GIRL SCOUTS 100th ANNIVERSARY
SEE PAGE 1D
Lewis County
Serving the communities of Lewis County, Mo. since 1862 (USPS 088-820) Vol. XL New Series, No. 13 Canton, Mo. 63435 • 20 Pages • 4 Sections • 55 cents
Thursday, March 29, 2012 THE BEAUTY OF SPRING
BREAKING NEWS UPDATES AT
MINOR THREAT WAS CONCERN TO C-1 PATRONS BY DAN STEINBECK EDITOR dan@lewispnj.com
Lewis County C-1 Superintendent Jackie Ebeling confirmed there was a social networking minor threat the district dealt with several weeks ago. Ebeling said administrators evaluated the threat of the girl, and determined the threat was made apparently out of frustration in a relationship issue, and wasn’t a true threat. The unspecified threat was apparently not against the school or against the whole student body. However, before administrators could finish their investigation, there was rampant concern in the C-1 district. “The rumors circulated through instant messaging faster than we could handle it,” Ebeling said. Administrators though did do locker checks and talking with students, pulling them out of class to talk to them. The unidentified girl was given inschool suspension, and was shortly afterwards injured in an accident that has kept her out of school.
ENTITIES SEEK TO CONTINUE ROAD TAXES BY DAN STEINBECK EDITOR dan@lewispnj.com
Lewis County officials say it’s key to the County budget for a road and bridge tax to be continued. Proposition R seeks to continue a three-eighths of a cent tax for County roads and bridges. “Even in the little bit of time I’ve been in office, I see it as vital for the upkeep of County Roads. It is designated for that purpose,” said Lewis County Presiding Commissioner Wayne ‘Fid’ Murphy, Jr. Murphy said this fund is one of two taxes for County roads. In 2011, it brought in $219,900, but in 2010 brought in about $206,000/ Murphy said the fund is used for rock, some culverts, and some equipment. The tax, which was first passed in 1989, is voted on every four years. The City of LaBelle is also seeking to continue an exzisting street tax of .35 per $100 assessed valuation. City officials say it is necessary for the city budget to be able to ontinue street maintenance. The LaBelle tax also is voted every four years.
FFA AUCTION The Canton FFA Alumni is holding its first consignment auction to raise money to help support the Canton FFA Chapter. Commissions from the sale will go to the FFA Alumni. This money will be used for scholarships and also to assist the chapter during the year. The Canton FFA Chapter will be serving food and selling sausage and potatoes. Sale will be held by Sullivan Auctioneerson March 31 at the Caldwell Building west of Canton on Hwy 16.
Photo by Rita Cox
An early spring has forced many shrubs and bushes to bloom much earlier than normal. These fragrant lilacs have burst into beauty and there are reports of morel mushrooms being found in the area.
Two issues, board candidates on Tuesday ballot BY DAN STEINBECK EDITOR dan@lewispnj.com
Three tax issues and a number of board positions will be decided by Lewis County voters in the municipal election Tuesday, April 3. Lewis County has a three-eighths cent continuation tax; the City of LaBelle is seeking to continue a .35 cents street tax; and the Lewis County Health Department is seeking a .10 tax increase. (See separate stories on each tax issue). Some boards don’t have to have elections, when the number of candidates doesn’t exceed the number of positions to fill. Here are the local boards with races having elections next week: Lewis County C-1 School District
– Neil Jennings, Donna R. Collier, Robert Reed Miller, E.H. Smith, and Jamie Brennan. Miller and Smith are incumbents. Two will be chosen. R-4 Fire Protection District – Terry Falconer, Bryan Jennings, and Tom Stark. One will be chosen. Faulconer is the incumbent. Lewis County E-911 Southern District – Terry Faulconer and Chris Heimer. One will be chosen. Heimer is the incumbent. LaBelle Second Ward Alderman – Justin Parrish, Paul A. Harvey, and Norman Strickland. Here are other boards where candidates will be elected with no candidates in a race: Canton Aldermen – Peggy Wolf, Ward One; write-in for Ward Two; Jeffrey Janney, Ward Three.
Ewing Aldermen – Dan Ray for First Ward, Dean Wagy Second Ward. Lewistown City – Stephen L. McKenzie, Mayor; Denise Goodwin, City Collector; David Goodwin, North Ward Alderman; Aaron V. Lay, South Ward Alderman. LaBelle North Ward – Chris Parrish. Write-in candidates will be elected for the one Lewis County Nursing Home District 2 post and five Village of Monticello posts. Some Lewis Countians will vote on a Knox County School bond issue and still others will pick two of three Clark County School Board members. Polling information and final absentee voting is on page 3C.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT SEEKS TAX LEVY INCREASE BY RITA COX REPORTER rita1@lewispnj.com
The Lewis County Health Department is asking voters to approve a tax levy increase on April 3, 2012. After operating at the same ten cents tax rate since 1953, the Health Department is facing issues with rising costs of supplies and other expenses. Funds gained through the levy increase will be used to cover the continued maintenance and operation of the department. The Lewis County Health Department provides many vital services to the county, not only for individuals who use the facility, but anyone who lives, shops or eats in Lewis County. The Department provides many environmental services that include food safety inspections at restaurants, grocery stores,
senior centers, schools, motels, child care facilities, and temporary food stand inspections. They also conduct food service training, animal bite investigations, food recall follow-ups and many other services to keep residents of the county safe. Other services provided include WIC (Women Infant and Children) program, immunizations for both children and adults, blood pressure screenings, a variety tests including pregnancy, TB, STD, blood sugar, hemoglobin and others. More and more people are using the health department for doctor ordered tests, which are less expensive than having them done at a doctors office or clinic. Diane Lay, Health Department R.N. and Administrator said they have seen an increase of patients using the
Diane Lay, R.N., Administrator, of the Lewis County Health Department, administers a tetanus shot to Tabitha Wagner during the flood of 2008 in LaGrange.
health department due to the rising medical costs, especially for those who do not have insurance. The Health
Department provides a more Story continued on page 3A