Mid-Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Mike Parson will head to Japan on his sixth trade mission in mid-October, the governor told reporters Monday.

At a bill-signing event in his office, Parson said his latest overseas journey is aimed at boosting business connections between the two countries.

“We do a lot of business with Japan. I’m looking forward to it,” Parson said.

His comments came as he signed legislation that includes a provision designating the month of May as “Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

Parson said it has been decades since a Missouri governor went to Japan, which exported an estimated $455 million in products to the state in 2022, according to the Missouri Partnership.

The state’s largest trading partner is Canada, followed by Mexico, China, Japan and Belgium.

Past governors to visit Japan include Republican John Ashcroft, who served as chief executive from 1985 to 1993. His trip included members of the St. Louis Symphony and is credited with helping lure Kawasaki Motors to build a small-engine plant in Maryville.

Missouri exported an estimated $394 million in products to Japan in 2022, including processed foods, chemicals, computers and electronics and machinery.

“I’m not sure why we really haven’t been over there to build those relationships,” Parson said.

Missouri currently is home to a Toyota engine plant in Troy, about 50 miles northwest of St. Louis.

The Japanese automaker purchased the 550,000-square-foot facility in 1990 from Bodine Aluminum Inc. Its 1,000 workers build four-cylinder engine heads on three production lines.

Missouri companies doing business in Japan include Enterprise, Hallmark and World Wide Technology.

Parson said he will promote Missouri’s central location as an advantage for companies wanting a distribution center.

“If you put your finger in the middle of the United States, you’ll be right on top of Missouri,” Parson said.

He also said he hopes to promote Missouri agriculture, such as the state’s beef industry.

“I think agriculture is a priority anytime I go anywhere,” said Parson, who operates a small cattle farms in Bolivar.

Parson typically hands over power to fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe when he travels abroad. The temporary designation comes as Kehoe is running for governor in 2024.

Japan has been a popular destination for governors this year. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited in April, while New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy went in July.

The trip is being organized by the Hawthorn Foundation, a private, nonprofit created in 1982 by former Gov. Kit Bond to facilitate business recruitment, retention and development efforts. One of the foundation’s focuses is helping to pay the cost of foreign trade missions by Missouri officials.

Parson previously has visited Sweden, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

China claims that it has now become the world’s top car exporter after overtaking Japan for the first three months of the year.

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Missouri judge signed an order on Friday that allows a law banning gender affirming treatment for minors to go into effect, but the legal battle continues.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent a letter to Missouri health providers telling them to cease any treatments that might violate this law. No central Missouri health providers were on the list.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer’s ruling allows the ban to start on Monday, as was previously scheduled. Senate Bill 49, also called the “Missouri Save Adolescents From Experimentation” or “S.A.F.E.” Act, doesn’t allow anyone under the age of 18 to receive any surgeries, puberty blockers or hormone therapies that aide in transitioning genders. This case is still set to go to trial. The next hearing is Sept. 22.

Aro Royston is a transgender man born and raised in Missouri. He said he will continue to fight against the law.

“We’re definitely planning to fight back,” Royston said. “We consider this and  a war,  and we may have lost the battle, but we will continue to fight the war.

Gov. Mike Parson held a series of ceremonial bill signings Monday, but not for Senate Bill 49. The S.A.F.E. Act was signed behind closed doors earlier this summer.

At Monday’s signing, Parson said he supports Judge Ohmer’s decision and commended Attorney General Andrew Bailey on his work to keep this law in effect.

“I thought it was the right outcome from the people of this state,” Parson said. “And I think when you see that, first of all, I want my hats off to the attorney general for the job he done on that for the part of the state. And I think, again, it goes back to it was a law that was created legally by the legislative branch, and it should have stood on that.”

One exception to the rule allows for anyone who began taking puberty blockers and hormones before Monday to continue.

The part of the law banning puberty blockers and hormones expires in four years, but the part of the law banning surgery for minors has no expiration date.

