While head coach Lyndsey Talbot is already looking ahead to State Fair Community College softball’s upcoming season, this week she and some of her players were focused on training future Lady Roadrunners during a three-day camp, which ended Wednesday morning.

Talbot is going into her second year with Lady Roadrunners softball, helping start the school’s program last year.

“The first year was a lot of learning — learning the school, learning the way of the academics, the do’s, don’ts,” Talbot said Wednesday after helping the young girls with running drills on the field. “It’ll be a lot smoother this year. And getting to bring in a class that I fully recruited is huge. So I’m excited to get started in year two.”

Talbot said hosting the summer youth camp has many benefits, from teaching young players the game, to getting more community exposure for SFCC and the relatively-new softball program. She said 53 girls attended the camp.

“One thing I always like to do with the little kids is get them excited about softball, get them started with fundamentals, having fun with the game,” Talbot said. “That’s why there’s a lot of water balloons and stuff, but it also gets them having the players that are going to be on the field, getting them to know them so now they’re going to want to bring their parents to the games. … Just getting the name out there. You never know what recruit that might lead to, a new opportunity.”

The camp incorporated both skills and fun, using nearly 800 water balloons Wednesday to beat the heat and get in a few throws.

“(We’ve worked on) a lot of fundamentals, I do it with a lot of different stuff. Like I used footballs to throw, we hit basketballs, we throw frisbees, we throw water balloons for soft-hand. It’s softball skill but done in a different way,” Talbot explained.

The young girls weren’t the only ones getting practice Wednesday. Talbot said she likes getting her players involved in the community through volunteer work, and they’re also practicing their own skill sets.

“I had that talk with them on Monday, it’s just as much for them as it is for the little kids,” Talbot said. “I basically put the drills on them. You know them, now it’s time for you to use your own knowledge and to teach it.”

Talbot enlisted help for this week’s camp from her assistant coach, area coaches, current SFCC players and some of her former Central Methodist University players where she previously coached. For some of the SFCC players, this was their first time working together, and on the other side of a youth sports summer camp.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” freshman Macy Buzzanga, of Knob Noster, said in between activities. “It’s the first time we’ve met as a team so we’ve gotten to know each other too.

“I’m usually the one at camps, but now I’m helping run them,” she added.

Macy Buzzanga, a freshman State Fair Community College softball player, watches as the young softball campers pass the softball over their heads and under their legs in a team effort Wednesday morning at Liberty Park. Buzzanga graduated from Knob Noster High School.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072017SFCCsoftballcamp.jpgMacy Buzzanga, a freshman State Fair Community College softball player, watches as the young softball campers pass the softball over their heads and under their legs in a team effort Wednesday morning at Liberty Park. Buzzanga graduated from Knob Noster High School. Photos by Nicole Cooke | Democrat

SFCC softball freshman Tessia Balke shows 11-year-old Kit Shaw, of Northwest Elementary, and other softball campers tips on underhand throwing during Wednesday’s SFCC softball camp.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072017SFCCsoftballcamp3.jpgSFCC softball freshman Tessia Balke shows 11-year-old Kit Shaw, of Northwest Elementary, and other softball campers tips on underhand throwing during Wednesday’s SFCC softball camp. Photos by Nicole Cooke | Democrat

SFCC softball head coach Lyndsey Talbot directs a long line of girls to run to first base during a drill Wednesday morning at Liberty Park. Talbot said 53 girls attended the three-day camp.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072017SFCCsoftballcamp4.jpgSFCC softball head coach Lyndsey Talbot directs a long line of girls to run to first base during a drill Wednesday morning at Liberty Park. Talbot said 53 girls attended the three-day camp. Photos by Nicole Cooke | Democrat

This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case.

Sedalia Police Department

Arrests

July 17

10:18 p.m.: Julie Gayle Pierson, 46, of the 500 block of East Fifth Street, was arrested in the 500 block of East Fifth Street on a charge of trespassing. An officer responded to a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival they found a subject who had an active trespass warning for the residence.

July 18

2:12 a.m.: Cory A. Reiley, 27, of the 300 block of East 13th Street, was arrested in the 1600 block of East Broadway Boulevard on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, possession of synthetic narcotics and stealing. An officer responded to a business for a theft report. A subject had concealed a 20-ounce bottle of Dr. Pepper, valued at $1.98, in his back pocket and left the store. The officer made contact with him outside and a search revealed a black pistol tucked into his waistband. Several controlled substance pills were also located on the subject.

7:46 p.m.: Joshua W. Harrison, 44, of the 1200 block of South Osage Avenue, was arrested near the intersection of West 13th Street and South Osage Avenue on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

8:22 p.m.: Christina Marie Langley, 45, of the 1900 block of South Harrison Avenue, was arrested near the intersection of West 20th Street and South Harrison Avenue on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

July 19

12:48 a.m.: Tyreel G. Hardy, 31, of Osage Beach, was arrested in the 3100 block of West Broadway Boulevard on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers responded to a disturbance at a business. An officer saw a subject in the parking lot he recognized as having an active warrant. Dispatch confirmed the no-bond parole violation warrant. A search of the subject found methamphetamine and related paraphernalia.

1:27 a.m.: Ahmad Jamal Dupree, 25, of the 1600 block of East Seventh Street, was arrested in the 800 block of East Broadway Boulevard on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

Incidents

July 18

6:15 p.m.: A blue 1990 Ford Fiesta with no license plates was reported stolen in the 500 block of West 16th Street.

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Teens suffer injuries in accident

Two 17-year-old girls were injured in a vehicle accident at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Henry County.

Victoria A. Harris, of Lowery City, was driving east on Southwest 430 Road, four-tenths of a mile from Southwest 801 Road, when she failed to negotiate a left turn, causing her vehicle to travel off the right side of the road. The vehicle then overturned before coming to rest on its wheels, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report.

Harris and a passenger in the vehicle, Azaria M. Pine, of Montrose, were transported to Ellett Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Reports indicate Harris was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident while Pine was not.

Johnson accident sends one to hospital

One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday.

Rindi C. Brainard, 33, of Warrensburg, was driving south on state Route 23 when her vehicle turned into the path of a northbound vehicle driven by Christine A. Miller, 27, of Windsor. Brainard’s vehicle was struck by Miller’s vehicle, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report.

Miller was transported to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg for treatment of minor injuries.

Reports indicate both women were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.

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For families looking for a way to beat the heat ,the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department has a number of special events planned for young and old alike, and even their canine friends.

Saturday, Centennial Pool will be transformed into Sedalia’s version of the Caribbean as the department hosts its annual Mermaids and Mateys Pool Party.

The event, hosted from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m., will provide little ones the opportunity to meet and swim alongside some of their favorite pirates and mermaids, said Recreation Superintendent Kari Tyler.

“We will have a treasure hunt, mermaid and pirate crafts, and snacks, games and the ever-popular walk the plank at Centennial Sea,” Tyler said. “There will also be some time to enjoy swimming with your mermaid or matey on Saturday morning.”

