1,020 People Vaccinated at Harrison County Clinic

A mass vaccination clinic at South Harrison Saturday vaccinated 1,020 people from the Coronavirus, the Harrison County Health Department reported. These people received their second dose of their Coronavirus vaccine. Numerous volunteers donated their time to the event. Participating were the South Harrison School District, Harrison County Hospital, Cameron Regional Medical Center, the Missouri National Guard, NTA, Hy-Vee, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Bethany Police Department, the Missouri DOT, and many others. The event was planned by Lesley Schulte, Emergency Planner for the Harrison County Health Department. 

The next mass vaccine clinic will be held on March 6th.

Evergy Extends Moratorium on Disconnections

 Evergy will extend its moratorium on service disconnections through May 2. This temporary moratorium includes residential and small business customers who owe past-due balances. Evergy encourages eligible customers to access limited emergency funds available for pandemic relief. Evergy is waiving late fees and offering up to 12-month payment plans to help customers pay toward their electricity bills.

“Evergy is extending our moratorium on disconnects as new assistance is coming available for customers affected by the pandemic,” said Chuck Caisley, Evergy senior vice president and chief customer officer. “Over the last year, some customers may have accumulated a high past-due balance, and emergency assistance funds could help them reduce balances owed. We encourage customers to seek assistance now as funding is limited and will expire this year.”

Over the upcoming weeks, Evergy will communicate with customers whose account may be in danger of disconnection beginning May 3. Information about financial assistance from community social service agencies is available by calling 2-1-1. Many local communities have special emergency funds available due to the pandemic. Application periods and eligibility vary by program. As Evergy learns about programs, information is added to our Bill Relief Options page at https://www.evergy.com/landing/bill-relief-options.

If customers need information about payment options, we encourage them to contact our customer service team. Payment arrangements may be set up online at evergy.com. Evergy Missouri service areas and Evergy Kansas Metro may reach customer service toll-free at 1-888-471-5275. Evergy Kansas Central customers may call 1-800-383-1183.  Our customer call centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Evergy implemented a moratorium on disconnections March 13, 2020, as many communities began closing down as part of their pandemic response. In June, special bill credits were offered to customers as disconnections resumed July 15. Shortly before Thanksgiving, Evergy reinstated the disconnect moratorium and has not disconnected customers for nonpayment since that time.

District, City of Maryville Partner to Address Taste & Odor Issues

On February 22, 2021, the City of Maryville and Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Nodaway County approved a Joint Funding Agreement to construct Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) adsorbers at the Maryville Water Treatment Plant. GAC is considered the best available technology (BAT) for organics removal and can significantly reduce MIB and Geosmin. Over the past several years, taste and odor (T&O) issues in the water treatment process have increased in frequency as a result of Geosmin levels in the raw water supply at Mozingo Lake.

The GAC Adsorber Project will convert an existing 250,000 mg clearwell tank to a post-filter contactor and include various yard piping modifications. A Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) process will be used to expedite design and construction with the intention of completing prior to lake turnover occurring each fall.

The agreement with Public Water Supply District No. 1 serves as a joint commitment to addressing ongoing water taste and odor issues for customers. The City of Maryville appreciates the District’s assistance through funding, allowing the project to proceed without debt financing and associated rate increases. The District and City will continue to analyze long-term partnerships for water treatment, including, but not limited to the construction of a new water treatment plant.

Large Event Planning Workshop March 6

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and Northwest Missouri State University are teaming up to offer a workshop designed to address organizations that are planning for events such as festivals, youth camps, vacation bible schools, rodeos, etc. While snow is still on the ground, many are looking to summer and starting to plan their annual summer events. With COVID-19 still impacting our communities, what efforts should we be taking to ensure our events are safe for attendees?

The Large Event Planning Workshop is being held virtually, via ZOOM and is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, at 9:30 a.m.

There is no cost to attend the workshop. Those planning to attend should register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/large-event-planning-workshop-tickets-141483094745.

