08-10-2023 Post Telegraph

MSHP urges safety as schools open

Princeton, Mercer and Cainsville start 2023-24 academic year Aug. 22; Spickard school classes start Aug. 23

JOHN J. HOLZ

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY August has arrived and with it the 2023-2024 school year. The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to encourage parents to include conversations about safety when preparing their student for school. It’s also important that drivers be prepared for the change in traffic patterns as students begin another year of instruction. In 2022, two people were killed and 361 injured in traffic crashes involving a school bus. In Missouri last year, a total of 884 traffic crashes involved school buses.

Troopers hope everyone will review these safety tips:

Motorists

Always be vigilant, but especially near school zones, playgrounds, bicycle paths, and crosswalks when schools are in session. Expect pedestrian and bicycle traffic to increase near schools on days where the weather is good. When schools are in session, drivers should expect a change in traffic patternsschool buses, parents taking their children to school, and many young drivers will join other motorists on the road and affect the morning and afternoon commute. Whatever route you drive, expect this additional traffic and See School safety, Page 11

Grundy Electric holds meeting

Special to the Post-Telegraph

TRENTON Grundy Electric Cooperative’s annual Membership Meeting was held Aug. 3 at South Harrison High School in Bethany. Over 270 members and guests began the evening with dinner served by Harrison County 4-H Members. Entertainment was provided by Grandview Station.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Ruth Ann Shipps (seated), commander of Princeton VFW Post 7159, rode on Jim Dusenbery’s Can-Am style motorcycle as numerous veterans escorted “The Wall That Heals” into Chillicothe last Tuesday, Aug. 1. The wall is a 3/4-scale version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and features the names of every U.S. service member that was killed in Vietnam or Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, or remain missing. The wall’s appearance at the Chillicothe High School sports practice field drew thousands of visitors during its stay during the second half of last week.

Members browsed the information booths and visited employees of Grundy Electric Cooperative and Mid-States Services, LLC. Lynne Shea, principal economic development specialist of Associated Electric Cooperative visited with members regarding the mix of generating resources and technologies used to provide member-owners with safe, reliable electricity at the lowest cost possible.

Prior to the business meeting, GEC Community Foundation president Cliff Addison discussed the foundation and Operation Round Up. Foundation trustee Tony Nelson presented fourth quarter grants to area

See GEC meeting, Page 2

New Farmers Bank in Princeton

opening in a couple of weeks

PRESTON COLE

Princeton Post-Telegraph

A few finishing touches remain before the new Princeton branch of Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri is ready for business, and that day is coming soon. The bank, located on the south side of Grant Street (U.S. 136) across from the Mercer County Library, plans a fourday celebration the week after next (see ad on Page 6).

Princeton VFW post commander escorts wall

INFORMATION

HOW TO CONTACT US

Princeton Post-Telegraph

PO Box 286/704 West Main

Princeton, MO 64673

Phone: 660-748-3266

Fax: 660-748-3267

Email: posttele@grm.net

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate and/or houses, and all rental housing and/or property, advertised in the Princeton Post-Telegraph newspaper and the Courier shopper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. We will not knowlingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

ALL garage sales (and similar sales) MUST be paid for in advance, unless you have an account that is in good standing.

NO HUNTING

NOTICE - Hunting and trespassing with dog and/or gun, trapping or fishing on land owned or leased by the undersigned is strictly forbidden. You are hereby warned to keep off these properties. Trespassers will be prosecuted.

No tresspassing for any reason on land that we own or lease. John & Linda Baughman. 9-29-22-52tpP+C

No hunting or trespassing on any land owned by Bill and Peggy Heck 9-15-22-52tbP+C

No hunting, fishing or trespassing on property owned, leased or rented by Joe and Victoria Ryan 4-27-23-52tpP+C

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Highland Farms land owned and operated by Dixie Berger, Joe Berger & Steve Berger. 5-19-22-52tpP+C

Absolutely NO TRESPASSING, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, mushroom hunting and drones on land owned and/ or rented by FRJ Family Farms, LLC and Roberta Zimmer. 3-23-23-52tpP+C

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on land owned by Barbara & LeRoy Hider 10-13-22-52tpP+C

NO HUNTING OR TRESPASSING on any land owned by LAKE MARIE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION. 7-28-52tbP+C

NO HUNTING

No hunting, trespassing or fishing on property owned, leased or rented by Howard or Joe Don Pollard 4-21-22-52tpP

Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Choate property at any time. 3-30-23-52tpP

Absolutely no hunting with guns or dogs, fishing, or trespassing on land owned by Berndt Farm and Berndt Twin Lake Inc. 11-10-22-52tpP

No hunting or trespassing on Cox family property - Andy and Donna Cox, and Robert and Tina Cox. 12-3-20-104tpP

GUNS & AMMO

WOOD’S GUN SHOP 5 Miles South of Ravanna 660-748-5795

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday 1-5-2023-ufnP+C

Boyer Land Company LLC

Aaron Franklin, Sales Agent Princeton, MO 64673 660-748-6314

YOUR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST!

1-5-2023ufnP+C

Wells Heating & Air Conditioning LLC

Princeton, MO 660-748-8489 Sales and Service

1-5-2023-ufn-bP+C

PUBLIC NOTICE

GRAND RIVER MUTUAL TELEPHONE CORPORATION

NOTICE OF 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS (MEMBERS)

The 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Members) of the Common Stock of Grand River Mutual Telephone Corporation will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at the GRM Networks® Corporate Office located at 1001 Kentucky Street in the City of Princeton, County of Mercer, State of Missouri, to take action upon the following matters:

I. To receive and consider the report of officers, directors, and committees;

II. To elect three (3) directors of the Corporation, each for a term of three (3) years;

III. Such other business as may come before said meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

Bruce George Secretary

1001 Kentucky Street Princeton, Missouri 64673 660-748-3231

GRM Networks® is an equal opportunity provider and employer. GRM Networks® es un proveedor y empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

DATES OF PUBLICATION

August 2-3, 2023

August 9-10, 2023

ORGANIZATIONS Ragan-Hickman

Ragan-Hickman American Legion Post 477 held their regular meeting Monday, July 24 at the American Legion Hall/Mercer Community Center. Members present were Betty Bagley, Kristina Bagley, David Asher, Paula Hayes, Linda Berndt, Sandy Hull, Bob Wilson, LeRoy Mayes, Donna Gibson, Roland Drabek, Sally Reighard and Ronald Hoover and three guests.

The nest meeting is Monday, Aug. 28. All veterans and families are invited to attend.

CAINSVILLE

Conner Seymour and Maddie McCarty of Lamoni, Iowa, were recent dinner guests of his grandparents, Victor and Dixie Seymour.

High school softball practice started Monday, Aug. 7. Junior high practice starts Monday, Aug. 14. School starts Tuesday, Aug. 22. Be watching for ballgame schedules and come out to support the kids! The annual back to school night will be Monday, Aug. 21 from 6-7 p.m.

