Worth County Commissioners met with State Senator Dan Hegeman, who held forth on everything from national issues like the Syrian Refugee Crisis and Ferguson to local topics like the DOT, the school funding formula, and Medicaid expansion.
Several Senators signed a letter to Governor Nixon expressing concern about resettling Syrian refugees in Missouri. Hegeman said he got a call from someone Monday morning as he was headed to Gentry and Worth County's commissioner meetings and that he had gotten a few calls. He said that the federal government needed to be careful about who they let into the country. "We currently have 700 refugees," he said. "Are we going to have the same stringent standards for 10,000 or 20,000 as we do now?" he asked. He said that the first priority always had to be to protect the country.
He reported that the legislature was going to try for a voter ID bill again next session, requiring all voters to have some form of voter ID. Commissioner Chevy Davidson said that might be a problem in places like Worth County, with people wondering why they had to produce ID's when the judges knew who they were.
Regarding the DOT, Hegeman said that they had come up with matching funds for 2016, but that there was still a concern for 2017. He thought that with gas prices lower this year, there might be a good chance to pass a fuel tax next year. He said they were going to try to pass one in the Senate, but that he wasn't sure if it would even get out of the House committee. He said that accountability was the main issue for the DOT, saying that they had reneged on promises for road projects back in 1992, when Missouri last passed a fuel tax. He said that after it was passed, the DOT later turned around and reallocated funds to urban areas. Another possibility was the creation of a toll road on I-70, similar to what they do in Kansas. He said that some senators in urban areas have proposed giving back some lettered roads back to counties as a way of reducing maintenance costs; however, he said that he didn't think that was going anywhere.
Hegeman said that he didn't see Medicaid Expansion going anywhere this year, saying that it already took up a sizable chunk of Missouri's budget. Legislators have come under pressure to do so since federal payments to hospitals are being cut back under the Affordable Care Act.
One proposal in the legislature would restore industrial hemp, but Hegeman said there would be a lot of caveats if it passed.
Hegeman predicted that there would be more money for the Foundation Formula this year, but that it would not be fully funded. He said he didn't know when it would be fully funded. He said around half the schools in his district were Hold Harmless and the other half were under the Foundation Formula.
Ferguson might come back in next year's session, according to Hegeman. Last session, following the Ferguson protests, the legislature passed a law limiting the amount of revenue that cities can collect from traffic fines. This time, he said there would be efforts to modernize the statute on lethal force to clarify when a cop can and can't use it.
Hegeman praised the Missouri Attorney General for filing a lawsuit to stop the Waters of the US Rule from taking effect in Missouri. He said that the EPA had exceeded their authority and that it was a serious property rights issue. On a related issue, "I see small towns struggling to keep up with water and wastewater regulations," said Hegeman. He noted that in some places, sewer rates were sky-high as cities try to comply with new EPA regulations.
"I took this job to help people with their problems and concerns," said Hegeman. "My door is always open if anyone wants to contact me."
The commission spent much of the morning before Hegeman's visit working on brush enforcement. The county had given a reprieve over the summer due to wet weather, but they are now sending out a new round of brush letters. Road & Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall said some landowners had complied with previous brush letters after the weather had dried up for two months, while others had not.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Mustang Boys Survive Ice Cold Stretches to Advance
North Nodaway's Mustangs survived a pair of ice-cold stretches to get past Fairfax 32-26 Monday night at the Mound City Tournament. It was a 1 versus 8 match, but the game was everything but, as North Nodaway is one of the smallest teams in the area and Fairfax has both of their main scorers back in Brody Cooper and Garrett Ball. North Nodaway had some open looks, but they were missing throughout the first quarter; their only score in the period was Ben Hart's putback with 3:14 left to break a scoreless tie.
But they finally got going in the second as they started stealing the ball on defense. Koby Reynolds had a 3-pointer and a steal and Peyton Coleman added three free throws; he was getting to the line at will all night. Consequently, the Mustangs were able to shut out Fairfax and take an 11-1 lead. Reynolds hit an NBA 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 14-1 early in the third, and North Nodaway kept an 8 to 10 point lead despite Cooper finally heating up for the Bulldogs.
