July 2024 Beachcomber by NorthMissouriNews

Lake Thunderhead Beachcomber

2024 W.C.A. Election Results

The Election Committee has verified the following results for the 2024 Election:

771 Ballots were mailed.

340 Eligible Ballots were counted, which means that 44% of our eligible members voted. Eight (8) ballots were deemed ineligible by the Lake Office.

Votes cast by the membership are as follows:

Board of Directors (in alphabetical order)

Kerrie Rose – 208

Kathie Steveson – 170 Cody Veach -- 263 There were nine (9)

write-In candidates for the Board of Directors, none of which received more than 1 vote.

Therefore, we congratulate Kerrie Rose and Cody Veach on being elected to the Board of Directors, and we thank each of the candidates for being willing to serve our community.

Election Committee:

There were no declared candidates on the ballot for the open position on the Election Committee, but there were 12 write-in candidates. The write-in candidate with the most votes (22 votes) is Becky

Sayre. Becky stated that she would accept the position if elected, so we congratulate her on being elected.

Change of Covenant

Per the WCA by-laws, a covenant change must receive 75% approval. Votes cast by the membership regarding the change are as follows:

Yes – 259

No - 69

Therefore, the proposed covenant change passed with 79% yes votes of the total votes received.

Thank you to everyone who voted.

National Wild Turkey Federation Tags Fish For Kids Fishing Pleasure

The Putnam County National Wild Turkey Federation has tagged 20 fish. They have been caught and released at the Lake Thunderhead Kids Fishing Pond.

Prize money will be given out for catching a tagged fish. Prize money will be handed out at the Lake Thunderhead office. All kids 15 years of age and under can redeem prize money for a tagged fish. Just bring the tag from the fish to the Lake office to redeem prize money.

This event began June 15th and will continue through September 7th.

Tagged fish include:

#5327 - $5.00 Blue Gill

#5328 - $5.00 Blue Gill

#5329 - $5.00 Crappie

#5330 - $5.00 Bass

#5332 - $5.00 Blue Gill

#5334 - $5.00 Bass

#5335 - $50.00 Bass

#5336 - $5.00 HB Blue Gill

#5337 - $5.00 Blue Gill

#5338 - $5.00 Crappie

#5339 - $10.00 Bass

#5340 - $10.00 Crappie

#5341 - $10.00 Crappie

#5342 - $10.00 Bass

#5343 - $100.00 Crappie

#5344 - $25.00 HB Blue

Gill

#5345 - 10.00 Blue Gill

#5346 - $10.00 Bass

#5347 - $10.00 HB Blue

2024 Sand Shindig Deemed A Success!

On Saturday, June 1 the lake hosted a Sand Castle Building Competition beginning at 1 PM and with three age groups: 8 and under, 8 to 14 and adults. A great time was had by all those who attended, participated, observed and judged. The weather was perfect, no rain, but a little overcast and a slight breeze kept everyone comfortable. Popsicle breaks for the kids and Pina Colada’s for the adults seemed to do just

the trick!

Congratulations to our winners:

Deserted Island Turtle: Bailey Hasler and Jessa Holt

Red, White & Blue: Lelia, Brady and Hayes Denton

Castle: Boston Stobbe w/dad, Clint. Boston showed incredible restraint in not knocking over their creation for well over an hour.

Gill

#5348 - $10.00 Crappie

The NWTF wish all good luck.

Contact Steve McNight 515-577-2876 with any questions. This event is not a Lake Thunderhead fish committees event. All state fishing regulations must be followed. ALL FISH NOT OF LEGAL SIZE MUST BE RELEASED. Need only bring the tag from the fish to the Lake Thunderhead office (during regular office hours) to redeem the prize money.

SharK Hans & Roman Viall w. dad, Brandon The lake plans to do this again next year so start planning your sand creations now!

The morning started at 7:30 AM at North Beach with what is becoming an annual event. Bloody Mary’s and Breakfast Burritos were mixed, rolled and dished to smiling faces Saturday morning, May 25 at North Beach Bath House.

Mark and Mary Daniel recruited lots of smiling faces to raise funds for the lake fish committee. Gallons of Bloody Mary’s were dispensed along with 160 burritos.

