Editorial -- Hopkins Response to Tornado Warnings Inadequate

When storms like the ones that passed through our area Saturday and Monday pass through, we are thankful for everyone who keeps us safe. From KMBC-9, which covers us up here from Kansas City when the weather goes haywire, to local emergency managers and storm spotters, although we take it for granted sometimes, countless lives are saved when a tornado passes through and people are warned.

On Monday, we had two tornado warnings in our area in Sheridan, one of which was extended, followed by a severe thunderstorm warning that lasted another 45 minutes. The sirens went off in Sheridan three times, as did our phones. Pickering’s went off 3-4 times, and Maryville’s went off three times.

It turns out that Hopkins is an outlier when it comes to warning residents of impending tornadoes. The sirens there did not go off once. It turns out that they only warn people when a tornado is actually spotted. That is not in line with the other towns in the area.

Sounding the warning sirens when a tornado warning is issued gives people an extra 10-15 minutes to prepare when severe weather comes our way. That can make all the difference in the world when it comes to trying to find shelter. If one life is saved, then it is worth it.

The problem with only sounding the sirens when a tornado is actually spotted is that when it gets dark, it becomes a lot harder to see a funnel cloud. Tornadoes can and do strike in the middle of the night. The Weather Service is a lot more proactive in warning about severe weather late at night; any rotating cloud can turn into a tornado if the conditions are right.

Also, there is a popular perception that when a storm passes through, it is all clear. That is not always the case. And that was not the case here, where there was enough instability to spawn a second severe storm when it was much more difficult to spot a funnel cloud.

We understand that there are many ways to get weather alerts. But the more ways there are, the better. Some of us don’t have desktops. Some of us don’t have smartphones that go off when there is severe weather. Some of us don’t have NOAA weather radios. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

Vandalism, Near Wreck at Hopkins Ballpark

A near wreck and a vandalism occurred at the Hopkins Ballpark recently.

On Friday, at around 5:30 am, two vehicles were traveling on 148 near the ballpark, one northbound and one southbound. The northbound vehicle swerved to avoid construction cones, nearly striking the southbound vehicle. The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department came and removed the cones from the road.

In the second incident, during recent rains, people were using the ballpark parking lot as a mud pit, tearing it up and creating ruts.

 

New Dog Poo Removal Service in Bedford

A new dog poo removal service, run by Brandon and Chelsie Nottingham of Bedford, is serving Bedford and supporting communities, including Hopkins. For $20 for one dog, $25 for two, or $30 for three, they will remove your dog poo from your yard weekly and dispose of it. Prices are per collection. If interested, contact Brandon at (479) 217-1334.

Wave of Vandalism, Misuse of Hopkins Park Recently

A vandalism wave has hit the Hopkins Park, along with misuse. Among recent incidents:

—Kids playing with rocks in the new equipment area on the padding. It takes volunteers hours of work to clean them off.

—Kids taking bikes and clothing to the park and leaving them.

—Someone recently vandalized the two-seater swing.

 

 

Hopkins Native Tom Brand Publishes New Book

It’s not your average book title, but it is a collection of very real stories from life in the country. Welts on Your Butt a Calf Could Suck: Reflections on Faith, Family, and a Farm Kid’s Life has hit #1 on Amazon’s “Rural Life Humor” list, and it’s striking a chord with readers who grew up on gravel roads and grew wise behind a working gate.

Author Tom Brand blends wit, warmth, and life lessons into each chapter, drawing from decades of memories in rural Missouri and years spent sharing stories from the mic. Whether it’s chasing pigs, holding a flashlight for your dad (and getting yelled at for it), or learning when to laugh instead of lose it, the book is filled with scenes that feel like they were written about your family.

Brand’s storytelling is already connecting with readers across the country, with early reactions calling it “honest,” “hilarious,” and “the kind of book my dad would’ve read aloud at the kitchen table.”

“This isn’t a memoir,” Brand says. “It’s a memory collection. These are the kinds of stories that stick—sometimes because they hurt, sometimes because they heal, and often because they’re just plain relatable. My hope is that these pages spark a few memories of your own.”

Published by Richardson & Company Press and printed in Missouri, the book is available now at the Richardson Press website and Amazon.  

