Mid-Missouri

COLUMBA − Despite the clouds, people from around Mid-Missouri tried to catch a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse on Saturday. 

Any eclipse is rare, according to Teja Teppala, an MU graduate student studying astronomy. Eclipses occur when the moon passes in front of the sun. 

Saturday’s eclipse, called an annular eclipse, created a “ring-of-fire” effect visible from New Mexico and the country of Colombia. 

But clouds obscured the view in Columbia, Missouri.

“We’re just hoping that the clouds break up and we can actually see something,” said Kevin Cummings. 

Cummings and his family went to an eclipse viewing party at MU.

People could try out telescopes and learn about the eclipse from MU physics and astronomy students at Lowry Mall from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

It was organized by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, MU Extension, and the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. Teppala was one of the lead organizers. 

Teppala said the eclipse would be most visible at noon, when it became a “maximum eclipse.”

The skies above Columbia were still cloudy at noon, so people tuned into NASA’s live stream of the eclipse from New Mexico. 

Michelangelo Landgrave, an MU assistant professor of political science and public affairs, brought up the stream on his phone.

“It also looks like a doctor strange, like opening up the portal,” he said. 

We’re getting our first views of the “ring of fire”!

Here’s a look at the annular solar eclipse from Albuquerque, N.M., as the Moon nearly (but not completely) covers up the Sun. pic.twitter.com/SCW8r77FG4

— NASA (@NASA) October 14, 2023

Teppala and other organizers are part of an eclipse ambassador program organized by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, a San Francisco-based nonprofit which seeks to raise interest in astronomy.

The ambassador program partners with NASA to educate people about the eclipse. 

One of Teppala’s goals is to combat misinformation. He said the eclipse isn’t harmful, unless you look directly at it. 

“I like interacting with people and communicating science with broad audiences,” Teppala said. “So, I thought it would be a fun event, fun thing to put together.”

The eclipse doesn’t just draw in those studying astronomy. Laura Young, a political science student at MU, handed out eclipse viewers at the watch party. 

Young said she joined the ambassadors program in February and trained over the summer to educate people on the eclipse. 

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“I really like the idea of getting out into the community and getting involved,” Young said. “Specifically with just telling people how eclipses work and getting them involved in that process.”

Pati Magomedova attended the event with her young daughters, Maya and Milana. 

Magomedova said she’s disappointed that her kids didn’t get to see the eclipse, but is excited they got to try out different telescopes. 

“We’ve never seen telescopes like that,” Magomedova said. “It was fun, it was really fun to see it.” 

“It’s a rare opportunity”

It was hard to see the eclipse outside, but Columbia Public Schools offered a way for people to still watch it.

CPS hosted a watch party at the district’s planetarium, nestled inside Rock Bridge High School. Families could step into the large, circular planetarium and become immersed in an out-of-this-world show.

A 20-minute movie took viewers on a tour of Earth’s solar system from the perspective of visiting aliens. The movie also showed a simulation of the solar eclipse and explained the science behind the ‘ring-of-fire.’

Meaghann Stoelting is the planetarium’s director, and she’s been preparing for the eclipse for a while. Stoelting said she started watching training webinars and bought her eclipse glasses in October 2022. 

Normally the planetarium is a field trip destination for students from across Mid-Missouri.

“It’s also important to celebrate fun celestial happenings, like eclipses,” Stoelting said. “It’s a rare opportunity and special when you get to do it with a bunch of people, even if it’s cloudy outside.”

The planetarium also showed NASA’s livestream on a projector and offered eclipse-themed arts and crafts stations for kids. 

Dawn and John Lessiack came to the planetarium with their granddaughter, Marley, after trying to see the eclipse outside. 

 “I thought it was awesome,” Marley said as she worked on an eclipse-themed necklace made out of cardboard and foil, decorated with a space ship flying past Mars. 

The planetarium offers free shows open to the public every month. Stoelting said the next opportunity for the public to visit will be Saturday, Nov. 11, with shows at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. 

You can find the full schedule on the planetarium’s website.

Both Stoelting and Teppala said they are looking forward the near-total eclipse which should be visible in Columbia on April 8. Teppala said a total eclipse will likely be visible in southeastern Missouri. 

“Even though it’s cloudy, it’s really fun to see an eclipse,” Stoelting said. 

Originally Appeared Here

The community of Enon, near the southeast corner of Moniteau County, came into existence through the entrepreneurial spirit of James McGinnis, who built the first house in the developing community in 1869.

In the coming years, the McGinnis family became involved in businesses and community activities — most notably a bank and a church. These two early structures remain one of few surviving links to his vision and a town that has nearly faded with the loss of mining operations and a railroad spur.

“The railroad coming through Enon in 1881 contributed to its growth,” wrote the late Dorothy Medlen in a summary for the 1988 book celebrating the sesquicentennial of Russellville.

“A plat was made in 1891 by Mr. McDowell and Mr. (Andrew) McGinnis and presented at the Moniteau County Courthouse,” she added.

More than one popular story has been handed down through generations that explains how the settlement of Enon received its name. However, the most widely accepted has biblical roots that refer to a watery site named AEnon, where, it was written, John the Baptist performed baptisms.

“(Mary Jane) McGinnis gave the name AEnon to the village when the Post Office was established back in the (1880s)” noted the “Historical Sketch of the Concord Baptist Association and its Churches,” printed in 1973. “The name was taken from John 3:23 and seemed fitting because the Moreau River flowed through the community and often flooded the lowlands.”

