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May 9, 2018 UPSP 213-200 Vol. 153, No. 50
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Summer Baseball Schedules on Page 15
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Library wins another major grant, one of only three in the country
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Denise Ray to address Gallatin Class of 2018
Denise Ray, a graduate of Hamburg High School and Northwest Missouri Michael State University, will be the commence2nd term ment speaker at Gallatin R-5 this Fricer. See page 8 day, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Ray began her teaching career at Jameson, where she taught fifth and sixth grade for six years. She continued teaching the same grades for 10 years at Coffey when the two communities joined school districts. In 2000 Mrs. Ray joined the staff at Gallatin R-5. She taught sixth grade for 13 more years before retiring in 2013 with 29 years working in a career that she considers the best profession ever. Among her honors, Mrs. Ray was selected as Teacher of the Year at Gallatin R-5 in 2005, Teacher of the Year by Gallatin VFW Post 2172 and Ladies Auxiliary in 2013, and was honored by the Gallatin D.A.R.E. for her years of service to her students. She has also had the honor and privilege of being the speaker at three other graduation ceremonies. Mrs. Ray will talk to the graduates about making choices and taking chances, to make a difference in seeking their life’s purpose. Mrs. Ray and her husband Stan have three children, Whitney Sidebottom, Courtney Ray, and Micah Ray. They also have one granddaughter, Ellie Rae Sidebottom. Since her retirement in 2013 Mrs. Ray keeps busy cooking and spending time with Ellie Rae.
Democrat candidate for county clerk now plans to seek the office as an Independent The only local race for a Daviess County courthouse office in the November 6 General Election was on ...then off ...and now perhaps back on again — but, if so, in an entirely different way. Teresa Eaton filed as a Democratic candidate for Daviess County Clerk, to challenge Republican Ronetta Burton who currently serves as county clerk. However, Ms. Eaton failed to file a personal financial disclosure (PFD) form by deadline, and she received notice that her name would not appear on ballots printed for elections to be held in August nor in November. And yet, an election contest may still occur. Disqualified as a Democratic candidate, Ms. Eaton has announced plans to file as an Independent candidate for county clerk. She will be seeking signa-
tures to submit a petition on or before July 30 to meet election eligibility requirements as an Independent candidate for the November ballot. State law requires candidates to file a personal financial disclosure (PFD) form with the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC). The disclosure form was required to be filed by April 10. A grace period through April 17 was also available, though with a penalty. Eaton failed to meet either deadline. Ms. Eaton signed a form acknowledging receipt of a written notice of her obligation to file a PFD, on March 16. By RSMo. 105.492, candidates who do not file a personal financial disclosure statement by the close of business on the 21st day after the last day for filing for (continued on page 12)
The Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has awarded the 2018 Bookapalooza Program to three libraries, including the Daviess County Library, Gallatin. The other two libraries were Chilton/Clanton Public Library, Clanton, AL.; and Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, FL. ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. ALSC consists of a network of more than 4,000 children and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty. Each library will receive around 600 pounds of materials, including books, DVDs and audio books. The award team shipped a total of 40 large boxes to the Daviess County Library which have arrived by the truckload at the library over the last two weeks. These are materials that were received at the ALSC office from publishers for selection committees to evaluate for awards and notables consideration. They are all 2017 copyright, brand new and in mint condition. To make room for the next year’s publications, the Bookapalooza award was created to infuse three library communities each year with new materials for children from through age 14. The Daviess County Library will catalog some of the materials for adding to the regular collection and other materials will be distributed directly to children all around Daviess County. As written in the grant proposal, the library plans to work with local school and community partners, such as the Daviess County Health Department, to put the books directly into the hands of area children. Library staff are in awe of the quality and variety of materials received so far. “We are a rural county and transportation, along with getting a library card, can actually be a large barrier for many young children and families, even though the library’s services are free,” said Library Director Allison Spidle.