 

Roxy Theater Benefit June 20th at Hopkins

After several months of work refreshing the Roxy Center in Hopkins, plans are underway to celebrate a reopening with a night of special music featuring the Forney Brothers and special guests on June 20th.  Jerry Forney has long wished to host live music at this venue and is calling on his musician friends to sing and play to raise funds to help operate the theater.

The show will kick off with some area musicians with ties to Hopkins like JR Gladman and Rick Titus then finish with the crew of Jerry Forney including his brother Larry.   Phil Forney is still recuperating from a car accident and surgery that occurred in May.

The Roxy Theater opened in the late 1940's as a movie theater and was operated for a number of years by the Ralph White Family including his sons, Merle and Forrest. After the movie theater closed, the building sat idle until the mid 1990's when Hopkins Community 2000 purchased the building from Merle and a restoration began. Additional plans for the upper floor to house a youth center and updates to the theater to accommodate live performances were made. Live acts, school plays and Hopkins Picnic events were held there over the next several years.

With some damage to the theater after a storm occurred the Roxy hadn't been used much for a while.  Morgan Pope, a senior at North Nodaway at the time, undertook the challenge of fixing up the youth center, putting on a fresh coat of paint and getting things back in working order.  A grant from the Gladys Rickard Foundation supplied the resources to reface the east wall, replace windows and repair other parts of the theater. Though there are still some other projects the group would like to tackle, the theater is ready to be used again. There are plans for other live performances and the youth center to be open on a monthly basis.

For more information contact Deena Poynter at 660-541-1336 or Kary Owens at 660-562-0460.

 

 

Clayton Scott to Film New Movie

Clayton Scott, who filmed the movie “Below the Fold,” a fictional horror movie about Susie Potter, who disappeared from Skidmore, is casting a new movie, “The Pastor.” A beloved small-town Missouri pastor, Matthew Donovan, hides a dark secret from his community. When he’s introduced to a single mom, Hillary, he struggles to keep his secret hidden.

Scott is seeking local actors for the new film, which will be filmed mostly in Sheridan and Hopkins. Please send headshots and resumes to claycjs@gmail.com. The casting call will be held on May 24th from 9 am to 2 pm. There will be paid roles, food, and credit.

Roles sought include Ashlyn (Female, 12), Deb version one (Female, mid-30’s), Deb version two (Female, 50’s), Tyler (male, 40’s), Ellie (Female, 13), and Frankie (Male, 14-15).

 

Hopkins Food Pantry to Hold Open House

To commemorate the one year anniversary of the opening of the Hopkins Food Pantry, the pantry board members will hold an Open House on Sunday, April 27 from 11:30 - 1:30 across the street from the Hopkins Christian Church at 102 S. 5th Street, Hopkins, MO.  The public is invited to attend.

The Hopkins Food Pantry opened on April 25, 2024 in the parsonage of the Hopkins Christian Church with eleven households using the pantry.  A year later, 44 households have used the pantry serving an unduplicated count of 106 people.  The pantry is a 501c3 non-profit charity associated with Second Harvest Community Food Pantry of St. Joseph, MO.

A household in need of food can receive food from USDA (based on income and/or government services) and donated food.  However, anyone can receive the food that has been donated; there are no income guidelines for those items.  No one goes away empty-handed; we are here to help anyone in need or going through financial difficulties.

The Hopkins Food Pantry is open the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, January - October.  In November and December, we are open the 1st and 3rd Thursdays.  The food pantry board members are:  Deena Poynter, Marilyn Glidden, Judy Crane, Don Crane, Dick Baldwin and Cindy Baldwin. 

Please join us April 27 for the Open House!  We will have refreshments and people will be able to see the physical layout of the pantry and have their questions answered.  Additional volunteers are always needed and donations of food, personal items, household items and cash are always welcomed. 

There will be a Hopkins Community Club Beef and Noodle dinner from 11:00 - 1:00 on April 27 at the Hopkins Community Building, so people can attend both.

 

Work Day Held at Roxy

Around 20 students and adults helped during a work day at the Roxy Saturday. Helping out were Laney, Landon, and Ashley Turner, Draven Rader, Taccoa Moyer, Amy Richards, Owen Martin, Lakota Rucker, Airanna Owens, Ali Brittain, Don and Judy Crane, Vicki Riley, Cameron Morrison, Deena Poynter, Glenda Wyer-Nelson, Cody and Emily Bix, and Allan Thompson. Maryville Hy-Vee donated donuts and water to the workers.

