A The APPEAL, the oldest continuous newspaper in MONROE COUNTY, since 1867
14 PAGES • 50 CENTS
- - The Paris Mercury - - - - The Madison Times --
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2013
Absentee Ballot and Voter Registration Deadline information below for the upcoming April 2, Municipal Election
VOLUME 146, NO. 09
Double barrel storms cripples local travel
Two powerful winter storms “Q” and “Rocky” bore down on Northeast Missouri in the space of five days from Feb. 21 through Feb. 26. The first storm “Q” dropped approximately 11 inches of snow on the local area requiring Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to declare a state of emergency due to the heavy snowfall. The declaration allows state agencies to work directly with county and city emergency responders. There were numerous tales of stranded motorists and long hours getting back home from work. Local businesses and all county schools were closed and snow removal crews worked through the night to make sure roads were clear. The second storm “Rocky” saw businesses and schools close down the night before the storm hit. For “Rocky” MoDOT announced a ‘no drive” edict to help plows clear roadways that had seen numerous abandoned vehicles in the first storm. The second storm was different as it was a wet, heavier snow causing power outages, downed limbs and structure failures. It had a smaller inch count (possibly 6-10) but the heavy weight of the snow caused more issues for removal, electric problems and driving. Local county and city crews worked tirelessly to make sure that, first, the major roads were clear, and then additional roads
Monroe County Courthouse snow shrouded..
The Monroe County Courthouse, Paris, is covered in snow from the second snow storm to hit the local area in five days. Storms “Q” and “Rocky” littered the local area with large mounds of snow. Local county and city crews worked tirelessly to make sure that the roads were clear and passable. APPEAL PHOTO were cleared according to the snow removal plans. The crews then went about the task of moving mounds of snow, from both storms, to the storage area near the Paris Grandstands. Local schools will now have 3-4 snow The Monroe County Cancer fundraising banquet on Satur- be viewed and bids placed before makeup days Supporters will hold their third day, March 9, at the Madison C-3 and during the banquet. After the annual “Blow Cancer Away” High School, Madison. Doors meal the excitement level gets will open at 5 p.m., and the serv- even higher as the live auction ing of the banquet meal will be- will get underway. Auction items gin at 6:30. Neither reservations of note include many handmade nor tickets are needed; a volun- one of a kind pieces such as “Sun tary donation will be accepted for Bonney Sue” quilt and the “Mizthe meal. zou” porch glider. The Paris R-II Board of Educa- President Libby Williams called dition for curtains and approved The delicious banquet will fea- Notable special guests include tion met in regular session on the meeting to order at 7 p.m. the consent agenda including ture ham, potato casserole, green 40th District representative Jim Monday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m., in the First the board members ap- fund transfers, attendance and beans, Cole Slaw, roll and dessert Hansen and 10th Circuit Judge district boardroom. proved the agenda with an ad- substitutes and the minutes and prepared by the Madison Com- Rachel Bringer-Sheppard, other munity Betterment Association notables including Senator Brian financial report. Munzlinger and United States The board members heard first (Lynn Duvall and crew). from a concerned parent who dis- The fun has already begun with Congressman Sam Graves have cussed two subjects, the bullying the advance sale of drawing tick- been invited but have not yet inof his daughter and second his ets: Raffle items include a 42 dicated their attendance. support for secondary principal inch flat screen LCD television, a The Monroe County Cancer Sup½ beef – already processed, and porters was organized in DecemJohn Wiggans. The concerned parent gave nu- a new Apple iPad. Drawing tick- ber 2009, to provide support to merous instances of his daugh- ets are available from any Cancer Monroe County residents and ter being bullied, both verbally Supporters member, and they can their families who are dealing with the financial, emotional, and and cyber with numerous written be purchased at the banquet. examples, with explicit verbiage Many great items, large and physical burdens of a cancer diincluding instances in front of small, have been donated for a agnosis. As a 501(c)3 charity the Continued to page 3 faculty members that were never silent auction. These items can reported or any action taken by the staff, according to the parent. “My intent was to make each of you aware of the problem that my family has experienced the Absentee Ballots through Friday 8 a.m. until 4:30 past few months and it has to stop ‘According to Sandra Francis, p.m. or mail in a request for an now,” said the parent. “I am sure Monroe County Clerk, Absen- absentee ballot be mailed to their the peoples of the communities tee Ballots for the April 2, Gen- place of residence. When mailing of Sandy Hook and Columbine eral Municipal Election are now in a request, individuals must list had wished they had addressed ready for voting. the address where the ballot is to the situation and possible soluAnyone wishing to vote an ab- be mailed and sign their name to tions before their devastating sentee ballot may do so in the the request. occurrences. I have heard that County Clerk’s Office during The last day for mailing out abUnited Way Goal reached... APPEAL PHOTO some of you on this board do not regular office hours, Monday sentee ballots will be Wednesday, March 27. The last day for voting Local United Way Program Coordinator and Paris Senior Citi- believe there is a problem with absentee in the County Clerk’s zen’s Center Director Tara Sheffield proudly shows off the United bullying here in Paris. I am here Office is Monday, April 1, until Way board. “We are really close to our goal and I think when all to inform you today that there is Continued to page 8 Continued to page 10 Monroe County Appeal the monies are counted we will reach it,” said Sheffield.
MCCS Blow Away Cancer benefit dinner set for March 9
Parent addresses bullying with R-II Board of Education
Clerk announces absentee voting and voter deadlines