2017 Our Town

Page 1

2017

OUR TOWN THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR EVERYTHING COLUMBIA

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE

COLLEGE TOWN

NEW FACES

BEER CULTURE

City has grown along with higher education institutions

CPS families to see different administrators in the fall

Microbreweries sprout up in and around Columbia


I’m a Landmark.

Kay & Brandon Kewley

Mugs Up opened almost 61 years ago, and we’ve been with Landmark all along.

We’ve had lots of loans through Landmark over the years, and we’ve worked with them personally, too. It’s a family-type atmosphere, which is something we’ve always valued. They greet us by name when we walk in the door, and we know we - Kay Kewley can count on them to help us with whatever we need. Isn’t it time you became a Landmark?

LandmarkBank.com | Speak With A Banker 7 Days A Week: (800) 618-5503 | Member FDIC


OUR TOWN 2017

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Come See What the Terrace offers!

In addition to independent living, The Terrace offers: • Flexible Meal Plan • Weekly Housekeeping

• Spacious Apartments • 24 Hour Non-Medical Staff

• Scheduled Transportation • Convenient Lifestyle

Call: 573-875-2538 Professionally Managed by Sugar Creek Realty

1408 Bus. Loop 70 W. , Columbia, MO

www.TerraceRetirement.com


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Sustainable Living

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Mid-Mo Recycling Stop by M-F 9am-6pm 6104 Brown Station Road Columbia, MO • 573.474.3997 email: recycle@socket.net

Welcome to Our Town

W

hether you are new here or a long time resident, Our Town is the most comprehensive guide for all the essentials in and around Columbia that will help to make our town, your town. In Our Town, our primary goal is to inform. To that end, we have included maps, listing of events, venues and services and facts to give you some key details about public life in this city we call home. But we also go beyond the basics, offering stories that give you a glimpse into what life is actually like here. We dig deeper into what the University of Missouri and Columbia and Stephens colleges have done to shape the economy and culture of Columbia; we take you into the history of what might be the area’s crown jewel of the outdoors, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, as it turns 50 years old; and we introduce you to the do-it-yourself spirit that has led local people to produce podcasts, write plays and turn a cottage beer industry into a significant part of the local business scene. In addition to those features, we also look at how Columbia’s rapid growth has shaped the school district’s priorities and how another, close-by city is experiencing some of

that same rapid growth. Those are just some of the topics we’ve taken up in this year’s Our Town – there’s plenty more inside. We hope that this mix of information can help a new resident take advantage of all the benefits of this city like an experienced Columbian, while at the same time engaging the minds of longtime residents who read it. Finally, we hope you will devote some of your attention to the local businesses who have supported this publication. We are able to provide this resource because of their support, and we hope that in turn you will support them. We are lucky to have a lot of great choices when it comes to local shopping. Thank you for reading and thank you for your support. We hope Our Town will help you better appreciate and enjoy your town. — Rustan Burton, publisher

WHAT’S INSIDE CULTURE Microbrewing ........................................ 6 Festivals ................................................. 6 Farmers markets ................................. 11 Music venues ....................................... 11 Playwrights .......................................... 12

PARKS Rock Bridge anniversary .................... Harmony Bends ................................... Flat Branch expansion ........................ Pools ..................................................... Trails .....................................................

14 15 18 20 22

EDUCATION CPS building projects .......................... School funding ..................................... New CPS leaders ................................. Enrollment increases .......................... CPS attendance areas ........................ Cover story ...........................................

25 26 27 31 32 36

SPORTS J’den Cox .............................................. 38 MU basketball ...................................... 39

MU football .......................................... 39 Show-Me State Games ....................... 41 Rock Bridge tennis .............................. 41

ECONOMY Ashland’s growth ................................ Affordable housing .............................. Business Loop CID ............................... Student housing construction ........... Top employers ..................................... Boone Hospital lease ..........................

42 44 45 46 46 49

SAFETY New 911 center .................................... Vision Zero ........................................... Community policing ............................ Drug database .....................................

53 55 56 56

COMMUNITY New city councilman .......................... City government .................................. Road and bridge tax ............................ County government ............................ State lawmakers ................................. Strategic plan ......................................

58 58 61 62 62 65


OUR TOWN 2017

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Insurance Solved ®

When it comes to insurance solutions, our agents can help you put the pieces together. They have the experience and knowledge to help you make informed decisions. Call or email one of our Columbia agents to discuss your individual needs.

AUTO • HOME • LIFE

Mitch Theede

Mike Messer

MTheede@ShelterInsurance.com

MMesser@ShelterInsurance.com

3201 S Providence Rd, Ste 203 573-443-6080

908 Rain Forest Pkwy, Ste C 573-442-5291

Jon Hartman

Nancy Allison

Ed Hohlt

JHartman@ShelterInsurance.com

NAllison@ShelterInsurance.com

EHohlt@ShelterInsurance.com

Kelly Veach

Jeremy Hughes

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JeremyHughes@ShelterInsurance.com

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Mike Hatchett

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107 Hitt St. (In the District) (off-street parking available) 573-443-1588

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2909 Falling Leaf Ln, Ste C 573-445-8661

1408 I-70 Dr SW, Ste 105 573-443-7776

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908 Rain Forest Pkwy, Ste C 573-442-6505

1715 W Worley, Ste A 573-447-8629

We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter. ShelterInsurance.com

2000 Forum Blvd, Ste 1 573-447-0129


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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

C U LT U R E

Columbia beer culture shows no signs of tapping out City has five full-fledged breweries producing a volume and variety of beer

FESTIVALS AND CULTURAL EVENTS Here’s a sample of some of the area’s most popular events and the months they generally take place. For more information, go to visitcolumbiamo.com.

By Aarik Danielsen Columbia Daily Tribune

JANUARY

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Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Through art, music, dance, awards, discussion and food, residents celebrate diversity and the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. www.como.gov. North Village Arts District First Fridays: The first Friday of each month, venues in the North Village Arts District host a crawl with entertainment and educational opportunities. www.facebook. com/NorthVillageArtsDistrict.

here might still be the occasional tear in a few drinkers’ beers. But Columbians aren’t shedding any tears over the quality of beers being produced in our city. Craft beer has gained serious cultural cache, and to hear local beer professionals tell it, the momentum isn’t slowing

anytime soon. A thriving beer culture involves at least three elements: local breweries, a solid homebrewing scene and supportive bars and retail venues, said Craft Beer Cellar’s Billy Glosson. Columbia has five full-fledged breweries producing both a volume and variety of beers — Logboat Brewing Co., Rock Bridge Brewing, Bur Oak Brewing Company, Flat Branch Pub and Brewing and Broadway Brewery. Columbia brewers have appealed to people at all points along the craft-beer spectrum, Glosson said. Beers such as Bur Oak’s Old 63 and Logboat’s Bobber can please inexperienced palates and help acquaint drinkers with craft beer. Local breweries are also creating “weirder,” more innovative options, he said. There is a friendly rivalry between Columbia breweries. Rock Bridge’s Stu Burkemper said the landscape feels more like a “fraternity” or “community.” Breweries will share yeast or hops if supplies are running low, and it is common for local brewers to hang out, he said. “Everybody is so busy right now that it feels really great to actually sit down at a bar with them and kick back some beers. Maybe talk about baseball or hockey,” Logboat’s Judson Ball said. Local brewers also have gathered to create the Columbia Brewers Guild, Ball said, which allows companies to cohost events and find common ground. A unity of purpose certainly exists — both Burkemper and Ball spoke of a desire to put Columbia on the map, not just as a college town, but as a good beer town. This healthy competition benefits consumers, Glosson said, because it leads to innovation. “All these guys want to push each other to be the best they possibly can,” he said. Partnerships also have emerged across types of brews. Logboat has created several beers with Fretboard Coffee and Broadway Brewery has brewed a stout that uses Shortwave Coffee beans. If there has been a short leg on the beer-culture tripod, it is homebrewing, Glosson said. Local homebrewing clubs provide a congenial atmosphere. “You can have guys who are politically on complete opposite ends of the spectrum, but all of a sudden you start talking about brewing beer and they’re like best friends,” Glosson said. But there has been a relative lack of suppliers, Glosson said; that is beginning to change — one encouraging

MARCH

Taproom manager Sam Branham, top left, taproom bartender Hunter Wenger, top right, and brewer Bryce Dailey, bottom, can 480 cases of Shiphead on March 9, 2016 at Logboat Brewing.

True/False Film Fest: Drawing in documentary filmmakers and fans from across the country, the annual event features some films discovered at Sundance, Toronto and other festivals as well as world premieres and secret screenings. Attendees watch films, talk with directors, listen to buskers and celebrate at parties between screenings. www.truefalse.org. Taste of Mid-Missouri: For 30 years, the event has highlighted the work of area restaurants and food vendors. Attendees sample items from more than 30 restaurants in Mid-Missouri. www. morestaurants.org. Spring Breakdown Weekend: MidMissouri Traditional Dancers hosts a weekend filled with dances, workshops, socials and more. www.mmtdcolumbia. org.

[TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO]

development, he said, is the recent opening of homebrewing shop Worts and All. As it grows, local beer culture faces distinct challenges. One, Ball said, is education — “It is our job to help people find a beer they like. Craft beer can be overwhelming to somebody who has never tried it,” he said. There is also the challenge of sustainable growth. There isn’t yet a discernible ceiling on local beer culture. “Over the last five years we have seen three new breweries, ourselves included, open,” Ball said. “And I wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple more in the next few years.” It would seem, from the outside looking in, that Columbia is reaching a sudsy saturation point. “Conventional wisdom tells us that, but that’s not what’s happening,” Glosson said. “It seems like the more breweries that come, the more people get excited about local beer. The more breweries that come, the better the other breweries start to do.”

APRIL Missouri Beer Festival: At this burgeoning festival held sometime each spring, attendees sample various microbrews and craft beers, including a number of selections from Missouri breweries. Local vendors create a food court, and live music is performed. www.missouribeerfestival.com. Big Muddy Folk Festival: For more than 20 years, this Boonville staple has gathered folk-music talent from around the region and the country. Music-themed workshops are held throughout the weekend. bigmuddy.org. Earth Day: Hosted by the Columbia Earth FESTIVALS CONTINUED ON PAGE 7


OUR TOWN 2017

C U LT U R E FESTIVALS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Day Coalition, the event features music, games, workshops and displays on going green. It takes place in MU’s Peace Park and on surrounding streets. www.columbiaearthday.org. Morels and Microbrew Festival: Located in Fulton’s Brick District, this festival pairs the seasonal mushrooms with drafts from a number of Missouri breweries, homebrews and live music. thebrickdistrict.tripod.com. Unbound Book Festival: Held for the first time in 2016, this festival brought together nationally and regionally recognized authors for readings, panels and contests like a “first-page rodeo” and prize for self-published authors. www.unboundbookfestival.com.

MAY Kitchens in Bloom: Held each spring, this event from Services for Independent Living features a self-guided tour of Columbia homes with recently remodeled kitchens. www.silcolumbia.org/KIB Movies in the Park: Family-friendly films are screened outdoors in Flat Branch Park on Friday evenings, once a month, May through September. www.como.gov. Family Fun Fest: This event is held the third Wednesday of every month from May through October. Located at Cosmo Park, the event features a new theme each month and provides family-focused entertainment through music, performances, art activities and more. www.como.gov. Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Veterans Celebration: This free event features an air show at Columbia Regional Airport showcasing aircraft from World War I to the present and a parade downtown to honor active military members and veterans. www.salute.org. Bike, Walk & Wheel Week: The week of events promoting non-motorized transportation includes a focus on bicycle commuting, safety, trail riding and more. www.como.gov. Stephens Lake Park Amphitheater Concert Series: This series of free musical performances runs from May through September featuring local acts in an outdoor setting. www.como.gov. Pedaler’s Jamboree: Held each Memorial Day weekend, this event combines a music festival and trail ride with stops along the Katy Trail. www.pedalersjamboree.com. Centralia Anchor Fest: A part of life in Centralia since 1987, this family-friendly festival features live music, food, sports, car and tractor shows and more. www.facebook. com/AnchorFestival

JUNE Columbia Art League’s Art in the Park:

During the first full weekend of June, this free-entry, family-oriented event celebrates art by bringing in artists from across the country. www.artintheparkcolumbia.org. Shred Fest Skateboarding Event: This free event hosts competitions, giveaways and music for all ages at Cosmo Park’s skate park. www.como.gov. Shelter Gardens Concert Series: Columbia ensembles perform free Sunday evening concerts, typically in June and July in this pastoral setting. Styles and performers range from community bands and classical music to bluegrass and Cajun bands. www. shelterinsurance.com/aboutshelter/events. Show-Me State Games: Starting on June 14 and continuing two weekends in July, the Olympic-style sporting event hosts competitors in approximately 40 sports, including judo, tennis, golf and soccer, to promote healthy competition and sportsmanship. www.smsg.org. Juneteenth: Black heritage is celebrated at Douglass Park during June in central Columbia with bands, choirs, speakers, games and food. www.como.gov. Hot Summer Nights: A six-week lineup of musical performances ranges from classical to pop. The event sponsored by the Missouri Symphony Society provides entertainment to all ages with a diverse repertoire. www.shelterinsurance.com/aboutshelter/ events

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Community Arts

r Discove

. the Arts

JULY Fire in the Sky: Marking its 64th year, the annual free fireworks celebration of the Fourth of July will take place in downtown Columbia. www.como.gov. Boone County Fair: The fair will run July 18-22 and feature family fun, including tractor pulls, livestock shows, music, a demolition derby, talent competition nights, a carnival and more. www.theboonecountyfair.com. Mizzou International Composers Festival: Audiences are exposed to musical world premieres during this festival, July 24-29, where established composers mingle with and coach emerging composers from across the globe. https://music.missouri. edu/mnmi/international-composers-festival

Find a festival, take in a show, explore a museum, get lost in a gallery, discover public art... le at r availab a d n le a nts c and eve s e id u om g Arts oArts.c M o C . w ww 573-87 4-6386

AUGUST MidMo Pridefest: An annual celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and ally community in Mid-Missouri. This event features music, food, vendors, children’s activities and information about community organizations. midmopride.org. Boone Dawdle: The True/False Film Fest hosts this annual summer bike ride from Columbia to Rocheport, where a dinner FESTIVALS CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Financial assistance provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

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Community Arts

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Missouri United Methodist Concert Series For details about our 2017/2018 concert series visit: www.moumc.org/concertseries Email concertseries@moumc.org or Call 573-443-3111

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Boone County

HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Come experience

LOCAL HISTORY & ART The Montminy Art Gallery Exhibits Collections • Historic Homes Concerts • Book Talks

free admission Wed - Sat: 11 am - 4:30 pm Sun: Noon - 4:30 pm 3801 Ponderosa St, in the historic Nifong Park, Columbia 573-443-8936 www.BooneHistory.org fb.com/BooneHistory ­ @BooneMuseum 


OUR TOWN 2017

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Community Arts

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MISSOURI SYMPHONY SOCIETY PRESENTS

JUNE 8 - JULY 15 Since 1981 The band holds 14 concerts per year in a variety of venues. The next scheduled concerts are July 6, 7pm at Stephens Lake Amphitheater and July 23, 7pm at Shelter Gardens. The group also offers the Keith House Memorial Scholarship to local graduating high school musicians.

John Patterson DIRECTOR

MUSIC FESTIVAL tickets/info mosymphonysociety.org 573.875.0600

Paul Copenhaver ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Dr. John Cheetham COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE

For more info, visit ccbonline.org or call 573-446-BAND (2263)

City of Columbia OfďŹ ce of Cultural Affairs

Museum of Art and Archaeology

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C U LT U R E

Clary-Shy agricultural park aims to build a healthier Columbia Project is cooperative effort between city and not-for-profit organizations

By Katherine Cummins Columbia Daily Tribune

The property at Clary-Shy Park and the nearby Activity & Recreation Center was once home to the Boone County Fair and was a center for agriculture in the community. With work on the new Clary-Shy Agricultural Park set to start later this year, it will soon play that role again. The project is a collaborative effort between Columbia Parks and Recreation, the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, the Columbia Farmers Market and Sustainable Farms and Communities. With plans for a permanent structure for the farmers market,

an urban garden and orchard, a greenhouse, an outdoor classroom, demonstration garden plots and demonstration kitchens, the agricultural park will help all of the organizations involved achieve their central purpose of creating a healthier community. The goals of the project are to create easier access to healthy, local foods and to create a space where area residents can spend time outdoors engaging in physical activity and socializing. “This is a really good counter-balance to the ARC, which is a great resource for active living,” said Adam Saunders, development director for the

Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture and director of the Build This Town fundraising campaign for the park. The partnership has already raised $1.7 million, surpassing the estimated $1.65 million needed for Phase I. Plans for that phase include construction of 38 covered and 29 uncovered vendor stalls for the farmers market, 42 parking spots, a pedestrian plaza and initial planting for the outdoor classroom. The largest contribution so far is $495,000 from University of Missouri Health Care. Columbia Parks and Recreation has also committed to $400,000 over two years from the 2015 park sales tax.

Site master plan

Other funding sources so far include a mix of state and federal grants and contributions from area farmers and businesses. The Build This Town fundraising campaign was launched in May to help generate the rest of the $5 million needed to fully fund all three phases of the project. Phase II will include construction of new office space and a demonstration kitchen for the urban agriculture center as well as a barn, greenhouse & storage. Development of the urban farm and orchard — which will triple the amount of fresh produce CCUA provides to the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri — also will start

WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL

A campaign is on to raise money for an agriculture park next to the Activity & Recreation Center. Plans include a shelter for the farmers market, an office building and a barn/greenhouse.

STORM WATER MANAGEMENT Farmers market shelter

Office Barn, greenhouse & storage

COMMUNITY ORCHARD

BIORETENTION

EXISTING PARKING

ARC GARDEN

Source: Simon Oswald Architecture

GATEHOUSE MEDIA

in Phase II. They will be completed in Phase III, which also includes an amphitheater and other features. For the Columbia Farmers Market, the agricultural park finally provides a permanent home where area farmers can sell their products no matter the season or weather. “It would be wonderful to have that continuity,” said Executive Director Corrina Smith. “Just having that shelter is what we’ve been dreaming of for years.” She said more opportunities to educate the community about eating fresh, locallygrown food is a close second priority. Park Services Manager Gabe Huffington said the agricultural park is a natural progression for the property and allows the city to put in a trail connecting Clary-Shy to the ARC. “As you look at our Parks and Rec open spaces master plan, this was a key component we didn’t have,” Huffington said. “To be able to expand as far as educating the public about living a healthy lifestyle … it seemed to fit very well as far as quality of life for our community.” Construction of Phase I is expected to begin this fall, with the continuation of the second and third phases to continue as funding allows. Saunders said the goal is for the whole project to take three to four years.

FESTIVALS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 is served and a film is screened. www. truefalse.org/dawdle.

SEPTEMBER Boone County Heritage Festival and Craft Show: The Sept. 16-17 festival celebrates the history of Mid-Missouri by bringing in artisans and tradesmen to demonstrate their trades and sell their wares. The event also provides music, hay rides, children’s activities and more. www. como.gov. Roots N Blues N BBQ: Held in Stephens Lake Park, this large celebration Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 features a variety of music, food and other entertainment, drawing in thousands of people from across the country. www.rootsnbluesnbbq.com. Harrisburg Septemberfest: For more than 40 years, this Harrisburg happening celebrates the end of summer and ushers fall in with a variety of family-friendly events.

OCTOBER Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival: Held the second full weekend in October in Hartsburg, the event features craft vendors and a variety of pumpkin-related activities, plus lots of pumpkins for sale in all shapes, sizes and colors. www.hartsburgpumpkinfest.com/ University of Missouri Homecoming: For the 106th Homecoming celebration on Oct. 21, the Missouri Tigers football team will take on Idaaho. Celebrate with parades and tailgates, plus myriad campus activities over the preceding week, including extravagant Greektown house decorations. www.missouri.edu. “We Always Swing” Jazz Series: The jazz program brings top talents to Columbia, offering an educational program and films to promote, preserve and celebrate jazz. Performances generally start in October and are scheduled through spring. wealwaysswing.org. Odyssey Chamber Music Series: Since 2004, this concert series has presented intimate yet ambitious chamber music performances at First Baptist Church. The series consistently calls on local talent, yet mingles in guest performers from across the country and world. Concerts generally get underway in October and run through May. Odyssey also works with a number of other cultural organizations to present The Plowman Chamber Music Competition and Festival during the spring of odd-number years. odysseymissouri.org. FESTIVALS CONTINUED ON PAGE 11


OUR TOWN 2017

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C U LT U R E

FARMERS MARKETS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS With Columbia’s many farmers markets and community gardens, eating fresh has never been easier. Here are your options.

