Mid-Missouri

COLUMBIA – A Columbia man says he filed an election violation complaint against several city council members on Tuesday for comments made at a recent meeting. 

According to Hold CoMo Accountable founder Anthony Willroth, multiple council members, including Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Rachel Proffitt, Nick Foster, Donald Waterman and Betsy Peters, made statements supporting councilman Nick Knoth during a meeting on Jan. 16.

Knoth, who serves as the First Ward councilman, faces a special election in April following a petition of ward residents calling for his removal. 

The petition alleges Knoth’s new position as a lobbyist for Missouri Board of REALTORS poses a conflict of interest with his duties on the council. 

According to previous KOMU 8 reporting, 370 First Ward voters signed the petition. Knoth stated that his responsibilities under his new position will not hinder his duties as a member of the council. 

According to Willroth, the members listed above made statements during the council’s vote to decide if it would put the recall election of Knoth on the April 2 ballot. The vote passed unanimously, as members made the following comments during the meeting: 

“I guess we’ll see what folks say in April, although I hope that they retain you for another couple of years at least,” Betsy Peters said. 

“I disagree with the recall,” Don Waterman said. “We’ll go forward with the vote and I fully expect and anticipate that your position on the council will be affirmed.”

“I also will follow process and begrudgingly vote yes,” Rachel Proffitt said. 

“This is our opportunity to respond back [to questions about the recall],” Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said. “I know you’re working right now in St. Louis and you drive back from St. Louis for this meeting and are driving back to St. Louis tonight, so I appreciate your dedication.”

“I’ll vote for this because I have to,” said Nick Foster. 

Willroth cited Missouri State Statute 115.646, which states that “no contribution or expenditure of public funds shall be made directly by any officer, employee or agent of any political subdivision to advocate, support, or oppose any ballot measure or candidate for public office.” 

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Willroth argues that council members violated this statue at the meeting on Jan. 16. 

“When I saw city council making comments for or against the recall election of Nick Knoth while they were, presumably just certifying a call for an election, that struck me as odd because you almost never see public officials make endorsements while they’re serving in their official duties,” Willroth said. 

Willroth said state statutes like this one help protect taxpayers interests. 

“City council meetings do take an awful lot of taxpayer money to put on,” Willroth said. “City Council members do get paid a stipend. When they’re working, they shouldn’t be using that tax money to facilitate speech to influence an election.”

Although Willroth was watching the Jan. 16 city council meeting online, he said he tries to go to most meetings in person. 

“I’ve just kind of fallen into this whole thing of playing a watchdog role because I just happened to see an awful lot of things happening, with this being the most egregious I think I’ve ever seen,” Willroth said. 

Although he disagreed with the council making comments during the meeting, he acknowledged their right to have an opinion outside of government-sponsored events.

“If they want to say all of that stuff on their own time, with their own private resources, they’re more than welcome to,” Willroth said. “People make endorsements on their own private time all the time.” 

According to the Missouri Ethics Commission, once a complaint has been filed, the commission notifies the complainant within five days if the issue will be investigated. 

From there, if a complaint is being further investigated, the group assigns an investigator to that case. 

KOMU 8 reached out to the city clerk and several city council members and is waiting to hear back. Councilman Waterman said he had no further comment. 

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA − The Boone County Commission announced on Tuesday that residents within the county will have the opportunity to vote on whether the commission should implement a property tax exemption for senior citizens. 

The vote on the matter will be on the April 2 ballot and will presented as Proposition 1: “Shall the County of Boone exempt senior citizens from certain increases in the property tax liability due on such senior citizens’ primary residences?” 

The driving force behind the proposition was the the passage of Senate Bill 190, which Gov. Mike Parson signed into law last summer. 

The law provides property tax relief for eligible taxpayers, who it defines as “Missouri resident[s]” who are “eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.” Each individual county government has the option to either opt in or out in participating in the program.

Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick said the commission really needs to hear from the voters before implementing the freeze.

“…The Boone County Commission felt it was important to put this question to the voters,” Kendrick said. “If or when it’s passed in April, we will begin the public process of developing up a policy and administrative procedures and implementing it down the road.”

The Boone County Commission issued a resolution in November that recognized the value of providing tax relief for fixed-income senior citizens, while also acknowledging that aspects of the law as currently written, are of concern.

SB 190 sponsor Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville) filed a new bill that would modify the definitions of “eligible credit amount” and “eligible taxpayer” in his original bill. The bill is currently moving its way through the General Assembly. 

Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) has been advocating for the Boone County tax freeze to go on a ballot. She started a petition in August that has more than 2,000 signatures from registered voters in the county.

In response to the commission’s news on Tuesday, Toalson Reisch said she will continue gathering signatures due to the “vague” and “ambiguous” language included for the April ballot question. 

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“I plan to continue to gather signatures of Boone County registered voters to put the current Initiative Petition language on the August or November ballot, as it will freeze ALL taxing entities. I will not take the chance of the commission doing a partial freeze,” she said. 