The railroad helped inspire several business endeavors such as a grist mill, general merchandise stores, harness shop, poultry house and drug store, to name but a few. One-room schoolhouses were also built in the area throughout the next several years and included New Zion School, Lincoln School, Mount Herman School and Contention School (later renamed Enon School).

Yet this slow and steady growth brought on by the railroad would soon be eclipsed by a massive, but short-lived, population explosion.

“Enon reached it peak as a boom town in 1901, when the mining town sprung up, on the hill west of town known as Tatesville,” explained the 1980 book “Moniteau County, Missouri History.” The book added, “It was platted by N.O. Tate, who was a foreman for the Central Missouri Mining Company. Miners rushed in and the population soon reached 750.”

An article appearing in the Miller County Autogram-Sentinel on Sept. 19, 1901, reported the mining company was erecting many fancy buildings, one of which was to have heated water, electric lights and contain a “bank, two stores, hotel, restaurant and barber shop.” Additionally, a company manager was quoted as saying, “Electric streetcars will be running in Enon in 14 months.”

But as quickly as this unprecedented growth came to the small settlement, it disappeared because of difficulties in securing financing for the mines. The mines soon closed, and Enon returned to its pre-boom existence as a small, non-descript town on the Bagnell Branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

For decades, the foundations of the buildings erected for the erstwhile mining community were left to crumble in a pasture along a gravel road west of Enon. This road, which was once the main route through the community, has been replaced by state Highway A, while the foundations have been removed.

The faith of Enon residents remained a central focus of their daily lives, inspiring a handful of those who had been attending the Rock Enon Baptist Church to establish a new congregation a few miles away in the community of Enon in 1899. The following year, the first Sunday school classes were held.

“First services were held west of the railroad tracks on the south side of McDowell Street, in a building used for a poultry and creamy buying station, which was bought by ardent Christian leader, Mrs. Mary Jane (Slayton) McGinnis,” wrote Dorothy Medlen.

The church was officially organized in 1904 and was for many years known as Enon Baptist No. 2 (Rock Enon Baptist was Enon Baptist No. 1) or Enon Station. The original “Rules of Decorum” highlighted expectations of its membership and were formalized in writing shortly after the 1904 organization of the church.

“No matter of dealings against a member shall be taken unless the legal steps of the gospel according to the 18th chapter of St. Matthew have been taken except for public offenses, which may be brought first to the church,” the records read.

Robert A. McGirk donated the property for a new church to be built in 1908. McGirk was the grandfather to the late Marjorie Morrow — a lifelong member of the church who played organ and piano and later finished a 43-year career as an educator after teaching at Enon School and later in Russellville.

A new church building was completed in 1909 at the cost of $1,000, and the congregation soon welcomed its first minister, the Rev. James M. Henderson. There were many occasions when large baptismal events were held in the nearby Moreau River, one of which was attended by 300 people in 1915.

The next few years were defined by growth in the church and the surrounding community, highlighted by the establishment of the Enon Exchange Bank in 1916.

The following year, a small brick building was erected west of the church to serve as the banking facility. John M. McGinnis, whose father helped plat Enon in 1891, was appointed to serve as the new bank’s president.

The community would weather the tumultuous period of World War I and the Spanish influenza pandemic, but the advent of the Great Depression and loss of the railroad would later signal disaster for the small community and test the endurance of Enon Baptist Church.

Jeremy P. Ämick is the author of “Hidden History of Cole County.”

Courtesy/Christopher Jones
This 1904 photograph features John Henry Jones, left, an early deacon of Enon Baptist Church. Next to him is John McGinnis, also an early church member who served as the first president of Enon Exchange Bank.

Originally Appeared Here

The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains and the Ozark Plateau, is a scenic and diverse region in the central United States that spans four states: Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Surrounded by stunning natural beauty and charming small towns, there are many areas to explore off the beaten path in the Ozarks. From Van Buren, Missouri, to Baxter Springs, Kansas, and other picturesque towns scattered throughout the region, the Ozarks provide rest and relaxation with a scenic view. 

The Ozark area is home to historic downtowns, hot springs, equestrian trails, and ample hiking trails to explore. Whether you want to spend time horseback riding in Eminence, Missouri, or canoeing in Ponca, Arkansas, these small towns in the Ozarks offer something for everyone.

Beaver, Arkansas

Historic suspension bridge over the White River in Beaver, Arkansas.

Located where the White River meets the westernmost edge of Table Rock Lake is the charming town of Beaver, Arkansas. The town is nestled among the Ozark Mountains near the border of Missouri. Due to its location and suspension bridge, Beaver boasts the “Golden Gate of the Ozarks,” a historic swinging bridge that offers beautiful water views. 

With a population of under 100 people, the town offers a tranquil setting where you can relax and unwind. Visitors enjoy taking a leisurely stroll along the Town of Beaver Trail, roasting marshmallows at local campgrounds, and fishing in Beaver Lake. The town is also home to Castle Rogue’s Manor, an American Castle that took over 20 years to build. Although the castle can be viewed along the town’s waterfront, visitors can also take a guided tour of the unique manor. 

Calico Rock, Arkansas

White River and Ozark National Forest in Calico Rock, Arkansas. Image credit Bonita R. Cheshier via Shutterstock

The beautiful town of Calico Rock, Arkansas, offers visitors a glimpse of small-town living in the Ozark Mountains. Located along the White River, Calico Rock offers ample trout fishing, guided fishing trips, and boating opportunities. One of the best spots to view the river and view the natural beauty of the area is at City Rock Bluff. 

A trip to Calico Rock must include a stop at the Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center, which provides a look at the unique history of the river port city. The town is also home to the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour each September, which showcases the work of local artists in the area.

