July 26, 2012 Volume 2 • Issue 36 75 cents Send your news to gladstonenews@npgco.com
Primary to decide Western District race David Peironnet, Gene Owen challenge Larry Larson for commission seat By Nancy Hull Rigdon
RYNE DITTMER/Gladstone Dispatch
Rachel Wiese of Gladstone explains the process of making peanut butter play dough as part of her working demonstration at the Clay County 4-H Fair. The demonstrations allowed participants to pick a project of their own interest to present to judges and other fairgoers.
4-H Fair showcases county youth Working demonstrations exhibit interests
By Ryne Dittmer For five days in mid-July, members, parents and volunteers took part in Clay County 4-H’s annual fair. Over the course of the event, participants showed off their work and demonstrated the skills they had acquired from their involvement with 4-H. Public speaking contests, animal shows, a fashion show along with other exhibits spanned the fair, held at the Earnest Shepherd Youth Center in Liberty. Additionally, 4-H participants held live working demonstrations on Saturday, July 14. “That is the fun part. I always enjoy watching what they’ve chosen
to show off,” said Nancy Elkins-Mense, county program director. “The kids all like to see what the other ones are doing, too.” Working demonstrations allowed creativity to run free, letting participants pick projects on subjects of their own interests. “I’ve been in 4-H for two years and welding for both of those,” Dillon Harriger of Kearney said. “My grandfather worked in a machine shop and taught my dad, who taught me.” Harriger’s projects of crosses, coat racks and bottle openers made from welded horseshoes were displayed across his table at the demonstrations. A few
tables away, Phoebe Alpern of Liberty was busy grating cheese as she made a dip. “4-H keeps me pretty busy. I work with sewing, photography, archery and rabbits,” Alpern said as she continued to work. “But when you’re picking a working demonstration, a good idea is to have food because people will like you more.” In addition to various food demonstrations, paper flowers, dog toys and robotics were on display by other participants. “I am building some robots, but I mostly just like to tinker,” said Mark Wiese of Gladstone. Across the room, Caden Kutzli of Excelsior Springs
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was kneading salt dough. “This is the first time I’ve done demonstrations,” he said. “I like it because is fun and you get to make different things.” Along with creating various items, the demonstrations were an experience in public speaking as participants explained their work and answered questions for judges and others in attendance. “I like the fair because you can teach people,” said Gracyn Frecks of Liberty. Another quality important to 4-H was also on display during the exhibit. “I always love watching the 8-year-olds helping the 5-years-olds, Elkins-Mense said. “It shows that everyone is a leader, no matter what age.”
Clay County Western Commissioner Larry Larson faces familiar opponents in the Aug. 7 primary election. Former commissioner Gene Owen, who Larson defeated in 2008, and David Peironnet, who Larson beat in 2000, are both challenging Larson in his bid for a third consecutive fou r-yea r term. With all three candidates running as Democrats, the August primary results will decide the race. Owen served as Western District commissioner for six years in the 1990s. Owen said two Clay County Commission decisions in recent years that Larson backed motivated him to run. Owen said he is upset with the commission’s 2008 decision to raise the tax rates from 0 to 24 cents without a vote of the people. “If they needed the money, they should have gone to the people
and said they needed the money and let the people decide,” Owen said. Owen also believes commissioners have irresponsibly approved tax-increment financing. He points to the Lowe’s development on North Oak Trafficway and Vivion Road in Kansas City North. “That is the most prestigious area n o r t h of the river. Any develop er would have liked to develop that area without the TIF,” Owen said. If elected, Owen said he will not vote for tax increases without a public vote, will take a tough stance on TIF and will work against what he calls wasteful spending. Peironnet has been active in local politics, including serving on a Clay County charter commission. He said he decided to run for Western District commissioner in part because he hasn’t been happy with county commissioners, including WESTERN/Page A10
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