While Boone County has made its decision on the property tax freeze, some counties are still deciding if they will implement the law or leave it up to voters.

Harry Otto, Western District commissioner for Cole County, said he thinks the law needs more work before the county makes its final decision.

“If it doesn’t change much from the way it was previously written, with just some minor tweaks, I would not as a Western District commissioner vote to put it on the ballot or to adopt it,” Otto said. “If the residents of Cole [County] want to put it on the ballot, then they can get their signatures and do it that way.”

Otto is on defense of this law because of how it was originally written.

“With respect to this, we don’t know what it will cost, and we don’t know who it will cost, in other words, is it just the county taxes? School district taxes? Library taxes? Fire district taxes? Cole County residential services? There are a lot of places that would be impacted by this.”

Many of those places rely heavily on property tax for their revenue stream.

“There is no calculation to how much this is going to cost a local subdivision like a county or a school district, it’s unknown,” Otto said. “It’s very difficult to say, ‘Let’s go do something and we don’t know what the unknown cost is involved.’”

Tuesday was the final day for county commissions to put the property tax freeze on the April ballot, according to Kendrick. 

Originally Appeared Here

Less than a month old, the musical year 2024 is still very much unwritten.

But building a chord from promise and momentum, a number of Columbia and mid-Missouri artists appear poised to have a big year. Here are just seven to keep tabs on, with no doubt many more ready to shape the scene.

Liv Burney

The oldest of the beloved Burney Sisters band decided to do her own thing last year, and Liv Burney’s vocal and songwriting chops absolutely make her an artist to anticipate going forward (and her sisters’ regrouping as a duo of course makes them worth keeping an eye and ear on too).

Try this track: “Boots,” a duet with mid-Missouri peer Kyren Penrose, shines a light on Burney’s woozy alto, a perfect timbre for story songs.

Learn more: Find Burney on Facebook.

DIMPL

With his cool-as-the-pillow’s-other-side delivery, MC Devin Goins’ hip-hop exercises a hypnotic effect on listeners. Unhurried, DIMPL tends both to mood and substance, serving up self-contained, satisfying artistic statements in just a few minutes.

Try this track: “They Don’t Have to Know” owns a baritone hum and rhythmic hitch that causes listeners to sit up close and drink in Goins’ poetry.

Learn more:https://www.instagram.com/heydimpls/

Laika

On last year’s “White Cicada,” this five-piece nimbly joined varied streams of alternative rock to craft a sound that’s immediately relevant while showing off its older-school influences. Guitars buzz and chime while the band maintains serious rhythmic and metric flexibility.

Try this track: “Indigo” is a delicious rock ‘n’ roll dream, a song to just sink into.

Learn more:https://laika1500.bandcamp.com/album/white-cicada

Left on Red

Featuring players from area bands such as The Many Colored Death and Conman Economy, this metalcore outfit only has one song on the permanent record — but their shared pedigree and the promise of a first EP make them more than worth watching.

Try this track: “Fairweather,” the band’s debut single, packs several punches with an immediate righteous fury, gear-grinding guitars and, eventually, a seriously catchy and radio-ready chorus.

Learn more:https://www.leftonredcomo.com/

Locked Shut

Power and speed, wailing solos and black-hole chords coalesce in the music of this Columbia band, which lives in the tight spaces between punk and hardcore. If you want to catch the band live, they play Rose Music Hall Jan. 27 with Gorehound, Direct Measure and RDMR.

Try this track: The coda to “Stomp You” features one of the best ’90s grunge riffs you’ll hear in our moment.

Learn more:https://lockedshut.bandcamp.com/

New Hues

These smart, shaggy descendants of Sonic Youth and pre-world domination Nirvana always seem to be thinking an artful step ahead, that forethought yielding an appealing, fuzzed-out guitar-rock minimalism and deceptively gliding melodies.

Try this track: “Somewhere,” which kicks off last year’s “Here Now, Gone Again” sounds like a self-contained mission statement.

Learn more:https://newhues.bandcamp.com/

The Stoplight Flyers

This local outfit plays authentic folk and country played with a rock ‘n’ roll heart, taking rare forks in the road to create memorable melodies; recommended if you dig artists such as Alejandro Escovedo, Son Volt and the quieter side of Old Crow Medicine Show.

Try this track:“Lo and Behold,” where the band revels in playing “Buck Owens on repeat.”

Learn more: Search for the band on Facebook.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He’s on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA – Danielle Jensinger is a travel psychiatric nurse with seven years of experience. On Dec. 15, Jensinger was assaulted by a patient at University Hospital while she was at work and was left with bruising on her head. According to court documents, video camera footage showed the patient running up to Jensinger and grabbing her hair, before slamming her head to the floor several times. 

