An annual golf tournament in St. Joseph will help raise money for the Missouri veteran's home in Cameron.  

The St. Joseph tournament is one of three to help raise money for things at the veterans home outside of what state budget money will fund.  

Former State Representative and Buchanan County Clerk Pat Conway says one of the big efforts this year is a new transportation van 

"So that you can take the veterans on an outing, they could come to St. Joseph, maybe even go to a baseball game, and that type of transportation isn't taken out of the state budget, you need to have some funding that can come from other sources," Conway tellls KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, they do things like that, they buy some exercise equipment or activity things for the veterans that they can use." 

"We'll have former veterans there, we will also have people who volunteer to help out at the courses," Conway explains. "But what we do, instead of having what the normal hole sponsor is, a $100 donation and honor a veteran who has served in the military in the United States." 

Conway himself sponsors a hole in honor of his father who served during World War I.  

Conway says the tournament will have a very heavy veteran presence 

"We have gentleman who come in veterans' uniforms who hold the golf flag on the last tee and we meet a lot of the Vietnam veterans," Conway says. 

Conway says people that come, especially first timers, will see how patriotic the event really is 

"I think people who play it the first time realize that this is something about honoring the veterans and the patriotism of our country," Conway says. 

The St. Joseph tournament will be held on July 18th and still has some spots open.  A tournament will also be held in Maryville in August. 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post An annual golf tournament in St. Joseph will help raise money for the Missouri veteran's home in Cameron. The St. Joseph tournament is one of three to help raise money for things at the veterans home outside of what state budget money will fund. Former State Representative and Buchanan County Clerk Pat Conway says one of the big efforts this year is a new transportation van "So that you can take the veterans on an outing, they could come to St. Joseph, maybe even go to a baseball game, and that type of transportation isn't taken out of the state budget, you need to have some funding that can come from other sources," Conway tellls KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, they do things like that, they buy some exercise equipment or activity things for the veterans that they can use." Conway says the event is very patriotic "We'll have former veterans there, we will also have people who volunteer to help out at the courses," Conway explains. "But what we do, instead of having what the normal hole sponsor is, a $100 donation and honor a veteran who has served in the military in the United States." Conway himself sponsors a hole in honor of his father who served during World War I. Conway says the tournament will have a very heavy veteran presence "We have gentleman who come in veterans' uniforms who hold the golf flag on the last tee and we meet a lot of the Vietnam veterans," Conway says. Conway says people that come, especially first timers, will see how patriotic the event really is "I think people who play it the first time realize that this is something about honoring the veterans and the patriotism of our country," Conway says. The St. Joseph tournament will be held on July 18th and still has some spots open. A tournament will also be held in Maryville in August. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Seventh annual St. Joseph golf tournament benefits Cameron Veterans' home

It has been around for 63 years and still attracts visitors
from throughout the United States and the world.

The Patee House Museum, the one-time headquarters of the famed
Pony Express, hosts a wide variety of exhibits. Next door is the former home of
Jesse James.

Director Gary Chilcote says visitors to the James home step
back in time.

“When they get in there, they sign the guest book and step in
the front room and we play a message that tells what happened in that house on April
3rd, 1882,” Chilcote says.

Chilcote says the Jesses James home plays down all the legends
and rumors associated with James and simply tries to convey history as best it
can. The museum no longer attempts to entice visitors with the slogan, “See the
bullet hole.”

Chilcote says the museum simply wants to tell of James’ last
days in St. Joseph, where he went by the name Tom Howard. James died at the
hands of Robert Ford, who shot him while James attempted to adjust a picture on
the wall.

“So, there’s a lot of rumors dealing with the house,” Chilcote
says. “We’ve tried to put away all those rumors. We painted it white with green
shudders, because that was the color when Jesse lived there.”

The Patee House began as a luxury hotel in 1858. It became a
woman’s college, then a factory that produced shirts and overalls. During World
War II, it was pressed into duty, making uniforms. Sixty-three years ago, it
became a museum.

The Patee House is packed. It has model trains that have been
donated. There is a 1941 carousel that operates daily. A new collection
features the early inventions of Thomas Edison.

Oh, and there is that huge train, an 1860 steam locomotive.

“It’s amazing to me how many people hear about the Patee House
and come to see it,” Chilcote says. “And they don’t just spend 15 minutes. They
come and spend two or three hours, because that’s how long it takes to see all the
exhibits.”

As a nod to its beginnings, the Patee House Museum now has
five rooms on the third floor restored to reflect its origins as a luxury
hotel.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717693000497.jpeg" alt="The Patee House Museum at 12th and Penn, St. Joseph/file photo" />
 <figcaption>The Patee House Museum at 12th and Penn, St. Joseph/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostIt has been around for 63 years and still attracts visitors
from throughout the United States and the world.The Patee House Museum, the one-time headquarters of the famed
Pony Express, hosts a wide variety of exhibits. Next door is the former home of
Jesse James.Director Gary Chilcote says visitors to the James home step
back in time.“When they get in there, they sign the guest book and step in
the front room and we play a message that tells what happened in that house on April
3rd, 1882,” Chilcote says.Chilcote says the Jesses James home plays down all the legends
and rumors associated with James and simply tries to convey history as best it
can. The museum no longer attempts to entice visitors with the slogan, “See the
bullet hole.”Chilcote says the museum simply wants to tell of James’ last
days in St. Joseph, where he went by the name Tom Howard. James died at the
hands of Robert Ford, who shot him while James attempted to adjust a picture on
the wall.“So, there’s a lot of rumors dealing with the house,” Chilcote
says. “We’ve tried to put away all those rumors. We painted it white with green
shudders, because that was the color when Jesse lived there.”The Patee House began as a luxury hotel in 1858. It became a
woman’s college, then a factory that produced shirts and overalls. During World
War II, it was pressed into duty, making uniforms. Sixty-three years ago, it
became a museum.The Patee House is packed. It has model trains that have been
donated. There is a 1941 carousel that operates daily. A new collection
features the early inventions of Thomas Edison.Oh, and there is that huge train, an 1860 steam locomotive.All that draws visitors from all over.“It’s amazing to me how many people hear about the Patee House
and come to see it,” Chilcote says. “And they don’t just spend 15 minutes. They
come and spend two or three hours, because that’s how long it takes to see all the
exhibits.”As a nod to its beginnings, the Patee House Museum now has
five rooms on the third floor restored to reflect its origins as a luxury
hotel.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717693128106.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Patee House Museum:  attracting tourists to St. Joseph for 63 years

A body was recovered from the Missouri River in St. Joseph Sunday afternoon.

Thirty-eight-year-old Darrell Brown of St. Joseph was fishing on the public boat dock near the Remington Nature Center with a relative when he fell into the river and did not resurface. Police were called to the scene at 4:15 Sunday morning.

Emergency responders began searching for Brown. He was recovered just after noon on Sunday and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident is under investigation. Police do not suspect foul play.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostA body was recovered from the Missouri River in St. Joseph Sunday afternoon.Thirty-eight-year-old Darrell Brown of St. Joseph was fishing on the public boat dock near the Remington Nature Center with a relative when he fell into the river and did not resurface. Police were called to the scene at 4:15 Sunday morning.Emergency responders began searching for Brown. He was recovered just after noon on Sunday and was pronounced dead at the scene.The incident is under investigation. Police do not suspect foul play.