Berries & BarBQ Wine Trail Celebrates the Flavors of Summer

Chambourcin

June 4, 2024 -- Six wineries on the Hermann Wine Trail have assembled the ingredients for a memorable Wine Country getaway at the 2024 Berries & BarBQ Wine Trail, July 27-28.

“Vintners are celebrating the flavors of summer by pairing their wines with juicy berries and savory barbeque,” says Patty Held, president of the Hermann Wine Trail.

Wine Trail explorers will sample a tasting menu featuring:

Berries & BarBQ Wine Trail is one of six annual events hosted by Hermann-area vintners. Next up is the Holiday Fare Wine Trail, November 16-17, a festive start to the holiday season. Say Cheese Wine Trail on Saturday, December 14, is the same weekend as one of Hermann’s popular Christmas markets.

• Adam Puchta Winery - Smoked Pork with Summer Berry Agrodolce, paired with Misty Valley

• Curling Vine Winery - Blueberry BarBQ Chicken Wings, paired with Constant White

• G. Husmann Wine Company — Smoked Bologna with Hot Honey Glaze, paired with Rosé of Hermann

• Hermannhof Winery — Chicken Sliders with Raspberry Hot BarBQ Sauce and Jalapeno Slaw, paired with Vignoles

• Reserve Cellars

— Grilled Pound Cake with Berry Sauce, paired with Josephine’s Garden Patch Strawberry

• Röbller Winery — Loaded BarBQ Ranch Beans, paired with

Mary Frank, Agent

122 S. 17th Street

Unionville, MO 63565

660-947-2827

Chocolate Wine Trail, a popular Valentine’s getaway, will be February 22-23, 2025. Farmers’ Table Wine Trail on Saturday, April 5, 2025, will showcase Missouri products. Bacon will be the star of the show at the Wild Bacon Wine Trail, May 3-4, 2025.

The $35 per person ticket price includes a souvenir wine glass. Participants also may enter a drawing for a $30 gift certificate from each winery and a one-night stay at a Hermann B&B. The ticket price does not include transportation to wineries or additional wine tasting.

Wine Trail tickets may be purchased online at HermannWineTrail. com or by calling 573294-2228 or 573-4862313. Advance purchase is required.

Michael and Cody cooking

Brother and sister, Grant McElwee and Danielle Dyer serving up burritos

Kori, Cooper, Amanda, Chelsea and Mattie serving bloody mary’s from big orange Gatorade coolers.

Daily Schurmann helping the grown ups

Four Person Best Shot Golf Tournament Winners Decided

and

Memorial Day Golf Tournament. The tournament was played at the Lake Thunderhead course as a best shot format. The first place prize went to Toby Norris, Dillon Lane, Davan Veach and Bobby Brooks.

Firecracker Fun on Tap for the Fourth

Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6 holds excitement for all ages.

Friday, July 5 Corn Hole Tournament 10 AM North Beach

Saturday, July 6 4 Person Best Shot Golf 9 AM at Lake Office

Saturday, July 6 Inflatables for the Kiddos 10:30 -2:30 North Beach

Saturday, July 6 Centerline Band 7:30 North Beach Bandshell

Saturday, July 6 Lake Firewords Dusk at North Beach

“I want to live life in such a way that if a photograph were taken at random, it would be a cool photograph.”

-- David Nicholls

The TurfMutt Foundation Shares Five Ways to Support Backyard Pollinators

June is National Pollinator Month

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The TurfMutt Foundation, which has advocated for the care and use of yards, parks and other green spaces for 15 years, has long been an advocate of supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats in managed landscapes. In celebration of National Pollinator Month, TurfMutt reminds everyone about the important role

backyards and community green spaces play for these small but mighty backyard critters and their pollinating powers. Pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we take, according to the Pollinator Partnership.

“Our cities and neighborhoods have disrupted the natural ecosystem pathways that pollinators rely upon, but our back-

yards and community parks can help by providing these important creatures a vital link to habitat and food,” said Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “We encourage every homeowner and community to plant flowering plants and shrubs, in addition to Pollinators

Cont. to pg. 9

Twelve teams vied for prizes

bragging rights at the

Second place went to the team of Doug James, Cody Veach, Fred McElwee, Steve Foulke and Ronin James. (photo of three guys and a young boy holding boxes of golf balls)

Wind Plays Havoc with the Volleyball Contestants

Eight teams participated in a competitive double-elimination volleyball tournament at the North Beach play-

ground. The winning team took home a cooler full of beer, t-shirts and bragging rights.