But Coleman was shaken up in a collision late in the third and had to come out; that play seemed to swing the momentum back to Fairfax. Coleman returned at the start of the fourth, but the momentum continued as Ball got loose in transition with 6:16 to cut North Nodaway's lead to 21-18. That started a stretch where both defenses took over. The score was stuck at 21-18; Fairfax had several chances to tie or come within one, but could not find the range for the next three minutes. Finally, Dakota Smyser, who had battled foul trouble in the second half, came through with a drive to make it a two possession game with 2:32 left. Ball's shot from the right side cut it to 23-20, but Ben Hart scored off a drive to make it 25-20 with 1:36 left. Cooper got loose for a 3-point play after getting a call on a charge-block situation and Payton Coleman hit one out of two from the line with 57 seconds left, giving Fairfax a chance to tie.
Cooper got loose for a good look from the top of the key, but one of North Nodaway's defenders came off and helped perfectly, and Cooper's heavily contested look missed and Payton Coleman got the defense board. Under heavy pressure from two defenders, he still got the ball to Koby Reynolds with 35 seconds left; North Nodaway went six for six from the line and Payton Coleman stripped a Bulldog player with 4.6 seconds left with North Nodaway leading 30-26 and Fairfax trying to cut it to one. Coleman's free throws finally clinched the win.
But they finally got going in the second as they started stealing the ball on defense. Koby Reynolds had a 3-pointer and a steal and Peyton Coleman added three free throws; he was getting to the line at will all night. Consequently, the Mustangs were able to shut out Fairfax and take an 11-1 lead. Reynolds hit an NBA 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 14-1 early in the third, and North Nodaway kept an 8 to 10 point lead despite Cooper finally heating up for the Bulldogs.
But Coleman was shaken up in a collision late in the third and had to come out; that play seemed to swing the momentum back to Fairfax. Coleman returned at the start of the fourth, but the momentum continued as Ball got loose in transition with 6:16 to cut North Nodaway's lead to 21-18. That started a stretch where both defenses took over. The score was stuck at 21-18; Fairfax had several chances to tie or come within one, but could not find the range for the next three minutes. Finally, Dakota Smyser, who had battled foul trouble in the second half, came through with a drive to make it a two possession game with 2:32 left. Ball's shot from the right side cut it to 23-20, but Ben Hart scored off a drive to make it 25-20 with 1:36 left. Cooper got loose for a 3-point play after getting a call on a charge-block situation and Payton Coleman hit one out of two from the line with 57 seconds left, giving Fairfax a chance to tie.
Cooper got loose for a good look from the top of the key, but one of North Nodaway's defenders came off and helped perfectly, and Cooper's heavily contested look missed and Payton Coleman got the defense board. Under heavy pressure from two defenders, he still got the ball to Koby Reynolds with 35 seconds left; North Nodaway went six for six from the line and Payton Coleman stripped a Bulldog player with 4.6 seconds left with North Nodaway leading 30-26 and Fairfax trying to cut it to one. Coleman's free throws finally clinched the win.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
NEN Teams Drop Close Losses to Albany
Northeast Nodaway's teams came up shorthanded, dropping two close losses to Albany. The girls led Albany 24-12 at the half. They had every right to expect a win against the Warriors, who won one game last year. But then they lost their composure in the second half against Albany's press. Instead of slowing things down and running their plays, they sped things up and tried to do too much; instead of working the ball to the middle, they were taking the ball up the sidelines and right into the traps. Consequently, they lost their lead by the end of the third quarter, falling behind 29-28 after three quarters. Dallis Coffelt's basket early in the fourth put them back in front 32-31, but then they fell behind for good and couldn't catch up.
Northeast fell behind by as much as five before free throws from Coffelt and Talina Nelson cut it to 38-36; they got the ball back with under 2 minutes left, but Dallis Coffelt missed a runner that would have tied it. Talina Nelson hit two free throws with 1:25 left that cut it to 39-38, but they couldn't buy a board that would have gotten them a chance to go ahead and they had to start fouling; Albany hit six of their last eight free throws down the stretch. Makayla Adwell's putback with six seconds left made it 44-43, but Northeast had no more timeouts and Albany was able to hold the ball out of bounds with the clock running and get it in with 1.8 seconds, forcing Northeast to foul. Heidi Fish's free throw made it 45-43; with Northeast going the full length of the floor, they couldn't get a shot off in time.
Dallis Coffelt had 18 to lead Northeast. Talina Nelson had 11, Makayla Adwell 5, Jill Spire 4, Taylor Coffelt 3, and Allie Runde 2.
