2024 Mercer County Fair Easter Memorial Showmanship Award winners
Easter Memorial Showmanship Award winners from this year’s Mercer County Fair, from left: Emily Oswalt, swine; McKenna
Genderen, goats; and Maryn Illg, beef. The award is named in memory of the late Raymond and Wiona Easter, who were major
fair for many years. The award is sponsored by the couple’s daughters, Nancy Gamet, Ila Rae Easter and Barb Ellsworth.
Annual Grundy Electric meeting draws 250+ to Mercer school
Special to the Post-Telegraph
TRENTON, Mo. Grundy Electric Cooperative’s Annual Membership Meeting was held Aug. 1 at the North Mercer R-3 School in Mercer, Mo. Over 250 members and guests began the evening with dinner served by Mercer County 4-H members. Entertainment was provided by Jeremiah Hamilton and Makayla Mejia.
Members browsed the Grundy Electric Cooperative safety booth and Mid-States Services LLC information booth. Lynne Shea, principal economic development specialist of Associated Electric Cooperative, presented information 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 and foundation trustee Tony Nelson presented fourth quarter grants to area schools totaling $9,339.
Pastor Mike Tipton offered the invocation. Grundy Electric Cooperative Board president Eric Woodard presided over the business meeting. Woodard welcomed and thanked members for their attendance and participation in the cooperative’s annual business meeting. He introduced Grundy’s Board of Directors.
Woodard announced that the Board of Directors approved a capital credit refund of 100% for 1991 and 25% of 2023 totaling $199,597.12. Capital credit checks will be credited to members’ October bills.
General manager Scott Wilson thanked members for their commitment to the cooperative by attending their annual membership meeting. Wilson
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. Wilson also discussed the rate adjustment implemented this year, necessary to meet rising costs and increasing regulations; however, the cooperative will remain dedicated to providing exceptional service and affordable electricity.
Members elected three directors to each serve a three-year term. Reelected were board incumbents Adrian Cox of rural Trenton, representing Area 1; Dan Lentz of rural Browning, representing Area 2; and Alan
See GEC Meeting, Page 15
Donors sought for R-5 elementary program
Special to the Post-Telegraph
PRINCETON, Mo. For the last few years, Princeton R-5 Elementary School (PES) has awarded a monthly Character Education award to a student at each grade level that demonstrated the qualities of the specific character word for that month.
“It has been a great way of honoring the character qualities
of our students that may sometimes go overlooked or unnoticed,” said PES counselor Lori Puls. “It is also a reminder to all of us what the character words look like in action.”
Each month one student from each grade is recognized at the awards assembly and awarded with a free lunch pass with Puls
See Character word, Page 15
PRESTON COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph
Sticken, sheep; Ethan Van-
supporters of the
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STORAGE UNITS
Storage Unit For RentLarge 1,500+ square foot storage unit in Modena. $100/month, 2 months free rent for getting it ready to rent. 702-984-8414. 8-1-2tp For Rent - Storage unit. Elm Street Storage, Princeton. 660-748-3619. 8-1-ufnb
ADVERTISE in the Princeton Post-Telegraph TODAY!
GUNS & AMMO
WOOD’S GUN SHOP
5 Miles South of Ravanna 660-748-5795
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday 1-5-2023-ufn
Boyer Land Company LLC Aaron Franklin, Sales Agent Princeton, MO 64673 660-748-6314
YOUR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST! 1-5-2023ufn
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. 9-28-23-52tp
No hunting, fishing or trespassing on property owned, leased or rented by Joe and Victoria Ryan. 4-27-23-52tp
Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Highland Farms land owned and operated by Dixie Berger, Joe Berger & Steve Berger. 5-16-24-52tp
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. 3-23-23-52tp
Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on land owned by Barbara & LeRoy Hider 10-10-23-52tp
NO HUNTING OR TRESPASSING on any land owned by LAKE MARIE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION. 7-28-23-52tp
No hunting or trespassing of any kind, including but not limited to use of dogs or drones, on land owned by Diane Houk and Jenny Bomgardner. 9-28-23-52tp
Absolutely NO TRESPASSING, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, mushroom and drones on land owned and/or rented by KRW5 Trust (Keith or RaeLynn Weaver) 10-5-23-52tb
No hunting or trespassing on any land owned by Bill and Peggy Heck. 5-30-52tb
No hunting, trespassing or fishing on property owned, leased or rented by Shirley or Joe Don Pollard. 4-19-24-52tp
Absolutely no hunting or trespassing on Choate property at any time. 3-28-24-52tp
Absolutely no hunting with guns or dogs, fishing, or trespassing on land owned by Berndt Farm and Berndt Twin Lake Inc 11-10-23-52tpP
No hunting or trespassing on Cox family property - Andy and Donna Cox, and Robert and Tina Cox. 12-3-22-104tpP
No trespassing on property owned by Shandra Morin 4-11-24-52tp
Mercer County Library announces new books
Special to the Post-Telegraph PRINCETON, Mo. These new titles have been added at the Mercer County Library.
Adult fiction: Bad Tourists, Caro Carver; The Burning (#16 of the Kate Burkholder series), Linda Castillo; What We’ll Burn Last, Heather Chavez; The Hollywood Assistant, May Cobb; Things Don’t Break on Their Own, Sarah Easter Collins; Flashpoint (#27 of the FBI
Thriller series), Catherine Coulter; One Big Happy Family, Jamie Day; The Wedding People, Alison Espach; The Astrology House, Carinn Jade; Breaking the Dark, Lisa Jewell; We Carry the Sea in Our Hands, Jane Kim; What Have you Done?, Shari Lapena; Like Mother, Like Daughter, Kimberly McCreight; Maria, Michelle Moran; The Wilds, Sarah Pearse; and Slow Dance, Rainbow Rowell.
you’ll get 100% of the benefit you’ve earned from a lifetime of working. The reductions for early claiming are permanent reductions, except for the annual cost of living adjustments (COLA). Note that you can also delay longer than your FRA to get an even larger benefit amount (you can delay up to age 70 when your maximum benefit is reached). Just remember, the earnings test (as described above) will apply if you claim SS before your FRA and you are still working.
If your plan is to continue to work full time, be aware that if you claim early SS and significantly exceed the annual earnings limit, you may even be temporarily ineligible to collect SS benefits. If your work income is high enough that the penalty for exceeding the earnings limit is more than SS can recover through withheld benefits in one year, they will tell you that you’re unable to collect benefits at this time (until you either earn less or reach your FRA).
So, deciding whether to claim Social Security at 65 or 67 is your personal choice and, hopefully, the above provides the information you need to make an informed decision.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC (Association of Mature American Citizens) Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit the AMAC Foundation website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or send an email to ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
PTSD
Boundless audiobooks: The Burning (#16 of the Kate Burkholder series), Linda Castillo; and What We’ll Burn Last, Heather Chavez.
The Mercer County Library has also added to its large print, western, children’s, juniors, young adult, and Amish sections. The library’s Boundless, Libby, Blackstone Unlimited, and Hoopla platforms are open 24/7.
joins fight From Page 16
secretary of state, I have repeatedly pushed back on these bad ideas, working with other states to stop the Biden-Harris administration.”
The joint comment letter states:
“OSHA’s proposed emergency response standard would severely disrupt the nation’s emergency response system, fragment resources, result in significantly longer response times, particularly in non-urban locations, cost lives among the public, and result in poorer outcomes for the injured. It would also diminish the system’s capacity through causing many smaller response entities to go out of business and would lead to responder attrition through volunteer burnout.”
The letter, signed by Ashcroft and dozens of other officials, concludes with a request that OSHA withdraw the overreaching proposed “Emergency Response Standards.”
