From the Missouri Department of Corrections

VISITING SUSPENDED AT STATE CORRECTIONAL CENTERS

To family and friends of offenders in the Missouri Department of Corrections:

Health officials are working hard to contain the spread of the COVID-19 (commonly known as “coronavirus”) in the United States. While no cases have been diagnosed in Missouri correctional centers, adopting good practices, like those recommended by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, can help stop the spread of all communicable illnesses.

Because correctional centers are confined spaces where people have close contact, the Department of Corrections is suspending offender visiting for the next 30 days. While we recognize that visiting is an essential part of rehabilitation, the department must protect the health and wellness of all who live in, work in, and visit state prisons.

Attorney visits will be permitted and will be scheduled through the deputy warden or warden’s office at each facility.

To stay up to date on issues affecting friends and family of offenders, please sign up to receive email and/or text message: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MODOC/subscriber/new. Also check Facebook (@MissouriCorrections) and Twitter (@MoCorrections).

For Missouri COVID-19 updates, please visit http://health.mo.gov/…/heal…/communicable/novel-coronavirus/ or call the hotline at 877-435-8411.

Thank you for your assistance in protecting the health of incarcerated Missourians, department staff, and fellow visitors.

Sixty-three people died on Missouri roads in February

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – After a promising start to 2020 with a five-year low in January traffic fatalities, February did not follow suit and ended with 63 people killed (preliminary results) in Missouri traffic crashes. As the state eyes a long-term vision for zero traffic fatalities, there have been 10 days thus far in 2020 with no fatal traffic crashes. Meanwhile, there were 12 days in February alone where three or more people were killed in a crash, including six fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday. Traffic crashes constitute a public health crisis – one that claimed the lives of 877 people in Missouri and more than 36,000 nationwide last year.

“One life lost is one too many,” said Nicole Hood, MoDOT State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer. “The majority of these deaths are preventable by simply slowing down, buckling up and putting your phone down.”

Missouri’s Buckle Up Phone Down campaign has seen tremendous success with more than 500 businesses and 13,000 individuals pledging to adopt those two life-saving steps. Seat belt usage has increased by 6.3% in the last three years in Missouri and fatalities dropped 6% during that same period. Following Missouri’s lead, three other states are also active in the BUPD movement with several more expressing interest in the initiative as well. That said, the February results are a reminder there remains plenty of work to do in both spreading and adopting the message.

Preliminary statistics show that 72% of drivers and passengers killed in 2020 crashes thus far were unbuckled. Compared to 2019, this is a 9% increase in the number of unbuckled occupants killed. While excessive speed, aggression, distraction, and impairment remain the leading cause of fatal traffic crashes in Missouri, seat belts, car seats, and helmets remain a person’s number one defense should a crash occur.

“It’s easy, it’s fast, and it’s free,” said Hood referencing the proper use of a safety device. “There have been countless tragedies on our roadways that could have been prevented with the simple use of a seat belt. Likewise, many of these crashes would not occur in the first place if we all embrace our responsibility to drive in a safe manner.”

Simple conscious and consistent choices can ensure that March and the remainder of 2020 result in a better outcome.

“As you take your daily commute or simply drop the top on the convertible for a sunny spring drive, please remember the simple steps we can all take to ensure a safer transportation system: drive sober, slow down, buckle up and put your phone down. Together, we can all do our part to move Missouri closer to zero traffic fatalities,” Hood said.

VFW Ham, Bean and Soup Fundraiser in Drexel

Happy Birthday Thelma

OUR SWEET THELMA IS HAVING ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!
Medicalodges Butler will be having a Birthday Card Shower for her as she turns 105 on the 18th. 

Please send your cards with well wishes and love to the facility. Thelma truly enjoyed the love last year - let's do it again and give her a very Happy Birthday!

The address is 103 E Nursery, Butler Mo, 64730!

Osage Valley Electric Cooperative Continues to Explore Broadband

In August 2019, Osage Valley Electric Cooperative’s (OVEC) Board of Directors hired consulting firm, Conexon, to complete a feasibility study for the provision of broadband within its service territory. The feasibility study was a comprehensive analysis completed based on the cooperative’s membership demographics and service territory.

The results of the study arrived in late 2019 and were analyzed by the cooperative’s staff and discussed with the board at the January 28th meeting. Overall, the study conveyed that a fiber project for the cooperative would come with an expensive price tag and many challenges. The study did suggest that some future funding opportunities could become available through the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) reverse auction coming up in October 2020.

The cooperative has continued the process of gathering information from various consultants, contractors, and fellow cooperatives that have entered the broadband business as well as many others in the industry. Much time and effort are being put into this decision as a broadband project will have a major impact on our members, employees and communities.

We have learned that the RDOF reverse auction will begin October 22, 2020. There are several deadlines that must be met in order to bid in this auction and the cooperative is continuing to prepare itself for this. In the coming weeks when final auction details are available, the cooperative’s board will decide whether to enter the auction. If the cooperative does participate in the auction, the decision to enter the broadband business will be contingent upon the amount of funding awarded to the cooperative. Simply entering the auction does not guarantee funding and therefore will not guarantee a cooperative broadband network.