Eminence, Missouri

Alley Spring and Mill in Eminence, Missouri. Image credit Ian Peter Morton via Shutterstock.com

Eminence is a picturesque town in southern Missouri, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Located along Jacks Fork, a tributary of the Current River, Eminence is a water enthusiast’s paradise. Visitors can canoe, kayak, and float along crystal-clear waters, surrounded by stunning bluffs and lush forests. For land lovers, the area also boasts miles of hiking trails, including Lick Log Hollow Trail. There are also stunning views of nature and wildlife to discover along the trails at Angeline Conservation Area and Echo Bluff State Park.

A unique feature of the town are the wild horses that roam free in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The area is home to one of only two wild horse herds in the Midwest, and visitors occasionally spot the roaming horses.

Ponca, Arkansas

Quaint-covered bridge over a cascading waterfall in autumn in Ponca, Arkansas. Image credit Bonnie Taylor Barry via Shutterstock

Ponca, Arkansas, a hidden gem in the Natural State, rests in the heart of the Buffalo National River region. The quaint town offers several outdoor activities, including fishing, hiking, and floating. The Buffalo National River itself is a prime spot for canoeing, kayaking, and floating, and provides breathtaking views of untouched wilderness. 

Ponca is also a great starting point for exploring the limestone bluffs and hiking trails of the Ponca Wilderness and the Boxley Valley. If you are lucky, you may even view elk herds along these trails. If you want to see incredible views of the sunset, sunrise, or the stars, be sure to book a cabin on top of the Ozark Mountains just above Ponca.

Jasper, Arkansas

Cliff House Inn, located along Arkansas scenic highway 7 North, near Jasper, Arkansas. Image credit Tammy Chesney via Shutterstock.com

Known for its natural beauty and tranquility, Jasper, Arkansas, is the perfect spot to escape tourist crowds in the Ozark Mountains. Since the town sits along the Little Buffalo River, surrounded by the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, Jasper, provides incredible outdoor adventures. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike, canoe, rock climb, and mountain bike in the national forest and hike along the Koen Interpretive Trail and Round Top Mountain Trail. 

For a unique experience, visit the Arkansas Grand Canyon. The expansive valley is part of a scenic drive that begins at the southeastern part of Jasper. The best time to view the Arkansas Grand Canyon is at sunrise or sunset when the sky blankets the valley in majestic colors.

Baxter Springs, Kansas

Route 66 Welcome Center at Baxter Springs, Kansas. Image credit Vanessa Ezekowitz via Wikimedia Commons

Nestled within the 55 square miles of the Ozarks in Kansas, Baxter Springs is a unique gem in the southeastern corner of the state. Bordering Oklahoma, the town is a great place for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts to visit. Since Baxter Springs is along the Spring River, the town boasts several fishing and camping sites, such as Kiwanis Park and Riverside Park.

For those who enjoy history, the town was also the site of the Baxter Springs Civil War Battle. You can learn more about the battle and the town’s history at the Baxter Springs Historical Museum. Another great spot to learn about history is at the Baxter Springs, Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center. Although there are only 13 miles of Route 66 in the state, Baxter Springs is worth visiting for a scenic ride on this historic road.

Grove, Oklahoma

Women sitting by the lake at Grand Lake, Oklahoma. Image credit Vineyard Perspective via Shutterstock

The charming town of Grove, Oklahoma, offers a serene getaway on the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. A tranquil spot to explore the outdoors in Grove is at Honey Creek Area at Grand Lake State Park. Visitors enjoy hiking, camping, boating, and swimming along the lake shores at the park. If you visit in October, the park hosts the Pelican Festival, with carnival rides, local art vendors, a parade, and a pelican tour.

The charming town also boasts plenty of land activities. The Lendonwood Gardens is an eight-acre botanical garden that showcases thousands of plants, walking paths, and self-guided tours. The town’s Rotary Veterans Park also features a great playground area and picnic areas in a peaceful setting.

Salem, Missouri

Early morning sunrise at Shawnee Mac Lake in Salem, Missouri.

Surrounded by the Mark Twain National Forest is the charming town of Salem, Missouri. The town is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts due to the ample hiking trails in Montauk State Park. Located along the Current River, the state park is also renowned for trout fishing. For history buffs, a tour of the park’s historic gristmill provides a history lesson about the Ozarks region.

Salem is also home to the Shawnee Mac Lakes Conservation Area, which boasts two lakes, Ziske Lake and Turner Lake. Visitors enjoy fishing in the lakes, hiking along the conservation area’s two trails, and primitive camping. 

Pocahontas, Arkansas

Pocahontas, Arkansas, the Historic Randolph County Courthouse at dusk. Image credit Roberto Galan via Shutterstock

The small town of Pocahontas, Arkansas, offers history, water activities, and breathtaking nature views. Located where the Fourche River empties into the Black River, Pocahontas is a great place for fishing and boating. Visitors also enjoy the scenic waterfront views at Overlook Park along a leisurely stroll along the park’s paved walking path.

The town is also home to the Eddie Mae Herron Center, a historical school site featuring 200 years of African-American history in the area. History buffs can also learn about the town’s history at the Randolph County Heritage Museum, which offers free admission.

Norfork, Arkansas

The Jacob Wolf House was built in 1829. Image credit Photolitherland via Wikimedia Commons

Nestled in a stunning valley in north central Arkansas is the charming town of Norfork. At the heart of the town is the confluence of the North Fork River and White River, making Norfork the perfect place for fishing. The town is also one of the oldest settled areas in the Natural State, hosting Pioneer Days on the third Saturday in May to pay tribute to the town’s history.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Norfork offers a beautiful hike along the Matney Knob Trailhead with picturesque views of the valley. You can also enjoy a scenic drive of the mountains along Highway 341. 