The following day, July 23, moms will have a special day of relaxation at both Liberty and Centennial pools where they will be admitted at no charge with a child’s paid admission.

“We just finished our last session of swim lessons and with our two combined sessions we have taught over 360 kids to swim and be safe in the water this summer in our program,” Tyler said. “Our season passes were a great hit and were well received by our users.

“We sold 357 passes, which is great for our first year selling them,” Tyler explained. “We set a goal of 250 and were pleased to see that we exceeded it.”

The passes were $60 per person for ages 4 and older. A discounted rate of $50 per pass was given if three or more passes were purchased in one transaction.

Tyler indicated the passes would be available next year and the department is hoping to have them available for sale for Christmas stocking stuffers or Easter basket fillers.

The department has one final “Swimming Under the Stars” scheduled at Liberty Pool for Friday, Aug. 4. The pool will be open extended hours from 8 to 10 p.m. with a $2 admission fee during those hours.

“Centennial Pool will close Aug. 9 and Liberty will be closing on Aug. 20,” Tyler said. “We will end the year with the ever-popular doggie dive at each pool (those days).”

The events, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., allow dog owners to bring their four-legged friends to the pools for a night of swimming and diving before the pools close for the season.

Tyler added that there are a number of activities planned for the fall and winter months including new drawing classes that will be offered in September.

Visit sedaliaparks.com for more information.

Madelyn Jefferies was captivated to meet mermaid Rachel Howieson at a previous Mermaids and Mateys event hosted at Centennial Pool. This year’s event will be Saturday at Centennial Pool. The event is one of a number of special activities the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department has planned before Centennial and Liberty pools close for the season Aug. 9 and Aug. 20, respectively.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tsd072117mermaids-and-mateys1.jpgMadelyn Jefferies was captivated to meet mermaid Rachel Howieson at a previous Mermaids and Mateys event hosted at Centennial Pool. This year’s event will be Saturday at Centennial Pool. The event is one of a number of special activities the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department has planned before Centennial and Liberty pools close for the season Aug. 9 and Aug. 20, respectively. Democrat file photo

The Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department will have a new director effective July 31, as announced Thursday.

The Sedalia Park Board met in closed session July 12 and unanimously approved hiring Amy Epple as the new department director. She will succeed Mark Hewett, who is retiring July 28 after nearly 18 years as director.

Epple said she’s grown up around Parks and Rec in Missouri, participating in little leagues as a child. Her experiences prompted her to change her major in college from political science to parks and recreation management.

“I started in concessions, I was a lifeguard, aquatics manager, and in Sedalia I’ve been recreation supervisor and superintendent. It’s been my goal to eventually want to be a parks and recreation director,” Epple told the Democrat Thursday afternoon. “When this opportunity came that Mark was retiring I was excited because I love Sedalia, I love the Parks and Rec here. I submitted an application and I’m really honored and privileged to succeed Mark. He’s a fine director, he’s taught me a lot. He’s built a great foundation for our Parks and Rec Department and I look forward to expanding on that.”

Epple has a Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management from Central Missouri State University, now the University of Central Missouri. She has worked for Sedalia Parks and Rec for almost six years as Recreation Superintendent and Recreation Supervisor. She has worked in the parks and recreation field for 12 years and received the designation as a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) from the National Recreation and Park Association.

Epple said she’s looking forward to enhancing quality of life for Sedalia citizens and the visitors who attend Sedalia Parks and Rec facilities and programs. She said her experience in Sedalia will help her serve the community in this new role.

“I’ve worked with (Parks Superintendent) Dave Moore and his maintenance crew, I know (Recreation Superintendent) Kari (Tyler), there’s still lifeguards here from when I started,” Epple said. “It helps I know the community — I know what’s needed here, I understand there needs to be free programs, I understand there needs to be something for everyone, quality programs for everyone.

“Things do change but you’re learning and hearing what Sedalia needs and what people want from Sedalia,” she added. “I worked in Warrensburg Parks and Recreation for about a total of seven years and they have a community center. People here want a community center, and I plan to be here for 20 to 30 years, so I hope in my time here that’s something I can accomplish.”

Amy Epple

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Amy-Epple.jpgAmy Epple

The City of Sedalia completed 76.8 blocks of chip and seal on Sedalia streets this week. The following list provides the schedule for the week of July 24. Motorists are encouraged to find alternate routes on the day work is scheduled for a specific street or plan additional time to arrive at their destination as period lane closures will occur as equipment and men are working on the streets.

Monday

West 18th Street between South Limit Avenue and South Moniteau Avenue.

West 20th Street between South Grand Avenue and South Ohio Avenue.

East 20th Street between South Ohio Avenue and South Lamine Avenue.

South Lamine Avenue between East 16th Street and East 20th Street.

Tuesday

West 32nd Street from state Route B to the west city limits.

Highland Avenue between Southwest Boulevard and Skyline Drive.

Wednesday

West 28th Street from Jerome Drive to South Grand Avenue.

Douglas Lane from South Stewart Avenue to the dead end.

Gregory Lane from West 28th Street to South Stewart Avenue.

Jerome Drive from West 28th Street to Douglas Lane.

Keith Allen Drive from West 28th Street to Douglas Lane.

South Quincy Avenue from West 24th Street to West 28th Street.

South Stewart Avenue from West 24th Street to West 28th Street.

South Stewart Avenue from West 28th Street to West 32nd Street.

Thursday

Buckingham Drive from Downing Lane to 32nd Street.

Cunningham Drive from West 32nd Street to the dead end.

Cunningham Court from Cunningham Drive to the dead end.

Downing Lane from Cunningham Drive to Buckingham Drive.

Buckingham Court from Downing Lane to the dead end.

Chip and seal places a coating of road oil on the existing city street followed by a layer of fine crushed rock or “chips.” The layer of crushed chips, including some loose chips, remain on the street to prevent “bleeding” through of the road oil to other surfaces, such as vehicles. The remaining loose chips are later swept up, within seven to 10 days dependent on weather conditions and equipment availability. This sealing process assists in reducing impacts from freezing and thawing during winter months on asphalt roads, which allow potholes to form and roadway surfaces to fail.

The work is weather and equipment dependent, so changes may occur from time-to-time. For questions about streets or to report a pothole or other roadway problem, contact the Public Works Department at 660-827-3000

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COLE CAMP — Two popular Cole Camp eateries, The German Table and Sweet an’Tiques, recently moved into larger buildings making it possible to expand their seating arrangements and menu offerings.

The restaurant and the sweet shop are owned by three sisters, Sam Cole, Roxy Viebrock and Wanda Pritzel. The women moved Sweets an’Tiques into the building once occupied by The German Table, 111 E. Main St. The German Table was moved next door into the former Happy Trails Antique building, 107 E. Main St.

