The Missouri National Education Association hopes to stop the use of the state’s general revenue to fund private school scholarships

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri National Education Association is suing the state in an effort to block the appropriation of $51 million to MOScholars, the state’s K-12 scholarship program.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Verified%20Petition%20for%20Declaratory%20Judgment%20and%20Injunctive%20Relief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3602182" target="_blank">lawsuit filed in Cole County Circuit Court Monday</a>, MNEA argues that state funds cannot be directly given to MOScholars under the current statute.

MNEA vice president Rebeka McIntosh and member Kimberly Duvall, who serves as president of the Blue Springs chapter of the National Education Association, are suing on behalf of the organization’s 30,000 members.

“The General Assembly has far overstepped its authority and violated five provisions of the Missouri Constitution by using an appropriations bill to construct out of whole cloth a scheme to divert general revenues to what are essentially vouchers for the payment of private school tuition for elementary and secondary school students,” MNEA’s attorney Loretta Haggard wrote.

MOScholars currently operates using nonprofits dubbed “educational assistance organizations” to gather donations and distribute scholarships to students in private, parochial or home schools. Donors can receive a tax credit equal to 100% of their contribution but can use it to cover no more than half of their state tax liability.&nbsp;

State law allows 4% of donations to be reserved to cover the costs of administering the program, including marketing.

But the budget passed by the lawmakers&nbsp; “dramatically changes the landscape,” Haggard contends.

The budget signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe Monday includes an injection of general revenue to the MOScholars program, budgeting $50 million for scholarships and $1 million to assist marketing the program.

This, MNEA argues, breaks state law for multiple reasons.

The 2021 law that created MOScholars prescribes the use of tax-deductible donations to educational assistance organizations (EAOs), not general revenue, as a funding source.

“The money for (MOScholars) scholarships comes from donations that taxpayers make to EAOs, and EAOs then remit to families. The donated funds never come into the custody of the state, and the state does not select scholarship recipients,” Haggard wrote.

The direct appropriation to the program effectively amends the MOScholars statute, the lawsuit says, which violates laws requiring legislative authorization and limits bills to a single subject. Changing statute in a budget bill is not allowed.

The money would have to flow through a fund overseen by the State Treasurer’s Office which currently does not hold scholarship money. The fund is “to be used by the state treasurer for marketing and administrative expenses or the costs incurred in administering the program, whichever is less,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=135.715" target="_blank">state law</a>.

Using the fund to administer scholarships is “unauthorized,” the lawsuit says.

MNEA is asking for a preliminary injunction, which would block the $51 million appropriation from being transferred to the MOScholars fund while litigation ensues.

“Once the unlawful appropriations are disbursed to private entities or individuals, it will be difficult if not impossible to claw those funds back to the treasury where they belong,” the lawsuit says.

MNEA argues that the money, if given to MOScholars, would hurt public education statewide.

“Politicians in Jefferson City and their privatization lobbyists are stealing from our kids,” said Missouri NEA President Phil Murray. “In rural Missouri, that $51 million means losing our music teacher, canceling basketball, and watching our schools crumble. They’re killing our small towns.”

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek, in an interview with The Independent in May, addressed the possibility of a lawsuit.

“We will deal with it when that happens,” he said. “I cannot predict which course it will take.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719493597787.png" alt="The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri National Education Association hopes to stop the use of the state’s general revenue to fund private school scholarships</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri National Education Association is suing the state in an effort to block the appropriation of $51 million to MOScholars, the state’s K-12 scholarship program.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Verified%20Petition%20for%20Declaratory%20Judgment%20and%20Injunctive%20Relief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3602182" target="_blank">lawsuit filed in Cole County Circuit Court Monday</a>, MNEA argues that state funds cannot be directly given to MOScholars under the current statute.MNEA vice president Rebeka McIntosh and member Kimberly Duvall, who serves as president of the Blue Springs chapter of the National Education Association, are suing on behalf of the organization’s 30,000 members.“The General Assembly has far overstepped its authority and violated five provisions of the Missouri Constitution by using an appropriations bill to construct out of whole cloth a scheme to divert general revenues to what are essentially vouchers for the payment of private school tuition for elementary and secondary school students,” MNEA’s attorney Loretta Haggard wrote.MOScholars currently operates using nonprofits dubbed “educational assistance organizations” to gather donations and distribute scholarships to students in private, parochial or home schools. Donors can receive a tax credit equal to 100% of their contribution but can use it to cover no more than half of their state tax liability.&nbsp;State law allows 4% of donations to be reserved to cover the costs of administering the program, including marketing.But the budget passed by the lawmakers&nbsp; “dramatically changes the landscape,” Haggard contends.The budget signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe Monday includes an injection of general revenue to the MOScholars program, budgeting $50 million for scholarships and $1 million to assist marketing the program.This, MNEA argues, breaks state law for multiple reasons.The 2021 law that created MOScholars prescribes the use of tax-deductible donations to educational assistance organizations (EAOs), not general revenue, as a funding source.“The money for (MOScholars) scholarships comes from donations that taxpayers make to EAOs, and EAOs then remit to families. The donated funds never come into the custody of the state, and the state does not select scholarship recipients,” Haggard wrote.The direct appropriation to the program effectively amends the MOScholars statute, the lawsuit says, which violates laws requiring legislative authorization and limits bills to a single subject. Changing statute in a budget bill is not allowed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751451315710.png" alt="State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks during the Disability Advocacy Day rally in the Missouri State Capitol Wednesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks during the Disability Advocacy Day rally in the Missouri State Capitol Wednesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>The money would have to flow through a fund overseen by the State Treasurer’s Office which currently does not hold scholarship money. The fund is “to be used by the state treasurer for marketing and administrative expenses or the costs incurred in administering the program, whichever is less,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=135.715" target="_blank">state law</a>.Using the fund to administer scholarships is “unauthorized,” the lawsuit says.MNEA is asking for a preliminary injunction, which would block the $51 million appropriation from being transferred to the MOScholars fund while litigation ensues.“Once the unlawful appropriations are disbursed to private entities or individuals, it will be difficult if not impossible to claw those funds back to the treasury where they belong,” the lawsuit says.MNEA argues that the money, if given to MOScholars, would hurt public education statewide.“Politicians in Jefferson City and their privatization lobbyists are stealing from our kids,” said Missouri NEA President Phil Murray. “In rural Missouri, that $51 million means losing our music teacher, canceling basketball, and watching our schools crumble. They’re killing our small towns.”Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek, in an interview with The Independent in May, addressed the possibility of a lawsuit.“We will deal with it when that happens,” he said. “I cannot predict which course it will take.”

Missouri educators sue state over $51 million appropriation to private school vouchers

The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July all weekend long, starting early with Thursday with three days of fireworks extravaganzas at Phil Welch Stadium.  

General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says playing at a stadium within a community, it's unique to play at Phil Welch on the Fourth of July 

"Here's a ballpark and there's houses all around us, well what do those houses do around that holiday? They shoot off fireworks too, so it's really kind of like a 360 of fireworks when you're sitting there watching a baseball game," Turner says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "You know, they talk about the batter's eye and being able to pay attention to that pitch, I don't know how you do that when you've got fireworks going off all around you, but it makes for a great show for us in the stands." 

Fireworks extravaganza will highlight the end of each Mustangs home game during the holiday. Turner says there are also some other fun things going on as well 

"On the 3rd we are hosting Sluggerrr from the Kansas City Royals and Fredbird, thanks to Eagle Radio, from the St. Louis Cardinals, they'll be there for a meet and greet, we'll have pregame skydivers, notice I didn't say Sluggerrr and Fredbird are skydiving but they will be there," Turner says.  "And then the 4th we have a Mr. and Miss Mustangs competition which is a blast." 