Workers did painting, vacuuming, and cleanup.

The hole on the roof has been fixed, and the east side of the building shored up. Another work day will be held at a later date.

The North Nodaway School Play will once again be at the Roxy April 4th and 5th at 7 pm each night. The play is named “The Audition,” and it will be about a play audition with a bunch of rambunctious students trying out for different roles. The question is whether the director (Olivia Renfro) can put it together in time for the play to be a success.

 

Hopkins Extends Water Payment Deadline

The City of Hopkins has extended the water payment deadline for April until April 30th. Bills will become delinquent on May 1st. The city mailed water bills on April 12th.

The city council held two special council meetings on Wednesday and Monday. Most of the meetings involved closed sessions to discuss personnel issues. Attorney Taryn Henry was at the Monday meeting. 

O Tax was able to get into the accounting system Wednesday afternoon. The board voted to approve March expenses at their Wednesday meeting and certified the election results. Allan Thompson and Rick Gladman were unopposed and the Marijuana sales tax passed. 

At Monday’s meeting, the city approved an additional expense for Evergy which had come in late. They named Mayor Matt Wray and councilman Rick Gladman as the signers on the city’s CD’s. 

Audit Report Summary for City of Hopkins Released

At the Hopkins City Council Meeting on Thursday, a letter from Becker Accounting, based in Minnesota, regarding an audit that they did of the Hopkins city finances for the period from June 30th, 2021 through June 30th, 2023. The letter was sent on March 15th, 2024. The city paid $10,000 for the audit in question. The letter reads as follows:

To City of Hopkins:

Attestation of financial statements for the years ended June 30th, 2021 through June 30th, 2023. This letter is provided in connection with the audit of the financial statements of the City of Hopkins for the year ended June 30th, 2021 through June 30th, 2023 for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view of the results and financial position. All representations are made to the best of our knowledge and belief.

Financial Statements

We acknowledge our responsibility as set out in the terms of engagement dated March 2024, for preparing financial statements in support of documentation provided by the City of Hopkins, which give a true and fair view of the results and financial position for the organization as of June 30th, 2023.

We confirm that all income and expense data provided, has been recorded.

We confirm that transactions have been appropriately accounted for and we are not aware of further matters that require disclosure.

We confirm the financial statements are free of material misstatements, and nothing significant has been omitted. We believe that uncorrected misstatements identified during the audit, as listed in the post audit report, are material both individually and in aggregate to the financial statements as a whole. If our period of review is only 2022 and 2023, I’d say this is nonmaterial from the point of view of the Statement of Financial Position and Functional Expenses.

We confirm that, having considered our expectations and intentions for the period of review, we have a reasonable expectation of receiving adequate resources to support the financial operations as they existed during the period of review.

Information Provided

We confirm that all accounting records and relevant information has been requested and provided to the best of the ability of the City of Hopkins. All other records and related information, including minutes of all management and trustee meetings have been made available. 

We confirm that all transactions undertaken by the organization reflected in the accounting records are reflected in the financial statements.

Post Audit Attestation Report

We requested and obtained all available information to support our development of the financial statements. During our review, we determined that the City of Hopkins lacked sufficient document retention to sufficiently support the development of financial statements for each year of review.

Specifically, for the period June 30th, 2021, no detailed information was available, the entity was only able to provide summarized account ending balances.

For the period June 30th, 2022, information was unavailable to determine 2021 Net Assets at the beginning of the year and subsequently, end of the year.

For the period June 30th, 2023, expense information was generally unavailable to support operations, limiting our ability to complete the Functions Expense Report. Additionally, no money market certificate information was provided, limiting our ability to complete the Statement of Activities.

It is our opinion that the City of Hopkins’ lack of record keeping was detrimental to our ability to effectively develop financial statement reports to adequately support business operations. Additional measures to improve financial record keeping should be considered.

Alyssa Becker

Becker Accounting, LLC

Council members Allen Thompson and Rick Gladman were unopposed for the recent election and were sworn in for another term.

Cameron Morrison of the Hopkins CBC came to discuss voluntary demolition grants, which involve the voluntary cooperation of owners. He said that the CBC would be willing to put money up to help if the city goes that route with abandoned homes and buildings. There is a $200,000 to $300,000 upper limit. Under the grant being discussed, the land would stay in the hand of the property owners, which would not involve condemnation.

