVs, computers, peripherals (including printers, scanners, and faxes), mice, keyboards and cell phones totaled about 2.5 million tons. The quantity of electronic waste that we are generating is steadily increasing. Lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants are among the substances of concern in electronics. These substances are included in the products for important performance characteristics, but can cause problems if the products are not properly managed at end of life.

Linda Laderoute, Environmental Planner for the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments, emphasizes that “Special collections are vital for our region because there is no permanent facility that handles disposal of household chemicals and electronics in Northwest Missouri. The closest facility for residents to properly dispose of household hazardous waste is in the Kansas City Metro area. A typical home contains many types of hazardous household products and discarded electronic items that we can accept during the one-day event in Maryville. So protect your environment, save some time and money by bringing your HHW and E-Waste to the Maryville collection site. Professionals will package the items for proper disposal or recycling.”

The collection is sponsored by County Commissions and Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and is funded by a grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Northwest Missouri Regional Solid Waste Management District. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Linda Laderoute with the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments, (660) 582-5121 or linda@nwmorcog.org.

Safety Fair 2012

Preschoolers attend four days and learn basic safety skills that will prepare them for a full session of Safety Town next year. Students enrolled in preschool classes will not leave school grounds.
Our regular "Safety Towners" attend eight classes during a two-week session and learn safety skills through classroom instruction, presentations, field trips, and exercises "on the Town."
All 2012 classes will be held at Parkway Elementary, 2900 Duncan St., St. Joseph.
Preschool Session 1: May 21-24, 8a - 11:30a
Preschool Session 2: May 29 - June 1, 8a - 11:30a
Regular Session 3: May 21- June 1, 12:30p - 4p
Regular Session 4: June 4 - 14, 8a - 11:30a
Regular Session 5: June 4 - 14, 12:30p - 4p
Regular Session 6: June 18 - 28, 8a - 11:30a
Preschool Session Fee: $25
Regular Session Fee: $40
All fees include a Safety Town t-shirt and supplies. Prices increase $5 per participant after May 11.

Teenage Volunteers Wanted
Do your teenagers needs something to do this summer? Are they dependable, responsible and friendly? If the answer is yes, then contact the Safety Council and have them apply to become a Safety Town Volunteer.
Safety Town volunteers will learn life-saving safety skills, as well as some basic first aid and leadership skills by volunteering at Safety Town.
Eligibility Requirements:
A. Must have completed 7th Grade
B. Have a signed parental consent form
C. Have a teacher, principal, or counselor fill out a recommendation form
D. Must attend a required Safety Town Volunteer Training Session, May 10 (p.m.) or May 12 (a.m.).
For more information about Safety Town, please visit us on-line at www.stjoesafetycouncil.org.

Cut to the Chase -- There’s History, Then There’s History

By Sonja Perry and Aaron Kerr
In March, Missouri Farm Bureau gave us several opportunities to catch a glimpse of history in Washington, D.C., and here at home in Jefferson City. We discovered it is one thing to learn history in school, but another to walk the streets and halls traveled by so many influential people. We came away with a new appreciation for the events that shaped our nation.
Agriculture is an important part of our history, and until recently, we didn’t truly comprehend how easily it can be misunderstood. In Washington, D.C., we heard directly from those who play an important role in shaping American agriculture at the national level. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman provided eye-opening presentations. Their remarks were promising and sobering, but most of all, they were inspiring. We discussed issues impacting agriculture today, and the knowledge we gained prepared us for our visits with the members of the Missouri Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill.
In Jefferson City, we visited the Capitol as part of Youth Leadership Day and were honored to meet our legislators and discuss state agricultural issues. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between the levels of government and the agricultural issues under consideration. Being able to experience the legislative process firsthand reinforced our understanding of U.S. history and gave us a better understanding and appreciation of Farm Bureau’s role as a voice for farmers and ranchers.
Differences and similarities also exist from the time our nation was founded to today. While attending a night tour of the Capitol with Congressman Sam Graves and seeing the National Archives, National Mall, and the musical “1776” at Ford’s Theater, it occurred to us that our founding fathers sacrificed many things to ensure a bright future for our country. They didn’t always agree on a vision for our new country; however, they set aside their personal differences and focused on the issues. Together, they were able to create a strong and solid government for the people. It is that same spirit of our founding fathers that we in agriculture must keep in mind as we work together to ensure a strong future for our industry and for our nation.
Textbooks don’t do justice to what our founding fathers created. We encourage all students to visit our Capitols firsthand and experience the history that makes our country so great.

(Sonja Perry, from Bowling Green, Mo., and Aaron Kerr, from Chillicothe, Mo., are the 2012 Missouri Farm Bureau Ambassadors.)