Who is ‘Anybody Else’
In about three months Americans will be voting for the next president of the U.S.A. So far, Republicans are backing former President Donald Trump. Joe Biden has decided to let his Vice President, Kamala Harris, run for the presidency for the Democrats. And Literally Anybody Else is challenging the two of them. In fact, Mr. Else, formerly known as Dustin Ebey, says he is running a write-in campaign in Texas and has garnered enough votes to get him on the Tennessee ballot come November. “It’s not necessarily about drawing attention to my grievances, but about giving a place for anyone who shares these grievances to come together to a focal point,” he says.
veterinarian. If confirmed, the veterinarian may recommend specific training interventions or even medical therapy.
“Our typical recommendation for medical management to owners is mild sedation for times when the stimulus can’t be avoided,” Easterwood said. “This would be on a case-by-case basis and would require good communication and collaboration with their veterinarian.”
Pet Talk is a service of the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk.
in horses From Page 13 says Bish.
Containing the disease requires minimizing disease spread and reducing the amount of pathogen in the soil. Crop rotation to a non-host crop like corn for two years and reducing the spread of the disease by machinery can help. Fungicide seed treatments that are labeled for red crown rot may help protect against early-season infections.
Red crown rot was first confirmed in soybean crops in the southern U.S. in the 1970s and has now been confirmed in 11 soybean-producing states, including Missouri.
Contact the MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic at http:// muext.us/Plant Clinic to help with diagnosis of the disease.
Bish discusses red crown rot in northeastern Missouri in a short YouTube video at https://www.youtube. com/shorts/NP318SAh7QU.
A pyre of a fire
The experts tell us that a bonfire “quiets your thoughts and engages your senses.” If that’s the case the bonfire in the town of Craigyhill was surely big enough to calm the nerves of the whole of Northern Ireland, and then some. The pyre was 205 feet and a few inches tall, big enough to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. The big blaze was part of a traditional celebration known as The Eleventh Night. But before the fire was lit a bold parachutist threw himself off the top of the flaring tower.
She saved the bunny
An unidentified heroine attending the Fourth of July celebration in Providence, RI, dived into the Providence River to save the life of a rabbit. She managed to rescue the bunny but when Christine Maino, captain of a WaterFire boat, approached to rescue her, she refused to let go of the critter. As Maino put it, “We threw the life ring out, we have a ladder, we put that on the side of the boat so we could get her up but she would not let go of the rabbit, she was bound and determined the rabbit was coming with her.”
A whale of a tale
Don’t blame the whale; breaching is what they do and sometimes humans get in their way. Take the whale that flipped over a boat on the waters off the coast of Portsmouth, NH, tossing – but not injuring – two fishermen. Colin and Wyatt Yeager caught the whole thing on tape and helped rescue the sailors. “I was actually shocked by their reaction,” said Wyatt. “They were doing fine. They were smiling. They were like, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ They were just happy that they were OK, the whale was OK.”
Red crown rot found From Page 14
Ashcroft
Give free market economy a chance
PAUL HAMBY Special to the Post-Telegraph
MAYSVILLE, Mo. For two decades Argentina has been under extreme liberal policies slipping more and more into a socialist country. The government grew along with many unnecessary public works projects designed only to create jobs. Free market businesses declined.
In Argentina, a nation of 47 million people, inflation was running at about 25% per year, while the poverty rate soared to 57%.
In 2023, the people had had enough and elected a free market, small government leader: Javier Milei. He campaigned holding up a chainsaw, promising to cut government spending and lower taxes.
In just a few months, Milei removed price controls for food and rent, froze all public works projects and cut fuel subsidies. Milei cut government spending by laying off nearly 70,000 government workers. He reduced the number of federal agencies from 18 to nine!
For the first time in 16 years, the Argentina government’s income exceeds spending. He balanced the budget by cutting spending.
The first positive results of his plan were disclosed in May 2024. Inflation was down to 4.2%, compared to 25+% in 2023.
Poverty dropped from 57% of the Argentina population to 45%.
Milei said “Many 21st century leaders see every failure of an economic model as proof of a market failure warranting government intervention. Let us not allow the fatally conceited (politicians) to destroy our lives with regulations.”
Joseph Humire of the Heritage Foundation explains: “Milei wants to turn Argentina into a beacon of economic prosperity based on economic freedom. A lot of these cuts that he’s done in the public sectorit’s not that he’s trying to erase those functions inside the Ar-
LIBERTY THOUGTS
gentine economy as a wholehe’s trying to transition them to the private sector."
In June 2024, protestors took to the streets of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, while the congress debated implementing more of Milei’s smaller government agenda.
The free market president warned early on that things would have to get worse before they would get better. Patience is required to give free markets a chance. His honesty about the need for short term pain for long term gain has kept his popularity at relatively high numbers.
If the people continue to support Milei and his free market policies, this will be one of the rare times in history when socialism was defeated peacefully. It usually takes a war.
At a recent breakfast table discussion, the topic of local welfare in our county came up: food pantry, food stamps, subsidies (It appears more residents in our county get some kind of subsidy than do not when you count in business, farming, healthcare…). Clearly some truly in need are helped while others become dependent on handouts.
In the past 10 years, our federal budget has doubled, our state budget has doubled, and locally our number of DeKalb County employees have doubled. America and Missouri are heading towards socialism while countries suffering from the results of socialism are once again turning to free markets for economic success.
“Capitalism has been the only system in history where wealth was not acquired by looting, but by production, not by force, but by trade, and has opened the field for human ingenuity and talent.” - Ayn Rand
Paul Hamby is a free thinking conservative farmer and small business owner in northwest Missouri’s DeKalb County.
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.”
The American righteous cause - both in 1776 and today
Editor’s note: This article first appeared at The American Spectator
DR. PAUL KEGNOR
GROVE CITY, Pa. The Declaration of Independence was, of course, just that. It was an official declaration of independence by the “United Colonies” (upper case), as they were thus described by Thomas Jefferson, his editors John Adams and Ben Franklin, and the Congress in their July 4, 1776 statement for the ages. The document also referred to the colonies as the “united States of America.” Note the lower case “united.” This was not yet the U.S.A.the United States of America.
These were the new “States of America,” here united together. What were they united against? They opposed “the present King of Great Britain” and his “history of repeated injuries and usurpations,” laid out in a litany roughly 1,800 words in length, remarkably brief in light of what they projected. Because of the “long train of abuses and usurpations,” intended to “reduce them to absolute Despotism,” it was the colonies’ “right” and “duty” to “throw off” their governance from Great Britain.
They were thereby declaring their independence. Or as Jefferson eloquently put it in the opening, they set forth to “declare the causes which impel them to the separation” from Britain. These “representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions,” did just that.
FAITH & FREEDOM
They and their new country and the world and history would never be the same.
Even then, the Declaration of Independence was more than just a document declaring independence. It remains a splendid philosophical and moral statement on human nature and governance, acknowledging (among other things) that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
But it wasn’t aimed merely at those governed from faraway Britain.
Consider the document’s audience. The first thing any writer considers is the audience.
The document’s author, Thomas Jefferson, selected by John Adams and Ben Franklin for the task, knew that his audience was not merely the colonists, King George III, and Parliament. This document was written to the larger world. It was a diplomatic statement to other nations as well.
To that end, my good friend, the late, brilliant Michael Novak, argued that the Declaration of Independence should be read as a declaration of just war. Our founding fathers set out to explain to other nations the injustices against them, and hence why they were justified in declaring this separation. And speaking of war, what the signers did was considered an act of treason against the British crown. They could literally hang for this. The famous exchange between John Hancock and Ben Franklin expressed
that well:
“Gentlemen, we must be unanimous,” insisted Hancock to his colleagues in Congress. “There must be no pulling different ways. We must all hang together.” Franklin nervously quipped in response: “Yes, we must all indeed hang together, or most assuredly, we shall hang separately.”