What you will find: Locally grown produce, meat, eggs, baked goods and live plants. Online: boonecountyfarmers.com

COLUMBIA FARMERS MARKET Location: 1701 W. Ash St., next to the Activity & Recreation Center. Hours: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays April through October; 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays May through October; 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays May through October at Forum Christian Church, 3900 Forum Blvd. In the winter, the market is open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays inside Parade Center, 601 Business Loop W. What you will find: Locally grown produce, eggs, meat, goat cheese, honey, jam, pasta, gluten-free goods, baked goods and live plants. Online: columbiafarmersmarket.org

BOONE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Location: Columbia Mall parking lot, 2300 Bernadette Drive Hours: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays April 16 through Oct. 28

MUSIC VENUES The Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St., 573-874-1944, www.thebluenote.com Café Berlin, 220 N. Tenth St., 573-441-0400, cafeberlincomo.com Cooper’s Landing, 11505 Smith Hatchery Road, 573-657-2544, www.cooperslanding. net Eastside Tavern, 1016 E. Broadway, 573-2561500, www.facebook.com/eastsidetavern Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, 100 Isle of Capri Blvd., Boonville, 660-616-4752, boonville. isleofcapricasinos.com Jesse Auditorium on the University of Missouri campus, 573-882-3781, concertseries.missouri.edu/concert/venue/

prepared foods and local artwork. Online: facebook.com/farmandart

GROW YOUR OWN

Location: 126 N. Tenth St., behind Wabash Station Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through October. What you will find: Locally grown and

The following is a list of local community garden locations. For more information about community gardens or group gardens in Columbia, go to comogardens.org. North Ann and McAlester Street 201 W. Ash St. Benton-Stephens Neighborhood, 1509 Windsor St. Broadway Christian Church, 2601 W. Broadway (also home to the Columbia Refugee Garden) 603 Lyon St. 711 Claudell Lane Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St. D.H. Crum Memorial, 1400 Ballenger Lane, near Firehouse No. 5 312 N. Ninth St. 208 St. Joseph St. Stormy’s Meadow, Green Meadows Circle, behind firehouse No. 7

jesse-auditorium Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Rocheport, 800690-1830, missouriwine.com Midway Backdoor Lounge, Interstate 70 and Highway 40, 573-445-6542, www.facebook. com/backdoorlounge Missouri Theatre, 203 S. Ninth St., 573-8823781, http://concertseries.missouri.edu/ concert/venue/missouri-theatre Mizzou Arena, 1 Champions Drive, 573882-6501, http://www.mutigers.com/ facilities/?id=2 Murry’s, 3107 Green Meadows Way, 573-4424969, www.murrysrestaurant.net Nash Vegas, 929 E. Broadway, www.facebook.com/NashVegasBar Rocheport General Store, 202 Central St., Rocheport, 573-698-2282, www.

rocheportgeneralstore.com Rose Music Hall, 1013 Park Ave., 573-8741944, www.rosemusichall.com Roxy’s, 1025 A E. Broadway, www. roxyscomo.com Snorty Horse Saloon, 1624 Jade Road, 573-814-1434, https://www.facebook.com/ snortyhorse The Social Room, 220 N. Eighth St., 573.397.6442, www.thesocialroomcomo.com Thespian Hall, 522 Main St., Boonville, 660882-3967, www.friendsofhistoricboonville. org VFW Post 280, 1509 Ashley St., 573-442-8413, https://vfw280.org/ Whitmore Recital Hall, 135 Fine Arts Building, MU Fine Arts Building, 573-882-2604, music.missouri.edu

URBAN FARM’S MARKET Location: In addition to its booth at the Columbia Farmers Market, the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture runs what calls its On-Farm Honesty Market at 1209 Smith St. Volunteers stock a shed with farm-fresh foods. Patrons can check the chalkboard for the asking price and leave payment for the items they choose in a lockbox. Hours: Any Online: columbiaurbanag.org

ORR STREET FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

WELCOME TO

COLUMBIA

EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU UNEXPECT Locals like to think of Columbia as a cool neighborhood in a big city, with a young vibe, an active buzz and an engaged community. Frequently ranked as a top place to live, best place to raise a family, and great community in which to retire, the things that make Columbia so livable also make it a great destination.

VisitColumbiaMO.com @ColumbiaMOCVB

/VisitColumbiaMO

/VisitColumbiaMO

/VisitColumbiaMO

FESTIVALS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 Spooktacular: Formerly Tiger Night of Fun, this annual and free alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating on Halloween night features games, activities and treats. Citizen Jane Film Festival: Oct. 26-29, Stephens College and other venues host this festival that features independent films made by women. Events include workshops, discussions, parties and more. www.citizenjanefilmfestival.com.

NOVEMBER Columbia Jaycees Holiday Parade: On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, this kid-friendly event includes a parade with visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus. www.facebook.com/ ColumbiaMOJaycees Black Culture Awareness Week: Centered on the mission of MU’s Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, the weeklong event features a soul food dinner, musical performances, guest speakers and discussions. gobcc.missouri.edu

DECEMBER Living Windows Festival: On the first Friday in December, the downtown district will host live window displays, strolling carolers, visits with Santa and more. www.discoverthedistrict.com. Holiday Homes Tour: Serving as the primary fundraiser for the Women’s Symphony League, the tour features some of Columbia’s most decorated homes to celebrate the holiday season. The event hosts a silent auction and bake sale. mosymphonysociety.org/ womens-symphony-league. City Kwanzaa Celebration: This annual event celebrates the black holiday based around family and community. A free holiday feast, entertainment and community awards will be given at the event. www.como.gov.


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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

C U LT U R E

Podcasts growing in popularity among producers, listeners Several of the online audio shows are recorded by people living in Columbia By Alan Burdziak Columbia Daily Tribune

Friends and Columbia residents Josh Matejka and Jesse Slade have been movie buffs for years. They decided in March 2016 to put their passion to good use, posting the first episode of the local podcast “Reel Friends.” They try to post two episodes a month and as of spring 2017 had produced about 23 episodes. Matejka, 23, and Slade, 26, are among a growing population starting podcasts in their homes and producing them in their spare time. The men are not worried about how many people listen to each episode; their best guess is somewhere around 100. Matejka has a convergence journalism degree from the University of Missouri and works for KMIZ as a news producer. He had some experience mixing audio and production before starting “Reel Friends” with Slade. “That’s the thing with podcasts,” Matejka said, “if you have the know-how to edit and you have the equipment to at least make it sound presentable, anybody can do it.” Some Columbia businesses have started

Josh Matejka, left, and Jesse Slade sit for a portrait in Slade’s Columbia home on April 19. The two host a podcast about movies called “Reel Friends.” [TIMOTHY TAI/TRIBUNE]

podcasts to reach out to customers and other residents have begun making them on topics they are interested in. Caitlin Lukin, a former Tribune copy editor, and her friends Alicia Stice, a former Tribune reporter, and Nate Elwood began “The Fighting Yanks” in December. The trio, all MU graduates, live in separate states, Lukin here in Columbia, Stice in Colorado and Elwood in Kansas, and like the guys of “Reel Friends,” Lukin said they

also use the podcast to keep in touch. They also try to put out a couple of episodes a month. Each host on “The Fighting Yanks” records audio separately as they talk via Skype and Lukin and Elwood send the files to Stice, who produces each episode. “The Fighting Yanks,” named for a World War II-era comic, is about how Nazis are represented in popular culture. “We thought that would be a fun topic

to explore,” Lukin, 25, said. “Why are Nazis in everything and how are they portrayed?” The “decidedly anti-Nazi” hosts, Lukin said, have fun researching the topic and ranting about it. She said they also average about 100 listens per episode. At local National Public Radio affiliate KBIA, News Director Ryan Famuliner said the station has dabbled in podcasts. Deciding whether to start one is a balancing act, Famuliner said, because they so far have not been profitable for KBIA, but as a teaching station affiliated with the MU School of Journalism, it recognizes that it has to offer podcast training for students and plans to keep creating them. “You’re putting a lot of resources into this thing that’s not necessarily going to make you much money and it’s not going to support your main product that much, but we also don’t want to ignore it because it is like the new frontier,” Famuliner said. “There are audiences there for a podcast.” The Tribune has its own podcast, too. The newspaper produces the "Mizzou Sports Podcast" regularly, posting the episodes on the sports page of the Tribune's website at www.columbiatribune.com/ sports.

Enter stage left: Columbia playwrights work together to create rich culture Local organizations have created avenues for stage writers to get experience and exposure By Aarik Danielsen Columbia Daily Tribune

Shakespeare famously wrote that the play’s the thing. Had he lived in modernday Columbia, perhaps he would have tweaked the phrase to say “The new play’s the thing.” Area theater troupes have made a practice of staging local, original work and workshops allow playwrights to woodshed their creations before a curtain ever goes up. The idea to invest in new plays is an old one. “There have been great playwrights in Columbia since Tennessee Williams started writing plays,” University of Missouri Professor David Crespy said, referring to one of the school’s most famous students. Count Crespy and his wife, Meg Phillips Crespy, among the ranks of Columbia’s finest. Earlier this year, the pair won the Jackie White Memorial Playwriting

David and Meg Philips Crespy pose for a portrait in Peace Park on May 9. The couple recently won a Columbia playwriting contest for a childrens’ play. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]

Contest for their children’s musical, “The Zenith Escape.” A local fixture since Columbia Entertainment Company initiated it in 1988, the White competition is just one of many avenues available to local playwrights looking to break in and break a leg. Talking Horse Productions presents the Starting Gate New Play Festival; MU opens the doors of opportunity through

the weekly Missouri Playwrights Workshop, the annual Mizzou New Play Series and other venues. And area companies and creators have taken matters into their own hands, writing fresh new work, then finding the will and way to stage it. GreenHouse Theatre Project is a consistent producer of new plays; its current sixth season includes fresh takes on work by Samuel Beckett and Henrik Ibsen as well as a completely new piece, “Dark Creation,” written by co-founders Elizabeth Braaten Palmieri and Emily Adams. Audra Sergel is another of Columbia’s motivated talents. In 2014, “Starting with My Voice,” the musical she co-wrote with Trent Rash, was performed at the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. The musician created the Strange New Worlds showcase to spotlight new pieces of music and theater — Phillips Crespy has debuted work there. Sergel also wrote the music for “Sassmouth: The Musical”; the play, with script

by Julie Barnett, took second place in this year’s Jackie White contest. The play was based on a children's book Barnett published several years ago. "For Julie, she had to adapt her book into a play, which was a new challenge for her. For me, I loved reading her book and finding out what made the characters tick," Sergel said. Sergel said it can be hard to find a stage for original musicals; to see their work performed as a result of their prize, and to receive an offer from PACE Youth Theatre to stage it next year, was heartening for both artists. For the Crespys, Columbia's playwriting culture has spilled over into their home. The pair often consult one another for advice and have even directed each other's work. But this was their first formal writing partnership. Being so closely connected, Phillips Crespy said it was easier to be honest, something which benefitted the work.


OUR TOWN 2017

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PA R K S

Rock Bridge celebrates 50 years By Katherine Cummins Columbia Daily Tribune

people, such as bringing to this area a really fine park — something Carol enjoyed very much — that was what I wanted to do, even though my daughter would never be able to enjoy it,” Stoerker said in a 1967 interview with The Optimist Magazine. Formed in 1965 as Carolew Memorial Park, Inc., the park fundraising organization’s name was changed to Rock Bridge Memorial Park, Inc., because the rock bridge was the most recognizable geographical feature on the property being considered and was well-known to many Mid-Missourians. It didn’t take long for the community to get behind the project. “It brought together a lot of people. Businesses, organizations like the Optimists, the Channel 8 Ladies’ Program promoted it, children went door-to-door selling pot holders,” Campbell said. Even First Lady Lady Bird Johnson wrote a letter encouraging people to donate to the project. By 1967 the committee had

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Rock Bridge Memorial State Park marks 50 years as part of the Missouri State Parks system this year, but area residents have been enjoying and exploring the natural beauty of the property for far longer than that. Before selling his 326 acres — which included the natural rock bridge that gives the park its name, Polly’s Pot cave and the Devil’s Icebox cave system that would later become the heart of the park — farmer William Dennis Ingrum always welcomed visitors and allowed them to explore the wooded valley and caves and wade in Little Bonne Femme Creek. His children would earn nickels and dimes giving guided tours of the caves. Ingrum was later one of the first property owners to agree to sell his land for the park. Even before Ingrum allowed visitors to his property, his father-in-law, Jess Calkins, started an amusement park in the 1920s that featured a

steam-powered carousel, a dance floor built up in the branches of an oak tree and evening fireworks. “It essentially was a park before it was a park,” said park naturalist Roxie Campbell. In the 1800s, Campbell said, people in the area would travel to the Rock Bridge Mills community, as it was then called, to do business. There was a grist mill, a whiskey distillery, a post office and a general store. “People would wait for their grain to be ground and they’d go into the caves to cool off,” she said. “There was a mansion on top of the rock bridge — it burned down in the 1940s — and there would be dances, so people were used to coming and recreating and enjoying themselves there.” It was only natural, then, that Rock Bridge quickly became the proposed site when Lewis W. Stoerker formed a committee to establish a park in memory of his 9-year-old daughter, Carol, who had died after being struck by a car. “I thought if there were anything I could do for the young

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raised $177,000 — including pledges of $25,000 from the Columbia City Council and $50,000 from the Boone County trustees of the $180,500 needed to secure matching federal funds to purchase the 1,380 acre park. An anonymous donor provided the final $3,000. According to promotional materials, the committee’s early plans for the park included a children’s zoo, a theater/band shell, a golf course, a museum, a miniature train, flower gardens and a lake. Not all of those features made it to fruition as they did not meet the state parks’ mission of conservation and preservation, but according to Campbell, Rock Bridge is still a special park in the state park system. “Few people were aware of the extent of the cave resources — the caves were just being explored in the 1960s,” she said. “Looking back, this protected the seventh-largest cave in Missouri, with two federally-protected bat species, as well as six others, and the pink planarian — Devil’s Icebox is its only known habitat.” With 25 miles of trails giving visitors the opportunity to take in the park’s karst features, the Gans Creek Wild Area (one of only 11 designated Wild Areas in the state park system), grasslands, sink holes and woodland areas, Campbell said Rock Bridge continues to be popular. The park had 339,000 visitors in 2015 and 388,000 in 2016. “A lot of people come for getting exercise in the great outdoors or to walk their pets, or to take in nature, whether it’s bird watching or morel hunting or photography,” Campbell said. “I think part of why it’s so popular is it’s just a short drive from Columbia. You can come be completely away from the city and enjoy the wilderness.” Campbell said the park’s

most popular feature is the trail to Devil’s Icebox, as it is only a half-mile hike on boardwalk and takes visitors to the rock bridge and the spring. She said one her favorite parts of the park is Coyote Bluff, a glade near the wild area. “It’s dryer and sunnier so there are plants that are rare for the park, and you also get a great view over the wild area,” Campbell said. Columbia native Lynne Hooper, a member of the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park board, said what sets the park apart is its diversity. “We have the grassland, amazing karst features with the caves and limestone, the streams, there’s different types of forests, and all the different wildlife,” Hooper said. “It’s really a cool place to go to see a lot of what Missouri has to offer.” She said her favorite part of the park is the Spring Brook Trail because it crosses the Little Bonne Femme Creek, winds through a forested area and comes back on a boardwalk near the rock bridge. “You kind of get a little bit of everything,” Hooper said. The park will hold an official birthday celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 4, with music and interpretive stations at a number of location along the Devil’s Icebox trail. There also have been special guided hikes on the first Saturday of each month highlighting different trails each month. “What we’re trying to do is visit various parts of the park and cover different aspects of its history,” Campbell said. For more information on Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, visit the park website at mostateparks.com/park/ rock-bridge-memorial-statepark. For more information on the First Saturday hikes, visit the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park site at friendsofrockbridgemsp.org.


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 15

PA R K S

Harmony Bends exceeds expectations in first year The championship-level disc golf course opened in June 2016

By Katherine Cummins Columbia Daily Tribune

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A year has passed since the Columbia Parks and Recreation opened the Harmony Bends Championship Disc Golf Course, and officials say that first year has gone even better than they had hoped. Park Services Manager Gabe Huffington said the course at Strawn Park has “exceeded expectations” in attracting visitors from outside the area. “There are a lot of people driving in to play on the course,” Huffington said. “We’ve started to see more people than we thought, and whether they’re eating at a restaurant or stopping to get gas, they are giving the economy a boost in Columbia.” It might not be an entirely scientific or accurate way to keep track of attendance, but Columbia Disc Golf Club President Gabe Wilkerson said he counted license plates from 24 different states in the parking lot over the first six months Harmony Bends was open for play. Although having several colleges in town could certainly account for a number of those out-of-state vehicles, Wilkerson said his survey shows the park “has a lot of appeal to people from all over.” “I spoke to one person who traveled from Minnesota just to play the course, and I think that’s a good sign,” Wilkerson said, noting players from Kansas City and St. Louis often come to play the new Columbia course. He said local interest in the sport has increased over the past year as well. After holding pretty steady for several years, the number of paying members in CDGD has gone from 110 to more than 150. “Before we had Harmony Bends, if you went to course at Albert-Oakland on a weekend, it would be packed,” he said. “On a nice Saturday it will still be packed at Albert-Oakland, but Harmony Bend will also be busy.” Created by world-renowned course designer John Houck, the goal when the city was constructing Harmony Bends was to make a championship

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course that could play host to national-level events that would attract world-class players. According to Wilkerson, Houck and the city staff have achieved that goal. “The scale of the course, the size of the fairways, the lengths of the holes, puts it in the top courses,” he said. “The property it sits on is pretty exceptional.” The par 68 course features multishot holes, three layouts, water features, a hillside terraced with boulders and five natural stone creek crossings. Playing Harmony Bends can be a test of skill, but Wilkerson said most of the holes have three different key pads, so players of different experience levels can be challenged but still have fun. Reviewers on popular site dgcoursereview.com have left comments praising the course, with some giving it a perfect rating. “It’s really loved. There are sometimes critiques of it — complaints generally have to do with swampiness — but generally it’s very favorable. Right now it’s the top-rated course in Missouri,” Wilkerson said. Wilkerson said he would encourage local residents who have not had a chance to try their hand at disc golf or at the Harmony Bends course to try it. “People shouldn’t be intimidated,” Wilkerson said. “Give it a shot, because there’s no property like that in Columbia. Take bug spray and a couple bottles of water and you’ll have a good time.”

Columbia Parks and Recreation Department Planner Ryan Atkinson talks about the Harmony Bends disc golf course at Strawn Park in this June 2016 file photo. Parks officials and players say the course has attracted even more attention than expected in its first year. [DON SHRUBSHELL/TRIBUNE]

www.CoMo.com/ParksandRec Follow us at CoMoParksandRec

Creating Community throug through gh

People, Parks and Programs


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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

PA R K S

Flat Branch Park expansion planning on hold, waiting for funding The city of Columbia bought the property for $1.1 million in October 2016 the planning required to start the property's conversion to a park space. “You don’t spend a lot of money on architects The city is slowly moving forward with and engineers until you know you have a funded project.” plans for site cleanup at the future locaThe first phase of the project focuses tion of a Flat Branch Park expansion, but further planning is on hold until funding on getting the building demolished, the site cleaned up and restoring the creek can be found. there. The city’s Public Works DepartThe project would expand the park, ment is handling the demolition of the bringing it closer to Broadway. In McAdams building that still sits on that October, the Columbia City Council approved a $1.1 million land purchase for property. Demolition had not been scheduled as of mid-May. a 16,300-square-foot property along Snyder said the demolition will be Providence Road, which had been home tricky because part of the building hangs to McAdams Realty. over the creek. Crews will have to be When Parks and Recreation Director cautious and work hard to protect the Mike Griggs presented the council with rough draft plans for the park’s extension creek from harm. Snyder said the city has restored parts last fall, he said the city did not know of the Flat Branch creek during prior how much the project would cost. The total cost would depend on final plans for phases of the park’s development. “We pulled the banks back, added the expansion, which Mike Snyder, park boulders and gravel and tried to make planning and development superintenit function more like a natural stream dent, said the department will not work again and planted it with native vegetaon until a funding source to design the tion,” Snyder said. “It makes the whole extension is secured. park area more beautiful and allows “There’s a lot of cost to it,” he said of By Megan Favignano Columbia Daily Tribune

PARKS AND RECREATION CITY GOLF COURSES Columbia has two municipal golf courses. L.A. Nickell Golf Course 1900 Parkside Drive This 18-hole course is open year-round, offering riding carts and continuous cart paths, a driving range and Zoysia fairways. Suitable for beginners. Call 573-445-4213 for information. Lake of the Woods Golf Course 6700 St. Charles Road This 18-hole course also is open year-round and offers riding carts and continuous cart paths, Zoysia fairways, a clubhouse and a swimming pool. Call 573-474-7011 for more information. PARKS IN THE CITY Find a map and a full list of the city’s parks at como.gov/ParksandRec/Parks_and_ Facilities. Here are a few of the largest: A. Perry Philips Park

5050 Bristol Lake Parkway Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This 140-acre park includes a 40-acre lake open for fishing, a fishing dock and boat dock, and a 1.4-mile walking trail. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Albert-Oakland Park 1900 Blue Ridge Road Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This 73.1-acre community park has three tennis and pickleball courts, three sand volleyball courts, two lighted baseball/softball fields, two soccer fields, two 18-hole disc golf courses, a full basketball court, two playgrounds, an aquatic center and three reservable shelters. Bethel Park 4500 Bethel St. Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The 40-acre park includes two reservable shelters and two non-reservable shelters, two horseshoe pits, 12 tennis courts, a baseball/softball field, fishing pond, open field area, playground and volleyball court as well

Chuck Neal makes a giant bubble for kids to enjoy during the Fire in the Sky celebration July 4, 2016 in Flat Branch Park. [TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO]

the stormwater to function better downtown.” The expansion project’s second phase involves construction of the park. That may include a pedestrian bridge, fountain, walkways and other items. A lack of funding and movement on the Flat Branch Park expansion also affects plans for the Downtown CID's gateways project. The CID has installed three light hubs downtown as part of the gateways. The estimated $6 million project calls for more light hubs, two pedestrian thoroughfares attached to east and west entry gateways on Broadway and light column sculptures that showcase famous Missourians. Plans also include a plaza at Providence Road and Broadway,

as a .46-mile gravel lake trail. Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary 3300 Rollins Road Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This 89.5-acre park adjacent to Fairview Park features a prairie education trail and a nature trail. It also has a trailhead to Scott’s Branch Trail and a medium reservable shelter. Cosmo Park 1615 Business Loop 70 W. Hours: 6 a.m. to midnight daily At 533 acres, this regional park is the city’s largest. Its Antimi Sports Complex is an eight-field combination baseball/softball and T-ball center. The park also includes a skate park and roller hockey rink, two fishing lakes, 19 soccer fields, 12 horseshoe pits, six softball fields, eight tennis courts, seven volleyball courts, four football fields, two lacrosse fields, two playgrounds and an off-leash dog area. Douglass Park 400 N. Providence Road Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

next door to where the city plans to expand Flat Branch Park. Downtown CID Executive Director Katie Essing said the CID will not begin the plaza portion of its plans until the city finalizes its Flat Branch Park expansion. The Downtown CID and Columbia Parks and Recreation have been working closely, she said, so the gateways and park expansion fit together. Essing has described the plaza as a future landmark for downtown. The plaza will include three columns and a sculpture that spells out “Columbia.” The city has made many improvements to the Flat Branch Park area since 2001. Flat Branch Park was the location of Columbia’s Market Square, which was established in the 1820s. A railway depot, called Katy Station, was built in that area at the turn of the 20th century, but in the 1970s the railroad right-of-way was abandoned. The city turned the abandoned right-of-way into a hiking and biking trail, which now is the MKT Trail. In the late 1990s, the city started planning for a park at the Market Square site and restored the stream. The park was dedicated in 2001 and later expanded. A pedestrian bridge, sidewalks and native plants were added.