Van Buren, Missouri

Van Buren across a campground from US 60; courthouse square in the distance. Image credit Brian Stansberry – Own work, CC BY 4.0, File:Van-Buren-from-US60-mo.jpeg – Wikimedia Commons

With a population of less than 1,000 people, Van Buren, Missouri, offers small-town charm to visitors. Nestled along the Current River, Van Buren provides many options for outdoor enthusiasts. You can fish, boat, and view the incredible landscape at Van Buren Riverfront Park. The area is also home to one of Missouri’s first state parks, Big Spring. Visitors enjoy viewing the big spring in the park, staying in the lodge or camping, and hiking along the park’s trailheads. Another first the town is known for is being home to the first national park that protected a riverway, Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

These charming towns provide a blend of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and unique cultural experiences without the crowds of large tourist destinations. From trout fishing in the White River to stargazing and hiking along scenic trails in the Ozark Mountains, the area offers ample outdoor activities. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, these small towns offer a peaceful getaway in the picturesque Ozarks region.

Originally Appeared Here

Story Links

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Augustana women’s basketball team was selected to finish sixth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released by the league office on Thursday morning. Three-time All-NSIC member and senior guard Lauren Sees was selected as the Vikings’ Player to Watch.

The Minnesota State Mavericks were selected to win the league, earning 196 points and 14 of 15 first place votes. The 2022-23 National Runner-Up, Minnesota Duluth, earned the final first place vote and were selected to finish second with 165 points. The University of Mary was picked third with 162 points, while SMSU (140 points) and St. Cloud State (133 points) rounded out the top five. 

Sees, a native of Avon, S.D., enters her fifth season with the Vikings, and returns after averaging 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in 31 starts en route to earning First Team All-NSIC honors. She joined the 1,000 point club in 2022-23, and currently ranks 21st on Augustana’s all-time scoring list with 1,268 points. 

“Lauren has had a fantastic career at Augie and our team is lucky to have her for her final season,” said head coach Jillian Flores Bennett.  “We will rely heavily on her to lead us and push us. Lauren has a competitive drive that is contagious and is an extremely skilled point guard. I’m excited to see how she cherishes this last season and for her to display the many facets of her game.”

The Vikings return four starters and nine of 10 players that saw action a season ago, and add a pair of freshmen and have a roster constructed of three seniors, three juniors, a redshirt sophomore, three sophomores, two redshirt freshmen, and two freshmen. 

The familiar faces will be led by a new face, as Flores Bennett enters her first season as head coach for the Vikings. Joining her in their first season on staff are assistant coaches Amber Peterson, Tommy Turgeon and Britney Epperson.

“I’m excited to see how this team comes together as they continue to adapt to a new coaching staff and style of play,” said Flores Bennett. “They have dominated preseason and there is a burning desire to compete and win at the highest level. We have a lot of experience on our roster and I am looking forward to seeing how every player elevates this year.”

Augustana opens its season on the road at MIAA favorites, Central Missouri, on Nov. 16. The Vikings open their home schedule on Nov. 21, hosting Sioux Falls in the NSIC opener at 7:30 p.m., inside the Elmen Center.

Season tickets are available at GoAugie.com/Tickets and can be purchased for as low as $85 with an A-Club membership or $169 without.

NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Minnesota State (14)              
2. Minnesota Duluth (1)             
3. University of Mary              
4. Southwest Minnesota State                     
5. St. Cloud State         
6. Augustana      
7. Concordia – St. Paul            
8. Sioux Falls       
9. MSU Moorhead                   
t10. Wayne State                    
t10. Northern State                           
12. Winona State            
13. Minnesota Crookston               
14. Bemidji State     
15. Minot State        
 

–GoAugie.com– 

Originally Appeared Here

DENVER, Co. – In response to public requests, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is extending the public scoping period for the proposed Missouri Headwaters Conservation Area to November 27, 2023. The public scoping period will determine public interest, identify issues that require further analysis, and gather insight on a proposal to create a Missouri Headwaters Conservation Area in Beaverhead County and portions of Madison, Deer Lodge, Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, Montana. If created, the Conservation Area could authorize the Service to work with willing sellers to acquire up to a proposed 250,000 acres of conservation easements within the proposed Conservation Area boundary (see map).

The Service is also adding a fourth public meeting in Butte, MT on October 23, 2023.

Upon completion of the public scoping phase, the Service will determine next steps, which may include development of a Land Protection Plan to establish the Conservation Area and would include additional opportunities for public input. 

Conservation easements protect wildlife habitat, open space, and working lands into the future and help preserve the rural way of life, including ranching. Acquisition of conservation easements would be voluntary and would occur over decades as funds are available and allocated. The Service would use federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to purchase easements within the Conservation Area. These funds are derived from federal offshore oil and gas leasing and are not taxpayer dollars. No fee-title acquisition would be authorized. 

The primary objectives of the proposed project include preserving important wildlife habitat and migration corridors and allowing properties to be managed for agricultural use. For more information, visit https://www.fws.gov/project/proposed-missouri-headwaters-conservation-area 

The proposed project area is a stronghold for wildlife that has disappeared from much of their historic range and is the centerpiece for connectivity between the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Crown of the Continent, and the wilderness of central Idaho. In particular, the proposed project area includes high-priority connectivity and movement corridors for wide-ranging species such as grizzly bear, pronghorn, elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep. The proposal will use conservation easements to protect wildlife habitat and help maintain this connectivity between protected blocks of habitat on public and private conservation lands.