The patient, identified as Cody Douglass, 38, was later charged with third-degree assault on a special victim. He’s being held without bond at the Boone County Jail. 

“I remember seeing the floor as he was hitting me,” Jensinger said. “And I was just thinking about my daughter, because I have a 3 year old. And I was just thinking, ‘I don’t want to be here. I just want to be home. Am I going to see her again?’ The whole thing was 30 seconds, but it [felt] like five minutes.”

Jensinger is not alone. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 13.2% of nurses per year experience a physical assault, and 38.8% of nurses per year face non-physical violence, like threats, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. 

According to Jensinger, there were “several failures” at University Hospital that might have contributed to her assault. 

“In looking back, and talking to some coworkers, this had sort of been the patient’s M.O.,” Jensinger said. “This wasn’t the first time he had been menacingly staring at staff and having to be redirected from the nurses station. So, finding that out after the fact, is frustrating to me because I feel like it could have been avoided had he been properly medicated.” 

She acknowledged she’s not a doctor and she can’t prescribe medication, but she said with her years of experience, she’s been able to recognize that some medications work better than others. 

“I feel like a number of these incidents that you read about, or hear about, that I talk to people about, can definitely be avoided had the [patients] been properly medicated,” Jensinger said. “So, that to me is a failure in the system.”

Jeinsinger also said the “team nursing approach” utilized in the Missouri Psychiatric Center, where nurses are rotated regularly across units within the ward, prevents her from forming meaningful connections with her patients. 

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“You don’t know these patients, you don’t know them like you would if you had a set team of patients that you had been following for the day,” Jensinger said. 

When Jensinger returned from her scheduled winter vacation, which occurred after the assault, she said she was not put back on the schedule, despite that she was cleared for work after Jan. 2.

She said she was told this was because of her required medical accommodations post-assault. However, she maintains that the accommodations (frequent breaks every four hours, patient must remain seated at work, and no strenuous pushing or pulling of objects) would have no impact on her job performance.

“I pretty much have a desk job, for the most part,” Jensinger said. “[The accommodations are] not telling me I can’t go on the floor. It’s not telling me not to interact with patients. It’s just telling me no strenuous pushing or pulling, and the [University Hospital] is saying they can’t accommodate that. And I don’t understand it.” 

Jensinger said she’s been left in a very difficult situation. While she and her husband had budgeted for their two-week vacation, she was not prepared to go longer than that without pay. 

“I’m not getting any of my per diem. I’m not getting paid stipends of any kind, and I’m not able to provide for my family because they’re not allowing me to return to my job,” Jensinger said. “And so I’m in limbo, stuck talking to my recruiter to try and figure out what’s going on, because the hospital didn’t also verbalize or put into any kind of words that they’re canceling my contract. So technically, I’m still under contract, but I’m not able to work. So what am I supposed to do?”

In an email, MU Health Care provided the following response:

“Safety is a top priority at MU Health Care. When incidents such as the one you describe occur, we offer treatment and support and follow our established protocols. 

“It’s important to note that the travel nurse identified is not an MU Health Care employee. MU Health Care contracts with a managed service provider to set up agreements with external agencies that provide travel nurses to staff 235 hard-to-fill nursing positions at MU Health Care.”

Originally Appeared Here

Activities throughout January, including the presentation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Scholarships to University of Central Missouri students, the Community Praise and Worship Service, and Day of Service activities in Warrensburg and in Lee’s Summit, highlight the 2024 MLK Celebration.

All of these events and more are designed to honor King’s legacy under the theme, “Living the Dream: It Starts with Me – Spreading Hope, Courage and Unity.”

From 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, faculty and students at UCM – Lee’s Summit are involved in the MLK Celebration at the Pavilion at John Knox, 520 N.W. Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit. Interested individuals are invited to join them and other members of the Lee’s Summit community for a celebration that includes the presentation of faculty and student awards, and the MLK Art Contest Award to a Lee’s Summit R-VII student.
UCM’s Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity will present the discussion program, “Let’s Talk: Empathy Revolution: Walking in Others’ Shoes” from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 in Elliott Student Union 306. This program is also available virtually. Contact Esosa Akele at exa89890@ucmo.edu to learn more.

One of the highlights of the annual MLK Celebration is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Scholarship Banquet. The event will take place in the ballroom of UCM’s Elliott Student Union. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event begins at 6 p.m. This is an opportunity for UCM to publicly introduce this year’s scholarship winners in a celebration that also features vocal music and dance performances by university and community members, and art displays featuring the works of local students who are inspired by King’s message. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are required, and all funds raised at this event go directly to deserving UCM undergraduate students through Freedom Scholarships. This awards program began in 1999.

Students have an opportunity to help a variety of community partners with projects that will assist in fulfilling the organizations’ missions during the Volunteer Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. The group will meet in the Elliott Student Union atrium. Individuals who have questions should contact Kristie Brinkley, assistant director of volunteer services, at kbrinkley@ucmo.edu.