Body of St. Joseph man recovered in Missouri River Sunday

A man is dead after a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle Saturday night on North Belt Highway.

St. Joseph Police confirm that 35-year-old Kenneth Hart was killed after colliding with the passenger side of a minivan at 2205 North Belt Highway - just south of Beck Road.

This happened at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

One minor was injured in the minivan, transported via helicopter to the hospital and is expected to have a full recovery.

Everyone in the minivan was wearing seatbelts. The crash is still under investigation.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostA man is dead after a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle Saturday night on North Belt Highway.St. Joseph Police confirm that 35-year-old Kenneth Hart was killed after colliding with the passenger side of a minivan at 2205 North Belt Highway - just south of Beck Road.This happened at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday.One minor was injured in the minivan, transported via helicopter to the hospital and is expected to have a full recovery.Everyone in the minivan was wearing seatbelts. The crash is still under investigation.

One man dead after motorcycle, minivan crash Saturday on North Belt Highway

ANDREW&nbsp; COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Sunday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Mark A. Barnett, 59, Forest City, was westbound on Route T near County Road 266 two miles west of Savannah.&nbsp;

The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, struck an embankment, went airborne and came to rest in trees.

Andrew County EMS transported Barnett to Mosaic Life Care. The patrol did not have seat belt usage information.

ANDREW&nbsp; COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Sunday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Mark A. Barnett, 59, Forest City, was westbound on Route T near County Road 266 two miles west of Savannah.&nbsp;The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, struck an embankment, went airborne and came to rest in trees.Andrew County EMS transported Barnett to Mosaic Life Care. The patrol did not have seat belt usage information.

Mo. man hospitalized in St. Joe after violent pickup crash

The overdue farm bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal. Food assistance is likely to be one of the biggest sticking points as the draft moves forward.

By ELIZABETH REMBERT <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2024-06-07/snap-benefits-are-a-huge-part-of-the-farm-bill-and-a-big-point-of-contention-for-lawmakers?mc_cid=a5f0d9d772&amp;mc_eid=4e2c084f1d">KCUR</a>

The long-stalled farm bill took a step forward in the House of Representatives last month as a Republican-led proposal made it out of the agriculture committee.

The clock is ticking as the extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which expired eight months ago, ends in September.

Yet food assistance will likely be a flashpoint in the discussions ahead.

<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research/#:~:text=In%20FY%202022%2C%20SNAP%20served,%24230.88%20per%20participant%20per%20month." target="_blank">More than 41 million Americans</a>&nbsp;rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program monthly to put food on the table. The program takes a lot of funding –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/minority-blog/reviewing-the-february-2024-baseline-for-usda-farm-and-nutrition-programs" target="_blank">about 80% of the farm bill’s massive budget goes to SNAP.</a>

The House draft suggests placing limits on how the Thrifty Food Plan is updated in the future. The Thrifty Food Plan is a basket of foods that represents a “nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet prepared at home” for a family of four,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/thriftyfoodplan" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</a>

The money people receive through SNAP is calculated by how much that basket of food costs.

Right now, the plan is updated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnpp/usda-food-plans#:~:text=As%20stipulated%20in%20the%20Agriculture,reevaluation%20is%20anticipated%20in%202026." target="_blank">every five years</a>&nbsp;based on food prices, food composition data, consumer data and dietary standards. The new proposal suggests updating the cost of the plan only for inflation.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://thompson.house.gov/" target="_blank">House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson</a>&nbsp;– a Republican from Pennsylvania – the nonpartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/" target="_blank">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the limit would cut SNAP by $30 billion over the next 10 years.

“The cut would take away a day’s worth of benefits from the participants each month, then it would rise to two days of benefits each day,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://hayes.house.gov/" target="_blank">Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes</a>&nbsp;from Connecticut during discussions. “You may think losing one or two days of food is not significant. But I do think it’s quite significant for a low-income family trying to make ends meet.”

But&nbsp;<a href="https://alford.house.gov/" target="_blank">Republican Rep. Mark Alford</a>&nbsp;from Missouri said he’s focused on making the program more efficient, not slashing benefits.

“Democrats feel like we’re trying to cut the program. And that’s not the case,” he said. “If we can move to a program that has more integrity, more health benefits, it is going to be greater for our nation and greater for our taxpayers.”

Alford points to&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/detailed_summary_final.pdf" target="_blank">parts of the bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow frozen and canned produce to be covered, create an accountability office and expand eligibility for the program.

Other SNAP proposals in the House’s farm bill draft would:

“We don’t feel there are cuts to SNAP – we’re just tightening up some of the issues,” Alford said. “I don’t want anyone who is truly hungry, truly needy and can’t work to go to bed hungry at night.”

Megan Hamann, a community organizer focused on food and nutrition access with&nbsp;<a href="https://neappleseed.org/who-we-are" target="_blank">Nebraska Appleseed</a>, said framing limits to the Thrifty Food Plan as anything but cuts to SNAP is a “pretty problematic characterization, because it would erode SNAP’s buying power over time.”

“So while families wouldn’t see their benefits go down in an immediate sense, SNAP would be increasingly less efficient as time goes on,” she said. “What we would see is a decline in how well the program actually works in people’s lives.”

Hamann said she hopes the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/rural_prosperity_and_food_security_section-by-section.pdf" target="_blank">Senate’s farm bill proposal</a>&nbsp;can find support, which would maintain the regular re-evaluation of SNAP benefits.

The House’s draft has a long way to go before it makes it into law as the new farm bill; it will need final passage in the House and endorsement from the Senate.

“Everyone knows that this bill would never become law. The Senate won’t accept it and the administration won’t accept it,” Rep. David Scott of Georgia, the ranking Democrat on the House’s Agriculture committee, said during discussions. “And while this bill is a giant misstep, it nevertheless begins our journey toward passing a farm bill.”

