Celebrating National FFA Week

Dear Friend,

Founded in 1928, the National FFA Organization has striven to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education— and they’ve done just that.

There are nearly 9,000 FFA chapters in every corner of this country and more than 850,000 young men and women wear the iconic blue corduroy jacket today. They are just a small slice of the untold millions of young Americans whose lives have been changed for the better FFA, myself included.

Not only does FFA offer incredible oppor-

Weather Wk. ...

tunities for students participating in the program, they also provide a bedrock for quality agricultural and career and technical education in many schools across America—something we sorely need right now. There’s a large skills gap in this country and millions of good-paying jobs out there for qualified welders, mechanics, carpenters, and more.

While Future Farmers of America was founded to train the next generation of farmers, the name was changed to the National FFA Organization to recognize just how much the efforts of the organization had expanded. They still teach plenty of valuable farm management skills, but they also give students

Continued from pg. 4 cafeteria, gymnasium or other large open room because the roof might collapse. Immediately leave a mobile home to seek shelter in a nearby building and never seek shelter under an overpass – the dangerous wind tunnel effect combined with flying debris can be deadly.

If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Leave elevated areas and avoid isolated trees. Seek shelter immediately in an enclosed building or vehicle.

The safest place to be when there is high winds or hail is indoors. Avoid driving to prevent injuries or vehicle damage.

Consider all downed power lines as live.

Never drive into standing water, even if it appears shallow. As little the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture research and countless skilled trades.

I’m deeply proud of the time I spent as a member of FFA and I’m glad so many millions of students have had the opportunity to become a member of this incredible organization as well. I’m glad to celebrate another National FFA Week and I offer my heartfelt thanks to the thousands of agricultural education teachers who make FFA possible.

I look forward to seeing the National FFA Organization flourish for another 90 years and beyond, helping shape a new generation of leaders through Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves

Missouri’s Third District

Danny Busick, State Representative

Automotive Sales Tax and Licensing -- Rep. Michael O’Donnell. HB415

All sales taxes collected by the state of Missouri and the local entities within are paid at the point of purchase. When you buy items at your local store you remit the sales tax at the cash register of that store. Automobiles are an exception. The sales tax is collected at the license office where you register and license the automobile. With the availability of long term auto financing, collection of sales tax has become an issue. Many citizens will purchase a car with long term payments that are within their ability to pay. But with that purchase it obligates them to hundreds of dollars of sales tax that they did not consider in their purchase plan. So they end up purchasing a 30 day license for the car. Many drive for several months on that 30 day tag since they can never seem to put away enough to pay the sales tax on the purchase of said vehicle. HB415 puts the point of collection of sales tax and the original license fee of an auto at the dealership. Thus making it possible for the taxes to be part of the finance package on the vehicle. For many lower to middle income families this would be a more affordable solution. Sales tax for such auto purchase would still be paid to the local entity where the purchas- er lives, not where the auto dealer is located. License renewals would still be paid at the local license office. Sales taxes paid on an automobile purchased from an individual would also still be paid at the local license office. If HB415 passes it may simplify the process and make the payment of sales taxes more manageable for many families in our state.

Due to the recent passage of Amendment 1 on November 6, 2018, please be advised that any communications or documents received by this office that were previously treated as confidential may now be subject to public disclosure pursuant to any request made under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

As always it’s a privilege to serve the 3rd District. Please contact my office at 573-751-3647 if you need anything at all. Further information can be obtained by email at danny.busick@house. mo.gov or by visiting www.house.mo.gov as six inches of fast-moving water can cause a car to lose control or float. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and sweep it away. Murky water can hide hazards including dangerous debris and road damage.

More information can be found at stormaware. mo.gov, which includes detailed videos on how to take shelter from tornadoes in specific locations, how to avoid flash flooding dangers and useful information on tornado sirens and weather alert radios. Missourians are also encouraged to utilize Missouri’s “Ready in 3” program to create a plan, prepare a kit and listen for information regarding severe weather emergencies – www.health. mo.gov/emergencies/ readyin3.

