Cooper County | 98.3 The Dove

Missouri’s Senate leader optimistic about funding for Wooldridge

January 31, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The massive October 22, 2022 blaze in rural Wooldridge burned about 3,000 acres (file photo from 939 the Eagle listener Stephen McBee)

Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem has met with Governor Mike Parson’s chief of staff to discuss possible state assistance for fire-damaged Wooldridge.

State Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) is optimistic. The October blaze destroyed at least 23 structures in Wooldridge, damaging at least 3,000 acres of land in the rural Cooper County village.

“You know, kind of the ongoing trying to figure out ways to plug in resources that are available when it makes sense and where it makes sense,” Rowden says.

There were no fatalities nor serious injuries in the October fire, a point both Governor Mike Parson and Senator Rowden have emphasized. Pro Tem Rowden joined the governor and State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) during a late October tour of Wooldridge. Smoke permeated the air that day.

Senate President Pro Tem Rowden tells 939 the Eagle’s “Randy Tobler show” that he discussed Wooldridge this month with Governor Mike Parson’s chief of staff, Aaron Willard.

“You know part of it is just an uncertainty at this point as to exactly in some cases what the need is, who’s going to rebuild who’s not. You know, how you tap into dollars for that purpose. You know there’s community-wide dollars potentially available for certain types of kind of revitalization,” Rowden says.

Senator Rowden says part of the struggle is fully understanding what Wooldridge residents want the community to look like. Rowden says Wooldridge residents are resilient.

At least 28 Tolton students to spend Monday cleaning up fire-damaged Wooldridge

November 21, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs reporters and residents in front of the fire-damaged Wooldridge church on October 26, 2022 (file photo courtesy of the Governor’s Facebook page)

More than two dozen students at Columbia’s Tolton Catholic high school will travel to rural Wooldridge on Monday morning to help clean up the fire-damaged community. An October wildlife destroyed at least 23 structures in Wooldridge, which is in Cooper County. It also damaged at least 3,000 acres of land.

Tolton high school dean of academics Tim Scherrer says today’s cleanup is an opportunity to help residents who’ve been devastated by the blaze.

“And with all the needs that are down in the community of Wooldridge, we thought it would be a good opportunity to give back to the community with a spirit of the holidays. So we’re calling it Toltonsgiving,” Scherrer says.

Mr. Scherrer says 41 people have already signed up. That includes 29 students, three alums, six parents and three staff members. Today’s cleanup will begin at about noon and will primarily involve cleaning up properties and placing debris into trucks and dumpsters.

Mr. Scherrer tells 939 the Eagle that it’s the first time Tolton students have had the full Thanksgiving week off.

“I think we would have more people come but some have already planned to go out of town. And we’ve got staff that have already planned vacations and they’ve earned that. But for people who are here in town, this is what the school is all about. It’s about being thankful and giving to others,” says Scherrer.

Participants will be wearing work gloves and closed toe shoes. State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) tells 939 the Eagle that he’s elated that Tolton students will be in Wooldridge today, saying it will help immensely. Taylor says there’s a lot of work to be done, noting many of the town’s residents are older.

Missouri lawmakers will tackle Wooldridge recovery in January, Rowden says

October 28, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

At least 23 structures in the Wooldridge area were destroyed by Saturday’s massive blaze. Governor Parson toured the damage on October 26, 2022 (photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

The state Senate Majority Leader describes Saturday’s massive fire in mid-Missouri’s Wooldridge as gut-wrenching and heartbreaking.

The village of Wooldridge in eastern Cooper County is located in the district of powerful Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia). Rowden toured the fire damage with the governor this week.

“You know people who have worked hard to get to the point that they have gotten in life. And for it to just be taken away in just a few moments, in moments that they don’t have any control over. It’s bad in any situation, it certainly hits a little closer to home when it’s folks that you know and represent,” Rowden told a 939 the Eagle reporter this week, during a tour of the devastated town.

The blaze destroyed at least 23 structures in Wooldridge, damaging at least 3,000 acres of land in the county. There were no fatalities nor serious injuries, a point Governor Mike Parson and Rowden have emphasized.

Leader Rowden indicates the Wooldridge recovery will be an issue that state lawmakers will address when they return to Jefferson City in January.

“We don’t know exactly what the recovery is going to look like. There is going to be multiple pieces of it, there’s going to be multiple agencies both at the executive level and at the legislative level. So I think we’ve got to figure out what the right kind of recovery looks like, and then figure out a way to resource that path,” Rowden tells 939 the Eagle.

He emphasizes that Wooldridge residents are resilient.

Governor Parson, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville), Senator Rowden and State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) spoke to impacted residents, townspeople, farmers and to the American Red Cross during this week’s tour. Smoke permeated the air everywhere, and you could see smoke still rising from some of the burned-out vehicles.

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 …

Boone and Cole counties included in Missouri governor’s drought order

July 22, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor has signed an executive order declaring a drought alert for 53 counties in southern and mid-Missouri, including Boone, Cole and Cooper counties. Governor Mike Parson tells Capitol reporters that a drought in July can literally mean financial loss or ruin for Missouri’s farm families. “Missouri farmers are already facing high fertilizer costs, unprecedented …