The law could also impact adults because Medicaid will no longer cover gender affirming treatments.

“It is disheartening, because you feel like as a contributing member to society, as a taxpayer, that you should be allowed these rights like access to health care and you’re not getting them,” Royston said.

The law also makes it illegal for any physician or healthcare provider to perform any gender transition procedures on minors. They also will not legally be allowed to refer any minor to another healthcare provider to have the procedure done.

Physicians who choose to continue doing so could possibly lose their practicing license, or be sued up to 15 years after the treatment.

Another law that requires all athletes to compete on teams of the gender they were assigned at birth will also go into effect on Monday. This applies to all public school districts, private schools or public charter schools that offer athletics through the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

Both bills were approved during in this year’s legislative session, but will take affect as laws Monday.

Originally Appeared Here

The school welcomed 2,300 students to campus this week, breaking it’s enrollment record for the sixth year in a row.

LINN – Donald McCracken didn’t plan on going to college. McCracken said he was always attracted to blue-collar work because of his small-town upbringing.

So, he didn’t think it would be useful to attend a college fair his freshman year of high school. But at the end of the fair he picked up a folder on State Technical College of Missouri.

When his plans to join the military fell through because of health complications, McCracken enrolled at State Tech to study civil engineering technology. Now, the Chillicothe native is a year away from graduation.

“I have that folder somewhere, still, in a box,” McCracken said.

He is one of the students who have fueled six consecutive years of record enrollment at State Tech. Despite college enrollment dropping across the country, the school welcomed a record 2,300 students to campus this week, up 100 from the year before.

To keep up with the growing student body, the school is undergoing a massive facelift. It’s building 120,000 square feet of new space and renovating two buildings, including it’s Information Technology building.

School President Dr. Shawn Strong walked KOMU 8 through the IT building renovation site.

He said the work carts, ladders, and exposed wiring will be replaced with a new financial aid and admissions office. Just down the hall will be a new bookstore.

All of the building’s classrooms are also being renovated.

“The campus is going to be completely different when everything is done,” Dr. Strong said. 

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

The school’s affordability and 99% job placement drives rising admissions, Dr. Strong said. Finance website WalletHub ranked State Tech as the best community college in the country this year.

According to Dr. Strong, 73% of students attend the school for free as part of Missouri’s A+ Scholarship Program. The scholarship allows students to attend public community colleges and trade schools for free.

It can be an attractive offer for students who aren’t interested in a traditional four-year college. Students can graduate with a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree.

Halie Maddox is a second-year student from St. Joseph studying digital marketing. In addition to being a part-time tour guide member of student government, Maddox runs two marketing companies.

“It’s very hands on here, so that’s what stood out to me,” Maddox said.

To compete with traditional colleges like the University of Missouri, Dr. Strong said State Tech has prioritized the college experience. 

There’s a game room, driving range, and even an amateur wrestling night. The school plans to open a clubhouse complete with a pool, restaurant, and theater in a month.

“I don’t know that we’ve really done a good job of getting the word out about the great things we do here,” Dr. Strong said.

Dr. Strong said his goal is to grow the school to 3,000 students by 2030.

For McCracken, State Tech is a simple sell.

“It’s still a small-town feel, but at the same time you’re getting the experience and the knowledge that you would get at another four year college.”

Originally Appeared Here

A new, local nonprofit will soon begin offering bus trips for veterans to visit Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial.

The first trip from Jefferson City to Perryville is planned for October.

Mid-MO Veterans Express will provide the day trips and lunches at American Legion Post 133 in Perryville free of charge.

The Perryville memorial, a replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., was built over the course of a year and was completed in 2018.

Darren Reuter, the director of Veterans Express, said the organization aims to take 100 veterans on each trek to Perryville.

The first trip is planned for Oct. 18. Veterans Express plans to take four trips a year — two in the spring and two in the fall.