Day of Service activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 in the Elliott Student Union ballroom and from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, at UCM – Lee’s Summit. Students planning to participate in these activities have
pre-registered. Contact kbrinkley@ucmo.edu for more information.

In addition to these UCM campus activities, the presentation of Community Service Awards, hosted by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, took place on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Matthews-Crawford American Legion Post 131, 733 E. Young St., in Warrensburg. This annual event recognized an individual in Johnson County, Sharon Franklin, Warrensburg, with the Community Service Award, and Claire Thomas, a senior at Warrensburg High School, with the High School Community Service Awards. Both honors recognize the recipients’ humanitarianism, leadership and selfless service. Award presentations were made by Dr. Lover Chancler, director of UCM’s Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, and Joshua Detherage, chair of the Chamber Board of Directors.

Citing nominations supporting the two award winners, Chancler said Thomas has been an active member and participant in activities coordinated by the First Presbyterian Church in Warrensburg. She has played piano, worked with children, and provided leadership for the Manna Bag Project, a philanthropic effort to provide resources for church members. She has also served as an officer for many clubs at WHS, including serving as historian of the Spanish Club, secretary for the National Honor Society, and vice president of Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA).

Thomas has given back to the community through her volunteer efforts with the Manna Harvest, which helps serve individuals in need. She has also participated in the Johnson County Cancer Foundation 5K fundraising event; Bright Sox Softball League; and volunteered at Western Missouri Medical Center.

Detherage said Franklin is being honored for volunteerism that includes her 22 years of continuous service as president of the Western Missouri Medical Center Auxiliary Board. In this capacity, she has provided consistent leadership, which has encompassed involvement in two gift shops, and service during three building projects at WMMC, and the transition of five hospital CEOs.

Her services also have included distributing treat baskets on May Day and Halloween, wrapping presents for children, assisting at the medical center’s annual ice cream social, and delivering a gift basket annually to the first baby of the new year born at WMMC. She has averaged more than 400 volunteer hours per year for the last 10 years consecutively, and, according to the nomination, she has served as a “compassionate friend providing a reassuring presence to patients alone at end-of-life care.”

Franklin has been a community partner to both the Chamber and Warrensburg Main Street, hosting coffees and participating in activities related to the annual Dickens Christmas celebration in Warrensburg. She is an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Secunda Club, ABC Club, and PEO Sisterhood.

The guest speaker for the Chamber Community Service Awards Luncheon was Pastor Joel Kurz, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Warrensburg.

Another event being planned in honor of King is the annual Community Service Blood Drive Jan. 23-24 at UCM. Once finalized, registration will be online. Contact kbrinkley@ucmo.edu for more details.

For additional information about UCM’s MLK Celebration, contact Dr. Lover Chancler, director of the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, at (660) 543-8049 chancler@ucmo.edu.

In the photo: Warrensburg resident Sharon Franklin, third from left, and Warrensburg High School senior Claire Thomas, fourth from left, were honored during the Dr. Martin Luther King Networking Lunch and Community Service Awards conducted by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce and University of Central Missouri on Jan. 10. Joining in the event were, from left, Suzanne Taylor, Chamber president; Dr. Lover Chancler, UCM director of the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity, and Joshua Detherage, chair of the Chamber Board of Directors.

Originally Appeared Here

A group of First Ward voters want Knoth recalled because they are concerned his new job as a lobbyist for Missouri REALTORS creates a “conflict of interest.”

COLUMBIA − The push to remove Columbia First Ward council member Nick Knoth from his council seat moved closer to facing voters. The Knoth recall effort earned 370 signatures from First Ward voters, according to Columbia City Clerk Sheela Amin.

That’s more than the 336 signatures required to qualify for the April 2 municipal election. 336 votes is equivalent to 30% of the votes Knoth received when he was first elected to the council in April 2023.

Some First Ward residents want Knoth recalled because of his new job as a lobbyist for Missouri REALTORS, the statewide arm of the powerful trade group. Knoth is the director of government affairs and regional advocacy for the REALTORS in central Missouri. Knoth was previously regional director for the Better Business Bureau.

First Ward resident Laura Mitchell, who helped organize the recall effort, said she thinks Knoth’s new job creates a conflict of interest, especially since the council handles a number of real estate-related issues.

A description of Knoth’s job on the REALTORS website says he is “responsible for the monitoring of issues and education of Missouri lawmakers and regulators on legislative priorities.” 

In an Oct. 12 Facebook post, Knoth said he will be “focused on the state level, not the local level, and I will not be working on issues addressed by our local city council.”

“I still think it’s a big conflict of interest,” said Allison Vaughn, a First Ward resident who voted for Knoth, and now supports the recall effort. “Kind of having this lobbyist in [the council’s] ranks, also lobby state lawmakers on behalf of realtors. That just seems shady, I’m sorry.”

