The Caldwell County News - February 15, 2012
Continuing The Hamilton Advocate and The Braymer Bee
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Vol. 142, Issue 34
www.mycaldwellcounty.com
Township Study Team findings in limbo
News in Brief
A political hot potato, despite cost savings
Green Hills CAA investigation closed The Missouri Attorney General’s office has closed its investigation of the Green Hills Community Action Agency, according to a news release issued by Terri Henderson, acting CEO of the agency. Henderson credited State Representative Casey Guernsey of Bethany for being instrumental in helping the agency obtain an official closure letter. Green Hills CAA was the object of intense controversy last year following the closing of most of the county offices run by the agency in the wake of state and federal budget cuts. The attorney general’s office opened an investigation into the agency after earmarked donations were apparently routed to funds other than the projects specified. Other irregularities dealing with bank loans were also under investigation. The agency director, Scott Long, resigned during the controversy and interim officers and a “transition team” was appointed. Since that time, Green Hills, headquartered in Trenton, has reported an improvement in cash flow and bank balances, and the projects that had earmarked donations have been organized as separate entities. The governing board of Green Hills was scheduled to hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14.. That board will get a report from an independent agency audit and a report from the Community Services Block Grant monitoring visit. A closed session will follow.
Caldwell County Absentee voting Absentee voting for the April 3, 2012 General Municipal Election will begin on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. The last day to register to vote for this election is March 7, 2012. The County Clerk’s office hours for absentee voting are as follows: Monday through Friday- 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. closing from 12:00 to 1:00 for lunch. Extended hours are: Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The dates below are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, Tuesday, March 27 Monday, April 2 Should you have any questions, feel free to call the County Clerk’s office at 816-586-2571.
Reminder of filing dates for August Primary This is a reminder from the County Clerk’s office that the filing dates for the August, 7, 2012 Primary Election is from February 28 until March 27 2012. This is for anyone wishing to file for the following offices: Assessor, Coroner. County Commissioner – Eastern District, County Commissioner – Western District, Collector/Treasurer, Public Administrator, or Sheriff Please remember to bring these items with you when you file: Copy of NOTARIZED Form 5120 and a $50 filing fee (cash or check is acceptable). You must also be a registered voter.
Caldwell County Primary results Party- Republican Total party votes - 439 Santorum, Rick- 223 (50.8%) Romney, Mitt- 124 (28.2%) Paul, Ron- 51 (11.6%) Uncommitted- 23 (5.2%) Party- Democratic Total party votes - 91 Obama, Barack- 78 (85.7%) Uncommitted- 7 (7.7 %)
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Part I of a Series By Anne Tezon
Randy Railsback of Hamilton met with President Obama last month to discuss rural development issues
Railsback has private meeting with President Obama Randy Railsback, Hamilton, executive director of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission in Trenton, had the privilege of a private meeting with President Barack Obama. He was one of four individuals chosen from Missouri and Kansas to meet with the President at his appearance Dec. 6 in Ossowatamie, KS about rural development issues. Railsback was chosen for the meeting by Janie Dunning, state director for the USDA Rural Development and a longtime colleague. Dunning had previously asked Railsback to meet with Agricultural Secretary Vilsack in Sedalia. After that meeting Dunning called Randy saying the White House wanted names of people for Obama to meet to hear about rural development issues. At the time of Dunning’s call, Railsback and wife Kandi were shopping together and upon hearing his side of the conversation asked, “The President of what?!” She was just as surprised as Randy about the answer to that question. The other rural development representative chosen for the occasion was Becky Cleaveland, the economic development person from Brookfield. The two had to arrive in Ossowatamie early in the morning, brave a snowstorm and
park ten blocks away from the school where Obama was scheduled to make his speech. That was a challenge, since Randy had broken his leg earlier and was on crutches. Upon their arrival, they were ushered back behind a curtain with the mayor of Kansas City and other dignitaries, including Bill Self, KUs basketball coach. They all were given instructions by the Secret Service, including the strict admonition of not giving the President anything. That foiled plans Railsback had to give the President a Hamilton commemorative coin with the image of J. C. Penney on it. “Pretty soon we heard five helicopters coming in,” recalls Railsback, who was the third person to meet the president. He told him quickly who he was and his concerns with rural development issues. He told him about J. C. Penney and Randy said, “He was totally engaged.” He was asked to pose for a photo with the President, and received a copy several weeks later. Later he recalled the whole day as “pretty surreal,” and he found it interesting watching the Secret Service. “Sure, I didn’t change the world,” he concludes, adding that the president seemed to want to hear what he had to say in the five minutes they had together.❦
New Headache Support Group to be held at the Caldwell County Health Dept
Bruce and Linda Trammell moved to Polo in 1993. The former Kansas City residents and their two daughters immediately settled in to the rural community, raising horses and attending rodeos and trail rides. But their lives changed significantly in May of 2008. Bruce was involved in an industrial accident on the job. He received a potentially lifethreatening blow to the head. He was treated and released from the hospital with a diagnosis of closed head injury resulting in a concussion with symptoms that would resolve in time. He was told he could go back to work soon after. Unfortunately, he found his symptoms did not go away as expected. He continued to have episodes of dizziness, fatigue and headaches so severe that made it difficult to cope and eventually had to leave his job. Three months after the injury he found himself back in the hospital.
