Scooter Fun At VES Pg. 6
Science: Creating Crystals Pg. 2
SADD Spreads The Word Pg. 5
the
Versailles leader-statesman
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 Volume 131 Number 5 Versailles, MO
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Thank a Farmer Week celebrates agriculture
Missouri Farm Bureau’s annual Thank a Farmer Week is Feb. 7-13. The focus of the week is agriculture and the farmers and ranchers who produce food. People buy most of their food from the grocery stores with shelves filled with choices for daily meals. The crops and meat used to make those products are grown by farmers. What is grown on the farm is also used for thousands of other purposes. Clothing, fuel, medicine, entertainment, sports, personal care and school supplies are just some items that start at the farm. That is why agriculture is important to the local, state and national economy. It is a driving force of communities both rural and urban. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, innovation in agriculture allows one U.S. farmer to provide enough food and fiber for 168 people in the
United States and abroad. Consumers in this country now spend less than 10 percent of their disposable income on food, according to the USDA. That is less than any other country in the world. OPEN HOUSE Locally, the Morgan County Farm Bureau is hosting an open house 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the county office on Brown Road in Versailles. A meal will be served and it is open to the public. “Agriculture is a big part of our community, yet many people simply take it for granted,” said board president Brian Lehman. “Farmers and the agri-businesses that support them give back in many ways. They deserve a pat on the back.” SPECIAL SECTION As part of Thank a Farmer Week, a special 12-page “Agriculture is Everywhere” section has been inserted into this newspaper.
Lake Stop demolished
The ruins of what was Lake Stop convenience store and gas station are all that remained of the structure Saturday, Jan. 30 at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 52 east of Versailles. A crew headed by Edward Kilmer and Benny Kilmer cleared out the interior and did the demolition work. They will salvage as much metal as possible. No underground fuel tanks remained on the property. Weaver’s Tire will use the property, at least initially, as surplus parking. (photo by Bryan E. Jones)
Morgan County budget approved Food distribution Feb. 9 Register 2016 Morgan County Budget to vote by Feb. 17
The last day to register to vote in Morgan County for the March 15, 2016, Presidential Primary Election, is Wednesday, Feb. 17. Anyone who has recently moved, had any kind of address change, changed their name due to marriage, divorce or other reasons, should notify the County Clerk’s office as soon as possible. College students who have married or graduated since originally registering to vote will need to update their name and address if they are no longer living at their parents address.
Food 4 Morgan County will distribute food for those in need 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the Family Worship Center gymnasium, 1000 Jones Ave., in Versailles. To participate, bring proof of residency such as an identification with correct address, utility bill or voter registration card, or official paperwork from the Division of Social Services; and date of birth for each family member living in the home. Each time caregivers pick up
food for others, they must bring a signed note from the head of household. The food is being distributed in cooperation with the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri. Those needing food are asked to bring their own containers. Containers to take food home in are in short supply. Everyone in need will receive food even if they don’t qualify for USDA commodities.
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s staff will host a mobile office, Friday, Feb. 12 at the Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles. Mobile offices are opportunities for people to discuss questions or concerns one-on-one
with members of Blunt’s staff. To reach the Senator’s Office of Constituent Services, call 573-442-8151 or send a letter to 1001 Cherry Street, Suite 104, Jefferson City, MO 65201.
Blunt’s staff at courthouse
Meetings scheduled
The Versailles Rural Fire Protection District meets 7 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 4 at the Highway 52 and Route D Station. The Barnett City Council meets 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at City Hall in Barnett. The Versailles Park Board meets 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8 at Versailles City Hall. The Sunrise Beach Board of Trustees meets 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8 at Sunrise Beach City Hall. The Versailles City Council meets 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Versailles City Hall. The Laurie City Council meets 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Laurie City Hall. The Gravois Mills board of trustees meeets 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Gravois Mills City Hall. The Mid-Mo Ambulance District board meets 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10 at the Tipton base. The Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber of Commerce meets 7:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 at the chamber office in Sunrise Beach. The Morgan County Library board meets 5:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 at the library in Versailles. The Royal Arts Council meets 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Dimond Annex in Versailles.