With more space, Sweets an’Tiques now offers breakfast tarts such as bacon/jalapeno, strawberry or tomato/basil/spinach. They also have a kitchen in the shop where they make homemade truffles, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, tarts, toffee, blueberry coffee cake, lemon curd pound cake and other treats.

“Everything is made from scratch,” Viebrock said. “My niece Kristine Cole comes in and makes all that on Monday. She’s my baker.”

New to the shop is a variety of honey ice cream, made by Giofre Apiaries, of Millersburg, and several gluten-free treats.

“It’s definitely been a good move I think,” Cole said at the sweet shop Wednesday. “We’ve seen a lot bigger groups over there (The German Table) and a lot more foot traffic here. Roxy’s kind of expanded her inventory here with what she sells and I think that’s a good thing.”

“The candy sales have been really growing,” Pritzel added. “Everybody loves them so they come back.”

Viebrock added that a woman going to visit family in Germany took a box of the shop’s truffles with her on the trip last week.

The sisters also sell antiques at the shop. One antique they are proud of is a 100-year-old German wine stein sitting on a shelf along the east wall. The shop also carries imported German linens and espresso coffees.

Cole said the move for The German Table increased the seating capacity from 30 people to approximately 80. New menu items have been added too.

“Every year I put something new on the menu,” she said. “We added something new to each category.”

They have added the Holstein schnitzel, a fried schnitzel with an over-easy egg and capers on the top. They have also added a smoked Hungarian bratwurst. Cole said both additions are selling well.

“We try to do a specialty dessert every weekend,” she added. “I do cheesecakes, some with Roxy’s toffee. Another one that sells real well is key lime and I have strawberry. I actually did an espresso (cheesecake) with a chocolate gauche on the top, and it sold pretty well.”

Cole said her cook, Jennifer Sallee, made a Bavarian chocolate torte last weekend that sold exceptionally well. Sallee also makes a Black Forest cake with homemade whipped cream, Kirschwasser and maraschino cherries.

The move has allowed The German Table to obtain a full liquor licence. Besides wine and German beer, they now offer schnapps and specialty after-dinner coffee drinks.

One of the greatest advantages of the larger building, Cole said, is the ability to take group reservations. She recently served a group of 22 from Whiteman Air Force Base and was planning on a group of 11 Wednesday evening.

“We accommodate a lot bigger groups now,” she noted. ” … People are really liking it.”

Cole decorated the restaurant’s west wall with a large painting of Neuschwanstein Castle created by Cole Camp artist Neil Heimsoth, and German antiques. She has also placed long wooden tables, or Stammtisch, translated to mean a table for regulars, down the center of the restaurant giving it a European feel. The tables, which are more than 100-years-old, were acquired from her church, Mt. Hulda Lutheran.

“It’s really neat to have something in your mind, and draw it out, and know you can see it,” Cole said of the tables. “This is what I had in mind, this is what I was thinking.”

On the largest night since opening in the new location, The German Table served 114 people.

“Over there, people sat down, and we fed them, and they need to move,” she said. “But here they can sit, and visit, and drink a beer and they can talk.”

She added that her work crew is amazing and also credits her 81-year-old mother Esther Schlesselman for helping out at the restaurant.

“She comes in everyday, she slices all the bread,” Cole said. “She makes the potato salad, I wouldn’t want to do it without her.”

Sweet an’Tiques is open from 7 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The German Table is open from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

For more information call Sweets an’Tiques at 660-233-2294 and The German Table at 660-668-0019.

Sisters, from left, Sam Cole, Wanda Pritzel and Roxy Viebrock hold homemade truffles at Sweet an’Tiques Wednesday afternoon in Cole Camp. Sweets an’Tiques recently reopened in the building that used to house The German Table restaurant at 111 E. Main St. The German Table, also owned by the sisters, moved into a larger building next door to the sweet shop at 107 E. Main St.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072117GermanTable-1.jpgSisters, from left, Sam Cole, Wanda Pritzel and Roxy Viebrock hold homemade truffles at Sweet an’Tiques Wednesday afternoon in Cole Camp. Sweets an’Tiques recently reopened in the building that used to house The German Table restaurant at 111 E. Main St. The German Table, also owned by the sisters, moved into a larger building next door to the sweet shop at 107 E. Main St. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Since moving into their new building, Sweets an’Tiques now offers breakfast tarts, back row from left, bacon/jalapeno, and strawberry, and in front, tomato/basil/spinach. They also added a variety of honey ice cream made by Giofre Apiaries, of Millersburg.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072117GermanTable-2.jpgSince moving into their new building, Sweets an’Tiques now offers breakfast tarts, back row from left, bacon/jalapeno, and strawberry, and in front, tomato/basil/spinach. They also added a variety of honey ice cream made by Giofre Apiaries, of Millersburg. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Jennifer Sallee, the cook at The German Table, tops a homemade Black Forest cake with whipped cream Wednesday afternoon in preparation for the restaurant’s 4:30 p.m. opening. The German Table offers a wide variety of homemade desserts and German cuisine.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072117GermanTable-3.jpgJennifer Sallee, the cook at The German Table, tops a homemade Black Forest cake with whipped cream Wednesday afternoon in preparation for the restaurant’s 4:30 p.m. opening. The German Table offers a wide variety of homemade desserts and German cuisine. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Since moving into their new building, The German Table now seats approximately 80 people. Owner Sam Cole said visitors often enjoy having their photo taken in front of the painting of Neuschwanstein Castle created by Cole Camp artist Neil Heimsoth.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072117GermanTable-4.jpgSince moving into their new building, The German Table now seats approximately 80 people. Owner Sam Cole said visitors often enjoy having their photo taken in front of the painting of Neuschwanstein Castle created by Cole Camp artist Neil Heimsoth. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

After having some medical issues resolved, two pets are ready to be adopted from the Sedalia Animal Shelter.

Nala, a 3-month-old yellow Labrador retriever mix, and Wonder Woman, a 2-year-old cat, both arrived at the shelter this summer with severe injuries. Thanks to the Trooper Fund, they both received medical treatment.

“Nala was an owner surrender (June 21) and she had a leg that her foot was broken in four places,” said shelter manager Randi Battson. “With all the other Trooper Fund broken legs, we’ve had to amputate. With this one, Dr. (Chad) McNeal at Thompson Hills (Animal Clinic) was able to save the whole leg. They splinted it, put a little cast on her and changed it out every week.”

Battson said an x-ray last week showed Nala’s injury has healed.

“She’s so playful, she’s so sweet, her disposition is amazing,” said shelter employee Merry Rogers, who created the Trooper Fund. “Regardless of what she’s been through prior to being here she’s just a happy-go-lucky puppy.”

Wonder Woman came to the shelter May 22 with teeth issues so bad she could barely eat, Rogers said. A trip to the vet revealed she had severe periodontal disease resulting in gingivitis.