This 6.8-acre park has two basketball courts, two horseshoe pits, a baseball/softball field, a playground and the Douglass Family Aquatic Center, which features a sprayground and a climbing wall. Nifong Park 2900 E. Nifong Blvd. 3700 Ponderosa St. Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This 58-acre park is home to the WaltersBoone County Historical Museum. Parkgoers also can schedule a tour of the Boone Junction Historical Village. Other amenities include a volleyball grass court, a creek and nature area, a fishing lake, a 17-table picnic site, a 1.3-mile walking trail and the Maplewood Home and grounds. Stephens Lake Park 2001 E. Broadway Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This 116-acre park features free Wi-Fi access and an 11-acre lake, which includes a sandy beach, sprayground, and swimming and fishing areas. Admission is free, but there PARKS CONTINUED ON PAGE 22


OUR TOWN 2017

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Tourism

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A magnificent shrine, dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church, features an awe-inspiring fourteen foot stainless steel sculpture of Mary. The Mother’s Wall of Life continues to grow daily and is an everlasting tribute to all mothers from around the world with their names engraved in the polished black granite. Located on Hwy 5, Laurie (Between Versailles & Camdenton) For more information, contact Rose at 573-374-6279 Visit our website www.mothersshrine.com

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PA R K S

Looking for a place to cool off? The city offers a number of opportunities for aquatic recreation, including spraygrounds, outdoor pools, a lake with a sand beach and indoor pools. Outdoor city pools generally are open for the season starting in late May. For information on hours and season passes, go to www.como.gov. The city’s hotline number for information on facilities is 573-874-7663. Outdoor aquatic facilities

Beach and spraygrounds

Hickman Pool 1104 N. Providence Road, 573-874-7476 The Hickman Pool is a heated, indoor facility inside Hickman High School. Swimming lessons are offered through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

½ mile

Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center 1900 Blue Ridge Road, 573-474-5331 Season runs through Sept. 4. The aquatic center houses a 50-meter outdoor pool with a large deck with lounge chairs; a double-loop, enclosed-flume waterslide; two diving boards; a 2,700-square-foot zero-depth family pool and a water play area with sprinklers.

Lake of the Woods Pool 6700 St. Charles Road, 573-474-7878 Season runs though Aug. 6. The outdoor pool includes a waterslide and concession stand in a country-club setting surrounded by a golf course and a recreation area.

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ARC Water Zone 1701 W. Ash St., 573-874-7700 The ARC Water Zone is a heated, indoor facility that contains a lazy river, lap lanes, a water play structure, a hydrotherapy pool and a triple-loop waterslide. Activity schedules are available at www.como.gov/ParksandRec/ARC.

Indoor aquatic facilities

Vandiver Dr. 70 40

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COLUMBIA

Broadway

63

Douglass Family Aquatic Center 400 N. Providence Road, 573-442-5019 Season runs through Aug. 6, but the sprayground is open to the public from May 1 to Sept. 30. The outdoor pool includes a loop slide, climbing wall, shaded shelter. The pool is part of Douglass Park, which also houses a basketball court and a playground area.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Stad i

Little Mates Cove 2500 Chapel Hill Road, 573-445-8839 Season runs though Aug. 6. Little Mates Cove is part of the Twin Lakes Recreation Area, which houses a children’s water park with slides, sprinklers, water cannons and falls. Concessions are available.

Source: maps4news.com/©HERE

um B

lvd.

Flat Branch Sprayground 400 Locust St. Season runs through Sept. 30. Located at Flat Branch Park downtown, the sprayground uses chlorinated, recycled water and is open to the public without charge.

Stephens Lake Park 100 Old 63 N. Season runs through Sept. 30. Stephens Lake features fishing and swimming areas with a sand beach and a sprayground with chlorinated, recycled water. The swimming area is unguarded and is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.

GATEHOUSE MEDIA


OUR TOWN 2017

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Tourism

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MAKE BEAUTIFUL PLATTSBURG

YOUR DESTINATION… Nestled between Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo. on Highway 116, Plattsburg offers many opportunities for RECREATION & FUN! • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 Conservation Areas with 7 Lakes & 1,107 acres Beautiful Park System Walking Trails National Tree City Smithville Lake Access 2 Boat Ramps and Fishing Nightly Rentals Unique Farm Store Visit the Historic YEAR-ROUND CHRISTMAS STORE Clinton County Mu seum Antique Shops & Day Spas Restaurants to Suit Every Taste 18 Hole Championship Golf Course Community Swimming Pool with Zero Entry HISTORIC WALKING/DRIVING TOUR FEATURING OUR BEAUTIFUL & UNIQUE VICTORIAN HOMES

LOCATED ON THE HISTORIC

• Just a Short Drive to Tour Shatto Dairy & 3 Locally Owned Wineries

2017 UPCOMING EVENTS Aug. 21 Total Solar Eclipse July 4 Fireworks at Perkins Park July 8, 15, 22, 29 Christmas in July Oct. 5-7 Plattsburg Fall Festival Dec. 1-2 Community Christmas Aug. 11 David Rice Atchison Birthday Celebration · 210th Anniversary Dec. 10 Historic Church Tour US President for One Day WWW.PLATTSBURGMO.COM

• CITY HALL: 816-539-2148

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

PA R K S Columbia Trail System Columbia has several trails of varying lengths and surface types that wind through urban and wilderness areas. The map shows only the largest of the city's trails. Information about other trails is available at www.como.gov/parksandrec/trails.

Bear Creak Trail

Bear Creak Trail

Hard surface trail

70

Stadium Blvd.

Gravel surface trail Pedways

Hominy Creek Trail

COLUMBIA Broadway 63

Scott’s Branch Trail MKT Trail

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Club Hawt

Grindstone Creek Trail MU Rec Trail

Hinkson Creek Trail

MKT Trail MKT Trail

South Providence Trail

Source: maps4news.com/©HERE

PARKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 are no lifeguards. The park has several playgrounds, more than 2 miles of walking trails, an open play field, six picnic shelters, a sledding hill and a waterfall. There also are seven outdoor shelters and an amphitheater. On the northeast end of the park is the 2,000-square foot Riechmann Pavilion, 2300 E. Walnut St. Shelter Gardens 1817 W. Broadway Hours: 8 a.m. to dusk Office: 573-214-4595 Owned and operated by Shelter Insurance Cos., the 5-acre tract features more than 300 varieties of trees and shrubs and more

GATEHOUSE MEDIA

than 15,000 annuals and perennials. DOG PARKS AND LEASH-FREE AREAS Twin Lakes Recreation Area 2500 Chapel Hill Road Garth Nature Area 2799 N. Garth Ave. Indian Hills Park 5009 Aztec Blvd. Grindstone Nature Area 2011 Old 63 S. Bear Creek Nature Area at Cosmo Park STATE PARKS Rock Bridge Memorial State Park 5901 S. Highway 163 Park office: 573-449-7402 Trails hotline: 573-442-2249 Open sunrise to sunset Notable features include a natural bridge,

double sinkhole known as Devil’s Icebox and two caves. Connor’s Cave is open to the general public in the summer and to scheduled school programs in the spring and fall. Finger Lakes State Park 1505 Peabody Road Park office: 573-443-5315 Park grounds open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Motocross/ORV area hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily April through October, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily November through March A former coal strip-mining operation, this 1,128-acre park has almost a dozen small lakes created by the company and connected by a series of dams and canals that result in about 1.5 miles of shoreline. The park also has 70 miles of trail and

motocross track. There also is a 2.75-mile mountain bike trail inside the 90-acre Kelley Branch Restoration Area. The park has 19 basic and 16 electric campsites, which can be reserved year-round. There also is a swimming beach, several fishing holes, a shaded picnic area with tables and grills, a playground and a boat ramp. Katy Trail State Park 800-334-6946 At 240 miles, the Katy Trail is one of the longest rails-to-trails projects in the United States. Parts of the trail go along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the American Discovery Trail, and much of it follows the Missouri River. A spur from the MKT Trail leads from Columbia’s western edge to the Katy trailhead in McBaine.


OUR TOWN 2017

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Tourism

OT

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OUTDOOR FLEA MARKET ONCE A MONTH STARTING MAY 20TH CALL FOR INFO! VENDORS WELCOME!

Sullivan Regional Airport Fly-In August 19 ෽ 8am-2pm ෽ Kids, ages 8-17, can enjoy the thrill of an airplane ride for free with the EAA Young Eagles Club. Stay grounded with a car show, vendor booths, entertainment, concessions, and much more.

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Tourism For a historic dining experience, visit the J. Huston Tavern.

The tavern is open before every Lyceum Theatre performance.

J. Huston Tavern at Arrow Rock State Historic Site 304 Main St. | Arrow Rock, Mo. 65320

M O S TAT E PA R K S. C O M

FOR HOURS, RESERVATIONS AND MORE INFORMATION 660-837-3200 jhustontavern.com J. Huston Tavern


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 25

E D U C AT I O N

More building projects underway Columbia Public Schools is working to accommodate a growing student population By Roger McKinney Columbia Daily Tribune

Columbia Public Schools officials heard plenty of complaints last school year as they worked to redraw the boundaries of Gentry and Jefferson middle schools to relieve crowding at the former until a new middle school can be built in south Columbia. The Columbia Board of Education ultimately chose a smaller shift in students than the boundary committee had recommended and to speed up the pace of building the middle school, with an opening scheduled for 2020 instead of 2022, the original planned opening date. The board in February approved the new boundaries. Gentry had 873 students that month, above its comfortable capacity of 871. The boundary change would result in 834 students at Gentry and 629 students at Jefferson, where the September 2016 enrollment was 597 and capacity is 659. Gentry Principal Jeffrey Beiswinger, who was set to retire in June, said the boundary changes will be OK for Gentry, though the 19-student reduction there will reduce only sixth grade numbers. “We will have a two-year span to work through our higher enrollment in both seventh and eighth grades,” Beiswinger said. “Generally speaking, our enrollment will not be any different from this current school year. To accommodate our student numbers in seventh and eighth grade, I have made a couple of adjustments in the teaching schedule to help reduce a few of the higher class enrollment numbers; including a few teachers who will be teaching their subjects in two grade levels. This approach will help Gentry support our student enrollment during the time until the new middle school is built.” He said the faculty and staff

Construction on the new Cedar Ridge Elementary School is pictured April 25. The school is one of several building projects as Columbia Public Schools works to accommodate a growing student population. [TIMOTHY TAI/TRIBUNE]

work well together, so he feels comfortable in leaving the school in the hands of a new principal. CPS Chief Financial Officer Linda Quinley said at a Columbia Board of Education meeting that an additional classroom trailer would need to be added at Gentry for the three years until the new middle school opens, bringing the total to 14. The middle school will cost $39 million to build, CPS officials have said. The middle school in south Columbia will be the final new building in a 10-year building and bond plan that has included additions and renovations to existing buildings. Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School opened in 2010, followed by Battle High School in 2013, Battle Elementary School in 2014 and Beulah Ralph Elementary School in 2016. The district’s Center for Early Learning North opened in January. CPS K-12 enrollment increased by 4 percent in 10 years, from 16,648 in 2007 to 17,334 in 2017. Enrollment has increased 35 percent since 1991. Enrollment topped 16,000 in 2001 and 17,000

in 2014. New elementary schools The 2016-17 school year was the first year of operation for Beulah Ralph Elementary School and Principal Tim Majerus said it was a successful year. The school was built to relieve crowding at Mill Creek Elementary School. Under construction now and scheduled to open in August 2018 is the new Cedar Ridge Elementary School, in the Vineyards subdivision. The building is expected to cost $17.2 million to construct, with a total project cost of $22 million including land purchasing and development, design, technology, furnishings and equipment. It is designed to accommodate 650 students. Even though the opening is more than a year away, preparations are being made at Cedar Ridge, said Principal Angie Chandler. “We have dedicated many of our faculty meetings this year to planning how we will deliver curriculum when we double in size,” Chandler said. Seven trailers at the current school will be eliminated

and Peters said she will be relieved to have all the students in the building, with more than one set of bathrooms and a full-size kitchen. Eliminating trailers has been another goal of the building projects. There are 78 trailers now, but by 2020 the building projects will have reduced the number of trailers in the district to 38. The new Cedar Ridge School is being built using the same basic design as Beulah Ralph Elementary School and Battle Elementary School. CPS officials say it saves money. “I have driven out to the new building a few times and marvel at the progress they are making,” Peters said. “It’s fun to have walked through Beulah Ralph and know where everything will be when it opens.” Cedar Ridge territory will be expanded to include portions of Benton, Lee, New Haven, Rock Bridge and Shepard Boulevard elementary schools. Quinley said the Cedar Ridge project is on schedule. “As of the end of March, the project was 34 percent complete, with most of the grading, sewer and water work complete,” she said. She said the foundation, structural steel, decking, plumbing and electrical work also is complete. “We are ready to get to the more visible work on the project.” Douglass High School is scheduled to reopen in August after a $6.1 million renovation which required students and employees to move to a temporary location this school year. A $6 million, two-story addition at Grant Elementary School is expected to continue through the 2017-18 school year, also opening in August 2018. An $8 million addition to Lee Expressive Arts Elementary School is expected to open in 2020, but no specific plans have been developed.


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E D U C AT I O N

School officials cautious about funding picture Full funding of public school formula has not allayed budget concerns By Roger McKinney Columbia Daily Tribune

The Missouri General Assembly in April increased state funding of K-12 schools by $48 million, fully funding them for the first time in years, albeit with a scaled back formula. But Boone County school officials were taking a wait-and-see approach as they prepared their budgets this past spring. “There are ups and downs for us in it,” Columbia Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Linda Quinley told the school board in May. “It does appear that, should all stars align and they fund the budget as they have established, the district will have additional revenues than what we had been planning. A lot has to stay in place for that to actually happen. They’ve bitten off a great chunk in the full funding expectation of the budget next year.” The funding formula for school is based on the State Adequacy Target of $6,241 per student, which is the amount

the state has determined is adequate to educate a student, based on certain districts that have performed well. The target for most school districts in the 2016-17 school year was $6,145 per student. “It does appear to be positive and it does appear it will produce more than we’ve been projecting in the budget,” Quinley said. Revenue from the from the state formula and gambling revenue from the Classroom Trust Fund are expected to increase by $400,000 in 2017-18, Quinley told the board. State revenue going to CPS is expected to total $65 million, or 30 percent of all revenue. Those projections are based on an adequacy target of $6,180 per student, Quinley said. CPS voters in April 2016 approved a 65-cent property tax increase per $100 of assessed valuation. The full amount would raise about $14.6 million annually toward the school district’s budget, but the district opted to phase in the full tax FUNDING CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT By Roger McKinney

School

2016

2015

2014

Columbia Public Schools

86.8

84.3

80.4

Centralia

98.6

98.2

96.1

Hallsville

95.4

98.9

96.1

Harrisburg

90

87.5

92.5

Southern Boone

90.6

95.7

97.1

Sturgeon

96.8

89.3

88.9

Columbia Daily Tribune

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issues its Annual Performance Report for all school districts in the state each year. The report measures the quality of schools with state testing as a main factor, but other factors include graduation rates, ACT scores and attendance. The state also uses the APR to determine a district’s accreditation status. Listed are APR scores for Boone County school districts for the past three years, expressed as a percentage of possible points earned.

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500 E. Walnut, Suite 102 Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 442-8303 www.ColumbiaREDI.com

Engaging Business

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OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 27

E D U C AT I O N

Several new faces among CPS administrators Among the changes is the public schools’ chief financial officer

LEFT TO RIGHT: Candace Fowler, Tony Gragnani, Bonita Benson, Anna Munson, Fairouz Bishara-Rantisi

By Roger McKinney

never expect to fill someone’s shoes. He’s been a great support to me. I have a lot of respect for him.” Keith Bausman, from a school district in New Mexico, is the next CPS assistant superintendent for human resources. Candace Fowler, assistant principal at Fairivew Elementary School, will be the next principal at Russell Boulevard Elementary School. Tony Gragnani will be principal of Hickman High School in 2017-18. The assistant principal since 2014, he replaces Eric Johnson, who is leaving CPS for another job. Gragnani sent an email to Hickman parents after he was notified of the position, highlighting his 11 years in education, the past seven years at Hickman. Bonita Benson, assistant principal at Rock Bridge Elementary School since 2014, will be the next principal of

Columbia Daily Tribune

Columbia Public Schools will have several new faces in top positions at schools and in the administration office when the new school year starts in August. The shakeup among top CPS administration includes Ben Tilley, assistant superintendent for elementary education, and Deputy Superintendent Dana Clippard, who are retiring. Chief Financial Officer Linda Quinley and Brian Kurz, assistant superintendent for human resources, have accepted positions in other districts. The deputy superintendent position is being discontinued and instead a chief equity officer position is being created. Anna Munson, chief financial officer in the Riverview Gardens School District

in the St. Louis area since 2014, has been hired as the next CPS chief financial officer. Jill Dunlap Brown has been promoted as the next assistant superintendent for elementary education. She has been principal at Russell Boulevard Elementary School since 2014 and has more than 16 years of experience in education. In her position, she will oversee and support the elementary principals and assistant principals, Parents as Teachers and early childhood education. She also will work closely with the data services department. “I’m very excited,” Brown said. “We have a wonderful group of elementary principals who work hard for their teachers and the students.” She said Tilley set the standard for the job. “He’s impeccable,” Brown said. “I

Derby Ridge Elementary School. She replaces Kristi Shinn, who will become the district director of curriculum and instruction. Fairouz Bishara-Rantisi will be principal of Gentry Middle School in 2017-18. The associate principal of a high school in Lincoln, Neb., will replace Jeffrey Beiswinger, who is retiring. Michelle Baumstak, CPS spokeswoman, said it’s not unusual for the district to experience this number of administrative changes. “We have at least 10 to 15 administrators change each year,” Baumstark said. She said some people wanted to retire and others want to move closer to their homes. “We can’t compete with that,” she said. “We’ve got great people leaving, but we’ve also got great leaders coming in to take over responsibilities.”

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28

| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

E D U C AT I O N FUNDING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

increase over a few years. All employees received raises. CPS voters also approved a $30 million bond issue in the April 2016 election. Other Boone County districts have also boosted their local tax levies in recent years, often citing the uncertainty of state funding levels. Voters in the Harrisburg School District in April 2016 approved a levy increase of 67 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which boosts the district’s revenue by $255,000 annually. This April, voters in the Hallsville School District approved a property tax rate increase of 80 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, the district’s first success

with an operating levy increase in 30 years. It’s expected to raise $620,000 annually to increase fund balances, offer competitive salaries to teachers and other employees, reduce class sizes, update school technology and make repairs in the district’s buildings. Marci Minor, spokeswoman for the Hallsville School District said the Hallsville Board of Education plans to fully fund the salary schedule and add 3 ½ teaching positions plus a paraprofessional. “Over the last several months the district had to make significant cuts and delay purchases, especially in the areas of maintenance and technology,â€? Minor said. “The recent voter-approved

PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEADERSHIP Superintendent Peter Stiepleman OfďŹ ce: 1818 W. Worley St. pstiepleman@ cpsk12.org , 573-214-3410 Chief Financial Officer Anna Munson OfďŹ ce: 1818 W. Worley St. 573-214-3416 Oversees the district’s ďŹ nancial and budget operations in addition to transportation, technology services and building operations Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Kevin Brown OfďŹ ce:1818 W. Worley St. kbrown@

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Apple School 5155 S. Providence Road, 573-449-7525 www.appleschoolmo.org Preschool ages 2 to 5, before/after school care available for grades K-5 Children’s House Montessori 915 Tiger Ave., 573-443-2825 www.comomontessori.com Ages 2 through kindergarten Christian Chapel Academy 3300 S. Providence Road, 573-874-2325 www.cca-columbia.com Preschool through eighth grade Christian Fellowship School 4600 Christian Fellowship Road, 573-445-8565 www.cfsknights.org Preschool, half-day kindergarten, ďŹ rst through 12th grades College Park Christian Academy 1114 College Park Drive, 573-445-6315 www.cpchristian.org Preschool through ninth grade The Community Montessori 705 N. Providence Road, 573-777-3131

cpsk12.org , 573-214-3411 Oversees middle schools and high schools. Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Jill Dunlap-Brown OfďŹ ce: 1818 W. Worley St. jbrown@ cpsk12.org , 573-214-3412 Oversees elementary schools Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Keith Bausman OfďŹ ce: 1818 W. Worley St. kbausman@ cpsk12.org, 573-214-3423

Ages 2 to 6; serves lower-income families, preference given to families in the First Ward Columbia Independent School 1801 N. Stadium Blvd., 573-777-9250 www.cislions.org Pre-K through 12th grade Columbia Montessori School 3 Anderson Ave., 573-449-5418 www.columbiamontessori.org 4 weeks through 6 years old Columbia Christian Academy 4925 E. Bonne Femme Church Road, 573-441-1140 www.fwcacademy.org Preschool through 8th grade Good Shepherd Lutheran School 2201 W. Rollins Road, 573-445-5878 www.columbialutheran.org Kindergarten through eighth grade Heritage Academy 606 Ridgeway Ave., 573-449-2252 www.heritageacademyofcolumbia.com University-model school for kindergarten through 12th grade The Islamic School of Columbia-Missouri 408 Locust St., 573-442-1556 www.theiscm.org Preschool, kindergarten, ďŹ rst through

operating levy and a fully-funded formula will allow us to get back on track in providing the education that our community expects, including retaining our educators, providing more teachers to maintain class sizes and complete general repairs.� Shawn Schultz, superintendent in the Sturgeon School District, said state funding is a moving target. “I tell my board ‘this is the money we’re projecting to get and it’s not money that we have,’ “ Schultz said. He said if state revenue collections don’t come in, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will not distribute all the money to districts.

