Prize winner
Jon Mund, co-chair of the Milnor, N.D., 125th Celebration Committee, presents the Henry “Big Boy” 44 Magnum 125th commemorative rifle to Bob Rowles, Tipton, Mo. Rowles came to the celebration in Milnor, held July 18-20, with his wife, Judy, and wife’s parents, Elmer and Dorotha Nelson, Bunceton. Elmer Nelson, who was born in 1920, grew up and lived near Milnor until he went into the army in 1943. (Photo courtesy of The Sargent County Teller)
Catalog shopping
Leroy Knipp looks at specials in a sale circular with Derek Tuttle during customer appreciation day at Tuttle's NAPA Automotive Wednesday, July 23. A crowd attended the event which featured a free lunch of brisket and hot dogs, special deals and a tool sale.
Mid-Mo reviews health insurance bids
by Becky Holloway
Health insurance bids were received from two agencies and reviewed by the Mid-Mo Ambulance District Board during a meeting Wednesday, July 23 at the district office in Tipton. The meeting had been postponed from its regular time due to lack of a quorum and then illness of the administrator.
Bids were received from Ozark Regional, Tipton, and Wallstreet Group, Jefferson City. Both bid a plan through United Healthcare, one of the companies quoted by Wallstreet.
Ronnie Staggs of Wallstreet, which has carried the district’s employees the last several years, presented the renewal rates through the current carrier, Anthem Blue Cross, as well as several other options. The rates for the current plan increased 17 percent for the new year which begins Sept. 1.
Staggs highlighted three other Anthem options, as well as three from Mercy, two from United Healthcare and one each from GHP, John Alden and Principal. Quotes from the other companies came in considerably lower than Anthem’s, however Staggs said those companies would increase their rates after underwriting, possibly by as much as 75 percent. Due to continual increases by Anthem, employees completed applications for Mercy and those will also be presented to the companies that will underwrite using Mercy’s applications.
Staggs said he expects final figures by the August meeting at which time the board plans to make a decision concerning employee health insurance.
The board studied plans and preliminary specifications for a five-bay metal garage at the new Versailles property. One of the bays will include a wash pit where the ambulances can be pressure washed.
Board Chairman Earl Reuter will finalize the specifications and bids will be requested on building the garage in the very near future. Administrator Lee Kempf said he would like for the district to relocate its Versailles base to the property east of town before cold weather to avoid another winter of high heat bills.
While reviewing bills and payroll Kempf pointed out the $5,300 bill for outfitting the quick response vehicle with lights and radio. He said the only other thing to complete the unit is vinyl detailing in Mid-Mo’s colors.
Supervisor Jason Elliott reported the Aquapalooza event at Gravois Mills on the Lake of the Ozarks went well. He said he had two crews working the major boating event that previously caused the emergency responders some apprehension concerning access. One crew staffed an ambulance while the other worked first aid with the Gravois Fire officials. He said they made 11 patient contacts, the most serious being an event participant who overheated. The rest were for minor medical needs such as cuts, etc.
Aaron Fassler, who holds the contract for mowing the helipad east of town, asked for and received clarification concerning his job duties and rate of pay. He bid $50 per mowing and has been mowing about ever two weeks. That was recently increased by Mid-Mo to $55 due to the rising cost of fuel. Administrator Kempf said he should continue as he has unless told differently by himself, Elliott or board member Dan Brand to do otherwise.
Kempf presented statistics on the June run volume as follows: Tipton, 46 calls with 34 transports; California, 77 calls, 48 transports; and Versailles, 144 calls with 96 transports. Total calls districtwide were 267 with 178 transports for a transport rate of nearly 67 percent.
The board’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13 at the office in Tipton.
Times set for picking up class schedules
Tipton High School students enjoying summer vacation will soon have to think about going back to school. One of the first tasks is getting their class schedules and Counselor Cheryl Knipp has announced the times for pickup of schedules.
Seniors and juniors will pick up their schedules on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Schedules for sophomores and freshmen will be available Wednesday, Aug. 6, and seventh and eighth graders will pick up class schedules on Thursday Aug. 7.
The high school office will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the above days to accommodate students.
An orientation for all seventh graders and their parents will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 in the school cafeteria.
Orientation for freshmen and their parents will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 in the cafeteria.
The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 18.
The Tipton Times will publish its 2008-09 Back to School special section with the Aug. 7 issue.
CCHS to meet at depot Aug. 10
The next meeting of the Cooper County Historical Society will be held Sunday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. at the newly-reconstructed train depot in Blackwater, located by the tracks at the foot of Main St.
David Murphy, director of the Missouri Conservation Federation, will tell about its work. The MCF was one of the first conservation organizations in the United States. Headquartered in Jefferson City, the MCF works in close cooperation with the Department of Conservation in the management of Missouri game, fish and other natural resources, according the Federation. Recognized for years as knowledgeable and as articulate spokesmen for the entire state, the Federation staff and its individual members frequently give their views on bills pending before the legislature, on actions of resource management leaders and on activities bearing upon lands, forests, waterways or environment.
Refreshments will be served after the program. Everyone is welcome.
Chamber sets Sept. 18 for next social
The Tipton Chamber of Commerce is looking ahead to its next function, the annual fall social held as part of a progressive hayride.
Set for Thursday, Sept. 18, the hayride will stop at three locations where heavy hors d’oeuvres, salads and dessert will be enjoyed. Businesses willing to host one of the stops are asked to call Chamber President Mark Koechner at 433-2178.
The chamber met Thursday, July 17 at Karen’s Place for lunch and heard reports on recent activities.
Treasurer Calen Bestgen said $950 profit from A Taste of Tipton was deposited in the chamber’s scholarship account and checks will be dispersed on behalf of scholarship recipients Rachel Backes and Jill Beyers. The remaining funds will be placed in a 10-month certificate of deposit for a better interest rate.
Koechner reported the list of paid Chamber members will be compared with a list of business license holders. A plan for recruiting to Chamber membership those nonmembers will be developed.
Koechner said the Moniteau County Regional Economic Development Council continues to assist with the relocation of the Missouri Baptist Convention to California, and Cargill is expanding by 150 jobs in addition to making improvements to its physical plant. He said MRED’s next focus will be on a business and industry retention program.
Commenting on Sesquicentennial events, Koechner said, “I’ve heard a lot of great compliments about the parade and the outside media coverage has really put us out there. It’s been nice to see the participation by the community at all the events; it’s been a very positive week.”
A rundown on the events happening for the rest of the week was given.
The chamber’s next regular meeting will be at noon on Thursday, Aug. 21 at Bobbio’s Eatery.