“The (‘Wonder Woman’) movie had come out, and I thought she was amazing to live like she was in the condition she was in, not being able to eat anything hard,” Rogers said of the name choice. “She’s our Wonder Woman, our hero for coming back around. She’s just super sweet.”

According to information Battson received from McNeal, Wonder Woman also had resorptive lesions, which are when the body attacks its own teeth and the tooth is eaten away. As a result of those conditions, Wonder Woman had a complete oral exam, ultrasonic cleaning and polish, and nine teeth extracted.

“She was super friendly but she had some teeth issues,” Battson explained. “… I didn’t want to put down a cat with that great of a disposition and we’d never used the Trooper Fund on a cat before, we’d only used it on two dogs. … We thought she was a super candidate for the first recipient of the Trooper Fund for a cat.”

Wonder Woman and Nala’s medical treatments were made possible through the Trooper Fund, which collects donations to pay for animals who arrive at the shelter with injuries that require surgery. The fund was inspired by Trooper, a playful Border Collie mix puppy that came to the shelter earlier this year with a leg that had to be amputated. Fozzie, a white-and-brown Shitzu, also came to the shelter with a broken leg that was amputated.

After paying for Wonder Woman and Nala’s medical needs, Battson said the Trooper Fund has been depleted.

“We have come to the end of the fund,” Battson said. “People are still donating to it occassionally, we get a couple donations per month for it, but we are to the end of it now.”

Citizens can submit an application to submit either Wonder Woman or Nala for the next two weeks. Battson said references are requested and she recommends that interested families visit the shelter to meet with the animals to make sure it’s a good fit. A committee will review the applications and select a family for each animal.

Donations to the Trooper Fund may be made at the City Municipal Building, 200 S. Osage Ave., or directly to the Sedalia Animal Shelter, 2420 S. New York Ave. Donors should mark their donation to The Trooper Fund. All donations are tax-deductible.

Wonder Woman, a 2-year-old cat, sits pretty Tuesday morning at the Sedalia Animal Shelter. After having nine teeth removed due to disease, she is ready to be adopted.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072117AnimalShelter.jpgWonder Woman, a 2-year-old cat, sits pretty Tuesday morning at the Sedalia Animal Shelter. After having nine teeth removed due to disease, she is ready to be adopted. Photos by Nicole Cooke | Democrat

Nala, a 3-month-old yellow Labrador retriever mix, smiles for the camera outside the Sedalia Animal Shelter with shelter employee Merry Rogers by her side Tuesday morning. Nala’s foot was broken in four places when she arrived at the shelter but has fully healed. “I don’t know what she’s mixed with, but it’s caused her ears to come up but they’re not all the way up so they’re in that lopsided stage,” said shelter manager Randi Battson. “She’s really sweet and just wants to play.”

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TSD072117AnimalShelter2.jpgNala, a 3-month-old yellow Labrador retriever mix, smiles for the camera outside the Sedalia Animal Shelter with shelter employee Merry Rogers by her side Tuesday morning. Nala’s foot was broken in four places when she arrived at the shelter but has fully healed. “I don’t know what she’s mixed with, but it’s caused her ears to come up but they’re not all the way up so they’re in that lopsided stage,” said shelter manager Randi Battson. “She’s really sweet and just wants to play.” Photos by Nicole Cooke | Democrat

Every day I take a moment to reflect on the 12-6 turn.

While I was in high school in the early 1980s, I worked at McDonald’s. The restaurant was located at the intersection of two major highways leading to Chicago, so frequently we would serve busloads of tourists on their way to or from the Windy City.

These were the days before kitchen warming cabinets; we would make food as requested by the “bin caller,” the supervisor in charge of managing the prepared food inventory based on the flow of customers. Everything was timed precisely, and when cooking the standard hamburger patties the fastest you could go was a “12-6 turn,” which referred to cooking 12 standard hamburgers or cheeseburgers, and when it was time to turn them starting 12 more beef patties to make six Big Macs.

In all I worked about four years at McDonald’s and it was a rewarding experience. I earned money for gas, concert tickets, and a lot of great albums; I also put some away for college expenses. Beyond the pay, though, I made good friends and learned a lot about people and the value of work. The job was not easy, and some days were downright disgusting. There is no way to put a positive spin on scrubbing the garbage corral or cleaning up someone else’s vomit.

For the past 20 years or so, I have kept a blank McDonald’s job application on my office bulletin board. It serves as a reminder of working the grill, cleaning bathrooms and picking up trash in the parking lot. I am thankful for my time wearing a brown polyester uniform and a paper hat, but it’s not something I would want to experience again at this stage of my life. That said, my McDonald’s days taught me a lot that I have used through my various occupations.

I learned my management mantra: Happy people do better work. As a supervisor, you cannot eliminate all of the more dreaded aspects of any job, but if you find out what your workers truly enjoy doing and give them opportunities to handle those tasks, the awful stuff will still get done and morale will remain upbeat. I learned the value of delegation; if one person runs the grill, another toasts the buns and a third dresses the buns with condiments, the burgers are completed more efficiently and are of higher quality for the customer rather than one person rushing to do it all alone. Trusting team members to handle small but important tasks helps them build the experience and confidence to tackle bigger things down the line.

One of the best things about working at McDonald’s was the great camaraderie that was built among our team. One of my supervisors, Sean Clapp, was just a year older than me but is a superior leader and became a great friend. Sean, who now works in the law firm he founded in the Indianapolis area, agrees that the lessons we learned while building Big Macs and cooking Quarter Pounders hold true today.

“One of the greatest lessons I learned was clean as you go,” Sean said of the edict to keep our work areas tidy. “Translated, (than means) to take care of your business all the time and you won’t get into trouble due to neglect or crises. It’s better to deal with your dirt right away rather than let it accumulate and cause a bigger issue.”

Author James Baldwin once said, “Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.”

On tough days, that McDonald’s application serves as a reminder that as bad as things might seem, at least I’m fortunate enough not to have to rely on fast-food wages to try to support my family. It also is a touchstone to some great memories and lessons that remain valuable to this day.

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The Smith-Cotton Football Jamboree is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Tiger Stadium at Smith-Cotton High School.

Participating will be Eldon, Osage and Mexico, along with Smith-Cotton. Two scrimmages will take place at a time, from the 40-yard line to the end zone on each side of the field. Teams will each run 12 offensive and 12 defensive plays.

Tickets are $4, children age 5 and younger admitted free. The concession stand will be open.

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I bought my first archery deer license in 1966 and sallied forth carrying a Bear Whitetail Hunter recurve bow. I killed several deer with it, but for reasons that escape me now, I switched to a compound bow about 10 years later. The truth be told, I’d still be using it had my shoulders not decided they’d had more than enough of my shenanigans.

But be that as it may, somewhere around 1999, having obtained a temporary method exemption, I switched to a crossbow. Three surgeries later, the method exemption became permanent, and I’ve done all my bow hunting with crossbows since.