In response to that comment, Knoth told KOMU 8 in an email that the Missouri Ethics Commission and the City of Columbia General Counsel both determined there is no conflict of interest between his new job and his role on the council.

“Thinking it is ‘pretty shady’ speaks to a lack of understanding between what they think I do and who they think I work for versus the reality,” Knoth said.

Knoth’s job description says he also “engages Local Boards and Associations to stay apprised of any issues that may require action or support.”

Knoth told KOMU 8 he is a “registered lobbyist for a statewide association wherein I lobby the Missouri state legislature, not any local government.”

Vaughn said she supported Knoth after meeting him for coffee. She put a Knoth sign in her yard and encouraged neighbors to vote for him. Vaughn said she’s “very particular” about who she votes for. 

“I thought that this city council person would address my concerns of living small, on the grid, and progressive politics,” Vaughn said. “And so he talked the talk.”

Nick Knoth sits for a portrait on Tuesday at the Columbia Missourian Studio in Columbia.

Clayton Steward/Missourian

After she learned of Knoth’s new job, Mitchell said her and about a dozen other people gathered in a neighbors backyard to discuss launching a recall effort.

In an emailed statement to KOMU 8, Knoth said, “I value and respect the rights of my constituents to voice their concerns on any subject, including this. I want to make it clear that this recall effort is not rooted in any actions or decisions I have made in my capacity as a councilman, but rather focused on what I do in my personal time to provide for my family.”

“It’s important to reiterate that my new employment does not pose any conflict of interest with my responsibilities as a councilman, this has been confirmed by both the City’s Legal Counsel as well as the Missouri Ethics Commission, and it does not affect my ability or commitment to serving the First Ward,” Knoth said. 

Knoth has not recused himself from council votes and said he would only do so if “a genuine conflict of interest arises,” according to previous reporting from the Missourian.

In response to a question about what constitutes a “genuine conflict of interest,” Knoth said it would be, “the same for me as it would be for anyone: Would I, or my immediate family, or employer, directly benefit from the decision being made. Should a situation occur, then I will engage the City’s legal team and act accordingly. There has been no conflict of interest situation to date, and one is unlikely to occur for me as it is anyone with a day job who works on the council.” 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONCERNS

Vaughn and Mitchell said affordable housing is a big issue for them. Knoth, who said he grew up in a low-income household, told the Boone County Democratic Club that creating more affordable housing would be a priority.

A map of Columbia’s First Ward.

Credit: City of Columbia

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Mitchell said “competing tensions” in the ward are threatening to push out low-income residents. She pointed to the construction of new student apartments downtown and rising home prices. 

The First Ward stretches from just south of the Columbia Mall to College Avenue. It includes downtown Columbia, the MU campus, and neighborhoods just south of Interstate 70. 

Mitchell and Vaughn live in the West Ash neighborhood just west of downtown. She said the neighborhood is becoming “partly gentrified” because new people – including her, who moved there three years ago – are causing home prices to rise. 

Vaughn said the neighborhood was “pretty run down” when she first moved there in 2007. There were a lot of vacant homes on her block, but she liked the historic architecture. 

Now, as more people move into the neighborhood and fix up homes, the community has “blossomed,” Vaughn said. So have home prices. The value of Vaughn’s home doubled since she bought it in 2014.

It’s an issue facing other parts of the First Ward. In a neighborhood of the ward just south of I-70 and east of Stadium Boulevard, the median home listing price jumped from $124,250 in January 2021 to $175,000 in December 2023, according to the website realtor.com.

Mitchell said she is concerned low-income First Ward residents will get priced out of their homes because of new development. Vaughn and Mitchell said they are worried Knoth’s lobbyist job will put him more in line with developers. Because the council handles real estate matters, they say Knoth’s job with the realtors creates a conflict of interest. 

On Tuesday, city council is set to consider a framework to regulate short-term rentals (STRs). These are properties which are rented to people for less than 31 days at a time. Right now, STRs are technically illegal because the city hasn’t regulated them.

The new rules would limit short-term rentals to one per owner, cap the number of guests to eight, and require a business license to offer a property for rental and prohibit events, according to previous reporting from the Columbia Missourian. It would also limit the number of days an STR could be rented depending on its zoning location. 

Mitchell said she’s concerned STRs deplete the city’s housing stock. Members of Columbia’s Planning and Zoning Commission, said they’ve seen starter homes priced under $200,000 bought up and used as rental properties. 

The Columbia Board of Realtors suggested some changes to the proposed ordinance when the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission looked at the issue in December 2023. Those proposals included increasing the limit on rental days and the cap on ownership. The commission decided not to adopt those suggested changes. 

Knoth told KOMU 8 that he has “always been supportive of regulating short term rentals and that has not changed, regardless of who my employer is now, or in the future. I will vote accordingly.”

