GNM_1-23-2019

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Jan. 23, 2018

UPSP 213-200 Vol. 154, No. 35

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Young pre-med student learns more than medicine through international training by T.L. Huffman

Briar Roll recently traveled to the Dominican Republic with 38 other University of Missouri students on a medical mission with Global Medical Training. Global Medical Training is an international humanitarian organization that provides free medicaldental services to medically deprived communities in Central American countries. Briar, a 2018 Gallatin R-5 High School graduate and daughter of Laurie and David Roll of Gallatin, is studying biochemistry at MU with an emphasis in premed. The mission not only increased her understanding of medical procedures, but also of life beyond the borders of the United States. She learned firsthand the impact of social and economic development on public health. Stationed at Barahona in the Dominican Republic, the group traveled very near to the border of Haiti and set up medical clinics each day. The clinics were held either in a church or a school. The Kids curious about stethoscopes bus rides were long, a and pin lights, like 9-year-old Israel, two-hour trip to get to “practiced” on Briar and other visiting the clinic and then two MU students (continued on page 12)

Icy roads prompt troopers to halt pursuit of reckless driver until crash caps mayhem On Jan. 12, a white Dodge pickup driven by Paul A. Jones, 34, of Independence was reported to Troop H on northbound I-35 as a reckless driver. Trooper A. Martin observed Jones traveling at a speed of 94 mph at the 64 mile marker at 2:40 p.m. Trooper Martin overtook the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle failed to yield and accelerated to 104 mph. Due to the dangerous road conditions, the trooper did not pursue the suspect. The license plate on the Dodge checked to a 2015 BMW and to a different owner, according to the probable cause statement prepared by Trooper Martin, At 2:57 p.m., Trooper McConkey observed the suspect vehicle make a U-turn and begin traveling southbound on the northbound entrance ramp to Interstate 35 at exit 84 in Harrison County. The Dodge continued onto I-35 southbound. Trooper

McConkey attempted a traffic stop, but Jones failed to yield a second time. The Dodge struck a tractor trailer and continued southbound. Trooper McConkey did not pursue the suspect vehicle. Trooper Martin was positioned on the southbound shoulder at the 78 mile marker and observed the suspect vehicle travel past his location. Trooper Martin followed and activated his emergency equipment. Jones failed to yield a third time and Trooper Martin did not pursue, but lost sight of the vehicle as he continued to travel southbound. At 3:06 p.m. Trooper Martin came upon a crash scene at the 74 mile marker of I-35, where it appeared that Jones’ vehicle had struck the rear of another vehicle, with both vehicles coming to rest in the median. Jones was walking toward two females who were occupants in the vehicle he (continued on page 3)

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Shopko chain files for Chapter 11, closes 38 stores but Gallatin, Trenton stores survive Shopko announced Jan. 16 authorized goods and services 2019. that it has filed voluntary peti- provided during the Chapter 11 Founded in 1962 and headtions for a court-supervised process, in accordance with cus- quartered in Green Bay, WI, financial restructuring under tomary terms. Shopko Stores Operating Co., Chapter 11 of the United States “This decision is a difficult, LLC is a $3 billion retailer that Bankruptcy Code. but necessary one,” said Russ operates more than 360 stores in In the restructuring, 38 Shop- Steinhorst, Chief Executive Of- 26 states throughout the Central, ko stores will be closed, but nei- ficer. “In a challenging retail en- Western and Pacific Northwest ther the Gallatin nor the Trenton vironment, we have had to make regions. Shopko stores are on the chop- some very tough choices, but Retail formats include 126 ping block at this time. we are confident that by operat- Shopko stores, providing quality Missouri stores which will be ing a smaller and more focused name-brand merchandise, great closing are Albany, Carrollton, store footprint, we will be able to values, pharmacy and optical and Memphis. The surviving build a stronger Shopko that will services in small to mid-sized Shopko stores in Missouri, in ad- better serve our customers, ven- cities; 5 Shopko Express Rx dition to Gallatin and Trenton, dors, employees and other stake- stores, a convenient neighborare El Dorado Springs, Doniphan, and Palmyra. In Gallatin, Shopko Hometown’s grand opening was held in July 2012, The company is seekwhen the Green Bay, Wisconsin-based Shopko chain merged with the Omaing to facilitate the reha, Nebraska-based Pamida chain, with all Pamida locations converting to structuring as a result of the Shopko name. The store operated as Pamida from 2000 until 2012. Pegexcess debt and ongoing gy Simmons has been the store manager since 2005. The Shopko buildcompetitive pressures. ing also housed P.M. Place Discount Store from 1989 until 2000, when the During the restructurPlace’s chain was purchased by Pamida. At that time, Pamida was a wholly ing process, Shopko will owned subsidiary of ShopKo Stores Inc. continue to operate and serve its customers, vendors, partners and employees. holders through this process.” hood drugstore concept; 6 ShopShopko has obtained up to In addition to closing 38 ko Pharmacy locations; 4 Shopko $480 million debtor-in-possession stores, Shopko will be relocating Optical locations and 234 Shopko (DIP) financing from certain of over 20 optical centers to free- Hometown stores, a smaller conits prepetition secured lenders, standing locations and conduct- cept store developed to meet the led by Wells Fargo, N.A. as ad- ing an auction process for its needs of smaller communities. ministrative agent, to help fund pharmacy business. Throughout For more information, visit and protect its operations dur- this process, all Shopko Optical www.shopko.com. ing the Chapter 11 process. This centers and pharmacies will reAdditional information is incremental liquidity will ensure main open. Shopko also plans to available on Shopko’s restructurthat suppliers and other busi- continue to grow its optical busi- ing website at http://info.shopko. ness partners and vendors will ness by opening additional free- com or by clicking on the restrucbe paid in a timely manner for standing optical locations during turing link on www.Shopko.com.