“If state revenue doesn’t come in, it doesn’t matter if the formula is fully funded,� Schultz said. “I don’t really operate on a lot of faith that the formula is fully funded� He said a school finance staffer at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said state funding for the coming school year would result in an additional $50,000 for Sturgeon based on weighting for students and special education, English language learners and those qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. “I’m thankful for any and all additional dollars that come into elementary and secondary schools, for my students and program and district,� Schultz said.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Term expires April 2018 chking@cpsk12.org, 573-356-5573 Jonathan Sessions 115 Aldeah Ave. Term expires April 2020 jsessions@cpsk12.org, 573-424-1999 Helen Wade 401 Locust St., No. 302 Term expires April 2020 hwade@cpsk12.org, 573-442-1660 James Whitt 3805 Keystone Court Term expires April 2019 jwhitt@cpsk12.org 573-234-2202

President Darin Preis 4803 Chilton Court Term expires April 2018 dpreis@cpsk12.org, 573-864-2281 Vice President Jan Mees 2746 Willowbark Court Term expires April 2019 jmees@cpsk12.org, 573-445-7781 Paul Cushing 2865 S. Hancock Hill Road, Rocheport Term expires April 2020 pcushing@cpsk12.org, 573-864-3034 Christine King 4003 Day Flower Court

ďŹ fth grades, day care Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School 817 Bernadette Drive, 573-445-6516 ollisk8.org Kindergarten through eighth grades Shalom Christian Academy 312 Ridgeway Ave., 573-256-4824 Primarily day care and preschool Stephens College Children’s School 1400 Windsor St., 573-876-7260 www.stephens.edu/childrens-school/ Half-day and full-day preschool,

kindergarten through ďŹ fth grade, extended before- and after-school programs Tolton Catholic High School 3351 E. Gans Road, 573-445-7700 www.toltoncatholic.org Grades 9 to 12 Windsor Street Montessori School 1616 Windsor St., 573-441-9767 comomontessori.com/windsor Montessori education ages 3 to 12

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OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 29

Fast Track

OT

For education news in Mid-Missouri, K-PhD turn to the Tribune.

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

E D U C AT I O N

HIGHER EDUCATION Columbia is home to the state’s flagship research university as well as several private colleges that attract thousands of students from across the globe. Here’s a closer look at the University of Missouri and other area colleges. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI: MU, also called Mizzou, is the flagship campus in the fourcampus UM System. Fall 2016 enrollment: 32,777; 24,340 in-state, 11,108 out-of-state; 27,812 undergraduate; 6,442 graduate and 1,194 professional; 5,244 minority; 2,223 international. Fall 2016-spring 2017 fees: (subject to change) For undergraduates, tuition is $10,716 for Missouri residents and $25,998 for nonresidents for the year, assuming the student is enrolled in 14 credit hours each semester. Graduate tuition is $6,568 for Missouri residents, and $15,964 for nonresidents per year, assuming the student is enrolled in eight credit hours each semester. Students each semester also are required to pay $101.47 for a prepaid health fee, a $141.80 recreational facility fee, a $171.84 student activity fee for full-time students and a $13.10 per-credit-hour information technology fee.

Students work during the first day of finals week at the University of Missouri Student Center on May 8. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE] Faculty and staff: 16,380, including 4,364 faculty and instructors and 5,273 at University of Missouri Health Care. Mascot: Tiger Colors: Black and gold Website: www.missouri.edu UM Board of Curators: Nine curators oversee the UM System. Eight represent congressional districts and one may come from anywhere in the state. Curators, their district, hometown and the year their terms expire: Chair Maurice B. Graham, Second, Clayton, 2021; Darryl Chatman, St. Louis, no district, 2023; Jamie Farmer, Third, Jefferson City, 2023; John R. Phillips, Fifth, Kansas City, 2019; Phillip H. Snowden, Sixth, Kansas City,

2021; Jeff Layman, Seventh, Springfield, 2023; David L. Steelman, Eighth, Rolla, 2019. There are two vacant seats. Mun Choi is the UM System president. Garnett Stokes became interim chancellor of the Columbia campus in May. COLUMBIA COLLEGE: A private, not-forprofit institution that serves about 3,000 students in Columbia with day and evening undergraduate and graduate programs and more than 27,000 students online. Scott Dalrymple became president on May 1, 2014. More information is available at www.ccis. edu. STEPHENS COLLEGE: A private four-year women’s college that educates more than 850 undergraduate and graduate students every year. Dianne Lynch has been president for eight years. More information is available at www.stephens.edu. WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY: The coeducational, professions-oriented institution serves more than 1,100 students at its Fulton campus and at a campus in the Parkade Center, 601 Business Loop 70 W. in Columbia. More information is available at www. williamwoods.edu. CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY: The private, four-year university was founded in 1854 and enrolled 1,100 students for fall 2016 on its main campus in Fayette. It also

educates almost 600 at its Columbia sites at 1400 Forum Blvd. and in the Parkade Center and has a total enrollment of nearly 5,500, including online programs. More information is available at www.centralmethodist.edu. WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Founded in 1851, the private college offers a liberal arts curriculum with an emphasis on developmental experience. The college, located in Fulton, hosts a Winston Churchill museum and institute and serves about 950 students. The campus is located at 501 Westminster Ave. in Fulton. More information is available at www.westminster-mo.edu. BRYAN UNIVERSITY: A private institution that offers focused, career-based training for students with campuses in Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas. The Columbia campus, at 3215 LeMone Industrial Blvd., has been in operation since 2010 and serves about 100 students. Brian Stewart serves as president. More information is available at bryanu.edu. MOBERLY AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE: The two-year college provides day and evening classes to about 5,600 students. The school is based in Moberly but has satellite locations including a Columbia campus in the Parkade Center. Jeff Lashley has served as president since 2013. More information can be found at www.macc.edu.

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OUR TOWN 2017

E D U C AT I O N

Smaller colleges increase enrollment

| www.columbiatribune.com | 31

Early Childhood

Columbia and Stephens are expanding their offerings in sports, academics

By Rudi Keller Columbia Daily Tribune

By creating new sports teams and adding degree programs, Columbia’s two oldest private colleges are growing rapidly. Columbia College received approval May 15 for its updated development plan, including a four-story classroom and residence hall. Columbia College serves about 27,500 students at satellite campuses or online courses, but fall 2016 saw also a 12 percent increase in traditional day students. The 2017 fall enrollment is expected to grow about 10 percent, college spokesman Sam Fleury wrote in an email. If those students do arrive as expected, the campus would have about 1,050 traditional students. A new men’s lacrosse and women’s bowling team will be offered this fall, after the addition of an eSports team that inaugurated competition in 2016. A program offering a bachelor’s

degree in nursing is entering its second year. At Stephens College, a women’s college that traces its roots to 1833, enrollment in 2016 was 866 students, up almost 6 percent from fall 2015. Brian Sajko, vice president of enrollment management at Stephens College, said Stephens is well positioned for the future of higher education and expects enrollment to grow. New degree programs in the fall include a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a new emphasis area, Theater for Young Audiences, in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts program. Stephens is also the first women’s college to establish an eSports team. “Growth is expected in the coming year as young women look again to a woman’s college for a higher education,â€? he said. Columbia residents have other higher education options, including

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

E D U C AT I O N

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Columbia Public Schools elementary school boundaries

Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School 5801 Arbor Pointe Parkway, 573-214-3200 Michelle Holz, principal Battle Elementary School 2600 Battle Ave., 573-214-3790 Jeri Petre, principal

63

Benton STEM Elementary School 1410 Hinkson Ave., 573-214-3610 Laura Lewis, principal Beulah Ralph Elementary School 5801 S. Route KK, 573-214-3840 Tim Majerus, principal Blue Ridge Elementary School 3700 Woodland Drive, 573-214-3580 Kristen Palmer, principal

Alpha Hart Lewis

West Boulevard

Midway Heights

Two Mile Prairie

Derby Ridge Blue Ridge

Parkade 70

Mary Paxton Keeley

Eliot Battle

Benton

70

Shepard Boulevard

Fairview

Cedar Ridge Elementary School 1100 Roseta Ave., 573-214-3510 Angie Chandler, principal

Grant

Lee

Cedar Ridge

Russell Boulevard

Derby Ridge Elementary School 4000 Derby Ridge Drive, 573-214-3270 Bonita Benson, principal

New Haven

Mill Creek

Fairview Elementary School 909 Fairview Road, 573-214-3590 Diana DeMoss, principal

63

Rock Bridge

Beulah Ralph

Grant Elementary School 10 E. Broadway, 573-214-3520 Jennifer Wingert, principal Eagle Ea gle l Bluffs Blu Bl ff ffs

Lee Expressive Arts Elementary School 1208 E. Locust St., 573-214-3530 Edward Elsea, principal Midway Heights Elementary School 8130 W. Highway 40, 573-214-3540 Angie Gerzen, principal Mill Creek Elementary School 2200 W. Nifong Blvd., 573-214-3280 Tabetha Rawlings, principal

EA ASLEY A

Source: Columbia Public Schools Source: maps4news.com/ŠHERE

New Haven Elementary School 3301 New Haven Road, 573-214-3640 Carole Garth, principal

Rock Bridge Elementary School 5151 S. Highway 163, 573-214-3290 Ryan Link, principal

Parkade Elementary School 111 Parkade Blvd., 573-214-3630 Amy Watkins, principal

Russell Boulevard Elementary School 1800 W. Rollins Road, 573-214-3650 Candy Fowler, principal

Paxton Keeley Elementary School 201 Park De Ville Drive, 573-214-3570 Adrienne Patton, principal Ridgeway Elementary School 107 E. Sexton Road, 573-214-3550 Shari Lawson, principal

Shepard Boulevard Elementary School 2616 Shepard Blvd., 573-214-3660 John Elliston, principal Two Mile Prairie Elementary School 5450 N. Route Z, 573-214-3560 Patti Raynor, principal

GATEHOUSE MEDIA

West Boulevard Elementary School 319 N. West Blvd., 573-214-3670 Susan Deakins, principal Field School 1010 Range Line St., 573-214-3585 Terry Gaines and Beth Winton, Center for Gifted Education Quest-Center of Responsive Education 4600 Bethel St., 573-214-3740 Connie Divine, site facilitator Center for Early Learning-North 2191 E. Smiley Lane , 573-214-3950 Mary Rook, site administrator, preschool, early childhood special education, Parents as Teachers program


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| www.columbiatribune.com | 33

E D U C AT I O N Columbia Public Schools middle school attendance boundaries

Big thinking. Small town. Focused on you.

williamwoods.edu 63

Lange

Use the digital branch

Oakland 70

www.dbrl.org Smithton

or visit the library.

West Jefferson

100 W Broadway

Serving Boone and Callaway Counties

Gentry 63

Memorial State te

Source: maps4news.com/©HERE Source: Columbia Public Schools

Jefferson Middle School 713 Rogers St., 573-214-3210 Gregery Caine, principal Oakland Middle School 3405 Oakland Place, 573-214-3220 Helen Porter, principal West Middle School 401 Clinkscales Road, 573-214-3230 Melita Walker, principal Gentry Middle School 4200 Bethel St., 573-214-3240 Fairouz Bishara-Rantisi, principal Lange Middle School 2201 Smiley Lane, 573-214-3250 Bernard Solomon, principal Smithton Middle School 3600 W. Worley St., 573-214-3260 Ed Schumacher, principal

GATEHOUSE MEDIA

COLLEGES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

the Moberly Area Community College in the Parkade Center. The University of Missouri and Moberly Area Community College recently formed a partnership to give 30 students dual enrollment so they can begin their education at the community college and complete a degree at MU. Called MIZZOUMACC, the program will give students an affordable, supportive way to learn with fully transferable credits. “We think it’s important to note that all four higher education venues in Columbia are different and we all complement each other very well,” Fleury said.

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

E D U C AT I O N Columbia Public Schools high school attendance boundaries

FACTS ABOUT COLUMBIA POPULATION Columbia: 119,108 (2015 census estimate) Boone County: 176,594 (2016 census estimate) CLIMATE Temperatures: Columbia’s mean temperature is 57.8 degrees, with highs averaging 67.7 degrees and lows averaging 47.8 degrees. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 87.3 degrees; the coldest is December, with an average high of 40.7 degrees. Precipitation: Annual rainfall averages 42.6 inches; snowfall averages 18 inches.

63

Muriel Battle 70

Hickman 70

FURN F U ER

Rock Bridge 63 MC M MCBAINE MCBA CBA C CBAIN BAIN BAINE

Source: maps4news.com/ŠHERE Source: Columbia Public Schools

Battle High School 7575 E. St. Charles Road, 573-214-3300 Kim Presko, principal Douglass High School 310 N. Providence Road, 573-214-3680 Eryca Neville, principal Hickman High School 1104 N. Providence Road, 573-214-3000 Tony Gragnani, principal

GATEHOUSE MEDIA

Rock Bridge High School 4303 S. Providence Road, 573-214-3100 Jennifer Rukstad, principal Columbia Area Career Center 4203 S. Providence Road, 573-214-3800 Randall Gooch, director

EDUCATION Elementary and secondary: Columbia Public Schools has four high schools, six middle schools and 21 elementary schools. The 201617 enrollment was 18,170 students. There are 17 private and parochial schools. Career-technical: The Columbia Area Career Center offers classes for ninth- through 12thgrade students as well as a variety of courses each semester for adults and customized training for local businesses. Colleges: The University of Missouri recorded a total enrollment of 32,777 students in fall 2016, including 27,812 undergraduate students. Its full-time faculty and staff number was more than 13,000 in Columbia, including University Hospital and MU Health Care employees. Columbia also has two private college campuses based here: Columbia College, which had about 3,000 students enrolled at its Columbia campus in 2016 and more than 27,000 total at its nationwide campuses and online; and Stephens College, with an enrollment of 850 in 2016. Other higher-education institutions with Columbia campuses include Moberly Area Community College, Bryan College, William Woods University and Central Methodist University. MAIN LIBRARIES Daniel Boone Regional Library, including Columbia Public Library. University of Missouri libraries PRINT MEDIA Daily newspapers include: Columbia Daily Tribune: publishes 365 days a year in the morning in print and online. Columbia Missourian: Morning paper published daily except Saturdays and Mondays by the MU School of Journalism. Other area publications include the monthly city magazine Inside Columbia and its sister


OUR TOWN 2017

E D U C AT I O N

| www.columbiatribune.com | 35

to nt Wa sfer? n tra all us * C AY! D TO

FACTS ABOUT COLUMBIA CONT. publications, the quarterly business magazine CEO and the monthly baby-boomer-focused Prime. Also publishing monthly is the Columbia Business Times magazine. The Boone County Journal and Centralia Fireside Guard newspapers and the Add Sheet free advertising shopper all publish weekly. Columbia Home magazine publishes every other month. Other advertising publications include the Columbia Marketplace monthly direct-mail deal magazine, and the Real Estate Book featuring Mid-Missouri housing. AM RADIO STATIONS KFRU, Columbia, 1400 KTGR, Columbia, 1580 KFAL, Fulton, 900 KWRT, Boonville, 1370 KRLL, California, Mo., 1420 KLIK, Jefferson City, 1240 KWOS, Jefferson City, 950 KXEO, Mexico, Mo., 1340 KWIX, Moberly, 1230 KMMO, Marshall, 1300 KSIS, Sedalia, 1050 KDRO, Sedalia, 1490 KLTI, Macon, 1560 KRMS, Osage Beach, 1150 KWRE, Warrenton, 730 FM RADIO STATIONS KCOU, Columbia, 88.1 KJAB, Mexico, Mo., 88.3 KSDQ, Moberly, 88.7 KJLU, Jefferson City, 88.9 KOPN, Columbia, 89.5 KMCV, High Point, 89.9 KBKC, Moberly, 90.1 KNLG, New BloomďŹ eld, 90.3 KWWC, Columbia, 90.5 KAUD, Mexico, Mo., 90.5 KBIA, Columbia, 91.3 KMFC, Centralia, 92.1 KSDL, Sedalia, 92.3 KWJK, Boonville, 93.1 KSSZ, Fayette, 93.9 KATI California, Mo., 94.3 KSDC, Centralia, 94.9 KWWU, Fulton, 94.9 KTKS, Versailles, Mo., 95.1 KWWR, Mexico, Mo., 95.7 KCMQ, Columbia, 96.7 KPOW, La Monte, 97.7

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36

| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

E D U C AT I O N

‘Collegetown’ Higher education is intricately tied to Our Town’s fortunes

Award recipients salute at the beginning of the ROTC Joint Services Pass Parade and Review Ceremony at Francis Quadrangle on May 5. The University of Missouri, along with Stephens and Columbia colleges, have shaped Columbia as the city and schools have grown. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]

By Rudi Keller Columbia Daily Tribune

The cover of the 1950 University of Missouri Savitar is a supersized map of Missouri, obscuring most of the United States and portions of Canada and Mexico. From a golden disc in the center, the Memorial Union tower projects skyward with “Collegetown, U.S.A.” in dark cursive script emblazoned across the cover. Inside the cover is a paean to the university and the city, dozens of thoughts on the joys and jokes of campus and town life alongside comments on people whose names today adorn campus rooms and buildings. Editorial remarks dedicated the issue to Columbia, “the backbone

of the educational planet.” “With enrollment increasing, Collegetown, U.S.A., saw prosperity and bigness just around a Broadway corner,” the editors wrote. “Expansion and growth saw Collegetown burst from its shell and become a city, a metropolis of hundreds of wonderful things like busses, elaborate shops, plain and fancy restaurants, expanding banks, and modernistic apartment houses.” The Savitar, MU’s student yearbook, did not neglect Our Town’s other colleges. A montage includes a postcard with ivy-draped columns and Jesse Hall, touting Christian, now Columbia, College and Stephens College along with MU.


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 37

E D U C AT I O N

Population growth Columbia

University of Missouri campus

119,108

120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0

31,974

35,448

8,756 1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010 ’15

GATEHOUSE MEDIA

President Dianne Lynch, right, gives her closing remarks to graduates during Stephens College’s graduate and online student commencement ceremony at Lela Raney Wood Hall on May 5. The graduation included the first cohort of students from Stephens’ master of arts in television and screenwriting program. [TIMOTHY TAI/TRIBUNE]

The class that produced the 1950 Savitar was the last of a post-World War II campus of more than 10,000 students, from a prewar enrollment of 5,670 in 1940. Columbia grew 74 percent in the decade, to 31,974 residents in 1950. Enrollment fell 15.8 percent in the fall of 1950 but never returned to prewar levels. And since, growth at MU has meant growth in Columbia. As MU grew 166 percent from fall 1950 to 2000, the city grew 164 percent. From 2000 to 2015, the university grew faster than Columbia. But enrollment is falling again. Fewer students will mean fewer customers for “plain and fancy restaurants” and fewer bodies to fill “modernistic apartment houses.” Stephens and Columbia colleges are not experiencing the same enrollment troubles, with Columbia College expecting a 10 percent increase on the approximately 950 traditional day students enrolled for 2016-17. Stephens, up 6.6 percent for the year, is expecting another year of growth. But with far smaller student bodies and many who live on campus, those schools will not replace the thousands who will not be on campus at MU. Including the health care system owned by the university, MU provides about 1 in 5 jobs in Boone County, but that share is unlikely to increase. Columbia would be like many other smaller cities in Missouri without the

university, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill said. “I think it would be entirely different without the university,” he said. “We would be looking more like Jefferson City or a similar type of community. If you say you wouldn’t have the university going back a number of years, without that university growth, there wouldn’t be a whole lot of growth in the community.” The next few years will determine if the city can sustain recent growth rates as the university contracts. New employers, lured with incentives, will be hiring almost 1,000 people. The unemployment rate in Boone County was 2.7 percent in March, much lower than the state as a whole. That has been a constant in good times and bad, but one-third of the private workforce is in retail, hotels and restaurants and fewer than one in 10 works in manufacturing or wholesale trade. “One gap we were needing to grow is that light manufacturing,” said Matt McCormick, CEO of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. “It is that job, that well-paying, above-livingwage average with benefits and a growth pattern. You don’t have to have a master’s degree to have successful, well-paying jobs.” The companies promising jobs in exchange for tax breaks and other incentives include: • American Outdoor Brands,

formerly Smith & Wesson Holding Co., investing $55 million in a warehouse and distribution facility providing 328 jobs at an average wage of $22.50 per hour. • Aurora Organic Dairy, investing $90 million in a processing plant that will employ up to 150 at an average wage of about $21.60 per hour. • Dana Light Axle Products, investing $39 million to expand production, adding 135 jobs at an average wage starting at $15.75 per hour. • Northwest Medical Isotopes, awaiting regulatory approval to move ahead with an $80 million facility with about 100 jobs processing material irradiated at MU for medical imaging. A large workforce, good sites and nearby highways are attracting the new companies, said Dave Griggs, twice president of the Regional Economic Development Inc. board. Right place, right time As Missouri developed, the first large towns were located along rivers and interior towns grew fastest along railroad mainlines. Columbia wasn’t close enough to either to become a hub of commerce, but Interstate 70 and Highway 63 provide gateways north and south, Griggs said. “We are just in the right place at the right time and probably one of the critical factors of Columbia being where it is today may be as important in the future as the university that got us there,” Griggs said. The university’s enrollment troubles can be traced to November

2015, when the Tiger football team joined a protest over racial issues on campus, attracting worldwide attention, first of sports and then of general news media. The reactions included a political backlash, donor doubts and a sudden drop in interest from prospective students. Another reaction was a precipitous drop in ticket sales for the football team. Home games averaged almost 13,000 fewer fans, many from outof-town who spent money tailgating, in “plain and fancy restaurants” and on hotel rooms. But large crowds for True/False Film Fest, Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival — more recent additions to the local tourism mix — fill rooms and restaurant seats as well. “From a tourism perspective, certain things like athletic attendance is cyclical,” said Megan McConachie, spokeswoman for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It is something we can’t always depend on, so our tourism marketing focuses on the destination as a whole.” MU is engaged in a study of enrollment, finance and programs. Fall enrollment could be the lowest in seven years. But it’s not likely that Columbia will surrender the title of “Collegetown U.S.A.” anytime soon. The 1950 Savitar emphasized the partnership of the city and the academy. That is still true. The chamber is reaching out to the university, offering help with jobs for employees who are laid off, McCormick said. “The chamber, the business community and the university are partnering and having a job fair and will take care of our own, if you will,” McCormick said.