I provided the above information so you’d know that while what you’re about to read is to a great extent my personal opinion, it’s experience-based opinion. So with that proviso in mind, should you join the crossbow revolution now that they’ve become legal throughout Missouri’s archery season?

If you’re an accomplished compound bow user, by which I mean one who can place every — and I do mean every — arrow he/she shoots into a 10-inch circle out to at least 45 yards under hunting — not range — conditions, there’s a good chance the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rule is applicable.

On the other hand, if you’re a firearms deer hunter whose primary goal is to extend his/her hunting season, you can probably get up to hunting speed quicker with a crossbow than a compound bow. (Note: I’m by no means implying that learning to shoot a crossbow well enough to hunt with it ethically doesn’t take a lot of practice, because it does.)

Before you decide to invest in a crossbow, you need to know that crossbows are still the short range weapons they were 1,000 years ago. Yes, I’ve shot the minute-of-angle groups at 60 yards some manufacturers advertise, but the crossbow was firmly mounted in a bench rest vise, the distance to the target was known to the inch and there was no wind. In the real world, 45 yards is a mighty long shot for a crossbow, albeit a makeable one by an expert archer.

Many top-of-the-line crossbows and their accessories weigh 10 pounds or more, which is more than many fully tricked out big game rifles. In addition, the width of a typical crossbow’s limbs makes it awkward to carry through even moderate cover. Fortunately, help is on the way, spurred by an explosion in interest in hunting crossbows. Models are coming onto the market that weigh less than seven pounds and have fully cocked widths of less than 10 inches. I haven’t had a chance to shoot one of these bows, so I can’t report on how well their radical design works.

If I was in the market for a new crossbow, I’d check out the online catalogs of all the major suppliers of archery equipment. I’d eliminate any crossbow that didn’t have very close to, if not a full five-star consumer rating out of hand. Then I’d read every consumer’s comments to see if should eliminate some more choices. Next I’d make in person visits to shops that carried the crossbows I was interested in, so I could see and handle them. After all, with precious few exceptions, I’ll be spending somewhere between $500 and $1,800.

I’d always assumed I was the only person dumb enough to let his thumb ride up into the path of the released string — I was very lucky I didn’t lose part of my thumb, but, on the good side, I did kill the deer I was shooting at. But apparently mine was not an isolated goof, because the fore ends on all new crossbows are designed so as to make it impossible for the shooter to get his fingers on top of the rail.

It’s imperative that a crossbow’s limb not be touching anything when its trigger is pulled. My spiritual brother Wayne demonstrated this principle one evening while we were deer hunting on the Marshall Junction CA.

He was completely focused on a buck that was moving slowly through some thin brush about 20 yards in front of his treestand. When the buck finally paused in an opening, Wayne didn’t realize he’d twisted so far to his left that the tip of his crossbow’s limb was touching the trunk of the tree his stand was in. Wayne squeezed the trigger, and his crossbow slammed into his face with sufficient force to nearly knock him off of the stand’s platform. Fortunately, neither Wayne nor his crossbow were permanently damaged.

Finally, don’t buy a crossbow without some means of preventing dry firing. Firing a crossbow without a bolt properly seated on its rail is very likely to damage the crossbow and may result in a catastrophic (i.e. explosive) failure.

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Members of Smith-Cotton High School show choir Broadway Velocity are reflected in mirrors as they work on a musical routine Friday morning with professional choreographer Zachary Pettit, left, of Webb City. Pettit, who has worked with other award-winning show choirs, taught the students both Friday and Saturday, honing their 2017-18 repertoire during Choreography Camp. “They will learn their entire show before school starts,” S-C Vocal Music Director Anna Wooderson said.

Broadway Velocity students, from left, Orion Sanchez, Kaitlin Garrison, Kinzie Lamb and Raegan Belsha work on dance moves Friday morning with professional choreographer Zachary Pettit in the SCHS music department. Anna Wooderson, vocal music director, said the students would have two additional practice sessions after school begins this fall.

Show choir students practice dance routines Friday at SCHS during the school’s annual Choreography Camp. “The theme of their show remains a secret until the community reveal in January,” Anna Wooderson, vocal music director, said. “We look forward to sharing that with the community.”

Members of Smith-Cotton High School show choir Broadway Velocity are reflected in mirrors as they work on a musical routine Friday morning with professional choreographer Zachary Pettit, left, of Webb City. Pettit, who has worked with other award-winning show choirs, taught the students both Friday and Saturday, honing their 2017-18 repertoire during Choreography Camp. “They will learn their entire show before school starts,” S-C Vocal Music Director Anna Wooderson said.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tSD072217ShowChoir-1.jpgMembers of Smith-Cotton High School show choir Broadway Velocity are reflected in mirrors as they work on a musical routine Friday morning with professional choreographer Zachary Pettit, left, of Webb City. Pettit, who has worked with other award-winning show choirs, taught the students both Friday and Saturday, honing their 2017-18 repertoire during Choreography Camp. “They will learn their entire show before school starts,” S-C Vocal Music Director Anna Wooderson said. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Broadway Velocity students, from left, Orion Sanchez, Kaitlin Garrison, Kinzie Lamb and Raegan Belsha work on dance moves Friday morning with professional choreographer Zachary Pettit in the SCHS music department. Anna Wooderson, vocal music director, said the students would have two additional practice sessions after school begins this fall.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tSD072217ShowChoir-2.jpgBroadway Velocity students, from left, Orion Sanchez, Kaitlin Garrison, Kinzie Lamb and Raegan Belsha work on dance moves Friday morning with professional choreographer Zachary Pettit in the SCHS music department. Anna Wooderson, vocal music director, said the students would have two additional practice sessions after school begins this fall. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Show choir students practice dance routines Friday at SCHS during the school’s annual Choreography Camp. “The theme of their show remains a secret until the community reveal in January,” Anna Wooderson, vocal music director, said. “We look forward to sharing that with the community.”

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_tSD072217ShowChoir-3.jpgShow choir students practice dance routines Friday at SCHS during the school’s annual Choreography Camp. “The theme of their show remains a secret until the community reveal in January,” Anna Wooderson, vocal music director, said. “We look forward to sharing that with the community.” Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

When I was 7 and a Brownie Scout, I made one of those orange-stuck-with-cloves pomander balls for a Mother’s Day gift. Mother took me aside to tell me she couldn’t use it because Daddy couldn’t stand the smell of cloves.

One of the stories he shared about the war was that he had volunteered to be on a recovery detail — meaning that he, slight at 107 pounds, along with some other brave men of undetermined size, trekked up into the mountains in the South Pacific to recover bodies from plane crashes. In the jungle heat, cloves helped the men in the detail breathe as they went about their dreadful task.

I thought my father very brave, a hero of sorts, for doing something that no one else wanted to do.

