Howell's It Going, August 17, 2024

Hello and welcome to Howell’s It Going. This is your weekly update on what’s happening in your community. I’m Amanda Mendez, and this is your news.

No other race had more ballots cast in Howell County than the contest between Matt Roberts and Brent Campbell for Sheriff. Roberts emerged victorious on Primary Election Day with 69.99% of the vote to Campbell’s 30.01%. There are no Democratic candidates to defeat in November.
In essence, there’s a new Sheriff in town.

On Friday, Roberts stopped by the news office. He reported that his campaigners and volunteers knocked on two thousand doors in the final two weeks before election day.

Regarding the victory, Roberts said his frank manner of talking to constituents must have resonated with the voters.
“I think that’s what people are looking for,” Roberts said.

Roberts has a lot of things on his to-do list before taking office in January. He is attending a Sheriff's Conference and plans to line out a budget, prepare a policy update, and figuring out his first changes.
The first changes he intends to implement will be internal to the Sheriff’s Office, specifically “minor changes in the leadership structure,” including appointing a supervisor to the narcotics division. Roberts plans to launch a recruitment program and fill the vacant patrol positions in the department.
On the subject of campaign promises, Roberts said, “Hold me accountable on all of it.”
 

The Mountain View-Birch Tree School District announced last week new pick-up system, designed to alleviate the congestion on Old Highway 60.

In the past, traffic has often backed up, blocking buses and causing significant delays. The new system aims to keep traffic flowing smoothly and ensure the safety of all students.

Parents will enter through the East entrance and stay to the left as they proceed around the back parking lot.

Students will now be picked up at the doors to the sixth-grade hallway. This location is on the side of the middle school, ensuring that all vehicles stay off Old Highway 60.

Important Note: The front parking lot will be closed for pick-up. To help navigate this new system, there will be clear signage posted around the school.

This portion of Howell’s It Going is brought to you by Southwest Baptist University – Mountain View Campus. Southwest Baptist University. Your hope for a brighter future. A customized education in a caring community. Enroll today for fall. Classes start August 19. Apply today at SBUNIV.edu/applynow. It’s free. With no obligation.

In June, Missouri Governor Mike Parson vetoed funding for a wildlife fence for the West Plains Regional Airport. This was one of the more than 170 items vetoed from the Missouri state budget. Howell County News spoke with City of West Plains about why the fence was needed and what happens next.

Public Coordinator Cody Sanders told the News that the city requested $1.5 million for a perimeter fence at the airport to help keep wildlife away from the runway. In the last five years, there have been six deer strikes at the airport.

The city began trying to find funding for the fence project in 2023 according to Transportation Director Brian Mitchell. He said “We've been working on something for more than a year. We go through our engineering consultant we have with the airport. Then you apply for federal grants through the FAA and that didn't work out. So then, the next step was trying to go this route because, a lot of times, there is money there.”

The city will now have to change gears to find funding for the fence. Sanders said the city is going to continue to look for some funding partners, see what kind of grants we can find and go from there.

A well-known coffee house in downtown West Plains has moved – but not too far. 10/40 Coffee remains on the square in West Plains and is now by the Luster Arcade in the northeastern corner of the square.

Shop owner Lynette Cooper seemed happy with the new location, saying “Everybody loves the space. We love the space. It's bigger, for one,”

The coffee house was originally located at 24 Court Square and is now located at 14 Court Square in a building owned by Crockett Oaks and his wife Tonya.

Cooper and her husband are the current owners of the coffee house, purchasing the business from Nathan and Judy Ogden in December.

Lattes are very popular at 10/40 Coffee, according to the owner, as are their new grab-and-go salads and parfaits. Cooper said her favorite items are the Hot and Dirty Chai and the Chicken Salad Sandwiches.
10/40 Coffee is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Missouri Route 17 in Howell County will be closed as construction crews replace a culvert under the roadway. 

This section of roadway is located from Pine Street to Elm Avenue in Mountain View, Missouri.

Weather permitting, work began Monday, Aug. 12 and goes through Friday, Aug. 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The road will remain closed until the work is complete. 

The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.

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Area residents aged 62 and over who would like to take a class at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) during the 2024 fall semester can do so under the Senior Citizen Fee Waiver Program.

Senior citizens can register beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at the registration and records office in Cass Hall, 515 Cass Ave., in West Plains. Fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 19.

To register for classes, senior citizens should be fully admitted to the university as non-degree seeking students and follow the regulations outlined for non-degree seeking students.

Those interested also can contact the Missouri State-West Plains admissions office at 417-255-7955.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced on Monday, August 5 that funding is available to assist Missouri farmers and food processors in obtaining organic certification for their businesses. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, producers may be reimbursed for up to $750 of their certification costs during the program year.

To participate in the program, businesses must obtain or renew their organic certification, complete an application and document their certification costs incurred Oct. 1, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2024. Applications for cost share funds will be reimbursed in the order they are received until funds are exhausted or the eligibility period ends, whichever comes first.

The Department is accepting applications through Nov. 1, 2024. For an application or to learn more, visit the Organic Cost Share Program webpage. If you have questions about the program, please reach out to Whitney.Williams@mda.mo.gov, or call 573-751-7794.

This is Amanda and this has been Howell's It Going.