................. The Week of Thursday, April 3, 2003 ..... ......
,i ties s .... Defending.Your
Crawford County's Only State and National Blue Ribbon Award Newspaper {$ 8 , Liberties
Winner of 93 Awards in Journalism Since 1960
Page I C
Week
enjoy
at CES
season
to a close
Page I B
• gUp
annual Cuba Free
Yard Sale will
'day Saturday. You will
sales listed on the
this week's paper.
Cuba Knights of
will host an all-you-
Pancake breakfast
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cross Parish Hall.
Methodist Church
a white elephant and
e from 8 a.m. to noon
church parking lot.
CUba City Council will
5:30 p.m. Monday at
Weather
Friday
High-68 Low-37
Sunday
/ ......... - ...... 'L
High-68 Low-50
Low.46
tory
..... 2-5B
.................... 5-9B
........ 2B
................ 8A
12A
...................... 3B
...................... IIA
.......................... 4A
...... 6A
............................ IB
member
Printed on
ReCycled Paper
County, R-1 district seek tax approval
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By Chris Case
Assistant Editor
In next Tuesday's general munici-
pal election, the voters of Crawford
County will be asked to renew a half-
cent county sales tax used to fund
road, bridge and county building
improvements. The tax was first
• approved by voters in 1985, then
extended in 1993 and again in 1998.
The current proposal would extend
the tax another five years.
The county commission is promot-
ing the tax as a way to keep road and
bridge maintenance projects moving
forward: "We're not asking for a new
tax," said Associate Commissioner Ed
Mitchell. "It's important for voters to
understand that this is not a new tax,
but we need to keep the levy in place
so that we can continue to maintain
our roads and bridges."
"Losing this sales tax income would
kill our road budget," agreed
Associate Commissioner Neil Swyers.
"If voters don't approve the sales tax
again this year, it could mean layoffs
next year for our road crews. The chip
and seal program would be pretty
much halted; we just wouldn't have
the money for it."
A majority of votes are needed to
renew the levy, called.Proposition No.
1 on the April ballot. A portion of the
tax (15 percent) is earmarked for
courthouse and jail improvements
and Americans with Disabilities Act
requirements, with the rest (85 per-
cent) set aside specifically for road
and bridge projects and road equip-
ment.
Area voters living in the Bourbon
See TAX ISSUES page 2A
Local soldiers
being honored
In an effort to recognize local men and women serv-
ing in the armed forces, Peoples Bank is starting a
Wall of Honor at the bank's 701 N. Franklin Office and
also at the Bourbon and Steelville offices.
The idea of the Wall of Honor, according to Ken
Holland, President of Peoples Bank, is to display pic-
tures of those serving our country in any type of mili-
tary service. Anyone who has a frietad or family mem-
ber currently doing U.S. military service is invited to
bring in a picture for display on the Wall of Honor. The
bank would prefer to have pictures of these people in
uniform if at all
possible.
In addition to
the picture, the
bank will also
display informa-
tion about each
person recog-
nized on the
Wall of Honor: If
you have a pic-
ture to display
please be pre-
pared to provide
the individual's
name, branch of
service, and unit
"or location if
Candlelight
service planned
A candlelight vigil to support the
armed forces overseas has been
planned for Friday, April 11 at
Hood Park, starting at 8 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to
bring a candle for the service and
friends and family. Prayers for the
troops will be heldduring the vigil.
Red Cross can help - Page 2A
possible. The bank would also like to know their tie to
the local area.
The pictures should also be marked in some man-
ner to insure they can be returned to the proper per-
son at some time in the future.
Holland added, "We feel trongly about the impor-
tance of showing support for the men and women who
are serving in our armed forces whether they are in
the Middle East, other parts of'the world, or here in
the U.S. Displaying these pictures is simply a way of
acknowledging our support and recognizing these
brave men and women. We invite everyone stop by
and see the Wall of Honor."
Chris Case photo
Volunteers at the Cuba Senior Center worked feverishly last week to prepare yellow ribbons in
support of our troops at war. The ribbons they made can be seen in locations across the county.
$eniors working on yellow ribbons
In a show of support for military troops fight-
ing in the Persian Gulf, a group of volunteers at
the Cuba Senior Center are making tying
together yellow ribbons and hanging them on
trees, signs and at businesses all across the
county.
The ladies began putting the ribbons togeth-
er last week, using some spare materials kept at
the Senior Center. They've already put hun-
dreds of the ribbons together and are going to
keep it up until they •run out of material or the
war ends.