Reuter said Veterans Express’ goal is “to honor our Vietnam-era veterans,” adding they have “been the backbone” for welcoming home veterans since Desert Storm.

“I really think this is going to be a great thing to do for our community,” Reuter said.

Openings during each trip are first-come, first-serve. If more than 100 veterans sign up for a trip, the organization will likely prioritize Vietnam veterans who had “boots on the ground.”

Jim Rosenberg, a member of the Veterans Express executive board, said the nonprofit plans to have two registered nurses and a medical bag available on each trip in case of an emergency.

Veterans who are interested in tracing names from the wall might have difficulty, as Reuter said “rubbings don’t really work as well there.” The memorial in Washington, D.C., is carved, while the memorial in Perryville is laser-etched.

Interested veterans can download an application on the Mid-MO Veterans Express website, mmvexpress.org.

Trips will be funded entirely through donations. Donations may be made via check to Mid-MO Veterans Express (which may be mailed to Mid-MO Veterans Express, 4925 Business 50 West, Jefferson City MO, 65109) with an online donation option to come soon.

The first trip is financed “quite well,” but more donations are needed to make it happen, Reuter said.

He said the idea for Veterans Express came during a conversation with Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe (when he was still a state senator) at the memorial’s grand opening in 2018. The conversation evolved to a point where it was suggested volunteers could bring veterans to the Perryville memorial.

Marine veteran Hal Dulle has been on the Honor Flight, a similar program, and has witnessed the impact the original Vietnam Memorial has on veterans.

“It is a healing process,” Dulle said, adding, “families are really gratified because their loved one was out there, all of a sudden he’s talking more about his military experience.”

Since the trip is shorter, Dulle suggests this is a great opportunity for veterans “who don’t fly or can’t make it to Washington.”

“This gives them an alternative to do it,” Dulle said.

Dulle said programs like Veterans Express are “instrumental” in providing tangible experiences to veterans.

“This is probably the best program I’ve ever seen,” Dulle said.

Rosenberg said the organization has Central Missouri Honor Flight’s blessing to carry out the trips, “but we are not them.”

“This is my way of giving back,” Rosenberg said.

Originally Appeared Here

Next Match:

vs. Central Michigan

8/26/2023 | 12PM

Aug. 26 (Sat) / 12PM

vs. Central Michigan

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Taking on preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite Southeast Missouri State, the University of Evansville volleyball team put forth a strong effort but dropped a 3-0 decision on Friday morning at Houck Field House.
 
Each set was decided by two points with two frames going to extra points.  Giulia Cardona led the way for the Purple Aces, finishing with 14 points, 8 digs and 4 blocks.  Melanie Feliciano added 13 kills and 5 digs.  Brooke Springer registered a game-high eight blocks.  Marisa Guisti and Lucy Arndt paced SEMO with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.
 
Game 1 – SEMO 26, UE 24
In the early portion of the opening set, the lead changed hands on multiple occasions before Evansville turned an 8-8 tie into an 11-8 lead.  Giulia Cardona and Melanie Feliciano recorded kills.  Feliciano registered another kill to push the lead to 13-10.  Southeast Missouri State stormed back, scoring five in a row to take their first multipoint lead at 15-13.
 
Continuing to fight back, the Aces jumped back in front when a Madisyn Steele kill gave her squad a 20-19 advantage.  SEMO countered with a 5-2 stretch to force set point at 24-22.  Feliciano got her team back on track to tie it up at 24-24 before the Redhawks scored the final two points to take a 26-24 decision. 
 
Game 2 – SEMO 26, UE 24
Carrying the momentum from a strong finish to the first set, SEMO stormed out to a 7-1 lead with two service aces contributing to the rally.  Kora Ruff contributed an ace to cut the deficit to a pair (7-5), but the Redhawks scored five of the next six to match their largest lead at 12-6.
 