The scoping period began on September 20 and now ends on November 27, 2023.

The Service is also hosting four open-house meetings in southwestern Montana where the public can learn more about this proposed project and provide written comments on the proposal. The open houses will be:

• October 10, 6-8 pm, in Wisdom at the Community Center,Wisdom, MT 59761
• October 11, 6-8 pm in Dillon at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Office, 840 North Montana St., Dillon, MT 59725
• October 12, 6-8pm in Alder at the Fire House, 29 Upper Ruby Road, Alder, MT 59710
• October 23, 6-8pm in Butte at the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives Building, 17 W. Quartz St, Butte, MT 59701

 

For more information about the public meetings, please contact Ben Gilles, Refuge Manager (benjamin_gilles@fws.gov, 406-217-2287) or Jamie Hanson, Conservation Planner (jamie_hanson@fws.gov)

Please submit official written comments to:

• Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Ben Gilles, 922 Bootlegger Trail Great Falls, MT 59404
• Email: MOHWCA@fws.gov

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Flickr, and YouTube.

Originally Appeared Here

The United Auto Workers union isn’t backing down as it bargains for more compensation and better benefits in its new contracts with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Under the deft leadership of its president, Shawn Fain, and other officials elected in March 2023, the union has thrown the three companies off balance with a strike that began on Sept. 15 – the minute its prior contracts expired.

As of Oct. 6, the number of UAW members on strike from their Big Three jobs stood at 25,000 after a gradual climb – meaning that 1 in 6 of the union’s nearly 150,000 autoworkers were on the picket lines instead of going to work.

I’m a labor and business scholar who has studied the history of UAW collective bargaining with the Detroit Three. I’ve observed that the union’s bargaining strategy has three interconnected elements that match what Harvard Program on Negotiations researchers recommend: an emphasis on substance, processes affecting interpersonal relations, and the setup – or context.

3-part strategy

Fain and his leadership team have gotten the upper hand in all three regards.

First, it framed the negotiations by publicizing its members’ demands at the very beginning of formal talks. From the start, the union has clearly argued that the automakers’ “record profits” in recent years meant that autoworkers deserve what it calls “record contracts” to compensate them for past sacrifices, such as lowering pay and reducing benefits for newer hires.

So far, it looks like the UAW is making real gains on the substance of its demands. For example, by Oct. 3, Ford was offering a 26% pay raise, up from about 15% before the strike, and the restoration of annual cost-of-living adjustments to keep up with inflation.

And on Oct. 6, Fain applauded GM’s acceptance of a key union demand: that all workers at their electric-vehicle battery manufacturing plants have the same working conditions and compensation as those who are making vehicles with internal combustion engines and transmissions. I see this as a monumental concession that signals to the other companies that it would be advisable for them to follow suit.

Second, the union unilaterally changed the bargaining process, starting with its optics. The UAW dispensed with the traditional handshake ceremonies it had previously held with auto executives to kick off contract negotiations. “There is no point in having some pomp and circumstance and some big ceremony acting like we’re working together when we’re not,” Fain told reporters in mid-July.

Instead of participating in conciliatory photo-ops, the leadership held meet-and-greets with rank-and-file UAW members at factories belonging to Ford, General Motors and Stellantis – the global automaker that makes Chrysler, Dodge and Ram vehicles – where Fain declared that the union was ready to go on strike.

More significantly in terms of its processes, the UAW is on strike for the first time against all three of the automakers, having abandoned its prior practice of targeting one company at a time. Bargaining simultaneously with all three companies effectively pits them against each other.

One way Fain is doing that is by expanding picket lines in accordance with the progress or lack thereof each of the three automakers makes in meeting the UAW’s demands. Pressure on the companies is building with rolling deadlines at which additional strike sites are announced.

This strategy has led the companies to make concessions, with the union barely having to reciprocate. Although the UAW is now seeking a 36% increase in pay, down from 46%, it has not ratcheted down many of its other demands.

Third, the union has successfully used social media to get its narrative across and to rally public support for its fight with the automakers.

Perhaps the best evidence that the union’s outreach strategy is succeeding is that Joe Biden became the first sitting president to join strikers on a picket line when he made a trip to Belleville, Michigan, on Sept. 26. Once there, Biden expressed support for the UAW’s cause.

The UAW has repeatedly accused the companies of being greedy, often by pointing to what their top executives make: The CEOs of Ford, General Motors and Stellantis each received between $21 million and $29 million in compensation in 2022.

Collaborative vs. adversarial

Research on labor-management negotiations has underscored two basic approaches to bargaining: collaborative and adversarial.

Early on, collective bargaining in the U.S. auto industry was the latter.

By the late 1970s, as the Big Three lost market share to foreign automakers, the UAW was forced into a concessionary bargaining mode. It compromised on pay and benefits to enable manufacturers to compete against nonunion employers – especially in 2007 and 2009 amid weak demand for new vehicles.

In 2023, the UAW has declared those days over.

The union is instead focused on what Walter Reuther, the UAW’s longtime leader, called “the sharing of economic abundance.”

To implement its new strategy, the union is relying on several hard-bargaining tactics: extreme demands, personal attacks, threats and warnings, rolling deadlines and holding unpredictable strikes that are the same for all three companies.

Fain himself described the union’s initial demands as “audacious.”

On top of a roughly 46% wage increase, it sought the restoration of annual cost-of-living adjustments, retiree health care and defined-benefit pensions, the elimination of separate wage tiers for longtime and newer workers and increases in profit-sharing. The UAW also sought a 32-hour work week with pay for 40 hours of labor and the restoration of jobs banks – an abolished system that paid workers at closed factories who did community service.

