WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17, 2018 ■ VOLUME 2, NUMBER 15 ■ 12 PAGES ■ PRICE 75¢ www.MariesCountyAdvocate.com Vienna beats Calvary Lutheran at homecoming. See Sports Page 7. Belle FBLA celebrates 20 years of community service BY MATTHEW HAINES ADVOCATE STAFF WRITER Sunday Jan 14 Belle High School and Future Business Leaders of America came together for the 20th Anniversary Celebration and Open House. The event was well attended by community lead- ers, alumni, friends, and family to honor FBLA participants throughout the years. As visitors entered the high school gym they were greeted by student- representatives of the program, asked to Homecoming crowd goes crazy sign in, and generously offered a variety of snacks and punch. Golden balloons Fans of the Vienna Eagles are pictured reacting to a third littered the floor while red and white bou- quarter buzzer-beater shot in the varsity game made by Eagle quets and twisted ribbons decorated the basketball player, sophomore Zach Schwartze, in the contest tables. 20 years of FBLA t-shirts adorned last Friday night at the annual VHS Homecoming. The Eagles a backdrop façade pleasantly framing a won both the JV and varsity games versus Calvary Lutheran. table nearly 100 feet long, showcasing Candidates for homecoming queen and king (below)— Courtney Falter (left), Malerie Meier, Kara Harker, Taylour the proposals, projects, and accomplish- Schoene and Makayla Peterman. Cole Petershagen (back, left), ments of the much lauded program. In a Tyler Roberds, Isaac Weider, Luke McEnnis, and Carson Hayes. corner to the side, the popular Kiss-a-Pig Read about the Eagles game against Calvary Lutheran on fundraiser allowed visitors to cast votes page 7 and see more photos from homecoming on page 12. for their favorite candidate in dollars and cents; the nominee who collects the most PHOTOS BY JACOB WARDEN money is thereafter chosen to kiss a literal pig at the basketball game Feb 9, during FBLA week. It’s not all fun and games: FBLA is Auditor reports “good year” during Belle’s financial presentation meant to complement classroom learning as a competency-based extracurricular Police department continues deficit in 2017-18 with negative $29,065.77 to date activity. According to the program di- rector, Kathy Speichinger, the FBLA promote skills like public speaking and BELLE — Belle aldermen received both are common to cities of their size.” can. I know Michelle (Jones) got cross the red, right,” he asked. training in new technology which dovetail an unmodified opinion letter Jan. 9, with The two issues were separation of trained on the water and sewer billing Stanfield was referring to the Belle with a wide array of other disciplines. no new findings, during the city’s 2016- duties and preparation and review of the system this year and that was big.” Police Department (PD). For example, Speichinger’s curriculum 17 audit presentation, and discussed how financial statements. Alderman Ken Stanfield asked De- DeLuca told aldermen in April during includes training in Microsoft Office to keep departments on budget. “Anytime we have a small account- Luca about the overall financial picture. the 2016-17 mid-year audit presentation Suite, a collection of computer programs Kristen DeLuca with K DeLuca Audit ing staff where one or two people can or “It looks like the city, financially, is in to follow their policy on purchases. designed to enhance the users ability to Services, LLC., in St. James, presented do nearly all the accounting functions, pretty good shape,” he asked. “We talked last year about complying communicate effectively in academic, the report. we have a segregation of duties issue,” “It’s been a pretty good year,” DeLuca with your purchasing procedures and business, and professional environments. “There were no new findings this DeLuca told Belle aldermen. “You are confirmed. trying to find a way to enforce that no A large portion of FBLA consists of year,” DeLuca told The Advocate Tues- not alone. Every small city we work Stanfield asked about the one depart- costs are incurred until they have been volunteer work. Students assist in the day morning. “There were two issues with has this problem. Look for ways ment that was in the red. “Other than we See Audit report on Page 5 See Belle FBLA on Page 6 that we have talked about in the past and you can separate those duties when you have one department that is kind of in Drewel asks for patience with muddy road at Vichy Dollar General Store construction site BY LAURA SCHIERMEIER spent to build the store and he wondered ADVOCATE STAFF WRITER if there are enough people in the imme- [email protected] diate surrounding area to support it and hopes the new business location will be MARIES COUNTY — Ground has successful. been