Editorial -- Unsatisfactory Answers by Sen. Black on School Funding

The February 26th issue of the Maryville Forum reported on a contentious hearing in St. Joseph between Senator Rusty Black and school principals regarding school funding. In that meeting, Sen. Black did not give satisfactory answers regarding the possible elimination of the Hold Harmless Clause.

The Missouri Hold Harmless Clause states that small schools in Missouri can never go below their aid levels in 2004-05 or 2005-06 based on district size. If the current foundation formula calculation produces a lower number than the 2004-05 levels for small districts with average daily attendance under 350, then the state discards it and pays the higher “hold harmless” amount instead.

Currently, Mr. Black chairs the Missouri Modernization Task Force, which is tasked with updating the Foundation Formula. One of the proposals being talked about is getting rid of the Hold Harmless Clause. But North Nodaway school superintendent Chris Turpin reported to the board at a board meeting that North Nodaway stood to lose over $700,000 a year if the change is implemented. This is more than the revenue generated by the wind farms west of Hopkins. Worth County Superintendent Chris Healy told the Express in an interview that Worth County stood to lose at least $300,000 a year if Hold Harmless is eliminated. Many schools in the area stand to lose even more.

Other changes proposed include raising the Adequacy Target from $7,000 to as high as $11,000. This area serves a high number of disadvantaged students and increases to account for them could offset getting rid of Hold Harmless, but how much is anybody’s guess.

Mr. Black complained at the meeting about the heat that he had received both from educators and from people on the street. But that is because we are not being given straight answers. If Mr. Turpin and Mr. Healy’s figures are wrong, then we want to know what the correct figures are, what is in these plans to offset the cuts from getting rid of Hold Harmless, and what schools can do to raise funds.  Currently, Worth County is in a better position than a lot of schools because a $1.25 levy, which is needed to offset getting rid of Hold Harmless, requires a simple majority to pass. But many schools would require a two-thirds majority to keep the doors open or avoid having to make ghastly cuts that would put children at risk. And Missouri voters already pay some of the highest shares of money as any state in the country.

In the story, Mr. Black told the Forum that he had been approached by certain people asking why some schools were still open with so few students. As a resident of Sheridan, whose school was closed in 1976 and consolidated with Worth County, I would submit that the cure is worse than the disease. Closing a school in a town like Sheridan guts the local economy, creates abandoned buildings, and drives people and businesses out of town. Community leaders tried to keep up maintenance of the school building in Sheridan and kept it open as a community center for many years. But finally, they no longer had the resources to do so, and the building was finally torn down last year. If getting rid of the Hold Harmless Clause guts school funding as badly as school administrators say it does, then what happened in Sheridan will replicate itself in many other towns much bigger than Sheridan.

 

 

A Tribute to Wayne Winstead: “And We Called Him Coach”

     John Q. Hammons Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Induction Article

A native of Westboro, Missouri, Wayne Winstead began his coaching career at Sheridan High School. His teams at Sheridan won more than 700 games and took 13 conference championships. (Grant City and Sheridan were consolidated in 76/77–WC). He moved to Worth County High School in 1976, where his three year girls basketball record was 56-21. The three winning seasons he produced at Worth County were the first in the school’s basketball history.

In 1979, Winstead moved to Maryville where he took over as coach for the Northwest Missouri State University Women’s program. Winstead has taken the Northwest Missouri State teams to post-season play in thirteen of fourteen seasons. He earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors in 1984, after his 25-5 team won the conference and was ranked number one in the nation and eventually finished eighth in the nation as they upset national powers Southeast Missouri State University and Central Missouri State University.

During a 10-year stretch from 1982-1992, Winstead’s clubs finished in the top-half of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) standings including an MIAA title during the 1983-84 season. He engineered his teams to three 20-win seasons and 16 post-season appearances. He was named MIAA Coach of the Year twice (1984, 1990); his 1984 program sparkled with a 25-5 mark, his best of any season and the 1990 club advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament. Overall, he compiled a 311-244 (.560) mark at Northwest.

And We Called Him Coach

By Connie Dowis

What are those memories we'll always hold dear?

I know they've got to be here, cause we held him so near.

Time has captured a few,

There are some that are oh, so true!

As the memories flow,

it's hard to know just which way to let your mind go.