Some analysts have estimated that accepting all of these conditions would more than double labor costs for the three automakers.

Signs of success

I think it’s clear that the union caught the companies flat-footed in response to this unconventional approach and that the Big Three are making significant concessions in terms of raising pay for the lowest-paid workers.

At the same time, gaps do remain between the union’s demands and what the companies are offering, especially in terms of across-the-board pay increases.

For example, Ford and Stellantis have not yet agreed to the UAW’s demands regarding equal pay, benefits and job protections for electric-vehicle manufacturing workers. And there seems to be no progress toward shortening the work week to four days from five – which may have been more of an optimistic ask than a hard demand.

But with a little give-and-take, I have little doubt that the parties will resolve these matters. And despite this high-stakes dispute, I believe it’s possible for the automakers to wind up with a win if they can accentuate the common interests that bind labor and management to their shared future success.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Oct. 6, 2023, with details about a new development involving the UAW’s negotations with General Motors.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Originally Appeared Here

Mothers and daughters attend a Victorian-style tea party at the Hargis House on Saturday, Sept. 23. The event was hosted by the Grand Island Public Library to celebrate the 147th birthday of Edith Abbott, a local historical figure.

 

 

New exhibit opens Friday at Studio 10

Missouri artist Robert Klausing will be the featured artist for October at Studio 10 Art Gallery in downtown Grand Island.

An opening reception to meet the artist is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at the gallery, 112 W. Third St.

“Deepwater — View Northwest,” by Missouri artist Robert Klausing, will be on display through October at the Studio 10 Art Gallery in downtown Grand Island. An opening reception is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at the gallery, 112 W. Third St.

ROBERT KLAUSING COURTESY

From Butler, Missouri, Klausing retired from 27 years of teaching and coaching in the Lee’s Summit R-7 school district and has served as an adjunct art instructor for Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He received Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Education degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Master of Arts in Painting from the University of Central Missouri.

Klausing

Klausing works in a variety of media including acrylic, pastel, watercolor and oil. The bulk of his current artwork focuses on the land and environment where he lives. He considers the French and American Impressionists, John Singer Sargent and Neil Welliver, as primary influences on his work.

“Unrealized Dreams,” by Missouri artist Robert Klausing, will be on display through October at the Studio 10 Art Gallery in downtown Grand Island. An opening reception is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at the gallery, 112 W. Third St.

ROBERT KLAUSING COURTESY

Recent awards and recognition include Best of Show at the Heartland Annual Juried Invitational in Merriam, Kansas, Merit Award at Prairie Village State of the Arts in Prairie Village, Kansas, Silver Medal Award, Anniversary Award and Signature Status designation in Red River Watercolor Society, Merit Award Winner at Southwest Pastel Society 2021, and inclusion in Watercolor USA 2022, National Watercolor Society Online Exhibit 2022 and Mid-South Watercolor Society National Juried Exhibit 2021 and 2023.

Studio 10 is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 308-381-4001.

University Theatre at Kearney is presenting “The Tempest” through Sunday at UNK’s Miriam Drake Theatre. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

ERIKA PRITCHARD UNK COMMUNICATIONS

UNK Theatre presenting Shakespeare classic ‘The Tempest’

KEARNEY — University Theatre at Kearney is opening the 2023-24 season with a William Shakespeare classic.

“The Tempest,” a captivating tale of magic, love, family and forgiveness, will be presented this week at Miriam Drake Theatre on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

University Theatre at Kearney is presenting “The Tempest” through Sunday at UNK’s Miriam Drake Theatre. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

ERIKA PRITCHARD UNK COMMUNICATIONS

Running approximately 2-1/2 hours, including a 10-minute intermission, “The Tempest” recounts the tale of Prospero and his daughter Miranda as they find their way back from years of isolation on a deserted island. It is a true journey of discovery, set into motion when fate brings Prospero’s enemies past his island home. Though Prospero endeavors to use magic and manipulation to exact his revenge, he ultimately realizes what truly matters in life.

University Theatre at Kearney is presenting “The Tempest” through Sunday at UNK’s Miriam Drake Theatre. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

ERIKA PRITCHARD UNK COMMUNICATIONS

Area cast members include: Charlotte Hajda (Miranda), of Broken Bow; Isabelle Stroot (Stefano), of Hastings; and Laura Rozema (Ariel), of Kearney.

Area students who are part of the artistic and production staff include: Lainey Schmeits (stage manager), Naomi Chavez (assistant stage manager), Carroll Moore Raine LaClair (assistant technical director), and Jaden Longfellow (sound designer), all of Kearney.

General admission tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for non-UNK students and seniors; $7 per person for groups of 10 or more; and free for UNK students with a valid ID. The UNK Theatre Box Office is open 12:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to each performance. All ticket purchases are payable by cash or check only. For reservations, call 308-865-8417 or email boxoffice@unk.edu.

The World-Famious Glenn Miller Orchestra swings into Ord’s Golden Husk Theatre for a two-hour performance at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.

COURTESY PHOTO

Ord theater hosts World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra

ORD — The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra swings into Ord’s Golden Husk Theatre for a two-hour performance at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.

One of the most sought after big band in the world since 1938, director Eric Stabnau and the 16-member ensemble will play many of the favorite original Miller arrangements, including “Moonlight Serenade,” “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” “Tuxedo Junction” and more, as well as more modern selections arranged and performed in the Miller style and sound. Along with the orchestra, vocalist Jenny Swoish, will perform individually and as part of The Moonlight Serenaders vocal group.

