Sharon Fletchall Family Dinner

Sharon Fletchall’s family dinner was October 11th at the Worth County Senior Center. We had family from Hynes, Curnutt, Constant, Pritchett, Richmond, and Smith, Kathy Sherer, and myself, Sharon Fletchall.

Those attending were Larry Pritchett of Gentry, Andrew and Krista Knight of Gentry, Lim and Kim and Miley Richmond of Nebraska, Emery and Pam Pritchett of Ravenwood, Chevon Baker, Randy Constant, and Sarah Constant of Council Bluffs (IA), Mike Constant of Council Bluffs (IA), Brandon and Ashley Curnutt of Savannah, Kenny Hynes and Trica Roberts of Colorado, Jesse Morgan and Brenda Morgan of St. Joseph, Theresa Hynes Green and Lori Hampton of Manley (IA), Marion Constant of Omaha, Alan Curnutt of Elwood (KS), Kody Pritchett, Lavon Smith, Zoey Smith, Cheyenne Heal, and Cole Smith of Albany, Kathy Sherer of Kansas City, Sandy Richmond of Omaha, Richard Constant of Council Bluffs, Don and Gail Holman of Warrensburg, and Sharon Fletchall.

There was lots of good food and catch-up. Everyone agreed that the Senior Center was more comfortable than my garage. There were so many stories and hugs, I was blown away and really touched. We missed the ones who couldn’t make it; hope to see them next year. This could not have happened without Donnie and Gail’s help. 2025 was a huge success. I thank everyone for coming.

—Sharon Fletchall

 

Weekly Area Road Work for October 29th, 2025

The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2.

There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below. Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work. Check the MoDOT Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org, or download the app for updated information.

MoDOT asks drivers to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, slowing down and moving over in work zones.

Andrew County

Interstate 29 – Narrowed to one lane in each direction at the Mill Creek Bridges, north of Exit 60 (Amazonia), for a bridge rehabilitation project through December 2025. (Contractor: Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc.)

Atchison County

Route F – CLOSED at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through December 2025. (Contractor: Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc.)

I-29 – Concrete replacement southbound passing lane from the 114.4 mile marker to the 114.0 mile marker, Oct. 27-31. The roadway will be reduced to one lane around-the-clock.

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Patching from I-29 to Pear Street, Oct. 29, 7 a.m.to 5 p.m.  (Contractor: Vance Brothers, Inc.)

Route 752 (Alabama Street) – CLOSED from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through 2025. (Contractor: Amino Bros. Co., Inc.) https://www.modot.org/projects/route-u-missouri-route-59-and-missouri-route-752-intersection-improvements-buchanan-county.

Caldwell County

Route D – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through November 2025. (Contractor: Cale Seymour Construction, LLC). https://www.modot.org/route-d-bridge-replacement-caldwell.

Carroll County

U.S. Route 65 – Resurfacing project from south of Route CC to north of County Road 368 near Carrollton, through October 2025. The roadway may be narrowed to one lane with flaggers directing motorists through the work zone (Contractor: Capital Paving & Construction, LLC).

Route JJ – CLOSED at the West Fork Wakenda Creek Bridge, northwest of Norbornethrough mid-December 2025. (Contractor: E&C Bridge, LLC). https://www.modot.org/projects/route-b-route-d-route-jj-and-route-kk-bridge-deck-replacement-multiple-counties

Route 10 – Shoulder work from the Ray County line to U.S. Route 65, Oct. 27-31.

Chariton County

Route CC – CLOSED at the Yellow Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through December 2025. (Contractor: Capital-Horner & Shifrin) ^*1

Route PP – CLOSED at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through January 2026. (Capital-Horner & Shifrin) ^*1

Clinton County

I-35 – Pavement rehabilitation in the northbound lanes from Exit 40 (Lathrop) to Exit 48 (south Cameron) through November 2025. Both north and southbound traffic will be one lane, each direction, in the southbound lanes (Contractor: Michels Road & Stone). https://www.modot.org/projects/interstate-35-and-us-route-69-concrete-overlay-clinton-county

Daviess County

Route 190 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Clear Creek Bridge, north of Lock Springs, through November 2025. A detour is in place directing motorists to use U.S. Route 65 and Missouri Route 6 around the closure. (Contractor: Capital Paving & Construction, LLC). https://www.modot.org/projects/missouri-route-190-bridge-replacement-daviess-county

Route K – Scrub seal project, Oct. 27-31. The roadway will be narrowed to one lane with a pilot car guiding motorists through the work zone. (Contractor: Vance Brothers Inc.).