Things continued to go the way of Southeast Missouri State as they held a 16-10 lead.  Steele and Feliciano posted kills to begin an 8-1 run that gave UE its first advantage of the set.  Feliciano totaled three kills during the run while combining with Brooke Springer on the block that put Evansville in front.  Springer added a solo block to give UE set point at 24-23, however, it was another late rally that would be the difference.  The final three points belonged to SEMO as they took another 26-24 win.
 
Game 3 – SEMO 25, UE 23
Evansville had the upper hand in the early moments of the set.  After Southeast Missouri State took a 6-4 edge, the Aces stormed back with eight in a row to open a 12-6 advantage.  Cardona and Springer combined for a pair of blocks during the stretch.  A pair of aces from the Redhawks helped them cut the lead in half before a kill made it a 14-12 game in favor of UE. 
 
Steele had a solo block to push the lead back to four points (16-12), but the complexion of the game changed once again as the Redhawks scored six in a row before extending the lead to 24-20.  The Aces rallied with three in a row but it was not enough as SEMO clinched the 25-23 win to take the match.
 
On Saturday, the Aces take on Central Michigan at 12 p.m.
 

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA – With the ever-increasing popularity of electric bikes as an alternative mode of transportation and recreational outlet, Columbia wants people to be aware of what and where certain e-bikes are allowed.

Columbia Parks and Recreation posted to its Facebook Monday about some rules when using e-bikes. 

According to the post, the department has received a “fair amount” of questions regarding the regulations. 

There are two different systems that can change how e-bikes can be used: Pedal assist and throttle controlled. A pedal assist e-bike only provides more propulsion to make pedaling easier, especially when going up steep hills; while a throttle-controlled e-bikes allow you to ride without even pedaling. 

While pedal assisted e-bikes are allowed on park/multi-use, bicycles operated exclusively by a throttle are not. Additionally, electric scooters are also not allowed. 

Janet Godon, a planner with the Parks and Recreation department, says this is to keep trails safe.

“We have nature trails and mountain bike trails, which can be just kind of a single footpath…we do not allow electric bicycles on those trails, because of the speed that they can go,” Godon said, “You [can] come up on people too quickly on an electric bicycle.”

The maximum speed limit on all trails is 15 mph. All cyclists are required to follow the speed limit and asked to slow down when warranted like passing other trail users or in congested areas. 

Godon says the department made the post because of the increasing sights of throttled powered e-bikes and scooters on trails.

“I think we as a department are going to see more and more of them. And we just have to manage our trail system so that everyone of all ages are safe while they’re using our trails,” Godon said. 

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Some e-bikes can assist up to 28 miles per hour or more, depending on the model. 

Godon says she does think there is a lot benefits, however, when it comes to the use of electric bikes, “The average trip for individuals living kind of in an urban setting like we do is about six miles. So that’s easily doable on a normal bike or an e-bike if you’re an individual maybe who has mobility issues.” 

Sam Botts, a sales manager for Walt’s Bike Shop, says that the benefits have boosted e-bike’s recent popularity.

“It’s the only thing in this store that I talked to somebody about every day,” Botts said, “There’s a huge demographic of people that are interested in it and it’s starting to sort of gain traction and other areas too you know, as far as like the commuter aspect of it and even in some cases like lower income people who need to get to work and can’t afford a vehicle.”

Botts has worked at Walt’s for a little over four years, and is well educated on e-bikes, which he describes as ‘a phenomenon.’ 

Botts says he can name multiple reasons why people have become so interested in owning an e-bike that “a lot of times, we have people that have ridden bikes for years and they’re getting older. Certain things are more difficult now, whether it’s distance, or hills, stuff like that.”

Botts also says e-bikes can help those with mobility limits.

“There are definitely people who have physical limitations, whether it’s hip replacements, knee surgeries, you know, stuff like that, gosh, even other health issues maybe with like breathing, to where they still want to get outside and still want to ride. But can’t can’t do it at the level of what it takes to ride a pedal bike,” Botts said.

Currently, Walt’s Bike Shop only sells pedal assisted e-bikes. Botts said the prices of e-bikes ranges depending on different models and characteristics.