Lilah and Lakelynn Chaney stayed Saturday night, Aug. 5 and Sunday, Aug. 6 with their grandparents, Herman and Melane Chaney.

Not much news this week, but what I got is appreciated! Send me some for next week. Have a great week!

DIVISION II CIRCUIT COURT

Judge Matthew Krohn

NOTES: Persons listed in this report are Missouri residents unless otherwise noted. Addresses shown are those of the defendants on the day their cases were heard.

Tuesday, Aug. 1

• State vs. Lorrie Ruth Dolan, Harris: Dolan appeared for a probation violation hearing involving her conviction on two counts Class A misdemeanor passing bad checks. At her request, cause continued to Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. She was ordered to pay $100 restitution on that day, and $75 per month thereafter until payment in full is made.

• State vs. Joshua W. Gott, Trenton: Gott failed to make his initial appearance for Class A misdemeanor violation of an order of protection for an adult. A warrant for his arrest was ordered issued, with bond set at $7,500 cash.

• State vs. Kevin Ray

Hawkins, Princeton: Hawkins appeared for arraignment for Class C misdemeanor unlawfully operated a utility vehicle within a stream or river. He waived a formal reading of the charge, was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty. The case was set for Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. to check counsel status.

• State vs. Michael E. Houk, Princeton: Houk appeared for arraignment for Class E felony first-degree harassment. He appeal of denial for counsel was granted, and the Missouri Public Defender System was appointed to defend him. At his request, cause continued to Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. for discovery and plea negotiations.

• State vs. Brooke A. Maple, Mercer: Maple did not appear for Class C misdemeanor exceeded posted speed limit by 11-15 mph. At the state’s request, cause continued to Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. The circuit clerk is to send her a summons.

• State vs. Gunnar William McLain, Cainsville: McLain appeared for arraignment on charges of Class A misdemeanor operated vehicle on highway without a valid license (second offense), and Class B misdemeanor operated a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner. He waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. The case was set for Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. to check counsel status.

• State vs. Morgan Michelle Smith, Ridgeway: Smith did not appear for a payment review hearing involving her conviction for Class D misdemeanor operated motor vehicle owned by another knowing owner of vehicle has not maintained financial responsibility. A warrant for her arrest was ordered issued, with bond set at $332.50 cash.

• State vs. Jimmy L. Taylor, Verona: Taylor appeared in custody for a counsel status hearing on charges of Class A misdemeanor stealing, and Class B misdemeanor second-degree property damage. He entered a plea of guilty, and was sentended to 40 days in jail on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was given credit for time served to run through Aug. 9. He was also ordered to pay $107.50 in court costs and a $10 crime victims compensation judgment by Oct. 3. A file review was scheduled for Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. to check payment in full.

COMMISSION MERCER COUNTY COMMISSION

Report taken from minutes of meetings of the Mercer County Commission. All votes are unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Monday, July 31

• Minutes of the July 24 meeting were approved.

• Time sheets and the July 31 payroll were approved.

• Commissioners and County Clerk Judy Hamilton signed a certified copy of authorizing Collector/Treasurer Susan Moore to pay the following:

* $25 to MACCEA conference fees (money taken from LEA Fund #41);

* $240.55 to Gall’s for uniforms (money taken from Sheriff’s Special Fund #32);

* $65 to Vital Records Control (money taken from Recorder’s Special Fund #06); and

* $66 to the Green Hills Women’s Shelter for fees collected (money taken from Recorder’s Trust Fund #08).

• The county received verification of certification of assessed valuation Form 11 from the State Tax Commission of Missouri.

GEC meeting

From Page 1

schools totaling $11,277.

Pastor Trent Willhite offered the invocation. Grundy Electric Cooperative board president Dan Lentz presided over the business meeting. Lentz welcomed and thanked members for their attendance and participation in the cooperative’s annual business meeting. He introduced Grundy Electric’s Board of Directors.

Lentz announced that the Board of Directors approved a capital credit refund for the year 1990 and 25% of 2022, totaling $ 254,672.90. Capital credit checks will be credited to members’ bills later this year.

General manager Scott Wilson thanked members for their commitment to the cooperative by attending their annual membership meeting. He discussed the delivery of safe, reliable, and affordable power through a diligent right-of-way plan and continued maintenance by changing poles and reconductoring efforts. He discussed electronic and software upgrades that allow for better service, optimal operations, and reduced costs. He also discussed the rate adjustment implemented this year, as it was the first rate increase since 2018. This was

necessary to meet rising costs and increasing regulations; the cooperative will remain dedicated to providing exceptional service and affordable electricity.

Members elected three directors to each serve a three-year term. Board incumbents Rodney Ewing of rural Lineville, Iowa, representing Area 3; Richard Moore of Princeton, representing Area 4; and Marvin Harding of rural Ridgeway, representing Area 5, were re-elected. Members approved the proposed bylaw amendments.

The prize drawing included six $200 electric bill credits, two $25 Walmart gift cards, and a Vizio television.

Grundy Electric Cooperative directors held a re-organizational meeting in which the following officers were elected: Eric Woodard, president; Joe Hartley, vice president; Harding, secretary; Moore, treasurer; and Alan Guernsey, assistant secretary. Other board members are Ewing, Lentz, and Adrian Cox.

Food safety

From Page 8

safety. Items that do not require refrigeration will be safe past lunchtime and are the perfect addition to school lunch boxes:

• pre-packaged, shelfstable meals;

• whole or dried fruits like apples and bananas;

• whole vegetables like baby carrots and cherry tomatoes;

• hard cheeses like cheddar, gouda and parmesan;

• grains like bread and crackers; and

• jerky like beef, chicken or other meats.

Read more about USDA’s four steps to food safety and get your food safe lunch questions answered by calling the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-6746854, email MPHotline@ usda.gov, or chat live at ask.usda.gov from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

TIGERS! CARDINALS!

If they’re playing, we’re bringing you the best coverage you’ll find anywhere!

PRINCETON

POST-TELEGRAPH

Our Sports section returns Aug. 31.

Want to advertise?

Call 660-748-3266 for information.

MELANIE CHANEY

Veteran claims VA is understating suicides

JOHN GRIMALDI

Special to the Post-Telegraph

WASHINGTON A recent study by America’s Warrior Partnership found that veterans were committing suicide at an alarming rate of 44 a day, more than twice the Veterans Administration’s estimate of 17 suicides a day. It’s the reason retired Chief Warrant Officer Michael Carmichael, a 26-year vet himself, founded the online initiative called Check A Vet. Carmichael joined Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens for a discussion of veteran suicides on Weber’s Better For America podcast recently.