An appropriate level of competition was evident and over-shadowed only by the laughter!!

Rare two-headed snake Tiger-Lily to visit MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center this summer

Visitors can view this unique western rat snake in June and July.

The winning team was called “Play Hard Have Fun!” and included Josie Sagan, Nolan Sagan, Ellie Crow Tracey Corday, Gabby Corday, Grant Sagan and Nick Sagan. Rules stipulated that each team must have three women and three men on the court simultaneously, as well as having three team members more than 35 years old.

July Book Club

On Thursday, July 18 the Lake Book Club will meet to discuss the book, The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens.

Described as “deliciously suspenseful”, series of five and reveals the emotional and physical challenges for a college student interviewing a dying Vietnam Vet in a nursing home. Everyone is welcome. Come to discuss the book

or share the comaraderie of your neighbors. This month’s meeting is at the home of Kent and Teresa Baker. Please call Teresa if you need directions: 319/931-3364.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

– The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) famous twoheaded snake is traveling to the Kansas City-area on her statewide tour.

Tiger-Lily, a twoheaded western rat snake, will arrive at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs on Saturday, June 1. The snake will remain there for visitors to see until July 31. From there, Tiger-Lily will travel to Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City.

Tiger-Lily is on loan from her home at the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center near Branson, which is currently closed for construction.

Western rat snakes are non-venomous and native to Missouri. Tiger-Lily is a pair of conjoined identical snake twins that were never

completely separated. Two-headed snakes have a low survival rate.

“Tiger-Lily” is the name given to the snake by the family who found this unique reptile in Stone County in 2017. The female snake was donated to the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center for display purposes. Tiger-Lily is nearly five-feet long and has a healthy appetite, but feeding a snake with two heads presents a challenge.

“Both heads want to eat, but they share one esophagus,” said MDC Interpretive Center Manager Alison Bleich. “Staff will put a small cup over one head while the other eats, then switch. Otherwise, both heads would try to grab the same mouse.”

Eating is just one of a multitude of struggles facing a polycephalous (two-headed) animal.

If it were in the wild, a two-headed snake would be vulnerable to predation because it wouldn’t have the ability to escape into the normal holes and crevices that one-headed snakes fit into.

However, in captivity, a two-headed snake’s chances of survival are much better. Another two-headed western rat snake found in 2005 is currently on display at MDC’s Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center in southeast Missouri.

“We encourage visitors to come to Burr Oak Woods Nature Center this summer to view Tiger-Lily, as well as our other snakes, fish, and turtles,” said Burr Oak Woods Assistant Manager Stephanie Kemp.

MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center is located at 1401 NW Park Road in Blue Springs.

Friendly Reminders

As we approach a busy holiday weekend at Lake Thunderhead, here are some friendly reminders.

All boats, ATV’s, golf carts and cars should be registered and stickered by the office. Questions? Stop in Mon-Friday 8 AM to 4PM (closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1PM) or on Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM. The office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th in honor of our nation’s birthday.

cart, side by side, or ATV must be of legal age; 16 years or older or have a Learner’s Permit with an adult.

Anyone driving a golf

June Happenings Yet to Come

Saturday, June 22

Horseshoe Tournament 10 AM N. Beach Playground

Saturday, June 29 Return of Dogbite Band 7:30 North Beach Bandshell

Sunday, June 30 4-Person Best Shot 9 AM

Lake Golf Course Holes 1-9

UCC Golf Course Holes 10-18.

Rental docks are all rented, even if the slip is empty Please do not use a dock unless it’s yours.

The office has loaner life jackets on the back deck if needed. Please return all borrowed. We

also have pickle ball racquets, shuffleboard equipment, bocce ball, horseshoes, and bags for use that you can check out during business hours.