“You can easily spend over $10,000 on an e-bike if you wanted to, if you’re a real enthusiast and want a super light, most technologically advanced one, but typically you’re going to be between for something that’s like a reputable brand, or reliable machine that will have service support in the future, like five years from now, you’ll still be able to get a battery or whatever, you’re probably going to be 1500 bucks,” Godon said.

For a full list of the rules and regulations for electric bikes, visit the Columbia’s City Ordinance Sec. 17. 

Originally Appeared Here

Loaves and Fishes, a soup kitchen, will lose its location at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church on Oct. 1.

The church, which has provided space to Loaves and Fishes since 2012, “decided to end its hosting partnership,” according to a post published to the soup kitchen’s Facebook group.

Loaves and Fishes, which provides free meals to anyone who is hungry, now must find an alternative location.

The decision follows an ongoing discussion between the church, city of Columbia and Loaves and Fishes about the soup kitchen possibly moving to the new Ashley Street Center, once construction there is complete.

Ruth O’Neill, Loaves and Fishes’ coordinator, said she was under the impression that the soup kitchen would be able to operate at the church until those renovations were finished. However, she received an email from a church representative Saturday with the Oct. 1 deadline.

Work on the Ashley Street Center is expected to be completed in time to open Nov. 1, Shane Creech, director of Columbia’s Public Works Department, said during a public meeting held July 25. That would leave Loaves and Fishes in the lurch for at least a month, even if a contract with the city is finalized.

We’re talking to the city about Ashley street center, but until things are finalized everything is always in talking,” O’Neill said.

Dianna Douglas, chair of the church council, said, the “decision was not made lightly, as we have thoroughly enjoyed being part of Loaves and Fishes by hosting it for the past 10 years. However, we have to think about the interest of the North Central Neighborhood which has dealt with a lot during this time.”

Douglas said the church supports Loaves and Fishes and its mission.

“We do care about what happens to them,” she said.

O’Neill emphasized that Loaves and Fishes is not closing.

She said the church is willing to allow Loaves and Fishes to continue using its kitchen as long as the food is served elsewhere.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

The soup kitchen is open year-round with dinner available seven days a week. Loaves and Fishes has no paid staff, meaning it relies on volunteers from faith-based and community groups to provide and serve food to an average of 100 people a night.

Patty Avery has been volunteering for 10 years, and she said what keeps her going is knowing that she’s helping good people in the community.

“We know who they are, we know their names, they stop and visit with us. They are super over the top appreciative. They tell us over and over again thank you and how they’ve enjoyed the meal,” Avery said.

“A lot of the people that eat at Loaves and Fishes are not homeless, but they are food insecure,” O’Neill said. “They are barely hanging on by their fingernails to be able to be housed and take care of their needs, and they cannot do every meal. Even if they’ve got food stamps, they run out.”

O’Neill has reached out to a number of local organizations, looking for an alternative location. She is concerned about the soup kitchen’s lack of funds and the need for a central location that would be accessible by public transport.

She said she is grateful for Loaves and Fishes’ years at the church, although she wished it had more time to make the transition.

“They’ve done more for this town in the last 10 years than any other single organization as far as helping folks that are in need,” O’Neill said.

And she’s hoping the community will help the soup kitchen with this transition.

“There’s a lot of people who would like to help and there’s a lot of people who are wishing us luck,” O’Neill said. “I don’t know what that translates into, because we’re just kind of figuring this out as we go.”

“If anybody has any really, really good ideas, I would be happy to talk to them,” O’Neill said. “We will figure something out. We’re not going to close.”

KOMU 8 Reporter Julius Evans contributed to this story.

