Laddonia Celebrates in Style Sesquicentennial, 4Th of July Make for Big Weekend
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COMMUNITY | A2 EDUCATION | B1 IT WAS A BUSY GETTING TO KNOW HOLIDAY WEEKEND INTERIM SUPER Wednesday, July 7, 2021 mexicoledger.com @mexicoledger /mexicoledger $2.00 Laddonia celebrates in style Sesquicentennial, 4th of July make for big weekend Laddonia had a lot of activity on Saturday, the sesquicentennial celebration that Laddonia's popular Fourth of July celebration drew a large crowd of both spectators kicked off two days of fun. Here, Logan Meine is thrown from a mechanical bull, just and participants for the annual parade on Sunday morning. [Dave Faries] one of the popular attractions for Laddonia's big blast. For more Laddonia, and area events see Page 2 of today's Ledger. [Dave Faries] Mexico Schools A game of mushball Budget shows slight deficit, but district has plenty in reserve BY DAVE FARIES months to reflect actual financial data. Editor Almost across the board compensation increases approved by the board and included in the budget ac- For fiscal year 2022, the Mexico School District ex- count for much of the difference. Administrators also pects a 2 percent increase in revenue. But they also an- had to adjust for the increased cost of some items and ticipate expenses to jump by 8 percent. services, as well as a slight drop in personnel property Because the schools have built up a healthy reserve, assessed valuations for 2020. however, the administrators believe the district is in Interim superintendent Melissa Chastain has made sound financial shape. staff retention and morale a focus of her term, with The projected budget for fiscal 2022 calls for rev- additional goals of attracting highly qualified staff and Mexico kicked off Sunday's Independence Day festivi- enue of $28.6 against expenditures of $30.4 mil- improving educational programs. ties with a mushball tournament at the Optimist ball lion. District reserves will easily cover the remaining Raises -- $1,000 for teachers, between 5 percent and park. Here, Maria Santiago practices her stance before amount. Federal allocations of $5.5 million and up to 7 percent for support staff and 20 percent for nursing the opening game. [Dave Faries] $7.3 million in pandemic-related relief funds are also -- are considered part of that effort. available. The boost in compensation is very important, she “There’s not any real concern,” said School Board said, “because people are important.” president Todd Yager, adding that these are esti- Mexico schools reported an estimated average daily mates and the budget would be adjusted in the coming See SCHOOL, Page A2 City renews Council skeptical about with drug rental scooter proposal task force BY DAVE FARIES ly way to transform urban transportation. BY DAVE FARIES Editor “I’ve spoken with their representative,” Mexico eco- nomic development director Russell Runge said. “My Editor City Council members were stunned last week by the question was ‘we’re a community of 12,000.’” The city of Mexico renewed its participation in news that electric scooter rental company Bird hoped The company has focused on major urban areas. the East Central Drug Task Force, a cooperative to bring 50 vehicles to Mexico. But scooters are popular on college effort between law enforcement agencies in eight “It sounds a little dangerous campuses. So services have found a counties and the Missouri Highway Patrol. and off the wall,” chairman pro market in Columbia and Fulton. Mexico’s share of the tab for the year is expected tem Vicki Briggs. Last month, Bird introduced to be $11,500. According to Public Safety Depart- The company provides re- rental scooters to the towns of ment chief Susan Rockett, that amount has been chargeable stand up scooters Galesburg and Monmouth in Illi- funded. that can travel at speeds up to 17 nois, with early reports of success. City Council member Chris Williams said it is im- miles per hour. Riders pay elec- Council members cited mainte- portant that residents understand that MPSD does tronically and are charged per nance issues reported from other not employ officers dedicated to narcotics investi - minute, dropping the scooters cities, as well as complaints about gation, although the department typically makes where their trip ends. vehicles left overnight. In Bird’s 60 drug-related arrests in the course of their regu - While Santa Monica, Califor- system, a local manager is tasked lar duties in a year. nia-based Bird has successfully with collecting the scooters every “That’s what we have the task force for,” he noted. placed vehicles in around 100 night for recharging. The company The task force identifies and targets active “drug U.S. cities, as well as across- Eu informed Runge they would like to enterprises” in the eight county area. Its purpose is rope and the Middle East, the operate from 4 a.m. to midnight to bolster the resources of local departments. scooter rental model has critics daily. In addition to Sheriff’s Offices in the area, police as well