We can all recall

the way he taught us to play ball

each and every late, late fall.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"Give me 25--cut those corners and you'll do another 5!"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Looking at that clipboard and checking them off as the drill and the practice rolls on and on.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"You 5 be shirts and you 5 skins." "We're gonna pass and cut, pass and cut--use that backdoor for another score." "Hands up D!" "No, no, no, don't throw across the defense--you know better than that!"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Putting that whistle inside his shirt to show us one more time how to--STEP and block to get that rebound, or use the board--hit the angle (was it 45?). OK, watch my legs and tell me what the first thing is I do?? Right, BEND those knees.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"On the line, all the way down, black line to black line, down and back, Hustle, hustle, hustle!" "Come on, you can do better than that--harder-harder, push, push" "Shuffle left, now right, back, forward "OK, AGAIN!" "Now everyone on the line shoot 25 and give me 5 for every one you miss!"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Showing us why defense is the key. OK, here you have a 2-1-2, 3-2, man-for-man, or will it be a box and one? Depend on the night, the game, the opponent which one we'll run.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"Hit the showers and I'd better see the water dripping off of you when you come out!" "Get back in there! You didn't shower" (OK so quickly learn the trick of sticking your arms and legs in and cooling them off and he'll never know--HA)

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Refilling the boxes in the locker rooms with medicated foot powder, but was it really to kill the athlete's foot or maybe did some of our feet stink, big time!

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"Who we gonna beat tonight?" "I can't hear you!" Who we gonna beat tonight?"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Shaking the hands of the captains, the coaches, and the refs as the game begins. Gathering us all in the huddle and touching hands, "Let's Go!"

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"D. D. Big D!!, Hands-up--get in his face! Box out! Grab that rebound! SET IT UP. You're open--shoot--shoot! Pass, pass, pass, cut, look! Use the board!

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Twisting that hair at the corner of his head when things are going a little bit tough! Pacing, back and forth, back and forth.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

Praising and Chewing, Praising and Chewing, Always, Always, Praising more than the Chewing.

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Drawing those plays on the chalkboard at halftime? Slamming that clipboard against the stage? Calling you over to sit your butt down cause you didn't EXECUTE…and probably, tweaking that piece of hair one more time.

CAN YOU SEE AND HEAR HIM!

Shaking all the players hands and telling each and every one, "Good Game"

CAN YOU SEE AND HEAR HIM--smiling and laughing and telling just one more joke or…and Now, I'm telling you, this is a true story?

As the years have passed by,

how many times were you privileged to see him and

he was so glad to see you.

Gotta' give you a hug and know what is what,

and forever and again

let you know how very much you meant to him.

So, so many memories to hold and share.

and WE CALLED HIM COACH,

but he was so much more,…teacher, principal, mentor and friend

but WE CALLED HIM COACH.

 

Sheridan School Report for January 27th, 1893

Like they do today, schools back then sent out reports recognizing students for high academic achievement.

The Sheridan School in 1893 was divided into two rooms. Room number one had 50 pupils attending. The following students were neither absent nor tardy for the month — Ursie Tibbels, Lula Holcomb, Stella Dale, Henry Calkins, Minnie Winemiller, Deat Holcomb, Wallace Mills, Earle Lock, Bert Tibbels, Maudie Wray, Gracie Fowler, Maudie Fowler, Anna Kellogg, Ethel Mills, Ray Gould, Johnnie Wray, Ethel Dale, Port Rickabaugh.

Room number two had 28 pupils attending. The following students were neither absent nor tardy — Sankie Nutt, May Davidson, Tillie Darby, Lewis Davidson, Devere Darby, Maude Kellogg, Jennivee Rickabaugh, Jessie Darby.

 

In 1893, Surprise Party Thrown for Sheridan Christian Church Pastor

From the February 3rd, 1893 Sheridan Advance:

One of the most pleasant social events of the season occurred last Sunday, at the Diagonal Hotel. The members of the Christian Church were notified to bring their dinners and repair to the Hotel after the morning service, to which 90 persons responded, and after all had arrived and exchanged greetings, Elder W.A. Chapman, who assisted in the protracted meeting here last fall, and who has just begun a year’s work for the church, was invited into the parlor, wither all followed, where in a neat speech by J.M. Simons, the Elder was presented with a beautiful silk, crazy quilt. The quilt was made by the lady members and friends of the church, and is indeed a work of art, and pronounced by all who have seen it as surpassing in richness and beauty anything they have ever seen.

Bro, Chapman was taken completely by surprise, but responded in a brief speech, in which he succeeded in convincing all present that the souvenir was duly appreciated. Someone said, “That is the first sermon I ever heard with a bed quilt for a text.”

The dinner, as all connected with the gathering, was a decided success, and the occasion is one long to be remembered by all the participants.

There seems to be the kindest Christian feeling between the members of the church and their new pastor, and we predict a prosperous year’s work.

 --One who was there.

In 1893, Parnell Man Drank Himself to Death

The editor of the Sheridan Advance in the February 3rd, 1893 issue had this to say about a dead man found near Parnell: “The dead man found near Parnell City one morning last week, upon investigation, was found to be under the influence of that mighty curse, King Alcohol. Surely, someone will someday have to render an account for the many crimes committed by the same curse. Whether it will be the manufacturer or the legislator, who will have it in their power to extinguish the damnable curse from the land, the people who consent to have it dealt out publicly by signing a saloon petition, or the one who hands it out over the bar to anyone who calls for it.” He possibly did himself out of some advertising and some subscriptions with his rant.