Unauthorized fire destroys outbuilding Gallatin Fire Protection District was dispatched to 912 West Grand in Gallatin to check on a controlled burn at approximately 4:35 p.m. Jan. 15. The fire was a building fire at the Daviess County Livestock Market. Engine 101, Brush 104, and Brush 105 responded with seven personnel. Prior to arrival on scene, firefighters could see a column of black smoke in the area of Grand and Olive Streets. Upon arrival firefighters found a wood framed outbuilding

fully involved with fire in the field just west of residences on Olive Street (200 block). The building collapsed to the ground just prior to the fire crew’s suppression efforts. Fire crews initially used the deck gun for suppression with water supply from a hydrant on the corner of Olive and Johnson. Olive Street was blocked off to prevent vehicles from running over hose lines. Thick toxic smoke was blowing into and all around the nearby homes creating a health

hazard. Crews then utilized a hand line to fully extinguish the fire. The building was completely destroyed. Gallatin Fire was released from the scene at approximately 6:48 p.m. Also responding were Daviess County Sheriff ’s Deputies, Gallatin Police Department, and Daviess County EMS. Citizens are reminded to check with requirements on open burning through city, county and state jurisdictions for laws and requirements prior to any burning.

How do pay schedules, benefits compare for our public schools? Missouri schools dropped to 41st in the state rankings for 2017 average salary, according to a Missouri Salary Schedule and Benefits Report published recently. “Attracting and retaining good teachers starts with providing adequate salaries, which Missouri does not,” said MSTA Executive Director Bruce Moe. For first-year teachers, there is a $19,428 difference between the highest paying district and the districts paying the state-mandated minimum starting salary, according to the annual report released recently featuring data from 100% of the state’s public school districts. The 2018-19 MSTA Missouri Salary Schedule and Benefits Report offers a comprehensive picture of salaries for Missouri teachers. Again, this year, all 518 school districts responded to the survey. Participating districts completed a salary questionnaire and supplied a copy of the district’s salary schedule to the MSTA Salary and Research Department.

The salary book offers statistics that break down teacher salaries throughout Missouri, with comparisons by region, county, district and size of district. Statistics from the report allows for comparisons for the Northwest District and for Daviess County schools in particular. Salaries and student enrollment A district’s student enrollment is a powerful determinant of a district’s ability to pay its teachers, according to the report. Generally, districts serving fewer than about 700 students must employ more teachers to meet MSIP standards and have lower pupil-teacher ratios, which reduces their ability to pay individual teachers. School districts with smaller enrollments tend to be located in rural areas of the state. This holds true for Daviess County schools, all of which have less than 700 students — Gallatin 655 students; Pattonsburg 205 students; Winston 180 stu-

dents; Tri-County 160; North Daviess 84. Daviess County is included in the Northwest District, which pays its teachers the least of the seven districts. This chart noting the distribution of average minimum (Bachelor’s degree) and maximum (Master’s degree) salaries by region: Minimum

Maximum

St. Louis Metro ...................... $39,242........$84,286 Kansas City Metro .................$37,117........$74,498 Statewide Average ............... $32,465........$55,329 Southwest .............................. $31,800........$51,245 Central .................................. $31,769........$52,955 Southeast .............................. $31,621........$53,057 Northeast ............................... $31,408........$50,776 Northwest .............................. $31,262........$49,609 The Salary Schedule and Benefits Report breaks down teacher salaries from bachelor’s degree minimum through master’s degree to the salary maximum, the highest salary that may be assigned to teachers using the salary schedule.

So the bachelor’s degree minimum represents teachers with no years of experience and who hold a bachelor’s degree with no additional college credit hours, to salary schedule maximum which would include teachers holding a specialist or doctorate degree. Complete salary steps may be viewed at https://www.msta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/salary-book-2018-19-web. pdf. For this comparison, only the minimum (Bachelor’s degree) and the maximum (Master’s degree) salaries are shown for public schools in Daviess County (ranked by minimum salary schedules in comparison to all 70 school districts in the Northwest Missouri region): Minimum

Maximum

Gallatin R-5 (ranked 26) ........ $31,500....... $50,100 Winston R-6 (ranked 34) ....... $30,500........$43,730 Tri-County R-7 (ranked 38) .... $29,467........$55,717 Pattonsburg R-2 (ranked 43) . $28,950........$41,200 N. Daviess R-3 (ranked 54) ... $25,350........$40,350

City financial statements for Gallatin, Pattonsburg show fund balances

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See pages 8 & 10


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