Originally Appeared Here

State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 10, 2023 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Boone County’s bipartisan legislative delegation was unanimous in its support of a bill pushed by Missouri’s governor to six-lane I-70 across the state.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) voted for the bill, as did State Rep. Cheri  Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) and the delegation’s four House Democrats. State Reps. David Tyson Smith, Doug Mann and Kathy Steinhoff (all D-Columbia) joined GOP Governor Mike Parson at this week’s bill-signing ceremony in MACC’s parking lot.

Representative David Tyson Smith, whose district includes I-70, tells 939 the Eagle it’s all about infrastructure.

“I mean this is the main thing that we need to get done. I-70 is a mess, everyone in Columbia knows it, everyone around the state knows it. So to invest these types of dollars in getting this fixed is fantastic. I’m all about it, I’m going to do everything I can to keep supporting projects like this,” Representative Smith says.

State Rep. Doug Mann (D-Columbia) listens to a witness testify during a February 6, 2023 House committee hearing in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The bipartisan bill provides $2.8 billion to rebuild and six-lane I-70 from St. Louis to Kansas City. The project will begin in Columbia.

Representative Mann tells 939 the Eagle that the bill enjoyed broad bipartisan support.

“If we want to move Missouri forward, bring in more business, bring in more people and move forward through the 21st century and then eventually into the 22nd century, that’s something that we have to start planning for, infrastructure is a good place to start. It’s something that helps everyone regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender,” says Mann.

Mann, who represents southern and southwest Columbia and parts of Boone County, says the bill will improve safety for motorists.

“I know whenever I’m traveling on I-70 and there’s two lanes, I’m sure everyone’s had that experience where you get trapped behind two semi trucks that happen to be going one mile an hour different than each other. So this will alleviate congestion, this will improve safety and it will allow, like the governor said, to attract more businesses,” Representative Mann says.

He emphasizes that there are numerous legislative issues that receive bipartisan support in Jefferson City that don’t receive a lot of news coverage.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson predicts the I-70 expansion bill will save lives. The governor joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”

“We want it to be safer out there because more and more people are using the roads. And we all see what the traffic’s like out there when you drive up and down there, the semis and the cars. And just to relieve that, make it safer, is going to help us all a little bit,” Parson tells listeners.

The governor held a ceremonial bill-signing ceremony in MACC’s Columbia parking lot this week. He shook hands with everyone in attendance, including dozens of MoDOT workers who wore their work vests.

Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield), who handled the bill in the Senate, also attended the ceremony. House Assistant Democratic Floor Leader Richard Brown (D-Kansas City) also attended.

Originally Appeared Here

The Missouri Southern volleyball team begins its 2023 season with seven returning players — six of whom were starters last year — and 10 new recruits that coach Kalie Mader hopes will keep the Lions on an upward trajectory as they look to improve on last year’s 13-17 overall mark.

Seniors Fernanda Canedo and Jaryn Benning, juniors Josey Goldberg and Amelia Neels, and sophomores Tori Hamilton and Hannah Allick are all returning starters for Mader.

“They are definitely going to see a lot of fire from us,” Canedo said. “I think we have very competitive people. We go to all the balls; we don’t believe the play ends even if the ball is shanked to the bleachers. We have the people that will go to the bleachers. I feel like we’re going to give a great show to Joplin. We’re trying to change this program and get more people here because we need the support. It matters to us — playing with our fans in our home — it just brings out the fire.”

Canedo, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, started 29 of 30 games for Southern last year and logged 387 kills. Benning, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, had 229 kills in her 22 starts. Goldberg, another outside hitter, had 33 kills in her five starts. Neels, a 6-foot middle blocker, started 30 games last year and recorded 20 solo and 75 assisted blocks while logging 284 kills. Hamilton, a defensive specialist, had 131 digs and 15 service aces in her 12 starts as a freshman libero. Allick, a setter, started 10 games for the Lions last year as a freshman and had 222 digs and 34 service aces.

Complementing the returners are 10 newcomers, including Division I transfer Kyla Randall from Oral Roberts University. As a freshman at ORU, the 5-foot-3 libero from Spokane, Washington, played in 28 matches, recording 135 digs and 16 aces.

