Renewable energy sources are the wave of the future, and now is the time to jump on the bandwagon, according to experts at a conference in Dexter.
The conference, held Tuesday at the Dexter Chamber of Commerce building, was co-hosted by university of Missouri Extension, Stoddard County Industrial Development Authority, and Three Rivers College Center in Dexter.
Speakers for the morning covered a variety of topics that included funding sources and tax credits for purchase and installation of alternative energy sources, and photovoltaics (solar electric panels).
Dr. Van Ayers of UM Extension told the group that renewable energy is “the wave of the future.’
“There are government moneys available,” Ayers stressed, focused on projects that are good for the whole – not for an individual. Ayers told those gathered about government projects and incentives that help to attract business and individuals begin to utilize alernative energy.
Ayers also explained other pathways to funding, including Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) for individuals and rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) for businesses. The latter is for feasibility studies and training for larger businesses. Ayers discussed a number of energy options, including wind turbines and photo panels (known as photovolataics).
Ayers explained the difference between using renewable energy "on or off the grid." In Missouri, Ameren is required to buy excess power from those that produce electricity from an alternate source.
Both Dr. Wes Payne of Three Rivers College and Julian Steiner of the Stoddard County IDA talked of training opportunities to prepare workers to enter this emerging field. Payne stressed that the college can work to develop a training program to fit a need, as long as there is a need and a network can support such a program.
(Pictured is guest speaker Tyson Vineyard of Stargate Energy of Paducah Kentucky)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On the same day that candidates are supposed to start filing office in Missouri, a new Senate redistricting committee will be starting from square one to try and draw a new map.
A new committee will begin work on Feb. 28 to begin redrawing the state senate map. The committee was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday.
The state committees of the two major political parties each submitted 10 names to Gov. Nixon to consider for appointment to the Senate apportionment commission. From those lists, the Governor selected five members from each of the lists for the commission, for a total of 10 members.
No one appointed by the governor is from Southeast Missouri. Nixon’s Senate apportionment commission members, along with their hometown and political affiliations are:
- Nicole Colbert-Botchway (D-St. Louis)
- Jean Paul Bradshaw II (R-Kansas City)
- Steve Ehlman (R-St. Charles)
- Marc Ellinger (R-Jefferson City)
- W. Mitchell Elliott (D-Kansas City)
- Doug Harpool (D-Springfield)
- Nick Myers (R-Joplin)
- Todd Patterson (D-Kansas City)
- Lowell Pearson (R-Columbia)
- Trent Skaggs (D-Kansas City)
The committee includes several members from the previous bi-partisan apportionment commission that failed to come to an agreement in the first place last August.
After that commission failed, the task of drawing a new state Senate map was handed over to a panel of judges. But the Missouri Supreme Court tossed their map out earlier this month after it failed to meet constitutional mandates for fairness and compactness.
The new committee will hold its first meeting on Feb. 28 to begin redrawing the map. That’s the same day that candidates are eligible to start filing for state races. The delay in the redistricting process could generate conflict over district residency rules.
JEFFERSON CITY - Legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer of Dexter that would make Missouri a “right-to-work” state is slated to be on the agenda this week in the state Senate.
A senate committee last week endorsed two bills that would make it a misdemeanor to require workers to pay union fees as a condition of employment.
Mayer’s legislation, if approved by the Legislature, would take the issue to Missouri voters for ultimate approval. The second piece of legislation would be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature if it passes.
Business groups say such laws could help the state attract more jobs, while unions say the measures would allow people to get benefits without paying for their representation in bargaining talks.
Mayer’s legislation comes just as Indiana appears close to becoming a "right-to-work" state. A Republican bill in Indiana recently passed the House and is headed to the Senate. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has said he will sign a "right-to-work" bill if it lands on his desk.
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By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMeTimes Editor
It is a unique tradition 87 years in the making. It brings together every corner of Stoddard County; a source of pride with each school bringing its own traditions, it’s own sense of school and community pride – all coming together for a week of much more than basketball.
It’s been Stoddard County Tournament week.