On Saturday the 5th, the Mustangs will also honor area fire, police, and EMT personnel.  The pregame police versus fire softball game will also be held on that day.

Turner says the games will also be an opportunity to thank some of our nation’s heroes 

"On the 3rd all veterans and active military receive two free general admission tickets, we're going to honor some local military heroes for pregame that night, and then on the 4th all retired and active military can get two free party deck tickets, we do encourage people to reserve those in advance as they can sell out," Turner explains.  "But we're here to celebrate and honor America playing America's game, you know America's pastime is baseball, we've got fireworks, of course we've got the hot dogs." 

The Mustangs kick off things on Thursday against the Chillicothe Mudcats.  All games over the holiday begin at 7pm.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751389450759.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday for three consecutive days at Phil Welch Stadium, starting on Thursday and going through Saturday/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Mustangs Facebook" />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday for three consecutive days at Phil Welch Stadium, starting on Thursday and going through Saturday/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Mustangs Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July all weekend long, starting early with Thursday with three days of fireworks extravaganzas at Phil Welch Stadium. General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says playing at a stadium within a community, it's unique to play at Phil Welch on the Fourth of July "Here's a ballpark and there's houses all around us, well what do those houses do around that holiday? They shoot off fireworks too, so it's really kind of like a 360 of fireworks when you're sitting there watching a baseball game," Turner says on the KFEQmunnity show. "You know, they talk about the batter's eye and being able to pay attention to that pitch, I don't know how you do that when you've got fireworks going off all around you, but it makes for a great show for us in the stands." Fireworks extravaganza will highlight the end of each Mustangs home game during the holiday. Turner says there are also some other fun things going on as well "On the 3rd we are hosting Sluggerrr from the Kansas City Royals and Fredbird, thanks to Eagle Radio, from the St. Louis Cardinals, they'll be there for a meet and greet, we'll have pregame skydivers, notice I didn't say Sluggerrr and Fredbird are skydiving but they will be there," Turner says. "And then the 4th we have a Mr. and Miss Mustangs competition which is a blast." On Saturday the 5th, the Mustangs will also honor area fire, police, and EMT personnel. The pregame police versus fire softball game will also be held on that day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751389710599.jpeg" alt="Fireworks over Phil Welch Stadium/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Mustangs" />
 <figcaption>Fireworks over Phil Welch Stadium/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Mustangs</figcaption>
 </figure>Turner says the games will also be an opportunity to thank some of our nation’s heroes "On the 3rd all veterans and active military receive two free general admission tickets, we're going to honor some local military heroes for pregame that night, and then on the 4th all retired and active military can get two free party deck tickets, we do encourage people to reserve those in advance as they can sell out," Turner explains. "But we're here to celebrate and honor America playing America's game, you know America's pastime is baseball, we've got fireworks, of course we've got the hot dogs." The Mustangs kick off things on Thursday against the Chillicothe Mudcats. All games over the holiday begin at 7pm.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoemustangs%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0vfXmb8aPfutw5FibuSVnV7UZFJGDSzWwDpukgp2jgASDzmNFAbViXo7fugNFJJral&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="730" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Celebrate Fourth of July with the St. Joseph Mustangs 

There should be
plenty of fireworks and prices shouldn’t be too much higher than last year,
despite the trade war between the United States and China.

That, according to
Stacy Schneitter-Blake with Schneitters Fireworks and Importers of St. Joseph.
Schneitter-Blake, the president of the National Fireworks Association, says
nearly all the fireworks we shoot off this Independence Day are imported.

“For the consumer
fireworks it’s 95 to 99% comes from China,” Schneitter-Blake tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post.

Schneitter-Blake
says most fireworks stands bought their fireworks early, before tariffs drove
up the price. Fireworks wholesalers and retailers didn’t have to worry much
about tariffs in the past. Schneitter-Blake says federal policy exempted
fireworks from tariffs until 2019. Now, fireworks are in the thick of trade
talks, especially this time of year.

Schneitter-Blake
says she hasn’t seen a big impact on National Fireworks Association members
this year.

“What I’m seeing
right now, the prices are very similar as they have been in the past years,” Schneitter-Blake
says. “They might have some, you know, maybe a little, slight difference in
price.”

“We did leave some
product in China,” according to Schneitter-Blake. “We have a lot of fireworks
here, but I would encourage people to shop early in case there are certain
items that we might be limited on.”

Schneitter-Blake
says some fireworks manufacturers in China had to shut down production. They
don’t have warehouse space and increasingly higher tariffs dampened demand from
America. A 10% tariff early in the year quickly doubled and as the trade war
escalated, tariffs on goods from China soared to 145% at one time.

Schneitter-Blake does
advise consumers to shop early for their fireworks this Independence Day
holiday. She says fireworks stands might be short on some items. Still, she
doesn’t see much of an interruption to the celebrations this year.

“So, going into
the 2026 season, we’re a little more leery about what that might happen to for
next year, going into the 250th, semiquincentennial of our country,”
Schneitter-Blake says.

The concern for
next year is heightened by the approaching 250th anniversary
celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“My concerns right
now are going into 2026,” Schneitter-Blake says. “Next year, for the
semiquincentennial, the 4th of July lands on a Saturday. It’s kind
of the perfect storm for a 250th anniversary of our country landing on
a Saturday as well, on a weekend.”

Schneitter-Blake
says the National Fireworks Association and the American Pyrotechnics
Association are working together to lobby the federal government to once again exempt
fireworks from tariffs.

Schneitters
Fireworks and Importers is a retail, wholesale company that supplies fireworks
to many companies that put on fireworks displays. It is celebrating its 130th
anniversary. Schneitter-Blake says her parents and grandparents were founding
members of the National Fireworks Association to have more of a say in federal policy.
Schneitter-Blake has made several trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for
association members.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThere should be
plenty of fireworks and prices shouldn’t be too much higher than last year,
despite the trade war between the United States and China.That, according to
Stacy Schneitter-Blake with Schneitters Fireworks and Importers of St. Joseph.
Schneitter-Blake, the president of the National Fireworks Association, says
nearly all the fireworks we shoot off this Independence Day are imported.“For the consumer
fireworks it’s 95 to 99% comes from China,” Schneitter-Blake tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post.Schneitter-Blake
says most fireworks stands bought their fireworks early, before tariffs drove
up the price. Fireworks wholesalers and retailers didn’t have to worry much
about tariffs in the past. Schneitter-Blake says federal policy exempted
fireworks from tariffs until 2019. Now, fireworks are in the thick of trade
talks, especially this time of year.Schneitter-Blake
says she hasn’t seen a big impact on National Fireworks Association members
this year.“What I’m seeing
right now, the prices are very similar as they have been in the past years,” Schneitter-Blake
says. “They might have some, you know, maybe a little, slight difference in
price.”Supply might be a
different story.“We did leave some
product in China,” according to Schneitter-Blake. “We have a lot of fireworks
here, but I would encourage people to shop early in case there are certain
items that we might be limited on.”Schneitter-Blake
says some fireworks manufacturers in China had to shut down production. They
don’t have warehouse space and increasingly higher tariffs dampened demand from
America. A 10% tariff early in the year quickly doubled and as the trade war
escalated, tariffs on goods from China soared to 145% at one time.Schneitter-Blake does
advise consumers to shop early for their fireworks this Independence Day
holiday. She says fireworks stands might be short on some items. Still, she
doesn’t see much of an interruption to the celebrations this year.Next year could be
a different story.“So, going into
the 2026 season, we’re a little more leery about what that might happen to for
next year, going into the 250th, semiquincentennial of our country,”
Schneitter-Blake says.The concern for
next year is heightened by the approaching 250th anniversary
celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.“My concerns right
now are going into 2026,” Schneitter-Blake says. “Next year, for the
semiquincentennial, the 4th of July lands on a Saturday. It’s kind
of the perfect storm for a 250th anniversary of our country landing on
a Saturday as well, on a weekend.”Schneitter-Blake
says the National Fireworks Association and the American Pyrotechnics
Association are working together to lobby the federal government to once again exempt
fireworks from tariffs.Schneitters
Fireworks and Importers is a retail, wholesale company that supplies fireworks
to many companies that put on fireworks displays. It is celebrating its 130th
anniversary. Schneitter-Blake says her parents and grandparents were founding
members of the National Fireworks Association to have more of a say in federal policy.
Schneitter-Blake has made several trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for
association members.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Trade war with China shouldn't affect your 4th celebration, at least not much

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 126th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. 