Dr. Benjamin Rush put it this way: “Stepping forward to sign the Declaration was like signing your own death warrant.” And yet, he and the 55 others did just that. They pledged to one another their lives and sacred honor. It was no accident that they finished the document with this powerful statement of unity: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
There was truly a sacred quality to the document. The 56 signers included four references to God in their statement, with two of the four added to Jefferson’s original text by Congress. The Almighty appears in the Declaration in four forms: Law Giver, Creator, Supreme Judge of the World, and Divine Providence. In this, the American Revolution was utterly different from the bloody, ghastly, perverse, deranged, sickening French Revolution. In his A History of the American People, the late, great British historian Paul Johnson, who was a close friend of and longtime contrib-
See Righteous cause, Page 15
DEATH NOTICE
Ann George Princeton, Mo.
Ann Marie George, 77, of Princeton, Mo., passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, Mo.
She was born September 9, 1946 in Springfield, Mo., the daughter of David Harold and Fay B. (Howell) Beeman.
On November 9, 1969, she married Jerry George. He survives of the home.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law, Chuck and Sally George.
Survivors in addition to her husband, Jerry, are daughters Jennifer (James) Walker and Amanda George (Steve Mason), and her grandchildren, Maya Ann Walker, Marie Elizabeth Walker, James Luke Mason and Mitchell Thomas Walker.
Ann has been cremated under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home of Princeton. The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.
LAND TRANSFERS
Tuesday, July 30
• Jeffrey L. Brant to Rardon Heating & Electric Inc.
Thursday, Aug. 1
• Kyle Hicks to Gary L. Boyke.
MERCER CO. FOOD PANTRY
Located in the basement of Princeton 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. 12: kielbasa with cabbage, harvard beets, poppyseed muffin, baked pineapple.
Tuesday, Aug. 13: meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed vegetable casserole, bread, mandarin orange salad.
Wednesday, Aug. 14: open faced turkey with gravy, corn, winter mix with cheese, bread, winter fruit salad, Rice Krispie cookie.
Thursday, Aug. 15: fish sandwich, baked beans, potato wedges, bun, fruit cocktail.
Friday, Aug. 16: chicken strips or chicken livers, green bean casserole, potato medley, hot roll, assorted fruit, chocolate cake.
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 660748-3266 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.
COMMISSION
MERCER COUNTY COMMISSION
Report taken from minutes of meetings of the Mercer County Commission. All votes are unanimous unless otherwise noted. Monday, July 29
• Minutes of the July 22 meeting were approved.
• Bills were approved and paid.
• Sheriff Jeff Spencer, Mercer Fire Protection District Chief Billy Fisher and clerk Fran Fisher, Mercer County Fire Protection District Chief Tony Johnson and Mercer County Ambulance District Director Doug Priest spoke to commissioners. They discussed a proposal to establish a county-wide 911 district for the purpose of providing emergency telephone service pursuant to Section 190.335, RSMo. Commissioners voted to approve the placement of a question on the Nov. 5 ballot.
CAINSVILLE
MELANIE CHANEY
Rudy and Jean Finney went to Liberty on Thursday, Aug. 1 to see Jean’s sister and family from Alabama. Their great-grandchildren Emma and Henry visited several days this past July with them also.
Lakelynn and Lilah Chaney spent Friday night, Aug. 2 with their grandparents Herman and Melanie Chaney. They were joined by their cousin Damien Chaney on Saturday to spend the day with them. Damien then spent the night Saturday night and went to another grandparents on Sunday.
The Cain reunion was held Sunday, Aug. 4 at the Cainsville ballpark. Those attendants were as follows: Alisha, Bo and Ember Carr; Brenda and Rex McLain; Jeff and Kimberly Haines; Randy Cain and Breanna, Remington and Maverick Barth; Sammy Joe, DJ, and Kai Kai Bradley; John and Jonathan Thomas; Andrea, Jason, Gavin and Gabe Orndorff; Rog-
er and R. J. Cain; William and Lisa Cain; Adam, Amanda, Tryson, Phoenix and Aubrey Ratliff. Roger and Barbara Cain, Jerry and Rhonda Morgan; Violet Ellsworth; Dusty Ellsworth; Harlee Ellsworth; Pete Ellsworth; Hope Ellsworth; Mike Cain; Ed Meinecke; and Toby, Stephanie, Michelle and Tegan Boswell.
Recent visitors of Lila McLain were Kay and Randall Thomas; Walker and Emily Thomas; Ronda Pash; Joshua Pash, Sawyer and Jackson; and Page Eads, Hunter and Carson.
Sympathy to the family and friends of Janice Schoonmaker, who recently passed away. She was the wife of the late Earl Schoonmaker previously from Cainsville.
Sympathy to the family and friends of Jill Slaughter, who recently passed away. She was the wife of Jason Slaughter, daughter of Gary and Kathy Russell, and granddaughter of the late Sam and Helen McLain.
An 80th birthday card shower is being held for Brenda Hagan, c/o Pearls II Eden for Elders, 611 North College, Princeton, MO 64673. I’m sure she would love to hear from everyone.
Don’t forget the school’s open house Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., and school starts Aug. 21.
As always, thanks for the news and send me something for next week’s paper!
Crossroads still a Princeton institution after nearly 45 years
KIERA POLLARD
Special to the Post-Telegraph
Who remembers the Snack Shack and its famous Shack Burger? Bill Heck’s business ventures have been a staple in Mercer County since November of 1979! It was a pleasure speaking with Bill about the years he has been his own boss.
Snack Shack began as a dream to support his family. He employed (too many to count) Mercer County teenagers. With the help of good employees, they made 120 pizzas a week on a small two shelf oven. “Alice Johnson at 12 years of age was one of the hardest working kids I had,” he said. Bill also mentioned the Prichard girls and putting up with one boyfriend in particular hanging around Tammy every night she worked! Past employee Dr. Tammy Hart wanted to know if Bill remembered how to make a Shack Burger because she does. She learned even with the constant boyfriend hanging around. (Spencer is still hanging around.) Bill does remember the special sauce on the Shack Burger. It is an easy sauce with only two ingredients, ketchup
and mustard. “However, I know the amount of each to make it just right,” Bill added with a grin. In 1996, Bill added the liquor store, where he offers hunting and fishing licenses, bait, liquor, and beers. If you open the door and hear harmonica music, it is Bill sitting in his favorite chair waiting for customers he can chat with. As we spoke, customers came in and Bill was there with advice on purchases when they had questions. Bill gives 100% to his customers. “My customers are my bosses. I accommodate them so they want to return,” Bill added, “Customer service is the priority.” As we talked, a couple came in that were taking a Saturday drive. The woman was from Albany and was back exploring parts of northern Missouri she had not been and came upon Crossroads. She loved the antique cabinet which houses all types of liquors. They asked if there was anywhere to eat in town and Bill let them know about Tigres Mexican Restaurant. Always keeping an eye on the fast-food business and the changes coming,
such as Casey’s bringing a store to Princeton. Bill shifted away from fast food and wanted to go bigger. The family discussed opening a bar and gril,l and Crossroads Bar and Grill moved from a dream to reality. Bill gives credit to his late wife, Debbie, for keeping the books and records. “That was never my strong point.” Debbie worked right by his side seven days a week.
Crossroads Bar and Grill was an instant hit in the county and surrounding areas. The Black & Blue Burger, the famous Twice Baked Potato Casserole, steaks, shrimp made to please the customer, the atmosphere including the amazing horseshoe bar was a treat for all who ate there.
Bill continues to work seven days a week for his customers at the liquor store. He is a Vietnam veteran who served his country and continues to serve his community over the last 40 years. Advice he gives those starting a business: “Follow your dream to be a business owner. It is an endeavor but follow the dream. Set your hours and be there and get to know your cus-
tomers.”
Times have changed since opening the Snack Shack. New business owners need to know the state, local and federal laws regarding the type of business. Ask for advice and learn from those who came before.