“While we will end up cataloging and keeping approximately 500 of the total 2,000 or so Bookapalooza materials, the rest will be put on our free lending reading racks around the county and distributed directly to children throughout the summer via book give-away events.” The library has already coordinated with the mayors of Coffey and Jameson, as well as the Gallatin Summer School Program, to arrange for dates and times for book give-away events in May and June. The county jail has been contacted about putting a takea-book box there for children visiting parents. “We’re continuing to brainstorm though, as we just keep getting more books!” Director Spidle said.” Chief Cataloger Amy McMahon added, “Not everyone can make it to the library to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Parents work, access to a vehicle may be nonexistent, money for gas is tight, and distractions are everywhere. Keeping kids progressing and not regressing in their reading over the summer months is one of our key aims each year. “The grant was written to eliminate barriers and put quality, new books directly into the hands of local children. As a staff we are loving going through the boxes. It is like Christmas over and over again each time we see the post office truck pull up.”
Bookapalooza!
Over 40 Boxes Received Via Grant
Lingering economic malaise ‘normal’ for Daviess, 54 other counties A statewide survey was recently conducted by Missouri Rural Development Partners with the hope it would offer information about key issues, such as the economy and workforce, infrastructure and leadership, housing and health. The 2017 survey was launched against a backdrop in which 55 counties, including Daviess, have not returned to the employment and population levels of 2007…and possibly never will. The term “New Normal” has been widely used in the wake of the Great Recession to refer to places and businesses that may have permanently changed as a result of the recession, which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009. The average losses for population for these New Normal counties were -3.7% and jobs -9.5%.
Methodology -- An important goal of the
distribution effort was to put the survey in front of community leaders. This goal was successful
as 83% of respondents were engaged in some type of community organization. A large proportion (31.3%) served on boards or had been an elected official. In total, 2,261 valid responses to the survey and nearly 8,000 written comments were received.
The largest number of responses came from Vernon County (96) followed by Howell (70) and Taney (50), these were the only counties with 50 or more responses. Thirty counties had less than 10 responses. Daviess had 13 respondents, and surrounding counties: DeKalb 5: Clinton 21; Caldwell 12; Livingston 9; Grundy 14: Harrison 17: Gentry 32; Linn 47. The survey was conducted as a “convenience” survey. That means that it was open to anyone who had access to the survey and was willing to respond.
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opulation -- One of the key indicators of a growing and prosperous economy is population growth. People are the drivers of economic development.
In the 2007 to 2016 period Missouri grew at less than one-half the rate of the US, 3.5% compared to 7.3% for the nation. Forty-seven of the 59 rural counties lost population. (Rural counties are distinguished by the lack of a large commercial center of 10,000 or more population.) The indicators are even worse when examining the 2010 to 2016 “recovery” from the recession. Eighty counties are estimated to have lost population since 2010.
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hange in full-time jobs -- Employment growth indicators are equally troubling. All groups of counties except Metropolitan (counties with at least one city with 50,000 people); have experienced net job losses.
Eighty-two of Missouri’s counties have fewer jobs in 2017 than they had in 2007. The losses in rural counties equal -7.1%. There are 59 rural counties in Missouri. Not all rural counties experienced job losses. Notable exceptions are Perry, Howard, Hickory, and Madison counties
with growth rates that exceeded the national rate of 4.8%.
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ategories for counties -- For the survey’s purposes, Missouri counties were assigned to four categories based on changes in employment and population between 2007 and 2017. ● Resilient Counties experienced growth in both population and income, 21 counties are in this group. ● Population Resilient Counties are those that experienced population growth but have not recovered to 2007 employment. This group of 27 counties is the most diverse with counties from all of the categories. ● Employment Resilient Counties have recovered to 2007 employment but lost population. Rural counties dominated this group with Howard (+8.6%) and Hickory (+8.3%) posting the largest employment gains. The average employment growth was 3.3% while population losses averaged -2.7%. Gentry, DeKalb, Caldwell, and Livingston belong to this group. (continued on page 3)
GHS golfers add a Class 1 Sectional title to their resume, fuel hopes of defending their state title Monday
See page 11