The driver, Tim Wurzbacher, 37, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp; on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751298708768.png" alt="Wurzbacher photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wurzbacher photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 126th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver, Tim Wurzbacher, 37, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp; on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: NE Kansas man caught transporting meth

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Hallsville, a town of about 2,000 people northeast of Columbia, was peppered with homemade purple and gold “Yes on Prop 2” signs adorning front lawns early this spring.

The Hallsville School District was asking for a $6.5 million bond issue to finance more parking for the growing high school, a new elementary classroom and increased security for schools. And on April 8,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/elections/results/20250408SGM.pdf" target="_blank">nearly 75% of voters</a>&nbsp;approved the measure, and the district launched pre-construction and design work.

But the project came to a halt the afternoon of June 6 when Superintendent Tyler Walker learned the district hadn’t met public-notice requirements before the election. So their bond counsel, the law firm Gilmore &amp; Bell, couldn’t submit the bond issue for certification to the Missouri State Auditor’s Office.

“This was not the fault of the school district,” Walker told The Independent, “yet the school district and the students we educate are unfortunately being punished.”

Hallsville is the only school district to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/voters-approve-hallsville-school-bond-issue-but-state-auditor-says-no/article_d4619f98-a255-4bda-a630-61dca5fa6015.html" target="_blank">publicly acknowledge</a>&nbsp;issues with its bond measure, but there could be as many as 10 political subdivisions forced to throw out the results of the April election.

Mark Grimm, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell, said in a June 3 email to the auditor’s office that eight to 10 of his firm’s clients may need to put voter-approved bonds back on the ballot because they appear to have fallen short of&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.127" target="_blank">the state law laying out public notice requirements in the run up to an election</a>.&nbsp;

Notice of a bond issue must be published in local newspapers twice — once two weeks prior to the election and again within one week of the election. In each instance, Grimm wrote, notice ran three and two weeks before the election.

Exactly which bond measures are in jeopardy isn’t clear. The firm couldn’t comment on specifics about its clients, and the auditor’s office — which must certify that local bond measures comply with state law — was not provided with a list.

In an interview with The Independent, Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said the state law is clear. The last thing he wanted to do was disqualify a voter-approved measure, Fitzpatrick said, but his hands are tied because public notice requirements are very specific and allow no flexibility.&nbsp;

“If we’re aware of the deficiency,” he said “we can’t knowingly certify that the bonds comply with all the laws.”

Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Shell Knob, acknowledged similar issues with public notice have gone undetected over the years. In fact, an $8.5 million bond measure for the Centralia R-VI School District, Hallsville’s neighbor to the northeast, was certified with similar problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The office has historically relied on bond attorneys like Gilmore &amp; Bell, Fitzpatrick said, to ensure their clients are in compliance with state laws before submitting paperwork for certification. While his staff ensures publication takes place, “it was not part of our process to closely check the dates of the publications.”

“There’s a level of trust that has been historically built into this process,” he said, “because this is a sporadic thing. It’s not something where we have a team of people sitting around all day and their only job is to review these bonds and check every single law.”

Bill Burns, general counsel for Gilmore &amp; Bell, doesn’t agree with the auditor’s position. He believes Missouri law gives Fitzpatrick enough wiggle room to certify voter-approved bonds despite “minor deficiencies relating to publication notices that would not in any way affect the outcome of the election.”

But Fitzpatrick said the law firm should have been on the lookout for these sorts of problems after a dust up in February involving the Higbee Fire Protection District — another Gilmore &amp; Bell client — resulted in a bond measure being refused certification over similar issues.&nbsp;

“I am surprised that we’re dealing with this now,” he said. “I would expect that bond counsel will be more proactive and communicate with the county clerk on these deals moving forward to make sure the publication dates are where they need to be. But I would have also thought that following the February deal.”

Over the course of two elections last year, voters in Randolph County approved $1.6 million in bonds to support the Higbee Fire Protection District. It was only supposed to take one election, but the county clerk put the wrong total on the August ballot, requiring the rest of the bonds to be approved in November.&nbsp;

By February, all that was left for the bonds to finally be issued was the certification of the auditor’s office.

Fitzpatrick’s staff kept asking for a copy of the sample ballot that was published in the newspaper prior to the election. Erick Creach, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell representing the district, instead sent affidavits attesting that the county clerk published a sample ballot.

As it turns out, the reason Creach couldn’t share a copy of the sample ballot was because it was never published as required by law.&nbsp;

“Erick called first thing this morning,” wrote Leslie Korte, general counsel for the auditor’s office, in a Feb. 26 email obtained by The Independent through Missouri’s Sunshine Law. “He admitted that despite their prior representations and the certification of the clerk, they in fact did not publish the notice as required. For any election. He basically wanted us to let that slide.”

Korte wrote that she informed Creach that the auditor “cannot certify a bond that we know does not comply with state law.”

“I also addressed the secondary issue, which is Gilmore &amp; Bell sending us documents certifying to facts that are not true, and him providing us documents yesterday afternoon identifying them as something they are not,” she wrote. “I told him all bond packages we receive from them going forward will be under heightened scrutiny, and if anything like this happens again, how it is addressed by our office will be escalated.”

Creach responded later that day reiterating that sharing the affidavits wasn’t an attempt to fool anyone but rather to “keep your office updated as I was piecing together the information, which to your point should have been addressed prior to submission of the transcript in the first place.”

The firm, Creach wrote, will “have a call today internally to discuss best practices regarding&nbsp;submission of transcripts and review of documentation to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future.”

Fitzpatrick said in an interview this week that Gilmore &amp; Bell “kind of intended to mislead us on that one, and we were unable to certify those bonds because no publication took place.”

In May, the auditor’s office refused to certify bonds for the Brookfield R-III School District in Linn County, again due to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kttn.com/clerical-mistake-halts-school-bond-approvals-in-brookfield-and-meadville-school-districts/" target="_blank">public notice deficiencies</a>.&nbsp;

Though the school district was not a Gilmore &amp; Bell client, the firm took note and decided it would “submit certain hypothetical fact situations” to the auditor in the hopes of clarifying what could disqualify a bond measure, said Burns, the firm’s general counsel.&nbsp;

One of the hypotheticals the firm submitted was publication three weeks and two weeks before the election. The auditor’s office confirmed it would not certify under those circumstances.&nbsp;

Grim responded that “we believe there are 8-10 bond elections from April for political subdivisions we represent where the election authority complied with all publication requirements except the publications fell slightly outside of the two week/one week provision.”

“While we definitely agree that good public policy is to ensure compliance with election laws,” Grimm wrote, “failing to register bonds due to election law technicalities has the result of effectively annulling an election.”