Dictionary.com defines “hero” as “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.” This could mean the man dashing across the street to rescue a driver from a burning car. It could mean Steve Palermo, the umpire who saved a woman’s life and was paralyzed for his efforts. Or it could mean those who have risked their lives on battlefields to perpetuate the principles of this country. That includes my father.

It also includes John Lamy, M.D., a survivor of the Bataan Death March, and my mother’s college boyfriend, Johnny Ray, who made the Army a career, fighting in World War II and in Korea, earning a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and a couple of Purple Hearts. He wrote a short memoir about going from small-town Arkansas to war, omitting the details that my father also generally omitted when — or if — he talked about his experiences.

“Hero” most certainly applies to U.S. Sen. John McCain, who, an Annapolis graduate as were his father and grandfather before him, both admirals in the Navy, went to Vietnam, was shot down, and was captured in 1967. In 1968, his father was named CINCPAC (Commander in Chief, Pacific Command — Indo-Asian-Pacific region).

Later that year, when offered the opportunity to leave prison camp because of his politically-powerful position, now-Sen. McCain refused, because to do so would violate Article III of the U.S. Code of Conduct. That provision allows early release only if all officers captured prior to the person’s being offered release are also released. McCain’s captors refused, and then intensified his torture.

Eventually, according to Dan Nowicki and Bill Muller in “The John McCain Report,” their 2007 in-depth profile of McCain for “The Arizona Republic,” “under extreme torture, McCain’s will … finally wilted under the beatings. Unable to endure any more, he agreed to sign a confession … ‘I am a black criminal and I have performed the deeds of an air pirate. I almost died and the Vietnamese people saved my life, thanks to the doctors.’

“He would never forgive himself.

“‘I had learned what we all learned over there,’ he would write later. ‘Every man has a breaking point. I had reached mine.’”

Regardless of what you might think of his politics, John McCain has served his country honorably in the Navy and in the Senate, and his actions in the Hanoi Hilton were truly heroic, which makes now-President Trump’s statements about Sen. McCain loathsome: “’He’s not a war hero,’ Trump said. ‘He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, okay? I hate to tell you. He’s a war hero because he was captured, okay?’”

No. He is a hero because he offered up his life for us and his fellow prisoners.

This past week, John McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer, a primary glioblastoma, big words for an aggressive tumor in his brain that will eventually end his remarkable life.

I thank him today, just as I thank my father, John Lamy, Johnny Ray and all others like them, who have offered their lives for their belief in our country’s ideals. They are my heroes, having given up safety to carry guns and fly planes in hostile environments, to assure me of a life in a country that, as I have discovered in my adventures, though not perfect, is pretty darn good.

Sources: http://archive.azcentral.com/news/election/mccain/articles/2007/03/01/20070301mccainbio-chapter3.html, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/07/12/donald-trump-has-no-interest-in-apologizing-to-john-mccain/?utm_term=.4350c6b72c9e, http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/19/health/gupta-mccain-glioblastoma/

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Cars and buildings set afire, windows broken out, speakers shouted down and intimidated, unending demands issued — we haven’t seen the book burnings yet, but students at some colleges are looking a lot like the Nazi thugs who attacked Jews and political opponents in 1930s Germany.

These are fascist tactics, but the hatred doesn’t stop there. The left-wing news media pipe their vitriol into your living room every evening. Consider just CNN (by no means the only offender), where a host recently called President Trump “a piece of s —-.” Then there was Kathy Griffin, ISIS-like, holding a fake bloody, severed head with a Trump mask attached. Funny, huh?

One might expect better from members of Congress, who are held to a higher standard of decorum — or used to be. But Democratic Rep. James Devine posted a “Hunt Republican Congressmen” message on Facebook and Twitter after a shooter wounded five people on a Washington ballfield, including a Republican congressman, and whose motto was “Terminate the Republicans.”

Show-biz stars are in the act as well. Madonna said she was “thinking about blowing up the White House” after Trump was elected. That kind of talk used to get you arrested by the Secret Service.

What in the world is going on here? It’s something we’ve never seen before in this country, and it’s getting scary.

Donald Trump started all this last November by having the gall to win the presidential election. The political left, which includes most of the Democratic Party these days, never forgave him for that, and is out to destroy him and his presidency any way it can.

Something called “the resistance” is the umbrella group for that, and both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are members in good standing. When has an outgoing president and a defeated candidate ever done such a thing? Republicans simply took their lumps when Bill Clinton and Obama were elected president and tried to make the best of it.

Things didn’t use to be this way. Once a president was elected, the losing party took on the mantle of the “loyal opposition,” opposed politically, of course, but still loyal to the time-honored traditions of free speech, mutual respect and decency that used to characterize political discourse in this country.

Don’t look for those qualities today, as the political atmosphere has become hyper-toxic. And if you’re waiting for the Democratic leadership to denounce the outrages we’ve been seeing, don’t hold your breath. These hooligans are looked upon as their political allies.

The Democratic Party evidently believes that the road to a political comeback has only left-turn lanes, and that violence, intolerance and character assassination are legitimate tactics today. I retain enough faith in the voters to doubt that be a winning game plan in 2018.

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Columnist’s note: I thought about this memory as I watched a documentary on WWII last Sunday night.

I was born in 1938 when World War ll was just barely visible on the horizon, but by the time I was in school the war was a frightening reality at least for those old enough to realize what was happening. Fortunately the children in Sedalia were far from the horrors of war and were able to enjoy a childhood free of that worry thanks to our parents. Sedalia’s kids were patriotic, however, and we proved it during the local scrap drives that were hosted frequently during the war.

In 1944, I was attending the first grade at Washington School. World War ll was in full swing at that time, and everywhere you looked there were signs exhorting all Americans to do their part to win the war. The signs warned us to not give away secrets because “loose lips sink ships!” and although I had no idea what secrets I might have that would do that much harm, I vowed to keep them to myself anyway.

There were also signs asking us to conserve everything, and buy war bonds. I had no money to buy bonds, but I could take tin cans to school to be recycled into ships, guns, tanks or anything else the men who were fighting for our freedom might need. School kids felt very patriotic when they brought those bags of crushed cans to school, and when the newsreels at the Uptown Theater showed long lines of railroad cars headed to the scrap yards with cans, we were sure Washington Schools’ contribution was among them.

There were other kinds of drives besides the scrap metal one, and I can remember bringing bags of rags and paper that were also needed in the war effort. Recycling and conservation was vigorously promoted in school, in the same way anti-smoking is today. It was known as the “Schools at War” program, and it made us feel like real patriots. Sometimes mom may have thought I was a little too eager to help, when I tried to give away things we really needed for our own use.

Conservation was easy to comply with for most Sedalians, especially the Victory Garden part that was meant to help out with the food shortages during those days of rationing. Most families I knew grew backyard food even before the war, but still it made me proud to know mom and dad were doing their part in that way.