Opening performances by the Central Valley Schools Choir, directed by Julie Baker, and the Midplains Community College Jazzy Knights, directed by Jennifer Winder, will start at 3:45 pm. Also, students will perform the finale piece, “In The Mood,” on stage with the Orchestra.

Doors at the Golden Husk, 129 S. 16th St., open at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $12 for youth or $75 per family; call 308-730-8122 or purchase online at goldenhuskarts.org

Church hosts popular piano-violin duo

Grace Covenant Church will sponsor a piano and violin concert by Kevin and Heidi Cheng at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1304 N. Custer Ave.

Grace Covenant Church will sponsor a piano and violin concert by Kevin and Heidi Cheng at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1304 N. Custer Ave. The duo will perform a wide variety of music, including sacred, folk and classical genres.

COURTESY PHOTO

The duo will perform a wide variety of music, including sacred, folk and classical genres.

Find them on Facebook and YouTube at Kevin and Heidi Cheng.

Freewill donations will be accepted.

GILT tickets now on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the Grand Island Little Theatre’s fall production, “Love … Or Best Offer,” which opens Oct. 13 at College Park.

This romantic comedy focuses on Cheryl, a widow of two years, and Stan, who is newly divorced. After failed blind dates, their best friends, Lori and Dave, convince them to try online dating with the new dating website, “Friends, Love or Whatever.” With the worst dating advice in the world from their friends, Cheryl and Stan set out to find happiness and true love … online. All the trials and tribulations of online dating come to the forefront, including overcoming heartbreak and rejection, all in an effort to find love … or best offer.

Cast members include Ron Jelinek as Stan, Scott E Miller as Dave, Julie Miller as Cheryl and Cheryl O’Curran as Lori.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13-15 and Oct. 20-22.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students 12 and under (includes tax and processing fee); call the box office at 308-382-2586 or oder online at githeare.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. Student tickets must be purchased at the box office. Season tickets and group discounts are available.

For more show information, call Jeannee Mueller Fossberg, producer, at 308-379-2015.

This weekend at the Grand …

“A Haunting in Venice” is showing this weekend at the Grand Theatre, 316 W. Third St. Showtimes are 7:15 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a séance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.

This film is rated PG-13 for some strong violence, disturbing images and thematic elements. Running time is one hour, 43 minutes.

Admission is $5 for adults, and $4 for children and seniors. For more information, call 308-381-2667 or visit grandmovietheatre.com.

Arts and entertainment briefs are published every Thursday in The Independent. To submit announcements, submit to Terri Hahn at terri.hahn@theindependent.com at least two weeks prior to the event. No information will be accepted over the phone. There is no charge for publication, but announcements must follow newspaper style and policy.

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Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA − Victims of domestic violence are being urged to turn off notifications or power off their cell phones before the nationwide emergency alert test on Wednesday afternoon.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will conduct nationwide, dual tests of alert systems at about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday for 30 minutes. There is no immediate danger associated with the alerts or action needed to be done by citizens. 

Victims of abuse will often keep secret cell phones in case of an emergency. Often times, the abuser has access to and monitors all forms of communication of the abused.

Maggie Franks works at True North, a Columbia agency that provides resources for abused individuals. She said secret phones are often the last line of defense in emergency situations.

“Secret phones can be the only line of communication the abuser is not aware of,” Franks said. “Victims will keep these phones hidden until a situation emerges where they need it.”

When the alert goes off, it will send a loud, blaring noise to cell phones nationwide, which in return could disclose the location of a secret phone.

“Keep it in airplane mode because it’s easy to click it out of airplane mode when you need it,” Franks said. “Or having it powered off is going to be the safest and most sure way to not have an alert go off when you don’t want it to.”

National legislation passed in 2015 requires FEMA to test the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) at least once every three years. Hannah Wichern works with Boone County Office of Emergency Management, and she said these alerts are very important. 

“We’ve used this system for Amber Alerts and even a couple months ago in the case of a manhunt [in Boone County], so I highly recommend leaving these alerts enabled,” she said.

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The IPAWS includes the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

WEA can be consider messages that fall under one of four categories: national alerts, imminent threat alerts, public safety alerts and Amber Alerts. EAS, on the other hand, include all of the same categories with the addition of presidential alerts.

The testing will be similar to that of the one that was last done in 2021 and the Presidential Act test in 2018, with a major difference being that individuals will only be able to opt-out of one of the tests.  

“You are welcome to disable and block these alerts from coming in,” Winchern said. “But the government’s responsibility is to protect the people, and that’s what the emergency alerts are for.”

Depending on the language set on a device, the messages will be sent out in either English or Spanish. The messages from the WEA test will be directed as a text message to cell phones, while the EAS test will be sent to radios and televisions.

If an individual has previously opted out of emergency alerts from pinging their phone, they will not receive the WEA alert. The same can not be said for the EAS test. 

The WEA test will not interrupt a phone call and will be accompanied by a loud tone according to the FAQ on the FEMA website.    

Before the nationwide tests are to commence, the Boone County Office of Emergency Management will conduct its monthly test of the outdoor warning siren system at noon Wednesday. 

If severe weather or other significant events occur on that date, the IPAWS testing will be rescheduled to Oct. 11 at the same time.

Originally Appeared Here

While the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) does set out Ameren Missouri’s intention to also continue investing in some natural gas generation, the utility said it is committed to ending the use of coal. Meanwhile the company is accelerating its long-term renewable energy investment plans.

Indeed, Ameren Missouri’s levelised cost of energy (LCOE) modelling found solar PV and wind to be the cheapest new resources that can be added to its portfolio.

