Free falling

FREEDOM FEAST – Some 1,800 people attended the annual Freedom Fest celebration sponsored by the El Dorado Springs Church of God (Holiness) on Sunday, June 29, and the church fed 1,023 people plus Freedom Fest workers, according to Tracy Lanser who was director of the event with Kim Gallimore as her coordinator. Entertainment started at 5:30 with the Church of God (Holiness) Youth Band, then the El Dorado Springs Municipal Band at 6 p.m. Soloists included Lucinda Fortney, Sydney Friar, Kasey Pollard, Paige Esry plus Cammie Housh and Friends and Strong Tower Quartet. A Hwy. 54 Cruisers Car Show and a quilt show with over 100 displays were new to the Fest. At dark Roger Hensley flashed his new credentials as a certified pyrotechnician sending up in smoke the fireworks provided by the church.

Commission discusses

Victim's Advocate funding

The short version is that the Cedar County Commission signed the $28,000 Victim's Advocate grant on Monday, June 30, after Cedar County Prosecutor Michael Ash signed an authorization for the commission to be repaid out of his budget for about $1,600 mileage and telephone expenses for the Victim's Advocate for the first six months of 2008. County Clerk Peggy Kenney then took the signed documents to the Springfield Post Office after hours Monday to get the envelope postmarked on deadline day. She will get no pay for her extra time, effort or mileage.

The long version is as long as ever and not getting any shorter. Victim's Advocate Ida Murry, an employee of the prosecutor, pleaded with the commission for most of an hour and a half Monday to provide the estimated $3,000 in funding for mileage. She has said previously that about half of the 13 items in her job description involve her providing transportation for crime victims. The grant only includes $251 for mileage, about enough for one month.

Jack Ellis, who volunteers in the Cedar County Drug Court program, was on hand to speak in favor of the Victim's Advocate program. The commissioners, Byron Hamilton, John Fox and Kennie Whitesell, and Cedar County Clerk Peggy Kenney, agreed that it is a valuable and worthwhile service.

Ms. Murry told the commissioner, “Today is the last day to approve the grant. I don't know if I'll be working tomorrow or not.”

Southern Associate Commissioner Fox said, “Is Mike willing to pay your mileage?”

Ms. Murry said, “No, he doesn't have it. I need to know if at 12 a.m. I am supposed to go out if I get a hotline call.”

Fox said, “You need to talk to Mike about that.'

Murry said, “Mike has agreed to pay transportation through June 30.”

The county clerk said, “$1,588.86 needs to be paid today.”

Northern Commissioner Hamilton said to Ms Murry, “You're caught in the middle and you shouldn't be.”

Presiding Commissioner Kennie Whitesell told Ms. Murry, “It's going to cost us either way, whether the sherrif does it or you do it.”

She said, “If the sheriff does it, it will cost twice as much.”

Commissioner Fox said, “We know there's a need. But we just can't keep adding. We have to find it somewhere. It doesn't just fall out of the sky.” He said that the law enforcement area is “$200,000 in the hole. We can't keep it up.”

He told Ms. Murry, “You know how much mileage we get paid? We don't' get a dime.”

Fox told Ms. Murry, “This started a long time ago and we're just now getting a handle on it.”

At that point, Prosecutor Ash, who had been busy with Circuit Court day, arrived.

Fox told him,”“We know what her job entails. Do you want to pay mileage?”

Ash said, “My office is not required to pay one cent.”

Fox said, “The law enforcement fund is $200,000 in the hole.”

Ash said, “I feel the county can pick up mileage. I think the county should be excited that the state will pay $28,000. I think having her to do the transport so officers don't have to do it makes really good sense. Twenty five percent of the transports are females. The sheriff's department doesn't have a full-time female officer.”

Hamilton said, “Since you think that way, it is amazing that the legislature didn't think of that when they wrote the statute.” He read the statute from one of the Missouri RSMO law books: “A deputy shall arrange transport.”

Ash said, “They make arrangements with us. It looks to me like something else is going on. It says the county commission shall approve the budget.”

Peggy Kenney, the county's chief budget officer, asked, “What happens when the approved budget isn't adhered to?”

The prosecutor said, “You can set guidelines. I don't approve transports.”

As Ash was leaving to go back to court, Fox asked, “Are you going to pay“mileage?