He requested the auditor’s office consider certifying bonds regardless of the public notice issue, with the understanding that “going forward, no such grace will be provided.” And he noted the auditor’s office had just certified a bond for one of the firm’s other clients, Centralia, that had the exact same deficiencies.&nbsp;

Korte responded in a June 4 email that for Centralia, the auditor’s office “relied on the representation of bond counsel that the bonds complied with all state laws, including state law that dictates when those publications must take place.”

Given the number of state laws that exist to cover the issuance of bonds, Korte wrote, it would not be surprising if over the years a bond was certified “despite having an unknown or undisclosed legal defect.”

“That should never be taken as a tacit approval of any failure to comply with state law,” she wrote. “If anything, it should be used by bond counsel as a cautionary tale causing them to double down on their efforts to ensure they are monitoring their clients’ bonds and advising on how to issue bonds in full compliance.”

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, who oversees elections including publishing notices,&nbsp; told The Independent that her office intentionally chose to publish sample ballots three and two weeks before the election.

“We have tried, especially this past time, to make sure that we have some (safeguard),” she said. “So if there is a mistake that’s made in one of the weekly papers, we still have a grace period to be able to publish.”

A changing newspaper industry has made it harder to publish sample ballots. After a local paper was bought by a large corporation, Lennon’s office struggled to get edits made of notices and receive proofs prior to printing.

Lennon didn’t think her notice strategy would run into statutory issues, since the heart of the law is to ensure voters are informed. Her office goes beyond the law’s requirements and sends sample ballots in the mail to voters and posts them online in advance of all elections.

Hallsville plans on resubmitting the bond issue for November’s election, which Walker estimates will cost the district “between $10,000 and $20,000.” Until the issue is funded and approved by the state, no payment is due to Gilmore &amp; Bell.

The cost of delaying construction isn’t quantifiable, he said, and will cause “significant planning issues for the district,” with improvements critically needed.

“The safety and education of our students is of utmost importance to all of us in Hallsville,” he said.

Walker felt he had no reason to doubt the district’s bond counsel, since Hallsville previously passed three bond issues with Gilmore &amp; Bell’s assistance, and he knew the firm’s reputation as “one of the best.”

“Districts rely on bond counsel because the process to pass a bond issue and finance a successful issue is a complicated one,” he said. “It requires the assistance of a bond counsel to navigate the legal and financial complexities that are involved in the process from start to finish.”

Fitzpatrick said his office will begin requiring bond counsel to sign an affidavit when submitting paperwork for certification of a bond measure “basically saying that, to the best of their knowledge, all laws have been complied with.”

State lawmakers have also reached out to him, Fitzpatrick said, with interest in changing the public notice law when the legislature reconvenes in January. Burns said his firm agrees that the law needs to be adjusted.&nbsp;

“The main thing I think that really needs to be changed is becoming more lenient with the date of the publication,” Fitzpatrick said, adding: “There’s a lot of kind of antiquated aspects of it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670081515655.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Hallsville, a town of about 2,000 people northeast of Columbia, was peppered with homemade purple and gold “Yes on Prop 2” signs adorning front lawns early this spring.The Hallsville School District was asking for a $6.5 million bond issue to finance more parking for the growing high school, a new elementary classroom and increased security for schools. And on April 8,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/elections/results/20250408SGM.pdf" target="_blank">nearly 75% of voters</a>&nbsp;approved the measure, and the district launched pre-construction and design work.But the project came to a halt the afternoon of June 6 when Superintendent Tyler Walker learned the district hadn’t met public-notice requirements before the election. So their bond counsel, the law firm Gilmore &amp; Bell, couldn’t submit the bond issue for certification to the Missouri State Auditor’s Office.“This was not the fault of the school district,” Walker told The Independent, “yet the school district and the students we educate are unfortunately being punished.”Hallsville is the only school district to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/voters-approve-hallsville-school-bond-issue-but-state-auditor-says-no/article_d4619f98-a255-4bda-a630-61dca5fa6015.html" target="_blank">publicly acknowledge</a>&nbsp;issues with its bond measure, but there could be as many as 10 political subdivisions forced to throw out the results of the April election.Mark Grimm, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell, said in a June 3 email to the auditor’s office that eight to 10 of his firm’s clients may need to put voter-approved bonds back on the ballot because they appear to have fallen short of&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.127" target="_blank">the state law laying out public notice requirements in the run up to an election</a>.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751110830433.png" alt=" Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters about a critical report of the Secretary of State’s office on Jan. 23, 2024 (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters about a critical report of the Secretary of State’s office on Jan. 23, 2024 (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Notice of a bond issue must be published in local newspapers twice — once two weeks prior to the election and again within one week of the election. In each instance, Grimm wrote, notice ran three and two weeks before the election.Exactly which bond measures are in jeopardy isn’t clear. The firm couldn’t comment on specifics about its clients, and the auditor’s office — which must certify that local bond measures comply with state law — was not provided with a list.In an interview with The Independent, Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said the state law is clear. The last thing he wanted to do was disqualify a voter-approved measure, Fitzpatrick said, but his hands are tied because public notice requirements are very specific and allow no flexibility.&nbsp;“If we’re aware of the deficiency,” he said “we can’t knowingly certify that the bonds comply with all the laws.”Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Shell Knob, acknowledged similar issues with public notice have gone undetected over the years. In fact, an $8.5 million bond measure for the Centralia R-VI School District, Hallsville’s neighbor to the northeast, was certified with similar problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;The office has historically relied on bond attorneys like Gilmore &amp; Bell, Fitzpatrick said, to ensure their clients are in compliance with state laws before submitting paperwork for certification. While his staff ensures publication takes place, “it was not part of our process to closely check the dates of the publications.”“There’s a level of trust that has been historically built into this process,” he said, “because this is a sporadic thing. It’s not something where we have a team of people sitting around all day and their only job is to review these bonds and check every single law.”Bill Burns, general counsel for Gilmore &amp; Bell, doesn’t agree with the auditor’s position. He believes Missouri law gives Fitzpatrick enough wiggle room to certify voter-approved bonds despite “minor deficiencies relating to publication notices that would not in any way affect the outcome of the election.”But Fitzpatrick said the law firm should have been on the lookout for these sorts of problems after a dust up in February involving the Higbee Fire Protection District — another Gilmore &amp; Bell client — resulted in a bond measure being refused certification over similar issues.&nbsp;“I am surprised that we’re dealing with this now,” he said. “I would expect that bond counsel will be more proactive and communicate with the county clerk on these deals moving forward to make sure the publication dates are where they need to be. But I would have also thought that following the February deal.”<h2>Higbee Fire Protection District</h2>Over the course of two elections last year, voters in Randolph County approved $1.6 million in bonds to support the Higbee Fire Protection District. It was only supposed to take one election, but the county clerk put the wrong total on the August ballot, requiring the rest of the bonds to be approved in November.&nbsp;By February, all that was left for the bonds to finally be issued was the certification of the auditor’s office.And that’s where things went sideways.Fitzpatrick’s staff kept asking for a copy of the sample ballot that was published in the newspaper prior to the election. Erick Creach, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell representing the district, instead sent affidavits attesting that the county clerk published a sample ballot.As it turns out, the reason Creach couldn’t share a copy of the sample ballot was because it was never published as required by law.&nbsp;“Erick called first thing this morning,” wrote Leslie Korte, general counsel for the auditor’s office, in a Feb. 26 email obtained by The Independent through Missouri’s Sunshine Law. “He admitted that despite their prior representations and the certification of the clerk, they in fact did not publish the notice as required. For any election. He basically wanted us to let that slide.”Korte wrote that she informed Creach that the auditor “cannot certify a bond that we know does not comply with state law.”“I also addressed the secondary issue, which is Gilmore &amp; Bell sending us documents certifying to facts that are not true, and him providing us documents yesterday afternoon identifying them as something they are not,” she wrote. “I told him all bond packages we receive from them going forward will be under heightened scrutiny, and if anything like this happens again, how it is addressed by our office will be escalated.”Creach responded later that day reiterating that sharing the affidavits wasn’t an attempt to fool anyone but rather to “keep your office updated as I was piecing together the information, which to your point should have been addressed prior to submission of the transcript in the first place.”The firm, Creach wrote, will “have a call today internally to discuss best practices regarding&nbsp;submission of transcripts and review of documentation to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future.”Fitzpatrick said in an interview this week that Gilmore &amp; Bell “kind of intended to mislead us on that one, and we were unable to certify those bonds because no publication took place.”<h2>Brookfield R-III School District</h2>In May, the auditor’s office refused to certify bonds for the Brookfield R-III School District in Linn County, again due to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kttn.com/clerical-mistake-halts-school-bond-approvals-in-brookfield-and-meadville-school-districts/" target="_blank">public notice deficiencies</a>.&nbsp;Though the school district was not a Gilmore &amp; Bell client, the firm took note and decided it would “submit certain hypothetical fact situations” to the auditor in the hopes of clarifying what could disqualify a bond measure, said Burns, the firm’s general counsel.&nbsp;One of the hypotheticals the firm submitted was publication three weeks and two weeks before the election. The auditor’s office confirmed it would not certify under those circumstances.&nbsp;Grim responded that “we believe there are 8-10 bond elections from April for political subdivisions we represent where the election authority complied with all publication requirements except the publications fell slightly outside of the two week/one week provision.”One of those was Hallsville.&nbsp;“While we definitely agree that good public policy is to ensure compliance with election laws,” Grimm wrote, “failing to register bonds due to election law technicalities has the result of effectively annulling an election.”He requested the auditor’s office consider certifying bonds regardless of the public notice issue, with the understanding that “going forward, no such grace will be provided.” And he noted the auditor’s office had just certified a bond for one of the firm’s other clients, Centralia, that had the exact same deficiencies.&nbsp;Korte responded in a June 4 email that for Centralia, the auditor’s office “relied on the representation of bond counsel that the bonds complied with all state laws, including state law that dictates when those publications must take place.”Given the number of state laws that exist to cover the issuance of bonds, Korte wrote, it would not be surprising if over the years a bond was certified “despite having an unknown or undisclosed legal defect.”“That should never be taken as a tacit approval of any failure to comply with state law,” she wrote. “If anything, it should be used by bond counsel as a cautionary tale causing them to double down on their efforts to ensure they are monitoring their clients’ bonds and advising on how to issue bonds in full compliance.”<h2>Hallsville School District</h2>Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, who oversees elections including publishing notices,&nbsp; told The Independent that her office intentionally chose to publish sample ballots three and two weeks before the election.“We have tried, especially this past time, to make sure that we have some (safeguard),” she said. “So if there is a mistake that’s made in one of the weekly papers, we still have a grace period to be able to publish.”A changing newspaper industry has made it harder to publish sample ballots. After a local paper was bought by a large corporation, Lennon’s office struggled to get edits made of notices and receive proofs prior to printing.Lennon didn’t think her notice strategy would run into statutory issues, since the heart of the law is to ensure voters are informed. Her office goes beyond the law’s requirements and sends sample ballots in the mail to voters and posts them online in advance of all elections.Hallsville plans on resubmitting the bond issue for November’s election, which Walker estimates will cost the district “between $10,000 and $20,000.” Until the issue is funded and approved by the state, no payment is due to Gilmore &amp; Bell.The cost of delaying construction isn’t quantifiable, he said, and will cause “significant planning issues for the district,” with improvements critically needed.“The safety and education of our students is of utmost importance to all of us in Hallsville,” he said.Walker felt he had no reason to doubt the district’s bond counsel, since Hallsville previously passed three bond issues with Gilmore &amp; Bell’s assistance, and he knew the firm’s reputation as “one of the best.”“Districts rely on bond counsel because the process to pass a bond issue and finance a successful issue is a complicated one,” he said. “It requires the assistance of a bond counsel to navigate the legal and financial complexities that are involved in the process from start to finish.”Fitzpatrick said his office will begin requiring bond counsel to sign an affidavit when submitting paperwork for certification of a bond measure “basically saying that, to the best of their knowledge, all laws have been complied with.”State lawmakers have also reached out to him, Fitzpatrick said, with interest in changing the public notice law when the legislature reconvenes in January. Burns said his firm agrees that the law needs to be adjusted.&nbsp;“The main thing I think that really needs to be changed is becoming more lenient with the date of the publication,” Fitzpatrick said, adding: “There’s a lot of kind of antiquated aspects of it.”