38

| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

SPORTS

Cox wins matches far and wide Fellow MU athlete Schweizer also top in her sport By Joe Walljasper Columbia Daily Tribune

In a year that saw him ply his trade at locations as far flung as Mongolia and Brazil, the final achievement in J’den Cox’s triumphant year of wrestling came in his home state. The Missouri senior capped an undefeated senior season with an 8-2 victory over Minnesota’s Brett Pfarr in the 197-pound final at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. With that, he became the first MU wrestler to win three national titles. “It seemed fitting,” Cox said afterward. “I’ve traveled all over the world competing, but I’m just a kid from Columbia, Mo., and I get to do this. It just felt right.” For Cox, the last few years have been one superlative after another. After winning an NCAA title in 2016 as a junior, he surprised a bracket full of more experienced wrestlers to win his 86-kilogram freestyle class at the U.S. Olympic Trials. To cement a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, he had to win another qualifier in Mongolia, which he did. Representing his country at the Olympics in August in Rio de Janeiro was a monumental accomplishment, but Cox wasn’t done. Again facing far more experienced wrestlers, he won his first two matches to advance to the semifinals. There he suffered a seemingly dispiriting 2-1 loss to Turkey’s Selim Yusar. The score was tied late in the match, but Cox didn’t realize that Yusar had the criteria advantage that would break the tie, and he didn’t attempt to score in the final moments. Cox declined to be heartbroken that his chance at gold had vanished. He accepted the loss with uncommon grace. “Failure happens. Disappointment, you can control,” he told reporters after the match. Cox proved that in his bronze medal match against Cuba’s Reineris Salas Perez. Again tied but behind on criteria as the match wound down, Cox shot on the legs of Salas Perez and was awarded a takedown with six seconds left. Salas Perez disputed the call, but it was upheld on replay. Faced with his own disappointment, Salas Perez

Missouri’s J’den Cox celebrates his win over Virginia Tech’s Jared Haught in the semifinals during the NCAA Wrestling tournament at Scottrade Center on March 17. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]

refused to continue, and Cox was the new owner of an Olympic bronze medal. After closing out his senior season with the NCAA title in St. Louis, Cox accepted a position as a volunteer assistant coach for the Tigers and will continue wrestle in international competitions. Cox wasn’t the only Missouri athlete who emerged as one of the best in the nation. Karissa Schweizer dramatically won the NCAA cross country title in November, catching and passing the race leaders with her strong finishing kick. At the NCAA Indoor Championships in March, the junior from Urbandale, Iowa, was at it again, winning the 5,000-meter run. She was expected to be one of the top contenders at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, as well, and will have more chances to add to her national title collection next year.

Missouri’s J’den Cox wrestles Rider’s Ryan Wolfe in the quarterfinals during the NCAA Wrestling tournament at Scottrade Center on March 17. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 39

SPORTS

Martin injects life into MU basketball New coach is bringing in prized recruits By Daniel Jones Columbia Daily Tribune

When Cuonzo Martin began coaching, he wondered if his new career would ever take him to a place like the University of Missouri. The East St. Louis, Ill., native — who grew up watching Norm Stewart’s Missouri program — coached three years each at Tennessee and California. Then, on March 16, Martin became the coach of the Tigers. “This is a special day for me,� Martin told a crowd at Mizzou Arena during his introductory press conference on March 20. “It just feels like home.� Even though Martin was raised just east of the Mississippi River and played basketball at Purdue, Columbia is as close to home as he’s been since he left Lincoln High School as an 18-year old in the early-1990s. “I think this is a wonderful place,�

he said. “Great tradition. Great history. One of my best friends, Melvin Booker, played here. A lot of great players that played here. Great facilities. I don’t think there’s anything that Mizzou is lacking. We have everything to be very successful. I think we have everything to be the last team standing someday, and that’s my goal.� Martin immediately set out to restore Missouri’s basketball pedigree by turning to a family with deep ties to Columbia. One day after he was hired by MU Athletic Director Jim Sterk, Martin met with Michael Porter Sr. about joining his coaching staff. Porter Sr. was officially named to the coaching staff on March 23, and the Porter family’s return to Columbia went from a pipe dream to a reality. The Tigers’ resurgence got a major shot in the arm on March 24, when Michael Porter Jr. — who played at Tolton for three years and is widely

considered the top high school player in the nation — announced on Twitter he was committing to play for Missouri. The post put the future of Tiger basketball in an entirely different light: “I’m looking forward to the year ahead with Coach Cuonzo and my new teammates‌ Together we hope to restore the atmosphere at Mizzou Arena. MIZZOU NATION I’M COMING HOME!â€? Porter Jr.’s commitment led to a slew of other positive developments. Missouri retained the commitment of C.J. Roberts, who decided to reevaluate after the coach who recruited him, Kim Anderson, was fired. Porter’s influence was a major factor in the Tigers signing Blake Harris, a point guard from Chapel Hill, N.C., that — like Porter Jr. — had previously signed with Washington. The events of March also had a massive impact on a Missouri fanbase that

Tigers have sights set on improving defense Missouri had one of the worst in college football in 2016 By Blake Toppmeyer Columbia Daily Tribune

When Missouri tapped Barry Odom as Gary Pinkel’s replacement after the 2015 season, it rolled the dice by making Odom the youngest active head football coach in the

Southeastern Conference. Odom was one of college football’s best young defensive minds and seemed headed for a head-coaching job at some point after successful stints as the defensive coordinator at Memphis and Missouri. The Tigers fast-tracked the process.

An odd thing happened in Odom’s inaugural season. The expectation was that Missouri’s offense might struggle but its defense would remain stout with Odom at the helm. Instead, the Tigers had one of the worst defenses in college football in 2016, and that hampered them

Athletic Director Jim Sterk presents a jersey to Cuonzo Martin, Missouri’s new head men’s basketball coach, during the campus celebration event to welcome Martin at Mizzou Arena on March 20. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]

had grown apathetic to a once-proud basketball program. Students flooded Porter when he arrived on campus with Harris and fellow Tigers recruiting target Kevin Knox during the first weekend of April. The rapid resurgence brought new ticket sales. Martin’s hire was the spark that started it all. “It’s a tremendous feeling to be a part of this,� Martin said. “It’s so humbling for me. It seemed like this thing has come full circle. I’m happy to be here.� throughout a 4-8 campaign. Odom’s top task entering his second season is shoring up that defense. He made a few tweaks to his staff that players embraced. Former defensive line coach Jackie Shipp never hit it off in his lone season with the Tigers, and Odom dismissed him last November. He was replaced by Brick Haley, who previously coached the defensive lines at Texas and LSU. Players describe Haley FOOTBALL CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

SPORTS FOOTBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

as a stern leader on the field but an approachable face off it. “He’s a people person – much easier to have a conversation with than the last coach,” senior defensive end Marcell Frazier said. Odom rounded out his staff with the addition of his younger brother, Brian, as the outside linebackers coach. Missed tackles plagued the Tigers in 2016, and improving in that area was a top priority this spring. The Tigers practiced their form by tackling large yellow foam doughnuts that coaches rolled along the ground. The idea for the doughnuts came from Haley and Brian Odom. They had used the drill at previous coaching stops. “We’ve spent a lot of time on looking at our tackling, or lack thereof, last year and fundamentally studied a lot of those things in the offseason,” Barry Odom said. Missouri graduated some of its top defensive players from last season – including Charles Harris, Aarion Penton, John Gibson, Michael

Scherer and Donavin Newsom – and other than players like Frazier and defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr., there aren’t many proven defensive standouts. But defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross is optimistic after what he saw during the spring. “Chemistry. It works wonders,” Cross said. “When you have guys that are on the same page, nobody is really worried about who gets the accolades, I think that’s the making of something really special. I think, right now, we’ve got a group of guys that are all happy to be part of something.” Missouri has pieces to suggest making a bowl game is realistic after back-to-back seasons without playing in the postseason. Ten starters return on offense. That includes junior quarterback Drew Lock, a third-year starter who passed for 3,399 yards last year. Also back are 1,000-yard rusher Damarea Crockett and 1,000-yard receiver J’Mon Moore. A nonconference slate that doesn’t present a single fearsome foe is a

Missouri football head Coach Barry Odom watches his players warm up before the annual Black and Gold spring game at Faurot Field on April 15. [TIMOTHY TAI/TRIBUNE]

favorable edge, too. But it likely won’t matter unless Missouri improves on defense after surrendering 31.5 points per game in Odom’s debut.

“Everybody that was associated with that is disappointed in it,” Odom said. “We understand that we have the pieces in place that we can be a good defensive football team.”

IT’S WHEN WE SAID YES TO TREATING HER SON’S CANCER WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN CHEMO. TURNS OUT, IMMUNE SYSTEMS CAN FIGHT MORE THAN A COLD. In a moment, YES changes everything. Like when a patient learns our team of experts can rally a person’s immune system to fight off cancer. That’s the difference of an academic health center. A difference made thanks to the innovative work in immunotherapy by our own Dr. Kevin Staveley-O’Carroll. YES to individualized cancer care. Just another reason MU Health stands alone.

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OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 41

SPORTS

Show-Me State Games still going strong at 33 The Olympics-style sports festival is the biggest in the nation By Matt Nestor Columbia Daily Tribune

The Show-Me State Games was created in 1985 by the Governor’s Council of Health and Physical Fitness to give Missourians the opportunity to participate in an activity of health, fitness, family and fun. That mission statement, Executive Director Dave Fox said, molds the mind-set of the organization’s daily business. SMSG takes pride in the fact that its summer Olympic-style sports festival is the biggest in the nation and draws competitors from all over the state to Columbia. That pride permeates the city, the multiple sponsors, the volunteers and the athletes who come back year after year. “We were in Joplin, Mo., and had a gentleman speak on our behalf from Carthage that participated in the regular Show-Me State Games for a number of years,” Fox said. “Because of his age, he has now participated in the Senior Games for a number of years. And every member of his family, as well. You kind of go back to the four core principals of who we

are — health, fitness, family and fun — that’s kind of what it’s all about.” The Show-Me State Games, entering its 33rd year, welcomes participants of any age and any skill level to compete in more than 40 sports. Two years ago, the Games attracted competitors from 113 of 114 Missouri counties. The Show-Me State Games are scheduled over three weekends: June 16-18, July 21-23 and July 28-30. The State Senior Games will coincide with the opening weekend of the games. Other events throughout the year include Hoopin’ It Up basketball tournaments in February and March and 3-on-3 soccer tournaments in June and November. Crappie fishing tournaments were scheduled for April and October at the Lake of the Ozarks. “There is no age limit. There are no boundaries,” Fox said. “We have folks that participate in the Show-Me State Games that have never participated competitively in that activity before. We have those that have competed competitively for years. One of the greatest things about the Games is the number of people who come back.” Fox said SMSG would add a

Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program — a fifth-through12th-grade program — in June. According to a report on the games’ website, SMSG.org, 22,806 athletes competed in the summer games in 2016. Year-round participation for all events was 30,723. Fox called the Show-Me State Games a premier event in the state. A lot of that, he said, is because of the deep relationships that have been built over 33 years. “We’re not possible, certainly, without our friends and sponsors throughout the Show-Me State Games. We have over 25,” Fox said. “Their support of not only the ShowMe State Games but also the mission of the Show-Me State Games allows us to be who we are. Without them, this certainly would not be possible. “When you look at an organization the size of ours — we’re going to offer 42 sports over the course of three different weekends — that’s one of the great things about Columbia and the support we’ve had in Columbia over the years, it’s a community-wide effort.” The torch run hit all corners of the

Columbia College’s Jackson Dubinski dribbles in the second half of the Show-Me State Games championship against the St. Louis Starz on July 31, 2016 at Columbia College’s Southwell Complex. The Show-Me State Games are the biggest of their kind in the country. [TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO]

state, with appearances in Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Hannibal, St. Charles and Cape Girardeau in March and April in conjunction with the registration period. The final leg of the torch run will go from Jefferson City to Columbia on July 21 in time for the start of the Games.

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Loeb’s Bruins are state’s best on the court The girls’ tennis team has won five championships in seven years By Cameron Teague Robinson Columbia Daily Tribune

In the fall, Coach Ben Loeb led the Rock Bridge girls tennis team to its fifth state championship in the last seven years and the program’s first three-peat when the Bruins beat Lee’s Summit West 5-0 in Springfield. Rock Bridge was perfect in the postseason, winning every set in its six duals. “We really wanted this three-peat to make history like this,” Eleanor Fay said moments after clinching the state title. “We went out there and tried our hardest, and it paid off.” Rock Bridge’s doubles team of Faith Wright and Katherine Dudley won the Class 2 doubles championship. Loeb, who coaches the boys and girls teams at Rock Bridge, has won a

combined 13 state championships at the school and in April won his 1,000th dual match. “It’s really amazing,” Loeb said after the Mid-Missouri Invitational, where he won his 1,000th career victory. “To pause and think, ‘Wow, 1,000 dual match victories that started in 1989.’ That says a lot about how long I’ve been around and how fortunate we’ve been as a group to have this success over this long period of time. I see it more as a ‘we accomplishment’ than a ‘me accomplishment.’ ” The Rock Bridge tennis program’s accomplishments are just some of the accolades local high school athletes have earned in the past year. On the wrestling mat, Tolton juniors Brock Mauller and Jarrett Jacques won their third straight state championships. Mauller won in the 145-pound

The boys’ tennis team celebrates its win over Shawnee Missouri East in the finals at Cosmo-Bethel Park on April 8. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]

weight class by a technical fall over Warsaw’s Kolby Estes. Jacques won by a 6-2 decision over Seneca’s Trey Smith. At Columbia Country Club, Rock Bridge’s Julia Bower won a share of the Class 2 girls state golf championship, tying Seckman’s Clair Solovic with a 7-over-par 149, and the Bruins

finished second as a team. The Rock Bridge boys soccer and girls basketball teams placed third in their Class 5 tournaments, and the Battle football team won its third straight district championship and advanced to its third state semifinal appearance before losing to state runner-up Fort Zumwalt North.


42

| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

ECONOMY

Ashland embraces rapid growth The city in southern Boone County has tripled in population in a couple of decades By Brittany Ruess Columbia Daily Tribune

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hen Ashland Mayor Gene Rhorer moved to the city about 23 years ago, he said he came for the Southern Boone School District and the smalltown atmosphere. At the time, Ashland had a little more than 1,300 people living inside its city limits. Since then, that number has nearly tripled. The last U.S. Census in 2010 showed 3,707 people living in Ashland and the latest estimate puts the population at 3,848. Building permits for single-family homes submitted to the city last year indicate that the city’s growth trend is going to continue. City Administrator Lyn Woolford, who doubles as Ashland’s police chief, said in a typical year, Ashland will receive about 30 building permits for singlefamily homes. Last year, the city approved more than 100 building permits. “We expect that to continue,” Woolford said. In addition to the school district and small-town feeling, Woolford said, new housing that is also affordable attracts families to Ashland. The city also has a low crime rate. In 2015, Ashland had three reports each of aggravated assault and burglary. There were 64 property crimes, 59 thefts and two motor vehicle thefts. Traffic congestion is low, though evening rush hour traffic on Highway 63 can sometimes be heavy. City officials are considering building a roundabout at Broadway and Henry Clay Boulevard to relieve the congestion. Ashland’s location is convenient, Woolford said, being about 15 miles from both Columbia and Jefferson City. Many residents work in those larger cities, but live in Ashland. Columbia has also experienced population growth in recent years and is now Missouri’s fourth largest city. Rhorer said Columbia’s growth has trickled down to Ashland. “I can’t help to think our growth has something to do with Columbia,” he said. “I think a lot of professionals look for the small town atmosphere while working in Columbia.”

Traffic begins to fill the westbound lane at the intersection of Henry Clay Boulevard and Broadway in Ashland on May 10. The city is growing rapidly, creating a need for infrastructure enhancements. [DON SHRUBSHELL/TRIBUNE]

Ashland’s population growth is both a blessing and a curse for the city, which must figure out how to provide services with a stagnant budget. “Growth is good and with it comes these challenges and we want to stay ahead of it,” Woolford said. Rhorer and other city officials have been working to attract more industrial and commercial development to Ashland in the hopes of expanding its tax base. The city’s total revenue is expected to be nearly $1.75 million in the current fiscal year, which goes from May 1 to April 30. Hummingbird Properties, owned by MidwayUSA owner Larry Potterfield, owns 477 acres in Ashland near the Columbia Regional Airport. Potterfield's exact plans for the land are unknown, but the property likely will be the site of commercial development. Potterfield submitted his plans for the first development on the land — two "spec" buildings with no tenants yet secured — in the spring. The buildings will be 55,000 and 22,000 square feet. A new assisted living facility, The Baptist Home, is set to be built this year. The facility will be located in northern Ashland, off of Highway 63 in between Minor Hill Road and Martin Lane. To address the population growth and spur of commercial and residential development, the city asked voters to approve a $7 million bond issue in August 2014 to pay for a new sewer treatment plant, which will be located near the city’s existing lagoon system off of Angel Lane. Woolford said he expects the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to issue the city a permit in July. The treatment plant will take about a year to build and another six months before it’s operational. The first phase of the plant will be able to handle up to 600,000 gallons of effluent a day. The city’s current system currently treats 270,000 gallons daily. Three additional phases can be added to the plant. With all four phases, the plant could treat up to 2.4 million gallons of effluent daily.

United Airlines comes to Columbia Carrier set to start flights at regional airport in the summer

United Airlines this summer will offer flights out of the Columbia Regional Airport and the city continues to seek funding for a project to build a new terminal. Starting Aug. 1, United Airlines will begin daily flights to Denver International Airport and twicedaily flights to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Until United arrives, American Airlines is the sole provider at the airport. The Columbia City Council approved the creation of the Central Missouri Air Service Fund, which was established to hold $600,000 as a revenue guarantee for United Airlines. After one year, remaining funds will be returned to the organizations that contributed to the fund. The revenue guarantee will ensure United does not lose money while establishing a customer base at the Columbia airport. The announcement of United’s flights came in early 2017, at a time when the city was seeking money for a new terminal project at the airport. In August, voters approved a 1 percent increase to the local lodging tax. That increase is meant to provide $10 million toward the estimated $38 million project to build a new terminal and facilities. — Megan Favignano


OUR TOWN 2017

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ECONOMY That’s how the board will keep the homes affordable over time as the home is bought and sold. Meanwhile when the owners sell their homes, they will buy new homes where they also own the land, entering the traditional home ownership model. There will be seven community land trust homes on Lynn: four built by the land trust, one built by Central Missouri Community Action, one constructed by Job Point and one built by Habitat for Humanity. up into the middle class. And it really Cole said the city has supported the helps with social equity, too.” trust’s creation and first project. The Columbia Community Land Trust “We’re taking it a step further and board has been meeting since January. saying we’ll support it with our city staff The not-for-profit hopes to create more and resources to help get it done,” Cole affordable housing in the city and soon said. will start construction on the Lynn Street The City of Columbia acquired Cottages — a housing project on Lynn three lots on Lynn Street in fall 2015 Street between North Garth Avenue and for $45,675 with the intention of the Oak Street. developing affordable housing there. Those who purchase homes from the An agreement between the city and community land trust will buy the home the community land trust also outlines and lease the land. Because the commu- $200,000 in city funds for the Lynn nity land trust board retains ownership Street project. of the land, it will have some control Construction is on track to begin this over the cost of the home through terms summer, Cole said, and the community outlined in a ground lease. land trust board is looking ahead to its

City pushes affordable housing focus Homes are set to be built on land owned by a not-for-profit organization By Megan Favignano Columbia Daily Tribune

The city of Columbia has taken on an increased role in promoting affordable housing by helping with the formation of a community land trust. Randy Cole, the city’s housing programs supervisor, said it’s important for Columbia to have opportunities that help residents move toward home ownership. “I think it’s easy to get focused on the most in need and serving the most in need, which that’s not a bad thing ...” Cole said. “But then getting people to home ownership is extremely important because that’s what helps people move

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next project. Cole said the not-for-profit is considering city-owned property on North Eighth Street near Business Loop 70. There was a push a couple of years ago for that land to become a homeless dropin center. However, that project halted after nearby residents objected. Cole said the board so far has received positive feedback about the idea of turning the property into land trust homes. Columbia Housing Authority CEO Phil Steinhaus said the organization is continuing to renovate its public housing. Units are getting new flooring, updated appliances and new windows. Extra insulation is being installed, which will reduce utility costs. Housing authority residents pay 30 percent of their income as rent and utilities, no matter how much they earn each month. Renovations at Stuart Parker Apartments, Paquin Tower and Bear Creek Apartments are expected to wrap up this fall. Steinhaus said the housing authority will have renovated 509 of its 719 public housing units by next spring. However, the waiting list for all types of housing authority units is long.