This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717798696726.png" alt="This story is part of Harvest Public Media's ongoing coverage of the 2023 Farm Bill." />
 <figcaption>This story is part of Harvest Public Media's ongoing coverage of the 2023 Farm Bill.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The overdue farm bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal. Food assistance is likely to be one of the biggest sticking points as the draft moves forward.</h2>By ELIZABETH REMBERT <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2024-06-07/snap-benefits-are-a-huge-part-of-the-farm-bill-and-a-big-point-of-contention-for-lawmakers?mc_cid=a5f0d9d772&amp;mc_eid=4e2c084f1d">KCUR</a>The long-stalled farm bill took a step forward in the House of Representatives last month as a Republican-led proposal made it out of the agriculture committee.The clock is ticking as the extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which expired eight months ago, ends in September.Yet food assistance will likely be a flashpoint in the discussions ahead.<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research/#:~:text=In%20FY%202022%2C%20SNAP%20served,%24230.88%20per%20participant%20per%20month." target="_blank">More than 41 million Americans</a>&nbsp;rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program monthly to put food on the table. The program takes a lot of funding –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/minority-blog/reviewing-the-february-2024-baseline-for-usda-farm-and-nutrition-programs" target="_blank">about 80% of the farm bill’s massive budget goes to SNAP.</a><h2>House farm bill proposal</h2>The House draft suggests placing limits on how the Thrifty Food Plan is updated in the future. The Thrifty Food Plan is a basket of foods that represents a “nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet prepared at home” for a family of four,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/thriftyfoodplan" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</a>The money people receive through SNAP is calculated by how much that basket of food costs.Right now, the plan is updated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnpp/usda-food-plans#:~:text=As%20stipulated%20in%20the%20Agriculture,reevaluation%20is%20anticipated%20in%202026." target="_blank">every five years</a>&nbsp;based on food prices, food composition data, consumer data and dietary standards. The new proposal suggests updating the cost of the plan only for inflation.According to&nbsp;<a href="https://thompson.house.gov/" target="_blank">House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson</a>&nbsp;– a Republican from Pennsylvania – the nonpartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/" target="_blank">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the limit would cut SNAP by $30 billion over the next 10 years.“The cut would take away a day’s worth of benefits from the participants each month, then it would rise to two days of benefits each day,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://hayes.house.gov/" target="_blank">Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes</a>&nbsp;from Connecticut during discussions. “You may think losing one or two days of food is not significant. But I do think it’s quite significant for a low-income family trying to make ends meet.”But&nbsp;<a href="https://alford.house.gov/" target="_blank">Republican Rep. Mark Alford</a>&nbsp;from Missouri said he’s focused on making the program more efficient, not slashing benefits.“Democrats feel like we’re trying to cut the program. And that’s not the case,” he said. “If we can move to a program that has more integrity, more health benefits, it is going to be greater for our nation and greater for our taxpayers.”Alford points to&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/detailed_summary_final.pdf" target="_blank">parts of the bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow frozen and canned produce to be covered, create an accountability office and expand eligibility for the program.Other SNAP proposals in the House’s farm bill draft would:<ul>
 <li>Add frozen, fresh, canned and dried fruits and vegetables as SNAP-eligible products&nbsp;</li><li>Create an office of program integrity to focus on SNAP and address erroneous payments and other inefficiencies&nbsp;</li><li>Allow individuals with past drug offenses to receive SNAP</li><li>Direct the USDA to issue formal guidance on notifying eligible college students that they qualify for SNAP</li>
 </ul>“We don’t feel there are cuts to SNAP – we’re just tightening up some of the issues,” Alford said. “I don’t want anyone who is truly hungry, truly needy and can’t work to go to bed hungry at night.”Megan Hamann, a community organizer focused on food and nutrition access with&nbsp;<a href="https://neappleseed.org/who-we-are" target="_blank">Nebraska Appleseed</a>, said framing limits to the Thrifty Food Plan as anything but cuts to SNAP is a “pretty problematic characterization, because it would erode SNAP’s buying power over time.”“So while families wouldn’t see their benefits go down in an immediate sense, SNAP would be increasingly less efficient as time goes on,” she said. “What we would see is a decline in how well the program actually works in people’s lives.”Hamann said she hopes the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/rural_prosperity_and_food_security_section-by-section.pdf" target="_blank">Senate’s farm bill proposal</a>&nbsp;can find support, which would maintain the regular re-evaluation of SNAP benefits.The House’s draft has a long way to go before it makes it into law as the new farm bill; it will need final passage in the House and endorsement from the Senate.“Everyone knows that this bill would never become law. The Senate won’t accept it and the administration won’t accept it,” Rep. David Scott of Georgia, the ranking Democrat on the House’s Agriculture committee, said during discussions. “And while this bill is a giant misstep, it nevertheless begins our journey toward passing a farm bill.”This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;

SNAP benefits huge part of farm bill, big point of contention for lawmakers

CLINTON COUNTY —Four people were injured in an accident just before noon Saturday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Lincoln Navigator driven by Gregory R. Hill, 82, Morris, Illinois, was northbound on Interstate 35 near the U.S. 69 Cameron exit.

The&nbsp; driver attempted to merge and struck the front of a northbound 2023 Kenworth semi as the SUV crossed in front.

After impact the the SUV rolled off the east side of the road, struck a MODOT sign and came to rest on its top.

EMS transported three passengers in the SUV identified as Kathleen J. Hill, 75; Burgundy J. Lander, 52, and Charles F. Lander, 48, all of Morris, Illinois, to Liberty Hospital. Gregory Hill refused treatment.&nbsp; The semi driverDominique M. Jackson, 32, Houston, Texas, was not injured. All five were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —Four people were injured in an accident just before noon Saturday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Lincoln Navigator driven by Gregory R. Hill, 82, Morris, Illinois, was northbound on Interstate 35 near the U.S. 69 Cameron exit.The&nbsp; driver attempted to merge and struck the front of a northbound 2023 Kenworth semi as the SUV crossed in front.After impact the the SUV rolled off the east side of the road, struck a MODOT sign and came to rest on its top.EMS transported three passengers in the SUV identified as Kathleen J. Hill, 75; Burgundy J. Lander, 52, and Charles F. Lander, 48, all of Morris, Illinois, to Liberty Hospital. Gregory Hill refused treatment.&nbsp; The semi driverDominique M. Jackson, 32, Houston, Texas, was not injured. All five were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

4 injured after SUV strikes semi, rolls

ATCHISON COUNTY —A northeast Kansas man is back in jail after an arrest in Atchison.

On Friday, 25-year-old Caleb S. Fall of Atchison, was arrested for alleged battery and criminal damage to property in the 300 block North 14th Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

He was booked into the county jail. In August of 2023, Fall was arrested on a requested charge of commercial DUI/ .04 or more; 2nd conviction and transporting an open container, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717765056173.png" alt="Fall from an earlier arrest in Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Fall from an earlier arrest in Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —A northeast Kansas man is back in jail after an arrest in Atchison.On Friday, 25-year-old Caleb S. Fall of Atchison, was arrested for alleged battery and criminal damage to property in the 300 block North 14th Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.He was booked into the county jail. In August of 2023, Fall was arrested on a requested charge of commercial DUI/ .04 or more; 2nd conviction and transporting an open container, according to online jail records.

Kansas man jailed for alleged violent crime 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Complaint questions Eplee’s donation of $40,000 to Senate campaign

TOPEKA — A former treasurer for Sen. Dennis Pyle of Hiawatha filed a complaint against one of the incumbent Republican senator’s primary challengers alleging campaign finance irregularities.

Sabetha Rep. Randy Garber, who was treasurer of Pyle’s controversial independent campaign for governor in 2022, said Wednesday he forwarded a four-page complaint to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission against Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison Republican. Eplee will be on the August primary ballot with Pyle and GOP candidate Craig Bowser of Holton in the 1st District Senate race.

Garber’s complaint challenged a decision in August 2023 by Eplee to draw upon his House campaign account to reimburse himself for $40,000 in mileage expenses related to service in the House since 2017. Eplee filed reports with the state ethics commission showing he subsequently deposited a personal check for $40,000 in his Kansas Senate account.

“I believe that his use of the same name ‘Kansans for Eplee’ has resulted in his depositing of campaign contributions intended for his House campaign in his Senate campaign account,” Garber said.