Weber asked Carmichael, why Check A Vet? As he put it, “I like to think that I had the faith and confidence in my commanders and the men that I was so humbly afforded the opportunity to lead. But as I got out, I really lost my sense of identity because I was no longer in that formation. I lost my sense of purpose because I was no longer in the meetings making decisions and shaping the future. By starting Check A Vet, I wanted to surround veterans with a team, a base of support at the grassroots that involves neighbors friends, family members, and coworkers. Two-thirds of your viewers are somebody with veterans in their lives. That’s actually the targeted demographic of Check A Vet, to put these veterans on your team and also educate yourself on the subtle signs and symptoms, the risk and protective factors of veteran suicide.”

Carmichael went on to explain that “if you Google how many veterans have ended their lives by suicide since 9/11, what you’re going to find is the number of 30,177. Not only is that dated, it refers only to 9/11-era veterans. So, I looked and looked for a number that the VA had published. And after about 18 months of looking, I

COMMENTARY

found the number buried in the appendix. The number itself isn’t listed, but all of the years are listed. And when you add up the numbers in that spreadsheet, what you get is 127,560. Why isn’t that in their executive summary? If I’m in charge of something, the first thing I’m going to do is to find my problem.

“Well, there are lots of issues with the VA’s number. Aside from it not being published, there was a study by the American Warrior Partnership [AWP], that found the VA’s numbers are actually underreported by a factor of 2.4 times greater than previously reported (by the Department of Veterans Affairs). They contracted Duke University and the University of Alabama to collect the data and analyze it. So by looking at small communities, counties, and states, collectively, they found that 2.4 was a conservative underreporting of that number. So we just went from 30,177 to 127,560, all the way up to 308,000.”

The major findings of the AWP report, known as Operation Deep Dive™, show that:

• States undercount FSM [former service member] deaths at a combined error rate of 25%

• There was a 37% greater suicide rate than reported by VA for years 2014-2018.

John Grimaldi is an editorial contributor with the Association for Mature American Citizens.

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And thanks for reading the Princeton Post-Telegraph

MERCER COUNTY 4-DAY WEATHER

National Weather Service - Pleasant Hill/Kansas City, Mo.

Time of forecast: 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7

Thursday, Aug. 10: Mostly sunny; 81/68

Friday, Aug. 11: Mostly sunny, 40% chance of rain; 83/67

Saturday, Aug. 12: Sunny; 81/65

Sunday, Aug. 13: Mostly sunny, 40% chance of rain; 76

Forecasts reflect daytime high and overnight low temperatures. Weather forecasts change often. Check local radio, weather radio, or the NWS website (www.weather.gov) for the most recent updates.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment for religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peacefully assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Keep men out of women’s sports; it’s good for women in society

JOHN GRIMALDI

Special to the Post-Telegraph

WASHINGTON For the most part in the United States it is against the law for a man to expose himself in front of a woman. But what about maleat-birth transgender athletes who sign up to join the girls’ teams at their schools; are they allowed to go naked among their female teammates? Paula Scanlan made headlines when she told the Daily Mail that when she was on the University of Pennsylvania women’s track team, she and her teammates would hide in bathroom stalls to avoid changing in front of a six-foot transgender swimmer who joined the team. His name was Will Thomas at birth, but he changed it to Lia Thomas when “she” transitioned. Scanlan joined Association of Mature American Citizens CEO, Rebecca Weber, recently on AMAC’s Better For America podcast.

“It was a very challenging situation for everyone involved, and the university did not do a very good job of preempting the situation,” according to Scanlan. She pointed out that at first the women’s swim team was told that they might provide Thomas with a separate locker room or that he/she might even continue to change in the men’s locker room. But in the end they allowed Thomas to use the women’s locker room.

“They should have had the discretion to understand that it was going to be a controversial experience for everyone on the team. But it wasn’t until media stories started coming in that the athletic department came

COMMENTARY

and spoke to us, and in those meetings they advised us not to talk to the press,” Scanlan said. “They told us that Lia being on the team was non-negotiable and that they would provide counseling services for anyone that objected to Lia being on the team. So it was a very scary situation because they were telling us, essentially, that if we thought a man being on our team was wrong, we needed psychological help.”

Scanlan is a Taiwanese American and, as she noted, America “was built on the idea of free speech. My grandfather loved America and he saw that there were issues in Taiwan, where there wasn’t freedom of the press, there wasn’t freedom of speech, and he wanted to mimic what we had in America,” she said. “And if we are doing this here, we set the tone for every other country to also do the same. And it's kind of an American-centric view, but it really is true. So many countries in the world look to America for policy, for rules,

Is it a car or is it a plane?

for amendments in their constitutions as well. And so that's why this is very important. If we don't have free speech here in America, we can’t guarantee that other countries will have free speech.”

Scanlan concluded that it took her “a lot of time and reflection and prayer to get to the point where I was open to speaking out and understanding that this is what God wants me to do and where God wants me to be. Every single time I do an interview I remind myself of who this is for. It’s for the greater good. It’s for the young girls that don't have voices. It’s for the women that we don’t know who are going to be affected by this yet. And it's really staying grounded and that this is not one individual person being upset about losing out on opportunities or losing in a race or whatever it might be. This is a thing that we have to stand up for everyone. And it’s not about one individual person’s experience. It’s for the greater good of women in society.”

John Grimaldi is an editorial contributor with the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC).

The Federal Aviation Administration has given the green light to a unique California-based car company, Alef Aeronautics, for its modern day version of the Model A automobile, one that doubles as an airplane. Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny says “We're excited to receive this certification from the FAA. It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week. This is a one small step for planes, one giant step for cars." It’ll be a while before flying hot rods will be spreading their wings on the nation’s highways. The FAA says the “special airworthiness certificate” granted to Alef is for limited purposes such as exhibition, research and development.

PRINCETON POST-TELEGRAPH MISSION STATEMENT (What we try to do every week) “Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it because in the process WE WILL CATCH EXCELLENCE.”

Coach Vince Lombardi

Leadership NWMO graduates class of 2023

Special to the Post-Telegraph

HAMILTON, Mo. Leadership Northwest Missouri (LNWMO) recently heldits 2023 graduation celebration in Hamilton at Hamilton United Methodist Church - Family Life Center. The evening began with a welcome by mcee Courtney Jimenez, LNWMO Board President and 2020 LNWMO alum. Marsha Martin, class of 2022, blessed the group with an invocation prior to dinner.

RaCail King and Kelsi Meyer, members of the class of 2023, reflected on their class year sharing memorable moments, followed by a class video presentation created by Jenna Keyes, Class of 2023. Dr. Tim Crowley shared uplifting leadership thoughts to all in attendance.

Deborah Borchers, board treasurer and 2012 LNWMO alum, thanked all program sponsorsAffiliate: Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri; Platinum: BTC Bank; Gold: Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri and US Bank; Silver: Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Carroll County Memorial Hospital, Farmers State Bank, Hedrick Medical Center/Wright Memorial Hospital, Mosaic Health System, North Central Missouri College and Northwest Missouri State University; Bronze: Commerce Bank/St. Joseph, Nodaway Valley Bank, and the St. Joseph

Chamber of Commerce.

