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Paris R-II Schools will perform the Wizard of Oz. Performances will be Saturday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 14, at 2 p.m., in the high school gym.
   First row - Hannah Bartels, Ben Ebbesmeyer, Grace Peak, Taylor Gruber, Ashley Jones, Saylor Forsyth. Second row - Destiny Arnett, Brittany Gruber, Andriel Culbertson, Jake Peak, Jon Turner, Drew Lockhart, Payton Ness, Maddie Flick. Third row - Andrew Summers, Cal Bergthold, Taylor Ross, Chris Doerhoff, Kayla Luckett, Deb Treat, Alexis Garbulski. Not Pictured: Lance James, Dustin Wilkerson, Taylor Dye, Nathan Hancock, Quin Bartels, Danny Dennison, Timmy Dennison, Mikey Dennison, Dillian Hancock, Marlena Long, Erin Woods, Paige Dye, Tessa Henderson, three Special Guest Performers. The cast includes: Kayla Luckett-Aunt Em, Taylor Ross-Dorothy, Andrew Summers-The Wizard of OZ and Jo, Cal Bergthold-Tinman and Uncle Henry, Andriel Culbertson-Glinda, Witch #2, Oz General, Destiny Arnett-Wicked Witch of the West, Lance James-Scarecrow, Dustin Wilkerson-Lion, Erin Woods-General, Deb Treat-Oz Lady 1, Chris Doerhoff-Growlie, Paige Dye-Gloria, Alexis Garbulski-Oz Girl, Tessa Henderson-1st Witch and Oz General, Brittany Gruber-Tibia, Jon Turner-Munchkin Mayor and Private,
   Munchkins: Hannah Bartels, Ben Ebbesmeyer, Taylor Dye, Taylor Gruber, Nathan Hancock, Grace Peak, Quin Bartels, Jake Peak, Ashley Jones, Dillian Hancock, Drew Lockhart, Marlena Long, Saylor Forsyth, Payton Ness. Director-Shannon Quinn, Music Maestro-Brenda Ensor, Lighting and Sound Director-David How, Assistant Directors-Lynn Turner, Ann Ball, Dawn Lockhart, Costume Designer-Susan Rothermich. The best ticket in town!   314

Foundation for Life Christian School is celebrating over 20 years of providing Christian education to the Paris community. Over time, the needs of this community have changed significantly. To more adequately meet the needs of the families in this community, FLCS has expanded its services. Foundation for Life Christian School will continue to offer an accelerated curriculum including college preparatory courses and a four year old pre-kindergarten program that teaches reading.
   Beginning this school year, FLCS will offer the Missouri Option program. This is a unique program that will allow students age 17 to 21 who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out to earn a high school diploma from Paris R-II after preparing for and passing the GED examination. The adult education and literacy teacher at FLCS will help students prepare for the exam in addition to helping them plan for a future career at no cost to the students or their families.
   Also beginning this year, high school students who are pregnant or have children are welcomed to enroll in the Missouri Option program or the traditional high school program and bring their children with them. These students would participate in parenting classes in addition to their high school courses. Title I reading and math will be provided this year for students in grades kindergarten through sixth in need of these services. As a result of the partnership between the two organizations, mentoring, counseling, and other programs provided by Faith Walk Ministry are available to all students attending Foundation for Life Christian School and their families. Scholarships for low income families are also available based on need and availability. These scholarships are made possible by generous contributions from persons within the community.   315

The Presidential election has come to Monroe County. State Senator Wes Shoemyer visited Monroe County Monday as part of the Heartland Change Tour to highlight presidential candidate Barack Obama’s views to local residents.
   Sen. Shoemyer began the day in Palmyra with U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill while in Holliday Sen. Shoemyer and State Rep. Paul Quinn held a round table talk with 20 local farmers and residents at the Charles Edward (Eddy) Mitchell farm. Mitchell is on the board of directors of Missouri Farmers’ Union. Sen. Shoemyer outlined why he felt Sen. Obama should be the next President of the United States. He emphasized the fact that Sen. Obama has fought for rural areas of Illinois during his time in the Senate, and that he respects and understands the concerns of family farms.
   “We are traveling throughout rural Missouri to show respect to the people of rural Missouri,” said Sen. Shoemyer. “We are also here to educate; there are major differences in policy beliefs between Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain.”
   “We want to get out to rural Missouri to show that there are differences,” explained Sen. Shoemeyer.
   Sen. Shoemyer was quick to point out that some of the major differences revolve around biofuels, education and health care.
   “Sen. Obama supports biofuels while his opponent does not,” noted Sen. Shoemeyer. “He also supported the 2008 Farm Bill while his opponent has stated he would veto the bill. Sen. Obama knows that the farm bill is a safety net for us farmers while his opponent treats it as a handout.
   “To eliminate the disaster portion of the bill is not acceptable,” said Sen. Shoemyer. “Sen. Obama understands this part of the bill.”
   Sen. Shoemeyer, when asked the major issue facing Monroe County, noted that healthcare would have to be the major issue in the county.
   “One issue we have to solve now is health care,” Shoemyer said.
   “Health care has changed the fabric of rural America,” added Sen. Shoemyer. “We will never attack this health plan individually; and that’s what I like about his (Sen. Obama’s) plan – we all have to hitch in together.”
   During the roundtable Sen. Shoemyer noted that we (rural Missouri) are exporting our biggest resource – our best and our brightest, our youth.
   “We need to promote all of our agriculture if we’re going to prosper,” said State Representative Paul Quinn.
   “We are losing a little more of our community,” said host Eddy Mitchell. “A little bit more of rural America will be gone; if we don’t turn things around not much will be left here.”
   The Heartland Change tour continued to Moberly and then to Columbia after visiting Holliday and Monroe County.
   Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and former governor Roger Wilson are also on the Heartland Tour in other parts of the state. Click Here For A Short Flip Video Clip 313