Page 12
Our Civil War Ancestry
Bruce realized that he was going to have to make changes in order to adapt to the situation. He and Linda began to travel to Prairie Village, Kansas to a headache support group. Over the past two years, they have learned many ways to cope with pain. This has enabled them to go forth and enjoy life in new and meaningful ways. Bruce has discovered new hobbies and projects he can do around the farm. He is anticipating the arrival of a service dog that has been trained for many hours to assist him with his daily activities. The dog will help to keep him safer with balance, mobility, etc. The black Labrador, Odie, is being provided through a farm program AgrAbility that Bruce has been working with for some time. The first Headache Support Group will meet from 6:30 p.m.7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012 at the Health Department. The group will continue to meet monthly every first Thursday at no charge. The mission of this group is to provide information and support for anyone with persistent headaches and their support person. If anyone has more questions contact Bruce or Linda at 660-3542881.Email is btrammel@greenhills.net.❦
When Dean Hales’ dad Leo operated a grocery story in Hamilton many years ago, he had a habit of giving away loads of gravel to people who lived in the country, in order to get them to town so they could buy groceries. “One time, after a load of gravel was given to one farmer, he said he’d trade the rest of his life with the store. And he did,” says Dean. Hales was one of several local leaders who served on a Township Study Team (TST) that took a look at improving maintenance of the county’s gravel roads. While times have changed dramatically since the days of free gravel, most of us who live in rural counties recognize the economic development value of good roads. The better the roads, the easier it is for goods and services and residents to travel throughout the county. From days of store owners giving
away rock, things evolved here to neighbors working on their own roads with their farm equipment, spreading gravel to help pay their taxes. Then, each resident of a township had a load of gravel delivered to them every year and they spread it themselves so they could get to the main roads. That process evolved to where townships hauled the gravel and each farmstead owner paid for it. Now liability issues require the townships to use their own equipment to haul and spread the gravel and a combination of local tax levies and gas tax revenues pay for the gravel that allows rural residents to get to paved roads and to county towns. The TST, after months of research, conducting interviews with county officials and studying financial statements and spreadsheets, has concluded that the current system of Please turn to page 12
Let it snow! The first snowfall of 2012 On Monday, Feb. 13, approximately 3 inches of snow fell on Caldwell County. The early morning flurries created slick roads that lead to school closures, collisions and county-wide cancellations.
Wild about birds and birding After more than an hour of waiting and wandering, they finally spot it. “I got the American Kestrel,” says Bonnie Jo Hathaway, an avid birder from Nebraska City; her sister, Sarah, rushes over and peers through her binoculars, hoping to catch sight of North America’s smallest falcon. Grins stretch across their faces as they look at each other and silently celebrate this small victory. The two women spend almost every weekend exploring the parks, lakes and campgrounds of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas in search of rare or migratory birds. On this particular weekend, reported sightings of a bald eagle have brought them to our area. Among the many common and rare species found within the county, the bald eagle is one of the most impressive. For
dedicated birders like the Hathaways, the possibility of seeing one is more than worth the trip. Weather conditions this January were perfect for birding, with warmer weather sending more birds flying north, and breezy conditions encouraging birds to stay in the air, making them easier to spot. On this particular weekend, the sisters have spotted the eagle’s nest, but the bird has yet to be seen. Undeterred, they simply make note of the many other birds that populate our area, hoping to check at least one more bird off their “life list” of species they have seen. “You know what I’d love?” Bonnie Jo asks, ” I would LOVE to see a cackling goose or a great blue heron.” Please turn to page 12
Sarah and Bonnie Jo Hathaway, Nebraska City, NE, serach for winter migrators near the Hamilton Reservoir
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The Caldwell County News - February 15, 2012
Our Civil War Ancestry
The elusive Henslow’s sparrow is a regular visitor in Caldwell County
Birds . . . continued from page 1
Her sister smiles. “ She likes water fowl.” If that’s the case, she came to the right place as both of these birds are only two of year-round residents that call the Hamilton reservoir home. In Caldwell County, Soggy Bottom Campgrounds, Shoal Creek, and Tait Memorial Park are among the many prime birding locations, as are Wallace State Park in Cameron and the Squaw Creek National Wildlife refuge in Mound City; which is good news for fledgling bird watchers who are anxious to spread their wings without wandering too far from home. “There is also an excellent spot just south of Far West,” says Hamilton birding enthusiast, Ted Rights. Birds typically migrate during the night and rest during the day. A bird that finds itself flying over Caldwell County before dawn can look down at almost any point and see trees, shrubs, grass- natural sources of both shelter and sustenance. Rights says that late April to early May is the best time to go birding in our area. Hundreds of birds pass through Caldwell County as they migrate north for the summer, including the Henslow’s Sparrow, a rare and famously inconspicuous
Townships. . . Continued from page 1