Obituary -- Delores Stephenson 1920-2012

Delores Geraldine (Colvin) Stephenson, daughter of James and Lena (Miller) Colvin, was born January 10, 1920 in Worth County Missouri and passed away April 8, 2012. At age 5 she moved with her family to Mills County Iowa where she grew up. After returning to Missouri, she met Claude Stephenson and they married in Grant City, Missouri in 1939. Three daughters, Sharon Gayle, Janet Marie and Connie Bernice, were born to this union.

In 1943 they moved to Ellston where they farmed. Geraldine and her husband moved to Kellerton in 1970 to retire on the farm which she remained until her death. Geraldine worked at the Shamrock Café for many years. Geraldine's life centered around her family and friends. She especially loved visiting her grandchildren and families.

Geraldine was a member of the United Methodist Church and the UMW in Kellerton. She accepted the Lord as a young girl and was baptized. Geraldine was a member of the Eldeen Club.

Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband Claude; her parents; three sisters, Marie, Lois, Thelma and four brothers, Eldon, Mervin, James and Jack.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Sharon Gayle (Gary) Giles of Denver, Colorado; Janet Marie (Roger) Grose of Wright, Wyoming; Connie Bernice (Larry) Wambold of Bloomfield, Iowa; sister Ruth Diaz of Ridgecrest, California; 9 grandchildren Jerry (Lori) Lamb of Toledo, Ohio, Anthony Lamb of Denver, Colorado, Stephen (Linda) Grose of Wright, Wyoming, Deann Trottier of Wright, Wyoming, Monty (Deborah) Wambold of Western Springs, Illinois, Bryon (Brenda) Wambold of Mt Pleasant, Iowa, Jeffrey Wambold of Bloomfield, Iowa, Dena (Jim) Kothe of Denver, Colorado, John (Cindy) Giles of Richlands, North Carolina; 14 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and friends.

A memorial fund has been established to the United Methodist Church in Kellerton, Iowa.

Taryn Farnan Leads NEN Girls at Rock Port

Taryn Farnan placed third in the High Jump with a height of 4’6” to lead Northeast Nodaway’s girls, who recorded six points for the afternoon at Rock Port. Holly Redden tried her hand at it as well, getting a height of 4’2” and narrowly missing out on the money. Michelle Schulte placed 6th in the Triple Jump with a distance of 29’7½”, her best distance of the year. Taryn Farnan was 7th right behind her, coming close to a personal best with a distance of 29 feet.
On the boys side, Steve Schulte came the closest to placing, getting a personal best 35’10” for 7th place in the Triple Jump.
Katrina Freemeyer got a personal best in the 100 Hurdles, getting a time of 21.22. Brianna Riley got a personal best in the 100, getting a time of 15.29. On the boys side, Austin Jones got a personal best in the 100 with a time of 13.41.
Northeast’s girls fielded a relay team which improved as the day progressed, getting 9th in the 4x100, then 8th in the 4x200 and then 7th in the 4x100.

Boys Third, Girls 5th at Rock Port Relays

Worth County’s girls were 5th and the boys were 3rd at a tough Rock Port field. The boy beat out Stanberry this time, but they were behind Mound City and a tough Winnetonka squad.
Claire Andrews matched her personal best on the Pole Vault with a vault of 9’6” to win that event. That was one foot ahead of her nearest rivals. Wyatt Rush was 4th on the boys side with a vault of 10 feet.
Katie Mullock was 4th in the Long Jump with a distance of 15’6”. On the boys side, Eli Mullock was 3rd with a jump of 17’10”. Grant Parman was barely out of the money, getting 7th with a jump of 16’8”. But Parman did place in the Triple Jump, where he was 5th with a distance of 37’9”. Cole Parman was 12th with a distance of 33’11”.
The boys placed two in the discus throw. Dallas Greenland won with a personal best 132’3”. Wyatt Rush placed 6th with a throw of 106’10”, also a personal best. Neither of the girls placed as Kaitlyn Davidson was 7th with a throw of 82’6” and Rebecca Moore was 9th with a throw of 80’1”.
Lane Craven continued to tear up the shot put field for the Tiger boys, showing that his strong start was no accident. He threw a personal best 41’ to win that event. Josh Warner finished barely out of the money in 7th with a throw of 38’7”. On the girls side, Kaitlyn Davidson was 3rd with a throw of 33’4” while Taylor Causey threw for a distance of 28’3”.
The boys 4x800 relay team was 6th with a time of 9:34.55.
The girls placed two in the 100 Hurdles. Sydney Thummel was 4th with a time of 18.33. Jessica Garrett was 6th with a time of 18.79.
In the 100, Sydney Thummel was 3rd with a time of 14.14. On the boys side, one of the closest races of the afternoon was between Mullock and Eric Duncan of Rock Port. Eli beat out Duncan by two hundredths of a second to win the 100 with a time of 11.50.
The 4x200 team was second with a time of 1:39.79. Normally stuck behind the powerhouse Stanberry team, they beat out Stanberry this time and only lost to Winnetonka.
Haven Schottel was third in the 1600 with a time of 6:19.51. That was eight seconds off the pace set by Megan Farmer of West Nodaway.
Jordan Harding faced a tough field in the boys side of the 1600 as five different players broke the five minute barrier. Harding got a time of 5:16.64, which put him in 8th. Will Rennells got a personal best 5:43.03.
The girls 4x100 Relay team of Claire Andrews, Katie Mullock, Sydney Thummel, and Jessica Garrett was 4th with a time of 55.88. The boys were 6th with a time of 50.04.
Kristen Andrews was 6th in the 400 with a time of 1:09.38, close to her personal best.
Sydney Thummel barely finished out of the money in the 300 Hurdles, getting 7th with a time of 54.09.
Jordan Harding was much more successful in the 800, coming close to a personal best and getting 3rd with a time of 2:12.84. Bryson Scott also placed, getting 6th with a time of 2:19.48.
Katie Mullock was 3rd in the 200 Meter Dash with a time of 29.08; her qualifying time of 28.92 matched a personal best.
Eli Mullock had a much easier time of it in the 200, getting his second win with a time of 23.91. That was six tenths of a second ahead of Nate Luke.
Justin Smith finished just out of the money in the 3200 on the boys side, getting a time of 12:17.57 for 7th place.
The girls 4x400 team of Kristen Andrews, Claire Andrews, Malori Moellenberndt, and Haven Schottel was 6th with a time of 4:40.90.