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OUR TOWN 2017

ECONOMY

Business Loop CID plans to spruce up corridor Major physical improvements might have to wait for funding By Jodie Jackson Jr.

standpoint, the plan will seek to establish comprehensive development policies and plans; work to recruit and retain A plan for sprucing up and making businesses; and develop special incenBusiness Loop 70 safer and more tives to spur redevelopment. pedestrian-friendly might be ready this The district’s first sales tax report last fall, but how soon improvements will fall showed the half-cent tax approved be made will depend on the cost and by a 4-3 vote of Loop residents in whether the changes affect traffic flow. December 2015 had generated a little The Business Loop Community more than $111,000. The Loop CID has Improvement District, established in budgeted $125,000 for hiring a consul2015, includes 170 businesses along tant and related corridor planning needs. Business Loop 70 from Interstate 70 to “This will be a long-term project so College Avenue. we’ll hopefully have a series of short“We want a street that people want to term projects that will improve the look be on,â€? said Loop CID Executive Director of the street, make it easier for people Carrie Gartner. “We want an attractive on foot, or help identify the corridor,â€? corridor that says, ‘You are here.’ â€? Gartner said. The aim of the corridor improvement The CID has taken some small steps plan, spearheaded by a steering comthat, along with city and state public mittee that used community surveys works projects, already have made and Loop CID board member input to changes. The city Water and Light determine the goals, is to encourage Department has moved overhead power more private development along with distribution lines underground on the the beautification efforts. corridor west of Providence Road. The “It’s really about ease of access in new dual-lane roundabout and Intercleaning up the corridor and making it state 70 overpass at the west end of the more aesthetically pleasing,â€? said Loop corridor now provide safer pedestrian business owner James Roark-Gruender, access to Cosmo Park. chairman of the steering committee and The city was expected to designate a the CID board’s newest member. bike boulevard and add a crosswalk at Gartner said objectives of a corriMadison Street and Parkade Boulevard dor improvement plan include adding in the spring. sidewalks, green space and parks; The effort to improve the Business streetscape improvements such as land- Loop 70 corridor took on tighter focus in scaping, street furniture and lighting; December after the Missouri Supreme and other “cosmetic improvements.â€? Court dismissed a lawsuit challenging From an economic development the CID’s sales tax election. Columbia Daily Tribune

Community Improvement District area

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

ECONOMY

Student housing construction continues Many projects were in the works before MU's enrollment decline started By Jodie Jackson Jr. Columbia Daily Tribune

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onstruction cranes will remain a prominent feature of Columbia’s downtown skyline for the foreseeable future, but the building activity is certainly less brisk after a moratorium on new downtown development that was lifted at the end of March. The Rise, a 10-story, mixed-use building with 205 student apartment units and first-story retail and business use, was under construction in the spring on Locust Street between Ninth and Tenth Streets. Another Brookside building with 128 units is going up at Fifth and Elm streets. The 182-unit U Centre on Turner Avenue is reaching skyward closer to campus. By August, developers will have added 515 more units to the downtown landscape. Whether the five-year building surge of apartment complexes continues remains to be seen. Three major factors figuring into the future of downtown apartment development are the lack of available building space, the city council’s adoption of a massive new zoning code and declining enrollment at the University of Missouri, the latter of which has put MU in direct competition with private developments to house students.

TOP EMPLOYERS All employee numbers represent full-time equivalent positions in the Columbia area. All numbers are self-reported except where noted. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 105 Jesse Hall, 573-882-2121 8,740 employees (this number includes UM System employees) Mun Choi, UM System president; Garnett S. Stokes, interim MU chancellor; Patty Haberberger, interim associate vice chancellor for human resources; E. Jill Pollock, interim vice president for human resources

The University of Missouri’s Memorial Union is visible behind the luxury apartment buildings the Lofts, Brookside Downtown and District Flats in downtown Columbia on Dec. 1. Developers have built numerous student housing complexes downtown in the last several years. [TIMOTHY TAI/TRIBUNE]

By contrast, the rapid growth of downtown apartments from Providence Road to College Avenue and from Stadium Boulevard to Walnut Street correlated with a surge in enrollment at MU and growth at

MU HEALTH CARE 1 Hospital Drive, 573-882-4141 4,502 employees Jonathan W. Curtright, interim CEO and chief operating officer; Mary Beck, chief nursing officer; Jeremy Fotheringham , executive director of University Hospital; Sue Kopfle, chief human resources officer COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1818 W. Worley St., 573-214-3400 2,524 employees Peter Stiepleman, superintendent BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER 1600 E. Broadway, 573-815-8000 2,000 employees Jim Sinek, president

other campuses. Since 1990, MU’s enrollment grew 42 percent from just less than 25,000 to almost 35,500 as Columbia’s population increased by 72 percent – some 50,000 new residents. Some city officials predicted that the declining enrollment numbers would ease the demand for additional downtown housing. That decline is now happening, with enrollment on the MU campus in 2017-2018 expected to be more than 7 percent lower than last year and freshman enrollment expected to drop about 18 percent. Mayor Brian Treece said the building permit freeze was necessary to give city leaders and developers time to determine whether the housing demand would continue and whether downtown’s infrastructure was adequate for handling for housing. It also bought time for the city to pass an updated zoning code, which the Columbia City Council approved this year. “Our fear was if there was trepidation with the updated zoning reform that people would try to get projects in under the wire and those projects may have been different under the new zoning code,” Treece said. “So it was appropriate to take a break, look at what we want our downtown and surrounding neighborhoods to look like and let everyone start fresh with the new rules.”

City Development Services Manager Pat Zenner said the form-based zoning for downtown, which focuses on a building’s appearance more than its use, was the most significant change in the new code. “We’re in essence turning upside down the way we have previously applied our zoning regulations within that area,” Zenner said. Tom Mendenhall, co-owner of The Lofts, a pair of downtown luxury apartment high-rises, echoed city planners in saying there didn’t appear to be any additional downtown housing projects on the horizon, “but I can’t say definitely that nothing’s going to happen downtown.” He does think that MU’s plan to close some dorms will probably put some additional pressure on downtown apartments. “As a whole, I think downtown is probably in pretty good shape,” Mendenhall said. Mendenhall is enthusiastic about other developments: a possible second seven-story tower to expand The Broadway Hotel and construction of the Center for Missouri Studies, the new, $35 million home for the State Historical Society across from Peace Park. The hotel expansion would triple the building’s conference and meeting room space. “It’s a great venue,” he said. “That would bring a lot of people downtown.”

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OUR TOWN 2017

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ECONOMY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES In addition to hospitals and other health care centers, Columbia is home to dozens of primary care physician offices, ambulatory surgical centers, dental offices, chiropractors and eye clinics. Specialty centers handle medical issues such as weight-loss surgery, sports medicine, orthopedics, wound care, urology, imaging and radiology, cancer treatment, dialysis, and fertility and reproductive services. The major health care facilities include: BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER 1600 E. Broadway, 573-815-8000 www.boone.org Boone Hospital Center is a countyowned, not-for-profit facility leased by St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare. The original 40-bed hospital opened in 1921. The hospital now is licensed for 397 beds and serves a 25-county area. It specializes in cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, obstetrics and oncology and was named by U.S. News and World Report as the top hospital in Mid- Missouri and third-best in the state in 2015. NIFONG MEDICAL PLAZA 900 W. Nifong Blvd., 573-499-9009 Boone Hospital opened the Nifong Medical Plaza in February 2016. The plaza offers primary care, convenient or urgent care, a lab, physical/occupational therapy, a pharmacy and imaging services. COLUMBIA/BOONE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1005 W. Worley St., 573-874-7355 www.gocolumbiamo.com/Health/index.php The public health agency provides services including immunizations, family planning, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, WIC services, assistance with utilities and prescriptions and other health and social services. The department also issues certified copies of birth and death certificates, operates the county’s Animal Control division and inspects restaurants, licensed day cares, pools and lodging facilities. COLUMBIA ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP 1 S. Keene St., 573-443-2402 www.columbiaorthogroup.com Columbia Orthopaedic Group consolidated Columbia Imaging Center, the Surgical Center at Columbia Orthopaedic Group and the Osteoporosis Center into its 72,000-square-foot building in April 2008. The facility has added a pain management clinic and a pharmacy. Inpatient surgery is done at Boone Hospital Center. FAMILY HEALTH CENTER 1001 W. Worley St., 573-214-2314 www.fhcmo.org Services include primary medical, dental and mental health care with a focus on residents who have experienced barriers in access to care. The center accepts

Medicaid and Medicare coverage and most commercial health insurance and provides a discount for eligible low-income uninsured people. The primary medical site of service is at 1001 W. Worley St., and the primary dental site of service is at 1101 N. Providence Road. Additional sites are at 2475 Broadway Bluffs Drive, 307 S. Broadway in Salisbury and 1600 N. Missouri Ave. in Marceline. LANDMARK HOSPITAL 604 Old 63 N., 239-529-1800 www.landmarkhospitals.com/columbia. aspx Landmark Holdings of Missouri LLC, based in Cape Girardeau, operates longterm acute care hospitals in Cape Girardeau; Joplin; Athens, Ga.; Salt Lake City; and Columbia. The Columbia facility opened in September 2009 and was certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a long-term acute care hospital on April 1, 2010. TRUMAN MEMORIAL VETERANS’ HOSPITAL 800 Hospital Drive, 573-814-6000 www.columbiamo.va.gov Dedicated in 1972 and serving 43 counties in Missouri, Truman Memorial is the health care hub for nearly 38,000 U.S. armed services veterans. It also is a regional referral center for veterans who need cardiac surgery and cardiology care. The 123-bed hospital has sharing agreements with MU Health Care and other local providers for some specialized services. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI HEALTH SYSTEM www.muhealth.org/about/health-system The University of Missouri Health System is one of the most comprehensive academic medical centers in Missouri, offering primary, secondary and tertiary health care services to Central Missourians. The health system provides education and conducts medical research through the MU School of Medicine, Sinclair School of Nursing and School of Health Professions. MU HEALTH CARE www.muhealth.org MU Health Care consists of University Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute and the Missouri Psychiatric Center, all based in Columbia, and 51 outpatient clinics in Columbia, Fayette and Fulton. Affiliates of MU Health include Rusk Rehabilitation Center, operated by HealthSouth Corp., and Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City. ELLIS FISCHEL CANCER CENTER 1 Hospital Drive, 573-882-4141 www.muhealth.org/locations/ ellisfischelcancercenter Ellis Fischel Cancer Center opened in 1940 as the only cancer center west of the HEALTH CARE CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

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ECONOMY HEALTH CARE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 Mississippi River and the second in the nation. It moved into its new $50 million facility at University Hospital in 2013, and all oncology care was consolidated at the new location. In March 2014, Ellis Fischel became the first academic medical center to become a certified member of the MD Anderson Cancer Network, a program of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. MISSOURI ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE 1100 Virginia Ave., 573-882-2663 www.muhealth.org/locations/ missouriorthopaedicinstitute The Missouri Orthopaedic Institute is Central Missouri’s largest freestanding orthopedic center and the region’s most comprehensive orthopedic surgery center. The center opened in 2010 and includes specialists in joint replacement, sports medicine, pediatric orthopedics, trauma care and infection as well as care for foot and ankle, hand and elbow, hip and knee, and shoulder and spine. MISSOURI PSYCHIATRIC CENTER 3 Hospital Drive, 573-884-1300 www.muhealth.org/locations/ missouripsychiatriccenter The Missouri Psychiatric Center provides short-term, intensive inpatient

treatment services for adults, adolescents and children at the facility adjacent to University Hospital. The center has 57 inpatient beds divided among units for preadolescents, adolescents and adults and an emergency assessment unit for evaluating patients who might be having a mental health crisis. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL 1 Hospital Drive, 573-882-4141 www.muhealth.org/locations/ universityhospital University Hospital is a 247-bed tertiary care center that provides a full range of medical and surgical services, including the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, the Frank Mitchell Jr., M.D., Trauma Center. The hospital has a minimally invasive surgery program, diabetes center, sleep disorder center and same-day surgery center. WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 404 N. Keene St., 573-875-9000 www.muhealth.org/locations/ womens-and-childrens MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital offers the only emergency room in the region with physicians and nurses who have specialized training in pediatric emergency care. MU Children’s Hospital operates the only Pediatric Urgent Care clinic in Mid-Missouri.

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ECONOMY

Boone Hospital trustees weigh lease options Among the proposals is a partnership with MU Health Care By Brittany Ruess Columbia Daily Tribune

Boone Hospital Center trustees have called their selection of a new management option for the hospital a “generational decision.� The trustees started the search for a new potential partner to operate the hospital in spring 2016 and received interest from four companies that June. Boone Hospital Center is currently under lease with St. Louis-based BJC Health Care and the agreement is scheduled to end in 2020. Parties must notify one another if they wish to continue, change or end the lease in 2018. With that timeline in mind, the trustees decided to see what other companies might have interest in running the hospital. Trustees are considering leases with BJC, University of Missouri Health Care, Kansas City-based St. Luke’s Hospital and Duke LifePoint Health Care, a for-profit company based in Brentwood, Tenn. They also have the option to make Boone Hospital a standalone operation, with the hospital managed by a newly created not-for-profit. Duke LifePoint is seeking a 40-year lease with Boone Hospital, but the trustees have asked the company to consider a shorter term, said Keith Hearle, the trustees’ health care consultant. MU Health has asked for a lease of 30 years and St. Luke’s Hospital has requested a 10-year initial lease with a renewal every five years. BJC has not submitted a formal proposal to the trustees, but Hearle said the company has communicated that it does not feel comfortable

Keith Hearle of Verite Healthcare Consulting, foreground, listens as Timothy Fete, medical director of University of Missouri Health Care’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital, speaks during a public forum held by the Boone Hospital Center Board of Trustees to solicit feedback about the ďŹ ve potential management options for the hospital at the Activity & Recreation Center on May 17. [TIMOTHY TAI/TRIBUNE]

making long-term investments in Boone Hospital because of its current five-year lease renewal. Each company has committed to continue paying large sums to Boone County for use of the hospital. The agreement with BJC stipulates an annual payment to the county that is currently about $2.3 million. Of that money, $500,000 is dedicated to the Community Health Fund that goes toward health and social service agencies. The remaining $1.8 million goes to the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services, animal control services and medical expenses for inmates at the Boone County Jail. The payment amount in the different agreements had not been solidified as of the end of May. In the MU Health proposal, the Boone Hospital Center Operating Company

would be created and report the University of Missouri Curators. The board, which would see daily operation, would consist of two trustees, members appointed by the trustees and MU Health, Boone Hospital medical staff, MU Health leaders and community members. Elias Matsakis, a consultant for the trustees, said state lawmakers could pass legislation to regulate activities of a combined hospital system and protect consumer interests. He said the partnership could also be seen as creating a strong health system to compete with the St. Louis and Kansas City markets. The CEO of the Boone Hospital Center Operating Company would also report to the newly-created board and the MU Health CEO. Duke LifePoint would have majority ownership under a joint venture proposed in its application. The company would have 80 percent ownership with Boone Hospital having 20 percent ownership. Cash flow would be split the same way. Boone Hospital also would receive fixed lease payments in addition to the cash flow. A board of governors and an advisory board of community members and physicians would oversee the hospital operations and Boone Hospital would maintain its not-for-profit status to keep its exemption from sales and property taxes. St. Luke’s Hospital would be the sole owner of a new hospital corporation established to lease Boone Hospital under the company’s proposal. A new, 15-member local board with representation from the hospital corporation would oversee the hospital and St. Luke’s

would control the hospital’s mission, strategy, finance and CEO. Part of St. Luke’s strategy is to make Boone Hospital a regional hub and move referrals from St. Louis to Kansas City. Lease payments would be paid on a percent of revenue basis. The standalone option would involve creation of a new board with members to be determined. Boone Hospital was independent of any health system before the original lease with BJC, which was formed in 1988. The standalone option could serve as a short term solution with local decision making and resources until the trustees find a better option. Trustees have held public forums to receive input from residents. They also held meetings with employees and medical staff for feedback. HEALTH CARE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 RUSK REHABILITATION CENTER 315 Business Loop 70 W., 573-817-2703 www.ruskrehab.com/en Rusk Rehabilitation Center began in 1968 as a wing of McHaney Hall, a former MU dormitory. In 1991, Rusk became a separate hospital in the university system. It features a 60-bed center next to Mizzou North, formerly Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. SOUTH PROVIDENCE MEDICAL PARK 551 E. Southampton Drive, 573-884-7733 www.muhealth.org/south-providence MU Health Care opened this 85,500-squarefoot medical park in south Columbia in January 2015. The two-story facility offers pediatric primary care, family medicine and outpatient behavioral health services. Other features include a 2,000-square-foot pharmacy with a drive-through, an on-site lab for medical testing and radiology services.

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OUR TOWN 2017

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SAFETY

Response improves in new communications center Dispatchers are now in the same building with Office of Emergency Management By Brittany Ruess Columbia Daily Tribune

Since 911 dispatchers moved into the new Emergency Communications Center in early April, Boone County Joint Communications and the Office of Emergency Management have found that being in the same building has improved their response to emergencies, officials said. Joint Communications switched phone lines to the new building in the early morning hours on April 6, starting its move into the Emergency Communications Center more than six months after the county’s grand opening for the building. The Office of Emergency Management moved into the building when it first opened in early September. Voters approved a three-eighthscent sales tax in April 2013 to fund the building and technology upgrades to the county’s emergency communications system. The tax is expected to generate nearly $10.7 million this year. “We’re very fortunate to be there,” said Tom Hurley, deputy director of the Office of Emergency Management. “We’re very humbled that the citizens of Boone County have supported our operation to such a great degree. What we really have, in my opinion, is a cutting edge emergency operations center nationwide and we’ve been a model to other communities in the region to what they’re looking to do as well.” Built to withstand 250 mph winds, the 27,915 square-foot building is designed to be secure during most tornadoes. It has two backup generators to ensure dispatchers’ and emergency management’s ability to respond during disasters. “The structure itself being able to withstand a tornado that it’s rated for should give the taxpaying public a sense of security that we will still be able to function,” Martin said. “We will be here and able to provide the services.” Joint Communications was previously housed at the Columbia Police Department downtown and had eight dispatching stations there. The new building has 21 stations, which Joint Communications Director Chad Martin said will allow dispatchers to take calls more quickly when staffing is

Community members stand in line to take a tour of the new Emergency Communication Center during a dedication ceremony on Sept. 11. The building can withstand winds from an EF5 tornado and is 27,915 square feet in size. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]

at full capacity. The tax allows Joint Communications to hire up to 49 dispatchers and as of May, 35 were employed with some in training. The dispatching center has a separate room for dispatchers in training to practice their skills and gives them a “better sense of reality,” Martin said. The dispatching room in the new center is 2,200 square feet — three times the size of the police department space. In the downtown dispatching center, the small break room doubled as a shift meeting room, leading to cramped conditions, Martin said. “That issue is gone,” he said. “We have dedicated space for briefing and shift meetings. There’s just room to move around.” Flooding in late April was an early test for the departments working together in the Emergency Communications Center. Martin said dispatching consoles were available when the department needed to call in more dispatchers. When Joint

Planning and Preparedness Specialist Sherril Gladney gives a tour of the Emergency Operations Center during a dedication ceremony for the new Emergency Communication Center on Sept. 11. [SARAH BELL/TRIBUNE]

Communications operated out of the downtown site, dispatchers were forced to go to the backup communications center. Hurley said that the departments’ proximity to one another is one of the most advantageous aspects of the building. During flooding in the spring, Hurley said emergency management was up to date on road closures, water rescue incidents and structure flooding quickly. “It is important to have that

immediate notification through the relationships that are built,” he said. The tax allowed for the creation of the Office of Emergency Management. Hurley said despite the building itself and the advanced technology inside it, the most critical asset for the county remains the employees. “The nicest equipment in the world and the best technology money can buy means very little without a professional and well trained and well experienced staff,” he said.


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Every day we’ll help you stay on top of news, information, entertainment and events that allow you and your family to stay connected with the community. Whether you’re looking for the best local deals, services for your home or a new place to eat, you’ll find it all in the pages of the Columbia Daily Tribune. Once you get to know us, you’ll see why we’re your most trusted source for everything Columbia.