RECALL EFFORT ON THE BALLOT

On Tuesday, the city council will vote to hold the April 2 municipal election. The Knoth recall vote will be on the ballot along with elections for council members in the Second Ward and Sixth Ward, according to Amin. 

If First Ward voters recall Knoth, a special election will be held to replace him, Amin said. The council can fill a vacant seat if it’s open for less than a year, according to Section Nine of the city charter. 

If Knoth gets recalled, he would be ineligible to to serve in any city office for the remained of his term, Amin said. Knoth’s term is set to end in 2026. 

The recall effort isn’t “working for anyone in particular” to fill the seat, Mitchell said. Neighbors have talked about possible candidates, but aren’t backing anyone at this time.

Mitchell said she reached out to former First Ward council member Pat Fowler about running, but Fowler said she’s not interested. Fowler dropped out of the April 2023 election against Knoth, citing her stepmother’s declining health. Fowler’s name still appeared on the ballot.

Knoth received 747 votes in that election and Fowler got 371, according to final election results published by Boone County.

A Columbia City Council member was last removed in 1990 when voters recalled Ward Five Council Member Chester Edwards, according to Amin.

Mitchell said she understands council members need a separate job to pay the bills. Council members receive a stipend of of $6,000 a year, or $500 a month.

“I’d be happy for Nick Knoth to have either one of those jobs,” Mitchell said. “But not both at the same time.”

Originally Appeared Here

John Baker, executive director of the Community Foundation of Central Missouri, in 2010 was feeling pastoral burnout from his duties as senior pastor at First Baptist Church.

“This is difficult,” Baker said of his decision to leave the church at the time. “Because you have lots of friends, there’s a lot of investment in time and heart and love. Whenever you leave a congregation, there’s always some pain even though there are good things to come.”

He soon would transition, though, in 2011 to head up the relatively new foundation, which aims to “facilitate philanthropy … (making) charitable giving easy, fun, accessible, and having impact.” He took on the directorship following Roger Still, who was in the role for about year.

“He did a lot of the groundwork to get the bylaws done and get things filed,” Baker said about Still.

Baker has led the foundation for 13 years and he recently announced his retirement, set for mid-April.

For eight of Baker’s 13 years as director, Susan Hart has served on the foundation board, and is its chair. Baker is committed to philanthropy in the community and that is his main mission, she said.

“John has built a legacy with the community foundation during his 13 years of tenure. He has put together a strong foundation for us to continue that growth. He will be missed, but we wish him well on his well-deserved retirement,” Hart said.

The foundation board already has started the search for its next director, she added.

A new career

Baker and his wife, Judy, first moved to Columbia in 1997 for the job at First Baptist Church, another role he was in for 13 years, but his overall pastoral career spans 30 years.

“After 30 years, I was just ready to engage in a new career,” Baker said. “A lot of clergy have periods of burnout and that is what I was facing.”

Baker ended up being a match for the community foundation role because much of the work of a minister relates to money, he said, such as through fundraising and stewardship. Related interpersonal skills give a person objectivity when working with others, he added.

Baker’s transition from the church to the foundation was a smooth one, he said, having learned of the foundation after a phone call from a friend. A couple days after that conversation, he had a call from the board, and a couple weeks after that he had the job.

“The way I looked at my leadership of the church was trying to get people to not just stay in the building in the realm of thought, but to move beyond the building and take their compassion, while doing the work of the church, into the community,” Baker said. “I do the same kind of thing with the community foundation, but with funding and not necessarily with people, except for leaders of organizations.”

Founding the foundation

The foundation was established first by the City of Columbia following a vision process from 2008-09, but such an organization was under discussion for at least a decade prior, Baker said.

“The goal at that time was increasing revenue for local nonprofits and what would make donors want to give,” he said. “The community foundation is this perfect vehicle that works both with donors and a way to get revenue to the nonprofits. It was a perfect solution to what people were looking for over the years.”

The foundation officially was established June 2010 and announced by November. When Baker came on as director it would advance to a federally recognized, rather than just a state recognized nonprofit, and expanded its scope from Columbia to instead encompass the central Missouri region.

The foundation currently aids nonprofits in five area counties (Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper and Randolph), though its region is upward of 10 counties, Baker said. Additional counties include Adair, Audrain, Howard, Macon and Moniteau.

“Anything that we do here in Boone County, we can do for those other counties,” Baker said, adding while the foundation takes an objective approach to nonprofit support, it does not aid hate groups or illegal activities.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation happened in 2012 and a year later the annual giving campaign, CoMoGives, was established in December 2013.

“We have been able to funnel lots of money into the local nonprofit sector,” Baker said about services offered by the foundation. “We can’t track every dollar that has stayed local. That is beyond our accounting abilities because our broad array of services.”

This includes donor-advised funds, which are invested over a longer term and then the foundation is told to which nonprofit the funds should go. For nonprofits or others seeking to establish philanthropic foundations, the community foundation can help those organizations or individuals do the necessary legwork and paperwork involved by establishing a fund through the community foundation. It takes some of that headache away.