O Tax is now providing clerical services to the city. Sue Wagner introduced Mary Smith, who will staff the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 12 noon and on second Saturdays from 9 to 12 noon. People can also drop off payments at O Tax, which is located on Highway 148, on Wednesdays from 9 am to 4 pm. 

With the city still trying to figure out where it is financially, two different projects were tabled. Projects tabled included work on the road between River Valley and Agriland, the sidewalk across from the Roxy, and new meter sets there. Also tabled were dust control projects along Cemetery Road, behind the ball diamond, and part of First Street. 

Work needed to be done on the city pickup, which had hard starts. It needed a wheel bearing and a new fuel pump. The city plans to start patching holes around town. 

Hopkins City Council Gives Tentative Approval for O Tax Proposal

The Hopkins City Council, at a special meeting Friday, voted to tentatively approve the proposal by O Tax to take over clerical duties. The vote followed a 30 minute closed session. The council had some changes to the contract that O Tax had submitted to the city that they want O Tax to accept. If they accept these changes, then they will begin their duties starting April 1st and replace current clerks Teddy Phipps and Krystal Bowen.

Three council members, Allen Thompson, Bryson Allen, and Andy Richards, were present at the meeting. The fourth member, Rick Gladman, was not present. Thompson, Allen, and Richards all voted for the move.

The council approved the minutes from meetings held on February 5th and 19th. They also approved the bills for this month. There were many other items on the March agenda for the regular meeting in which there was no quorum present. The council tabled these matters until the April meeting.

According to the proposal, O Tax will provide a City Clerk/Treasurer in the Hopkins City Hall office from 8-12 hours a week handling City Clerk duties along with accounting, payroll, alderman packets, and attending meetings. 

Sue Wagner of O Tax, who gave a presentation at the March regular meeting that was aborted due to a lack of quorum, added that if people needed to come to the O Tax business for city business, they could. She was also present at Friday’s meeting. 

O Tax is owned and operated by Dee O’Riley, who served as the Hopkins City Clerk for over 20 years.

Editorial – Chaos at Hopkins City Council Meeting

Monday night, we went to Hopkins to first check in at the Hopkins CBC meeting, and then possibly do the Hopkins City Council if they got out early. Going there was not even our first choice. But when nobody was home at the Hopkins CBC meeting, we went to the City Council meeting to see what was going on. What we saw can politely be described as complete chaos.

We covered eight basketball teams this year, which is always a job. Two teams won 16 games, and one of them would have won more had their season not been shortened by the State Football Championship. One team didn’t win a game, not for lack of effort or trying on their part. None of them had the kind of chaos that we saw on display Monday night. 

The last time we were at a Hopkins City Council meeting a few years ago, everybody seemed like they were on the same page about the need to tear down abandoned buildings and homes. The Mutti Hardware building and other eyesores were coming down. Meetings were being run in an orderly fashion. There was plenty of money in the bank.

Fast forward to Monday night, and something had changed. The meeting was dominated by a personality conflict between the water operator and the clerk, and the city couldn’t even do any business or pay any bills because there was not a quorum present. In addition, there were 10 citizens there to complain about what they saw as poor service and/or the rampant chaos taking place at council meetings. Three of them own three of the biggest businesses and tax revenue generators for Hopkins. 

We don’t have a dog in the fight. We’re not blaming anybody. But if the infighting and chaos that we saw on display Monday is not taken care of in some way, then that is a good way to drive people and businesses out of town.

We heard some words of wisdom from Ron Houston, one of the three business people who was at the meeting Monday. He said that it’s never a good idea to lose good employees. He would know. He has grown J.L. Houston to the point where it is now employing 60 people in its 70th anniversary. Some of his people have been on board for 30+ years. 

If the city loses its clerks over this, then the service problems that people have been complaining about will only get worse, since people will not be able to go to City Hall to make payments or resolve issues. The city will not be able to send out water bills, meaning they will not generate revenues. The city will have an expensive software billing system in place with nobody with the knowhow to manage it.

If the city loses its water operator over this, then unless the city can find a new water operator, then someone will have to go through the process required by DNR in order to become a water operator. They have to successfully complete a DNR approved training course, which is not always available. They then have to have six months hands-on experience. In the meantime, the city will have three choices – use PeopleService, which will drive up rates substantially, especially for its biggest customers, use the Rural Water District, which will also drive up rates, or not offer water at all, which is a frightening thought.