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SAFETY

Vision Zero seeks elimination of traffic deaths City is forming teams to implement policies to accomplish that goal by 2030 By Alan Burdziak Columbia Daily Tribune

Columbia’s City Council in December voted to make the city the 22nd in the nation to adopt a Vision Zero policy aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. Teams are to be assembled in three areas — education, enforcement and engineering — to implement different plans over three-year periods to accomplish the policy’s goal by 2030. Heather Cole, assistant to City Manager Mike Matthes and the project lead, said one of the critical actions for engineering will be to start a program of road safety audits and assessments. A crash analysis team also will be formed to study the causes behind fatal and serious injury crashes in Columbia, she said. Speed limits in some areas likely will be reduced, Cole said. A comprehensive communication and safety campaign will be launched to inform people of the policy and what they can do and allow residents to offer input about what they think will work. The campaign also will educate people about how newer pieces of infrastructure work. “There are a lot of things that are confusing to people, the double roundabout over by Range Line” Street, Cole said, referring to a “dog bone” roundabout recently installed at the intersection with Interstate 70. “A lot of those things are tricky to navigate the first time through.” The PedNet Coalition will help the city pay to implement the policy, mostly by offering a grant to pay for staff time for the first year, Cole said. Current city staffers will head the teams and other expenses will be paid for via current budgets. The coalition also will be involved in conducting town hall meetings to talk about the Vision Zero policy, Executive Director Annette Triplett said. “Vision Zero is a way to make sure that everybody stays safe on the road system no matter what transportation they choose,” Triplett said. Columbia Police Department Deputy Chief John Gordon will head the enforcement team, Triplett will lead on education and Richard Stone, the city’s public works engineering manager, will head the engineering team. Cole said part of the plan is to reconstitute

High school students visiting from Linn walk through a special signaled crosswalk on College Avenue in this October 2015 file photo. The city of Columbia aims to eliminate pedestrian and traffic deaths and serious injuries through its Vision Zero policy. [TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO]

a Traffic Unit at the police department, which was disbanded in 2015 to put more officers on the department’s Community Outreach Unit. PedNet will train all department officers in bicycle and pedestrian safety as well. Cole said police will look for innovative ways to enforce speed limits. She said red-light cameras, which the city has previously used but currently does not, are not part of Vision Zero, but that could change in coming years depending on legislation and litigation surrounding their use statewide. To make the policy work, the city plans to partner with organizations including Columbia Public Schools, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the University of Missouri and other emergency response agencies. New York City was the first municipality in the U.S. to adopt a Vision Zero policy after cities in Europe saw success. Cole and Triplett both pointed to New York’s quick improvement after it adopted its policy in 2014. In 2015, the

city of 8.5 million had 231 traffic fatalities, 26 fewer than 2014, which also saw a decline, according to stats from New York’s Vision Zero 2015 year-end report. Both years were the fewest number of fatalities in the city since it

began keeping those records in 1910. Seattle and San Francisco have had success using the policy as well. “That’s part of why we look to Vision Zero, because it’s proven to be effective,” Triplett said.

PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF AND BUDGETS Columbia Police Department: 600 E. Walnut St. Front desk: 573-874-7652. $22.15 million budget; 203 total employees, 169 sworn officers Columbia Fire Department: Administration/Fire Station No. 1: 201 Orr St. Front desk: 573-874-7391. $17.53 million budget; 145 employees Columbia Municipal Court: 600 E. Broadway, Suite 200. Main line: 573-874-7230. $959,219 budget; 11 employees City Prosecutor’s Office: 600 E. Broadway, Suite 200. Main line: 573-874-7229. $631,466 budget; six employees Boone County Sheriff’s Department: 2121 County Drive. Main line: 573-875-1111.

$13.38 million budget; 141.46 employees. Boone County Fire Protection District: 2201 I-70 Drive N.W. Main line: 573-447-5000. $3.59 million budget; 24 employees and 220 volunteers. Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: 705 E. Walnut St. Main line: 573-8864100. $3.14 million budget; 41 employees Boone County Circuit Court: 705 E. Walnut St. Main line: 573-886-4000. $3.71 million budget; 47.5 employees Southern Boone County Fire Protection District: 815 E. Broadway, Ashland. Main line: 573-657-2370. $270,000 budget. One contract clerical employee and about 60 volunteers.


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SAFETY

Department, activists disagree on community policing CPD leaders say they need more cops to take a more proactive approach By Alan Burdziak Columbia Daily Tribune

As the city of Columbia’s growth continues, police, city officials and residents continue to call for more police, or other ways of managing public safety. Officials with the Columbia Police Department have for years said the department is understaffed and needs more police officers to answer 911 calls and expand community policing. But some activists say the city could devote more resources to a more modern take on policing that will build community trust, without the need to to hire more officers to patrol the streets. The department has a three-team, six-person Community Outreach Unit that covers three predominantly lower income areas of town as part of a community-policing philosophy it has adopted. Even officers outside of the unit are trying different ways to solve

problems, such as setting people up with services rather than just looking to clear each incident with an arrest, police department spokeswoman Bryana Larimer said. For the entire department to be able to operate like the outreach unit, which makes time for extra face to face interaction with residents in the areas it patrols, Larimer said the city needs as many as 50 more cops. “We would ideally love to be able to have our entire department to do community policing rather than have a dedicated unit to it,” she said. The department says that because of the volume of calls, officers are often forced to jump from call to call with little time for proactive policing and patrols. But Traci Wilson-Kleekamp and the rest of the group Race Matters, Friends view the situation differently. Wilson-Kleekamp said the outreach unit is “awesome” and pointed to it as a form of progress. The department

misses the point of community policing, though, she said. It doesn’t take more officers for police to view themselves as guardians of the population instead of strictly enforcing the law. “What we’re wanting them to do is embrace a different ideology about policing,” she said. “That doesn’t cost anything.” Wilson-Kleekamp said reports in recent years of low morale at the department show the department has an internal problem that more officers would not solve. “The idea is also to rethink how they engage with the community on how the community wants to be policed.” she said. Over the last two years, Race Matters, Friends has met with command staff and advocated for a change in policing, but Wilson-Kleekamp said the department still misunderstands what the community wants it to do. Adding more officers would make it easier for the department to adopt

the philosophy, though, Larimer said. Funding for more cops than a couple of officers a year so far has escaped the city, with voters defeating a ballot measure in 2014. There are plans for another ballot measure, most likely another property tax increase, but it is unclear when it would be put to voters. “Our population for Columbia, it’s grown faster than our department has been able to keep up with in staffing and budgeting for that staffing,” Larimer said. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 estimate for Columbia was 119,108, about 10,000 more people than the 2010 Census. Larimer said recent procedural justice and fair and impartial training for all officers has the goal of adjusting the philosophy of the department, and work continues toward that goal. There are plans to add four more officers to the outreach unit in the near future, using grant money to pay for the costs.

Local governments join prescription drug monitoring program Columbia, Boone County using database provided by St. Louis County By Brittany Ruess Columbia Daily Tribune

Pharmacies in Columbia and Boone County are using a new database to monitor addictive painkillers that have been called the source of a national health epidemic. The Columbia City Council and Boone County Commission each decided earlier this year to join the St. Louis County prescription drug monitoring program that tracks Schedule II through Schedule IV drugs, including addictive narcotics like oxycodone, hydrocodone and codeine. The St. Louis County Council approved an ordinance establishing a prescription drug monitoring program in 2016 and allowed other cities and counties to join. St. Louis County established the system after years of inaction among state lawmakers to implement a statewide database. Opposing legislators have cited privacy concerns. There are 1,085 medical providers,

including doctors, dentists and pharmacists, in Columbia and Boone County. Of those, 17 medical providers are outside the city limits, with two pharmacies in Ashland and one in Centralia. In 2004, 88 Boone County residents were discharged from Mid-Missouri hospitals with opioid-related diagnoses; by 2014, that number had increased to 188, according to the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. Second Ward Councilman Michael Trapp, who was a substance abuse counselor, said a database is a tool necessary to help physicians and pharmacists prevent drug abuse. “Opioids are an epidemic and we needed” a monitoring system “quickly and we needed the tools to put in doctors’ and pharmacists’ hands to save people’s lives,” he said. Pharmacies are required to use the database and it is optional for physicians, said Scott Clardy, deputy director of the local health department.

About half of Missourians are covered under the database as more cities and counties have joined the program. “What it actually does is it allows physicians and prescribers to provide better quality health care data to use in developing that health care,” Clardy said. “In the process of doing that, we hope that it will help” people stay off of drugs. St. Louis County selected Appriss, a national data systems company, to install the software. Appriss runs systems in 23 other states and has never had any data breaches, Clardy said. Lawmakers again considered drug monitoring legislation in the 2017 session. The Missouri Senate amended a House bill with changes opposed by supporters of a database, such as purging the prescription information after 180 days in the system and only tracking opioids and benzodiazepines. Aaron Baker with Safe & Strong Missouri said after the amendments, database proponents prefer cities and counties continuing to join the St.

Louis County program over a weaker statewide database. The St. Louis County system has no information purge and encompasses all Schedule II through Schedule IV drugs, instead of only opioids and benzodiazepines. Patients often become addicted to opioids when they are prescribed them after surgery, an injury or during a routine doctor visit in which they express pain. Opioid addiction is difficult to overcome, in part, because of a serious physical withdraw, Trapp said. Preventing opioid addiction is easier and cheaper than treating it, he said. “Because it’s so expensive and difficult to treat, it makes sense to spend our resources on trying to prevent the issue by giving medical professionals more information,” Trapp said. Pharmacies in the Columbia city limits went live with the system on April 25 and pharmacies outside the city can use the database on July 1. The system will cost $11,332 for Columbia and Boone County in 2017 and $14,873 every year after that.


OUR TOWN 2017

SAFETY

2016 CRIME STATISTICS

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME

2016

2015

CHANGE

Homicide

0

0

0

Numbers reported by local agencies to the federal government.

Rape

22

23

-1

Robbery

0

3

-3

* Boone County lists both simple and aggravated assaults under the heading “assault.” The Columbia Police Department includes only aggravated assaults.

Assault

3

5

-2

Burglary

10

15

-5

Larceny

218

255

-37

Vehicle theft

5

12

-7

COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

| www.columbiatribune.com | 57

Boone County Fire Protection District

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BOONE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

CRIME

2016

2015

CHANGE

CRIME

2016

2015

CHANGE

Homicide

6

1

+5

Homicide

0

5

+5

Rape

111

82

+29

Rape

28

8

+20

Robbery

127

141

-14

Robbery

10

26

-16

*Assault

273

376

-103

*Assault

604

627

-23

Burglary

530

839

-309

Burglary

130

105

+25

Larceny

2,469

2,570

-101

Larceny

551

441

+110

Vehicle theft

246

226

+20

Vehicle theft

70

54

+16

PHOTO BY ANDREW WORRALL

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

COMMUNITY

Fifth Ward gets new councilman; Ruffin re-elected to First Ward Laura Nauser had been on the Columbia City Council for 10 years total By Megan Favignano Columbia Daily Tribune

Columbia’s Fifth Ward has a new city council member after being represented for years by one of the board’s most consistently conservative voices. Voters in April chose newcomer Matt Pitzer to take the Fifth Ward spot that had been held by Laura Nauser since 2013 and for 10 years in total, and First Ward residents re-elected Clyde Ruffin, a pastor at Second Missionary Baptist Church, to a second term on the council. Ruffin was elected to the First Ward seat in 2015 after former Councilwoman Ginny Chadwick resigned. Ruffin said he wants to continue the city’s work on social equity issues and that he is committed to helping with the First

CITY GOVERNMENT Mayor Brian Treece Office: City Hall, second floor 101 W. Brandon Road Term expires April 2019 mayor@como.gov 573-874-7222 (daytime) First Ward Councilman Clyde Ruffin 400 Vieux Carre Court Term expires April 2020 ward1@como.gov 573-268-4783 Second Ward Councilman Michael Trapp 10 E. Leslie Lane Term expires April 2018 ward2@como.gov 573-256-0174 Third Ward Councilman Karl Skala 5201 Gasconade Drive Term expires April 2019 ward3@como.gov 573-474-2195 Fourth Ward Councilman Ian Thomas 2616 Hillshire Drive Term expires April 2019 ward4@como.gov 573-239-7916 Fifth Ward Councilman Matt Pitzer 3402 Cross Timber Court Term expires April 2020 ward5@como.gov

Ward’s unique challenges. “It is diverse, it is complex, it is historic and I do not take those challenges lightly,” Ruffin said. Pitzer, a portfolio manager for Shelter Insurance, has said his financial background can assist the council in making budget decisions. The city this summer is reviewing its budget for next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. Pitzer focused on infrastructure and public safety during his campaign, which he said are important to plan for as the city grows larger. Just after being sworn in, Pitzer thanked residents for their trust in electing him. “I know it will not be easy work. I know that I will make good decisions and I know that I will make decisions you think maybe are less good and I trust that you will let me know the difference,” Pitzer said.

573-823-7037 Sixth Ward Councilwoman Betsy Peters 305 McNab Drive Term expires April 2018 ward6@como.gov 573-874-7812 CITY DEPARTMENTS AND LEADERSHIP City Manager Mike Matthes Office: City Hall, second floor mike.matthes@como.gov 573-874-7214 The city manager is responsible for the general administration of the city, appointing department heads, program coordination and policy implementation. City Clerk Sheela Amin Office: City Hall, second floor sheela.amin@como.gov 573-874-7208 The city clerk serves as the secretary to the city council and is responsible for keeping records of official city business, including minutes, resolutions and ordinances. Law Department City Counselor Nancy Thompson Office: City Hall, second floor nancy.thompson@como.gov 573-874-7223 The Law Department provides legal advice and support for the city council, city staff and boards and commissions. Columbia Police Department Chief Ken Burton

Pitzer also thanked Nauser for her service. Nauser said her decision to not seek re-election was based on family and health reasons. Ruffin won re-election with 41 percent of the votes cast and Pitzer won the Fifth Ward seat with 57 percent of the vote. Mayor Brian Treece again appointed Ruffin as mayor pro tem. “I think Rev. Ruffin brings the balance and the guidance and the steadiness that we need as a city right now,” Treece said in April. The city is working to plan for further growth — much of which is happening in the Fifth Ward — and fixing some of Columbia’s oldest infrastructure, especially in the First Ward. Many of the First Ward’s residents have issues with sewer backups that

Office: 600 E. Walnut St. ken.burton@como.gov 573-874-7402 (chief), 573-8747652 (main office) The police department provides crime prevention and protective services. Columbia Fire Department Chief Randy White Administration building: 201 Orr St. randy.white@como.gov 573-874-7391 (daytime), 573-8747450 (weekends and after-hours) The fire department provides emergency medical care and assistance during fires, explosions, hazardous materials incidents and other catastrophic events. It also provides investigative, inspection and code enforcement services. Public Works Department Director David Nichols Office: City Hall, third floor david.nichols@como.gov 573-874-7250 The Public Works Department oversees a range of city services including engineering, streets, traffic, transit, parking, custodial and maintenance services, fleet operations and right-of-way acquisition. Utilities Department Director Tad Johnsen Office: City Hall, fourth floor tad.johnsen@como.gov 573-874-7325

flood basements as the sewer pipes in the city’s oldest areas have not held up to the weight of population growth over time. The city council this spring approved a $1.8 million project to continue the city’s efforts to eliminate private common-collector sewers. The systems often cause inflow and infiltration of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system. The city also is working on securing a route for high-voltage transmission lines after pushback from Fifth Ward residents killed a route that would have taken the lines through residential areas of south Columbia. The project will add high-voltage transmission lines and a new substation to the city’s electric grid in an effort to increase the grid’s reliability.

The Utilities Department oversees the city utilities, such as solid waste, sanitary sewer and stormwater management. Community Development Department Director Tim Teddy Office: City Hall, fifth floor tim.teddy@como.gov 573-874-7239 The department’s oversight includes land use and development including zoning requests and housing programs; coordination with neighborhood associations and enforcing property codes; and issuing construction and occupancy permits, certifying trade crafts and enforcing the city’s zoning and land preservation ordinances. Parks and Recreation Department Director Mike Griggs Office: Gentry Building, 1 S. Seventh St. mike.griggs@como.gov 573-874-7460 The Parks and Recreation Department plans, develops and maintains parks, green spaces and recreational facilities and oversees recreational services. Human Resources Department Director Margrace Buckler Office: Howard Building, 600 E. Broadway margrace.buckler@como.gov 573-874-7677 The Human Resources

Department coordinates evaluation, promotion and development of staff. Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Stephanie Browning Office: 1005 W. Worley St. stephanie.browning@como.gov 573-874-7355 Health department services include immunizations, restaurant and lodging inspections, communicable disease testing and treatment; emergency planning; the Women, Infants and Children program; Animal Control services; human rights promotion; and programs to encourage safe and healthy living. Finance Department Director Michele Nix Office: City Hall, fifth floor michele.nix@como.gov 573-874-7365 The Finance Department is responsible for the administration of financial services for the city. Economic Development Department Director Stacey Button Office: 500 E. Walnut St. stacey.button@como.gov 573-441-5542 The Economic Development Department works to attract and keep businesses and jobs in the city and oversees the Columbia Regional Airport.


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 59

COMMUNITY

Columbia’s ward boundaries

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Columbia is divided into six wards that were updated in 2011 to reflect the 2010 census. Each is represented by one member of the city council, with the mayor serving as an at-large council member.

6 d.

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Providence Rd.

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New Haven Rd.

½ miles

Source: maps4news.com/©HERE

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| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

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OUR TOWN 2017

COMMUNITY

By Brittany Ruess

A tax dedicated to road and bridge maintenance in Boone County will be up for renewal on the August ballot. The Boone County Commission plans to ask voters to renew the tax on Aug. 8, long before the tax expires in September 2018. Voters first approved the half-cent sales tax for road and bridge improvements in 1994, and extended it in 1998 and 2007. The road and bridge tax is expected to generate $14.8 million in revenue this year. Voters approved the tax in exchange for a property tax levy reduction of 5 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The county established a revenue

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Parry settles into role as “Boone County commissioner” By Brittany Ruess Columbia Daily Tribune

When Southern District Commissioner Fred Parry spoke to the Columbia Pachyderm Club in February, he talked about the county commission’s interest in joining a prescription drug monitoring program established by St. Louis County that allows doctors and pharmacists to track certain drugs prescribed to their patients. His support for the system designed to help curb the opioid epidemic by monitoring addictive drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone and codeine separated him from his fellow Republicans in the room, who believed the database infringes on privacy and civil liberties. Parry said the system could save lives, and that was what mattered most. In his early months as a commissioner, Parry said he’s discovering that party politics do not play into his day-to-day responsibilities. Parry, a Republican, won a tight election for his Boone County Commission seat in November against Democrat Brianna Lennon, an attorney. Parry received 21,749 votes and Lennon took 20,974 votes — a difference of 775 votes. The Southern District covers the southern part of Boone County and part of the city of Columbia. The win made Parry a rarity — a Republican on the commission. The last Republican on the commission was Ed Robb, who was elected to the commission in 2010 and served until he died of a heart attack the next year. The other two commissioners, Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill and Northern District Commissioner Janet Thompson, are Democrats. Parry had challenged commissioners

on controversial issues in the past, such as the closing of the Central Missouri Events Center, previously the Boone County Fairground, and what to do about a religious symbol on the Desert Storm war memorial. The memorial was ultimately moved from county property, sparking a large backlash. As a candidate, Parry spoke against the commission leasing the large portions of the events center to Veterans United for three years, saying the agreement was “kicking the can down the road.” The fairground issue was a cornerstone of Parry’s campaign and might have helped win him the election, Boone County Republication Party Chairman Zweifel said. Parry said he expected a possible “residual angst or anxiety” over past conflicts. Instead, he’s found the dynamic with the veteran commissioners to be professional. Thompson said being a commissioner is primarily an administrative job and political party doesn’t matter when discussing potholes, broken generators, building contracts or hiring and firing decisions. “There’s too much work to be done to get into partisan politics, I think,” she said. “I think if you get into partisan politics in this job, you’re not going to get your work done.” The variety of topics Parry said he tackles in a day can be mind boggling, but that’s the part of the job he enjoys most. “I go from worrying about a driveway permit on Stanley Poe Road to working with” the Missouri Department of Transportation “on Route Z improvements, to working on closing a lagoon in Prathersville to working on a Chapter 100 bond issue,” he said.

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share agreement with municipalities to give them a share of the road and bridge tax revenue to make up for any lost property tax revenue from the decreased levy. Municipalities received an annual portion of the county’s 29-cent tax levy for roads and bridges before the sales tax passage. More than $3.1 million will be distributed to municipalities this year. The county’s Public Works Department maintains 802 miles of road, Public Works Director Greg Edington said. Of those, 470 miles of road are gravel and the rest are paved or chip and seal roads. “When it takes several thousand tons to pave a road, the difference between $18 and $73” per ton for asphalt “is pretty wide,” he said. The tax revenue has been spent mostly on road maintenance, with spending ranging from $6.8 million to $8.9 million per year since 2008.

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County road and bridge tax to be on August ballot

| www.columbiatribune.com | 61


62

| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

COMMUNITY

COUNTY GOVERNMENT Boone County was formed in 1820 from segments of Howard and Montgomery counties and named after the frontiersman Daniel Boone, who spent his final days in Missouri. About 163,000 people lived in the 685-square-mile county in 2010. The county is governed by a three-member county commission. Each commissioner is elected to a four-year term. Boone County became a first-class county in 1991, a designation based on the valuation of property. BOONE COUNTY COMMISSION Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill Term expires: 2018 Northern District Commissioner Janet Thompson Term expires: 2018 Southern District Commissioner Fred J. Parry Term expires: 2018 Offices: Room 333, third floor of the Boone County Government Center at Eighth and Ash streets; 573-886-4305 Website: showmeboone.com/commission OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS County Assessor Tom Schauwecker Term expires: 2020 Office: Room 143, first floor of the county government center; 573-886-4270 Website: showmeboone.com/assessor County Collector Brian McCollum Term expires: 2018 Office: Room 118, first floor of the county government center; 573-886-4285 Website: showmeboone.com/collector Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight Term expires: 2018 Office: fourth floor of the Boone County Courthouse, 705 E. Walnut St.; 573-886-4100 Website: showmeboone.com/pa Public Administrator Sonja Boone Term expires: 2020 Office: first floor of the Boone County Courthouse; 573-886-4190 Website: showmeboone.com/ publicadmin Sheriff

Dwayne Carey Term expires: 2020 Office: 2121 E. County Drive; 573-875-1111 Website: showmeboone.com/sheriff County Treasurer Tom Darrough Term expires: 2020 Office: Room 205, second floor of the county government center; 573-886-4365 Website: showmeboone.com/treasurer County Auditor June Pitchford Term expires: 2018 Office: Room 304, third floor of the county government center; 573-886-4275 Website: showmeboone.com/auditor Circuit Court Clerk Christy Blakemore Term expires: 2018 Office: first floor of the Boone County Courthouse; 573-886-4000 Website: www.courts.mo.gov/hosted/ circuit13 County Clerk Wendy Noren Term expires: 2018 Office: Room 236, second floor of the county government center; 573-886-4295 Website: showmeboone.com/clerk Recorder of Deeds Nora Dietzel Term expires: 2018 Office: Room 132, first floor of the county government center; 573-886-4345 Website: showmeboone.com/recorder The recorder is responsible for recording documents in three main areas: real estate, uniform commercial code and marriage licenses. In addition, servicemen’s records, tax liens and miscellaneous documents not in these areas might be recorded. OTHER BOONE COUNTY SERVICES Public Works Department: Director, Greg Edington; 573-449-8515. Court Administrator: Mary Epping, 573-886-4060. Robert L. Perry Juvenile Justice Center: Superintendent Tara Eppy, 573-886-4450. Resource Management: Director Stan Shawver, 573-886-4330. Medical examiner: Carl Stacy, 573-474-2700. Human resources: Jenna Redel, 573-886-4395.