Remember, counter clockwise on the lake, NO wake within 100 feet of shore and buoys. Jet Ski hours are 10 AM to 7 PM. Lake Security will

be on the water. Please drive carefully and be alert. There will be a lot of traffic as well as golf carts, side by sides, etc on the roads. Speed limit is 25 mph! Have a Fun and Safe Holiday Weekend! Remember: If you’re lucky enough to live at the Lake, you’re lucky enough!!!

32254 Mallard Drive $225,000 ListingAgent: Shelly Seaton

This private oasis offers not only a prime location but also a thoughtfully prepared canvas for your vision. This lot is primed and ready for your architectural masterpiece. The convenience factor is undeniable, as critical utilities have already been thoughtfully installed. Imagine the ease of planning your build with gravity ﬂow sewer, water, and electric connections readily available, allowing you to seamlessly bring your construction plans to life. Beyond the practical features, this property also boasts a few indulgent extras that truly set it apart. A private dock beckons you to embrace the tranquil waters of Lake Thunderhead at your leisure, whether you’re a fan of boating, ﬁshing, or simply basking in the soothing ambiance of the water. Additionally, a shed provides a space for storage or creative pursuits, adding functionality to the property. The charm of this lot is further accentuated by the surrounding natural beauty. The serene lakefront views, framed by the picturesque landscape, create a sense of serenity that’s often sought but seldom found. 32254 Mallard Drive presents an exceptional opportunity to build a custom home in a breathtaking lakeside setting. With utilities in place, a private dock, and the promise of lakefront living, this lot invites you to turn your vision into reality and embrace a life of leisure and natural beauty.

12001 Foxglove Court $92,500

Listing Broker: Ced Gilworth

This property is what you may be looking for, excellent location, utilities, camper/rv cover, deck, storage shed, and trees. This lake property is located in the Spring Beauty addition. When you come

in the main entrance to the lake, and go south, it is the first road, (Fox Glove) to the left, and this lot corners Wildflower and Fox Glove. When you pull in the gravel drive, the property is flat, with lots of trees. The camper area is all flat as well, with a slight slope to the far north of the property. This will be as simple of a setup as you could get. Just bring your camper, plug it in, and you are ready to go. All utilities have been installed, and the sewer is gravity flow. The camper cover is 28’x42’with a deck platform off of where your camper would set. The storage shed is just off to the side and will provide space for supplies and toys. Close to the boat ramp, golf course, restaurant, tennis courts and gives you that lake feel with all of the trees for shade and privacy.

So much history, as the owners were a part of the original developer of the lake. They have owned this property for 44 years, but life changes, and now you have a chance to own a property on the main body of Lake Thunderhead. The home has been gutted and is ready for you to make it what you want. The home consists of approx. 2700 sq feet, a two car garage, concrete drive, area for volleyball court, and a covered dock. The covered dock has a boat lift, pontoon lift, and two jet ski spots. There is also a swim platform. The lot has slope coming down the driveway but is one of the few low grade waterfront lots available. Electric, water and sewer are on the property, and again, the house is ready for you to ﬁnish the way you would have it. If you are looking for more room, the lot next to it is for sale as well.

Gilworth, Broker

Scott Ingersoll, (660) 626-8507

Jalynn Shafer, (660) 988-1279

Ron Davis (660) 341-5199

Kris Altiser, (660) 626-4960

Darl D Davis, (660) 216-0639

Nathan Wilt (573) 248-4406

Jason Andrew (660) 956-5060

Ryan VanGenderen (660) 216-8978

Haley Yadon (660) 342-6540

Brian Quint (660) 626-3419

Kevin Lloyd (641) 414-3504 (Lic. IA)

David Mitchell, (660) 341-0902

Larry Hendee (660) 342-1427

Shelly Seaton (660) 956-3710

Scott Whitworth (660) 341-2197

MDC reminds public frogging season kicks off June 30

Go frogging for bullfrogs and green frogs June 30 through Oct. 31.

JEFFERSON CITY,

Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages the public to discover nature during frogging season. Beginning June 30 at sunset through Oct. 31, those with a fishing permit or small-game hunting permit may go frogging for bullfrogs and green frogs.

The daily limit is eight

frogs of both species combined and the possession limit is 16 frogs of both species combined. Only the daily limit may be possessed on waters and bank of waters where frogging.