Here in Worth County, we have had our experience with free for all chaos. In the 1950’s, after the school house which was located where the Fire Department is located now burned down, there was rampant chaos because the rural parts of the county would not approve a bond issue to build a new school, because they were afraid it would mean the closure of Allendale, Denver, and Worth. It took the threat of the state coming in, removing the school’s accreditation, and closing the school for voters to approve a new bond issue. The Times-Tribune of that day reported that people were leaving in droves over it. Worth County’s population went from 5,100 at the start of 1950 to 3,600 at the start of 1960. Someone told us as recently as 2010 that there were still people in Worth who don’t patronize Grant City businesses over it.

The scenario repeated itself in the 1970’s. When the County Board of Education stepped in and forced the consolidation of Grant City and Sheridan in 1976, there were more hard feelings. Enrollment at Worth County dropped from over 600 in 1976-77 to the 400’s by the mid-1980’s. It has gone down slowly ever since. Even today, many Sheridan voters won’t pass school levies or bond issues over it. It is true that there were economic reasons for these declines. But a lot of it was self-inflicted.

While cities cannot conduct business when there is not a majority present, they can talk. Sue Wagner, Officer Manager of O Tax, LLC, which is located in Hopkins, presented a proposal to handle the billing and clerical duties for the city for 8-12 hours a week. It is owned by Dee O’Riley, who was the clerk at Hopkins for over 20 years. Wagner added that if citizens wanted to come to their business to make a payment or for city business, that would not be an issue. This would replace the positions of both office personnel presently employed. Total cost would be $35,000 a year, with $50 an hour extra to bring accounting up to present. 

As we said, we don’t have a dog in this fight other than to say that the infighting has got to stop. One fair way to do this could involve having the present clerks presenting to all four members of the council in closed session (since this is a personnel issue) why they should stay and O Tax presenting, and then the council having a vote afterwards. 

But while the demolition of the Mutti Building and the buildings on the north side of Barnard Street are welcome, many people still see Hopkins as an eyesore. Outsiders who grew up in Hopkins and who have come back are saddened by the sight it has become. The city needs to find a way to resolve this that will allow it to get back to the work of demolishing abandoned buildings and homes.

There are plenty of good ideas floating around for how to revive Hopkins. Mr. Houston talked about his ideas for helping out people who want to live and work in the area and work for one of the manufacturing plants by building up houses where the old buildings used to be. North Nodaway student Morgan Pope is doing extensive work trying to renovate the Roxy and turn it into a youth center. The Hopkins CBC is always floating ideas for making the city and the Hopkins Park look nicer. Neither ourselves nor any of the concerned citizens at the meeting Monday are in it for anyone; we’re in it for Hopkins. And speaking for ourselves, we’re in it for all the other towns we cover as well.

Editorials are the view of the Editor and Publisher. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Directors, any organizer, or the membership of the Sheridan Express Cooperative. The Sheridan Express welcomes responses to these editorials. Please address all correspondence to Sheridan Express, 205 North 4th #8, Sheridan, MO 64486. All letters must be signed; we cannot accept anonymous letters. 

J.L. Houston to Mark 70th Anniversary

This year will mark the 70th anniversary of the J.L. Houston Company of Hopkins. It was founded in 1954 by John L. Houston, after whom the company is named. After months of preparation beforehand, experimental steel tubing was made at the factory for the first time on June 2nd, 1954. The June 3rd, 1954 Hopkins Journal reported the following:

Steel tubing, experimental ones, were made for the first time in Hopkins yesterday (Wednesday) morning at the factory of John Houston in northwest Hopkins.

For the past several months, preparations have been underway to produce steel tubing in Hopkins. First, a concrete block building 28x50 was built by Houston just west of the Mrs. Jesse Albright property. William Cross erected the structure. 

Before the roof went on, a 9,000 pound punch and riveting machine were swung into place. With the completion of the building, the five horsepower motor was connected and the curving roll, weighing 6,000 pounds, was moved into place. It is powered by a 7½ horsepower motor.

The factory is to be operated by Francis Hilton, who with the aid of Lester Shell and Ralph Wood, both of Hopkins, will get acquainted with the machinery and learn tube rolling. Ultimately, six or seven men might be needed in the business.

The curving machine can make steel tubing from 8 inches in diameter to 84 inch tubes. They are made in two foot sections and then riveted together, making any length tubes required. 