    318

City of Paris residents will have the opportunity to learn more about making energy efficient choices which allows better management of energy usage. The City of Paris has partnered with Consolidated Electric Cooperative, Mexico, Mo., to sponsor an energy efficiency seminar at the Paris Community building beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4. Area businesses Paris Hardware and Harley Electric along with Consolidated Electric will each provide energy efficient displays and information for residents to tour and discuss.
   In addition to vendor displays, beginning at 6:30 p.m. national energy consultant, Doug Rye, will conduct an energy efficiency seminar. Rye will provide energy-saving tips for caulking, lighting, heating and cooling, insulation and energy efficient appliances. His knowledge can help attendees make the most of a more energy-efficient lifestyle.
   Plan to attend the vendor displays and energy efficiency seminar. City of Paris residents will learn how to qualify for rebates with the purchase of new ENERGY STAR qualified products and receive free compact fluorescent light bulbs.   316

At the recent Rotary Club meeting, Monroe County Western District Commissioner Glenn E. Turner, Paris Fire Chief Steve Jones and Paris Emergency Management Director Eric Heitmeyer gave the group a comprehensive overview of the local flood damage and the basic time line of the flooding.
   Pastor Wesley Hammond introduced the three guests to the Rotary members.
   “We’re thankful we have guys like these available when things like this happen,” said Hammond.
   Commissioner Turner explained to the group that he received his first call on Friday, July 25 about high water and the county mobilized placing road closed signs where necessary.
   “That evening things changed,” said Commissioner Turner. “We spent many sleepless hours that night.”
   Turner went on to explain that it happened so fast as the water rose faster than anticipated.
   Turner noted that the fire department was called as the water approached the Senior Housing and Madison Fire Department was called for mutual aid.
   “We have a lot of volunteers,” said Commissioner Turner.
   “If this did happen again I would have immediately set up a central command post and have every volunteer check in there first,” said Chief Jones. “I talked to fire chiefs from Shelbina, Centralia and Monroe City and thank them for their help and assistance.”
   “The first thing that I did was to check the lift station,” said Director Heitmeyer.
   Heitmeyer related to the assembled that the city had been having a problem with the lift station earlier in the week.
   “I think everything went really well,” added Heitmeyer.
   “We had the gas meters pulled and electricity shut off,” added Heitmeyer.
   Chief Jones went on to thank the City of Paris and the voters of the district for passing the recent ballot issue.
   “This will help us financially,” said Jones.
   Commissioner Turner explained that a new measurement device will be placed on the Hwy.15 bridge that will allow an alarm to sound if the river rises like it recently did.
   “I would like to personally thank all the fire department members and all the other volunteers,” said Commissioner Turner.
   Turner went on to describe the conditions necessary to be declared a disaster area.
   “We really have some major work to be done,” said Turner. “We have five bridges with major damage and one completely gone.”
   Commissioner Turner explained the process the Corps used to determine the water release from the lake.
   Turner thanked Ralls County and the Corps of Engineers for allowing them to help out with the management of the flood.
   Turner explained that there were 12 Senior Housing individuals affected and 11 other homes.
   “We have to look out for our residents and for future residents,” said Turner. “We have decided that we will tear down the flooded buildings, work on a grant and update the 48 units we have.”   317

Labor Day weekend is fast approaching. Many families will plan one last special outing to mark the end of summer. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds motorists to expect a change in traffic patterns during the Labor Day weekend.
   The Labor Day counting period will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1. The Patrol, along with local law enforcement, will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort), as well as the You Drink, You Drive, You Lose campaign (Aug. 15 through Sept. 1) during this holiday weekend.
   If alcohol is part of your Labor Day holiday celebration, don’t drink and drive. Getting arrested could be the least of your concerns. There are court costs, medical bills, or perhaps jail time. If you kill or injure someone, you’ll pay a price for the rest of your life. If you choose to drink this Labor Day holiday, choose a designated driver.
   “The Patrol has zero tolerance for drunk driving,” said Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Patrol. “Troopers are vigilant in their quest to remove intoxicated drivers from Missouri’s roadways.”
   Colonel Keathley urges drivers to obey Missouri’s traffic laws, and watch for changes in traffic patterns due to the number of travelers or road construction. “Everyone in the vehicle should buckle up. The Patrol, along with other state and local law enforcement agencies, has worked diligently to decrease traffic fatalities in Missouri through educational and enforcement programs,” said Colonel Keathley. “To help ensure everyone’s safety, offer assistance, and enforce Missouri’s traffic laws, the Highway Patrol will schedule every available officer to patrol the roadways. In addition, troopers will be assigned to 15-mile increments along Interstates 29, 44, 55, and 70, in an effort to increase awareness and safety.”
   Last year, 14 people were killed and 537 persons were injured in 1,107 traffic crashes occurring during the Labor Day holiday counting period. That is one person killed or injured every 8.5 minutes. Over the past five years (2003-2007), 77 persons were killed and 2,769 were injured in Labor Day holiday crashes.
   Travelers needing assistance, or reporting a drunk or careless driver, illegal activity on the highways, or a stalled motorist can call the Patrol’s Emergency Hotline at 1-800-525-5555 or, on a cellular phone, dial *55. To receive the latest road conditions for major Missouri highways, motorists may call the Patrol’s Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-222-6400 or (573) 526-8828.   319

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