The war was a long way from Sedalia, and I don’t remember feeling threatened, but like everyone else I was kept aware of the war by air raid sirens, blackouts, and those “V for Victory” signs stuck in windows everywhere. The blackouts that were supposed to deny enemy bombers a target on dark nights were probably not necessary considering Sedalia’s proximity to the coast, but it did make us feel as if we were a part of the war.

We would pull our shades down tight and gather around the kerosene lamp until electricity was restored at the all clear. I even thought I heard a bomb dropping once, but mom said it was just my imagination, or too many movies.

The entertainment industry fought the war, with movies showing our fighting men winning heroic battles against the evil enemies of this country, and the radio blasted them too with unlikely heroine Little Orphan Annie doing her part to squash the would be conquerors. The comic books of the day took on the dreaded Nazis and Imperial Japanese Forces with heroes like G.I. Joe and Sad Sack on the front lines, while Dick Tracy cleaned them out here at home. I think the war fought on those screens and in those comic books did more to make the war real to us kids in those days than anything else.

I believe keeping us kids feeling safe during the war took a lot of effort on the part of our parents, who were unsure of the future at that point, or if we would have one. Maybe they wanted us to have whatever childhood we could, just in case. The horror of the real war did come home to me with my uncles, stepfather and many others after the war was over. I felt the fear then that I would have felt as a child had I known. I also felt and still feel the gratitude for what they did, so kids like me could have a future, and a childhood.

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Claire, Olivia, and their mother, Julie, came together on the Twin Hills Country Club in Joplin, Missouri, in mid-October 2015 and, to the unsuspecting eye, it seemed as though the Sobaski family had simply gathered for their usual round of Golf.

This, however, was not a matter of a family playing a casual game of golf. This was two state-qualifiers and their head coach competing in the Class 1 Girls Golf State Championship.

The 2015 season marked the last opportunity that Olivia and Claire would be able to play together at Sacred Heart High School due to Olivia being a senior. Not only did Claire, a sophomore at the time, make the varsity team along with Olivia, but they also each qualified for the state championships.

Olivia explained that the fact their mom was also their coach played a role in their success.

“I think it has its advantages,” said the four-time state-qualifier. “You’re just really close so they can see when you’re upset and understand, whereas a coach who doesn’t know you that well will have to learn those things.”

Julie’s coaching proved to essential in the tournament, as Claire struggled in the early parts of the competition.

“I was kind of having a hard time,” Claire said. “But I just remember my mom always being there for me and encouraging me.”

Although Claire didn’t finish in the top three like her sister, she said she regards the tournament as her favorite memory on a golf course since she and Olivia were able to compete together.

This sense of family on the course did not stem from the girls’ time on the Sacred Heart team together, though. Before Julie served as their high school coach, it was Steven, the patriarch of the Sobaski family, who taught Oliva and Claire the ins and outs of the game.

Both Olivia and Claire credit their father for introducing them to the game of golf and helping them reach higher levels of competition.

The sisters explained that they first learned about the sport by spending time at the golf course with their dad. He began by teaching them the basic rules of golf and eventually helped them perfect their swing.

“It’s always been kind of a family thing with us,” Olivia said. “We go out to the golf course on a weekend and play together and that’s always fun.”

This common family interest allows them to turn to either of their parents, but they also thrive on the fact that they can be there for each other.

Olivia said having a sibling who competes in the same sport allows for much-needed advice from someone who isn’t a coach or an instructor. She mentioned that even though the two now attend separate schools, they still regularly keep in touch.

The girls are both looking forward to another season for their respective teams. Claire hopes to finish her high school career on a positive note and make another appearance at the State Championships, while Olivia will look to improve upon her record-setting freshman season at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg during which she became the first Jennie golfer to win a tournament.

Olivia assured that the upcoming season, much like the girls’ appearance in the 2015 State Championships, will be another exciting ride.

“Stay tuned, it’ll be interesting.”

Olivia Sobaski signs with the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg to play Jennies golf following her senior season at Sacred Heart High School.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Sobaski1.jpgOlivia Sobaski signs with the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg to play Jennies golf following her senior season at Sacred Heart High School. Photos courtesy of the Sobaski family

The Sobaski family celebrates Sacred Heart’s 2015 District Championship.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Sobaski2.jpgThe Sobaski family celebrates Sacred Heart’s 2015 District Championship. Photos courtesy of the Sobaski family

From left, Steven, Claire, Olivia and Julie Sobaski gather on the golf course.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Sobaski3.jpgFrom left, Steven, Claire, Olivia and Julie Sobaski gather on the golf course. Photos courtesy of the Sobaski family

Voters in the 28th Senatorial District will be choosing between two candidates to fill the former seat of Lt. Gov. Mike Parson in the Aug. 8 special election.

On the ballot will be Al Skalicky, a Democrat from Bolivar who’s new to politics, and Sandy Crawford, a Republican from Buffalo who’s serving in her final term as representative for the 129th House District. Each candidate was selected by their respective parties in February. Voters will select their new senator, who will serve for the remainder of Parson’s term, set to expire in 2018.

The 28th District includes portions of Benton, Cedar, Dallas, Hickory, Laclede, Pettis, Polk and St. Clair counties, which have been unrepresented in the Senate since Parson’s inauguration.

Skalicky is a retired after 32 years as an agriculture teacher, 31 of those in Bolivar. It was primarily his concern for education issues that prompted him to run for public office.

“That’s one thing I’m concerned about is the legislature lately is not in favor of public education and is more in favor of private and charter schools,” Skalicky told the Democrat by phone Monday. “No student in the 28th district, or in rural Missouri period, would benefit from any of that legislation. That got me interested in running for office.”

He continued by saying much of recent legislation or proposed legislation doesn’t help working class Missourians. For example, he’s opposed to Right to Work legislation.

“There’s lots of discussions both ways on it. I haven’t seen anything anywhere that it leads to higher wages,” Skalicky said. “Everything I’ve seen it leads to lower wages, less benefits. I don’t see it’s a benefit to everyday working-class Missourians.”

Other areas of focus for Skalicky include helping senior citizens amid news of cuts for prescription drug funding, helping agriculture, and better regulation for predatory lending in Missouri.

“It’s important that we continue to look at things where Missouri can continue to export agriculture products, sell them, not put unnecessary limitations and restrictions on farmers to allow them to raise their crops and cattle because no one knows the land better and their livestock better than individual producers and farmers,” Skalicky said. “They need to be allowed to be a farmer. We have to be continually looking for markets to sell them (agriculture products) because that’s what keeps our farm economy going.”

Crawford has touted her political experience throughout the campaign as helpful in the short time-frame the new senator will be given. Skalicky is a member of several teacher’s associations, including the Missouri State Teacher’s Association where he served several years on the Southwest District Legislative Committee, and he said he’ll use that experience and relationships he’s formed.

“I don’t claim to know everything, but when I don’t know something I go to people I trust and that are experts,” Skalicky said. “For education, I’m a little more up to date on it, but for something like that I’d look at groups like NEA (National Education Association), MSTA and Missouri Retired Teachers Association and ask ‘is this going to be good for public education?’