Full scale operation will be started soon.

From those beginnings, the J.L. Houston company has grown to employ 45-50 people, the biggest employer in the Hopkins and Pickering areas along with the school. They now sell tubing all over the country.

John Houston was actively involved in the company and the Hopkins community until his health no longer permitted it in the 1990’s. His death, on October 8th, 1999, made the front page of the October 14th Hopkins Journal:

John Houston, founder of J.L. Houston Company, died Friday, October 8th, 1999.

Mr. Houston was born on May 18th, 1909 in Hopkins to Bruce and Dola McBeth Houston. He was a lifelong resident of Hopkins.

A graduate of Hopkins High School, Mr. Houston completed two years of study at Northwest Missouri State. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army. He had served in the Italian theatre of operations.

After his discharge from the Army, he worked for Mutti Motor Company in Hopkins as a parts specialist. On weekends during the 1940’s and 1950’s, he sold car and tractor chains as a wholesaler for Lloyd Chain of Maryville as well as a line of copper and brass fittings. He was also in the corrugated metal culverts business, purchasing and selling culverts to counties in Northwest Missouri and neighboring areas.

In 1954, the J.L. Houston Company began with the production of metal products. Metal tubes were to be produced first. He and his son, Ronald, expanded the business in 1967 to include a large variety of steel tanks. Shortly after that, the company was incorporated.

Mr. Houston stayed involved in the company business until ill health in the early 1990’s prevented it.

The J.L. Houston Company is employer to 40 area people and is one of only three plants of its type in the entire state of Missouri.

Mr. Houston was an active member of the Hopkins Christian Church, served on the church board, on various committees, and as a deacon. He served on the City Council of Hopkins, a member of the American Legion, the Hopkins Lions Club, and a member of the Midwestern Culvert Association.

1954 Hopkins High School Senior Spotlight: Leo (Shark) Traster

The Hopkins student newspaper in 1954 was named the Hopkins Hypo. They published school news, menus, gossip, ballgames, and senior spotlights. The following piece is about Leo (Shark) Traster, a senior at Hopkins High School that year.

Our history this week is about one of our very popular senior boys, Leo (Shark) Traster. Shark was born September 18th, 1935 at Hopkins, the second son of Mr. & Mrs. Merle Traster. Shark attended all eight years of grade school and four years of high school at HHS. He has one older brother, Kermit, a graduate of HHS and now a lieutenant in the air force, and a younger sister, Orilla, grade student at Hopkins.

Shark is the president of the senior class and is the assistant manager of the Hopkins school yearbook.

His favorite hobby is sleeping. His favorite song, “Heart of My Heart;” favorite color, yellow; favorite food, chicken; favorite subject, math; favorite sport, basketball. He dislikes people who think they know it all.

Shark’s plans are undecided now. During the summers recently, he has been working at Mutti Hardware. We are sure that whatever Shark decides to do, he will be a success. The students of HHS wish him the best of luck in everything he does.

Rev. Earl Griffith Became Hopkins Methodist Minister in 1954

The January 7th, 1954 Hopkins Journal reported on the installment of the Rev. Earl Griffith as the new Wray Memorial Methodist minister. He came to Hopkins from Southern Methodist University, where he was to complete his graduate degree in theology on January 28th of that year. He began his duties in Hopkins December 20th.

He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Earl Griffith of Trenton, from where he graduated. He entered the service in 1943 and fought the Germans in World War II. He became a department manager for Montgomery Ward, but in 1949, he was called to the ministry and enrolled at Westminister College in Fulton (MO). He then went to Southern Methodist in Dallas. 

Before coming to Hopkins, he served churches in Missouri and Texas.

He was married to Evelyn Fair in 1940. As of January 7th, 1954, they had two sons, David (5½) and Stephen (2½). 

Hopkins CBC Raffle Winners from Hopkins Picnic

Welcome sign donated by Anna Mae and Allen – Madison Geib.

$20 gift certificates from Coop Maryville – Bob Parker, Ali Brittain, Vicki Riley.

Pellet fire pit from Orscheln’s – Judy White.

Combine set from Summa Implement – Mary Ann Cordell.

Oil change from Meyer Auto – Brad Carlson.

Hat and $25 gift certificate from Gray’s – Mel Williamson.

$50 gift certificates from Rick’s Country Shoppe – Angie Titus, Ali Brittain.

