Pulaski County Mo. Missouri

Facing $17,000 overage charge, county rents backhoe for $10,500

Today at 06:31:16 PM by darrellmaurina

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (Feb. 8, 2010) — Faced with a choice between spending more than $17,000 for overage charges on a leased backhoe that Eastern District road crews used for more hours than agreed or spending $10,500 to rent a backhoe for one more year, Pulaski County Commissioners agreed Monday to pay $60,300 for a new Western District backhoe, transfer a lightly used backhoe from the Western District to the Eastern District, and pay the one-year rental fees for a second backhoe in the Eastern District. All of the backhoes will be Caterpillar equipment sold or rented to the county by Benny Walker of Fabick, Inc. Western District Commissioner Rick Zweerink won’t be left with only one backhoe in his district; he plans to investigate purchasing a new John Deere backhoe from a different dealer. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

By Darrell Todd Maurina

2 comments | Write Comment

Fort Leonard Wood announces two-hour delay; only Plato schools closed yet

Today at 06:04:56 AM by darrellmaurina

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (Feb. 8, 2010) — When snow hit Pulaski County last week, schools closed throughout the county but Fort Leonard Wood remained open or was among the last organizations to send personnel home early. However, post personnel decided at 3:40 a.m. today to announce a two-hour reporting delay despite only one area school system, the Plato R-V School District, closing its doors. The reporting delay applies only to non-mission-essential personnel; a liberal leave policy is also in effect. Those who have hospital or doctor appointments prior to 9:30 a.m. at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital will have their appointments cancelled and rescheduled. According to post personnel, the reporting delay is due to expected inclement weather rather than current problems. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

By Darrell Todd Maurina

0 comments | Write Comment

Pulaski County isn't planning to ban smoking in bars and restaurants

February 06, 2010, 07:57:19 PM by darrellmaurina

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (Feb. 6, 2010) — Contrary to a recent media report, Pulaski County government leaders have no plans to make county bars and restaurants smoke-free. At Wednesday’s county commission meeting, Commissioner Bill Farnham questioned an article in the Feb. 3 edition of the Waynesville Daily Guide. “In this article which doesn’t have a name of who wrote the story, it says ‘Pulaski County doesn’t currently have any laws regarding smoking in bars and restaurants, although there have been rumblings during the past of a possible effort to make the county smoke-free,’” Farnham said. “We’ve never discussed this down here in the five years I’ve been on this board, unless they’ve talked about it down at the health board meeting. I’m just curious.” Rep. David Day, R-Dixon, also said he was surprised by the newspaper article and its statements about a possible effort to make Pulaski County smoke-free and will vote against pending state legislation on the matter if it comes to the House of Representatives floor in its current form. “If somebody owns a bar or restaurant or sports arena or whatever, I feel if somebody owns private property, they have the option to decide if they want smoking there or not,” Day said. “If somebody owns a restaurant and they want to allow smoking, then if somebody else is bothered by that smoke they just don’t have to go there. If somebody wants to have a totally smoke free restaurant, then smokers have that same option.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

By Darrell Todd Maurina

9 comments | Write Comment

Historical Society members continue efforts to research county poor farm

February 06, 2010, 04:52:02 PM by darrellmaurina

Laura Huffman reviews county records of the Pulaski County Poor Farm.

Historical Society members continue efforts to research county poor farm
WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (Feb. 3, 2010) — Two members of the Pulaski County Historical Society have been working each Wednesday to review old county records of what was once the Pulaski County Poor Farm, but so far haven’t been able to identify any of the unmarked graves in the Poor Farm Cemetery. “We’re finding lots of records of burials, and sometimes (the county commission minute book) has records of names of burials, but when I look up the death certificates there is no record, so we don’t know if they’re buried there,” historical society member Laura Huffman told Presiding Commissioner Don McCulloch during Wednesday morning’s special meeting of the county commission. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

By Darrell Todd Maurina

0 comments | Write Comment

Fort Leonard Wood, most area schools allowing early outs Friday

February 05, 2010, 01:48:33 PM by darrellmaurina

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (Feb. 5, 2010) — Fort Leonard Wood officials have announced that an early staggered release for non-essential personnel is being authorized due to the weather. According to a post press release, supervisors are encouraged to manage early release beginning at 3 p.m. today. A liberal leave policy is in effect; those with questions should check with their supervisor. Many local school districts including Waynesville, Laquey, Crocker, and Dixon have also authorized early release. Richland schools had a planned early-out day anyway on Friday and released students as planned. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

By Darrell Todd Maurina

7 comments | Write Comment

Governor pulls Ransdall's nomination and 83 others from Missouri Senate review

February 04, 2010, 01:40:09 PM by darrellmaurina

Bill Ransdall

Governor pulls Ransdall's nomination and 83 others from Missouri Senate review
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Feb. 4, 2010) — Gov. Jay Nixon has pulled 84 names back from Missouri State Senate consideration for various boards and commissions, including former Pulaski County Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall. The governor’s decision came Wednesday, just one day before the nominations would have died. Ransdall was appointed last fall to one of three seats on the Missouri State Tax Commission, which pays $106,000 per year and by state statute must be a full-time position. As a condition of his appointment, Ransdall was required to give up numerous positions including his elected office. It’s not clear whether Ransdall’s name would be coming back to the state senate with the governor’s recommendation for appointment — but that’s the case for the other 83 people, too. “There has not been any decision made on individual names that were withdrawn as far as whether they will be resubmitted,” said Scott Holste, a spokesman for Nixon’s office. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

By Darrell Todd Maurina

0 comments | Write Comment