Mader talked about landing the D-I player: “I think we got lucky. It was good timing, and we’re in a location she was looking for, and she just fit. I don’t know that I could do that twice.”

Other newcomers are Laci Beougher, an outside hitter from Benton Kansas; Caelyn Hasegawa, a setter from Kahului, Hawaii; Alana Moesch, an outside hitter from Lajeado, Brazil; Paula Ramos, from Marbella, Spain, a junior transfer from Westcliff University; Sydney Unruh, a junior libero who transferred from Cowley County Community College; outside hitter Kirstyn Loyd, of Festus; Kyra Thomas, a middle blocker from Columbia; Landrey VanOverschelde, a setter from Jefferson City; and Hanna Lauterbach, a middle hitter from Morris, Illinois.

“Our incoming people have come in and adjusted well to our system and the way we play and what we believe in,” Mader said. “I think part of that is that they already believed in what we believe in, so it’s been a nice transition for them.”

Mader talked about what the newcomers add.

“We’re much taller,” Mader said. “We added some size in Alana Moesch and Laci Beougher. I think those are two players who will see time on the floor this fall.”

Mader also said she is pleased with the Lions defensive setup.

“I think our first contact is looking really good,” she said.

Mader said her approach to this season is simple. “Never stop getting better. That’s my game plan.”

The Lions will tune up with three scrimmages — Drury on Saturday, Arkansas-Fort Smith on Aug. 24, and the Green and Gold on Aug. 29 — before their home opener, the Southern Invite on Sept. 1 and 2.

Mader said the scrimmages will be a good litmus test for her team.

“Our scrimmages are going to be tough,” Mader said. “They are good Division II programs that are hopefully going to help us figure out where we need to get better.”

The Lions will then travel to St. Augustine, Florida, for a tourney on Sept. 8-9 before going to Northwest Missouri on Sept. 15 for their MIAA opener.

“This is going to be a great year,” Canedo said. “We have been working super hard, and we have some really good people on the team. We have some tall girls, which is something we were missing last year. We’re in one of the toughest conferences in the country, so when we add those pieces into the puzzle, we’re looking really good.”

Canedo said the confidence level on this year’s team is high.

“We’re ready,” Canedo said. “We’ve been working so hard the whole summer, and we are thrilled to start playing.”

The Lions were picked to finish eighth this season in the MIAA preseason coaches poll, two spots up from last year’s poll. Nebraska-Kearney led the polling with 92 points, followed by Northwest Missouri State (88) and Central Oklahoma (80).

Washburn was picked to finish third (77 points), Central Missouri was fourth (73 points) and Pittsburg State was sixth (53 points).

Missouri Western took the seventh spot (45 points), ahead of MSSU (35 points).

Fort Hays State was ninth (29 points), followed by Emporia State (19) and Newman (14).

Originally Appeared Here

The city is tearing down several homes on Lafayette, Hickory and School streets that are located in the national floodplain, including one that has vexed the city for a decade.

Demolition of the home at 408 Lafayette St. began Monday, after more than 10 years of attempting to either rehabilitate the home using grant funding or sell the property to private developers.

The city contracted Tubbs and Son Construction to demolish 408 Lafayette St. at a cost of $13,950.

Jefferson City purchased the home in 2009 for $53,000 from The Central Trust Bank using Neighborhood Stabilization funds, a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, with the intention of restoring the structure to serve as a single-family home.

When the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) redrew the national flood lines in 2012, the home fell into the national floodplain.

Before this, the intention was to invest into fixing up the rest of Lafayette Street along with the five-bedroom, three-bath, brick home built in 1910. The city had already spent $78,000 repairing bits and pieces, including the roof of the home, until 2012, when FEMA informed the city that federal funding cannot be used to invest in properties that lie within the federal floodplain.

“There was a substantial investment,” City Attorney Ryan Moehlman said.

