Cuba Free Press April 24, 2003: Page 1

April 24, 2003 Cuba Free Press
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...... ..... ....... The Week of Thursday, April 24, 2003 Crawford County's Only State and National Blue Ribbon Award Newspaper Winner of 93 Awards in Journalism 6 Defending Your Liberties Since 1960 Week into Section C teams Steelville Page I B irl arten Roundup, for kindergarteners, will today (Thurs.) from ':30 p.m. at the Cuba g. * Tri-C Club will host a Sale on Mace's lot at of Spencer and Hwy. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parents as Teachers a safety program at Firehouse from 10 to Saturday for families to age five. Weather Friday Low.48 High-6S Low-47 Low.47 Sunday High-78 Low-56 ..... 2-3B ....... 9-13B .................... 4-5B ................ 7B 12A ...................... 6B ...................... IOA .... . ...................... 4A .... • . ....... . .............. 6A • ,,,.....,.... ....... ... .... ! B member Printed on Recycled Paper R-2 cutting five teaching positions Several coachingpositions, g0000![team also eliminai00ed from next year's budget ,,V By Chris Case Assistant Editor The most recent estimates from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) project education cuts of $481,500 to the Cuba R-2 School District in the 2003- 04 budget. As a result, the R-2 Board has already started making spending cuts in the district's extracurricular and academi c programs, as well as its certified staff. The board approved a list of budget cuts submitted by Superintendent Waymon Boast at last week's meeting, as it tries to close the gap toward a balanced budget plan for 2003-04. Cafeteria update put on hold by R-2 board By Chris Case Assistant Editor V Despite making several significant cost reductions, the district is still approximately $80,000 shy of bal- anced budget spending. Superintendent Boast warned that there may be more cuts still to come: "We may have to look at additional (budget) cuts at the May or June meetings," he said, "and even then, we may not end up with a balanced budg- et. It's quite possible that we'll have to spend from our fund balances next year. We have to do the best we can (to balance the budget) and retain the quality of our programs during this funding crisis." Board members agreed unani- See R-2 BOARD page 2A The Cuba R-2 School District would like to bring its cafeteria program up-to- date with an automated, credit card-type computer system, but for the time being, $15,000 in start-up costs have been deemed too expensive. Superintendent Wayman Boast originally planned to recommend the board approve the new system at last week's meeting, so the system could be implement- ed over the summer. However, state educational funding cuts on the horizon forced him to rethink that proposal and take a wait- and-see approach. "The (district's) financial situation looks worse than it did just last month, which is a concern," Boast noted. "We have one of the most archaic (cafeteria) sys- tems in the area. We do the best we can with it, but it certainly can be improved. I want to take some more time on the issue and look at the costs to see if it's fea- sible in the future." Potential upgrades to the cafeteria program would incorporate computers to use for counting and record- ing student participation, payments, meal choices, and use of the free and reduced meal program. Currently, those records and head counts are done by hand by cafeteria work- ers. "The accountability of our current system is ques- tionable at best," added Boast. The computers "will See CAFETERIA page 2A "V Bourbon man recel es 20-year prison sentence on meth-related charge ! m By Chris Case Assistant Editor St. Louis, Mo.--A Bour- bon area man has been sen- tenced to 20 years on con- spiracy charges involving distribution of chemicals used to manufacture meth- amphetamine. John P. Bewig, 54, of the 3000 block of Oak Heaven Lane, was sentenced April 18 to 20 years in prison. In January, Bewig was con- victed of one felony count of conspiracy to distribute pseudoephedrine. He appeared last Friday for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Donald J. Stohr. Co-defendants Veronica L. Heise, 46, of the 10000 block North Service Road, Bourbon, and David M. Combs, 55, of the 800 block of Fisher Road, Cuba, pleaded guilty in January to one felony count of con- spiracy to distribute pseu- doephedrine and have been sentenced to two and five years in prison, respective- ly. Beginning in November 2001 and continuing through October 2002, Bewig and Heise sold 3,512 boxes (24 per box) of pseu- doephedrine pills from Bewig's 1-44 One Stop in Bourbon. David Combs admitted with his plea in January that he purchased pseudoephedrine in large quantities from the 1-44 One Stop to manufacture methamphetamine. "With the scourge of methamphetamine that has inundated rural Missouri, this office will pursue not just the meth cooks, but also the retailers who knowingly profit by supply- ing the ingredients," said U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender. "As you can see from this case, the penalties are quite severe." Gruender praised the work of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administra- tion and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Davis and Rodney Holmes, who prosecuted the Bewig case. Celebrating the Easter season Wanda Danlels, Shirley Doza and Elinor Snelson (above) show off their award-winning bonnets in last week's Easter bonnet contest st the Cuba Senior Center. Morgan Burrus (left) of Cuba totes a heavy load in his Easter basket, after taking part in the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Cuba Manor. Many local kids participated in the egg hunt, which was one of many in the area last weekend. Chris Case photos Mayor forced to break tie in order for historical ordinance to get approval By Christy Nixon Staff Writer .,, J City aldermen passed the first reading of the proposed Histor- ical Ordinance, Bill No. 1260, at Monday's council meeting. Mayor John Koch broke the original tie vote resulting from Alderman Dpn Conaway's oppo- sition and Aldermen Les Murdock and Brad Bouse's absence. The bill's second read- ing will occur at the May 5 coun- cil meeting. "I believe most questions have been answered," Koch said dur- ing the public hearing held for discussion of the ordinance. Although, Walt Daehn, the sole audience member who stated his opinion, felt the ordinance will be too restrictive. Steve Paulus, city attorney, stated that this is the exact same ordinance previously considered. A couple of minor changes were made during the meeting, though. Five members will serve on the Historic Preservation Commission instead of seven, and three members instead of four will be the HPC quorum minimum. A copy of the proposed ordi- nance is available for viewing at City Hall. For more on Monday's Cuba City Council meeting, see. "City Council Notes" on page 2A Annual Viva Cuba Trash Bash has been scheduled for May 3 The 19th annual Viva Cuba Trash Bash cleanup day will be held on Saturday, May 3. The cleaning begins at Viva Cuba Garden, located on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Highway 19 at 8:30 a.m. Doughnuts, coffee and juice will be served at that time. Be sure to wear work clothes and be ready to get dirty. Also bring the necessary "tools of the trade"-- leaf rakes, brooms, gar- den gloves, pruning shears, etc. Viva Cuba will provide the trash bags. For more informa- tion, please call Tina McGinnis at 885-3524, Kim Baldwin at 885- 2511 or Jill Barnett at 885-2627. i