Eplee, who declared his candidacy for the Kansas Senate in June 2023, said there was nothing improper about reimbursing himself for legitimate expenditures as a state representative and then making the decision to apply those funds to his Senate campaign.

He said he maintained detailed records of personal expenditures related to driving to and from political obligations in his House district.

“I kept a log. I have a lot of documentation to support that,” Eplee said. “I have always and will always provide accurate and credible information to Kansas Governmental Ethics. I am happy to discuss any matters with them.”

Under Kansas law, contributions to a House or Senate candidate cannot be transferred directly to that individual’s campaign account for a different seat in the Legislature. Attempts by members of the Legislature to repeal that prohibition failed in 2015.

Garber’s complaint also questioned Eplee’s purchase of campaign brochures for his Senate campaign and validity of a $1,000 in-kind contribution for a fundraising reception tied to his Senate race.

In response, Eplee said there was nothing mysterious about those transactions. He said examination of the record would lead to dismissal of the objections.

The latest campaign finance reports submitted by the three Senate Republican candidates showed Bowser had $100,200 cash on hand in January. Bowser’s total included a $65,000 loan he made to his campaign. In January, Eplee had $72,300 in cash after writing checks for $50,000 to his campaign account. Pyle, the incumbent, had $70,700 in cash in his Senate account at start of the year.

Eplee said the key issue in the District 1 campaign would be the Legislature’s delay in delivering property, sales and income tax relief to Kansans. He said Pyle voted against overriding the governor’s veto of a major tax reform bill during the 2023 session. The override attempt fell one vote short in the Senate.

At outset of the 2024 legislative session, Pyle also joined two Republican senators who endorsed a tax overhaul bill proposed by the Democratic governor. Kelly vetoed three tax bills passed by the Republican-led 2024 Legislature. She has called the House and Senate to a special session scheduled for June 18 to resolve the tax policy standoff.

“By far the biggest issue is tax relief for Kansas taxpayers,” Eplee said. “Rep. Garber has long been used by Sen. Pyle as a political pawn to do his dirty work, like when he served as the treasurer for his gubernatorial campaign, attacking Republicans and helping elect Laura Kelly. This is nothing more than political gamesmanship on the part of Dennis Pyle and perhaps if he focused more on delivering for northeast Kansas we would have tax reform right now.”

Pyle, elected in 2004 to represent northeast Kansas in the Senate, said when filing for reelection that he was the only Republican in the race with a conservative record of fighting for limited government and fiscal conservatism.

“My experience and proven record stands in stark contrast to other candidates’ records,” Pyle said.

Bowser, who served 24 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, launched his campaign for the 1st District seat in December 2022 while Pyle was still registered as an independent for purposes of running for governor against Kelly and GOP nominee Attorney General Derek Schmidt. Kelly won a close race amid claims Pyle helped draw conservative votes from Schmidt.

“I’m running for the state Senate to return conservative leadership to the 1st Senate District,” Bowser said at that time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717791703014.png" alt=" Rep. Randy Garber, a Sabetha Republican not seeking reelection, filed an ethics complaint against Atchison Rep. John Eplee, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, in the 1st District. Garber served as Pyle’s treasurer when Pyle was an independent candidate for governor in 2022. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Randy Garber, a Sabetha Republican not seeking reelection, filed an ethics complaint against Atchison Rep. John Eplee, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, in the 1st District. Garber served as Pyle’s treasurer when Pyle was an independent candidate for governor in 2022. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Complaint questions Eplee’s donation of $40,000 to Senate campaign</h2>TOPEKA — A former treasurer for Sen. Dennis Pyle of Hiawatha filed a complaint against one of the incumbent Republican senator’s primary challengers alleging campaign finance irregularities.Sabetha Rep. Randy Garber, who was treasurer of Pyle’s controversial independent campaign for governor in 2022, said Wednesday he forwarded a four-page complaint to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission against Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison Republican. Eplee will be on the August primary ballot with Pyle and GOP candidate Craig Bowser of Holton in the 1st District Senate race.Garber’s complaint challenged a decision in August 2023 by Eplee to draw upon his House campaign account to reimburse himself for $40,000 in mileage expenses related to service in the House since 2017. Eplee filed reports with the state ethics commission showing he subsequently deposited a personal check for $40,000 in his Kansas Senate account.“I believe that his use of the same name ‘Kansans for Eplee’ has resulted in his depositing of campaign contributions intended for his House campaign in his Senate campaign account,” Garber said.Eplee, who declared his candidacy for the Kansas Senate in June 2023, said there was nothing improper about reimbursing himself for legitimate expenditures as a state representative and then making the decision to apply those funds to his Senate campaign.He said he maintained detailed records of personal expenditures related to driving to and from political obligations in his House district.“I kept a log. I have a lot of documentation to support that,” Eplee said. “I have always and will always provide accurate and credible information to Kansas Governmental Ethics. I am happy to discuss any matters with them.”Under Kansas law, contributions to a House or Senate candidate cannot be transferred directly to that individual’s campaign account for a different seat in the Legislature. Attempts by members of the Legislature to repeal that prohibition failed in 2015.Garber’s complaint also questioned Eplee’s purchase of campaign brochures for his Senate campaign and validity of a $1,000 in-kind contribution for a fundraising reception tied to his Senate race.In response, Eplee said there was nothing mysterious about those transactions. He said examination of the record would lead to dismissal of the objections.The latest campaign finance reports submitted by the three Senate Republican candidates showed Bowser had $100,200 cash on hand in January. Bowser’s total included a $65,000 loan he made to his campaign. In January, Eplee had $72,300 in cash after writing checks for $50,000 to his campaign account. Pyle, the incumbent, had $70,700 in cash in his Senate account at start of the year.Eplee said the key issue in the District 1 campaign would be the Legislature’s delay in delivering property, sales and income tax relief to Kansans. He said Pyle voted against overriding the governor’s veto of a major tax reform bill during the 2023 session. The override attempt fell one vote short in the Senate.At outset of the 2024 legislative session, Pyle also joined two Republican senators who endorsed a tax overhaul bill proposed by the Democratic governor. Kelly vetoed three tax bills passed by the Republican-led 2024 Legislature. She has called the House and Senate to a special session scheduled for June 18 to resolve the tax policy standoff.“By far the biggest issue is tax relief for Kansas taxpayers,” Eplee said. “Rep. Garber has long been used by Sen. Pyle as a political pawn to do his dirty work, like when he served as the treasurer for his gubernatorial campaign, attacking Republicans and helping elect Laura Kelly. This is nothing more than political gamesmanship on the part of Dennis Pyle and perhaps if he focused more on delivering for northeast Kansas we would have tax reform right now.”Pyle, elected in 2004 to represent northeast Kansas in the Senate, said when filing for reelection that he was the only Republican in the race with a conservative record of fighting for limited government and fiscal conservatism.“My experience and proven record stands in stark contrast to other candidates’ records,” Pyle said.Bowser, who served 24 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, launched his campaign for the 1st District seat in December 2022 while Pyle was still registered as an independent for purposes of running for governor against Kelly and GOP nominee Attorney General Derek Schmidt. Kelly won a close race amid claims Pyle helped draw conservative votes from Schmidt.“I’m running for the state Senate to return conservative leadership to the 1st Senate District,” Bowser said at that time.