And while the eight schools in the conferences shook hands and met on the hard court for great athletic contests, but there was other action this week at the Bearcat Event Center. There were the cheerleaders and their competitions – for the All-County team award as well as All-Tournament team. There are fans – neighbors really, and the meeting of coaches and officials in the Hospitality Room. Cheer teams and dance squads perform great half-time entertainment throughout the week, and friends greeting friends in a uniquely Stoddard County annual institution.
Friday night’s half-time entertainment featured the Kicking ‘Cats Dance Team from Dexter, the Bernie Mules Cheerleaders, and the DHS Cheerleaders.
On Friday night, tournament action came to a pinnacle with championship games and announcement of All-County teams.
For the second year in a row, the Dexter Bearcats cheer squad received the Cheerleading Team award. The senior members of the Bearcat squad walked together – holding hands in friendship and unity – to accepted the championship plaque.
A dozen young Stoddard County ladies were named to the 2012 SCAA All-Tournament Cheer team:
- Katie Baker, Bernie
- Allie Below, Advance
- Sydney Graves, Dexter
- Taylor Martin, Dexter
- Mariah Massey, Bloomfield
- Paige Mays, Bernie
- McKenzie Mitchell, Dexter
- Grayson Miles, Advance
- Jessica Norman, Dexter
- Kim Seabaugh, Woodland
- Brooke Stoker, Dexter
- Miranda Warner, Dexter
ShowMe Times Photo Gallery
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama used an election-year State of the Union address Tuesday night to frame the national debate not as a referendum on him but as on how to save the American dream. This was Obama’s third State of the Union address since becoming president.
He boasted that the nation's economy has improved, although slowly, from the depths of the recession. "The state of our union is getting stronger," he said.
But he said the middle class has been losing ground, and he urged a new agenda of taxes and government spending to change the direction of the economy.
Reaction to Obama’s address from Missouri’s delegation in the Congress has been mixed.
“I find it hard to reconcile the president’s statements about energy policy with his effort to block the Keystone XL oil pipeline. His statements on raising taxes are inconsistent with his responsibility to help create jobs. And the burdensome, aggressive regulations of the federal bureaucracy continue to undermine the manufacturing and agriculture sectors of our economy and make job growth difficult in rural America,” 8th District U.s. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau. said.
Emerson also noted the president has delayed the release of his budget proposal, while the U.S. Senate has gone 1,000 days without passing a budget.
“The president and the Senate must meet a basic test of accountability by showing the American people how they plan to spend our tax dollars, and they are failing. At no time in history has it been more important for our country to reduce its national debt and work towards balanced budgets. Without a blueprint of federal spending, the president and liberals in the Senate continue to grow the federal government at taxpayer expense. Nothing in the president’s speech tonight should reassure Missourians that his plans for a larger, more intrusive and more powerful executive branch of government have changed," she said.
Emerson participated in the bipartisan seating arrangement started last year through the efforts of the Center Aisle Caucus and other congressional organizations.
Missouri Republican U.S. Senator, Roy Blunt, said the most important domestic priority is job creation.
“Tonight we heard a lot from the President about ‘economic fairness’ and ‘American values.’ The most important American value in the economy is the value of an individual to get a job, and hopefully to get a private sector job,” Blunt said.
“Particularly, his focus on ‘energy security’ contradicts all of the facts. I was just in 26 Missouri counties where the discussion was about: Why are my utility bills going up? Why is the power plant closing? Why didn’t the President move forward with the Keystone Pipeline? More American energy is the shortest path to more American jobs, and while the President seems to understand that in his speech, the regulators who work for him clearly work against that all the time,” he said. “We need to work together to meet the number one domestic priority in the country, and that’s more private sector job creation. The President needs to understand that, or else we’re not going to solve the problems of this economy.”
Democrat U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill called the priorities laid out by the president a “starting point.”
“The vision President Obama laid out to bolster manufacturing, like we did at the Ford plant in Kansas City, and invest in our workforce is a starting point that we all should be able to support. Missouri’s middle-class families can’t endure more partisanship, brinksmanship and political games,” she said.RepublicanAddress to the Nation
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