Numerous voter-approved bonds in jeopardy for violating Missouri public notice law

A sweeping public safety bill that began with a focus on Missouri’s fireworks industry has officially become law.

Senate Bill 81, sponsored by Senator Curtis Gregory of Marshall, modernizes fireworks regulations in Missouri and includes a broad range of public safety updates. The legislation was signed into law and took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.

Senator Gregory emphasized Missouri’s national importance in the fireworks industry:

While Senate Bill 81 started with fireworks, the final version includes a variety of public safety provisions:

Senator Gregory says the bill reflects Missouri’s ongoing commitment to both economic strength and public safety, while bringing long-overdue updates to outdated state statutes.

The legislation is now in effect statewide.

A sweeping public safety bill that began with a focus on Missouri’s fireworks industry has officially become law.Senate Bill 81, sponsored by Senator Curtis Gregory of Marshall, modernizes fireworks regulations in Missouri and includes a broad range of public safety updates. The legislation was signed into law and took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.Senator Gregory emphasized Missouri’s national importance in the fireworks industry:<h2>Key Provisions Beyond Fireworks</h2>While Senate Bill 81 started with fireworks, the final version includes a variety of public safety provisions:<ul>
 <li>Extends the Line of Duty Compensation Act for fallen first responders by six more years.
</li><li>Updates criminal background check requirements for specific public safety roles.
</li><li>Modifies duties of the Missouri Emergency Response Commission, including coordination improvements.
</li><li>Expands licensing waivers for law enforcement officers and their spouses, aiding recruitment and relocation.
</li><li>Broadens the legal definition of childhood sexual abuse in civil court, enabling more survivors to seek damages for long-term effects of abuse.
</li>
 </ul>Senator Gregory says the bill reflects Missouri’s ongoing commitment to both economic strength and public safety, while bringing long-overdue updates to outdated state statutes.The legislation is now in effect statewide.

Senate Bill 81 Updates Missouri Fireworks Laws, Public Safety Measures

A treasured landmark in downtown Albany is closer to coming back to life.

The Rigney Theatre, once a community hub for movies, live performances, and public gatherings, has launched a 30-day fundraising campaign to raise $50,000—an amount that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Patterson Family Foundation to support its long-awaited restoration.

The building has stood quiet for more than a decade, but supporters are hopeful that silence will soon be replaced with applause, music, and community spirit once again.

Linda Place, Board Member of Albany Community Development, says the theater holds a special place in the hearts of residents.

Donations can be made online through the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri, or in person by cash or check. Thanks to the matching grant, each contribution will go twice as far, with every dollar donated matched up to the $50,000 goal.

The campaign runs through July 15, and local leaders are optimistic that the community will rally around the cause.

This weekend offers the perfect opportunity to get a closer look at the historic building. Albany’s annual Rhythm n' Roots Festival takes place this Saturday, featuring live music, food vendors, and activities downtown—including a chance to see the Rigney Theatre in person.

To make a donation or learn more about the project, visit <a href="http://therigney.org/match">therigney.org/match</a>.