John Carr, Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Emergency and Disaster Management program at Northwest Missouri State University, will facilitate the workshop which will focus on topics such as the current best practices for event hosting related to COVID-19, the trajectory of the pandemic, where we anticipate things will be this summer, and how to ensure your event is a safe one.

In addition to teaching courses, Carr serves as Exercise Director for Missouri Hope, the largest full-scale disaster training exercise in the region. The exercise brings together students, faculty, and partner agencies from throughout the country, allowing Northwest students first-hand experience in disaster response operations. Outside of Northwest, Carr serves as the Executive Director for the Consortium for Humanitarian Service and Education, a non-profit focused on promoting full immersion, full behavioral, simulation exercises to college students in the fields of emergency management, nursing, homeland security, and humanitarian relief. Carr also serves his community through his work with the Boy Scouts of America, American Red Cross, and support of emergency management initiatives in Northwest Missouri. Carr has a master’s degree in Emergency Management from North Dakota State University, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northwest Missouri State University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Science from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. 

His research interests include citizen engagement in emergency management processes, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), simulation design, and emergency management in higher education.

The Large Event Planning Workshop is the first of three workshops being funded with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds that were awarded to the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

Business Continuity Workshops March 23 & April 13

Local businesses have been heavily impacted by the current pandemic, exposing new challenges in how we ensure our businesses carry on during a hazard event. John Carr, Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Emergency and Disaster Management program at Northwest Missouri State University, will be facilitating two upcoming workshops that will be focused broadly on business continuity (efforts taken to ensure your business can still provide services and bring in revenue regardless of it being affected by a hazard event).

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and Northwest Missouri State University are teaming up to offer these Business Continuity Workshops. Topics being discussed will include basic information about emergency planning, threat and hazard identification, risk assessment, planning processes, and other preparedness efforts.

Attendees will also be able to request topics and ask questions through a pre-workshop survey. The first Business Continuity Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m. and is being held virtually, via ZOOM. There is no cost to attend the workshop. Those planning to attend should register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/business-continuity-workshop-1-tickets-139018601379.

The workshops are being funded with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds that were awarded to the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The second Business Continuity Workshop will be held Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 a.m. Registration information will be released soon.

Obituary -- James McConkey 1955-2021

James Alan McConkey, an Albany legend and pillar of the community, passed away on February 21, 2021 at the age of 65. While it’s impossible to distill down his very busy 65 years into words, a cursory review will have to suffice.

Not long after his birth on November 1, 1955 in Maryville, Missouri, James moved to Albany and put down his roots. Graduating from Albany High School in 1973, James then obtained his bachelor’s degree in teaching from Northwest Missouri State University in 1977. He spent his first few years teaching in Martinsville, Missouri.

In 1982, James and his brother, Richard, bought the Gambles Hardware Store on the west side of the square in Albany. There was a rumor that the pop machines in the store sold something other than soda, which unsurprisingly turned the store into a hangout for the locals. One can only guess why the business eventually closed in 1989, but James did end up being the only person from Albany to ever be featured in Time Magazine in the April 20, 1992 edition about the hardware store.

After his stint as an entrepreneur, James went back to teaching and coaching. If there was a sport offered in the Albany school district, “Coach McConkey” was involved with it at some point in time. James coached golf, softball, basketball, track and he would also drive the bus to and from the events. But he wasn’t just athletic, James was the total package: “Mr. McConkey” was the elementary school librarian and also the P.E. teacher. He further found time to risk his life by teaching Driver’s Ed to aspiring young drivers in the community. Drawing on his elementary teacher training, James was known to make his Driver’s Ed students get out of the car and apologize to the stop sign if they failed to come to a complete stop. Pool manager, volunteer firefighter, line cook, police dispatcher, farmer, pyrotechnic and 911 Board Member were also present on his multipage resume. James was a true renaissance man.