“A family that has assets that wants to do something to create a legacy, they don’t necessarily have to create their own foundation. They can create a donor-advised fund with the community foundation and it will act as the charitable focus for that family,” Baker said.

Apart from nonprofits establishing funds with the foundation, it also can provide direct grants. In 2022 about $4.4 million was distributed and 2023 also has seen an impressive year, Baker said.

The direct granting window of community support grants or impact grants from the community foundation usually opens in June, closes in August and awards are provided afterward.

Post-retirement plans

In the initial two weeks following his official end date at the foundation, Baker plans to take it easy. After that, he already has many ways in which he can keep busy.

“I’m a hobbyist. I have lots of hobbies. … I’m kind of a scientist at heart and I like to learn things. What this has resulted in is a quest to do well at what I do and to learn. I’m a woodworker, a beekeeper, a beer brewer, a musician of sorts and an audiophile. I love to garden.

“I don’t think I’ll have any trouble filling my time.”

Baker and his wife, also plan to travel in May. Following that, he plans to explore volunteer opportunities or a part-time job he may want to undertake “to continue to contribute to the world around me,” Baker said.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

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COLUMBIA − The Columbia Regional Airport (COU) held two open houses on Thursday, inviting the public to learn more about its master plan.

The last time COU presented a master plan was in 2009.

Airport manager Mike Parks said the COU has spent the last 15 years accomplishing the goals of its last master plan. 

“This [new master plan] is going to look at the future projects and future growth of the airport,” Parks said.

Kansas City-based engineering and consulting firm Burns & McDonnell was contracted to prepare the master plan. 

Tom Dowse, an engineer at Burns & McDonnell who is serving as project manager, said the goal of presenting a master plan so close to the 2022 opening of COU’s new terminal is to gather feedback.

The feedback Dowse’s team gets from the master plan meetings will be implemented in about a year, he said. 

“We have to go through the forecasting process,” Dowse said. “Within the next six to 12 months, we’ll start to identify different alternatives that make sense for the airport.” 

The plan includes an in-depth study of the airport that evaluates the development needs to meet future demands, according to a press release from COU. It also includes evaluating the existing capacity of the airport, considering the impacts of aviation trends and identifying future airport needs. 

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The result of the assessment will help develop alternatives aligned with the goals of COU. Once alternatives are selected, the team will prepare a plan to guide future improvements to the airport.

Curt Cunningham said he’s lived in Columbia since 1985. Despite living here nearly 40 years, he said he doesn’t use the airport in Columbia.

“Unfortunately whoever’s in charge doesn’t allow me or anyone else who actually is from mid-Missouri to go anywhere except Chicago or Dallas,” Cunningham said. “We feel like we’re handcuffed on that concept of going somewhere besides Chicago and Dallas. I don’t understand the importance of those places and those two places only for quite a few years now.” 

Gary Thompson, a longtime Columbia resident and frequent COU passenger, said he’s seen a lot of changes with the airport industry. 

“We’re laying out plans for the next 10 to 20 years for the airport and looking at the trends and looking at the needs at the people that the airport serves and developing the needs that the airport serves and meeting those needs,” he said. 

In November, the Columbia City Council approved an agreement to bring a new food option to COU.

“The Market” will feature Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology with ready-to-eat food, drinks, souvenirs and travel essentials. Using the technology, customers can shop without a cashier.

Parks said the construction for the Amazon technology is expected to begin soon.

“We recently had a contract executed with Jackson Brothers and North so we anticipate the construction to begin on that area of the terminal probably here in the next 30 days or so,” Parks said. 

KOMU 8 Reporter Christian Riley Dutcher contributed to this report.

Originally Appeared Here

The University of Nebraska at Kearney men’s basketball team had a 16-point lead in the first half over a struggling Central Missouri squad yet to have a win in the MIAA.

ABOVE: UNK freshman guard D’Aundre Samuels (3) drives to the basket while being guarded by Central Missouri’s Jalen Knott during Saturday’s game at the UNK Health and Sports Center LEFT: UNK’s Taden King drives around Central Missouri’s Raeshaun Ambris during Saturday’s game at the UNK Health and Sports Center.

BUCK MAHONEY, KEARNEY HUB

Getting 32 points off the bench from Keith Kiner III, a 6-foot-6 senior transfer from Division I Niagra, the Mules (6-6) rallied for a 76-73 victory over the Lopers.

Kiner made 14 of 17 shots and grabbed eight rebounds to spark the Mules’ comeback. He also had four steals.

“He got himself going. I mean, there’s good players in this league and when you get yourself going, you end up having a game,” UNK interim coach Antoine Young said.

Kiner had 17 points at halftime and never looked back, especially after the Lopers’ Damiri Lindo fouled out with nine minutes let in the game.

But by then, momentum clearly had swung to the Mules.