Jennifer Jarvis, board president-elect and 2021 LNWMO alum, recognized retiring board members Deborah Borchers, St. Joseph; Courtney Jimenez, St. Joseph, and Randy Mendenhall, Oregon. LNWMO welcomed new board members Marcie Cutsinger, Trenton; Kasi Norris, St. Joseph; Cole Soptic, Trenton; Jackie Spainhower, Grant City; and Carrie Watkins, Savannah.

Melissa Birdsell, general board member and 2017 LNWMO alum, presented the Leadership Northwest Missouri Citizenship Award for 2023 to Carrie Watkins, community engagement director, Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center. Watkins has worked to bring teams together to benefit children and families all over orthwest Missouri. Her role is to coordinate team investigative efforts in cases of child abuse and neglect in a nine-county coverage area. Her ultimate goal is to make sure each team functions to the best of its ability so that child abuse cases can have best outcomes for kids. Watkins is making a big difference in kids’ lives, both in her role as a forensic interviewer as well as her role as multi-disciplinary team coordinator. She is also an alum of the LNWMO Class of 2023.

The Leadership Northwest Missouri Lifetime Achievement Award was

presented to Deb Powers for her service to Leadership Northwest Missouri as executive director for a combined 14 years. She is retiring in December, and the new executive director was introduced at graduation; Kendra Pickering, Nodaway County and LNWMO alum from the class of 2022.

Courtney Jimenez presented each of the 24 graduating class members a plaque for completing the program. Graduates from the 2023 class, “Breaking out of the Box,” represented the following 12 counties: Jenna Keyes, Machelle Skinner, Carrie Watkins, Andrew County; Brooke Vette, Melissa Williamson, Kamron Woodring, Atchison County; Alexander Murray, April Wood, Buchanan County; John C. Nab, Caldwell County; Jeffrey Martin, Carroll County; Chad Howerton, Clinton County; RaCail King, Daviess County; Laura Almquist, Shawna Dye, Gentry County; Lisa Colson, Kerry Savage, Cole Soptic, Becky Vandevender, Grundy County; Sarah Williamson, Harrison County; Lee Ann Blazer, Adam Summers, Holt County; DeAnn Davison, Kelsi Meyer, Ian Myers, Nodaway County.

A special thank you to the graduation planning committee from the class of 2022: Matt Barry, Amy Ford, Brittany Higgins, Marsha Martin, Joni Oaks, Scott Sharp, and Marissa Spillman.

Leadership Northwest Missouri is a leadership development program designed to bring together participants from throughout a 19-county region to build, strengthen and inspire leaders through training and networking experiences. This class began in January and continued through July with monthly sessions in various Northwest Missouri communities. Classes during the 2023 class year were held in Conception, Trenton, Maryville, St. Joseph, Mound City and Carrollton. Each session contained instruction on various leadership skills, examination of various issues facing the region and hands-on exercises. In addition to education, other regional issues that were addressed included agriculture, team empowerment, healthcare, mental health, and economic development.

For more information, contact Powers at leadershipnorthwestmissouri@ gmail.com.

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

The Princeton PostTelegraph strives for accuracy and fairness in all of its news stories and photo captions. If you feel we have made an error, please contact us at 660-7483266 or posttele@grm. net (email) to request a correction. If it is found we are in error, we will be happy to publish a correction or clarification.

PSC approves Evergy’s request to cut charge

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by Evergy Missouri West, Inc. d/b/a Evergy Missouri West to adjust the Demand Side Programs Investment Mechanism (DSIM) charge on customer bills. The DSIM charge, which appears as a separate line-item on customer bills, allows Evergy Missouri West to recover demand-side management program costs and incentives under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA). A residential customer using 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity a month will see the charge decrease by approximately 69 cents a month effective Aug. 1, 2023.

Evergy Missouri West provides electric service to approximately 336,640 customers in the Missouri counties of Andrew, Atchison, Barton, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Ray, St. Clair, Vernon and Worth.

Leadership Northwest Missouri graduates class of 2023

LINDA GEIST University of MO Extension

COLUMBIA During drought, beef producers might find a best friend in their local veterinarian, says University of Missouri Extension veterinary toxicologist Tim Evans.

“Although veterinarians always provide a valuable service to animal owners, their value to livestock producers becomes increasingly important during drought, high heat and limited forage availability,” says Evans.

While there are many good online drought resources such as the MU’s Integrated Pest Management agriculture drought resources page at https://ipm.missouri. edu/drought(opens in new window), there is no substitute for a working relationship with a trusted local veterinarian who is familiar with you and your operation, he says.

Veterinarians can help in five main ways during drought:

1. Assist livestock producers in making culling decisions.

2. Advise on water quality issues and feeding alternative forages, especially those that might be toxic to livestock.

3. Diagnose, treat and prevent water- and forage-associated intoxications in live animals.

4. Perform postmortem exams on dead animals.

5. Recommend herd health programs, including the use of various feed additives, to keep livestock healthy during a drought.

Veterinarians and MU Extension livestock specialists and agronomists can help herd owners take an integrated approach to deciding how to cull cattle to match available feed and water resources in drought, Evans says.

Working together, local veterinarians and MU Extension personnel, including agricultural business specialists, can also help producers decide how to best make use of their financial resources. This assistance might include decisions on what feedstuffs to buy and/ or grow to best meet the current and future nutritional needs for cattle in different stages of development. These types of consultations are especially important for preventing nitrate/nitrite poisoning in ruminants.

Weather changes can often affect water quality in ponds. Harmful blue-green algal blooms in drought-stricken ponds can produce toxins causing seizures and convulsion or liver damage. “Do not let your livestock drink from ‘scummy’ ponds,” says Evans. Veterinarians can inspect suspect ponds and take appropriate samples to help determine if the pond water is safe for consumption by livestock.

Likewise, weeds may be the only plants to survive and thrive in dry pastures during drought, creating a possible toxic risk for livestock. Evans says animals usually avoid eating many common Missouri weeds, especially if better forages are available. However, when pasture is scarce, livestock will eat what they can find and are more likely to eat toxic weeds in baled or ensiled forages used as alternative drought feedstuffs.

In the event of the sudden death of an animal, consult with your veterinarian and ask for a necropsy exam, Evans says. It’s the only way to know for sure how to protect your investment from future risks.

MERCER CO. FOOD PANTRY

Located in the basement of Princeton United Methodist Church.

Second and fourth Tuesday: 9-10:30 a.m.

Other Tuesdays: 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Note: Persons can pick up their food in the church basement. At present, social distancing will be observed, and masks are recommended but not mandatory.