Ash said, “I don't have the money in my budget to do that and meet the other obligations I have this year.”

After Ash left, Peggy Kenney told the commission, “The Crime Victim's Advocate fund has been continuously in the red for the past five years.”

She went on to say that a lot of counties (about 1/3) do not have a Victim's Advocate. “It's a great program.”

Jack Ellis said, “Somebody should take the responsibility to say, `I went over budget. I have to cut back.''

See Sun Newspaper for rest of story

Sexual predators to register e-mail

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt Monday signed into law legislation he says will improve protections for children from sexual predators - especially those using the Internet.

Senate Bill 714 requires registered sex offenders to register their email addresses and other on-line identifiers with county law officers before use. The new law gives Cyber Crime Task Forces and Missouri prosecutors a new tool to go after Internet predators by creating a new class D felony crime of “age misrepresentation with the intent to use the Internet to engage in criminal sexual misconduct with a minor.”

NEVC has the winner

BEST IN THE NATION - Taylor Ast, daughter of Kurt and Renee Ast, a freshman at Northeast Vernon County, represented the State of Missouri June 25-30, at the 2008 National Future Business Leaders of America Conference in Atlanta, GA. Taylor won first place in Word Processing I competing with approximately 100 students from around the nation. Her advisers are Mrs. Lori Bybee and Mrs. Sheryl Hallam. This is a first for the four-year-old FBLA program at NEVC.

Absentee ballots available

Absentee ballots are now available for the Aug. 5, 2008, General Primary Election. You may vote absentee in the county clerk's office, Room 3, in the Cedar County courthouse or absentee ballots may be requested by mail or fax. Send absentee ballot requests to Cedar County Clerk Peggy Kenney, 113 South Street, Stockton, MO 65785 or fax your request to 417-276-3461. Requests must include name, phone number, address to mail the ballot to, reason for voting absentee and the signature of each person requesting to vote absentee.

The deadline to register to vote for the Aug. 5, 2008, General Primary Election is Wednesday, July 9, 2008. The county clerk's office will be open Saturday, July 5, until 12 p.m. and Wednesday, July 9, until 5 p.m. for your convenience.

Buffalo gives sheriff the slip

An effort to corral a four-year old, 2,500-pound buffalo south of Nevada has been unsuccessful, so far. Sheriff Ron Peckman said Wednesday the buffalo apparently escaped the pen at its home near Moundville and Hwy. 43 and was spotted near the Cliffman Corner on Hwy. BB before disappearing into some timber near Hwy. BB and Stockade Road.

The sheriff advises anyone spotting the animal to call his office immediately, 667-6042, and to not try to capture or pet the buffalo by themselves.

104 and counting

BESSIE SMITH CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY 104 - On Sunday, June 29, 2008, at the Community Springs Healthcare Facility, the family of Bessie E. Smith celebrated her 104th birthday. Bessie's birthday is June 30. Those in attendance numbered 13. Linda Swindle snapped this photo. Family members are: center front: Bessie E. Smith; Front row (from left): Everett Smith, Velma Smith, Rose Smith, Bonnie Carol Jones, Sheila Brackenridge and Vicki McKinney; back row: Leroy and Rosalie Rector, Kenneth Smith, Clyde Jones and Archie Brackenridge.

Carnival wrist bands three nights

The El Dorado Springs Picnic Committee would like to announce there will be three nights of wristbands at the 2008 Picnic. The carnival will again be Pride Amusements.

Wrist bands will be offered for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 6 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Single tickets may also be purchased.

Wristband tickets may be purchased for $16 in advance from city hall during regular business hours beginning Monday, July 14, cash only. Wristbands may also be purchased at the Picnic for $18 per night.

2008 Picnic July 17, 18, & 19

See additional stories and pictures in the Sun Newspaper

Call the Animal Control officer for adoption information on animals in the City Pound 876-2313

Pound Pets

BLUE HEELER PUP- Female, approx. 8 months old.

TORTOISESHELL CAT- Femalem adult.

TWO HEELER MIXED DOGS - Female - red in color. Male - blue and black..

Call the Animal Control Officer at 876-2312 for current animals available for adoption.

Due to imposition of City ordinances, all animals will be kept a maximum of 10-days before euthanazation.

Anyone interested in adoption of animals or making a donation for their care should contact the Animal Control Officer at 876-2313 before 3 p.m. weekdays.