But attitudes have changed over the years since the epic fight between the “wets” and the “drys” that cumulated with the passage of Prohibition. By 1976, when Grant City and Sheridan combined schools, everyone knew who the Sheridan kids were, because they all wore cowboy boots.

In 2023, the Snakebite Tavern closed, leaving the town without a tavern for the first time since the days of Prohibition. Between then and the opening of the Back 40, one of the most common refrains we heard from people all over the area was, “When is Sheridan ever going to get a tavern?”

When the Back 40 opened this year, there were massive crowds taking advantage of it during Defiance Days. On Saturday night, following the Rodeo, it had one of the biggest crowds we’ve ever seen in town, with people coming from miles around to check out the new tavern. The only two times we have seen more people in Sheridan were last year, for the High Road concert, which drew several hundred, and the Jerry Clower performance during the Sheridan Centennial, which drew around 3,000. The traffic at the Back 40 has continued to be brisk in both the bar section and the restaurant section since Defiance Days ended.

Mervin Barackman, Roy Chick were Dominant Wrestlers for Sheridan in 1922

Sheridan had two wrestlers who were dominant in their craft back in 1922. From August 17th through 19th of the Sheridan Picnic, as it was known back then, there were wrestling matches all three nights. On the 17th, Barackman and Chick wrestled each other. On the 18th, Chick took on Young Gotch. On the 19th, Barackman took on John Ellis. Each time, it was the main event.

Throughout the picnic, there was music by the community band, ball games, speakers, a parade, picture shows, free acts, and the Hotel Hull served fried chicken dinner each day for 50 cents.

Subsequently, they both went to the Andrew County Fair in Savannah where they agreed to throw any person of 160 pounds or less in ten minutes. As reported in the September 7th, 1922 Sheridan Advance, Barackman and Chick took on two brothers the first night weighing over 180 pounds and failed to throw them.

But on Saturday the 2nd, Chick threw Lew Ems, a well-known St. Joseph wrestler, in one hour and 20 minutes after an epic bout. Ems claimed it was the first time he was ever thrown. Barackman threw another man that night in 20 minutes.

 

Measles, Mumps, and Runaway Cow Dominate 1891 Sheridan Advance Correspondent’s Column

The Sheridan Advance Liberty Column from Long Hungry from the April 16th, 1891 issue:

I expect a great many people who read this paper wondered last week where Long Hungry was, so I guess I had better explain myself so they won’t think I was off on a tear. I was out searching for Aunt Betsy and got in a scrape, got every bone in my ear broke, my left lung thrown out of joint, and the slack part of my trouser-loons pretty badly caved in, so I was getting repaired and am now patched up so as to scribble again.

Farmers busy putting in oats the fore part of the week, but the rains have stopped them at present.

Grass begins to look green in this part of old Missouri.

Miss Maude and Perlie Tebow were visiting at Mr. Payne’s one day last week.

Mr. Crulls’ family are sick with the rose rash.

T.F. Payne and W.B. Mitchell are building this week.

Mrs. Mitchell was visiting the family of Mr. Carruthers one day last week.

The largest crowd attended Sunday School last Sunday there has been at all. May the good work go on.

Ha, ha, Bert, how about that, “No sir.”

Miss Lilly and Bell Carruthers and Celia Payne have been on the sick list, but are some better at this writing.

Mr. Eddie Dye was visiting at his Uncle John Payne’s last Saturday and Sunday.

Sunshine said the reason his items were so scarce was because the measles and mumps were so thick in their vicinity. Some people may think that is the reason, but I do not, it was because the sun did not shine for about a week.

Dillard Payne has been staying at his Grandpa’s for the last week, but will return home soon.

Glen was seen going towards Parnell City Sunday. Is there anything attractive down there, Glen? If there is, maybe Long Hungry would like to go too.

Sam Cline says he does not intend to stay in this vicinity long. We will be awfully sorry to see you leave, Sam, as you are one of our most attractive young men.

I wonder if Mose’s eyesight is any better.

Mr. and Mrs. Payne were trading in Parnell Saturday; they reported the roads good and corn 57 cents a bushel.

Oscar Payne says he has an attraction down South. What is down there, Oscar?

Mrs. Watt is on the sick list with neuralgia.

Well, as I can think of no more this week, I will big you all adieu and try again as I am only patched up this week by being out after Aunt Betsy and not finding her goes pretty hard with L.H. but we’ll try and come every week after this as I do not think I will take such a tear anymore.