SENIOR MENUS

All menus subject to change. MERCER COUNTY SENIOR CENTER

Serving from 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Meals can be picked up at the west door (facing Broadway Street) from 11:30-12:15. Meals served with 2% milk, coffee or tea. All bread, rolls, buns and crackers are whole grain; at least half grains are whole grains. For meal deliveries, call 660-748-3636 by 10 a.m.

Everyone is welcome to eat at the Senior Center. Meals for anyone age 60 and older are a suggested contribution of $5. Meals for anyone under age 60 cost $7.

Monday, Aug. 14:

roast beef and cheddar cheese on bun, curly fries, peas and carrots, pineapple.

Tuesday, Aug. 15: pepperoni/ham/hamburger pizza, corn, side salad (lettuce, green peppers, cucumbers, cheese, croutons), spiced pears.

Wednesday, Aug. 16: scalloped potatoes and ham, creamed peas,

baked apples, M&M cookie, sliced bread.

Thursday, Aug. 17: soft-shelled beef tacos (refried beans, Spanish rice, lettuce, cheese, onion, salsa, sour cream), mixed fruit salad.

Friday, Aug. 18: oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, biscuit, applesauce bars, assorted fruit.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Leadership Northwest Missouri class of 2023 recently graduated. Lisa Colson of Princeton (center row, left) was a member of the class. More information appears on Page 4.

During drought, you need your vet more than ever

Sinkhole develops at Princeton post office

Northwest regents hold meeting

Special to the Post-Telegraph

MARYVILLE Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during its regular August session on Thursday, Aug. 4 heard a series of reports outlining institutional goals and ideas as the University embarks on its 2023-24 academic year.

vate Martindale Hall as two key initiatives for Northwest. Additionally, Tatum said Northwest is evaluating admissions and scholarship models while working to further diversify its enrollment and academic programs.

force development.”

New students will begin moving onto campus Thursday, Aug. 17, and the University’s fall semester begins Monday, Aug. 21.

In other business

It appears a sinkhole has opened up at the east edge of the Princeton post office’s drive and under the adjacent Oak Street, after two bouts of monsoonal rain last week. The drive and parking area had wavy spots develop as well. There’s an old city drain at the location, and it flooded Friday evening, Aug. 4, causing the sinkhole.

According to various reports, parts of Mercer County received anywhere from 6 inches to a foot of rain during storms Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, Aug. 1-2 and Friday evening.

Kansas man repays investors $350K

MADISON WALKER

Special to the Post-Telegraph

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.

Secretary of State Jay

Ashcroft’s securities division announced that Kansas resident MacKenzie S.C. Hoambrecker and two Missouri-registered entities, H & Z Enterprises HI, LLC and H & Z Cultivation, LLC, have settled charges that they misrepresented and omitted material information in the course of raising capital from investors.

The consent order, signed on June 15, alleges that between May 1, 2019, and Dec. 24, 2019, Hoambrecker raised a total of more than $5.4 million from at least 40 investors across 17 states, including six investors in Missouri, for the purpose of funding a startup hemp producer, Mt. Hempton Farms, LLC.

Respondents are al-

leged to have violated state securities laws by providing investors with false and misleading offering materials and failing to disclose conflicts of interest. None of the investors had received any distribution of profits or had any amount of principal returned during the course of the investment.

Without admitting or denying the division’s findings, respondents agreed to issue rescission offers to the six Missouri investors and pay $100,000 to the Missouri Secretary of State’s In-

vestor Education and Protection Fund. As a result of the division’s order, $350,000 will be returned to Missouri investors.

“New market trends like this are tempting,” Ashcroft said. “With all investments, make sure you know and understand the risks, even when investing with family members or close colleagues.”

Ashcroft urges investors to call the toll-free investor protection hotline at 800-721-7996 or go online to www.missouriprotectsinvestors.com for more information or to file a complaint.

Have an original item you’d like published in the Princeton Post-Telegraph? Send it to us by email: posttele@grm.net. Photos on a jpeg, please.

In his own report to the Board, University President Dr. Lance Tatum, who began June 1 at the university, reflected on his first 64 days of leading Northwest and the connections he has established within the community and region.

“If you think about the old saying, ‘busy hands are happy hands,’” Tatum said, “well, I am deliriously happy. It has been a very busy 64 days but a very rewarding 64 days.”

During his brief report, Tatum told regents and others gathered for Thursday’s meeting that he has focused on understanding the university’s culture and traditions while building an awareness of the opportunities available to Northwest.

“Certainly there are challenges, but there are a great number of opportunities,” Tatum said before ticking through a list of initial goals that include stabilizing and growing on-campus enrollment, garnering state support for the university, improving campus infrastructure, talent and leadership development, and fundraising.

Tatum cited a recently completed remodel of the McKemy Center of Lifelong Learning and ongoing work to reno-

Tatum concluded by expressing gratitude for the support shown to him and his wife, Jill, by the Maryville community and said he is committed to maintaining the strong partnership that exists with Northwest.

“I want to reciprocate by making sure that we’re paying attention to the needs of the city, but I also want to support the northwest region as well,” Tatum said. “We serve as the engine that will drive a lot of what happens in northwest Missouri, and I’ve been very excited in meetings I’ve attended, in hearing ways in which we can assist with economic development and work-

Regents approved a contract of about $2.6 million between the Northwest Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for 202324. The funds support salary, benefits, regional and state-required travel, equipment, materials and supplies for staff at the center, which supports 59 school districts in northwest Missouri and has been supported by Northwest since 1995.

The Board approved the appointments of seven full-time faculty and 114 adjunct faculty to teach

See Northwest, Page 11

PRESTON COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph

OBITUARIES

John Rouse

Princeton, Mo.

Lawrence “John” Rouse, 86, passed away Monday, July 31, 2023, at Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, Mo.

He was born on November 4, 1936, in Oxford Junction, Iowa, to Chester Whipple and Florence Francis (Gerlich) Rouse. He was the eighth of 10 children.

He married Maryjo Dice in Tipton, Iowa, on June 7, 1958. She survives of the home.

John’s family moved to Clarence, Iowa, when he was in sixth grade and he graduated in 1954. He enlisted in the United States Army from 19561957 where he served in the Military Police while stationed in Kessel, Germany. John and Jo lived in Stanwood, Iowa, until 1977 when they moved the family to the Cainsville, Mo., area. He spent his lifetime building many houses and barns, rarely using a blueprint.

He “retired” to farming where he raised sheep and black angus cattle. He operated Wing Tip Hunting Preserve in the 1980s, hosting an annual pheasant championship. He enjoyed hunting and training dogs and telling stories from his childhood and their many escapades. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

John was a loving husband and father and will

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be missed greatly.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Chet, Ray, Mike, Mary, Betty, Annie, and Jeanne.