“Osage Valley Electric Cooperative knows that broadband service provided across its territory would undoubtedly be a huge benefit for members and the communities we serve, but we feel putting the Cooperative’s core business at financial risk would not be in the best interest of the entire membership so careful consideration is being given before any future steps are taken” stated Jarrod Campbell, OVEC’s CEO/General Manager. The staff and directors will continue to monitor the ever-changing field of broadband and will stay abreast of the evolving rules and targets needed to enter the upcoming auction if necessary.

From the Butler Presbyterian Church

Dear Friends,

I’m sure you have seen that many public gatherings are being cancelled due to the spread of Coronavirus. Even throughout the PC(USA), a few Presbyteries have discouraged gathering for Worship for the time being.

As I write this, Heartland Presbytery has not given us such a directive. Pastors are being encouraged to respond as it best fits each congregation. PC(USA)’s Stated Clerk said this week at times like these, church attendance is a “personal decision.” I think that fits us well at the moment.

If you are a person with health concerns, and worry about public gatherings, know that I understand and my prayers surround you. I will continue exploring ways to reach out to those who choose to stay home - so you won’t be excluded from your family of faith, and we can continue to pray together. Presbytery staff is helping Pastors explore ways to do this, should we need them.

Beginning this Sunday, at the Passing of the Peace, let’s use some different practices that don’t involve physical touching - for now! One good way is to place your hand over your heart, look your sister or brother in Christ in the eye, smile, and say “Peace be with you!” Or, “Christ’s Peace!” Maybe you have already used the now famous “elbow bump” or bow in other places. God has given us many ways to share God’s love and peace. Let’s use them this week and as long as necessary. If you feel silly doing it, don’t worry! New practices often feel strange. We all must try new things at times, and God will show us the way. Don’t forget to smile!

I will keep you posted as we continue to navigate this situation.

With God’s help,

Pastor Greg

Ballard Freshman Chicken Fry

Obituary - Janet Kay Wages Bailey

Janet Kay Wages Bailey loved God, family, friends and her country.

She grew up on a farm in Clifton Hill, Missouri. She learned the value of hard work from her parents, Samuel and Ruby and the value of boisterous fun from her three brothers and four sisters. Whether they were doing chores, tending to their animals and garden, chasing each other around the Missouri countryside, their home and lives were filled with love.

Janet graduated from Westran High School in Huntsville, Missouri in 1962, and then graduated from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) in 1966. She started her teaching career at Elm Grove Elementary, Independence, Missouri. Next, she led classrooms throughout the Kansas City suburbs of Fort Osage, Belton, Archie and Harrisonville. Her students remember many of her favorite lessons like the Bailey School Kids, marble roller coasters and binding their own books. She adored her students and peers, but she felt it was time for retirement in 2001. With Mrs. Bailey, once you were her student, she kept you in her heart always. Janet was called to be a Teacher and is fondly remembered by fellow Teachers, Student Teachers she mentored, Administrators and parents as much as their children.

A member of First Baptist Church of Harrisonville, she taught many years of 1st grade Sunday School, cared for many young ones in the nursery and found lifelong friends in her Adult Sunday School class. After retirement, she attended Mountain Ridge Baptist Church in Peoria, Arizona and met even more friends in Christ. She was truly a Child of God and lovingly raised her two daughters in God’s teachings.

She moved to the Phoenix, Arizona area after retirement to be near her daughters, Great Uncles and Aunts. Janet loved meeting new people, traveling with family and to family and entertaining guests in her new hometown. During this time, she welcomed a Son-in-Law and two Grandchildren who were the joys of her heart. The time she spent helping her Grandchildren grow was among the most magical of her life. The three of them were quite the team.

Janet is survived by two children, Stacy Bailey of Peoria, Arizona and Stefanie (Bailey) Whittaker and husband Barry of Peoria, Arizona, two grandchildren, Hannah and Samuel, two brothers, Jim Wages and wife Karen of Fort Madison, Iowa and Larry Wages of Clifton Hill, Missouri; three sisters, Joyce Staab of Leawood, Kansas, Judy Lunceford and husband Bob of Blue Springs, Missouri and Jaleta Stanley of Grain Valley, Missouri, brother-in-law Kent Wisdom, sister-in-law Christine Wages; many cousins, nieces and nephews as well as her beloved pup, Molly.

In addition to her parents, Janet was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Wages, sister, Janelle Wisdom, brothers-in-law Mike Stanley and Arlen Staab and nephew Kurtis Wages.

Memorial Service/Celebration of Life will take place June 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Dickey Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri with visitation from 1:00 until 2:00. Burial will take place the day after in Clifton Hill, Missouri. Should you wish to honor Janet with a Memorial, please consider Donorschoose.org to help fulfill teachers’ classroom needs.