Pyle ally kicks off three-way GOP Kansas Senate primary by filing ethics complaint

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Friday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Buick Verano driven by Braydn A. Murphy, 23, Rosendale, was westbound on Route E three miles east of Savannah.

The car traveled off the north side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled.

Andrew County EMS transported Murphy to Mosaic Life Care. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Friday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Buick Verano driven by Braydn A. Murphy, 23, Rosendale, was westbound on Route E three miles east of Savannah.The car traveled off the north side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled.Andrew County EMS transported Murphy to Mosaic Life Care. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured in Andrew Co. rollover accident

Brice Garnett has been a pro golfer for 18 years.

He’s played overseas. He’s been on the PGA Tour. He currently holds PGA status, in fact, having won the Puerto Rico Open this past March, and will hold that status for at least the next three years.

Through it all, the Gallatin native still carries the Missouri Western logo on his golf bag. The former Griffon will never forget where he came from.

"I've always tried to keep some sort of a chip on my shoulder," Garnett told KFEQ Radio. "I've always remained humble and remembered my roots, but have tried to keep a chip on my shoulder, dating back to my college time whenever the University of Missouri didn't want me."

"I ended up at Missouri Western and had an amazing career."

The best golfer to ever play at Missouri Western can now add another Hall of Fame status to his name.

Garnett was one of 10 individuals unveiled in <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/1e5bd6e6-b2b7-4c36-821d-76d48f23c880">this year's St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Class</a>.

Already a member of the Missouri Western and MIAA Hall of Fame, Garnett says getting this honor from the St. Joseph Sports Commission is extra special, having grown up and started his career in the area.

"Especially being from Gallatin and playing there at Missouri Western in St. Joe, it was just an exciting call to get," Garnett shared. "I've known Brett (Esely) a long time. He was actually our compliance coordinator when I was at school. We've stayed in touch."

"I know he's doing big things with the Sports Commission. We're excited for August to come around to get up there and get inducted."

Brett Esely is the director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission, which oversees the Hall of Fame. Each year's class is selected by an anonymous three-person committee.

Garnett was a three-time all-American at Missouri Western and just secured PGA Tour status for the next three years this past March with his Puerto Rico Open victory - his first PGA win since 2018 and his second overall.

Garnett has seven professional victories, but he says that win in March, at age 40, was a long time coming and the culmination of long stretches of hard work and waiting for a win.

"It was probably the most challenging part of my career," he said. "I felt like I got to a spot where I could compete weekly. Everything in my game was probably as strong as it's ever been. To see it all come together down in Puerto Rico at 40 years old, kind of resurrecting my career."

Garnett is gearing up for a busy summer and fall ahead. He has a three-week break right now, but he says he's looking at playing in the John Deere Classic on July 4th weekend in Silvis, Illinois.

"I believe I'll travel from there to the Scottish Open," he said. "That'll be my first time playing in Scotland, which I'm excited about. Come back and play a few events in the end of July, getting ready to hopefully sneak in that top 70 (FedEx Cup standings) to get in that first playoff event in Memphis, which is a huge, huge step."

Garnett aims to get in the top 70 in the Fedex Cup standings, which would qualify him for the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis on August 15 - the first of three Fedex Cup playoff tournaments. He’s currently ranked 75th in those standings.

Garnett will be enshrined August 25 in the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame. He'd love to be there for the ceremony at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, but he’d also love to be competing for a Fedex Cup championship during that time as well.

"I hope to be at the BMW (Championship) for my career, but definitely will be in St. Joe if not."

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717788079648.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBrice Garnett has been a pro golfer for 18 years.He’s played overseas. He’s been on the PGA Tour. He currently holds PGA status, in fact, having won the Puerto Rico Open this past March, and will hold that status for at least the next three years.Through it all, the Gallatin native still carries the Missouri Western logo on his golf bag. The former Griffon will never forget where he came from."I've always tried to keep some sort of a chip on my shoulder," Garnett told KFEQ Radio. "I've always remained humble and remembered my roots, but have tried to keep a chip on my shoulder, dating back to my college time whenever the University of Missouri didn't want me.""I ended up at Missouri Western and had an amazing career."The best golfer to ever play at Missouri Western can now add another Hall of Fame status to his name.Garnett was one of 10 individuals unveiled in <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/1e5bd6e6-b2b7-4c36-821d-76d48f23c880">this year's St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Class</a>.Already a member of the Missouri Western and MIAA Hall of Fame, Garnett says getting this honor from the St. Joseph Sports Commission is extra special, having grown up and started his career in the area."Especially being from Gallatin and playing there at Missouri Western in St. Joe, it was just an exciting call to get," Garnett shared. "I've known Brett (Esely) a long time. He was actually our compliance coordinator when I was at school. We've stayed in touch.""I know he's doing big things with the Sports Commission. We're excited for August to come around to get up there and get inducted."Brett Esely is the director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission, which oversees the Hall of Fame. Each year's class is selected by an anonymous three-person committee.Garnett was a three-time all-American at Missouri Western and just secured PGA Tour status for the next three years this past March with his Puerto Rico Open victory - his first PGA win since 2018 and his second overall.Garnett has seven professional victories, but he says that win in March, at age 40, was a long time coming and the culmination of long stretches of hard work and waiting for a win."It was probably the most challenging part of my career," he said. "I felt like I got to a spot where I could compete weekly. Everything in my game was probably as strong as it's ever been. To see it all come together down in Puerto Rico at 40 years old, kind of resurrecting my career."Garnett is gearing up for a busy summer and fall ahead. He has a three-week break right now, but he says he's looking at playing in the John Deere Classic on July 4th weekend in Silvis, Illinois."I believe I'll travel from there to the Scottish Open," he said. "That'll be my first time playing in Scotland, which I'm excited about. Come back and play a few events in the end of July, getting ready to hopefully sneak in that top 70 (FedEx Cup standings) to get in that first playoff event in Memphis, which is a huge, huge step."Garnett aims to get in the top 70 in the Fedex Cup standings, which would qualify him for the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis on August 15 - the first of three Fedex Cup playoff tournaments. He’s currently ranked 75th in those standings.Garnett will be enshrined August 25 in the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame. He'd love to be there for the ceremony at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, but he’d also love to be competing for a Fedex Cup championship during that time as well."I hope to be at the BMW (Championship) for my career, but definitely will be in St. Joe if not."Brice Garnett interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Brice-Garnett---PGA-Tour-golfer-e2kjckc" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717788848440.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Brice Garnett hasn't forgotten his NWMO roots despite PGA success

A Buchanan County jury has found 42 year old Michael Dan Hawkins of St. Joseph guilty of first degree sodomy of a child younger than 12 years old. 

Hawkins was charged in September 2022 for the incident which occured in June of that year.

