Don't Forget To Get Your Tickets At The Chamber For The Winterfest Gala This Saturday! Help Write A Book With Hometown Memories...See Inside!
Serving Lamar, Golden City, Lockwood, Jasper, Sheldon, Mindenmines and Liberal for 145 years. Incorporating The Daily Democrat, Golden City Herald & Lockwood Luminary.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015
2 SECTIONS, 12 PAGES
MU Extension to assist with Farm Bill
Area board of education filings By RICHARD COOPER Democrat staff writer
This is a year that two vacancies occur on sevenmember boards of education in Missouri. In Lamar R-I, three candidates have filed, to date, incumbent Randy Day, Robert (Bobby) Bronson, Jr., and Chris Davey. Two incumbents have filed in Liberal R-II, Brian King and John Simpson. see FILINGS, page 2A
Commission opens bids for materials and services in 2015 By RICHARD COOPER Democrat staff writer LAMAR-The Barton County Commission opened bids, December 29, for materials and services which it will require during calendar year, 2015. In those categories where there were multiple bids, the low bidder received the contract. In those categories that received no see BIDS, page 2A
INDEX SECTION A Correspondents......................... 2 Friends & Family....................... 3 Friends & Family....................... 4 School/Sports............................. 5 Sports.......................................... 6 SECTION B Area News.................................. 2 Records....................................... 3 Records....................................... 4 Legals/Classifieds....................... 5 Agriculture................................. 6
Dove Award-winning New Artist of the Year, Sidewalk Prophets, are pioneering an unprecedented tour expected to launch this coming February. Called the “Great Big Family Room”, the goal of the band is to “break down that wall between us as the guys on stage and the audience”, said band member Benjamin McDonald. An acoustic, intimate experience, the tour features the band's most loved songs and the heart behind them, as well as a preview of upcoming music from their new album currently in the works. At the heart of the experience is the genuine desire to create community and forge lasting, authentic relationships with
fans from the moment they step through the doors, where the band will be waiting to personally escort audience members to their seats. At that point, the typical concert monologue will become a dialogue, with the band sharing personal stories and encouraging the audience to do the same. “Family is one of the most important things in life,” said lead vocalist Dave Frey. “For us, this tour is our attempt to remind fans, friends, strangers and enemies that we're all brothers and sisters. Our hope is that each person who comes to this tour leaves feeling like they are loved, that they have a purpose and that they are a vitally important part of our family”.
BCMH employees give back to community during holidays The Barton County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees meeting was called to order on December 29 by Karen Wegener, chairperson. Other members present were Tom Shaw, Jill Purinton and Mike Vaughan. Mike Buchanan was absent. Also in attendance were CEO Wendy Duvall, Director Quality/Risk Management Eden Ogden and Director of Human Resources Sheila Heckmaster. The minutes from the November 24 meeting were unanimously approved with corrections. Duvall reported that November utilization was not very good, with all departments except for surgery and CT being down from the previous year. She reported a loss of $296,520 for November, bringing the year to date loss to $790,205. She did state that there was an additional $250,000 added to the
Medicare Contractual estimate for the month and that without this, they would have shown a much lower loss. There will be an additional $250,000 Medicare Contractual also taken in December. The clinics were in the black for November. Heckmaster reported some movement in personnel in November, but no change in net full time employees for the month. The year to date turnover rate for BCMH is six percent, in comparison to the MHA annual average of 12 percent. Ogden reported that the Caregiver Support Group was being well attended, with the next meeting to be held January 6. The Diabetes Support Group meeting will be held January 20. She noted that the hospital employees had been busy over the holidays, donatsee HOLIDAYS, page 6A
Sidewalk Prophets have toured with Jeremy Camp and Audio Adrenaline, as well as with the Rock and Worship Roadshow with MercyMe and Francesca Battistelli, among others. The band features Frey on vocals, lead guitarist Shaun Tomczak, rhythm guitarist McDonald, bassist Cal Joslin and drummer, Justin Nace. The “Great Big Family Room Tour”, featuring the Sidewalk Prophets, will be in concert on Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m., at Thiebaud Auditorium in Lamar. Admission will be $10 at the door for general admission, $75 for a pizza party or $100 for a serenade. For information call 815-797-2428 or visit www.greatbigfamilyroomtour.com.