With community support and the matching grant in play, the Rigney may once again shine as a cultural and historic gem in Gentry County.

A treasured landmark in downtown Albany is closer to coming back to life.The Rigney Theatre, once a community hub for movies, live performances, and public gatherings, has launched a 30-day fundraising campaign to raise $50,000—an amount that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Patterson Family Foundation to support its long-awaited restoration.The building has stood quiet for more than a decade, but supporters are hopeful that silence will soon be replaced with applause, music, and community spirit once again.Linda Place, Board Member of Albany Community Development, says the theater holds a special place in the hearts of residents.Donations can be made online through the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri, or in person by cash or check. Thanks to the matching grant, each contribution will go twice as far, with every dollar donated matched up to the $50,000 goal.The campaign runs through July 15, and local leaders are optimistic that the community will rally around the cause.<h2>A Festival and a Visit</h2>This weekend offers the perfect opportunity to get a closer look at the historic building. Albany’s annual Rhythm n' Roots Festival takes place this Saturday, featuring live music, food vendors, and activities downtown—including a chance to see the Rigney Theatre in person.To make a donation or learn more about the project, visit <a href="http://therigney.org/match">therigney.org/match</a>.With community support and the matching grant in play, the Rigney may once again shine as a cultural and historic gem in Gentry County.

Albany’s Historic Rigney Theatre Eyes Comeback with $50,000 Fundraising Match

With a growing number of visitors, upgraded facilities, and major projects on the horizon, Maryville’s Parks and Recreation Department continues to play a vital role in the community’s quality of life.

In an annual report presented at Monday’s City Council meeting, Assistant Director Maggie Rockwood shared highlights from the past year, including strong park usage and progress on multiple facility upgrades.

Data gathered by PlacerAi, a mobile analytics firm, estimated more than 200,000 visits to Maryville’s 12 parks over the past year. In addition, over 30,000 people participated in city-run events and programs.

The data also suggests parks may be boosting the local economy.

Looking ahead, the department is collaborating with a design firm to explore three options for Maryville’s aquatic future:

Spring’s cooler-than-normal weather delayed pool openings across the region, including in Maryville. But Rockwood says recent warm temperatures have helped.

With a dog park on the way, continued capital improvements, and increased out-of-town traffic, Maryville Parks and Recreation looks to remain a central piece of the city’s summer and year-round offerings.

With a growing number of visitors, upgraded facilities, and major projects on the horizon, Maryville’s Parks and Recreation Department continues to play a vital role in the community’s quality of life.In an annual report presented at Monday’s City Council meeting, Assistant Director Maggie Rockwood shared highlights from the past year, including strong park usage and progress on multiple facility upgrades.Data gathered by PlacerAi, a mobile analytics firm, estimated more than 200,000 visits to Maryville’s 12 parks over the past year. In addition, over 30,000 people participated in city-run events and programs.The data also suggests parks may be boosting the local economy.<h2>Notable 2024–2025 Accomplishments:</h2><ul>
 <li>New bridges at Judah Park
</li><li>Playground installed at Sisson Eek Park
</li><li>Splash pad landscaping enhancements
</li><li>Asphalt overlays at various locations
</li><li>Recreation center improvements
</li>
 </ul>Looking ahead, the department is collaborating with a design firm to explore three options for Maryville’s aquatic future:<ol>
 <li>A new indoor pool facility
</li><li>A new outdoor pool
</li><li>Major renovations to the existing pool
</li>
 </ol>Spring’s cooler-than-normal weather delayed pool openings across the region, including in Maryville. But Rockwood says recent warm temperatures have helped.With a dog park on the way, continued capital improvements, and increased out-of-town traffic, Maryville Parks and Recreation looks to remain a central piece of the city’s summer and year-round offerings.

Maryville Parks and Recreation Sees Over 200,000 Visits; Future Pool Project Under Review

 The Mozingo Advisory Board met on June 16 to review a slate of upcoming improvement projects and ongoing maintenance efforts at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park, with Park Director Jordyn Greenhaw providing key updates.

Topping the list was the planned rebuild of bunkers on the Sechrest 18 golf course. The current bunkers, now 30 years old, are well past their typical 15–20-year lifespan and have become difficult for staff to maintain. Greenhaw said she is still reviewing options and pricing for the project.

Greenhaw noted that exact pricing for many of the projects is still being collected and that the park may need to pursue Certificates of Participation (COPS) funding to help finance the improvements.

Several recent upgrades were also reported as complete:

The Mozingo Advisory Board met on June 16 to review a slate of upcoming improvement projects and ongoing maintenance efforts at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park, with Park Director Jordyn Greenhaw providing key updates.Topping the list was the planned rebuild of bunkers on the Sechrest 18 golf course. The current bunkers, now 30 years old, are well past their typical 15–20-year lifespan and have become difficult for staff to maintain. Greenhaw said she is still reviewing options and pricing for the project.Also under consideration:<ul>
 <li>New flooring and interior paint for the event center
</li><li>Cabin upgrades, including new countertops, following recent rate increases
</li><li>A potential mill-and-overlay asphalt project on Liberty Road
</li>
 </ul>Greenhaw noted that exact pricing for many of the projects is still being collected and that the park may need to pursue Certificates of Participation (COPS) funding to help finance the improvements.Several recent upgrades were also reported as complete:<ul>
 <li>New directional and tee signage has been installed on the golf course
</li><li>A golf cart pad concrete project has been successfully wrapped up
</li><li>Tee sign sponsorships are being explored as a way to generate additional revenue
</li>
 </ul>

Mozingo Advisory Board Discusses Golf Course, Facility Improvements

City officials in Sidney are weighing their options for upgrades to the public library’s HVAC system following recent equipment issues during a heat wave.

During a recent City Council meeting, members reviewed estimates from Lynn Furnace for either a full replacement of the building’s nearly 20-year-old system or partial fixes targeting the air conditioning units or furnaces.

Library Director Brenda Benedict reported that the air conditioners — original to the building — were not working properly. Mayor Justin Shirley noted that the issue became apparent as temperatures climbed.

Cost estimates presented to the council include:

Shirley said the city is seeking additional bids before moving forward, though the issue is not currently deemed an emergency due to the two functioning units keeping up with demand.

Additionally, council members discussed relocating the system's condensers back to the west side of the library for improved efficiency. Shirley explained the condensers had been moved to the south side during the construction of an outdoor reading area, which required running extra copper lines.

In other updates, the council addressed sidewalk repairs at the library, specifically an ADA-accessible ramp that began cracking. The issue was linked to settling beneath a decorative brick wall along the building’s north side. The city hired a local mason to stabilize the wall, allowing contractors to repour the ramp, which is now complete and available for use.

City officials in Sidney are weighing their options for upgrades to the public library’s HVAC system following recent equipment issues during a heat wave.During a recent City Council meeting, members reviewed estimates from Lynn Furnace for either a full replacement of the building’s nearly 20-year-old system or partial fixes targeting the air conditioning units or furnaces.Library Director Brenda Benedict reported that the air conditioners — original to the building — were not working properly. Mayor Justin Shirley noted that the issue became apparent as temperatures climbed.Cost estimates presented to the council include:<ul>
 <li>$35,600+ for a complete HVAC overhaul
</li><li>$21,000 to replace all three air conditioners
</li><li>$7,315 to replace just the inoperable unit
</li>
 </ul>Shirley said the city is seeking additional bids before moving forward, though the issue is not currently deemed an emergency due to the two functioning units keeping up with demand.Additionally, council members discussed relocating the system's condensers back to the west side of the library for improved efficiency. Shirley explained the condensers had been moved to the south side during the construction of an outdoor reading area, which required running extra copper lines.In other updates, the council addressed sidewalk repairs at the library, specifically an ADA-accessible ramp that began cracking. The issue was linked to settling beneath a decorative brick wall along the building’s north side. The city hired a local mason to stabilize the wall, allowing contractors to repour the ramp, which is now complete and available for use.