The boys were shorthanded Tuesday night and came up short in a defensive struggle 42-33. They only had two scoring threats for most of the night, which spoiled a good defensive effort. The game swung back and forth for most of the night; Northeast trailed 6-2 early, but fought back and took a 10-6 lead early in the second behind Andrew Freemyer's inside basket off a pass from Rowdy West. Albany took a 16-12 lead at the half, but Northeast scored on its first three possessions of the third to move back in front 18-16. But then Northeast lost track of Caden Wilson of Albany; he ran wild late in the third and early in the fourth; 6'5" Seth Cline got loose on the offensive boards once and loose on a backdoor look another time as Albany took an insurmountable 32-24 lead at the 3:26 mark of the fourth. The challenge for Coach Vance Proffitt, who switched from the girls to the boys this year, will be to find more scoring options for his team.
Max Giesken did all he could for Northeast, getting 19 to lead the way. Andrew Freemyer had 10 and Colton Wilmes and Chet Spire had 2 each.
Northeast fell behind by as much as five before free throws from Coffelt and Talina Nelson cut it to 38-36; they got the ball back with under 2 minutes left, but Dallis Coffelt missed a runner that would have tied it. Talina Nelson hit two free throws with 1:25 left that cut it to 39-38, but they couldn't buy a board that would have gotten them a chance to go ahead and they had to start fouling; Albany hit six of their last eight free throws down the stretch. Makayla Adwell's putback with six seconds left made it 44-43, but Northeast had no more timeouts and Albany was able to hold the ball out of bounds with the clock running and get it in with 1.8 seconds, forcing Northeast to foul. Heidi Fish's free throw made it 45-43; with Northeast going the full length of the floor, they couldn't get a shot off in time.
Dallis Coffelt had 18 to lead Northeast. Talina Nelson had 11, Makayla Adwell 5, Jill Spire 4, Taylor Coffelt 3, and Allie Runde 2.
The boys were shorthanded Tuesday night and came up short in a defensive struggle 42-33. They only had two scoring threats for most of the night, which spoiled a good defensive effort. The game swung back and forth for most of the night; Northeast trailed 6-2 early, but fought back and took a 10-6 lead early in the second behind Andrew Freemyer's inside basket off a pass from Rowdy West. Albany took a 16-12 lead at the half, but Northeast scored on its first three possessions of the third to move back in front 18-16. But then Northeast lost track of Caden Wilson of Albany; he ran wild late in the third and early in the fourth; 6'5" Seth Cline got loose on the offensive boards once and loose on a backdoor look another time as Albany took an insurmountable 32-24 lead at the 3:26 mark of the fourth. The challenge for Coach Vance Proffitt, who switched from the girls to the boys this year, will be to find more scoring options for his team.
Max Giesken did all he could for Northeast, getting 19 to lead the way. Andrew Freemyer had 10 and Colton Wilmes and Chet Spire had 2 each.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Tiger JH Boys Post Three in Double Figures, Down Albany 50-30
Worth County's junior high boys capped their surprising season with a 50-30 win over Albany, putting up 38 points in the first half in the winning effort. Zayne Swope led the scoring with 16 points as the Tigers jumped out to a 17-6 lead after one and never looked back. Jaxon Anderson got going early, getting behind the defense once and taking a pass from Hunter Simmons and adding a pair of driving layups to push the Tigers out to a 9-2 lead. He also added a pair of free throws. Hunter Simmons scored off a backdoor layup, Ethan Thomas scored off a steal, Zayne Swope got behind the defense for one of many times and took a pass from Hunter Simmons, and Jaxon Anderson scored off a fast break in the period.
Worth County squelched any comeback hopes in the second quarter, getting eight points early in the period from Swope, who continued to get behind the Albany defense and take long passes from his teammates. Jaxon Anderson added a backdoor layup and Ethan Thomas got in the act late, getting behind the defense twice and adding a pair of free throws. Hayden Holmes added a 3-pointer and took a charge on defense for the Tigers. Both defenses took over in the second half; Kaeden Hutchinson did all he could to try to get the Warriors back in the game, but they could never get the deficit under 20. For Worth County, Reid Gabriel got a putback late in the game and Daniel Craven scored his first-ever basket, hitting a shot over a defender's head after taking a good entry pass from Ethan Thomas.
Zayne Swope had 16 to lead three Tigers in double figures. Jaxon Anderson followed with 14, Ethan Thomas 10, Hayden Holmes 3, Daniel Craven, Reid Gabriel, and Hunter Simmons 2 each, and Tanner Parman 1. The Tigers finished with an 8-4 record, far better than what most people expected following the loss of nearly everyone from the previous two successful teams.