Jack Remembers -- Dog Readoption Program

I used to live north of I-70 on Gillespie Road, which was a favorite dump site. Not only did they dump trash, but also dogs and cats. I used to haul off the dogs that were dumped at my place to the exclusive homes at the Blue Springs Country Club. I figured if a dog couldn’t find a good home there, it was his own fault. One day I took a good looking red Labrador and let him out in the development next to the golf course. About two weeks later, I drove through the neighborhood and there was that red dog in the front yard of an expensive home playing with a bunch of kids.

One day, I was getting ready to go to the store and here came a Beagle up my driveway. I just put him in the back of the truck and headed to Corn’s Apple Market. When I got to the store I let the tailgate down and went inside. When I was at the checkout counter, I looked up, and that dog had followed a woman into the store. An employee grabbed the dog, and over the loud speaker asked if the dog belonged to anyone. The next day, I was talking to my new neighbor across the road, and they said the strangest thing had happened. Someone called and said their dog was up at Corn’s Apple Market, and my new neighbors couldn’t figure out how he had gotten there.

Oak Grove has three truck stops at the I-70 intersection. Two of these truck stops have over 200 parking spots each, and they are full every night. Although traffic is terrible at this intersection, I have finally found an advantage to having this many trucks parked every night. While I lived on Gillespie Road, somebody dumped a poor old bird dog. I loaded him up in my pickup with a coffee can full of Old Roy dog food and headed to the truck stop on the other side of I-70. I poured the dog food on the ground between a couple of semis, unloaded the dog, and took off. The next morning, I was heading to the coffee shop. I had to wait on a Navaho truck that was turning west onto I-70. Lo and behold, there was that old bird dog sitting in the passenger seat looking out the window, grinning at me.

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

Brad Lager's Capitol Report - Quality Teachers Produce Quality Results

Over the final six weeks of the 2012 legislative session, we will be focusing a majority of our time on public policy that will help facilitate the greatest number of economic opportunities for the greatest number of Missourians. Although there are a number of important public policy changes necessary to help improve our state’s long-term economic outlook, few are more important than ensuring that we have a quality educational system producing a quality workforce.

Last week, we began debating the highly contentious issue of teacher tenure in our public schools. While the overwhelming majority of teachers do an outstanding job educating our students, there are situations in which a teacher is not getting the job done. When this situation occurs, there must be a process in place to help the teacher improve within a reasonable timeline. If the improvement process is not successful, then we owe it to the children of our state to have a mechanism in place for replacing that instructor with someone who can get the job done.

In the real world, extreme challenges with teacher tenure are rare. School administrators and veteran teachers can quickly identify those who are not cut out for the difficult job of classroom teaching, and normally, those individuals are removed before they reach a tenured position. In the unfortunate circumstance that a poor teacher was not removed before being protected by tenure, we cannot allow this to be a barrier to improving the educational opportunities for Missouri’s children.

If we keep doing what we have been doing, we are going to keep getting what we have been getting. Currently, we are not producing the dynamic workforce we will need in order to grow and thrive in an increasingly competitive global environment. As we move forward, everyone (parents, students, educators, etc) must understand their role in preparing students for a lifetime of learning and achievement. Although changing teacher tenure by itself will not fix the challenges facing our schools, it will help ensure that those teaching in our classrooms are doing the best possible job of preparing Missouri’s schoolchildren for a bright future.

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.