NEMR Partners with First Fiber Internet Search Service for Real Estate

Local Homebuyers Now Able to Check Home Addresses for Fiber High-Speed Internet Connectivity

Green City, MO – Local fiber internet provider NEMR has partnered with Fiber Homes, the nation’s first fiber internet search service, to give people looking to buy or rent a home in their service areas a convenient way to determine the quality of internet available at any given address.

Area homes connected by NEMR

NEMR has certified over 13,000 fiber serviceable addresses with Fiber Homes locally.

They join over 150 other fiber providers from around the country in Fiber Homes’ database of over 2 million certified fiber addresses. The database is updated in real time, ensuring that when new homes are connected to a fiber network, consumers consulting FiberHomes.com are the first to know.

“We are always looking for ways to invest in the communities we serve,” said Michele Gillespie, NEMR’s General Manager. “Partnering with Fiber Homes provides the tools local realtors need to assist both buyers and sellers.”

“Reliable broadband internet is no longer optional for homebuyers; it’s become a basic requirement for anyone wanting to fully participate in the modern economy. Our goal with Fiber Homes is to make sure that anyone looking to buy or rent a home has access to this crucial information,” said Robert Gilbert, CEO of Fiber Homes.

In today’s world, people are working from home, getting work assignments, medical care, taking college courses and of course getting entertainment through HD online streaming services. As a result, fiber broadband internet services that provide for these capabilities have become as critical to consumers as connections to gas, electricity, and water supplies.

According to a 2019 FCC study, it is expected that at least until 2025, 50 percent of all American households will still be without fiber access, leaving them to have to manage with cable connectivity or - even worse - DSL for their internet needs.

A boon for real estate agents

Fiber Homes offers real estate agents through Fiber Homes Pro services that deliver a competitive edge. If they are a listing agent, they get access to materials for marketing the home as a connected “fiber home,” and if they are a buyer’s agent, they get access to products and pricing from the provider for that house, as well as exclusive new mover promos they can pass to their clients.

Additionally, Fiber Homes is actively working with MLSs around the country to add this crucial information to the property listings.

Currently, nearly 2 million addresses in a total of 22 states are in the database - thousands of new addresses are being added each day. Over 100 providers around the country are currently contributing to the database and more will follow soon.

About Fiber Homes shops give attendees a road map for preparing a plan that fits their farming operation’s unique situation.”

Fiber Homes, the nation’s first fiber internet search service for rural and suburban home buyers and realtors, provides home buyers and realtors the ability to check any home address for fiber high-speed internet connectivity. To make sure your next house is a fiber home, please visit www. fiberhomes.com.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has partnered with MU Extension to provide funding and programming for the workshop series.

“Unfortunately, few farm-family businesses have a plan for transitioning the operation to the next generation,” said Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “Missouri is blessed with numerous family businesses in the agriculture industry, and we’d like to keep it that way for years to come. I’m proud of the strides our department is making in conjunction with MU Extension and other local partners to coordinate workshops that help family businesses develop successful succession plans.”

“Starting the process, even just starting the conversation, around succession planning is intimidating for people,” said Kate Lambert, vice president of marketing at

FCS Financial, another partner in the workshop series. “These workshops will help attendees walk away with a clear idea of what questions need to be asked and what steps need to be taken. We are proud to help bring these events to local communities because these conversations are crucial for the success, and succession, of Missouri agriculture.”

The Preparing for Farm Succession Planning workshops are nocost events, but registration is encouraged as meals will be provided at each location. Learn more at muext.us/ABPevents.

Workshop dates and locations

• March 6 – Cook Station, 6-8:30 p.m.

• March 7 – Hannibal, noon-2:30 p.m.

• March 9 – Nevada, noon-2:30 p.m.

• March 10 – St. Joseph, noon-2:30 p.m.

• March 13 –Marshfield, 6-8:30 p.m.

• March 15 – Poplar Bluff, 5:30-8 p.m.

• March 16 – Online, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.