“The 1980s hit Mercer County hard, banks closed, businesses went bankrupt, but you must prepare for the bad and celebrate the good,” Bill said. The best part of be-
ing the boss of my own business is having the product the customer wants. Have something they want, and you have succeeded. Returning customers is the gold standard of business owners. If they show up after closing and I am still here, I will unlock the door and welcome them in.”
Customer service is still alive and well at Crossroads Liquors. Bill is a member of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce
and is an active member going to meetings and supporting others in following their dreams of owning a business. The bar and grill plus the liquor store are on the market with a new roof and new coolers. It is a turnkey business for someone who wants to follow their dream owning a bar and grill.
Kiera Pollard is public relations coordinator for the Princeton Chamber of Commerce.
KIERA POLLARD/Special to the Post-Telegraph
Bill Heck poses behind the counter of his business, Crossroads Liquor & Sporting Goods, located at the north intersection of U.S. Highways 65 and 136 in Princeton.
Northwest Missouri State study focuses on mental health of youth
Special to the Post-Telegraph MARYVILLE, Mo. Northwest Missouri State University researchers, in partnership with Mosaic Life Care, recently completed an assessment of pediatric mental health resources in area counties that found gaps exist in resource availability and other barriers preventing access to mental health care for children.
“Northwest is a strong supporter of the community and region, so being a part of this project was not only the right thing to do but a privilege,” said Dr.
Tyler Tapps, the university’s assistant vice president of student affairs for health and well-being and the study’s leader.
“This study is really the first step to identifying ways to improve access to those in our region. Northwest is thankful to play a role.”
The study conducted during the spring semester was funded as part of a $100,000 grant Mosaic Life Care received through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Rural Health Network Develop-
Battling Japanese beetles takes patience
LINDA GEIST
University of MO Extension INDEPENDENCE, Mo.
Patience and a bucket of soapy water are your best friends when fending off Japanese beetles in the garden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall.
Reall recommends tapping beetles off plants by hand and putting them in a bucket of soapy water to kill them. You can also shake them off the plant into the bucket.
Doing this daily can reduce numbers and avoid attracting more beetles.
“It’s best to do this each morning because the beetles release a pheromone to attract more beetles throughout the day,” she says. You can protect highly valued plants with cheesecloth or fine netting.
Harsher methods like insecticides can harm pollinators and beneficial insects, says Reall. Beetles are a temporary problem for about 4-6 weeks in the summer.
The adult Japanese beetle is a little less than half an inch long and has a shiny, metallic-green body and bronze-colored outer wings. It has six tufts of white hair on each side under the edges of its wings. Japanese beetles produce one generation each year and can burrow up to 10 inches into the soil to survive the winter.
Japanese beetles feed on about 300 species of plants, devouring leaves, flowers and overripe or wounded fruit.
They usually feed in groups, starting at the top of a plant and working downward. They devour foliage, eating the tissue between the veins, giving leaves a lacelike or skeletonized appearance. They are most active
ment Planning Program. Mosaic contracted with Northwest for a research team to evaluate the awareness, perceptions and use of mental health resources available for children and youth within the six northwest Missouri counties of Atchison, Nodaway, Holt, Gentry, Worth and Andrew.
The study was designed to uncover critical gaps in services and identify barriers within the current mental health framework for youth in northwest Missouri. To accomplish the objective, researchers gathered insight from focus groups involving
on warm, sunny days and prefer plants that are in direct sunlight. A single beetle does not eat much; it is group feeding that results in severe damage.
Adult Japanese beetles appear to be attracted to odors from beetle-damaged leaves and often return to plants that they fed on in previous years. They also like grassy areas with moist soil.
Japanese beetles are strong flyers and travel as far as 3 miles, so Reall does not recommend using traps, which will actually attract more beetles to your yard.
Beetles tend to favor certain plant species, so choosing the “right plant for the right place” can help to reduce populations, says Reall. They target the same plants in your garden year after year. Selecting less-preferred plants will reduce Japanese beetles in your yard.
Rosebushes, American linden, crabapples, rose of Sharon and hollyhocks are among the beetles’ favorite choices, says Reall. University of Kentucky’s Department of Entomology lists plants that Japanese beetles are attracted to and those they avoid at https://entomology. ca.uky.edu/ef 451.
MU Extension’s Integrated Pest Monitoring website, which gathers information from across the state, offers an alert system for Japanese beetles and other pests. Subscribe to alerts at https:// ipm.missouri.edu/pestMonitoring or email ipm@missouri.edu
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more than 70 school counselors and medical providers in addition to survey responses from more than 700 residents throughout the six-county area.
While the survey data revealed a wide range of awareness and use of mental health resources, a majority of respondents identified high costs and limited insurance coverage as barriers to their use of the available resources. Stigma and logistical issues, such as transportation and scheduling, also were identified as challenges. Further, respondents indicated dissatis-
faction with coordination between mental health services and schools and collaboration between mental health professionals and educators.
In focus groups with school counselors and health care providers, the research team discovered themes of overwhelmingness, frustration and exhaustion related to the increasing number of children needing mental health resources, challenges with parent cooperation and adequate training for providers.
Focus group participants emphasized the need for improved access to re-
sources, parent education and involvement, licensed professional counselors in schools, and effective communication between providers and schools.
In addition to Tapps, the research team included Dr. Damon Leiss, associate professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness; Dr. Amy Hillard, assistant professor in the School of Health Science and Wellness; Tori Castle, a graduate student in the School of Health Science and Wellness; and Emily Guitierrez, a student intern at Wellness Services.
Extension to offer balance classes
Special to the Post-Telegraph PRINCETON, Mo. University of Missouri Extension is offering an eight-session “Matter of Balance” class starting on Aug. 13 in Princeton. This class will help older adults address concerns about falling, increase strength and balance, and reduce fall risk factors. Its goal is to assist individuals in maintaining independence for a longer period and lead a more positive life.
Participants will learn to:
• View falls and the fear of falling as controllable.
• Set realistic goals for increasing their activity levels.
• Change their environment to reduce fall risk factors.
• Do exercises designed to increase strength and balance.
Jessica Trussell and Micah Potgieter, specialists with University of Missouri Extension, will teach the eight-session Matter of Balance class in Princeton on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Aug. 13 through Sept. 5. The class will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mercer County Senior
Center, 110 North Broadway Street in Princeton. Young at Heart Resources will cover the participant fee.
Those interested in attending the class are asked to register by contacting Trussell (660646-0811 or TrussellJL@ missouri.edu) or Potgieter (660-748-3315 or DotyM@missouri.edu). Also, if you need special accommodations to participate, please inform us when you register. Class size is limited, so registration is strongly encouraged to secure a spot in the class.
Should I retire at age 65, or 67?
RUSSELL GLOOR
Special to the Post-Telegraph WASHINGTON Dear Rusty: I'm just trying to figure out how to determine whether to retire at 65 or 67 and, if I retire, approximately how much could I make outside of my Social Security without being overly taxed.
Signed: Thinking About Retiring
Dear Thinking: Deciding when to retire is serious business, because it affects your future and what your retirement income will be going forward. Thus, it’s good you are taking the time to fully understand your options, and we’re happy to assist you with that. Here are some things which should help you decide whether to retire at 65 or 67:
• Social Security benefits are subject to income tax (by the IRS) if your combined income from all sources (which includes your Adjusted Gross Income on your tax return, plus half of the SS benefits you received during the tax year) exceeds certain thresholds for your income tax filing status. If you file your income tax as “married/jointly” and your combined income from all sources is more than $32,000, then 50% of your received SS benefits are subject to income tax (at your normal IRS tax rate). But if your combined income as a married couple is more than $44,000, then 85% of the SS benefits you received during the tax year becomes part of your taxable income. FYI, the taxation thresholds are lower for those who file taxes as an individual ($25,000 and $34,000 respectively).