MDC notes that daily limits end at midnight. Froggers who catch their daily limits before midnight and want to return for more frogging after

midnight must remove the daily limit of previously caught frogs from the waters or banks before returning.

The public can go frogging with a fishing or small-game hunting permit, but children 15 and under and Missouri residents 65-years and older are not required to have a permit.

Those using a fishing

permit may take frogs by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing, or poleand-line.

With a small-game hunting permit, frogs may be harvested using a .22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle or pistol, pellet gun, atlatl, bow, crossbow, or by hand or

Lake Thunderhead Activities

Welcome to lake life and the Lake Thunderhead Community. Lake Thunderhead residents are a lively group and enjoy a variety of activi-

Activity

ties. There are any number of groups for you to join, covering a variety of interests. All are recreational and are here to

Lake Thunderhead Laker Ladies

create social opportunities for all who are interested.

Below is a list of our current regular activities

Contact

Doris Benson

and the contact information for those coordinating them. We hope you’ll join us in one or more of your choosing.

Phone

641-510-0050

Meets every Wednesday at 9 AM at the lake office. This is a social group who share information about upcoming events and happenings at the lake and in Unionville. Laker Ladies also raise funds for lake improvements through the annual Summer Bash.

Garden Club

Laura Craft

641-344-4276

A social group that is committed to beautifying Lake Thunderhead. All hands welcome to weed,plant and water.

Can Committee

Ed Penca

563-249-9936

Committee meets as needed to sort redeemable cans and bottles, proceeds from which benefit the lake.

Art Group

Kay Bonifazi

660-947-2327

660-626-9667

Meets every Wednesday from 10 AM to 2 PM in the basement of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Work on the art project of your choice and we recommend you pack a lunch.

Kayak Club

Doris Benson

641-510-0050

This group meets for casual kayaking followed by a social time. Everyone welcome (couples and singles) every other Tuesday at 3 PM at the hosts house (host changes each time).

Lake Edition Book Club

Doris Benson

Group meets the third Thursday of each month at the hosts’ choice of location.

Bridge Club

Marge Krigbaum

Call if willing to sub. Bridge Club meets Mondays at 1 PM.

Quilt Club

Jan Stearns

641-510-0050

660-651-1502

319-240-1974

Group meets Monday through Thursday on scheduled week in the office building basement. Come join the camaraderie and creativity.

Ladies Golf Joy Jones

Meets every Thursday at 9 AM at the lake office.

Bible Study

Becky Sayre

Group meets Tuesday mornings at 10 AM at Becky’s house.

Widows By The Water

Vicky Wright

Mary Schaffner

641-895-4811

641-750-0216

319-230-4563

660-947-3506

Group meets early evening from 5 to 7PM on the third Tuesday monthly to enjoy a variety of activities; dinner, games and boat rides on Lake Thunderhead, etc.

Men’s Cards

Meets every Monday and Friday in the afternoon in the basement of the office at 12:30 PM.

Thursday Night Cards

Claims…

Contact Your Insurance Company: Get in touch with your insurance provider to discuss the denial. Provide them with the additional evidence you’ve gathered and explain why you believe the denial is not justified. Ask for a detailed explanation if any part of the denial seems unclear.

Document All Communications: Keep a record of all communications with your insurance company. This includes emails, letters, and notes from phone conversations. Having a documented trail can be valuable if you need to escalate the matter further.

File an Appeal: If your initial efforts do not lead to a resolution, file a formal appeal with your insurance company. Clearly outline the reasons you believe the denial is incorrect, referencing specific policy language and providing supporting evidence.

department. They can provide guidance on the next steps and may be able to intervene on your behalf. Submit a formal complaint and include all relevant documentation.

Legal Assistance: If everything else fails, think about consulting with a lawyer who practices insurance law for legal counsel. They can assess the situation, advise you on the legal aspects, and potentially represent you in court if necessary.

Review Policyholder Rights: Familiarize yourself with the rights afforded to policyholders in your state. State laws and regulations may provide additional avenues for dispute resolution or legal action.

Lorena Thullen

319-551-0959

A fun evening of cards and snacks held in the Lake office basement at 6 PM. Bring a snack.