In his free time, James was an avid golfer. As a long-time greenskeeper at the Albany Country Club, he certainly knew his way around a golf course. He would commonly remind out-of-towners that Albany used to have sand greens back in the day. He won the Roger Wehrli Tournament and also won the putting contest. James hit a hole-in-one on Hole Number 2 at the Albany Country Club, which is the most difficult hole on the entire course. Not taking much time to bask in the great accomplishment, James immediately realized that it was the day before the annual Wehrli Tournament, effectively meaning he missed winning a new car by a matter of hours. He argued he should still receive the car but, unsurprisingly, they declined his request.

James was preceded in death by his parents, John James McConkey and Anna Mae McConkey, and by his sister-in-law, Mary McConkey. James is survived by his two sons, Casey (Brooke) McConkey and Calan (Sarah) McConkey; his brother, Richard McConkey; his niece Katie (Jason) Dias and nephew John (Tessa) McConkey. James was very proud of his sons. His walls were covered with their family pictures and his refrigerator plastered with reminders of their achievements.

Though James wore many hats during his 65 years, none was more important than his role as Grandpa James to his four grandchildren: Maxwell, Coraline, Whittier and Teller. Maxwell enjoyed his go kart at Grandpa’s house, and the occasional contraband bottle of Coke. Maxwell also learned the art of starting a campfire (or what some people might know as “burning trash”). Coraline regularly found her way to the candy stash with Grandpa’s help. Whittier demanded rides on the golf cart around the house from Grandpa, which he was always happy to accommodate. Teller was born in January of 2021 so Grandpa was only able to meet her once and, therefore, had insufficient time to spoil her. Without question, James’ greatest accomplishment was being a grandpa. His grandchildren were his entire world.

James was notoriously blunt and certainly not always politically correct. But he had a way of making people feel welcome. Using his honesty and wit, James quickly disarmed strangers and made quick friends. His jokes and sarcastic remarks were not always appropriate for children, yet he took great pleasure in working around school-age kids. Behind his rough exterior he was a kind and gentle soul. Some people are ready to die. That was not James. He battled severe COPD for years; being forced to give up his hobbies and activities that he truly loved. He was then recently diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. When given the option to do nothing or start radiation and chemotherapy, he bravely and unwaveringly chose treatment. Giving up and not fighting was never an option for James – if it meant he could spend one more day with his family by enduring the pain of treatment, he would do it without hesitation. He wanted to live and had more to give, but his body ultimately relented.

Though James’ life was cut short, he found a way to make a lasting impression on his community, friends and family. The town of Albany will not be the same. James’ friends and family will never be the same. There will never be another James McConkey – dad, brother, grandpa. Though he may be gone, the legend that is James will always remain.

Graveside Services for James will be held on Friday, February 26, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Grandview Cemetery in Albany. There is no scheduled family visitation. Friends may call anytime from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Friday at the Roberson-Polley Chapel. Masks are required. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Albany Booster Club (in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel) in honor of James’ life-long commitment to the Albany School District. Online condolences can be left at RobersonPolleyChapel.com.

Obituary -- Julia Konkler 1934-2021

Julia A. Konkler, 86, of Lancaster passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She was born on August 9, 1934 in Bremen to the late Martha (Myers) and Edward Konkler. Julia was the youngest of 9 children. She worked for Essex for over 25 years till closing and Service Master for 20 years till retiring. Julia was loving and kind to everyone. She was hell raising, passionate, loved playing cards and enjoyed horse racing.

Julia is survived by her grandchildren Jason, Jeremy and Angie Searles; many great grandchildren, sister Genevieve “Ginny” Payton, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harry L. Guisinger, daughter Penny Speyrer, parents, brothers and sisters.

Funeral Services will be at 1:00PM on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at the Sheridan Funeral Home. Interment to follow in Maple Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Wednesday, March 3 at the funeral home. To send an online condolence and sign the guestbook, please visit www.sheridanfuneralhome.net and click obituaries.