“I can rely on them, I can rely on people like the Missouri Farm Bureau for agriculture things — those are people I trust that can tell me their opinions on it,” he added.

Skalicky repeatedly said it’s important for lawmakers to remember “everyday working class people” and how legislation will affect them. He said he’s heard from many constituents during the campaign that Missouri needs to start changing the discussion, which he said will only happen by sending new lawmakers to Jefferson City.

He said citizens should vote for him because of his background in both agriculture and education.

“I think my background is unique in the sense I can represent agriculture, but I also represent education, which is a large component of rural Missouri also,” Skalicky said. “I think I represent two very large constituencies so I’m in a unique position. That way that I do represent a lot of those people and know the things they experience.”

Al Skalicky

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Al-Skalicky.jpgAl Skalicky

A Sedalia man arrested in connection with a missing local teenager earlier this week has been charged with a sex crime.

Matthew R. Fischer, 28, of Sedalia, has been charged with second degree statutory sodomy. He has been issued a $10,000 bond, cash or surety.

Fischer was arrested early Wednesday morning by Pettis County Sheriff’s Office deputies as requested by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office because he was a person of interest in an Endangered Person Advisory issued by Morgan County. Fischer told detectives he did not know where the missing teen was and that she wouldn’t disclose her location to him.

The teen was later found safe in Arkansas thanks to a tip from another Missouri sheriff’s office, according to a Morgan County news release.

According to court documents, during questioning by a Morgan County detective that same morning, Fischer confessed to molesting a girl in the parking lot of a Sedalia gas station. Fischer said he met the girl on the dating website Plenty of Fish. He said he had been communicating with her, then met her at a business near his residence. During that meeting, Fischer said he and the girl began kissing and he touched her inappropriately.

Court documents state the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office has not been able to speak with the victim due to her being evaluated by medical personnel, and they have not received any disclosure of sexual incidents or abuse.

Law enforcement was working to corroborate Fischer’s statements by checking video footage from the business, as well as looking for broken glass in the area, according to court documents. Fischer told the detective he had used a rock to break the rear passenger side window of the vehicle the girl was using, as she had locked the keys inside it when exiting.

Online court records show Fischer’s criminal history includes stealing, possession of marijuana, assault and resisting arrest.

Matthew Fischer

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Matthew-Fischer.jpgMatthew Fischer

Starting Monday, Aug. 7, the Sedalia Democrat will no longer print and deliver a Monday edition. The Democrat will continue publishing a print edition Tuesday through Saturday.

“We took a hard, detailed look and evaluated the Monday edition. We believe this decision needed to be made to better serve our community, advertisers and subscribers,” Publisher Will Weibert said. “This decision will allow the staff to focus on better customer service, increase our news content and add value to our subscribers with increased special sections and reader content. This will be a good thing for the Democrat and our valued subscribers.”

July 31 will be the last Monday edition of the Democrat. The staff will now focus on adding and improving more news content, advertising and delivery with the Tuesday through Saturday editions. Even without a Monday print edition, readers will still be able to receive west central Missouri news through SedaliaDemocrat.com. The newsroom will continue to update the website daily with breaking news.

With a new parent company, Phillips Media Group, a new publisher and new editor, the Democrat will be making some changes to improve Sedalia’s only newspaper.

Starting with the Aug. 2 edition, Democrat readers will see a print redesign, which will better showcase the newsroom’s award-winning photography and stories and make the newspaper easier to navigate.

In addition, SedaliaDemocrat.com will be revamped in early August to feature faster load speeds, a sleeker design and a better user experience. Weibert noted that SedaliaDemocrat.com is one of Sedalia’s most highly-trafficked local websites with nearly 500,000 monthly page views.

“We value our advertisers and our subscribers. Every subscriber now will get access to the E-Edition free of charge,” Weibert said. “We want to make it as easy as possible for our subscribers to get their news anywhere, anytime and from any device.”

Readers with questions about this change can contact the Democrat’s customer service representatives at 660-826-1000.

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This list is a sampling of crime in Sedalia and the surrounding area. Information is taken from official police reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved in each case.

Sedalia Police Department

Arrests

July 19

3:19 p.m.: Bonnie Jean Carey, 38, of the 1800 block of East Sixth Street, was issued a municipal court summons near the intersection of East Third Street and South Washington Avenue for possession of marijuana. A traffic stop was conducted for a vehicle with expired tags and a non-working left rear brake light. The driver was issued a ticket for failure to register a vehicle. The officer gained consent to search the vehicle and the passenger told him she had marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

July 20

5:53 a.m.: A 2011 black Dodge Charger was reported stolen from a driveway in the 900 block of Sue Lane. The victim said the vehicle was not locked and the keys were inside it.

10:05 a.m.: Judith Leigh Denney, 50, of Sedalia, was arrested in the 700 block of East Broadway Boulevard on a charge of stealing. The suspect allegedly stole a bottle of Gatorade, valued at $1.69, from a business.

1:48 p.m.: Brandon Keith Vogan, 33, of the 1300 block of South Osage Avenue, was arrested at his residence on a charge of third degree domestic assault. Officers had responded to a report of a physical disturbance.

3:05 p.m.: Antonio M. Hurst, 33, of the 1300 block of South Ohio Avenue, was arrested near the intersection of West Main Street and South Park Avenue on a charge of fraudulent use of a credit device. The suspect allegedly tried to use a credit device at a business in the 3200 block of West Broadway Boulevard without the device owner’s permission.

6:52 p.m.: Julie Gayle Pierson, 46, of the 8100 bock of Crickett Lane, was arrested in the 700 block of East Broadway Boulevard on a charge of first degree trespassing. An officer responded to a report of a possibly intoxicated woman causing a disturbance with customers at a business. Management told the officer the woman had been in and out of the business most of the day bothering customers. She had been told to leave several times and kept coming back. The last time, she went into the kitchen area and caused a scene.

10:19 p.m.: Andrew T. Trampke, 31, of the 500 block of West Second Street, was arrested in the 700 block of East Broadway Boulevard on a charge of stealing. An off-duty officer saw the subject put candy, over-the-counter medication and other merchandise, combined value of $83.40, into the lining of his coat.

July 21

2:06 a.m.: Alexandria M. Bates, 32, of Lincoln, was arrested in the 3400 block of South Limit Avenue on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

2:20 a.m.: Brandon W. Meadows, 31, of the 3500 block of South Park Avenue, was arrested at his residence on a charge of third degree domestic assault. Officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance with injuries. The victim said a man known to her assaulted her, then fled the area. She sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The man was located a short time later and denied the allegations and had no injuries.

Incidents

July 19

1:31 a.m.: A sex crime was reported in the 500 block of Sunset Drive.

6:10 a.m.: A hit-and-run vehicle accident was reported in front of a residence in the 900 block of Sue Lane.

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