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The Unionville
REPUBLICAN
Including Sales Tax
& Putnam County Journal
Subscribe to the Unionville Republican “158 years of continuous service to Putnam County” TODAY $32.50 in-county www.unionvillerepublicanonline.com $36.50 out of county Call TODAY 660-947-2222 Mastercard • VISA Discover Volume One Hundred Fifty-eight, Issue Number 25 January 1, 2025 accepted
Guffey Honored as Post 34 Legionnaire of the Year
Pictured is Jack Guffey receiving the Legionnaire of the Year award from Post 34 Commander Butch Wiliams. Photo credit: Brenda Williams Submitted by OraWilliams The American Legion Post 34 in Unionville, MO, held their annual member appreciation dinner on December 6, 2024. Twenty-nine members of the Legion, Auxiliary, and guests were in attendance and enjoyed a catered dinner, door prizes, an overview of Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Jacksonville, MO, a program recapping the events of 2024, a remembrance of Pearl Harbor, and the history of the Star Spangled Banner. During the evening, nine Legion members were recognized by Post
34 for their 2024 participation in presenting colors at parades, PCHS football games, and funeral honors. They included Jack Guffey, Bob Smith, Harold White, John Graham, James Ireland, Rick Clark, Jeffrey Knight, Jorge Lopez, and Bill Godfrey. Jack Guffey was honored as Legionnaire of the Year to recognize his dedication and willingness to support all Post activities. Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 34, Janet Schmidt, and Brenda Williams for continued assistance to the Post.
Courtwarming Royalty Crowned
Hyle Presents Amcor Donation MSHP Reports Three Traffic Fatalities Over Christmas
Pictured L-R Jennifer Heidenwith, Karen Lloyd, Dalton, Aleaha and Alyas Hyle, Elizabeth Gatlin and Linda Davis. Submitted by Karen Lloyd Submitted by Karen for $2500.00 on behalf munities. Lloyd of Amcor-Flexible North We want to thank On December 10, America-Amcor Cares Dalton for submitting 2024, Dalton Hyle and of Centerville, IA. Dal- the Martinstown School his two children met with ton said he is fortunate Community Building as the Martinstown School to work for a company a recipient for 2024. The Community Building that supports an outreach funds will be used for Inc. to present a check program for local com- building improvements.
Welch SCMH 2024 Employee of the Year
Myrna Welch, Front Desk Reception, was named the Sullivan County Memorial Hospital 2024 Employee of the Year. Myrna greets everyone arriving at the hospital and registers the majority of patients for inpatient and outpatient services. She is always willing to help the ED nurses, even after her regular hours registering patients. She goes the extra mile by making visits to our patients and residents and supplies fresh flowers and décor for the lobby and front desk. Myrna is a very deserving person to receive this award. Myrna is pictured with Melba Fordyce, Board of Trustees Chairperson and Martha Gragg, CEO. Submitted by Rae Ashby, Executive Assistant to CEO, Sullivan County Memorial Hospital.
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provides the following preliminary statistics related to the Christmas holiday counting period: Three people died in traffic crashes during the 30-hour counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 25, 2024. 2024 Christmas Holiday Traffic Statistics Troopers investigated the following: Traffic Crashes — 65 Traffic Crash Injuries — 38 Traffic Crash Fatalities —3 DWI — 17 [Note: Last year during the 78-hour Christmas counting period, there were 1,034 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, three people were killed and another 346 were injured. During the 2023 Christmas holiday, troopers investigated 124 traffic crashes which included 2 fatalities and 71 injuries. Troopers arrested 81 people for driving while impaired during the 2023 counting period.] There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2024 Christmas holiday counting period. There were no traffic fatalities on Wednesday, December 25, 2024.
Locust Bridge Creek Covered Bridge to be Moved
The 2024 Courtwarming royalty was introduced at the assembly on Friday, December 20. Pictured are Queen Bailey Diveley and King Kooper Hornaday. Photo credit: Haley Watt, District Communications Specialist On Friday, December 20, last year’s Courtwarming Queen Maddy Darling crowned Bailey Diveley the 2024 Courtwarming Queen. Kooper Hornaday was selected as the 2024 Courtwarm-
ing King. Other members of the court were Mason Morris, Macie Hendee, Gretchen Dickerson, Gideon Jones, Elija Brown, Trinity Alexander, Brock Munden and Rosy Stanley.
The Locust Creek covered bridge, one of only four left in Missouri, is being moved to help preserve it. JEFFERSON CITY, Trail in the day-use area Creek on America’s first MO – Locust Creek at Pershing State Park, transcontinental road, Covered Bridge State closed starting at 8 a.m. Route 8. Cars gradually replaced horse-drawn Historic Site was closed Dec. 26. to the public starting at The closures are in wagons and buggies, and noon Dec. 24, 2024, to anticipation of moving in 1930, U.S. Highway prepare for the bridge’s the bridge from its cur- 36 replaced Route 8, and movement to Pershing rent location to its new Locust Creek Covered State Park. Along with home in Pershing State Bridge would no longer the historic site’s clo- Park. Before World house a transcontinental sure, the Locust Creek War I, the bridge was road. Boardwalk and Riparian once a link over Locust Today, the road across
Locust Creek Covered Bridge is not the only thing missing. Most of Locust Creek’s channel was straightened following World War II, leaving the bridge spanning a dry creek bed. Currently, Locust Creek Covered Bridge is in danger of being damaged beyond repair if actions are not taken due to the instability of the watershed. To preserve one of the last four remaining covered bridges in Missouri, the bridge will be moved to Pershing State Park and be placed over water once again. The move to Pershing State Park, located at 29277 Highway 130 in Laclede, Missouri, is scheduled for the end of January to the first of February, depending on the weather.