maintaining roads through the governing bodies of 12 different townships is inefficient and even financially unfair. Members of the team included Chairman Jim Ball, Keith Wilcox, Roger Null, Debbie Cox, Hales, Dale Wallace and Terry Rumery. For the past several months they studied township financial statements and taxes. They had meetings with the county clerk and county assessor. They met with the county’s attorney Ivan Schraeder to study legal ramifications. They also studied the history of townships and met with each individual township board. “The study became fairly complex,” admits Ball. And when it was concluded, the TST had more questions than answers. Among them: Are roads just an asset of the people in a six mile block or are they county assets? Is it fair for residents of one township to pay almost double in taxes than a neighboring township for properties of similar valuation? Are townships an efficient way of governing and allocating tax dollars when they were formed in the days of horses and buggies when few people traveled long distances? In December, members of the TST met with the Caldwell County Commission to present their findings. That meeting caused a firestorm of protest from some township officials, some of whom had apparently been tipped off about the agenda item and showed up at the courthouse. The study team members did not get to formally present their report in any organized manner and ended up giving their written findings to the commissioners. In pointing out the need for increased efficiencies and costsavings, the Township Study Team has asked the commissioners to conduct a feasibility study with its own road and bridge department. The
bird that is on every birders watch list. In his lifetime, Rights as seen more than 600 different kinds of birds, including the Henslow’s sparrow; more than 100 species have been spotted at the Hamilton reservoir alone and 220 species have been seen at nearby locations, including his own back yard. It may seem like an unusual way to spend your free time, but birding is one of the most common hobbies in the United States. According to the National Audubon Society, every year more then 47 million Americans engage in some form of birding, or bird watching. Those who do not fancy a trek through the countryside can draw birds into their yard by planting trees and shrubs for shelter, wildflowers that produce seeds and nectar, and water for bathing and drinking. Rights says many local birds are drawn to flowering crabapple trees and fruit trees as they offer a combination of nesting sites, camouflage and food. Bird lovers on a budget and apartment dwellers can get started by simply buying a feeder from the local hardware store, filling it with bird seed and installing it in a sheltered location. Birds can enjoy the free food, while bird watchers can observe them from the relative comfort of the great indoors.❦ idea is to see if having the county take over the maintenance of gravel roads, at least in some of the smaller townships, is a possibility. Two of the poorer townships are hoping to see such a feasibility study, but the remainder are reportedly satisfied with the status quo. As for the commissioners, they say the TST study is on hold. “We’re leaving it to the study team itself about where they want to go from here,” says Presiding Commissioner Bud Motsinger. “It’s their committee. We’ve tried to stay neutral and allow them to gather information.” Commissioners know that some township officials are upset over the TST. Western District Commissioner Gerald McBrayer says township board members think they’re getting the work done for a cost the county could never get it done for, with lots of volunteer labor. They also think that township government is closer to the people. Eastern District Commissioner Donnie Cox notes, “Snow removal comes up a lot and there is lots of doubt that the county could get that done as efficiently.” But the TST is adamant about having the matter studied, based on cost savings alone. Then there is the issue of fairness and equity in taxes across the county. In the report presented to the commissioners, the TST notes, “In the very near future we suggest the commission should make a public announcement that they have moved from a neutral position to a position of seriously considering the proposition of consolidation because of the potential savings of taxpayers’ money while delivering as good, or better roads, maintained by the county. As part of that announcement, some information should be included as to what actions the commission is going to take to complete the evaluation.” Next installment: Comparing township and county government, efficiency and tax disparity issues.❦
By John Deis The Caldwell County News and I hope that readers who have ancestry or property tied to the Civil War will contribute to a series of stories in preparation for the Civil War Reenactment June 1-3, 2012. This will help archive your stories for years to come so future family researchers can find clues about their past from your published stories. The “Civil War Era” John Deis’ story was well documented by his son Phillip Deis in the 1940’s. This John Deis was born 110 years before me in 1837 in Germany. He made his way from Germany at the age of 16 and eventually ended up in Dayton, Ohio. He entered the service in Cincinnati on September 10, 1861 along with those he had assembled in Troy, Ohio and was deployed from Camp Dennison in Cincinnati, Ohio. From Wikipedia about Company M, 1st Ohio Light Artillery: Ordered to Louisville, Ky., December 3; thence moved to Bacon Creek, Ky., and duty there until February 1862. March to Nashville, Tenn., February 10-March 3, 1862, and to Savannah, Tenn., March 17April 6. Battle of Shiloh, April 7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Buell’s Campaign in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee June to August. Garrison duty at Nashville, Tenn., August to December 1862. Advance on Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 26–30. Battle of Stones River December 30– 31, 1862 and January 1–3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Occupation of middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga Campaign August 16September 22. Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11. Near Blue Bird Gap September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19–21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23–27. Missionary Ridge November 24–25. Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., December 1863, and duty there until June 1864. Joined Sherman’s army at Kennesaw Mountain, Ga., June 25. Operations against Kennesaw Mountain June 25-July 2. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Chattahoochie River July 3– 17. Peachtree Creek July 19– 20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-