broken for the new Dollar General PANIC BUTTONS Store along Highway 63, south of Vichy. Treasurer Rhonda Slone had a price The new store also will be using a Maries quote for ten panic buttons to be placed THREE AWARDS were presented at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce End of the Year Luncheon last Friday. Pictured (from left)are County road as an entrance. in county offices in the courthouse. She Chamber President Amber Bock, award winners Bill Patton and Ross Patten representing SCRS; Vic Stratman, and Alberto Esquivel Eastern District Commissioner Doug said the ones located in the prosecuting and Elda Mascorro representing Checo’s; and Chamber Vice President Donna Byington. PHOTO BY JACOB WARDEN Drewel said he recently was at the site. attorney, circuit clerk and recorder and He spoke with the contractor and saw associate judge’s offices and the judge’s the construction plans. He also noticed bench in the courtroom were installed in Stratman, SCRS, Checo’s receive VCOC awards that Maries Road 443 was being heav- 2008. They ring into the sheriff’s office so BY LAURA SCHIERMEIER All of the nominees were very deserving of the award and ily used by the heavy equipment going help can come quickly if there is a security ADVOCATE STAFF WRITER included Mary Wansing and Sharon Wulff. in and out of the Dollar General Store issue. The quote was given by Secure [email protected] South Central Regional Stockyards (SCRS) received the Pio- construction site. He was told that about Tech Systems, Inc. of Irving, Texas and neer Award which recognizes a chamber business for noteworthy 100 feet of this county road will have a representatives from that company said VIENNA — The Vienna Chamber of Commerce (VCOC) pre- accomplishments, long-standing contributions to the community, concrete street/driveway poured on it to the county’s current panic buttons are sented three awards Friday afternoon at the End of Year Luncheon and ethical approach to business and significant community service the entrance of the new Dollar General obsolete. They were purchased with a event held at The Market restaurant in Vienna. efforts. Ross Patton received the award for SCRS. He said he was Store parking lot. He said there has been grant by Circuit Clerk and Recorder Vic Stratman received the Heart of Vienna Award which happy about receiving the award and “Very honored.” a lot of mud on the county road entrance Mark Buschmann. recognizes a business or individual who shows a great love and The nominees—Crump Law Office and the Vienna Eagles and on Highway 63 caused by the trucks The quote Secure Tech Systems gave concern for the community by sharing their time and talents or Club—all play an important role in the community and were the going in and out. Drewel asked that local for a new system including installation by their financial contributions to the community. Stratman said businesses selected by chamber members to be recognized. residents who use Maries Road 443 to was $10,100. This includes ten single someone else should have received it, adding, “We live in a great have patience because it will get better. See VCOC awards on Page 6 See Commission on Page 3 community and a lot of people do a lot of things.” Drewel said a lot of money is being Vienna may M-2 Archery Legends of change water competes in Conservation deposit policy St. Clair series planned See Page 3 See Page 9 See Page 5 “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.” — MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MCA ■ WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17, 2018 ■ PAGE 2 A NEW ADVENTURE The battle between the watermelon and the apple he recommended amount of fruit in the Healthy 11. Applesauce Apple 4 — Watermelon 0 U.S.-Style Eating Pattern at the 2,000-calorie 12. Apple Turnovers Uncut watermelons will last seven to ten days Tlevel is 2 cup-equivalents per day. I’ll be the 13. Baked Apples on the counter and two to three weeks in the fridge. first to confess that I don’t always reach that goal. 14. Caramel Apples Loose apples will last six to eight weeks if refriger- But I do have some strong feelings about my favorite 15. Dried Apples ated, one to two weeks on the counter. Another win fruit — the apple. 16. Fried Apples for the apple. My wife, Connie doesn’t agree with me. Her 17. Waldorf Salad Apple 5 — Watermelon 0 favorite fruit is the watermelon. I think it has some- by DENNIS Did I miss any? The apple is so great a company chose it as its thing to do with the fact that watermelons show up What can you do with a watermelon, besides eat name. No company is named watermelon. on the grocery store shelves around May. She has WARDEN or drink them? Most of the recipes you find on-line Apple 6 — Watermelon 0 been a teacher now for 31 years.