Worth County squelched any comeback hopes in the second quarter, getting eight points early in the period from Swope, who continued to get behind the Albany defense and take long passes from his teammates. Jaxon Anderson added a backdoor layup and Ethan Thomas got in the act late, getting behind the defense twice and adding a pair of free throws. Hayden Holmes added a 3-pointer and took a charge on defense for the Tigers. Both defenses took over in the second half; Kaeden Hutchinson did all he could to try to get the Warriors back in the game, but they could never get the deficit under 20. For Worth County, Reid Gabriel got a putback late in the game and Daniel Craven scored his first-ever basket, hitting a shot over a defender's head after taking a good entry pass from Ethan Thomas.
Zayne Swope had 16 to lead three Tigers in double figures. Jaxon Anderson followed with 14, Ethan Thomas 10, Hayden Holmes 3, Daniel Craven, Reid Gabriel, and Hunter Simmons 2 each, and Tanner Parman 1. The Tigers finished with an 8-4 record, far better than what most people expected following the loss of nearly everyone from the previous two successful teams.
Tiger Girls Save their Best for Last, Cap Best Season in 20 Years
In a game that was supposed to come down to the wire, Worth County scored the first 13 points of the game and got a running clock win over Albany, 47-16. The Warriors had only one loss during their campaign and posted quality wins over Stanberry (twice) and Jefferson. But it didn't matter as Regan Allee scored off a pass from Kristin New 10 seconds into the game and Worth County would not trail the whole game. Kristin New scored off a Kaylee McElvain steal and Anna Gladstone scored off an Allee steal and Worth County was up 6-0 less than one minute into the game as Albany was having trouble crossing halfcourt.
Brooke Crawford burned two early timeouts in a futile effort to stop the bleeding as Kaylee McElvain scored a free throw, Merrideth Spiers score inside off an Anna Gladstone pass, and Kristin New and Anna Gladstone scored driving layups to make it 13-0. Sierra Anthony's putback broke the shutout, but Kaylee McElvain scored off a quick outlet from Kristin New and Anna Gladstone blocked a shot, grabbed the board, and went coast to coast and converted it into a free throw to make it 16-2 after one.
From there, the steady scoring hand of Kaylee McElvain kept Worth County in control. She scored six in the second, getting one highlight film play when she got a steal and stepped through two defenders for a score. Anna Gladstone added a layup off a steal and Megan Cassavaugh hit two free throws to put Worth County up 26-6 at the half. Kaylee scored seven more in the third, working the inside at will; Anna Gladstone added a highlight film play when she went coast to coast following a McElvain block and turned it into a 3-point play. Regan Allee added a steal to put Worth County up 38-10 after three. Kaylee McElvain cut inside and got a pass from Regan Allee; Kristin New hit her first 3-pointer all year, and then Nevada Hoff got a putback and Hannah McElvain whirled around and hit a shot from the left wing to trigger the running clock in the fourth quarter.
Josh Smith's squad had a season high eight players land in the scoring column. Kaylee McElvain led the scoring with 18 points; she was easily one of the most improved players of the year, turning into a consistent scoring presence in the paint. Anna Gladstone followed with 10, constantly giving energy and effort all year; Kristin New had 7, Regan Allee 4, and Merrideth Spiers, Nevada Hoff, Hannah McElvain, and Megan Cassavaugh all had 2. With the win, the Tigers rounded out their best season in 20 years, dropping only one game this year after dropping two last year. They figure to spark Sean Thurm's squad once they become freshmen if they continue to work hard and make themselves better.
The B team won 12-4. Braidy Hunt led the scoring for the reserves with 6. Maddie Taute followed with 4 and Megan Cassavaugh had 2.
Brooke Crawford burned two early timeouts in a futile effort to stop the bleeding as Kaylee McElvain scored a free throw, Merrideth Spiers score inside off an Anna Gladstone pass, and Kristin New and Anna Gladstone scored driving layups to make it 13-0. Sierra Anthony's putback broke the shutout, but Kaylee McElvain scored off a quick outlet from Kristin New and Anna Gladstone blocked a shot, grabbed the board, and went coast to coast and converted it into a free throw to make it 16-2 after one.
From there, the steady scoring hand of Kaylee McElvain kept Worth County in control. She scored six in the second, getting one highlight film play when she got a steal and stepped through two defenders for a score. Anna Gladstone added a layup off a steal and Megan Cassavaugh hit two free throws to put Worth County up 26-6 at the half. Kaylee scored seven more in the third, working the inside at will; Anna Gladstone added a highlight film play when she went coast to coast following a McElvain block and turned it into a 3-point play. Regan Allee added a steal to put Worth County up 38-10 after three. Kaylee McElvain cut inside and got a pass from Regan Allee; Kristin New hit her first 3-pointer all year, and then Nevada Hoff got a putback and Hannah McElvain whirled around and hit a shot from the left wing to trigger the running clock in the fourth quarter.