DeKalb County

Route 6 – Drainage work between Hickory Street and Hillcrest Drive, Tuesday, Oct. 28. (Contractor: Herzog Contracting Corp.)

Gentry County

Route B – CLOSED for a bridge deck replacement at the Zounds Creek Bridge through October 2025. (Contractor: Capital Paving & Construction, LLC). https://www.modot.org/projects/us-route-169-route-b-and-route-m-bridge-rehabilitation-gentry-and-worth.

Route P – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 572^nd Street to 590^th Street, Oct. 27-28, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Route P – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route 85 to 572^nd Street, Oct. 29-31, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Harrison County

Route N – CLOSED at the bridge over Interstate 35 near Eagleville for a bridge deck replacement through early December 2025 (Contractor: Capital Paving & Construction, LLC). https://www.modot.org/projects/missouri-route-6-and-route-n-bridge-rehabilitation-over-interstate-35-daviess-and-harrison.

Route K – Scrub seal project, Oct. 27-31. The roadway will be narrowed to one lane with a pilot car guiding motorists through the work zone. (Contractor: Vance Brothers Inc.).

U.S. Route 136 – Pavement repair westbound at 39^th Street, Oct. 27-30.

Route W – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 190^th Street to Route F, Oct. 27-28, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Route W – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 280^th Street to 272^nd Street, Oct. 29-30, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Route W – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 267^th Street to 255^th Street, Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Holt County

Route 111 – CLOSED at the Tarkio River Bridge for a bridge inspection, Oct. 22-29.

Livingston County

U.S. Route 65 – Resurfacing project from U.S. Route 36 in Chillicothe to south of Route CC near Carrollton, through October 2025. The roadway may be narrowed to one lane with flaggers directing motorists through the work zone (Contractor: Capital Paving & Construction, LLC).

Route D – CLOSED at the Shoal Creek Drainage Ditch bridge, south of Ludlow, for a bridge deck replacement project through early December 2025. (Contractor: E&C Bridge, LLC). https://www.modot.org/projects/route-b-route-d-route-jj-and-route-kk-bridge-deck-replacement-multiple-counties

Nodaway County

Route NN – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Platte River Bridge west of Parnell through mid-November 2025. (Contractor: Louis-Company, LLC). https://www.modot.org/route-nn-bridge-replacement-nodaway.

Route N – Resurfacing project, Oct. 29-31. (Above & Below Contracting, LLC)

Route EE – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route NN to 180^th Street, Oct. 27, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route EE – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 180^th Street to 190^th Street, Oct. 28-29, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Route EE – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 190th Street to 200^th Street, Oct. 30-31, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Sullivan County

Route T – CLOSED at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle. https://www.modot.org/projects/northwest-missouri-design-build-bridge-bundle

Worth County

U.S. Route 169 – CLOSED for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through October 2025. (Contractor: Capital Paving & Construction, LLC.) https://www.modot.org/projects/us-route-169-route-b-and-route-m-bridge-rehabilitation-gentry-and-worth.

Route W – CLOSED for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through December 2025. (Contractor: Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc.) https://www.modot.org/projects/missouri-route-46-and-route-w-bridge-replacement-worth

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^*1 This bridge is part of the NWBB (Northwest Bridge Bundle) program. The design-build team is Capital-Horner & Shifrin. More info: NWBB program web page.

^*2 In 2024, the Governor signed the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, including an additional $100 million to continue low-volume road improvements. This funding will be used to improve conditions on 1,985 lane miles of rural roads at 149 locations, including the ones listed below. For more information on the Governor’s Rural Roads Program, visit Governor's Rural Roads Program | Missouri Department of Transportation (modot.org). 

Hawley Bill Would Use Tariff Money to Pay Farmers

On Thursday, Senator Josh Hawley introduced the Support our Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2025, which he says will deliver direct payments for farmers and ranchers using revenue collected from President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The program will use billions in tariff money to provide congressional authorization for the Trump Administration’s plans to deliver relief for farmers and ranchers after several years of high input costs and low profitability margins. During his first term, President Trump provided tens of billions in a relief program to account for market conditions. Senator Hawley’s Support Our Farmers and Ranchers Act would permit the Trump Administration to immediately proceed with a similar relief program for this year.

The Support Our Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2025 would:

—Authorize $20 billion in appropriations. Funds will come from qualifying tariff proceeds and will be sent as a direct, one-time payment to qualifying agricultural producers.

—Ensure all commodity groups are covered. Qualified producers will include all crop commodities, livestock, and poultry.