• Born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security’s purposes is 67. If you claim SS benefits before
your FRA, not only will your monthly amount be permanently reduced but you’ll also be subject to Social Security’s “earnings test” which limits how much you can earn before they take away some of your benefits. The earnings limit changes annually, but for 2024 it is $22,320 (future year’s limits will be a bit higher each year). If your work earnings exceed the annual limit, Social Security will take away $1 in benefits for every $2 you are over the limit. They take away by withholding future benefits for as many months as necessary for them to recover
what you owe for exceeding the annual limit. FYI, the limit goes up during the year you attain FRA, and the earnings test no longer applies after you reach your full retirement age.
• If you claim SS before your FRA, your monthly amount will be permanently reduced. If you claim at age 65, you will get about 87% of the amount you would get by waiting until age 67 to claim. If you claim at age 66, your monthly amount would be about 93% of your FRA entitlement and, by claiming at 67
See Retirement, Page 2
GEC Community Foundation announces latest grant recipients
Special to the Post-Telegraph TRENTON, Mo. Trustees of the GEC Community Foundation Inc. awarded 15 grants totaling $9,339 prior to the Grundy Electric Cooperative Annual Membership Meeting on Aug. 1. All grants are funded by member donations called Operation Round Up where members voluntarily round up their utility bills each month to fund grants to eligible entities. Education grants were awarded to Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7, Trenton 9, Princeton R-5, North Mercer R-3, Cainsville R-1, Gilman City R-4 and South Harrison R-2. A rural development grant was awarded to Life Options Green Hills.
Since 2005, the GEC Community Foundation, Inc. has awarded 888 grants totaling $520,114.10 to schools and community organizations. The foundation assists qualifying schools and organizations with grants for education, health, and rural development within Grundy Electric Cooperative’s 12 county service area: Harrison, Mercer and Grundy counties and portions of Linn, Livingston, Daviess, Gentry, Putnam, and Sullivan counties in Missouri and portions of Ringgold, Wayne and Decatur counties in Iowa.
The Operation RoundUp Program allows GEC members and customers of the Public Water Sup-
ply District Number 1 of Grundy County to voluntarily “round up” their utility bill to the next even dollar. The PWSD Round-Up funds are disbursed solely to projects located in Grundy County. For an average of $6 per year, participating GEC members and PWSD #1 customers assist in funding local community projects.
The next grant application deadline is Oct. 1. Qualified applicants must be a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization or other eligible entity and may apply for a grant by completing a grant application with supporting information. Grant applications are available at www.grundyec.com.
Japanese beetle numbers up in corn, soybeans
University of MO Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. Missouri corn and soybean growers are reporting growing numbers of Japanese beetles in crops in recent weeks, says University of Missouri Extension state entomologist Ivair Valmorbida.
Valmorbida uses numbers from MU Extension’s Pest Monitoring Network, which gathers information from across the state
The highest numbers are reported in northwestern Missouri’s Gentry County. Numbers are also growing in northeastern Missouri. Japanese beetle adults are highly mobile, so Valmorbida recom-
mends regular scouting of fields.
Adult Japanese beetles primarily feed on the upper canopy leaves, causing defoliation in soybean. Leaves become skeletonized with veins still intact.
In soybean, insecticide treatment decisions are based on growth stage and amount of defoliation, including injury from other defoliators because it is difficult to distinguish among the types of feeding injury.
Foliar insecticide treatment is recommended when defoliation is expected to exceed 30% before bloom (V1-R2 growth stages), 10% from
pod development to pod fill (R3-R5) and 15% at the R6 (full seed) growth stage.
Japanese beetles are also considered a pest in corn crops. They focus on clipping corn silks necessary for pollination, which can lead to some yield reductions, says Valmorbida.
Valmorbida says foliar insecticide application is warranted in corn crops if the three following conditions are met:
• There are an average of three or more beetles per ear.
• Silks have been clipped to less than 0.5 inch.
• Pollination is less than
50% complete.
MU Extension’s pest monitoring website offers an alert system for Japanese beetles and other pests. Subscribe to alerts at https://ipm.missouri. edu/pestMonitoring or email ipm@missouri.edu.
Valmorbida also recommends the following publications:
“Biology and Management of Japanese Beetle,” MU Extension, https:// extension.missouri.edu/ g7412.
“Biology and Management of Japanese Beetle in Corn and Soybean,” Oxford Academic, https:// academic.oup.com/jipm/ article/10/1/9/5454734.
Mosquitoes can take a bite out of summer fun
LINDA GEIST
University of MO Extension BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.
With summer rain come mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes come not just itchy bites but the risk of diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, Zika virus and yellow fever, among others, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and entomologist Tamra Reall. Prevention
The best way to avoid getting mosquito bites around your home and yard is to empty any standing water, especially after it rains or the sprinklers run, says Reall.
These puddles, even those as small as a tablespoon, are where mosquitoes lay their eggs and the larvae grow. Water collects in flowerpots, tire swings, toys, trash, gut-
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ters, poorly drained soil and holes in trees. Empty these containers and fix drainage problems. Chlorinated and filtered swimming pools are not mosquito havens, but untreated pools are. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when working in the yard. Wear a repellant, preferably one containing DEET. Adult mosquitoes like to rest on vegetation, so keep grass mowed to eliminate potential hiding places. Make sure door and window screens are in good condition. Use a fan to create a breeze. Mosquitoes are not strong flyers, so a light breeze can keep them away. Avoid spraying lawns and using foggers. Mosquitoes can develop resistance to sprays and quickly infest the area again. Foggers may be effective for only a few hours and
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contain pesticides that kill helpful insects, including pollinators and mosquito predators.
Field tests show that bug zappers and ultrasonic pest eliminators are not effective ways to attract and kill mosquitoes.
The Missouri Department of Conservation recommends using nontoxic mosquito dunks and pellets for areas with stagnant water. These are safe for animals, beneficial insects and the environment.
Treatment
If you get a mosquito bite, wash the affected area with soap and water. To reduce swelling and itching, apply an ice pack for 10 minutes; reapply as needed.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends this at-home treatment:
• Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste.
Apply the paste then wash it off after 10 minutes.
• Use an over-thecounter antihistamine or anti-itch cream.
• Consult a health care provider if you develop a fever or pain.
The MU Extension guide “Mosquitoes” is available for free download at extension.missouri.edu/g7400.
She’s as brave as they come
Thirty-one year old Kanya Sesser earned a Guinness World Record by skateboarding for 19.65 seconds in a handstand position. She called it, "one of the life-changing career moments that have happened to me." Kanya had no choice when it comes to skateboarding; she was born without legs. As she put it, "no legs, no limits ... it's so incredible to me to make history for others to see. I have made an impact on others for the next generations to come.
Frank Stork was an iconic figure in the electric cooperative business
CALEB JONES
Special to the Post-Telegraph
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. In June, the electric co-ops lost an icon. Frank Stork was CEO of Missouri Electric Cooperatives for more than 30 years. During his time here, he led the rural electric coops through many challenges and received plenty of recognition.
During his co-op career, Frank served as chair of the National Legislative Resolutions Committee
for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In his role as a voice for rural Missourians back home, he was invited to discuss energy policy at the White House by President Carter.
Frank got his start as a co-op communicator, helping edit the South Dakota Highliner early in his career. Under his leadership, Rural Missouri was honored with three Haggard Awards, presented annually to
the publication that best presents “lucid, forthright contributions to electric cooperative objectives.” Frank’s monthly columns were a big reason for those honors.
These accomplishments, like his many others, are something that should be recognized. Yet, Frank’s real impact on rural Missouri was the people he touched.
Frank hired leaders, helped those leaders and created leaders dedicated
to keeping the lights on in rural Missouri. I bet if you go to any electric cooperative in Missouri, you will find someone who has a Frank Stork story. He wasn’t just a leader, he helped build leaders.