In addition to his wife, Jo, John is survived by his children, Jim Rouse of Leon, Iowa, Terry (Renee) Rouse of Osborn, Mo, and Joann (Mike) Moore and Judy (Jerry) Hamilton of Princeton, Mo.; grandchildren, Josh, Jolene, Jared, Tracie, Nick, Stacie, Stephanie, Michelle, Jason, Jeremy, Jill and Justin; 22 great-grandchildren; his brother, Tom Rouse and sister, Gladys Hurtis; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 4 at New Hope Baptist Church of Princeton, under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home of Princeton. Burial, with military rites, followed in Hamilton Cemetery, Modena, Mo.

Memorials may be made to Hamilton Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673.

Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.

Charles Rockhold Mercer, Mo.

Charles William Rockhold, 80, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, at Pearl’s II Eden for Elders in Princeton, Mo.

He was born on January 30, 1943, in Lineville, Iowa, the son of Charles Raymond and Wilma Gladis (Clay) Rockhold.

He married Barbara Ann Carson in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 27, 1989. She survives of the home.

Charles was a graduate of Lineville High School in 1961. He was a member of Lineville Methodist Church, and enjoyed playing golf and hunting in his spare time.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a first wife, Nancy Rockhold.

In addition to his wife, Barb, Charles is survived by his daughters,

Angie Kesler (friend, Ron Stark), Huntsville, Mo., and Kim Hague (friend, Ron Corkins), Chillicothe, Mo.; sons Jeff Rockhold, Olathe, Kan., and Ryan (Brianne) Sears, Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren Laci Budd (Eric), Nikki Plummer (Nick), Addyson Sears, Josh Rockhold, Jacob Rockhold (Sally), Tanner Beavers (Sarah), Bryce Hague, and Carson Sears; seven great-grandchildren; sisters, Barb Street, Corydon, Iowa, and Teri Caldwell (Stan), Carlisle, Iowa; brother, Cliff Rockhold (Peggy), Camdenton, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 7 at Roberson Funeral Home in Princeton. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery in Lineville,. Memorials may be made to Evergreen Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673.

Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.

Calvin Armstrong

Corydon, Iowa

Calvin Ross Armstrong, 86, formerly of Mercer, Mo., and Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2023.

He was born on Jan. 26, 1937, in Eldon, Missouri the son of Burton and Bessie (Daniels) Armstrong.

On November 4, 1968, he married Darlene Nash in Princeton, Mo. She preceded him in death on Jan. 7, 2015.

Calvin served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1957 and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. He worked as a machinist for Fisher Controls, Marshalltown Police Reserve from 1974 to 1984, and was also employed by KIOWA, Dunham-Bush. He was an animal lover and member of the ASPCA.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; nine brothers and sisters; granddaughter, Kim Erick; and daughter-in-law, Teri Bryant.

Calvin is survived by his daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Brown, Marshalltown; stepsons, Gary (Judy) Bryant, Colo,

Iowa, and David (Shin) Bryant, Crestview, Fla.; stepdaughter, Debra (Jerry) Jensen, Wayne, Neb.; grandchildren, Cody Brown, Sheena Bringa, Ted (Tammy) Gould, and Traci Kaufman; sister, Margaret, of the state of Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 5 at Roberson Funeral Home in Princeton. Burial, with military rites, followed in Princeton Cemetery. Memorials may be designated to the family in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.

CORRECTIONS

& CLARIFICATIONS

The Princeton PostTelegraph strives for accuracy and fairness in all of its news stories and photo captions. If you feel we have made an error, please contact us at 660-7483266 or posttele@grm. net (email) to request a correction. If it is found we are in error, we will be happy to publish a correction or clarification.

Don’t flunk kids’ food safety this school year

NCMC’s Moore to have displayed at WBHOF

Special to the Post-Telegraph

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

Young athletes often dream of recognition for their contributions to the game at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. For North Central Missouri College standout Maci Moore, that dream has come true. Moore’s jersey will be displayed in the Ring of Honor display at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn., in recognition of her outstanding play for the 20222023 season.

“The Ring of Honor is an exhibit at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame where we honor the nation’s top players at every level,” said Kelly Mathis, director of development for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. “To have your jersey on display at the Hall of Fame is a huge privilege and we are proud to celebrate the

accomplishments of these young women.”

Currently, the Ring of Honor consists of over 100 jerseys hanging from the rafters of the back rotunda at the Hall of Fame. By acknowledging these young athletes, the Hall of Fame can fulfill its mission to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future” of women’s basketball. The display includes jerseys of the top high school and college players from the previous season. The Ring of Honor has displayed jerseys from the best players in the world including Candace Parker, Sue Bird, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, and Aja Wilson.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which opened in 1999, is the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women’s basketball.

Special to the Post-Telegraph WASHINGTON A healthy meal is more than selecting nutritious foods; it also includes safe food handling from the moment it’s being prepared and up until lunchtime. Would you pass or fail the safe lunch packing test?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has four tips for parents and caregivers to get an easy A in food safety this school year.

“While there have been huge strides in food safety, at least 48 million people in the U.S. are still affected by foodborne illness every year,” said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban. “Our children’s health and safety depend on the safe food handling practices we teach and practice at home."

Clean

A recent USDA observational study on food preparation showed that only 44% of participants attempted to wash their hands before meal preparation, a failing grade no matter how you look at it. Even fewer participants (3%) washed their hands properly by rubbing hands for at least 20 seconds. Proper handwashing practices can help prevent cross-contamination when preparing school lunches.

Follow these steps to earn an A+ in handwashing:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water

(warm or cold), turn off the tap and apply soap.

• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.

• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

• Dry your hands using a clean towel.

Separate

The kitchen can become a playground for bacteria when food is mishandled during preparation. To avoid cross-contamination, separate raw foods from those that are ready to eat during preparation. Don’t use the same cutting board for raw foods and ready-to-eat foods like fruits and vegetables. Having multiple cutting boards can help, but if you are only using one, make sure that you wash it in hot soapy water, sanitize, rinse, and air or pat dry with a clean paper towel between uses.

Cook

Cooking enough meat and poultry to use later in school lunches is a great time saver. But never rely on the color or texture of your meat and poultry to know if it is safe to

consume. The only safe way to tell if it has been cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature is by using a food thermometer. Let the thermometer do all the hard work to help you pass the “Is it done yet?” test.

Chill

You’ll pass the final food safety exam by never leaving food out of refrigeration for over two hours. Leaving food out too long at room temperature can cause bacteria to grow to dangerous levels that can cause illness. Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 F and 140 F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the “Danger Zone.” If you will be cooking more than you will pack, make sure you store your leftovers safely in sealed containers or airtight packaging. To do this, cut food into smaller pieces or divide large amounts of food into shallow containers to allow food to cool rapidly. Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days or can remain

safe indefinitely when frozen.

Packing a safe food lunch

When packing the school lunch, ditch the brown paper bag. Always pack school lunches in insulated lunch boxes or insulated containers to keep perishable foods safe until lunchtime.