"We had the volunteers who wanted to help
and we had the materials, so it just seemed like
a nice idea," said Betty Bouse, a center adminis-
trator who first came up with the plan.
"Everyone should do a little something to sup-
port the troops, I think, and this is our small
part."
The plastic, weather-proof yellow ribbons can
now be seen hanging in trees at downtown
Bourbon, at the center and at other businesses
in Cuba. Many people have made donations to
the project and taken ribbons home to hang on
their propertr.
For more information about obtaining a rib-
bon, stop by or call .the Cuba Senior Center at
885-2909. Supplies are limited.
Sheriff says he neea,00 six new employees to run jail
By Chris Case
Assistant Editor
V
Harsh weather conditions this win-
ter have delayed the expected comple-
tion date of a new county jail facility
in Steelville by about a month. The
jail should open by late June 2003 but
may require additional personnel to
operate it.
Project Manager Mike Smith made
the announcement of a delay in his
construction report to the county com-
mission last month. "I think most peo-
ple would agree that this has been an
extraordinary winter in Crawford
County, both in terms of severity and
duration," Smith explained. "The
impact of this past winter on the jail
project is now becoming apparent.
With so many lost work days, the
start of the finish work has been
delayed; and consequently, the finish
date of the project has been changed.
The simple fact of the matter is that
this winter did not allow enough days
that met the conditions for the quali-
ty of work that is expected of the con-
tractors."
"It's one of those things that can't
be controlled, so you just accept it and
move, on," said a disappointed
Associate Commissioner•Ed Mitchell
upon hearing news of the pushed back
work schedule.
On a more positive note in his
meeting with commissioners, Smith
did point out that much work at the
jalf site aas been completed since his
last report or is at least nearing com-
pletion. Those items included the
installation of permanent electrical
power, hanging of overhead lights and
See JAIL page 2A
Three ladies running for just two seats on R-2 board
V
By Chris Case
Assistant Editor
Cuba area voters will
choose from among three can-
didates to fill two open seats
on the R-II School Board next
Tuesday. The election fea-
tures three women who've all
served on the board before,
two of whom are currently
serving in that capacity.
Dona Bouse, Sandra Farris
and Jackie Volner are this
year's candidates. They were
all asked a series of questions
about themselves and their
views on issues related to the
school district by the Cuba
Free Press; their answers
have been reprinted in full
below in the order in which
they were received by the
paper.
Cuba Free Press: What is
your background and family
history? Have you served on
tire board before and if so for
how long?
Dona Bouse: I am a 1981
graduate of Crawford County
!
Dona Bouse
R-II Schools. I Married Jeff
Bouse, a 1980 graduate of
Cuba High School, in 1983.
We have 2 children,
Stephanie, who will graduate
this year, and Nick, who will
be a freshman in high school.
Stephanie has been accepted
at the University of Missouri-
Columbia.
We purchased Hayes Shoe
Store in 1994 and Jeff takes
care of the business. While I
do bookwork for our store on
the weekends, for the past
Sandra Farris
five years, my working hours
are spent at Tacony
Mtanufacturing as a Materials
Manager.
I have four years experi-
ence as a Crawford County
School Board member.
Sandra Farris: I have
lived in Cuba all my life. I'm
married with two children--
Rachael 19, and Rebecca, 16.
At present I am currently
employed at Industrial
Engineering.
I have served on the Cuba
Jackle Volner
Board of Education for three
years. Graduating from
Crawford R-II Schools, I have
watched our schools grow and
become accredited through
the hard work of our adminis-
trators, teachers, students,
parents and community.
Jackie Volner: I moved to
Cuba with my parents, Bob
and Zella Bowen, in 1968. I
attended Cuba R-II Schools
and graduated from Cuba
High in 1982. I then attended
Rolla Technical Schools,
where I graduated with a 4.0
GPA in Medical Office
Technology.
In the fall of 1982, I mar-
ried Roger Volner. We have
two children--Andrew, 19,
and Ashley, 16. We have been
happily married for 20 years.
I've lived in Cuba for 35
years.
I was elected to the Cuba
Board of Education in 1999
and served three years.
CFP: What specific prob-
lem areas currently exist at R-
H Schools that the board
needs to address in the near
future? "
Bouse: The school board's
number one concern in the
near future is state funding
issues and how they will
impact our local school budg-
et.
: Farris: Attendance at the
high school level needs to be
addressed by the parents of
our studen's. Both should be
aware of the importance of
attending classes daily. These
See CANDIDATES page 2A
