LEADER CLINTON COUNT Y
Thurs., January 25, 2024 |
Plattsburg, Lathrop and Gower, Mo.
$1.00 | “Covers Clinton County Like Dew ”
LATHROP R-II SCHOOLS
Board sends levy proposal to April ‘24 ballot by brett adkison leader editor
The Lathrop R-II School District will be taking a no-increase tax proposal to the voters in April. The Lathrop R-II
Board of Education voted Wednesday, January 17, to place the proposal on the ballot. If approved, the district would be allowed to decrease its debt service levy by 23 cents per $100
assessed value, while increasing its operational levy by 23 cents per $100. The district’s overall tax rate will remain unchanged. In 2015, district offi-
cials pledged to keep the debt service levy at the existing $0.9725 per $100 assessed value in order to fund the sports facilities at Lathrop High School. To do so, the district would
need to see a small increase in assessed value over the life of the debt. Recent increases in the assessed value far outpaced what was needed, but because the ||Continued on A2
WINTER
A COLD START TO 2024 Schools contend with snow, cold and ice
INSIDE One Section | 12 pages
Winter Sports Special Local basketball and wrestling teams are hanging banners already in 2024. || PAGE A6
Favorable Bond Rating The City of Plattsburg earns a high bond rating on par with some large Midwest metros. || PAGE A5
by brett adkison leader editor
Local school districts have had a rough start to 2024, as winter weather has forced several cancellations since the end of the holiday break. As East Buchanan Superintendent Dr. John Newell explained, school districts are required to schedule 1,044 hours each year, plus create a plan for another 36 hours. After missing 36 hours, districts need to make up one hour for every two hours missed. Past 60 hours, the district forgives any missed time due to inclement weather. This past Tuesday, icy road conditions forced all three local districts—East Buchanan, Plattsburg and Lathrop—to cancel class. For East Buchanan, it marked the seventh missed day this school year, and the first that will need to be made up by the district. Newell pre||Continued on A2
Take Down
While the boys side of the Lathrop Invitational was postponed on Saturday due to the weather, the girls were able to take to the mat last Wednesday for their side of the tournament. The Lady Mules finished fourth in the tournament while Plattsburg was eighth. (Right) Lathrop grappler Jordan Diercks shoots for the takedown last Wednesday evening at Lathrop High School. She finished first at 120 lbs. Check back next week for KCI results. brett adkison | the leader
Sheriff ’s Calls for Service See what calls for service the Clinton County Sheriff ’s Department recently fielded through dispatch. || PAGE A3
Community........A5 Opinion..............A4 Legals..............A10 Sports................A7
School buses at the Lathrop barn sit idle on Tuesday after school was once again closed, this time for freezing rain overnight that impacted roads. brett adkison | the leader
THE LEADER Est. 1895
CITY OF LATHROP
Council approves license for 2nd Casey’s location by brett adkison leader editor
Casey’s General Store is inching closer to establishing its second home in Lathrop. The Lathrop City Council approved a liquor license Tuesday, January 16, for a Casey’s location where TrexMart currently operates on Interstate 35 in eastern Lathrop. The city license is pending
the approval of a state license. Casey’s has an existing location on Center Street in Lathrop and had previously submitted a site plan to the city for a new building on the west side of the interstate, but with the company’s purchase of TrexMart, those plans have likely been shelved. ||Continued on A2
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VOL. 129, NO. 14