Battery storage was found to be much cheaper than simple cycle gas turbines which provide peaking capacity but not cheaper than baseload combined cycled gas power plants, although when modelled with investment tax credit (ITC) incentives factored in, batteries were cheaper than nuclear.

Targeting net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045, its interim targets include adding 2,800MW of renewable energy by 2030, and 4,700MW by 2036 – the latter date brought forward by four years from Ameren Missouri’s previous IRP.

The utility had previously said it would add 400MW of energy storage to its portfolio by 2035. Instead, it now wants to add 400MW by 2030, and a further 400MW by 2035. That means it would reach its previously announced 2040 target of 800MW five years earlier.

Coal has been the historical backbone of electric generation in the MISO grid and wholesale market territory that spans all or part of 15 US states and part of Canada.

However as the economic and environmental case for coal diminishes rapidly, there has been an acceleration in both wind and solar deployment over the past few years that has more recently led to increases in planned and deployed energy storage facilities.

Earlier this year, Energy-Storage.news spoke with Aubrey Johnson, VP of system planning and competitive transmission at MISO for an interview. Johnson spoke about how energy storage can help solve the challenges of integrating growing shares of renewable energy onto the grid, but at the same time, adding storage itself to the grid in the first place is not an easy task.

Energy storage is only viable option for MISO energy transition

While the MISO service area had about 600MW of energy storage online as of the midpoint of this year, mostly paired with generation and far, far less than the 5GW+ mark California’s CAISO grid reached in May, for example, it has more than 30GW of standalone energy storage and even more co-located storage-plus-renewable projects in its grid interconnection queue.  

Ameren Missouri noted that it had evaluated a diverse range of energy storage technologies and their potential for the IRP. Those included lithium-ion batteries, pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), compressed air, liquid air, redox flow batteries, hydrogen storage and lead-acid batteries.

It found that battery storage, primarily with lithium-ion, and PHES were the most cost-effective options, while the company also claimed that it considered only utility-owned battery storage facilities and not third-party procurements to be cost-effective.

On a related note, MISO’s Aubrey Johnson said in the April interview with Energy-Storage.news that while energy storage does pencil out more expensively than some other resource options, it is the only viable way to effectively decarbonise the grid while accommodating growing electric load.

Ameren Missouri is also among winning bidders in MISO’s competitive solicitations to build new transmission infrastructure, with around US$10 billion of successful bids in the first tranche of the grid operator’s Long Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) auctions held in 2022.

Investments in energy storage by utilities in MISO such as Ameren Missouri and the parent companies’ other subsidiaries will be important in its energy transition. They will likely comprise a small portion however of the overall deployment of storage in the region, with developers eyeing potential merchant opportunities for standalone storage as well as for contracted revenues from smoothing solar and wind generation.

The market still needs some reconfiguration for that to pan out, MISO’s Aubrey Johnson said in the interview. MISO only added electricity storage to its market portfolio for the first time around a year ago. Yet as with neighbouring PJM – the only transmission operator service territory bigger than MISO – the fundamental drivers appear to be there for storage to take off.   

Originally Appeared Here

Elizabeth Oberle. (Special to the Daily Record)

Cañon City resident and elementary school teacher, Elizabeth Oberle, recently announced her candidacy for the Cañon City Council. She is running for one of two At-Large council seats, which encompasses the city in its entirety.

“I am honored and excited to officially announce my candidacy for city council and I look forward to hearing from our citizens about the issues that matter most to them,” Oberle said.

Oberle is an employee of Cañon City School District, where she currently teaches fifth grade at Harrison K-8. She is a graduate of Central Missouri State University and holds a degree in Elementary Education. Prior to moving to Cañon City, Oberle taught in the Kansas City, Mo., Public School system for 25 years, where she held building and district leadership positions during her tenure. She’s also certified in Montessori education for primary education, lower and upper elementary education, and is a published author on the subject matter.

Oberle is running for city council because she believes Cañon City deserves a leader who will listen and learn from their constituents, and she’s committed to taking a proactive and collaborative approach to addressing the challenges facing the city.

“I am committed to addressing the challenges we face as a city including the rising cost of living and the lack of affordable housing,” said Oberle. “I will do so by listening to the concerns of our community members with the goal of building a better Cañon City, one that thrives economically and maintains that ‘small town’ feel that we all appreciate.”

Oberle has a long history of community involvement. She is a member of the Fremont County Tourism Board, Chief Sourcing Office of Communal LLC, and former Facilitator for Fremont Economic Development’s AgStart program, and she volunteers for a number of local organizations, including Fremont Community Foundation, Starpoint, and FAR.

“If elected, my first priority will be to meet with my constituents, council colleagues and City Manager Ryan Stevens to get a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Cañon City,” added Oberle. “It will be a great privilege to serve my community on the City Council.”

To learn more about Oberle’s vision for Cañon City, please Like and Follow Oberle for Cañon City at  https://www.facebook.com/oberleforcanoncity.

The Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance and the Cañon City Daily Record will be holding a candidate forum for both the Cañon City Council and Mayoral election and for the Cañon City School District RE-1 Board of Education Election on Oct. 11 at the Steeple Event Center at 701 Macon Ave. The City Council forum will begin at 5 p.m. and end at approximately 6:30. Board of Education Forum featuring all six candidates will begin at 6:45 and end at approximately 8:15. Arrangements are being made to record and broadcast the forum through social media. The forum is being sponsored by the Royal Gorge Association of Realtors who will also be providing light refreshments for attendees.

Originally Appeared Here