Josh Smith's squad had a season high eight players land in the scoring column. Kaylee McElvain led the scoring with 18 points; she was easily one of the most improved players of the year, turning into a consistent scoring presence in the paint. Anna Gladstone followed with 10, constantly giving energy and effort all year; Kristin New had 7, Regan Allee 4, and Merrideth Spiers, Nevada Hoff, Hannah McElvain, and Megan Cassavaugh all had 2. With the win, the Tigers rounded out their best season in 20 years, dropping only one game this year after dropping two last year. They figure to spark Sean Thurm's squad once they become freshmen if they continue to work hard and make themselves better.
The B team won 12-4. Braidy Hunt led the scoring for the reserves with 6. Maddie Taute followed with 4 and Megan Cassavaugh had 2.
Regional Grant Would Make Worth County Workforce Ready
A regional grant that the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments is pursuing would make Worth County and the rest of the region workforce ready. This would create extra incentive for a new company to locate in the empty Energizer building or anywhere else in the region for that matter. Jackie Spainhower explained the program to Worth County Commissioners at Monday morning's regular meeting. People would be tested on math, reading, and the ability to locate information. Enough people with high scores in these areas would be proof that the region is workforce ready; companies could accept these scores as proof that a person is qualified to do particular skills related to a job.
Road & Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall reported that one of the graders was still in the repair shop; it pops every time it gets turned. The shop changed the oil and put a new additive in.
There are two FEMA projects left for 2014 and several others that need to be done for this year.
Fletchall reported that the bottom fell out of Old 169 and that it needs more rock. The county replaced a tube near Wayne Hayes'. LaVerne Walker reported that a road east of Sheridan needed extra work because of potholes and gravel washing off. The county will deliver three loads of patron gravel and grade before putting it on. The county is planning to haul some patron rock around the county before rain comes this weekend. Road #151 between Denver and Worth is muddy and wet, with water running on the road.
Road & Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall reported that one of the graders was still in the repair shop; it pops every time it gets turned. The shop changed the oil and put a new additive in.
There are two FEMA projects left for 2014 and several others that need to be done for this year.
Fletchall reported that the bottom fell out of Old 169 and that it needs more rock. The county replaced a tube near Wayne Hayes'. LaVerne Walker reported that a road east of Sheridan needed extra work because of potholes and gravel washing off. The county will deliver three loads of patron gravel and grade before putting it on. The county is planning to haul some patron rock around the county before rain comes this weekend. Road #151 between Denver and Worth is muddy and wet, with water running on the road.
Worth County Sheriff's Report
11-16 -- Person in for deer permit.
11-16 -- Person in to report seeing things in a person's car.
11-16 -- Person in with small bag of drugs that a person had paid a bill with.
11-17 -- Horse out by Musick's on 46; owner notified.
11-17 -- Deputy has a person at WRDCC in St. Joseph.
11-17 -- Person in needing ID/OD.
11-18 -- A large brown dog running around getting in peoples' yards and tearing up things in peoples' yards.
11-18 -- Person called about getting help for their son.
11-18 -- Highway Patrol needed a deputy for assistance.
11-18 -- Deer hunter found a person's billfold on the road.
11-18 -- Highway Patrol en route to assist deputy and other highway patrolman.
11-18 -- Highway Patrol in with a person; taken to Ringgold County.
11-19 -- Person in to get information.
11-20 -- Person in to renew CCW.
11-16 -- Person in to report seeing things in a person's car.
11-16 -- Person in with small bag of drugs that a person had paid a bill with.
11-17 -- Horse out by Musick's on 46; owner notified.
11-17 -- Deputy has a person at WRDCC in St. Joseph.
11-17 -- Person in needing ID/OD.
11-18 -- A large brown dog running around getting in peoples' yards and tearing up things in peoples' yards.
11-18 -- Person called about getting help for their son.
11-18 -- Highway Patrol needed a deputy for assistance.
11-18 -- Deer hunter found a person's billfold on the road.
11-18 -- Highway Patrol en route to assist deputy and other highway patrolman.
11-18 -- Highway Patrol in with a person; taken to Ringgold County.
11-19 -- Person in to get information.
11-20 -- Person in to renew CCW.
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