The case was tried by the Buchanan County Prosecutors Office. Sentencing will be held on August 12th.  Due to the crime, Hawkins will face a mandatory life sentence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717786771333.jpeg" alt="Michael Dan Hawkins/ Photo courtesy of Buchanan County Sheriff's Department" />
 <figcaption>Michael Dan Hawkins/ Photo courtesy of Buchanan County Sheriff's Department</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA Buchanan County jury has found 42 year old Michael Dan Hawkins of St. Joseph guilty of first degree sodomy of a child younger than 12 years old. Hawkins was charged in September 2022 for the incident which occured in June of that year.The case was tried by the Buchanan County Prosecutors Office. Sentencing will be held on August 12th. Due to the crime, Hawkins will face a mandatory life sentence.

St. Joseph man found guilty in Buchanan County Court of sexually abusing child

St. Joseph Police have charged 56 year old Edward Robert James of felony assault after a shooting early Thursday morning.

St. Joseph Police Department reported two victims, one 35 years old and one 23 years old, were shot and wounded shortly after five o’clock Thursday morning in their residence in the 500 block of Shady Avenue.

This story has been updated with new information

By BRENT MARTIN and MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Police have charged 56 year old Edward Robert James of felony assault after a shooting early Thursday morning.St. Joseph Police Department reported two victims, one 35 years old and one 23 years old, were shot and wounded shortly after five o’clock Thursday morning in their residence in the 500 block of Shady Avenue.This story has been updated with new informationYou can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

56 year old man charged in north side shooting

Starting this evening, a popular rodeo will return to Tarkio, entering its 30th year.  

The Tarkio Rodeo, which is now sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, begins tonight at 7:30.  

Tarkio Rodeo Association member Jeff Riley says everything you'll see at the rodeo is similar to bigger rodeos in Reno, Nevada or Tuscon, Arizona 

"Maybe on a smaller scale, we don't have the entries somewhere like Reno would have, we don't put the money forward like they would at that rodeo," Riley tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "But also, you will see guys that are coming to ride and rope, do timed events, that are working to make the circuit finals in our circuit which is the Great Lakes Circuit." 

Riley says they always try to fit a lot into the show which lasts around two and a half hours.  

"By the time we do all the events, the Broke Spoke Clydesdales do their thing, Dalton Morris is our entertainer this year, I've watched him several times he's very good," Riley explains. 

The show begins at 7:30pm both this evening and tomorrow evening.  A parade will be held on Saturday at 1pm 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Starting this evening, a popular rodeo will return to Tarkio, entering its 30th year. The Tarkio Rodeo, which is now sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, begins tonight at 7:30. Tarkio Rodeo Association member Jeff Riley says everything you'll see at the rodeo is similar to bigger rodeos in Reno, Nevada or Tuscon, Arizona "Maybe on a smaller scale, we don't have the entries somewhere like Reno would have, we don't put the money forward like they would at that rodeo," Riley tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "But also, you will see guys that are coming to ride and rope, do timed events, that are working to make the circuit finals in our circuit which is the Great Lakes Circuit." Riley says they always try to fit a lot into the show which lasts around two and a half hours. "By the time we do all the events, the Broke Spoke Clydesdales do their thing, Dalton Morris is our entertainer this year, I've watched him several times he's very good," Riley explains. The show begins at 7:30pm both this evening and tomorrow evening. A parade will be held on Saturday at 1pm You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Tarkio Rodeo returns for 30th year this weekend

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/teaganking/">TEAGAN KING</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/athenafoslerbrazil/">ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL</a>

GRANBY — About a year after Blair Powell built his dream home in the southwest Missouri Ozarks, a noxious smell wafting from the farm next door ruined his son’s wedding reception in their backyard.

“It just was ungodly,” Powell said. “Just the worst, horrible, horrible smell. Eyes were burning, some were just nauseous, and some were sick, they had to leave.”

The source of the odor was a large waste lagoon on farmer Jerry Evans’ property, about a mile behind Powell’s house. The open-air pit contains “sludge,” as it is colloquially known, composed of animal parts and wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. According to neighbors, the material looks like a gray slurry, thick as a milkshake, and smells like a dead animal — which is what it is. Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions made a deal with Evans and other farmers to house the lagoons and provided the material to area farmers as free “fertilizer.”

Evans leased a patch of his land to Denali for a 450-by-350 foot storage lagoon in Newton County that held over 13 million gallons of waste and used the sludge on his own fields. Powell said it ran into his yard too, prompting him to build up a barrier around his pond to protect its fish and his grandkids, who play nearby.

Denali is one of several companies in Missouri supplying meatpacking sludge to farmers, a practice happening across the United States as concerns grow about spreading waste material on land.

Residents living near the lagoons and fields using sludge report a rancid smell that clings to them once they step outside, making it unbearable to spend time outdoors. Some are now concerned about contamination of soil, drinking water and streams, as well as possible disease from pathogens.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is reviewing three draft permits for land application of sludge from HydroAg, Synagro and Bubs Inc. covering 9,495 acres of land in southwest Missouri. Four additional companies have submitted permit applications to the department. The Columbia Missourian’s review of the draft permits initially found 60 errors, which the department has since corrected.

That’s only the beginning. According to public records the Columbia Missourian obtained from DNR, the department has issued over 1,400 permits for various types of land application of waste across the state, including meatpacking and sewage sludge. In addition, nearly 70 larger wastewater treatment plants in Missouri report applying sludge to land, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online database, or ECHO.

Homestead farmer Caleb Wardlaw may have been the first to sniff out a problem. Two years ago, he noticed a nauseating smell on his land near Rocky Comfort, just north of the Arkansas border.

“There were all kinds of rumors going around about what it actually was,” Wardlaw said.

Wardlaw talked to Sheila Harris, a local reporter for the Cassville Democrat, who jumped in her car and traced the smell upstream to the Evans lagoon. Harris has since published dozens of articles on sludge, from the disruption Denali has caused in her community to state and national efforts to regulate sludge and water pollution.

As news got around, residents of Newton and McDonald counties got organized. Community group Stop Land Use Damaging our Ground and Environment, or SLUDGE, organized in 2023 and sued DNR to force it to regulate Denali as a solid waste management company due to odor and water contamination concerns.

SLUDGE committee member Vallerie Steele lives adjacent to the Evans property. As an emergency room nurse in St. Louis, she worked throughout the height of the pandemic. “I had my share of dead bodies,” Steele said. “This is worse than that. You open your front door to go out, the smell hits you like a brick wall. The flies are horrible.”

While the smell has the biggest impact on her day-to-day life, Steele and others have environmental concerns, too. One concern is PFAS, the “forever chemicals” commonly found in wastewater sludge.

“What happens when they find out it’s laden with PFAS, and the water’s contaminated to the point we can’t use it?” Steele said. “I worry about my kids, my grandkids, my neighbors, the generations to come.”

Denali and companies like it are adamant that their practices are not only safe but are the environmentally responsible option.

“Recycling valuable, nutrient-rich food processing residuals is crucial to protecting water quality in Missouri and necessary for the success of both food production and farming operations in the state,” Sam Liebl, Denali’s director of communications, wrote in an email.

The company is in the process of emptying the Evans Lagoon, the Gideon Lagoon in McDonald county and another lagoon in Macon County, following a DNR consent decree in January where Denali agreed to pay a $21,665 fine for violating clean water regulations. A DNR investigation found that the company applied so much sludge that it covered vegetation and pooled in saturated fields.

