Today's Feature
Legal Action
Proposed to Fight Dairy.
During their regular meeting
Thursday morning, the Jasper County Commission
was told that legal remedies will be sought by a
local group to stop the construction of a dairy
operation in the County. Construction permits
have been approved by the state for what will be,
some say, the largest dairy in Missouri.
Long time Jasper County
resident Brent Erwin appeared for the second week
in a row to address the Commission.
"Good Morning County
Office Holders and , for those who do not know
me, my name is Brent Erwin. I reside at 12724
County Road 70, Carthage, MO. I am a taxpaying
citizen of Jasper County and an active voter.
Last week, Jan. 13, I addressed
this meeting with my feelings and opinion in
regard to Mr. Hilton Dairy Operation.
Since then I have met with the
Presiding County Commissioner Danny Hensley and
my Eastern District Commissioner Ben Johnson.
From those meetings I obtained some feelings of
empathy for my cause, but mostly I felt contempt.
I say this because most of my issues were always
condemned for various reasons. The one causing me
the greatest concern is the implication that
somehow myself and other citizens who are opposed
to this dairy, failed to come forward when this
operation came to public attention. This is far
from the truth.
So now that we have begun the
behavior of placing blame, I feel compelled to
assign some myself.
But before I begin making any
accusation I have turned to the dictionary first
for the definition of truth. According to
Webster’s, the truth is the state of being
the case: fact (2) The body of real things,
events and facts.
Since seeking the truth
requires these principles. I feel it is now time
that myself and other concerned citizens seek
legal council and guidance before we participate
in the shame and blame game.
I am therefore notifying this
Commission and this county that a coalition of
citizens is being formed to organize and plan a
civil lawsuit.
It will be our goal to find
answers as to who is funding this operation, and
how, where, and when Jasper County was chosen. It
will also be our mission to find out if any local
government or office holders of this state or
county are involved or in collaboration with this
operation.
It will also be part of our
agenda to inform and educate the local taxpayers
as to who will incur the cost of upgrading
bridges and roads for an industry that in the
future will pollute our water, our air, and
devalue our property and destroy the quality of
life as we know it today.
If in our efforts we can
implicate any members of local, state, or federal
government those individuals will be identified
publicly and we will do everything in our power
to see to it that these people are removed from
office.
And in seeking civil damages
for the pollution of our water and air, and the
devaluation of our property, these people will
also be held accountable in seeking judgement.
Now back to shame and blame. It
is my opinion that the Commissioner of this
county let the taxpayers down.
If these officers had been
spending time and money looking into and
informing county taxpayers in regard to this
operation rather than spending time transacting
bank purchases, regulating private businesses,
and taking other county offices to court, I
believe that we would have known the truth. I
would not be here today, rather I would be
working on the farm I love, enjoying the good
earth and the quality of life I dreamed of when I
purchased my property.
Instead, I will leave here
today deciding whether to sell my dream and throw
in the towel on seeking another mortgage to
finance this action.
Whatever decision I make, I
will try to consider others when doing so.
Remember that had myself and others been given
this consideration this decision would never been
made let alone approved."
Jasper
County Collection for 1999.
Stephen H. Holt, Jasper County
Collector, has announced $27,960,249.16 was
collected by his office for the month of
December, 1999.
This amount includes
$16,688,954.91 in 1999 real estate taxes,
$86,866.36 in 1998 real estate taxes, $5,066.73
in 1997 real estate taxes and $253.91 in 1996
real estate taxes.
Also collected was
$7,360,702.92 in 1999 personal property taxes,
$40,709.78 in 1998 personal property taxes,
$3,374.66 in 1997 personal property and $921.62
in 1996 personal property taxes.
$3,733, 954.57 was collected in
1999 Personal and Real, Local and State Assessed
Railroad and Utility taxes. $35,131.45 was also
collected in 1999 Personal Private Car State
Assessed taxes.
$736.00 in duplicate receipts,
$3,050.00 in merchants licenses, $225.00 in
publication fees, and $301.25 in miscellaneous
fees.
Distribution of the
$18,842,714.13 allocated to schools in Jasper
County is as follows: Carl Junction R-I,
$2,221,863.22; Sarcoxie R-II, $358,560.96; Golden
City R-III, $40,900.25; Diamond R-IV, $34,066.02;
Jasper R-V, $444,602.39; Webb City R-VII,
$2,161,515.56; Joplin R-VIII, $9,235,726.52;
Carthage R-IX, $4,135,215.05; Avilla R-XIII,
$210,264.16
And The Remodeling
Continues...
by Robin Putnam, artCentral
Have you come out to see our
remodeling ? That old two-story garage never
looked so good !! It’s amazing the amount of
people in and out of here......sooo if you come
out to see what’s happening we want to
remind everyone that there is lots of trucks in
and out, woorkmen etc. and DUST everywhere !!! So
be careful and try not to look at the dust and
dirt !!
Right now there are some
electric guys upstairs, on the third floor,
banging, stomping, dragging stuff here and there
.....progress .....that’s what we like to
see !! It’s just too exciting.
The finishing touches on the
new ceiling in the Kid’s Gallery is
happening this week along with a coat of paint up
there and in the pottery and glazing rooms !! Now
.....if someone would just make up her mind as to
the color......
Also being installed......
track lighting in the Member’s Gallery on
the second floor of Katherine’s house. This
will make the hallway walls very usable space !!
Now we need our members to bring in a piece of
their work for display along these walls.
These work crews won’t be
here for forever so when it gets a bit quieter
(and cleaner) we hope our mem-bers will take
advantage of our space and come and spend some
time here. We can serve as "your
studio" . There will be space on the third
floor, second floor, the new rooms in the garage
or like two of our members have been doing
through all the construction.....setting up down
in the gallery to paint for an afternoon each
week.
All the workmen in and out, all
the noise and all the dust didn’t seem to
bother Glenda and Pat at all. We’re glad
they were here!!
Looks like they are cutting a
hole in the ceiling right above this computer.
All kinds of stuff raining down on the
desk.....not a pretty sight.
Since the weather is soooo nice
venture out and take a peek at our improvements!!
More.......next week. 358-4404.
1110 E 13th & www. ozarkartistscolony.com
under organizations.
Business
Location For Rent
Across
Lyon Street from the new Jasper County Annex II
213
Lyon Street, Suite 1
Next
to Carthage Printing Services
Just One
Block Off the Square in Carthage, Missouri
Plenty of
Excellent Parking • ADA Compliant Entry and
Rest room
Approximately
1,400 Square Feet
Recent Complete
Renovation
New Roof •
New Wiring Inside/3 phase 220 to Building
New Drywall
& Ceiling Tile
New Central Heat
& Air • New Insulation Throughout
Private Front
& Rear Entrance
Convenient to
Downtown, Courthouse, Post Office and Banks
If you’re looking for a
respectable place to do business, call
Heritage
Publishing
417-358-3160
Or Stop By
213 Lyon
Street, Suite 2 • Carthage, Missouri 64836
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