Sidney Explores HVAC Upgrades, Addresses Library Sidewalk Concerns

A Tarkio man was injured in a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning in Nodaway County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 5:20 a.m. on U.S. Highway 136, approximately eight miles west of Burlington Junction, during heavy rainfall. Authorities say a 2015 Dodge Ram, driven by a 25-year-old male from Tarkio, was eastbound when the driver lost control.

The vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and came to rest in a bean field, upright and facing east.

The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, sustained moderate injuries and was transported by Atchison Holt EMS to Fairfax Community Hospital for treatment.

A Tarkio man was injured in a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning in Nodaway County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.The crash occurred around 5:20 a.m. on U.S. Highway 136, approximately eight miles west of Burlington Junction, during heavy rainfall. Authorities say a 2015 Dodge Ram, driven by a 25-year-old male from Tarkio, was eastbound when the driver lost control.The vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and came to rest in a bean field, upright and facing east.The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, sustained moderate injuries and was transported by Atchison Holt EMS to Fairfax Community Hospital for treatment.

Tarkio Man Injured in Rain-Related Crash Near Burlington Junction

The Clarinda Community School District will continue collaborating with the Stanton School District in several key operational areas in the upcoming school year.

During its regular meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Clarinda School Board unanimously approved a shared special programs/education director agreement with Stanton for the 2025-26 school year. Under the agreement, Stanton will reimburse Clarinda $20,000 toward the director’s salary. Travel costs related to duties performed between the two districts will be shared equally.

Clarinda Superintendent Jeff Privia explained that the director will be primarily based in Clarinda.

The board also approved continuation of sharing agreements with Stanton for both the transportation director and maintenance director positions, solidifying ongoing collaboration between the two districts in operational leadership.

Additionally, the board set student fees for the upcoming school year. No increases were made, with fees remaining at $35 for pre-K through 6th grade students, and $55 for students in grades 7-12.

The Clarinda Community School District will continue collaborating with the Stanton School District in several key operational areas in the upcoming school year.During its regular meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Clarinda School Board unanimously approved a shared special programs/education director agreement with Stanton for the 2025-26 school year. Under the agreement, Stanton will reimburse Clarinda $20,000 toward the director’s salary. Travel costs related to duties performed between the two districts will be shared equally.Clarinda Superintendent Jeff Privia explained that the director will be primarily based in Clarinda.The board also approved continuation of sharing agreements with Stanton for both the transportation director and maintenance director positions, solidifying ongoing collaboration between the two districts in operational leadership.Additionally, the board set student fees for the upcoming school year. No increases were made, with fees remaining at $35 for pre-K through 6th grade students, and $55 for students in grades 7-12.

Clarinda School Board Renews Shared Services Agreements with Stanton for 2025-26

Following the award of a new state grant, the Clarinda City Council approved additional engineering services Wednesday night to advance plans for the Hugh and Maxine Loudon Business Park on the city’s south side.

In regular session, the council unanimously approved a supplemental engineering agreement totaling approximately $111,000. The funds will support infrastructure design and improvements for the business park, located along Highway 2 between Agrivision Equipment and Agriland FS.

City Manager Gary McClarnon explained that a portion of the added engineering work—$53,000—is tied to Clarinda’s participation in the Iowa Rural Certified Site Initiative, a program managed by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).

McClarnon said a state grant of nearly $30,000 will offset most of the site certification engineering costs. The remaining $58,700 in engineering fees will go toward design for two new turning lanes that the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) now requires to access the park from the bypass.

McClarnon added that preliminary construction estimates for the turning lanes are around $1 million, although those costs could be partially recouped through land sales within the park. He suggested that the city delay infrastructure installation on the south side of the bypass to help manage immediate expenses.

Mayor Craig Hill agreed with that strategy, emphasizing the city’s current focus on development north of the bypass.

The city previously issued $3.5 million in general obligation corporate purpose bonds in February to fund infrastructure work at the business park, including roads, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and water.

Following the award of a new state grant, the Clarinda City Council approved additional engineering services Wednesday night to advance plans for the Hugh and Maxine Loudon Business Park on the city’s south side.In regular session, the council unanimously approved a supplemental engineering agreement totaling approximately $111,000. The funds will support infrastructure design and improvements for the business park, located along Highway 2 between Agrivision Equipment and Agriland FS.City Manager Gary McClarnon explained that a portion of the added engineering work—$53,000—is tied to Clarinda’s participation in the Iowa Rural Certified Site Initiative, a program managed by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).McClarnon said a state grant of nearly $30,000 will offset most of the site certification engineering costs. The remaining $58,700 in engineering fees will go toward design for two new turning lanes that the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) now requires to access the park from the bypass.McClarnon added that preliminary construction estimates for the turning lanes are around $1 million, although those costs could be partially recouped through land sales within the park. He suggested that the city delay infrastructure installation on the south side of the bypass to help manage immediate expenses.Mayor Craig Hill agreed with that strategy, emphasizing the city’s current focus on development north of the bypass.The city previously issued $3.5 million in general obligation corporate purpose bonds in February to fund infrastructure work at the business park, including roads, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and water.<h2>Other Council Actions:</h2><ul>
 <li>Reappointed Jonathan Haney and Joy Nordyke to the Library Board of Trustees through June 30, 2031.
</li><li>Appointed Adam Samuelson and reappointed Kory Ryckman to the Board of Adjustment, with terms ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2030, respectively.
</li><li>Approved annual street closures requested by the Page County Fair.
</li><li>Approved codification services for $6,800 to update the city code and ordinances.
</li><li>Approved a 4% raise for City Manager Gary McClarnon for the upcoming fiscal year.
</li>
 </ul>

Clarinda Backs Additional Engineering Services for Business Park Project

Two Shenandoah department heads are set to receive substantial salary increases in the upcoming fiscal year after the Shenandoah City Council unanimously approved staff wages and rates for FY 2026 during its Tuesday night meeting.

The council approved across-the-board salaries for full- and part-time city employees effective July 1, but not without discussion. Councilman Richard Jones questioned the 33% salary boosts granted to Water Superintendent Tim Martin and Wastewater Superintendent Tom Foutch.

City Administrator A.J. Lyman explained that the pay raises stemmed from a new approach the city used this year, comparing not just the size of municipalities but also the ratings and complexity of water and wastewater plants.

Based on those plant ratings, Lyman says both Martin and Foutch were being paid significantly below average for operators overseeing systems of similar scope and complexity.

He emphasized that the decision also reflects growing difficulties in retaining certified operators, particularly those with level 4 certification for water and level 3 for wastewater.

Rather than apply incremental increases over time, Lyman said city officials opted for a single adjustment to help the superintendents catch up to industry standards and keep pace with cost-of-living pressures.

A complete listing of staff salaries and wages for FY 2026 is available for public review at Shenandoah City Hall.

Two Shenandoah department heads are set to receive substantial salary increases in the upcoming fiscal year after the Shenandoah City Council unanimously approved staff wages and rates for FY 2026 during its Tuesday night meeting.The council approved across-the-board salaries for full- and part-time city employees effective July 1, but not without discussion. Councilman Richard Jones questioned the 33% salary boosts granted to Water Superintendent Tim Martin and Wastewater Superintendent Tom Foutch.City Administrator A.J. Lyman explained that the pay raises stemmed from a new approach the city used this year, comparing not just the size of municipalities but also the ratings and complexity of water and wastewater plants.Based on those plant ratings, Lyman says both Martin and Foutch were being paid significantly below average for operators overseeing systems of similar scope and complexity.He emphasized that the decision also reflects growing difficulties in retaining certified operators, particularly those with level 4 certification for water and level 3 for wastewater.Rather than apply incremental increases over time, Lyman said city officials opted for a single adjustment to help the superintendents catch up to industry standards and keep pace with cost-of-living pressures.A complete listing of staff salaries and wages for FY 2026 is available for public review at Shenandoah City Hall.