The city was able to remove the federal ties years ago by refunding the $78,000 to the federal government, although this money was reallocated back to Jefferson City for other projects.

“Essentially, we had to give (the money) back to the feds and then the feds reallocated that back to the city, and we’re able to use that for other projects, thereby removing the federal ties,” Moehlman said. “Now the city owns that property, free and clear of any federal ties.”

Furthermore, FEMA has a “50 percent rule,” a regulation of the National Flood Insurance Program, that prohibits the city or developers from investing more than 50 percent of the structure’s current market value into the property for improvements or repairs.

In 2018, a local building official identified that the cost to repair the building would exceed 50 percent of the home’s market value.

The city applied to the Historic Preservation Commission for a demolition permit for 408 Lafayette St. in 2017, citing the property as dangerous and structurally unsound.

Planning & Protective Services Director Clint Smith said city staff members had met with the HPC again recently to informally discuss potential options for the building. The property, which the city deemed dangerous in 2017, was further damaged by the 2019 tornado and restricted due to federal regulations.

“I’m sure if you ask (the HPC), their preference is to try and preserve (the building), but I think they understand the circumstances here,” Smith said.

There are no specific plans in place as of now, though there were discussions in May at a City Council meeting to convert the area into a greenspace.

Smith said in a May council meeting there were several attempts to sell the property since 2017 to local redevelopers in an attempt to keep the structure preserved, though sales were never successful.

Moehlman said one individual or firm expressed interest in purchasing the property, but did not offer enough money.

“The city had a minimum bid requirement on there, we received one offer and that bid requirement was not met,” Moehlman said.

FEMA’s 50 percent rule does not apply to properties that lie within a historic district.

In 2018, City Council voted to pass an ordinance designating the property as well as the surrounding streets a historic district: the School Street Local Historic District. This did not allow the city to get around FEMA’s 50-percent regulations, however, since FEMA will only recognize exceptions listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lafayette Street and the surrounding Historic Foot Area were also deemed a historic legacy district by the City Council in late 2022.

The city also paid contractors to demolish the properties at 410 Lafayette St. and 623 School St.

Two more demolitions will follow within the next two weeks at 420 Hickory St. and 214 Lafayette St.

The city paid $12,223 to Mid-Missouri Earth Movers LLC to tear down the 1½-story brick house at 410 Lafayette St., which the city purchased from Larry Rains in 2017.

According to city records, the three-bedroom, one-bath home is also in the federal floodplain and was vacant for five years before the city purchased the property. This home was built in 1900 and used as a residential home for several years. Rains had attempted to rehabilitate the interior, according to Neighborhood Services Supervisor Rachel Senzee, although city staff estimated the final cost to make the building habitable at more than $56,000.

The city attempted to sell the property in 2017 for redevelopment.

The city also contracted Mid-Missouri Earth Movers for the demolition of 623 School St. at a cost of $10,668. The city purchased this home from Rains in 2016 as a package for a total of $15,000. City staff estimated it would cost Rains $60,981 to make the two-story, three-bedroom, one-bath home habitable again.

The city transferred ownership of both 623 School St. and 410 Lafayette St. to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry in December 2022 with discussions of transforming the area into either a greenspace or a community garden.

The city has also awarded a contract to Mid-Missouri Earth Movers LLC to demolish the two dangerous buildings, located at 420 Hickory St. and 214 Lafayette St., at a cost of $6,617 and $33,000, respectively.

The next two properties should come down within the next two weeks, according to Dave Helmick, housing and property supervisor.

The city originally planned to include 622 E. McCarty St. as part of the demolitions but sold the property to H&H Global Investments LLC for redevelopment before bids were closed.

Julie Smith/News Tribune
Remnants from last week’s demolition of 410 Lafayette St. are shown Monday as Mark Kuster brings down the structure at 623 School St. Kuster, of Mid-Missouri Earth Movers, had to carefully dismantle the School Street structure due to its proximity to a neighboring house.

Originally Appeared Here