Election for Barton County Extension Council members to be held The 2015 public election of eight new members for the Barton County University of Missouri Extension County Council will take place January 16-31. The county election will be held in accordance with state law (Chapter 262.550-262.620 R.S. Mo. 1969). Every county in Missouri has an extension council made up of elected and appointed members who represent the broad educational needs and backgrounds of people in that county. Missouri state statutes create county extension councils to work with University of Missouri Extension. These council members assist in planning and carrying out extension programs in the county, providing local exten-
sion governance and representing the diversity of the county’s changing population. Citizens over the age of 18 who reside in Barton County can vote. Official ballots have been mailed or citizens can come to the Barton County University of Missouri Extension office at 801 E 12th, Lamar, MO and obtain a ballot to vote. Four positions on the council will be filled from District I, which include Barton City, Central, Golden City, Leroy, Milford, Nashville, Newport, Northfork, Ozark, Richland, Southwest and Union townships and four positions on the council will be filled from District II, which include City of Lamar, Doylesport and Lamar townships. see ELECTION, page 6A
Latest filings for area city offices and county boards By RICHARD COOPER Democrat staff writer
Less than a week remains to file for public offices that must be filled in the April 7 election. The deadline is 5 p.m., January 20. In Lamar, candidates have committed for all offices to be filled. In Ward 1, incumbent Judd Chesnut will seek another term, Jim Cooper has filed in Ward 2, Brian Griffith in Ward 3, and incumbent Bill Talbott in Ward 4. Since Mayor Keith Divine has announced his retirement, an interesting race for the office has developed with the filing of former councilman Kent Harris and current councilman Tom Shields. Both men bring considerable experience in city
Valentine’s Day Sweeties
government into the race. Harris was a councilman for 18 years in the second ward, and Shields is completing 20 years in the third ward. In Lamar Heights, incumbent Jerry Marti is seeking another term as mayor, and Bob Noel has likewise committed for another term in Ward 1. No one has yet filed in Ward 2. Liberal must fill a seat in each of its two wards. So far, the only person to file is incumbent John Nicolas in Ward 2. Golden City must fill two seats in Ward 1. Incumbent Lyle Brewer has filed for the full twoyear term, and Walter Nims has filed for the remaining one year of an unexpired term. Nims currently holds the office on a temporary appointment. No
one has filed in Wards 2 and 3. In Mindenmines where their board of aldermen is elected at large, Roger Vansel and incumbent Mistie Short have filed for full two-year terms. Jim Morton has filed for the remaining one year of an unexpired term. Morton currently holds the seat on appointment. As yet, no one has filed for mayor. Sheldon also elects its board of aldermen at-large. Incumbents Robert Moran and John Scifers have filed for new terms. Also filing are Nickie Danner and Josh Bean. No one has committed for mayor. Jasper will be electing a mayor and two aldermen. Incumbent mayor Bill Hulstine has filed for another term, and Charles Schlichting has filed for the seat
HURRY GRANDPARENTS! Don’t miss the opportunity to show off your grandchildren this Valentine’s Day!
On Feb. 11, we will publish a special Valentine’s Day page(s) in honor of your grandchildren. To include your grandchildren, we need the child's name, age, where he/she resides; grandparent's names and where they reside; the child's photo and payment. Mail your information and payment to Lamar Democrat, P.O. Box 12, Lamar, MO 64759; stop by the office at 100 E. 11th St. and fill out the form; or email us the information, photo and credit card info at info@lamardemocrat.com
in the East Ward. No one has filed in the West Ward. No one has filed for any seats in Lockwood or Greenfield. Lockwood will be electing a mayor and two aldermen, and Greenfield will be electing two aldermen. The Barton County Health Department will be electing three persons to its board of directors. To date, only incumbent Darrell Kentner has filed. The Barton County Hospital Board must fill one position. Incumbent Mike Vaughan has filed. The Barton County Ambulance Board must fill two seats, one each in districts 1 and 4. Paul Stebbins has filed in district 1 and incumbent Leisa Blanchard has filed in district 4.
EACH VALENTINE AD IS $15.00 er - 8 Metzg Miles on of Kobyn ilton, grands ry Ga am yrs., H Metzger and and y dy nn Melo mar; La milton; La , Ha Swor orrow, Jennifer M y m d Tam eve an n. and St , Branso Mobley
Deadline: 5:00 p.m., AD Friday, Feb. 6 SAMPLE
*Actual size is 1.5 inches wide by 3.75 inches tall.
Anyone needing assistance with the Farm Bill decision aid should contact Barton County Extension at 417682-3579 to set an appointment at either of the Barton or Dade County Extension offices. Information can also be entered at https://decisionaid.afpc.tamu.edu/. Anyone coming to the extension office for assistance should bring their email and password, if applicable; FSA farm numbers; CC yield; 2013 base acres; crop yield and acreage history and intended rotation acreage up to 2018. If anyone has crop insurance, they need to bring their approved APH yield, 2014 insurance policy, coverage and unit structure.