—Allow USDA discretion in implementation. This legislation will authorize funds to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to properly implement critical, emergency farm aid.

—Ensure the direct payments are delivered within 90 days to provide timely relief.

Opinion -- Hawley Bill Would Pay for Food Stamps, Farm Aid During Shutdown

By Sen. Josh Hawley’s Office

On Tuesday, October 21st, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced two bills to reinstate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and critical farm programs during the government shutdown. 

"Since the Democrats refuse to fund the government, I'm introducing legislation to reinstate food stamps and farm programs immediately," said Senator Hawley. "Missourians shouldn't go hungry because of the Left's incompetence. Our kids deserve to eat."

More than 650,000 Missourians stand to lose their access to food benefits next month because Democrats refuse to fund the government. The vast majority of those Missourians are families with children. 

The Keep SNAP Funded Act would ensure full funding for the SNAP program during the government shutdown. Under the bill, Congress would appropriate the necessary funding to provide uninterrupted SNAP benefits, retroactive to the start of the shutdown.

The Fund Farm Programs Act would reopen all Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offices and ensure resumed services for all FSA programs that farmers rely on. The USDA will be appropriated the necessary funding to provide resumed services for farmers through FSA offices, retroactive to the start of the shutdown.

 

Worth County Veterans Day Program November 11th

Veterans and community members are invited to attend the Worth County R-III School District’s annual Veterans Day program on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 2:00 pm in the high school gymnasium. This year’s program will feature the Worth County R-III Color Guard and High School Drum Line. In addition to this, the drama department will be bringing the missing-man table to life. Also on display this year will be a life-size replica of a bamboo cage which was unveiled in St. Joseph, Missouri, on September 11, 2025 at a Patriot’s Day Celebration. Over 375 individual biographies of veterans will be featured on the Veterans Day Wall of Honor. Veterans and guests are invited to attend a reception following the program.

 

Worth County Students Recognized for Meeting Bus Expectations

On Friday, Worth County school bus drivers picked students who they felt met school bus expectations set by the school. The honorees are as follows:

Cole’s Bus — Luke Riley, Joseph O’Grady, Baylor Sagel, Creyton Troutwine.

Chuck’s Bus — Saige Holmes, Krislynn Jones, Miah Jones, Lillie Harding, Alayna Moad.

Darin’s Bus — Samantha Russell, Linleigh Combs, Brentley Troutwine, Tenley Troutwine, Havin Briner, Hadley Briner, James Farmer, Kash Winther, Peyton Stephenson.

Jim’s Bus — Desmond Dannar, Vivian Dannar, Emily Dannar, Thiel Dalton, Barrett Hauber.

Robert/Ann’s Bus — Bristol Benson, Riley Dignan, Lillia Hall, Gianna Morin, Isabella Hubbard.

 

Opinion -- Graves Blasts Schumer for Using Air Traffic Controllers as Pawns

by Rep. Sam Graves' Office
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) joined Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy today at a press conference to discuss the impacts of the government shutdown on our aviation system and the more than 13,000 air traffic controllers currently working without pay.

Chairman Graves took the opportunity to praise air traffic controllers for continuing to do their job despite the uncertainty surrounding their next paycheck: “They’re showing up for work, they’re doing the job, and they’re making sure that our skies stay safe.” Speaking about the shutdown and Senator Chuck Schumer, Graves said, “It’s unfortunate that he’s weaponizing the air traffic controllers,” and stressed that neither controllers nor their families should be used as political bargaining chips.

Speaker Mike Johnson addressed reports that air traffic controllers are taking on second jobs to make ends meet during the government shutdown: “Air traffic controllers, some people call the policemen of our skies, they have been showing up at work without pay. And, news reports have suggested that these men and women are seeking outside employment just to keep their families afloat.”

Secretary Duffy assured the public that it is still safe to fly and that the Administration’s efforts to modernize the air traffic control system, for which the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee provided a down payment of $12.5 billion in H.R. 1, is still progressing during the shutdown. However, he noted that the shutdown has the potential to negatively impact the recruitment of new air traffic controllers, as recruits are witnessing controllers go without pay. Hiring new air traffic controllers has been a priority for the Trump Administration as they work to address the current controller shortage. Secretary Duffy spoke about effects of the shutdown on new recruits saying, “They’re thinking about leaving the [FAA] Academy, smart young men and women, because they don’t want to work for a system that won’t pay them.”

Chairman Graves joined Secretary Duffy and House Republican Leadership in urging liberals in the Senate to pass a clear continuing resolution – which the House did weeks ago – and vote to reopen the government.