as advocates. Three Bird scooters on a sidewalk. The Still, the council remains skepti- departments in 12 cities -- including Mexico and There have been injuries. And company suggested interest in Mexico cal. Centralia -- contribute to the coalition, operating people complain about scooters as a market for rental scooters. [Fastily “Where do they think the need under the direction of the Missouri Highway Patrol. or other electric rentals scattered via Wikimedia Commons] is?” Briggs asked. Others cited the The Highway Patrol provides investigators for around cities. condition of streets and potential each case. Nashville voted to make it dif- for misuse and injury. According to Rockett, the arrangement between ficult for companies to install rentals in the city. San “Somehow we think this will be safer than a golfthe law enforcement agencies is unchanged from Francisco recently sent Scoot -- a subsidiary of Bird -- cart?” Chris Williams added. “Before I’d consider it,the previous year. a cease and desist letter for multiple permit violations. we’d have to consider golf carts.” The City Council gave unanimous assent to the Yet the service is billed as an environmentally friend- Golf carts are not permitted on Mexico streets. agreement. The Mexico Ledger Community ........... A2, B2, B5 Sports ............................... B3 Volume 167, Issue 53 Obituaries .........................A4 Comics .............................. A5 TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 12 Pages Classifieds ........................B4 Education ..........................B1 90/70 82/64 91/64 COMMUNITY mexicoledger.com Wednesday, July 7, 2021 A2 More from Laddonia... Party at Garfield Park Laddonia's annual parade drew everyone from the Community R-6 FFA to Before the Saturday fireworks in Mexico, the area Miss Missouri Callie Cox. around Garfield Park turned into a street party. At top, This year's parade held Deon Pittman enjoys the music. At bottom, Carla Wil- special significance due to liams is all smiles as she rests in the shade. Attendees the town's 150th birthday were treated to a first-rate display and celebration. celebration. [Dave Faries] [Dave Faries] Parade is Auxvasse Highlight Auxvasse celebrated Inde- pendence Day with a pa- rade through city streets on Saturday. At left, Ender and Ryker Noonan pose for the camera. Below, there was plenty of red, white and blue - and plen- ty of smiles - during the celbration. [Dave Faries] Car show draws holiday crowds Freedom of the Road Riders hosted a car show in downtown Mexico on Saturday. Frank Bauman shows off his 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air to Gordon Teague. [Dave Faries] SCHOOL Continued from Page A1 attendance of 2,120 across K-12 for 2021-22, with an additional 120 in summer school. Building a school budget requires tracing revenue from multiple sources, including property taxes, federal and state funds and earning on investments. These go into four different funds. Expenses run through more than 100 categories. Salaries, maintenance, sup- plies and utilities are among the obvi- Clifford Eugene Williams Sr. ous. But schools spend money on insur- ance, background checks, fuel, postage and much more. After the departure of superintendent Dr. Tammy Lupardus in the midst of budget planning, Dr. Zach Templeton -- Happy 80th Birthday Daddy! July 6th! he made the process easier.” a former superintendent -- stepped in to help with the process. Chastain praised the administrative “Dr. Templeton’s assistance was staff and board for pulling the budget together. Yager added credit to the solid Love, from Your Family greatly appreciated,” Chastain observed. working relationship between Temple- “Having deadlines to meet for the new Tina A. Williams, Clifford E. Williams Jr., Cynthia Kay ton and Chastain. Williams, Ashley N. Dees, Avery D. Dees Jr., Marco R. budget and with his background in math and understanding of our district“The district is in good financial Sanchez II, Cassaundra N. Sanchez, Nevaeh M. Ellis, shape,” Chastain said. Nehemiah D. Ellis, Florida Casino and Family. Have a news item or photos to submit? Email [email protected] From poolside grilling to crowd-pleasing cannonballs, family fun outdoors is here again. As a local community bank, we work closely with our customers to understand their priorities and the changes that affect their finances. No matter how you choose to bank, The Bank of Missouri is here for you. Get started at BANKOFMISSOURI.COM. NEWS mexicoledger.com Wednesday, July 7, 2021 A3 Audrain County Sheriff's Office POET documents Mexico Public Safety Department benefits of biofuel Arrest Report BY JANNA FARLEY sity’s College of Agriculture, and Jeff May 20 dangering the welfare of a Halie N. TIller, 39, do- Vital Broin, Founder and CEO of POET. Michael D. Ames, 25, do- child mestic assault (4th degree), The Nature’s Building Blocks series mestic assault (4th degree) Eric W. Bang, 49, non trespass Steve Sinning comes from a long explores the ways in which biotech- May 21 support in excess of 12 Ray A.