Robert Feigly 816-583-4433
August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25–30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Ordered to Chattanooga, September, and duty there until December. Mustered out non-veterans at Camp Dennison, Ohio, December 17, 1864. Veterans and recruits garrison at Chattanooga, until April 1865. From Phillip Deis in 1949:John Deis who had organized and trained the company was appointed First Sergeant and strange as it may appear at the present day, though only a First Sergeant, he remained Company M’s commanding officer for the three years and four months during which they served. (2012 John comment: this seems to differ from orders and other findings, but I’m not a proud son without access to Google. However, First Sergeants were and still are an important part of the command structure.) It was not until the end of the war that recognition for his service was bestowed in the form of being brevetteda Colonel with the alternate choice of a Captaincy should he decide to reenlist in the regular army. During the more than three years’ service the group participated in numerous engagements; Father never left a record of these engagements but at various times we heard him recount their experiences at Gettysburg, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Stony Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Cumberland Gap and other engagements. Just as an interlude to demonstrate continued interest and passion for things military, especially in reference to engagements in which his company participated, Father made several trips to these locations, returning with tree trunk sections in which wore imbedded minnie balls, grape shot, fragments of shells and other war relics. He had a special glass case built for these relics and for a generation or more they were on display; he was never too busy to tell those who came to see the display where the relics wore secured and how his company participated. At Father ’s death these war relics were donated by his heirs to the local municipal museum. After being mustered out of service those who remained of the original roster and were still able to travel, proceeded to their homes. This was more difficult than had been expected. Railroads had been commandeered by the military authorities and a makeshift effort had been
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made to make rail travel available to all men in uniform, offering them free transportation but mostly in open freight cars; the lucky ones were those assigned to box cars yet the vast majority took to the open roads and highways, the mounted men sharing their steeds with the less fortunate pedestrians. Father never recounted the time required to reach home yet we know that the elapsed time was several months. The survivors were a ragged, haggard, hungry and footsore aggregation, happy in the thought that they were going home, where food, rest, clean raiment and the administration of loving wives and mothers would restore them to physical and mental normalcy. Father’s homecoming was both joyous and sad; he saw his first born for the first time - a sturdy, blond little tyke, a mischievous imp. The wife and mother was ill. (Note: this is a strange reference, but Mary is not Phillip’s mother.) Worry and deprivations together with an unattended cold finally developed into tuberculosis; she was now in the final stages of this dread disease to which she succumbed only a few short weeks after his return. We spoke with a number of friends and relatives who knew Mary Kramer Deis intimately and they all spoke of her wellbred poise and charm, her beauty of face and figure, her fine sense of humor and her delightful terpsichorean ability; they told that she delighted in the dignified dances of that period in the performance of which she was an artist. At her death Mary Kramer Deis was
Shannon Feigly 660-663-7328
interred in the old village cemetery. As a final comment from 2012 John, there is much more to this story, including early reenactments! But now we want to hear your stories. I know they are out there – I’ve heard from many of you about your family connections to the Civil War. Please submit them toThe Caldwell County News or call for an opportunity to have it transcribed. If you don’t know how to be a history detective with Google or Wikipedia, the Hamilton Library or the Caldwell County Library can help you. Your efforts will be appreciated for generations because maybe you are the last living link in the family knowledge tree.❦
Did you know? Sugar in the morning may actually help you lose weight. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have found that having sweet foods in the morning can actually help you lose weight.Why? because our metabolism is most active in the mornings. This means that you can burn off the calories throughout the day. You might ask... wouldn’t it be better to just not eat sweets at all and save the calories? Ideally yes. However for most people, denying themselves sweets creates cravings that are difficult to control. Adding just a little bit of sweets in the morning helped control the cravings. Their findings found that people who added dessert to their breakfast (like cookies, cake or chocolate) lost an average of 40lbs more than the group that avoided it.—Tel Aviv University
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