The Morgan County Commission Thursday, Jan. 28 approved the 2016 county budget. The county budget is a public document and can be viewed in its entirety at the Morgan County Clerk’s Office in the Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles. A chart showing expected income and expenditures for the General Revenue Fund accompanies this article. A listing of other funds and their balances (after 2016 anticipated revenues and expenditures) follows. Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund: $7,334,87. Road and bridge fund: $209,348.67. Assessment fund: $70,372.19. Law enforcement training fund: $5,687.08. Prosecuting attorney training fund: $2,556.97. Johnson grass fund: $136,665.89. Local emergency lanning committee fund: $15,338.72. Prosecuting attorney’s delinquent sales tax collection fund: $6,907.39. Recorder’s user fee fund: $23,837.77. Administrative handling cost fund: $5,547.84. County law library fund: $2,467.19. Sheriff’s fees fund: $110.00. Election services fund: $897.18. #1634 tax maintenance fund: $56,518.59. Circuit division interest fund: $13,724.97. NID’s debt service bond fund: $24,262.86. NID’s ongoing construction and maintenance fund: $553,716.89. Sheriff’s revolving fund: $23,760.21. HAVA fund: $674.00. Inmate prisoner detainee security fund: $50,921.55. Proctor Road overlay fund: $109,422.67. Drug Task Force grant fund: $6,631.68. CLERF: $46,030.72.
REVENUE Anticipated revenue for the General Revenue Fund: Property Tax $715,000.00 Sales Tax + Local Use Tax 1,200,000.00 Official Fees 576,900.00 Interest 5,500.00 Other Revenues 103,060.00 Operating Transfers In 353,400.00 TOTAL ESTIMATED REVENUES $2,953,800.00 Cash on Hand Jan. 1 2016 $1,707,603.55 Total available for 2016 Apportionments: $4,661,324.34 EXPENDITURES Expenditures by department: County Commission $ 127,024.66 County Clerk 176,058.40 Buildings & Grounds 86,464.00 Elections 79,200.00 Treasurer 50,560.00 Collector 142,947.60 Recorder of Deeds 98,075.40 Circuit Clerk Division 50,892.40 Circuit Judges Div. 1 & 2 12,553.42 Court Administration & Jury Script 10,000.00 Public Administrator 88,764.12 Prosecuting Attorney 393,922.80 Juvenile Officer 80,024.36 Coroner 43,183.60 University Extension Service 37,900.00 Emergency Management 31,800.00 Utilities 18,000.00 Telephone 7,000.00 Capital Improvements 190,000.00 Outside Services 260,000.00 Contingent 478,170.47 Miscellaneous 10,000.00 Oper. Transfer, Prosecutor’s Retirement Fund 7,752.00 Operating Transfer to 911 Fund 378,274.04 Operating Transfer to DSSSF 30,000.00 Emergency Fund 88,000.00 TOTAL APPORTIONMENTS $2,976,567.27
Horse rescued from icy water
Oh, to be young again!
Landri Hall reacts to seeing a birthday gift Tuesday, Feb. 2 delivered to her at the office at Versailles Elementary School. She is the daughter of Cory and Suzanne Hall and was celebrating her sixth birthday. (photo by Bryan E. Jones)
by Janet Dabbs The Gravois Fire Protection District received a call 9:07 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22 to a horse ranch on Highway 135 at Black Elk Lane. in Morgan County. A horse had fallen through the ice on a pond and someone driving by saw the horse and called 911. The horse, Charlie, was up to his neck in water and could not get out. A mutual aid call was sent out to the Versailles Rural Fire Protection District Large Animal Rescue Unit. “If they fall into the freezing water they only have a couple minutes before the hypothermia sets in to the point they lose the ability to move their legs,” Gravois Fire Protection District Fire Chief Ed Hancock said. “Normal motor skills degrade quickly
in these temperatures.” The horse was adjacent to the pond bank and was wearing a halter. Gravois Fire Protection District firefighter Matt Holladay was able to hang from a tree at the edge of the pond and grab the horse by the halter. Thankfully, the horse calmly walked out of the pond. Charlie was led to the barn where he was wrapped in warm blankets. His owners were in their home unaware of the emergency. They brought out more blankets and a space heater, they fed him and Charlie became more alert. He was unharmed by the incident. According to Hancock, many times crews have to don flotation devices and cold water immersion suits, get on the ice and
break the ice with great risk to personnel. In some cases, the large animal rescue personnel will assist by harnessing the animals and pulling them out with a crane. This was the third large animal rescue for the district on the last month. Hancock warns residents that livestock and house pets can get out on ice without knowing the depth and soundness of the ice. “This is extremely dangerous,” Hancock said. “Livestock drink out of the pond and they will go back to what is familiar; but this time of year it is partially frozen. This requires more vigilance on the part of owners. If you have an animal that is unaccounted for, go and check on them.”