Shenandoah Council Approves Pay Increases for City Water and Wastewater Superintendents

Residents gathered at Auburn Manor on Wednesday to learn more about Nebraska’s exploration of Next Generation Nuclear energy, including the potential siting of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the region.

The public meeting, hosted by the Auburn Board of Public Works, the Village of Brownville, the City of Auburn, and Grow Auburn Inc., included updates from the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and its consulting partner, 1898 &amp; Company.

Nick Wohlers, a representative of 1898 &amp; Company, shared details of the statewide feasibility study, funded by $1 million in federal pandemic aid directed toward strengthening grid resilience in low-income communities. The study aims to evaluate potential locations for SMRs, focusing on key criteria like health and safety, community conditions, flood plains, wetlands, ecological impact, and water availability.

Originally, 32 communities were under consideration. As of this year, that list has been narrowed to 16, including Brownville in Nemaha County—a site that gained traction partly due to its proximity to the Cooper Nuclear Station.

The project is currently in Phase II, which will further narrow the candidate list to four final locations. Wohlers noted this phase will apply stricter criteria as potential sites are evaluated.

Don Buhman, NPPD's Director of Nuclear Oversight and Strategic Asset Management, also addressed the audience, emphasizing the utility’s decades-long track record of safe nuclear power production at the Cooper plant. Buhman explained that SMRs represent a different approach: factory-manufactured, modular units that can be shipped and assembled on-site, rather than massive, custom-built facilities.

While acknowledging that the initial costs for SMRs could range from $1 to $4 billion, Buhman expressed confidence that costs would decrease as technology advances and more units are deployed.

Buhman also highlighted potential economic benefits, stating that a new SMR could bring hundreds of permanent jobs to the area, along with a significant construction workforce during development.

Water usage, a critical consideration, will depend on the size and design of the facility. Some SMRs, Buhman said, may require minimal water or even offer air-cooled designs, making them more flexible in terms of environmental impact.

Residents gathered at Auburn Manor on Wednesday to learn more about Nebraska’s exploration of Next Generation Nuclear energy, including the potential siting of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the region.The public meeting, hosted by the Auburn Board of Public Works, the Village of Brownville, the City of Auburn, and Grow Auburn Inc., included updates from the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and its consulting partner, 1898 &amp; Company.Nick Wohlers, a representative of 1898 &amp; Company, shared details of the statewide feasibility study, funded by $1 million in federal pandemic aid directed toward strengthening grid resilience in low-income communities. The study aims to evaluate potential locations for SMRs, focusing on key criteria like health and safety, community conditions, flood plains, wetlands, ecological impact, and water availability.Originally, 32 communities were under consideration. As of this year, that list has been narrowed to 16, including Brownville in Nemaha County—a site that gained traction partly due to its proximity to the Cooper Nuclear Station.The project is currently in Phase II, which will further narrow the candidate list to four final locations. Wohlers noted this phase will apply stricter criteria as potential sites are evaluated.Don Buhman, NPPD's Director of Nuclear Oversight and Strategic Asset Management, also addressed the audience, emphasizing the utility’s decades-long track record of safe nuclear power production at the Cooper plant. Buhman explained that SMRs represent a different approach: factory-manufactured, modular units that can be shipped and assembled on-site, rather than massive, custom-built facilities.While acknowledging that the initial costs for SMRs could range from $1 to $4 billion, Buhman expressed confidence that costs would decrease as technology advances and more units are deployed.Buhman also highlighted potential economic benefits, stating that a new SMR could bring hundreds of permanent jobs to the area, along with a significant construction workforce during development.Water usage, a critical consideration, will depend on the size and design of the facility. Some SMRs, Buhman said, may require minimal water or even offer air-cooled designs, making them more flexible in terms of environmental impact.

Brownville Among Finalists for Potential Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Site

A Fairfax man already facing serious charges is now accused of 17 additional counts of possession of child pornography and one count of second-degree child molestation.

According to a release from Atchison County Sheriff Andrew Riley, James Ball was initially arrested on June 4 by deputies with assistance from the Cyber Crimes Task Force. At that time, Ball was charged with first-degree sodomy and possession of child pornography.

On June 18, Atchison County deputies amended the probable cause statement submitted to the Atchison County Attorney's Office, resulting in the filing of the new charges.

A Fairfax man already facing serious charges is now accused of 17 additional counts of possession of child pornography and one count of second-degree child molestation.According to a release from Atchison County Sheriff Andrew Riley, James Ball was initially arrested on June 4 by deputies with assistance from the Cyber Crimes Task Force. At that time, Ball was charged with first-degree sodomy and possession of child pornography.On June 18, Atchison County deputies amended the probable cause statement submitted to the Atchison County Attorney's Office, resulting in the filing of the new charges.

Fairfax Man Faces Additional Child Pornography, Molestation Charges

ATCHISON COUNTY —A joint investigation conducted by the Atchison Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation resulted in a number of arrests on Wednesday night, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 The investigation continued throughout the night with police officers, detectives, and KBI agents taking into seven into custody.

Allison R. Blakley, 29, Atchison, arrested following a traffic stop in the 600 block College Street on requested charges of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a controlled substance. Taken to County Jail.

ATCHISON COUNTY —A joint investigation conducted by the Atchison Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation resulted in a number of arrests on Wednesday night, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The investigation continued throughout the night with police officers, detectives, and KBI agents taking into seven into custody.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750969497358.png" alt="Blakley has previous convictions for aggravated arson, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the KDOC." />
 <figcaption>Blakley has previous convictions for aggravated arson, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the KDOC.</figcaption>
 </figure>Allison R. Blakley, 29, Atchison, arrested following a traffic stop in the 600 block College Street on requested charges of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a controlled substance. Taken to County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750969734157.png" alt="Cushinberry photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Cushinberry photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ivan Cushinberry, Jr., 66, Atchison, arrested at 1518 South 7th Street on requested charges of distribution and possession of cocaine, manufacturing a controlled substance, and distribution and possession of methamphetamine. Shortly before 2:00AM on Thursday officers and agents executed a search warrant at 1518 South 7th Street where numerous items of evidence were seized. Cushinberry was taken to the County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750969800559.png" alt="Daniels photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Daniels photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Cecilia Y. Daniels, 57, Atchison, arrested on a traffic stop in the 600 block Commercial on requested charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and several traffic charges. Taken to County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750969850282.png" alt="Bowen photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Bowen photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Harold D. Bowen, 76, Atchison, arrested following a traffic stop in the 600 block Commercial on requested charges of possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Taken to County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750969976133.png" alt="Felicia Lynch-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Felicia Lynch-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Felicia K. Lynch, 33, Atchison, arrested on a traffic stop in the 1200 block South 6th Street on requested charges of possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Taken to County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750970116281.png" alt="Maxey photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Maxey photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kevin V. Maxey, Jr., 37, Atchison, arrested on a traffic stop in the 600 block College Street and charged with felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and disorderly conduct. Taken to County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750970037950.png" alt="Kattibrie Lynch -photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Kattibrie Lynch -photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kattibrie D. Lynch, 30, Atchison, arrested following a traffic stop in the 800 block Raven Hill Road on requested charges with possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Taken to County Jail.

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