Frank wasn’t the first to dedicate his life to rural Missouri. He had the honor, just like I do, of following in the footsteps of many great men and women. These pioneers were leaders who
Protecting your pig from diamond skin disease
Special to the Post-Telegraph COLLEGE STATION, Texas Everybody wants to find a diamond in the rough, but no one wants their pig to develop diamond skin disease - an infection that can cause pain and discomfort and may lead to death if left untreated.
Dr. Kevin Washburn, a professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and Dr. Bridget Savitske, a veterinary resident in large animal internal medicine, explain the common skin disease in pet pigs, sharing signs of disease and how to prevent infection with help from your veterinarian.
Getting to the ‘root’ of diamond skin disease
Diamond skin disease, also known as Erysipelas, is one of the oldest and most common infectious diseases carried in pigs. The disease gets its name from the diamond-shaped pattern that can potentially appear on the pig’s skin when infected.
Diamond skin disease starts as what appears to be a minor illness and gradually gets worse with symptoms including high fever, anorexia, depression, diamond-shaped lesions, and potentially death if left untreated.
“Diamond skin disease causes vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels, which is the reason for the diamond-shaped pattern,” Washburn said. “All the little capillary beds in the skin get clogged, and the diamonds, or blocks, on the skin are places that have lost blood flow.”
While the diamond-shaped pattern is a definite sign of this disease, it is important to know that it does not always appear.
“The disease can take many forms,” Savitske said. “Because it causes sepsis, the body’s extreme response to infec-
tion, it has the potential to involve almost any organ system and can manifest in different ways.”
While the disease is a common illness, it can be difficult to diagnose. Behavior is the most important sign for owners.
“Affected pigs will become lethargic, stop eating, and quit partaking in their normal daily activities,” Washburn said. “If they are non-pigmented breeds or have white or light-colored areas, you may start to see the development of discolored skin lesions.”
Washburn and Savitske advise taking your pig to a veterinarian immediately if you notice any signs of abnormal behavior.
‘Sow’ many reasons to vaccinate
Fortunately, diamond skin disease is easily preventable through vaccination.
“Pigs need to be vaccinated as a weanling, or as they are able to eat food other than the sow’s milk, and then they need a booster shot at least three weeks later,” Washburn said. “After the threeweek booster, they need to get the vaccine annually.”
Many times, the antibodies for diamond skin disease come in a combination vaccine, which can make vaccinating an easier task.
“There is a combination vaccine that includes respiratory diseases and
reproductive tract diseases to prevent loss of pregnancy,” Washburn said
While diamond skin disease is most commonly carried by pigs, humans are also susceptible to skin infections and potentially sepsis if exposed.
If your pig has diamond skin disease, it is important to use caution; Washburn urges owners to keep their pet pigs outside of the house to avoid spreading diamond skin disease.
“Because it’s spread by both fecal matter and in nasal secretions, owners should make sure they do not chew their fingernails, give the pig kisses, or otherwise risk the bacteria getting near your face,” Savitske said.
The infection occurs when a bacterium is ingested, often because of environmental contamination, and multiplies in the body.
“Pigs are typically exposed to diamond skin disease through contaminated soil,” Washburn said.
Because the disease can gain access through contaminated food, water, and bedding, owners can reduce the risk of diamond skin disease by providing pigs with clean bedding, fresh water, and storing food in a sanitary location to limit possible contamination.
By vaccinating your pig annually, watching
were willing to knock on doors collecting $5 per family in hopes of getting power extended to each farm. Equally important, they were the people who were willing to drive into storms preparing to do whatever it took to keep those lights on.
It is an honor to work for an organization that is focused on the future of rural Missouri. I hope to leave a legacy similar to the one Frank Stork left
behind, ensuring affordable, reliable electricity and making rural Missouri a better place to live, work and raise a family. Frank, you were a coop champion, a great friend and a mentor. I’m going to miss you.
Caleb Jones is executive vice president and CEO of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. He is a member of Boone Electric Cooperative.
for any signs of illness, and maintaining a clean environment, you can help your pet pig avoid diamond skin disease and live a longer, healthier life.
Brazilian farmers, crop consultants visit MU agricultural facilities
LINDA GEIST
University of MO Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. University of Missouri Extension state crops entomologist Iviar Valmorbida and state soybean specialist Andre Reis hosted a group of influential farmers and crop consultants from Brazil on July 19-20 in Columbia.
“The collaboration between Missouri and Brazilian soybean farmers is an ongoing one as each seeks to learn from the other to feed the world,” says Valmorbida.
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of many agricultural commodities, including soybean, beef, poultry, coffee, orange juice and tobacco. It is the second-largest exporter of pork, cotton and ethanol.
It has the largest area of arable land in the world with potential trade expansion and diversification of markets and prod-
ucts. Most importantly, Brazil’s long growing season and ability to harvest two crops a year on the same plot of land makes it unique among soybean-producing countries.
In 2000, Brazil’s soybean exports were 40% of United States’ exports; they now surpass U.S. exports by 20%, according to USDA.
Brazil supplies more than half of the world’s soybean trade from crops produced on 17% of the country’s arable land.
Challenges include increases in fuel and fertilizer costs, credit and storage limitations and an overburdened port and transport system.
“Although Brazilian soybean production competes with U.S. production in the international market, farmers in both countries face similar challenges, such as mitigating biotic and abiotic
stresses and improving production efficiency in a market with narrowing financial margins,” says Reis.
Brazil’s agricultural challenges also include insects and disease, says Valmorbida. Unlike the United States, Brazilian farmers must spray their soybean with insecticides and fungicides three or four times per growing season to gain control. Unlike Missouri, they have few issues with weed control.
The farmers and consultants were from the Brazilian soybean production regions of Mato Grosso and Maranhao. The group toured MU Bradford Research Farm, campus labs and Robert Alper’s farm in Prairie Home as part of a tour of Midwestern universities. Valmorbida and Reis spoke to tour group members in their native language, Portuguese, and facilitated commu-
nication with Alper and others.
The group also learned about long-term crop ro-
tation research at Sanborn Field on the MU campus and visited Reis’s field trials on planting dates and maturity groups as well as the facilities of the MU Soybean Variety Testing Program.
MU Extension state entomologist Ivair Valmorbida and state soybean specialist Andre Reis recently hosted a group of influential farmers and crop consultants from soybean production regions in Brazil. The group visited Sanborn Field, MU soybean field trials, campus labs and an area soybean farm.
State Historical Society seeking applicants for Local History grants
BETH PIKE
Special to the Post-Telegraph COLUMBIA, Mo. The State Historical Society of Missouri is seeking proposals of up to $500, each, to help Missouri cultural heritage institutions preserve and provide access to local history. The deadline for organizations to submit their application is Sept. 15. The one-year grant period begins in November 2024.
The Richard S. Brownlee Missouri Local History grants honor a long-time former execu-
tive director of the State Historical Society who helped expand the Society’s holdings of newspapers, reference materials, manuscripts and artworks. A maximum of $10,000 will be awarded this year.
The Missouri Local History grant submissions should focus in two areas: The preservation of historical local records, which includes the purchase of archival supplies to store or display personal papers, photographs, maps or other materials. Funds may not be used
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for preservation of federal, state or local government documents. The other area of focus can be education or programming activities to promote learning about local history or training for the preservation of local history records. Grants are available to Missouri cultural heritage institutions
that are organizational members of the State Historical Society with preference given to local historical societies.
“Brownlee Local History Grants are an opportunity for local historical societies and cultural heritage institutions to preserve and provide access to their valuable collec-
tion,” said Gerald Hirsch, associate director of the State Historical Society of Missouri. “These grants have supported local organizations across the state from helping to eradicate mold and mildew damage in their collections to creating brochures and guides for a variety of projects and exhibits.
Grant proposals for the 2024-25 cycle may be submitted online at https://shsmo.org/ awards/brownlee-grant.