For cold foods, include at least two cold sources in the insulated lunch box to keep perishable foods under 40 F. These can be frozen gel packs, frozen juice boxes or frozen bottled water. By lunchtime, juice boxes or bottled water should be thawed and ready to drink.

For hot foods, use an insulated container to keep food like soup, chili, and stew hot. Fill the container with boiling water, let stand for a few minutes, empty, and then pour in the piping hot food. Keep the insulated container closed until lunchtime to keep the food hot - 140 F or above.

Other food safe options

Non-perishable foods are also a great option when it comes to food

See Food safety, Page 2

SUBMITTED PHOTO

NCMC women’s basketball player Maci Moore (#15).

To one old country guy, insect populations appear to be declining

STAN ROBINSON

Special to the Post-Telegraph

KANSAS CITY, Mo. One of the many consequences of getting old is memories and sharing them. Often recollections bring personal pleasure but public anguish when shared. The worst sharing usually starts “back in my day” or “back in the old days” so I ask readers forgiveness in advance.

Growing up on a north Missouri farm was fertile ground for producing memories. Quail hunting being one of many. Coveys of 15 to 20 birds were common, “back in the old days.” It has been fairly well documented this is no longer the case. A covey of six to eight birds is the new standard and often no quail at all are to be found. Rarely heard is the spring mating call or the evening whistle of a lost bird.

It has been pointed out that the general demise of song birds mimics that of quail. Many theories are offered to

COMMENTARY

explain this population decline. Fingers are pointed to bobcats, house cats, coyotes, turkey flocks, and avian flu. Lack of a stable food supply (insects) for young birds and habitat loss for both birds and insects seems a logical cause.

While reading a recent copy of Science News a comment about the worldwide decline of insects caught my attention. This decline was allegedly creating unexpected problems. Is this decline real or imagined? Fruit flies seem to be doing very well! From postings on social media it appears many horse owners are seeking fly relief for their steeds.

I checked out The Insect Crisis from my local library expecting to learn how hordes of insects were causing the loss of crops needed to feed a growing human population. Wrong again! The author Oliver Milman makes the case that

humanities food supply is in jeopardy not from an overabundance of insects but from a deficiency of insects. This little book went into depth explaining how the lack of insects was a leading cause for declining crop production. Honey bees are the better known but only one of a host of important crop pollinators.

I have no basis to pass judgement on worldwide anything let alone insect populations. All I can comment on is personal observations. As we know observations of something obvious can be quite wrong. It was obvious for years that the sun revolved around a flat earth! It doesn’t.

Memorial Day 2022, my daughter and I drove from Chicago through Iowa to Sedalia, Mo., to Kansas City to Mercer County, Mo., and back to Chicago. This five-day trip required several stops for fuel but not once did we need to scrub the “bugs” from the windshield. This year our travels were less extensive but

still a clean windshield. I remember “back in the old days” of hard scrubbing with each fill-up. The end of May seems to be a prime time for hatching insects so where are they?

A youthful pastime for a farm kid was watching dung beetles roll their prize or inserting straws into horse flies and watching them fly away. I have seen neither dung beetles nor horse flies in years. Robbing bee trees and fighting bumblebees seems to be a long past activity. June bugs fail to pile as deep as I remember. Stories of motor graders needing to clean dead May flies from bridges spanning the Mississippi River are no more. Monarch and other butterflies are in need of a national effort for saving their populations.

My current travels around this country are much less than in years past so I am curious if other people (vacationers, salesmen and truck drivers) have noticed similar insect declines.

MDC working on restoring wildlife-friendly native grassland habitat

BILL GRAHAM

Special to the Post-Telegraph

MARYVILLE It’s early according to nature’s timetable, only the second growing season since the seeds went into the soil. But already prairie grasses and wildflowers are reclaiming sod on 600 acres of the Bilby Ranch Conservation Area in Nodaway County. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is restoring a tract on the area into the type of natural wildlife habitat that once covered most of

northwest Missouri.

“Our goal is to restore a tallgrass prairie ecosystem, something that we don’t have a lot of acres,” said Phil Boyer, MDC wildlife biologist.

“We want a contiguous grassland, uninterrupted.

We’re trying to make it look like it might have been in the early 1800s.”

Purple coneflowers and yellow ox-eye sunflowers are blooming this summer on hills in the restoration tract. Warm-season grasses such as big bluestem, Indiangrass,

and side oats grama are emerging. It will take years for the deep-rooted prairie plants to fully express their growth potential. But already they are providing overhead cover, insect hosts, and bare-ground openings at the base of plants that help ground-nesting birds like bobwhite quail. That change has already boosted the spring and fall quail counts at Bilby Ranch.

Prairie grasses and wildflowers in vast open grasslands were domi-

nant in the region prior to the 1800s. They were interspersed in places with smaller open savannas and woodlands that were also friendly to grassland wildlife. The tallgrass prairie ecosystem created rich soils that now support the region’s predominate corn and soybean agricultural economy. Today, less than one-tenth of one present of Missouri’s historic prairies remain unplowed. Unplowed prairie remnants are especially scarce in the state’s deep-soil northwest re-

gion.

One remnant, MDC’s Little Tarkio Prairie in Holt County, is being used as the species model for the Bilby Ranch project. Restoring native grasslands provides a haven for wildlife and a destination for birders, wildlife watchers, and hunters.

The 5,110 Bilby Ranch property had a lake and several ponds when MDC acquired it 1987, but the rolling hills were mostly managed as crop fields with some acres in

non-native brome grass pasture. Since then, MDC has managed more acres for wildlife habitat. Wildlife such as deer, turkey, and bobwhite quail need habitat that sustains them through the seasons and rearing young. Creatures such as songbirds and pollinators such as wild bees and butterflies need the same. They evolved in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

Restoring native plant

See MDC restoring, Page 10

No chocolate milk in kids’ lunches? Ridiculous

SAM GRAVES

Special to the Post-Telegraph

TARKIO, Mo. It’s hard to believe, but school is right around the corner. A staple of school lunches for years could go away if Washington bureaucrats get the final word. Remember looking forward to that delicious half pint of chocolate milk nestled nicely in its designated square on your tray? Gone, if the administration gets their way. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently put out their proposed school lunch standards, proposing a ban on chocolate milk and other flavored milk in elementary and middle schools and reducing consumption in high schools, be-

SAM GRAVES

ginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

No chocolate milk in kids’ lunches? Nonsense. USDA is pointing to childhood obesity as their reason for ridding schools of the scourge of chocolate milk. However, it’s pretty obvious that chocolate milk isn’t the issue. Would it be ideal if all kids just liked to drink white milk? Sure, but that just isn’t reality. In fact, chocolate milk serves as an excellent way to get kids the nutrients they need from milk. Seventy-seven percent of total daily milk consumption and 70% of total dairy consumption for low-in-

come children ages 5 to 18 happens at school. The nutrients found in dairy products is critical to child development, yet our kids still aren’t getting enough. Imagine how much worse it will be without flavored milk options.