“I thought we did some good things for about a half, maybe about a half and the first 12 minutes, and then we kind of went back to being where we’ve been — not guarding, turning it over and that usually get your beat,” Young said.

Twenty-one of Central Missouri’s points, 14 in the second half, came directly from UNK’s turnovers. The Lopers (5-8, 2-6) also got outscored 20-10 in the paint.

UNK freshman guard D’Aundre Samuels (3) drives to the basket while being guarded by Central Missouri’s Jalen Knott during Saturday’s game at the UNK Health and Sports Center.

BUCK MAHONEY, KEARNEY HUB

Central Missouri cut the lead under double digits with 12 minutes left in the game. Two minutes later, it was a one-possession game.

Turnovers played a part. So did missed shots, from the inside and the outside.

“You’re gonna miss them threes,” Young said. “It’s a 12-point game and you go and you miss five layups, right at the rim. If you can’t make layups, you’re gonna turn it over and you’re not gonna rebound, it’s probably hard to win,” Young said.

Central Missouri tied the game at 66 with 3½ minutes left, but didn’t go ahead until Kiner got a fast-break dunk at 2:24.

The teams traded the lead but UNK didn’t score in the last minute and a half.

Freshman point guard D’Aundre Samuels returned to the starting lineup to lead the Lopers with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. He also had six of UNK’s 13 turnovers.

“I just thought we needed to change things. up,” Young said of the lineup change. “I liked it for the most part.

“D’Aundre I think he had nine or 10 boards, which is what you need, so I really liked what he did. He’s gonna make some mistakes as a freshman so you have to live with some things.”

Sean Evans hit 5 of 10 3-pointers to add 19 points for the Lopers. Taden King added 13 points and Miguel Robles came off the bench to contribute 10 points.

UNK goes on the road this week, playing at Pittsburg State on Thursday and Missouri Southern on Saturday.

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Originally Appeared Here

The Minnesota State women’s soccer team is back in action for the NCAA Tournament First Round against the University of Central Missouri Friday. 

Last time out for the Mavericks was a 2-1 defeat to Concordia University, St. Paul in the NSIC Tournament Quarterfinals.   

The Mavs’ defeat to Concordia-St. Paul was the school’s first loss in the NSIC Tournament prior to the Semifinals. 

“Our goal every year is to win that conference tournament championship, and it’s the first time we’ve ever not played in at least a semifinals. It was a tough few days, but we got together as a team and just hit a reset button and talked through some things, and I think got our minds back to where it needed to be so that we can be ready for the NCAA Tournament,” said head coach Brian Bahl. 

The Mavs’ game against Concordia-St. Paul saw the Golden Bears score two goals from outside the penalty box, the Mavs score a penalty kick and had several stoppages due to fouls and the ball hitting the wires in the Maverick All-Sports Dome.

Despite the defeat, Bahl thinks his team played well, and that the game was somewhat of a microcosm of the team’s season. 

“I think overall we played pretty well. Our whole season has been very similar to that game, where I thought we were the better team, we played well, we just didn’t capitalize on some chances that we probably should have capitalized on. They got limited looks and they were able to capitalize on those limited looks. Soccer can be that way sometimes,” Bahl said. 

The Mavs are “past that” result against the Golden Bears, and are looking to be the best version of themselves against Central Missouri. 

“We’re just such a young group, we’re just trying to find ourselves, and who we’re going to be that particular week. Our hope is that this week, we’re going to get into that game and we’re going to be the best that we’ve been yet, and that’s always the goal each week. We’ve had to endure some tough moments with this group this season, but they’ve been very resilient,” Bahl said. 

The Mavs defeated Central Missouri 1-0 in their first meeting this season thanks to a 90th minute goal by Avery Korsching Sep. 8. The game had 17 fouls and Bahl is expecting the second matchup between the two teams to be similar in terms of physicality. 

“It’s become a rival over the years. We’ve never beat them at their place, they’ve never beat us at our place. We’ve never played at a neutral site, so we’ll see how that goes. They’re fast, physical and they’re good. Our first game against them could have went either way, but we really did a good job in that game of keeping our composure and staying focused and we battled every step of the way with them,” Bahl said.        

Bahl wants to see toughness from his team when they go to Topeka, Kansas and take the field at Yager Stadium. 

“I just want to see toughness and fight and effort through the roof. I just want to see us compete at a level that we haven’t yet competed at this year. It takes a different level once you get to the NCAA Tournament to move on. So I just want to see us go battle and fight and be really competitive and let the chips fall where they may,” Bahl said.

Header Photo: ​​Joining the Mavericks in NCAA tournament play are NSIC opponents [3] St. Cloud State and NSIC Tournament Champions [6] Bemidji State as they match up against one another in first-round action. (Dalton Grubb/The Reporter)

Write to Mohamed Warsame at mohamed.warsame@mnsu.edu

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