Cole County | 98.3 The Dove

Key Missouri lawmaker expects movement next week on state employee pay raise plan

February 2, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri House Budget Committee Chair Cody Smith (R-Carthage) listens to a colleague speak on September 28, 2022 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Missouri’s House Budget Committee chair is optimistic about Governor Parson’s proposed 8.7 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all state employees.

Governor Mike Parson (R) has called on state lawmakers to approve that by March 1, so the increase is included in the paychecks of state employees starting on March 31. The pay raise plan was a key part of the governor’s January State of the State address. House Budget Committee chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) tells 939 the Eagle that his committee is working that bill through their process, adding that he expects that we’ll see it start to move early next week.

The governor’s pay raise is contained in a $151-million supplemental budget request.

Governor Parson says there are currently about 7,000 open positions in state government, describing his pay plan as an attempt by state government to stay competitive with the market. More than 14,000 state employees work in Cole County, making state government Jefferson City’s largest employer.

Commerce bank one for one food drive with Zimmer Communications in mid-Missouri has raised at least $65,000

December 15, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri serves 32 counties, including Boone and Cole (December 14, 2022 Columbia Mall photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

While final numbers are still being calculated, Wednesday’s 16^th annual Commerce Bank one for one food drive with Zimmer Communications has raised more than $65,000. That word from Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri president Lindsay Lopez, who spoke to 939 the Eagle this morning in-studio. Additional donations are still being tabulated.

The food bank serves 32 counties, including Boone, Cole and Callaway counties and virtually all of the counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area. Ms. Lopez says the food bank is now spending three times more on food than pre-pandemic.

Zimmer Communications was live Wednesday from 6 am to 6 pm at Columbia Mall and at the Buchheit on Jefferson City’s Missouri Boulevard. Ms. Lopez says residents also donated five thousand pounds of food.

“We’ve seen just steady traffic and the generosity of this community just like every year continues to amaze me,” Lopez says.

Lopez is thanking you for your generosity, saying one in seven Missourians are experiencing food insecurity.

“So we’re serving on average 15,000 more people each month than we were compared with 2021. And so you can see that, you know, lots and lots of need out there. Our expenses are three times what they once were. Food prices and gas, other transportation costs,” she says.

Lopez says Boone County continues to see increasing hunger needs. She says more than 3,700 Boone County families who didn’t receive assistance in 2021 needed help this year.

$8-million campaign is launched to build new Christian Academy school in Jefferson City

October 4, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

This is a rendering of what Jefferson City’s new $8.3 million River Oak Christian Academy school will look like (rendering courtesy of River Oak Christian Academy development director Travis Reynders)

Saying the school has outgrown its current location capacity, Jefferson City-area parents and educators are trying to raise $8.3 million to build a new River Oak Christian Academy.

Former Mizzou quarterback and former Jefferson City Jay star Kirk Farmer, who chairs the capital campaign, says enrollment has accelerated. Farmer tells 939 the Eagle that there’s a growing demand for Christian education in Jefferson City.

“We’ve got 140 students, we’re at max (maximum) capacity and we’re having to turn away kids,” Farmer says.

River Oak Christian Academy was founded in 2006. It’s a non-denominational Christian school and serves students from Cole, Callaway and Moniteau counties whose parents are active in more than 30 area churches.

“We are going to try to build a new school for these kids and really turn this program, River Oak Christian Academy, into a legitimate elementary school with a nice campus where kids can call their home,” says Farmer.

River Oak Christian Academy is located on Jefferson City’s Wildwood drive: it currently serves students from pre-kindergarten to seventh grade. Farmer says the new school will be built on 15 acres of land that’s been pledged to the school.

“And I think, Jefferson City, I think the demand is there to have really good education not only in the public schools because I do believe in a good public education. But also in these private schools too,” Farmer says.

River Oak Christian Academy is opening enrollment for eighth grade in January, to round out the middle school expansion.

Toys for Tots celebrates 75th anniversary; a famous Missourian designed its logo

September 16, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (right) presents a proclamation to
retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant Jon Morgan, who’s the assistant coordinator of Jefferson City’s Toys for Tots chapter (September 14, 2022 photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s governor is praising the legacy and impact of the popular Toys for Tots program, which is celebrating its 75^th anniversary.

Governor Mike Parson presented a proclamation this week to retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant Jon Morgan, who’s the assistant coordinator of Jefferson City’s Toys for Tots chapter. Morgan’s nickname is “Master Klaus”, and he conducts community toy collection drives for needy children in Cole, Miller, Maries and Moniteau counties.

Toys for Tots distributes about 18-million toys to seven-million less fortunate children annually across the nation. Its website says that since 1947, it has distributed 627-million toys to 281-million children.

The popular program has Missouri ties.

Toys for Tots began in 1947 as the idea from Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, who was also the public relations director at Warner Brothers Studios and knew many celebrities. As a personal favor to his friend Bill, Marceline Missouri’s Walt Disney designed the first Toys for Tots poster that had the miniature three-car train. That is still on the Toys for Tots logo. Governor Parson praises the impact from Toys for Tots.

Missouri drought relief details could be announced today

July 25, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s Soil and Water Conservation Commission has called a special meeting for today (Monday) to consider aid for drought-impacted farmers and ranchers. Governor Mike Parson has issued an executive order, declaring a drought alert. Central Missouri’s Boone, Cole and Cooper counties are just a few of the 53 counties named by the governor in …