The crisis has led to two state agencies intervening and a new state law to regulate sludge. Many relationships have already grown strained over the issue, and as sludge use grows, residents worry about what will happen to their communities.

Powell’s own brother-in-law has used Denali sludge on his farm. Powell said their relationship has soured due to their disagreement over sludge.

“Now it’s neighbor against neighbor, now it’s family versus family,” Powell said. “It’s getting to the point where I don’t know how it’ll all end up.”

In nearby Anderson, resident Jerry Mann is experiencing similar community tensions. His neighbor stores sludge supplied to him in large containers right along Mann’s property, worsening conflict between the two homeowners who already don’t get along.

About two years ago, Mann and several others nearby wrote a “nice letter” to the neighbor who was land-applying sludge, asking him to stop. Shortly thereafter, one of the neighbors saw the farmer using sludge in town. Their argument almost turned physical, Mann said.

“I’m not violent, but some of them get really, really violent about it,” Mann said, “I’m wary about somebody grabbing a gun and shooting each other.”

Evans, who agreed to host a Denali lagoon on his property, said he feels like an outsider in his community, as his neighbors no longer speak to him over the lagoon.

On an early spring day in February, he pointed out how his fields were blanketed in bright green, while his neighbors’ fields were still a dull winter brown. Evans attributed the difference to the sludge, which brought more stability to his yields. He said none of his neighbors have ever stopped by to talk with him about the lagoon, so they don’t understand why he uses it.

“Most of the people in this area don’t like me right now,” he said. “The people that are causing the uproar on this, I don’t usually ever visit with them anyway.”

Regulatory struggles and evolving science

County commissioners in the area feel powerless to stop the sludge use. McDonald County Presiding Commissioner Bryan Hall said he’s done what he can to help his constituents, but much of the problem-solving ultimately falls on DNR.

“We were kind of isolated down here in our dealing with it, and that’s one reason we weren’t getting much attention from the state legislature,” Hall said. “But when that (lagoon) was being built up there in Randolph County… it kind of opened their eyes and made them realize that this is not a problem that’s unique to one area.”

Sharon Turner joined the fight against sludge in March 2023 when she discovered Denali was planning to build a storage lagoon across the street from her property near Jacksonville in Randolph County, north of Columbia. Turner’s land, without her consent, had been listed as a site for sludge application. Turner is a member of a local activist group, Citizens of Randolph County Against Pollution, or CRAP, which filed a lawsuit that prevented Denali from filling the lagoon.

“The agricultural laws, rules and regulations are so lax and have so many loopholes,” Turner said. “That’s what’s allowed for the creation of this problem that we’re in.”

The Missouri Fertilizer Control Board transferred the authority to regulate sludge to DNR in spring 2023 after finding the waste material “did not have significant economic market value.” At the time, 13 companies were spreading waste in Missouri from 129 sources, including poultry plants, pet food companies, dairies and other operations in Missouri and seven neighboring states. In June, the DNR issued permit exemptions to companies previously licensed by the board. Those companies must now seek permits or find other ways to dispose of the waste.

The nutrient and chemical contents of sludge vary, and testing is inconsistent. Sludge contains phosphorus and nitrogen, two nutrients plants need, but the concentrations can be too high, said William Wymore, an expert in industrial wastewater treatment and executive producer of Good Morning Sludge Truck, a podcast explaining the complicated landscape of sludge production and management.

“We’re talking about nutrient loads that are literally thousands of times” the recommended amount of phosphorus, nitrogen and calcium, Wymore said.

Heather Peters, Water Pollution Control Branch Chief for DNR, said sludge can be beneficial as long as it is properly managed and regulated, but the department is still figuring out how to do this.

“It is a unique situation when we’re talking about managing these materials as fertilizer on agricultural land,” Peters said. “It could be done successfully if it follows the permit. This is new ground for us.”

The Missouri House and Senate recently approved House Bill 2134, which will create new wastewater sludge regulations under the Missouri Clean Water Act.

Michael Berg, political director of the Sierra Club’s Missouri chapter, said that his group approves of the legislation. However, Berg said it is valid for residents to question whether it will resolve their concerns, especially as the new company permits progress.

“I think the legislation is a good step,” Berg said. “(But) we have broader issues with the oversight over animal agriculture in the state and the monitoring of CAFOs and slaughterhouses.”

Powell is one of many residents who believes the waste companies will find avenues to continue their operations in Missouri.