COURTESY OF IVAR VALMORBIDA
Extension’s annual Hundley-Whaley field day set for Sept. 4 in Albany
LINDA GEIST
University of MO Extension
ALBANY, Mo. Those attending the Hundley-Whaley Farm, Field and Family Day can learn about a variety of topics including drones, current crop diseases, how to back up a gooseneck trailer and how to stop bleeding with a tourniquet.
The free eventWednesday, Sept. 4 at 1109 South Birch Street, Albany - promises an evening of interesting educational activities and a complimentary dinner, says Jennifer Miller, director of the University of
Missouri Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center.
Registration begins at 4 p.m., and attendees can take their choice of wagon tours beginning at 5 p.m. MU Extension livestock field specialists Shawn Deering and Jim Humphrey will present ways to improve forage systems. There will be an update on Missouri PaddockTrac, an online tool that can help producers manage pastures. Brian Findley of Advanced Aerial Ag LLC will share how drones can improve farm efficiency. MU research specialist Terry
Woods will talk about growing different milkweed and nectar wildflowers in Missouri.
Another wagon tour features presentations from Corteva Agriscience field scientist Kristin Rosenbaum and Jake Young, technical product manager at NOVUS Ag.
MU Extension state soybean specialist Andre Reis will give an update on soybean research, and state crop pathologist Mandi Bish discusses diseases affecting Missouri crops this year.
Workshops and exhibits will cover farm safety and health. Charlie Ellis,
Handle with care: PTSD in horses
LOGAN HANSEN
Special to the Post-Telegraph COLLEGE STATION, Texas Equine companionship is built upon a foundation of trust and care.
Yet, maintaining a horse's trust can be challenging, especially when a past event has left the animal with behaviors mirroring what’s diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans.
Dr. Leslie Easterwood, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses the signs and measures that can be taken for a horse experiencing adverse behaviors following a traumatic event.
Cognitive recollection
In people, PTSD is a disorder that can develop after someone experiences a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. According to the National Institutes of Health, it is common to experience a range of reactions after trauma and people typically recover from the initial symptoms over time.
However, when someone continues to experience the symptoms associated with the traumatic event long-term, they may be diagnosed with PTSD.
Because horses have cognitive memory and memory recall, they can develop behaviors similar to PTSD in humans in response to repetitive trauma.
“There are many scenarios that can lead to adverse behaviors in horses similar to PTSD,” Easterwood said. “They have long memories and can associate any experience that results in physical pain, being scared, or feeling confined with long-term stress.”
Horses also are able to recall people, places, and actions that previously caused a spike in fear.
“Aggressive training methods and capture techniques are two of the most common scenarios that could lead to PTSDlike symptoms in horses,” Easterwood said. The culprit of trauma
As prey animals, horses have a highly developed fight-or-flight response to highly stressful situations, therefore it is vital to be aware of what has become a trigger for a horse that has developed adverse behaviors, as unexpected reactions can put both the horse and the people working with them in danger.
Easterwood described several stimuli that could be triggers for affected horses.
“This could include anything that causes pain, such as certain training methods or needle injections; things that cause fear, like loud noises or fireworks; things that move fast or erratically; or things that cause them to feel trapped, including trailers or low ceiling barns,” Easterwood said.
Easterwood explains that the déjà vu effect of situations resembling the horse’s past trauma can lead to physical responses such as biting, striking, kicking, and attempting to flee.
These aggressive behaviors are reactions that the horse has developed in response to the stress of the traumatic event, and identifying the inciting trauma is critical to resolving these behaviors.
Patience is key
Successful treatment for affected horses can require environmental changes, targeted care and treatment plans, and
MU Extension agricultural engineer, will talk about ways to improve preharvest safety. Licensed drivers can learn how to safely back up a gooseneck trailer.
Attendees can learn valuable skills at the MU School of Medicine’s Mobile Sim. The unit contains advanced simulation equipment and facilities for medical training.
The 30-foot vehicle has virtual reality devices and four computerized patient mannequins. Mobile Sim’s trained staff will help attendees interact with these mannequins
This UFO got a pass
an owner who is committed to meeting the needs of their horse by focusing on reinforcing positive behaviors and eliminating stressors that lead to adverse behaviors.
The biggest help an owner can be to a horse that has developed unsafe behaviors is to understand it - lead with patience and learn of its past in order to better care for it in the present, according to Easterwood.
“It really depends on what triggers that particular horse,” Easterwood said. “Sometimes they can be 'reprogrammed’ through desensitization training, but some horses don't ever get over past trauma.”
Easterwood recommends that owners who suspect their horse has had a past traumatic event that has led to the development of adverse behavior consult with their
See PTSD in horses, Page 2
for hands-only CPR training, Heimlich maneuver and basic bleeding control, including tourniquet use.
Attendees also can learn about hydroponics from MU Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk. Other presentations will discuss black vultures, farm succession, soybean as a food source, 4-H and more.
A free awards dinner at 7 p.m. will recognize 4-H’ers, Century Farms and Gentry County Extension Council members.
Partners for the event include MU Extension,
Albany Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Soybean Association, United Electric, Hall Bottom Seed, Corteva, Premier Ag, Seedway, MFA and the Albany FFA chapter. For more information about the event, go to https://mizzou.us/ HWFFF24.
The 375-acre MU Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center, in Gentry County, is involved in pesticide evaluations and sustainable agriculture concepts. Learn more at https://extension. missouri.edu/programs/ hundley-whaley.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Ryan Vanvleck had no choice recently but to pull over a UFO on the highway because it had an “obstructed tag.” The vehicle’s two occupants got a pass when they told Trooper Vanvleck that they were on their way to the annual UFO Festival in Roswell, N.M. The Sherriff’s Office explained that the driver was warned “about our strict enforcement of warp speed on the interstate and to keep his phasers on stun-only while traveling.”
Ashcroft sues Biden administration
MADISON WALKER
Special to the Post-Telegraph
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration on July 31, challenging an executive order that directs federal agencies to expand access to voter registration and election information. The unconstitutional directive oversteps federal authority and infringes on states’ rights to manage their own election procedures.
The order, issued by President Joe Biden, mandates that federal agencies actively promote voter registration opportunities and disseminate election information to citizens. This includes integrating voter registration services into routine interactions between cit-
izens and federal agencies, aiming to increase voter participation and enhance access to voting resources.
Ashcroft argues this move constitutes federal overreach and violates the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution. “Missouri has a robust and effective election system in place, and it is the responsibility of the states, not the federal government, to manage voter registration and election procedures,” he said. “This executive order undermines state sovereignty and threatens the integrity of our elections. This legal action is not about partisan politics; it is about maintaining the balance of power between the states and the federal government as
intended by our Founding Fathers.”
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, seeks to block the implementation of the executive order, asserting that the order imposes undue burdens on state election authorities and disregards legal frameworks governing elections.
“This order infringes on those of us at the county level who run elections,” Kurt Bahr, St. Charles County elections director said. “Alongside Secretary Ashcroft, we are committed to protecting Missouri voters and ensuring that our elections remain free from unnecessary federal intervention.”
First case of red crown rot found
LINDA GEIST
University of MO Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish reports confirmation of red crown rot, a yield-robbing soybean disease, in Marion County in northeastern Missouri.
This is the first confirmed incidence of the disease in the state. Bish says MU Extension specialists have been scouting for the pathogen since its confirmation in Illinois in 2018.
Yield losses from red crown rot can be significant, with estimates ranging from 15% to 70% in affected areas of a field.
The fungus survives the winter in plant residue, prefers warm and wet conditions for growth and can infect soybean roots shortly after planting. Symptoms begin to
appear later in the season, usually when soybean plants enter the reproductive stage, says Bish.
Leaves of infected plants can have symptoms that resemble sudden death syndrome. Yellow spots become visible on upper canopy leaves and can progress into yellow and brown spots that grow between leaf veins. Wilting and death can follow in severely infected plants.
Additional symptoms of red crown rot include reddish discoloration at the base of the stem and root near the soil line. White fungal growth (mycelia) may be visible on the roots along with red spheres (perithecia). These structures allow the fungus to grow and reproduce.