“Kitchen’s Closed”

Dinner out with friends from the Lake. Meet at Leo’s Marina Restaurant at 5PM or at the office at 4:30 for car pooling to chosen location.

Men’s Coffee

Steve Benson

Forest Jones

641-510-0040

641-895-1501

Meets every Tuesday and Friday at 8 AM in the office basement. Once in –season, FRI meetings will be at Leo’s Marina Restaurant.

Fish Committee

Mark Daniel

Meet as needed to coordinate and plan fishing tournaments at the lake.

Tournaments 1) Two weeks before Memorial Day 2) Two weeks after Labor Day

815-674-2634

Tournaments launch in registration order beginning at 6 AM at North Beach. Lunch an refreshments are provided for a good will offering Plus weigh-in and prizes.

Kid’s Fishing Tournament Father’s Day Weekend, sponsored with assistance from DNR. Fishing instruction, Fish Cleaning instruction, Lunch and refreshments. Plus more!!

This committee is responsible for stocking of Lake Thunderhead.

Dennis’ Small Engine Repair & Service

We are now an ECHO Dealer!

Gas powered Chainsaws, Weed Trimmer and more

Dennis Kroemer

27051 226th St. Unionville, MO

(just 5 miles south of Unionville in Lemons, MO.)

Debt/Credit Accepted

We Appreciate your business!

Ofﬁce: 660-344-2254 Dennis Cell: 785-294-8059

State Insurance Department: If your appeal is also denied, contact your state’s insurance

Remember that the process of fighting a homeowner’s insurance claim denial can be timeconsuming and complex. Patience and persistence are key. Always act promptly, document everything, and seek professional advice when needed to ensure you are well-prepared to contest the denial.

“When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.”

-- LL Cool J

Pollinators…

Continued From Page 3

trees and grass, in their managed landscapes.”

Here are 5 ways homeowners can support pollinators in their own backyard:

1. Remember Right Plant, Right Place

Select flowering plants that thrive in your yard’s conditions, taking into consideration things like climate zone (check out the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map), soil type, the sun/ shade ratio and average rainfall. If a plant has evolved to thrive in your microclimate, it’s a good bet the pollinators in your community will prefer it, too. The Pollinator Partnership has free pollinator planting guides that anyone can download here.

2. Have a Balanced Landscape Plant a healthy balance of real grasses, garden flowers, shrubs and trees that bloom at different times of the year. Different colored plants that have their own smell and grow to various

heights will attract different types of pollinator species. By keeping this in mind and planting accordingly, you can provide year-round pollinator support.

3. Create a “Target” Plant in clusters to make plants an easy target for pollinators to find. This will also increase pollination efficiency. It’s easier, faster and less wasteful for pollinators to work on a single plant species in one central area versus having to seek our individual plants.

4. Right-Size Your Effort

Remember, the size of your yard doesn’t matter. Pollinator pit stops can be created anywhere from urban condominium balconies and small home yards, to large estate lots and farms. Creativity is all that is needed. Window planters, patio containers, raised garden boxes, and even hanging planters can all offer nectar to pollinators. If you have

no outdoor space to call your own, consider volunteering for a local pollinator organization, at a local park or community garden.

5. Remember the “Extras”

Pollinators are hardworking and they need clean water and a place to rest. Backyard water sources can be in the form of a water feature or birdbath. You can even set out a shallow water container filled with rocks for pollinator perching.

For more, sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit TurfMutt. com. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show on Saturday mornings.

About TurfMutt TurfMutt, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2024, was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has

reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. Championed by Foundation spokesdog, Mulligan the TurfMutt, and through education partners such as Weekly Reader, Discovery Education and Scholastic, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” Today, TurfMutt is an official USGBC® Education Partner and part of their global LEARNING LAB. TurfMutt has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. TurfMutt’s personal, home habitat was featured in the 2017-2020 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at www.TurfMutt.com.