“It’s all about money,” Powell said. “I don’t know how legislation is going to work out, but I think money is gonna win, whoever has the big bucks. So I think I’m stuck.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/communities-divided-over-spreading-meatpacking-sludge/article_2476da6e-0e18-11ef-a620-ff1729624a14.html">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717757134129.png" alt="Anti-sludge signs dotted the roadsides of rural Newton and McDonald Counties on Feb. 24 (Athena Fosler-Brazil/Missourian)." />
 <figcaption>Anti-sludge signs dotted the roadsides of rural Newton and McDonald Counties on Feb. 24 (Athena Fosler-Brazil/Missourian).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/teaganking/">TEAGAN KING</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/athenafoslerbrazil/">ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL</a>GRANBY — About a year after Blair Powell built his dream home in the southwest Missouri Ozarks, a noxious smell wafting from the farm next door ruined his son’s wedding reception in their backyard.“It just was ungodly,” Powell said. “Just the worst, horrible, horrible smell. Eyes were burning, some were just nauseous, and some were sick, they had to leave.”The source of the odor was a large waste lagoon on farmer Jerry Evans’ property, about a mile behind Powell’s house. The open-air pit contains “sludge,” as it is colloquially known, composed of animal parts and wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. According to neighbors, the material looks like a gray slurry, thick as a milkshake, and smells like a dead animal — which is what it is. Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions made a deal with Evans and other farmers to house the lagoons and provided the material to area farmers as free “fertilizer.”Evans leased a patch of his land to Denali for a 450-by-350 foot storage lagoon in Newton County that held over 13 million gallons of waste and used the sludge on his own fields. Powell said it ran into his yard too, prompting him to build up a barrier around his pond to protect its fish and his grandkids, who play nearby.Denali is one of several companies in Missouri supplying meatpacking sludge to farmers, a practice happening across the United States as concerns grow about spreading waste material on land.Residents living near the lagoons and fields using sludge report a rancid smell that clings to them once they step outside, making it unbearable to spend time outdoors. Some are now concerned about contamination of soil, drinking water and streams, as well as possible disease from pathogens.The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is reviewing three draft permits for land application of sludge from HydroAg, Synagro and Bubs Inc. covering 9,495 acres of land in southwest Missouri. Four additional companies have submitted permit applications to the department. The Columbia Missourian’s review of the draft permits initially found 60 errors, which the department has since corrected.That’s only the beginning. According to public records the Columbia Missourian obtained from DNR, the department has issued over 1,400 permits for various types of land application of waste across the state, including meatpacking and sewage sludge. In addition, nearly 70 larger wastewater treatment plants in Missouri report applying sludge to land, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online database, or ECHO.<h2>Discovering Denali</h2>Homestead farmer Caleb Wardlaw may have been the first to sniff out a problem. Two years ago, he noticed a nauseating smell on his land near Rocky Comfort, just north of the Arkansas border.“There were all kinds of rumors going around about what it actually was,” Wardlaw said.Wardlaw talked to Sheila Harris, a local reporter for the Cassville Democrat, who jumped in her car and traced the smell upstream to the Evans lagoon. Harris has since published dozens of articles on sludge, from the disruption Denali has caused in her community to state and national efforts to regulate sludge and water pollution.As news got around, residents of Newton and McDonald counties got organized. Community group Stop Land Use Damaging our Ground and Environment, or SLUDGE, organized in 2023 and sued DNR to force it to regulate Denali as a solid waste management company due to odor and water contamination concerns.SLUDGE committee member Vallerie Steele lives adjacent to the Evans property. As an emergency room nurse in St. Louis, she worked throughout the height of the pandemic. “I had my share of dead bodies,” Steele said. “This is worse than that. You open your front door to go out, the smell hits you like a brick wall. The flies are horrible.”While the smell has the biggest impact on her day-to-day life, Steele and others have environmental concerns, too. One concern is PFAS, the “forever chemicals” commonly found in wastewater sludge.“What happens when they find out it’s laden with PFAS, and the water’s contaminated to the point we can’t use it?” Steele said. “I worry about my kids, my grandkids, my neighbors, the generations to come.”Denali and companies like it are adamant that their practices are not only safe but are the environmentally responsible option.“Recycling valuable, nutrient-rich food processing residuals is crucial to protecting water quality in Missouri and necessary for the success of both food production and farming operations in the state,” Sam Liebl, Denali’s director of communications, wrote in an email.The company is in the process of emptying the Evans Lagoon, the Gideon Lagoon in McDonald county and another lagoon in Macon County, following a DNR consent decree in January where Denali agreed to pay a $21,665 fine for violating clean water regulations. A DNR investigation found that the company applied so much sludge that it covered vegetation and pooled in saturated fields.<h2>A community divided</h2>The crisis has led to two state agencies intervening and a new state law to regulate sludge. Many relationships have already grown strained over the issue, and as sludge use grows, residents worry about what will happen to their communities.Powell’s own brother-in-law has used Denali sludge on his farm. Powell said their relationship has soured due to their disagreement over sludge.“Now it’s neighbor against neighbor, now it’s family versus family,” Powell said. “It’s getting to the point where I don’t know how it’ll all end up.”In nearby Anderson, resident Jerry Mann is experiencing similar community tensions. His neighbor stores sludge supplied to him in large containers right along Mann’s property, worsening conflict between the two homeowners who already don’t get along.About two years ago, Mann and several others nearby wrote a “nice letter” to the neighbor who was land-applying sludge, asking him to stop. Shortly thereafter, one of the neighbors saw the farmer using sludge in town. Their argument almost turned physical, Mann said.“I’m not violent, but some of them get really, really violent about it,” Mann said, “I’m wary about somebody grabbing a gun and shooting each other.”Evans, who agreed to host a Denali lagoon on his property, said he feels like an outsider in his community, as his neighbors no longer speak to him over the lagoon.On an early spring day in February, he pointed out how his fields were blanketed in bright green, while his neighbors’ fields were still a dull winter brown. Evans attributed the difference to the sludge, which brought more stability to his yields. He said none of his neighbors have ever stopped by to talk with him about the lagoon, so they don’t understand why he uses it.“Most of the people in this area don’t like me right now,” he said. “The people that are causing the uproar on this, I don’t usually ever visit with them anyway.”<h2>Regulatory struggles and evolving science</h2>County commissioners in the area feel powerless to stop the sludge use. McDonald County Presiding Commissioner Bryan Hall said he’s done what he can to help his constituents, but much of the problem-solving ultimately falls on DNR.“We were kind of isolated down here in our dealing with it, and that’s one reason we weren’t getting much attention from the state legislature,” Hall said. “But when that (lagoon) was being built up there in Randolph County… it kind of opened their eyes and made them realize that this is not a problem that’s unique to one area.”Sharon Turner joined the fight against sludge in March 2023 when she discovered Denali was planning to build a storage lagoon across the street from her property near Jacksonville in Randolph County, north of Columbia. Turner’s land, without her consent, had been listed as a site for sludge application. Turner is a member of a local activist group, Citizens of Randolph County Against Pollution, or CRAP, which filed a lawsuit that prevented Denali from filling the lagoon.“The agricultural laws, rules and regulations are so lax and have so many loopholes,” Turner said. “That’s what’s allowed for the creation of this problem that we’re in.”The Missouri Fertilizer Control Board transferred the authority to regulate sludge to DNR in spring 2023 after finding the waste material “did not have significant economic market value.” At the time, 13 companies were spreading waste in Missouri from 129 sources, including poultry plants, pet food companies, dairies and other operations in Missouri and seven neighboring states. In June, the DNR issued permit exemptions to companies previously licensed by the board. Those companies must now seek permits or find other ways to dispose of the waste.The nutrient and chemical contents of sludge vary, and testing is inconsistent. Sludge contains phosphorus and nitrogen, two nutrients plants need, but the concentrations can be too high, said William Wymore, an expert in industrial wastewater treatment and executive producer of Good Morning Sludge Truck, a podcast explaining the complicated landscape of sludge production and management.“We’re talking about nutrient loads that are literally thousands of times” the recommended amount of phosphorus, nitrogen and calcium, Wymore said.Heather Peters, Water Pollution Control Branch Chief for DNR, said sludge can be beneficial as long as it is properly managed and regulated, but the department is still figuring out how to do this.“It is a unique situation when we’re talking about managing these materials as fertilizer on agricultural land,” Peters said. “It could be done successfully if it follows the permit. This is new ground for us.”<h2>No end in sight</h2>The Missouri House and Senate recently approved House Bill 2134, which will create new wastewater sludge regulations under the Missouri Clean Water Act.Michael Berg, political director of the Sierra Club’s Missouri chapter, said that his group approves of the legislation. However, Berg said it is valid for residents to question whether it will resolve their concerns, especially as the new company permits progress.“I think the legislation is a good step,” Berg said. “(But) we have broader issues with the oversight over animal agriculture in the state and the monitoring of CAFOs and slaughterhouses.”Powell is one of many residents who believes the waste companies will find avenues to continue their operations in Missouri.“It’s all about money,” Powell said. “I don’t know how legislation is going to work out, but I think money is gonna win, whoever has the big bucks. So I think I’m stuck.”This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/communities-divided-over-spreading-meatpacking-sludge/article_2476da6e-0e18-11ef-a620-ff1729624a14.html">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Missouri communities divided over spreading meatpacking sludge

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after&nbsp;6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Brown County Deputy initiated a traffic stop in the vicinity of the 200 block of 1st Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717638107708.png" alt="Milewski photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Milewski photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after&nbsp;6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Brown County Deputy initiated a traffic stop in the vicinity of the 200 block of 1st Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.During the investigation, the deputy arrested 35-year-old William Milewski&nbsp; of Daytona Beach,Florida on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

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