Disease typically occurs in nonuniform patches within fields. When
scouting, look for groups of infected plants in wet or low-lying parts of the field. You will need to pull up plants and look at the roots to distinguish red crown rot from sudden death syndrome, says Bish. Splitting the stem open can help distinguish red crown rot from other lookalike diseases, including brown stem rot. Currently, no commercial soybean varieties are marketed with resistance to red crown rot. The fungus is in the soil, so overthe-top fungicide applications will not be effective,
See Red crown rot found, Page 2
For a brief time last Friday afternoon, it looked as if storm clouds were building around the Princeton area. But while the skies became darker for awhile, it had no impact on the temperature and no rain fell.
Responsible Gaming education
DARLEA JOHNSON
Special to the Post-Telegraph
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
The Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling recognizes August as Missouri’s Responsible Gaming Education Month. The recognition month was first introduced in 2003 to raise awareness about responsible gaming practices, as well as provide information for resources available to individuals or loved ones with a potential gambling problem. Responsible gaming keeps gambling safe and fun by implementing positive play strategies including: setting time and dollar limits on gambling;
viewing gambling simply as another form of entertainment and not a way to make money; understanding the chances of winning; and never borrowing money to gamble.
Gambling responsibly also means recognizing the potential characteristics of problem gambling, so that action can be taken sooner. One of the ways the Alliance increases awareness is through a “Don’t Let Gambling Break You” public service announcement, which is designed to help individuals recognize the warning signs of problem gambling.
The Alliance also provides a free help line to
connect callers to problem gambling resources in their area. Free help can be accessed by calling 1-888-BETSOFF (1888-238-7633), emailing freehelp@888betsoff.org or visiting 888betsoff. org.
In addition, the Missouri Gaming Commission and the Missouri Lottery both offer their own voluntary self-exclusion lists for those who have a gambling problem. More information about problem gambling concerns and responsible gaming can be found at 888betsoff.org, ncpgambling.org and gamblersanonymous.org.
PRESTON COLE/Princeton Post-Telegraph
Character word From Page 1 and buttons for the students, please contact Puls at lpuls@tigertown.k12. mo.us or 660-748-3335, ext. 285 to sign up, or if you have any further questions.
and two buttons - one that they proudly display on their clothing or backpack and one to share with someone they care about. Each month is sponsored by a different individual, business or organization. If you would like to be a monthly sponsor, the cost is $70 to provide lunch
“We really appreciate all of the support we have for this program,” said Puls.
GEC meeting From Page 1 gift certificate, and a Vizio television.
Guernsey of rural Bethany, representing Area 5. Members voted in favor of the proposed bylaw amendment proposition to provide greater flexibility of when the nominating committee may be appointed and hold their meeting.
The prize drawing included six $200 electric bill credits, two $50 VISA gift cards, a $100 Home Depot gift card, a $75 Washington Street
Righteous
Grundy Electric Cooperative directors held a reorganizational meeting in which the following officers were elected: Woodard, president; Joe Hartley, vice president; Marvin Harding, secretary; Richard Moore, treasurer, and Guernsey, assistant secretary. Other board members are Rodney Ewing, Lentz and Cox.
cause From Page 3
utor to The American Spectator, wrote: “The essential difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution is that the American Revolution, in its origins, was a religious event, whereas the French Revolution was an anti-religious event. That fact was to shape the American Revolution from start to finish and determine the nature of the independent state it brought into being.”
This was indeed evident from start to finish. It was obvious to anyone watching, especially to John Adams, who warned of France’s revolution of militant God-haters: “I know not what to make of a republic of 30 million atheists.”
What they made was the guillotine. That became the stark symbol of the French Revolution.
France’s own Alexis de Tocqueville would later observe: “For the Americans the ideas of Christianity and liberty are so completely mingled that it is almost impossible to get them to conceive of the one without the other.”
By contrast, noted Tocqueville, “In France I had seen the spirits of religion and freedom almost always marching in opposite directions. In America I found them intimately linked together in joint reign over the same land.”
Michael Novak nicely captured what Tocqueville saw. Novak said that the American revolution was all about faith and reason, fides et ratio (the later name of a wonderful Pope John Paul II encyclical), working together in harmony. These were the “two wings,” said Novak, that lifted the American Revolution, elevated upward toward the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of the founders’ intentions.
Whereas the leaders of the American Revolution looked upward, the French Revolution looked elsewhere. Our revolution was a just cause, a righteous one; theirs was not. Ours was launched by a Declaration of Independence that appealed to “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.”
Whether that nation today, so conceived in liberty - and in faith - remains righteous is an open question. Yes, it’s a free nation, but it’s hard to call it a just nation. Today’s citizens of the United States of America are assaulting the faith of their founders and rejecting it outright, aggressively casting it aside, not unlike the Jacobins. One popular left-wing American magazine proudly calls itself, Jacobin. Many Americans no longer want the faith of their fathers.
Freedom, like reason, needs faith to sustain it. A nation cannot ascend to its noble heights on only one wing. A genuinely righteous nation needs both, in July 1776 and still today.
Ashcroft joins fight against OHSA rules
Special to the Post-Telegraph
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is standing up for volunteer firefighters and other first responders vital to the safety of Missouri communities. In opposition to a massive unfunded mandate from the federal government, Ashcroft joined other lawmakers across the country in challenging a proposed rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“This OSHA mandate threatens our communities and first responders. We can’t let more bureaucratic red tape get in the way of keeping Missouri communities safe,” said Ashcroft. “OSHA wants to apply one-sizefits-all rules to Missouri firefighters, sheriffs and EMTs. These new mandates will crush our volunteer fire departments and massively increase costs for taxpayers.”
OSHA is considering a new rule that will replace the existing “Fire Brigades Standard,” cod-
ified at 29 CFR 1910.156, with a new “Emergency Response Standard.” The new rules will require hundreds of hours of unnecessary training and millions of dollars in new equipment costs.
According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, “If the standard is adopted in its current form, many departments would be forced to shut their doors or else operate outside of the federal standard, leaving themselves open to fines, citations and huge civil liability exposure.”
“Just like when the Department of Justice tried to interfere with Missouri elections, we stopped them,” Ashcroft said. “This effort must begin with the states; it must begin with state officials who have the courage to stand up for our local communities and first responders. These are illegal, unconstitutional mandates coming out of Washington, D.C. As
See Ashcroft joins fight, Page 2
World UFO Day
John Stacy Kious at Jacksonville National Cemetery
Former Princeton resident keeps 54-year-old promise - A veteran’s bond
I promised 54 years ago to thank Ltjg. Kevin Delaney for coming to Kien An in terrible circumstance and picking up wounded. I loaded wounded and pulled off the unwounded who were trying to get out of there. He came in under heavy mortar and small arms fire. The next day, I told my men, if I ever found out who it was, I would personally thank him. I emailed him back and forth a few times, Unfortunately, he got sick from agent orange before we could meet in person. I kept in contact with his daughter. This was my trip to Jacksonville National Cemetery. Welcomed and taken to the cemetery by his wife and daughter. Also, the Naval Air Station which he was Base Commander and to their homes. So thankful I kept my promise.
“If you ask me, do I believe there’s life in a universe that is so vast that it’s hard for me to comprehend how big it is? My personal answer is yes,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told reporters at a news conference not so long ago. Meanwhile, in a recent World UFO Day interview, journalist and UFO investigator Nick Pope told CGTN-TV America’s reporter Sean Callebs that “the subject has gone from fringe to mainstream in recent years. It used to be if you talked about [extraterrestrials] people thought you had tinfoil on your head but nowadays the United States government has come out and opened a lot of files and now you find out that fighter pilots, naval officers and astronauts have made sworn statements that they saw and are convinced that there are UFO's and extraterrestrials out there.”