$100 gift certificate from Rick’s Country Shoppe – Ryan Riley.

$25 gift certificates from Rick’s Country Shoppe – Connor Geib, Lois Brand.

Fairy gardens from Anna Mae & Allen – Megan Davison, Carmen Allen, Creed Loseke.

Wine and goody basket from Hedgie’s Books & Toys – Kade Pankau.

Decorative cutting board from Tina Wood – Keri Woods.

Free night camping passes from City of Maryville – Angie Titus (2), Matt Wray, Vince Shelby, Joel Elmer.

Two rounds of 9 hole golfing from City of Maryville – David Smyser, Jodi Grosse.

Weekend cabin rental from City of Maryville – Cam White.

Two rounds of 18 hole golfing from City of Maryville – Janet Drummond, Cari Cline.

Nodaway Valley goodies from Nodaway Valley Bank – Cam White.

$25 gift certificates from M&M Pub & Grub – Ali Brittain, Vicki Riley.

$50 cash from MFA (Maryville) – Jennifer Torres.

Planter box from Tina Wood – Amber Hart.

Mug and $50 gift certificate from Maryville Florist – S. Mozier.

6 movie passes from The Hangar – Alan Roush.

$50 gift certificates from Applebee’s – Kade Pankau, Mary Clements.

Decorative bike and goodies from Be Still Mercantile – Emma Hart.

5 free bowling games from Bearcat Lanes – Chris Turpin (2).

Walking stick from Philip Poynter – Joel Elmer.

Movie pass bucket from Hart’s Insurance – Amy Gray.

Hopkins 150th Basket from Smoke Shop – Chris Turpin.

Lap quilt – Ali Brittain.

$25 gift certificate from Ace Hardware – Janie Harbin.

Charcuterie Board and Dips from Bath and Kitchen Source – Bud Heideman.

Knife from Jason Thompson – Mike Coleman.

$35 gift card from Hy-Vee – Lois Brand.

Metal planter from Judy Crane – Selina James.

Earring basket from R&T Designs – Sam Callison.

Doll table and chairs from Vicki Riley – Linda Cox.

Wooden USA Glad from Brian Rodrick – S. Mozier.

Barn quilt from Sandy Lawson – Cameron Morrison.

1928 Bootlegging Operation in Hopkins Busted

Back in 1928, Prohibition was still in effect, and an alleged bootlegging operation in Hopkins was busted. The Maryville Democrat-Forum, in an article reprinted by the May 2nd, 1928 Worth County Tribune, reported that a raid by sheriff’s officers on the Charles Sewell restaurant at Hopkins resulted in the arrest of the proprietor, who was taken to the county jail and charged with Possession and Sale of Intoxicating Liquor. Officers led by Sheriff L.B. Campbell found numerous cases of empty bottles and one full gallon of what officers said was alcohol. 

1951-52 Hopkins Bulldogs Hung 98 Points in a Game

Bob Peve and the 1951-52 Hopkins Bulldogs hung 98 points against Sheridan in what the Hopkins Journal said was a school record for points scored. He scored 36 in that game, won 98-36, while Bill Melvin 24, and Melvin Robinson 18. Hopkins was called the Bulldogs before it merged with Pickering.

Among other games, they beat New Hampton 70-26 behind 29 from Peve. They beat Bedford 61-48 behind 26 from Peve; they led 25-19 at the half, fell behind 39-37 after three, but hung 24 on Bedford in the fourth quarter. They also beat Oregon 44-35 behind Peve’s 16 points and a 20-5 free throw advantage.

C.E. Florea, One of Gaynor’s Finest, Passed Away in December 1951

The January 3rd, 1952 Hopkins Journal reported that C.E. (Charles) Florea, one of Gaynor’s finest, passed away at the age of 85 on December 28th, 1951 at St. Francis Hospital.

He was survived by his wife, son Everett, grandson Noble Florea, brother Sam Florea of Gaynor, sister Mrs. Meta Stone of Sheridan, and great-grandchildren Gael and Rollie Florea of Hopkins.

Mrs. Paul Cardle, a correspondent for the Hopkins Journal, wrote, “The passing of Charles Florea marks the passing of another Gaynor resident for many years. He was an active member of the Gaynor Christian Church, a farmer, stockman, and during the threshing age, he and his son threshed throughout the country side as he had a wide acquaintance outside his neighborhood.”