Purchasing: Director Melinda Bobbitt, 573-886-4392. Facilities maintenance: Manager Doug Coley, 573-886-4400. County counselor: C.J. Dykhouse, 573-886-4414. Community services: Director Kelly Wallis, 573-886-4298.

911/Boone County Joint Communications: Director Chad Martin, (573) 554-1000. Emergency management: Director Terry Cassil, (573) 554-7909. Boone County Fire Protection District: Scott Olsen, fire chief, 573-447-5000. Southern Boone County Fire Protection District: James Bullard, fire chief, 573-657-2370.

MISSOURI LAWMAKERS U.S. CONGRESS Sen. Claire McCaskill Washington, D.C., office: 730 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Phone: 202-224-6154 Fax: 202-228-6326 Website: mccaskill.senate.gov Twitter: @clairecmc Columbia office: 28 N. Eighth St. Suite 500, Columbia, Mo., 65201 Phone: 573-442-7130 Fax: 573-442-7140 Sen. Roy Blunt Washington, D.C., office: 260 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Phone: 202-224-5721 Fax: 202-224-8149 Website: blunt.senate.gov Twitter: @RoyBlunt Columbia office: 1123 Wilkes Blvd, Suite 320, Columbia, MO 65201 Phone: 573-442-8151 Fax: 573-442-8162 Rep. Vicky Hartzler Washington, D.C., office: 2235 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515 Phone: 202-225-2876 Fax: 202-225-0148 Website: hartzler.house.gov Twitter: @RepHartzler Columbia office: 2415 Carter Lane, Suite 4, Columbia, Mo., 65201 Phone: 573-442-9311 Fax: 573-442-9309 STATE LEGISLATORS Sen. Caleb Rowden 19th Senate District: Boone and

Cooper counties 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 416, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101 Phone: 573-751-3931 Fax: 573-751-4320 Twitter: @calebrowden Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch 44th House District 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 115J, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101 Phone: 573-751-1169 Cheri.Toalson-Reisch@house.mo.gov Twitter: @CheriMO44 Rep. Kip Kendrick 45th House District 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 106B, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101 Phone: 573-751-4189 kip.kendrick@house.mo.gov Twitter: @Kipk45 Rep. Martha Stevens 46th House District 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 105E, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101 Phone: 573-751-9753 martha.stevens@house.mo.gov Twitter: @Martha4MO Rep. Chuck Basye 47th District 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 236B, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101 Phone: 573-751-1501 chuck.basye@house.mo.gov Twitter: @ChuckBasye47 District Vacant 50th House District 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 303A, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101 Phone: 573-751-2134


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 63

COMMUNITY

Parking sometimes in demand downtown By Roger McKinney Columbia Daily Tribune

Motorists in downtown Columbia sometimes might feel like they’re traveling for miles around downtown looking for an available parking space. And with student and other residential apartments that have been built downtown, the problem can be exacerbated. “The presence of residential buildings has been a boon to the economic vitality in downtown, but also a source of growing, long-term parking demand,” reads the February final report of the city’s Parking and Traffic Management Task Force. City and Downtown Community Improvement District officials say visitors to downtown can avoid the problem by bicycling, walking or taking the bus, but there almost always is an available spot, even if it’s in a parking garage rather than on the street. A parking audit conducted by Smart Growth America in August 2015 found that at times when downtown on-street parking was full, three downtown parking

garages in the survey had hourly and permit parking available. Drew Brooks, transit and parking manager for the city, said a Parking and Transit Management Task Force in the fall will be reviewing the parking requirements for new development downtown and establishing a permanent parking commission. The city in January stopped using EZ Park cards to in favor of new CoMo Park cards after replacing and upgrading 1,837 meters with 957 single-bay meters and 355 double-bay meters controlling 710 parking spaces and 170 parking meters that accept only credit cards. The CoMo Park cards require motorists to log out of the meter when they return to their cars before driving away from the space. Shay Jasper, community relations marketing specialist, said this spring that the city has issued 1,910 CoMo Park cards since they were introduced. Brooks said with most parking meters, a motorist can pay using coins, the CoMo Park card, or the Parkmobile application.

But an audit showed that garages often have hourly spaces available

Brooks said the application is useful in the amount of data it can provide the city. “That has been increasing exponentially,” Brooks said about people using the app to pay. In April 2016, there the 3,049 parking transactions using the app. That had increased to 28,144 in April 2017. There’s a convenience fee of 45 cents per transaction with the application. At one time there were 83 parking spaces that only accepted payment via the app. That has been reduced to 46. Brooks said motorists don’t need a smartphone to pay with Parkmobile. There’s also a phone number that works with a credit card. There are about 80 meters on the University of Missouri campus, but Brooks said those may be phased out and replaced. Parking meters are enforced 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is free on Sundays.

rates are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekends and evenings are free. The Columbia City Council in April approved spending $886,193 for a gate arm system at all six parking garages over the next four years. Tanner Morrell, city parking supervisor, said there are 2,280 permit spaces at the six garages. The permit cost is $75 per month. He said churches, downtown businesses and city employees are among the permit purchasers. Katie Essing, executive director of the Downtown Community Improvement District, said available on-street parking downtown depends on the day of the week and the time of day. “Typically there’s parking available in the parking garages,” she said. She said if one doesn’t need to drive, there are other options. “I think we have a very walkable downtown,” she said. “Our downtown Garages connects with the MKT Trail. We’re There are six city parking garages with very pedestrian friendly. There’s lots a few hundred hourly spaces. Hourly of bike parking downtown.”

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The city of Columbia recognizes dozens of neighborhood associations. These groups provide a channel for information and encourage public participation in municipal decision-making. Recognized associations receive notification about planning and zoning applications in the area and advance notice of public hearings. Associations in older neighborhoods are occasionally eligible for federal funds for public improvements. More information, including contact phone numbers and emails, is available through Bill Cantin and the Department of Community Development at 573-874-7248 or bill.cantin@como.gov.

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78 1. Bearfield Meadows 2. Bedford Walk 3. Benton-Stephens 4. Bluff Creek Estates 5. Brookside Square 6. Cedar Lake 7. Chapel Hill Estates 8. Chapel Hill Lake 9. Chapel Woods 10. College Park 11. Country Club Estates 12. Country Club Fairways 13. County House Branch 14. Deer Ridge 15. Douglass Park 16. Dubradis 17. East Campus

18. East Pointe 19. East Walnut 20. Eastland Hills 21. Fairview 22. Grasslands 23. Green Meadows 24. Greenbriar-Trail Ridge 25. Grindstone/Rock Quarry 26. Haden Park 27. Highland Park 28. Hinkson Creek Valley 29. Historic Old Southwest 30. Historic Sunset Lane 31. Historic West Broadway 32. Hominy Branch 33. Hunters Gate 34. Indian Hills

Source: Department of Community Development

2

6

35. King’s Meadow 36. Lake Shire Estates 37. Lenoir Woods 38. Limerick Lakes 39. Longview 40. Meadows 41. Meadowvale 42. Mexico Gravel 43. Miles Manor 44. Moon Valley Heights 45. North Central 46. Northland-Parker 47. Oakland Manor

Grindstone Pkwy. S Providence Rd.

½ mile

Scot t Blvd.

25

48. Oaks 49. Oakview Drive 50. Park DeVille 51. Park Hill 52. Parkade

37

E. New Haven Rd.

1

53. Quail Creek 54. Quarry Heights 55. Ridgeway 56. Rockbridge 57. Rockingham 58. Rothwell Heights 59. Shepard Boulevard 60. Shoe Factory District 61. Smithton Ridge 62. Southwest Hills 63. Stadium Heights 64. Stonecrest 65. Tanglewood 66. Tenth Hitt Elm Locust 67. Timberhill Road 68. Vanderveen Crossing 69. Westmount

70. Westwinds Park 71. White Gate 72. Woodridge 73. Zaring 74. Spencer’s Crest 75. Bourn Avenue 76. West Ash 77. Katy Lake Estates 78. Heritage Estates 79. Valley View Gardens 80. Worley Street Park 81. Coventry Court 82. Gary-Atkins 83. Off Broadway Condominiums 84. Arcadia 85. Lakeshore Estates

GATEHOUSE MEDIA


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 65

COMMUNITY

City continues work toward strategic plan goals The plan outlines five priorities and is in place through 2019 By Megan Favignano Columbia Daily Tribune

City officials continue their push to close the gap between what they have called the “two Columbias” in the second year of a strategic plan to increase social equity. When City Manager Mike Matthes introduced the plan, which will guide city policy from 2016 through 2019, he said there has been a widening economic gap between city residents. The strategic plan outlines five priority areas: the economy, social equity, public safety, infrastructure and operational excellence. The city’s plan also calls for a focus on areas the city designated as its north, central and east neighborhoods — areas city officials have said have been historically neglected by city government and other services. The city hired consultants who have been leading meetings in each neighborhood, aiming to work with residents on what they would like to see in each area. Toni Messina, Columbia civic relations officer, described the neighborhood meetings as a critical part of the strategic plan. She said the meetings help the city to use resident input rather than making educated guesses about each area’s needs. “It’s a good opportunity, especially as we’re looking at the citizen survey results to see what is working. Did all the effort that we’ve put into the plan so far yield results that we’ve hoped for and are the neighbors who are in these meetings saying something different?” she said. The citizen survey, conducted last winter, showed residents’ perception of

TRANSIT SERVICES CoMo Connect Wabash Station, 126 N. Tenth St., 573-8747282, www.comoconnect.org CoMo Connect is the city’s bus service, with orbital routes replacing the old hub-and-spoke system. Stops are spread throughout the city. Regular one-way fares are $1.50 for adults and 75 cents for preapproved eligible passengers. Passengers 18 and under ride for free. Full- and half-fare multiple-ride passes are available for purchase. Students can purchase a semester pass for $100. Hours of operation are 6:25

the quality of police services dropped from 2015 to 2016. Residents’ satisfaction with the condition of city streets and water, electric and sewer services also decreased. Messina said comments recorded during the strategic plan meetings can help the city determine what city resources are needed to make changes individuals want to see in Columbia’s neighborhoods. For example, north neighborhood residents said having access to more activities and programs for children is important to them. Columbia Assistant City Manager Carol Rhodes said some of the same desires regarding public safety, sidewalk and street improvements and affordable housing have come up in discussions in both the north and central neighborhoods. Meetings in the east neighborhood are scheduled. Policing, jobs and infrastructure The city council earlier this year approved a resolution directing the city manager to dedicate resources to a public engagement process to get input on community-oriented policing. The city has not yet finalized that process. Fourth Ward Councilman Ian Thomas proposed the resolution, citing low staffing and officer morale issues at the Columbia Police Department. At the time, he said a community-oriented policing philosophy, meant to encourage residents to trust and work with police, should be implemented throughout the city, not just in areas covered by the police department’s’ community outreach unit. The resolution gives the city until February to advance community policing

initiatives, which contribute to the city’s strategic plan goal related to public safety. As part of the plan’s public safety priority, the city also has advanced a project for a northern police precinct and focused on its community outreach unit. The plan’s economy priority focuses on creating more living wage jobs. Messina said it’s also important for the city to train and match people with existing living wage jobs. She said economic development officials continue working to attract new businesses to Columbia. The city also has focused on training programs, including financial literacy training for 80 employees in solid waste and adding three apprenticeship positions in city departments. Messina described items that contribute to the infrastructure priority in the strategic plan as long-term projects. “A lot of that is resource driven. If you have the money to pave a street, create a bike lane, put in a sidewalk, then you have to plan it and there’s a certain

progression,” she said. “We’re trying to focus as much funding as we can in those areas.” The city continues to repair streets and address sewer issues, especially in the oldest part of the city. Moving forward, the city wants to increase transit ridership and add traffic calming devices to more neighborhoods. COMO Connect, the city’s bus system, has been collecting public input on possible changes to its bus routes. As part of the plan’s operational excellence priority, the city has focused on employee training, including diversity and inclusion workshops for employees and managers. All sworn police officers went through training sessions about racial profiling and fair and impartial policing. The city drastically cut the number of city telephone numbers through its contact center, which allows residents to call one main line and then be transferred to the department they need.

a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Route maps are available online. Columbia Paratransit 573-874-7290, para-transit@como.gov For disabled residents, Columbia has lift-equipped mini-buses that provide curb-to-curb transportation services. The service is available for people who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The fare is $2 per ride. Hours of operation are 6:25 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Schedulers are on duty Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5

p.m. MO-X 303 Business Loop 70 E., 573-256-1991 or 877-669-4826, www.moexpress.com Scheduled shuttle service between Columbia and the Kansas City and St. Louis airports. The company offers two round trips daily to St. Louis and five round trips daily to Kansas City. Prices range from $50 one way to $118 for a round trip. EZGO Bus 908 I-70 Drive S.W. 573-817-1000, www. ezgobusmo.com Shuttle service to and from Lambert

International Airport in St. Louis. One-way tickets cost $40, and a round trip is $80. Door-to-door service is an extra $10. Greyhound Lines Midway Truck Stop Travel Plaza, 6401 Highway 40 W., 573-449-2416, www.greyhound.com Provides bus connections to cities across the country. Prices vary. The company is open seven days a week. Train service The nearest Amtrak station is in Jefferson City at 101 Jefferson St. Information on routes and tickets is available at www. amtrak.com.

Columbia Police Lt. Geoff Jones talks with residents of the Derby Ridge area April 27 at Derby Ridge Elementary School. The community meeting allowed area beat commanders and officers a chance to answer questions from residents about their neighborhood. An emphasis on community policing is among the aspects of the city’s strategic plan. [DON SHRUBSHELL/TRIBUNE]


| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

OT

Worship

Simply Teaching the Bible Simply

Campus Lutheran Church

Sunday 10:15 a.m. www.calvarychapelcomo.com 573-356-8702

Tel. 573.442.5942 Sundays at Campus Lutheran 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 304 S. College Ave 9:45 a.m. Sunday School (at the corner of College & Anthony) 11:00 a.m. Blended Worship

601 Business Loop 70 W Suite 104

www.campuslutheran.org

“Living and sharing the transforming love of Christ”

TRINITY T PRESBY YTERIAN CHURCH 1600 W. ROLLINS RD.

“Experience the Spirit with Us” EVERY SUNDAY 10:30 A.M.

ADMIT ALL

TICKET

66

WWW.TRINITY-PRESBYTERIAN.ORG R PR SB R ORG G

CATHOLIC CHURCHH 903 Bernadette Dr. • 573.445.7915 • www.ourladyoflourdes.org

MASS TIMES Mon-Fri: 6:30 & 8:00 a.m. Sat: 8:00 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Sun: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 & 11:30 a.m.

Our K-8 Catholic school is dedicated to the spiritual, intellectual and moral development of each child.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES INTERPARISH SCHOOL 817 Bernadette Drive • 573.445.6516 • www.ollisk8.org


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 67

Worship

OT

Serving the Jewish community of Central Missouri

Come as you are

Congregation Beth Shalom § ¦³ ´£ ´¦£ ±

[And come as yourself]

Service Times: Friday @ 7:30 pm - Erev Shabbat Saturday @ 10:00 am - Shabbat Morning

God’s love for you has nothing to do with your clothes, your education, your skin color, marital status or family history. God loves you because you are a part of God’s amazing creation. Come, celebrate God’s amazing love with us. And come as you are.

Active Community and Religious School

Saturday, 6:30 pm Sunday, 8:30 am & 11 am 914 West Boulevard South saintandrewslutheran.org ~ 573.449.5674 a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Everyone is Welcome!

www.cbsmo.org 573-499-4855 500 West Green Meadows Rd.

St. Thomas More NEWMAN CENTER

602 Turner Ave. | Columbia | 573-449-5424 | comonewman.org

MASS TIMES

Spiritual piritual Life Lif + Worship Guide W orship G uide Every Saturday in print + online

M-F: Noon | Saturday: 5 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. | 11 a.m. | 5 p.m. (8 p.m. when MU is in session)

www.moumc.org Find info online about: % 7YRHE] [SVWLMT WX]PI ERH XMQI XLEX ½XW ]SY Growth opportunities for all ages Children’s, Youth and Ignite College Age Ministries Serving opportunities

/MissouriUMC 204 S. Ninth St. • Columbia • 573-443-3111 www.moumc.org • contact.us@moumc.org


68

| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

OT

Weddings

Lindsey Rentals

Wedding and Party Center

For all your special occasions

Brides connecting with professional wedding vendors Wedding vendors always welcome.

708 W. Sexton Road Columbia, MO www.lindseyrentals.com

573-447-2789

moweddingconnection.com VENDORS HELPING BRIDES PLAN THEIR WEDDINGS

Schedule a consultation to plan your perfect day

Floral F loral G Gallery alle 9919 E. Broadway d Columbia, MO C

573-443-0232

SOMETHING BORROWED ...............................

Tell the world about your big event!

something

B L U E

To submit, go to columbiatribune.com, look for the Sections menu and click on Submit Your News. Publishes in print + online. 573.876.7257 stephenscollegeevents.com

B R I D A L R E G I S T RY MON.-SAT. 10 am - 5 pm

1501 Old Hwy. 63 South (573) 442-3151 www.mcadamsltd.com

Bridal Registry Available Gadgets • Tableware • Cook Ware Cookbooks • Gourmet Foods • Linens Hours: M-Sat: 10-6 • Sun: 12-4

812 E. Broadway•573.442.9550 tallulahs@me.com • www.tallulahsstore.com


OUR TOWN 2017

| www.columbiatribune.com | 69

Make your special moments memorable!

OLDE UN D E S I R E . FA N TASY. F U N.

Our town since 1971. Thank you Columbia!

101 East Walnut Street Columbia, MO 65203

oldeunfun.com 573-443-4019

'9'V Č? 7R\V Č? 1RYHOWLHV Č? *LIWV Č? 2LOV Č? /XEULFDQWV /LQJHULH Č? 0HQȇV :HDU Č? DQG PXFK PXFK PRUH


70

| www.columbiatribune.com | OUR TOWN 2017

A DV E R T I S E R I N D E X Atkins, Inc. Boone County Family Resources Boone County Fire Protection District

43 47

Daniel Boone Regional Library Denise Payne Real Estate Team

57

Early Childhood 31 Apple School First Baptist Church Child Development Center Macher Swim School The Children’s School at Stephens College

Career Connections 50-52 Advantage Nursing Services Bothwell Regional Health Center Dollar General Express Employment Professionals Great Circle jobs.columbiatribune.com Missouri Employers Mutual Orscheln Farm & Home Parallon Rusk Rehabilitation Center South Hampton Place University of Missouri Health Care Central Bank of Boone County City of Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau City of Columbia Fire Department City of Columbia Public Works City of Columbia Water & Light Columbia Cemetery Columbia Chamber of Commerce Columbia Daily Tribune Circulation Columbia Dentistry for Children Columbia Orthopaedic Group Columbia Parks and Recreation Columbia Podiatry Commerce Bank

30 11 48 35 57 48 26 54 33 47 15 35 72

Community Arts 7-9 Boone County Historical Society City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs Columbia Art League Missouri Contemporary Ballet Missouri Symphony Society Missouri United Methodist Church Concert Series UMC Museum of Art and Archaeology Odyssey Chamber Music Series Stephens College The Columbia Community Band TRYPS D&H Drugstore

35

33 44

Fast Track Central Methodist University Columbia Independent School Moberly Area Community College

29

Fisher Auto Service Going Bonkers homes.columbiatribune.com LaCrosse Lumber Co. Landmark Bank Lenior Woods Missouri Credit Union Olde Un Parker-Millard Funeral Service Phyllis Nichols, State Farm ReeceNichols Mid Missouri

39 28 13 39 2 71 27 69 49 47 48

Restaurants CC’s City Broiler Dragon 63 Inc. G&D Family Steakhouse Range Free Sake Japanese Bistro and Bar Rusk Rehabilitation Center Shelter Insurance Sustainable Living Mid-Mo Recycling The Ink Factory The District American Shoe Binghams Consign & Design Dryer’s Shoes Kelly Veach, Shelter Insurance Providence Bank The District

16-17

45 5 4

60-61

The Insurance Group The Love Seat The Terrace Tourism Burgers’ Smokehouse Butler Chamber of Commerce City of Plattsburg City of Sullivan Cooper’s Oak Winery Hermann Wine Trail J. Huston Tavern Missouri State Parks The Mothers’ Shrine Vintage Hill Farms

44 49 3 19-24

University Subaru University of Missouri Health Care

63 40

Weddings Jubilee Planning Studio Kent’s Floral Gallery Lindsey Rentals McAdams’ Ltd. MO Wedding Connection Stephens College Events Tallulahs

68

William Woods University

33

Worship 66-67 Calvary Chapel of Columbia Campus Lutheran Church Christian Fellowship Congregation Beth Shalom First Baptist Church Missouri United Methodist Church Our Lady of Lourdes Saint Andrews St. Thomas More Newman Center Trinity Presbyterian Church


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