Birds of Summer

Baby Eastern Screech Owl Western Kingbird

Ruby Red Throat Hummingbird

Osprey Cedar Waxwing at Lake Thunderhead

Photos Curtsey of Mindy Clark

Murderer’s Tale to be Told on 4th

Submitted by Kathleen Hauser, Green City

Historical Preservation

As part of the Green City Chamber of Commerce July 4th Celebration and Fireworks Display, we welcome you to join us on July 3rd and July 4th to celebrate the restoration of the 1931 Shell Filling Station of the southeast corner of the square where Fred (Killer) Burke was first identified and was later captured at Green City, Missouri, on March 26, 1931. We will also have two authors and historians coming to the Green City Museum.

“Bloody Chicago” was the name given to America’s most corrupt city after the grotesque scene that left seven humans embedded into masonry walls and oilslickened concrete. Two

Thompson submachine guns did most of the damage but the masterminds behind the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre escaped. Ten months later, on December 14, 1929, in St. Joseph, Michigan, while working a routine traffic crash Police Officer Charles Skely came face to face with a killer. Shots were fired, the assailant escaped, and the dying Officer Skely identified his murderer before taking his last breath. The trail led to a home in Stevensville, Michigan, where authorities found an arsenal of weaponry, over $300,000 worth of stolen bonds, bulletproof vests, and two Thompson submachine guns. The hideout belonged to Fred Burke, a highly sought suspect in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and

now the most wanted man in the nation.

Chriss Lyon is a retired public safety professional and historian, who has not only walked the beat, but shot the most famous Thompson submachine guns in the world, all while documenting and researching the historic era of the “The Roaring Twenties.” Using techniques of forensic genealogy combined with investigative research, she has been able to uncover little known facts about the people and events surrounding the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre using police reports that had never been published, interviews with family members of key witnesses, and leading experts. Historian Chriss Lyon established the foundation for what would develop as a ha-

ven for gangsters from the onset of the Prohibition Era through to the mid-twentieth century, while revealing new information about the eventual capture of notorious gangster Fred “Killer” Burke on a farm northwest of Green City. Chriss si the author of A Killing in CAPONES’ PLAYGROUND, The Story of the Hunt for the Most Dangerous Man Alive.

Enfys McMurry, author of, Centerville, The Mid-America Saga and Disaster at 39,000 Feet is a Welsh American writer and public speaker.

The authors and the Green City Historical Museum are looking for previously untold or lost stories and artifacts from families and area citizens about the capture of Fred (Killer) Burke and stories about Harve Bailey and other gangsters. Help us save that intriguing part of Green City history for the generations to come. Please visit and share your story with the authors before it is lost forever.

Wednesday, July 3, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Meet &greet with Chriss Lyon and Enfys McMurry, at the Book Nook (Green City Library) housed on the first floor of the Green City Museum.

The Capture of Fred Burke the movie filmed on location in Green City in 1931, will be shown every hour on the hour starting at 1:00 p.m. The

cast of the film are al the original people involved with the capture and local area citizens, except for Fred Burke.

Thursday July 4, at City Hall 2:00 p.m. and repeated at 6:00 p.m.:

The authors and historians will have historical displays about Fred (Killer) Burke and Chriss Lyon wil have presentations about her findings regarding the history of Fred (Killer) Burke.

The Famous Shell Filling Station and Historic Depot: Open to public July 4, 2024,1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Green City Museum

special display: Harvey Bailey (Dean of American Bank Robbers) Open to public July 3, 2024,1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Open to public July 4, 2024, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

To help celebrate this historical event, anyone who has a gangster era car or truck, moonshine still, or gangster related history we would love to have you join us in our July 4th parade.

Line up at 10:30 am at Green City School.

Enter the Car Show following the parade in front of the museum.

Cause a little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about - John Mayer

Six Sweet Facts About Sugar

It’s hard to imagine life without a spoonful of sugar. It helps fuel our sweet tooth and our bursts of energy, and it just may be a future way to power high-flying jets.

All Plants Produce Sugar

Not all plants are made for eating, and chances are most aren’t palatable to human taste buds. However, nearly all plants make sugar, particularly those with green leaves. Sugar, aka sucrose, consists of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose; glucose is a naturally occurring byproduct of photosynthesis, the process plants undergo to convert sunlight to energy. Plants produce glucose in their leaves and then send it to their roots, storing the energy they need to grow.