Yet, Washington bureaucrats once again think that new restrictions on dairy, and school lunches in general, are needed. When is the last time a DC pencil pusher sat in a school lunchroom to see what kids actually eat?

In response to this short-sighted rule, I sent a bipartisan letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this summer in support of keeping chocolate and flavored milk in

our schools.

Our school lunch personnel do an incredible job making nutritious and delicious meals for our kids. They are doing so in difficult times, with supply chain shortages and inflation proving incredibly challenging. Yet, they still get the job done. Tying their hands now with new standards and restrictions is absolutely the wrong thing to do at the wrong time. The bureaucrats have been bound and determined to do away with chocolate milk for years and I’ll be darned if we let it happen this time.

Sam Graves is Missouri’s 6th District representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving north Missouri.

MDC restoring wildlife-friendly native grassland habitat

prairie species is more difficult and requires more management than simply establishing three or four prairie grasses for livestock forage. But this summer, Boyer got the proof that the prairie plants are sinking roots. The drooping yellow petals of the gray-headed coneflower and purple blooms of wild bergamot are among the showy wildflowers this summer.

give visitors a glimpse of what the region’s original landscape looked like. The tract will also demonstrate the growth potential for native grassland forage, which can play a profitable role in livestock grazing rotations. Visitors will pass by the prairie restoration area on the ridge road that leads to Bilby Lake off Missouri 46 highway, west of Maryville.

From Page 9 diversity that resembles an original tallgrass prairie, however, is challenging. Starting in 2020, MDC began contracting with an area resident to remove trees that had encroached in fields and drainages. Historically, fire had kept trees from the prairies. An area farmer received a contract for haying brome fields that were to be converted to prairie plants. Local contractors were hired to spray herbicide to control unwanted, non-native cool season grasses in the prairie restoration target area.

In the autumn of 2021, Boyer and the MDC work team planted 30 different species of prairie forbs and four species of native warm-season grass into the treated acres south and west of Bilby Lake. Seedlings began growing in the 2022 growing season. Prairie plantings can take a few years to become established and dominant. Also, establishing diverse

A whale of a tale

“These are species that commonly show within a year,” Boyer said. “It shows we did well at getting our seed drilled at a good depth in the soil for germination.”

This autumn, prescribed burns will be used to boost the native prairie perennials. They evolved with fire. During winter they store nutrients in deep root systems that are protected from fire. The burns reduce competition from non-native plants.

The Bilby Lake prairie restoration will improve wildlife habitat but also

According to the International Whaling Commission “whale watching tourism is rapidly growing around the world.” But it is highly unlikely that the majority of the millions of whale watchers out there have seen what the Robert Addie family saw off the coast of Provincetown, Mass., recently: three humpback whales simultaneously breaching the Atlantic Ocean. Coincidentally, Robert had his video camera handy when the trio of whales soared out of the water at the same time.

For more information about MDC’s Bilby Ranch Conservation Area, visit https://short. mdc.mo.gov/4mJ. To learn more about how MDC can help restore

native prairie wildflowers and grasses on your property, visit https://short. mdc.mo.gov/4m4.

Northwest

From Page 6

during the 2023-24 academic year. The appointments add to 240 faculty approved to teach by the Board during its June meeting.

The Board also approved a revised policy regarding business expenditures incurred by the university president and a list of graduation candidates completing bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees at the conclusion of summer coursework.

During a morning work session, regents heard presentations outlining university goals for 202324 as well as plans for a modernization of the campus’s energy infrastructure.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the university and determining general, educational and financial policies.

School safety

From Page 1

prepare by allowing extra time to reach your destination.

Missouri law states that on a two-lane road, if a school bus is stopped and displaying warning signals while loading or unloading children, drivers must stop when meeting and following the bus. However, it is only necessary to stop on a four-lane highway when following the bus. Drivers, when you see a stopped school bus, stay alert and follow the law. Children may not be aware of traffic and dart unexpectedly into the roadway.

Students

If you’re walking to school, stay alert! Cross the street at intersections or marked crosswalks and never between parked cars. Use sidewalks when they are available. If it is necessary to walk on the roadway, stay close to the left edge and step off to

the left when traffic approaches. Never dash into the street after a friend or to retrieve something.

Riding a bicycle to school is a fun way to travel. If you’re riding your bike, be sure to wear a helmet and obey all traffic signs and signals. Ride as near to the right side of the roadway as is safe and use the proper hand signals when you plan to change directions, slow, or stop. Never carry passengers. Keep both hands on the handlebars except when signaling. It’s important to maintain your bicycle in good condition.

If you ride a school bus, check the weather and dress accordingly. Wait in line for the bus on the shoulder or sidewalk. Use the handrail when getting on or off the bus. Never try to retrieve items that fall under the bus and walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing the street. Sit quietly on the bus and keep the aisle clear.

If anything goes wrong, stay calm and follow the instructions of the bus driver.

Most traffic crashes involving young drivers (under the age of 21) occur between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., when school typically lets out. Many of these drivers are young and inexperienced. Parents: It is important to encourage those young drivers to remember driving is a full-time job. Using a cell phone, texting, or adjusting the radio can be the distraction that leads to a traffic crash. It’s also against the law for this age group.

Parents

Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about riding a bus, walking, or driving to school in a safe manner. If they ride a bike, please make sure they wear a helmet and follow traffic laws.

Please talk to your children about the Courage2ReportMO (C2R) program, which provides a

safe and confidential way to report any concerns regarding their safety or the safety of others. These concerns may include: assault, bullying/repeated harassment, cyber bullying, fighting, guns, homicide, human trafficking, knife, planned school attack, imminent school shooting, school shooting threat, sexual offense, suicide-other person (3rd party), or a terrorism threat (extremism). Those reporting their concerns may remain anonymous.

C2R provides a “sooner is safer” tool to report real time concerns 24 hours a day. There are several ways concerned persons may submit a C2R report: through an Apple or Google Play Courage2Report mobile app, by making an online report via http:// www.mshp.dps.missouri. gov/MSHPWeb/Courage2ReportMO/index.html, by speaking confidentially to a trained professional at 866-748-7047, or by texting “C2R” to 738477.

C2R Missouri calls and tips (web, text, and mobile app) are answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by trained communications professionals.

C2R Missouri requests a disposition report be returned on each tip report, notifying the Missouri State Highway Patrol of the outcome. For more information about C2R Missouri awareness and education resources, call the C2R Missouri Administrative Office at 866362-6422.

DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

Thursday, July 27

• Karen Clevenger vs. Joseph Clevenger.

LAND TRANSFERS

Monday, July 31

• Roy L. Moore to Roy L. Moore, trustee.

Tuesday, Aug. 1

• Benjamin Phillip Merical to Adam Tobin.