All plants store their sugar differently; some, like potatoes, transform it into starch, while others, like apple and orange trees, store sugar in their fruits. Plants with particularly high concentrations of glucose are the ones humans harvest for table sugar — specifically sugar cane and sugar beets.

Sugar Cane Originally Comes From New Guinea

More than 60 million acres of land worldwide are used for sugar cane

farming, often in regions that were once tropical forests. The crops thrive in warm climates with consistent year-round temperatures — generally in spots close to the equator. However, biologists believe sugar cane plants, aka Saccharum officinarum, originated in just one spot — New Guinea — where Indigenous peoples may have cultivated the crop starting 10,000 years ago. Some researchers believe sugar cane was originally grown for chewing, like gum, and early farmers selected the sweetest, softest stalks for consumption. Over time, humans helped spread Saccharum plants through Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific islands, where they merged with other wild sugar canes to create the modern variety we know and grow. By the 15th century, sugar cane plants made their way to the Americas, where they became established crops; today, Brazil is the world’s leading exporter of sugar cane.

More Than OneThird of the World’s Sugar Comes From Beets

Not all commercially produced sugar comes from sugar cane plants; about one-third of the world’s sugar supply comes from sugar beets,

a root crop that thrives in cooler temperatures far from the equator. More than half of the U.S. sugar supply comes from sugar beets, which are grown in Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, and other northern and western states, and each year more than 4.5 million tons of sugar are produced from Americangrown sugar beets. Each beet grows for about five months before reaching its maximum size: about a foot long, and weighing between 2 and 5 pounds. While sugar cane and sugar beets are grown and processed differently, the final sugar product is chemically identical. Nevertheless, some chefs believe the two sugars cook slightly differently and can have contrasting colors when caramelized or used to make syrups.

The 1904 World’s Fair Was a Sugar Showcase World’s fairs may feel like a relic of the past; the last one in North America was in Vancouver in 1986. Yet they were the launching point for some of today’s favorite sugary treats. At the 1904 world’s fair (aka

the Louisiana Purchase Exposition) in St. Louis, attendees got their first sample of fairy floss, the fluffy spun-sugar that’s now more commonly called cotton candy. The confection was so popular that creators William J. Morrison and John C. Wharton sold more than 65,000 boxes at 25 cents each — about half the price of admission to the fair.

“Cornucopias,” aka ice cream cones, also hit American taste buds on a wide scale for the first time at the fair, crafted from rolled waffles and stuffed with ice cream. And while Jell-O had already been around in its fruit-flavored form since 1897, the world’s fair helped launch the jiggly sweet’s advertising campaign, with demonstrations that showed how easy it was to make by just adding hot water. The fair’s influence was immediately noticeable: Jell-O sales quadrupled between 1902 and 1906, reaching $1 million in sales.

There’s Sugar in Space

If you’re trying to curb your sweet tooth, it can feel like sugar is everywhere. And in some ways, you’re not wrong — sugar isn’t just

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on Earth; it can also be found in space. In 2000, space scientists discovered a simple sugar called glycolaldehyde while looking for other molecules that could potentially support life outside our atmosphere. Despite being labeled a “simple sugar,” glycolaldehyde plays a huge role in DNA creation; when combined with a chemical called propenal, it makes ribose, a major component of ribonucleic acid (aka RNA, a chemical chain found in all living things). However, this clue for potential space life has only been found in two spots: the center of the Milky Way, and near a star some 400 light-years from Earth.

Dogs Can Taste Sugar

Man’s best friend shares our ability to taste

different flavors, albeit at a diminished level. While humans have between 2,000 and 10,000 taste buds (a number that shrinks with age), dogs have a mere 1,700. Yet studies have shown that dogs can taste sweetness. This trait may have developed from ancient dogs who lived as omnivores, consuming fruits and vegetables along with meat. However, not all household pets have a sweet tooth. Cats are unable to taste sugars and sweets because they lack the necessary taste buds thanks to genetic mutations that occurred millions of years ago — meaning that while dog owners may have to give up a scoop of ice cream or order a “pup cup,” cat parents are free to indulge without sharing, guilt-free.

Sunday Morning Bible Study for ALL Ages at 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship at 11:00 a.m.