U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) has been working with the Missouri Propane Gas Association and with Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office regarding the sudden closing of Gygr-Gas. Congressman Luetkemeyer tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the closing left some of his mid-Missouri constituents without propane, during winter and Christmas. The congressman is also praising Governor Mike Parson’s executive order regarding Gygr. That order allows other propane companies to fill the tanks of Gygr customers:
Mid-Missouri lawmaker: Boonville’s Gygr-Gas has left “everybody out in the cold”
Missouri’s governor has signed an executive order aimed at helping several thousand customers of Boonville’s Gygr-Gas get propane in their tanks for the winter.
Governor Mike Parson is blasting the company, which is liquidating and is not answering calls from its customers. State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) tells 939 the Eagle that Gygr has ceased all operations.
“They’ve left everybody high and dry out in the cold, for lack of a better word. The employees have been let go. I know one that’s almost had 20 years of service with them,” Taylor says.
Current state law only allows propane tanks owned by one company to fill the tanks. The governor’s executive order waives that, noting this is a unique situation that requires immediate action.
At least five rural Missouri residents have already filed complaints with the state attorney general’s office against Boonville’s Gygr-Gas. Gygr has not been filling customers’ propane tanks, and many customers have little propane left in their tanks with this cold snap happening. Representative Taylor tells 939 the Eagle that 6,000 customers in 48 Missouri counties are impacted.
A frustrated Taylor met with Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office this week, and says no one can reach the company’s owners.
“When we were there at that conference call (in Jefferson City), the owner lives in St. Louis. So it literally got to the point where the people on the phone happened to be in St. Louis and they were going to try knocking doors to find this owner,” says Taylor.
Anyone who wants to file a complaint with the attorney general’s office should call 1-800-392-8222. The Missouri Propane Gas Association is working with customers to try to get their tanks filled. The association is encouraging customers to file complaints with the attorney general’s office.
Missing Ashland teen reunited with her family
While they can’t release many details, Ashland Police say missing teen Emilee Dubes returned home early Friday morning. The 15-year-old had been missing since December 4. Ashland Police chief Gabe Edwards says Emilee returned home at about 1 am. He posted a Facebook video this morning.
“Emilee appeared healthy and uninjured and she confirmed she was not abducted or harmed. Due to the sensitive nature of this case, we’ll be unable to release any further information,” Chief Edwards says.
Chief Edwards tells 939 the Eagle that entire shifts were spent on this case, for about 12 days. He says his officers have focused almost exclusively on locating Emilee, since she went missing.
“I also want to thank the numerous agencies across the country that assisted in our investigation. Including the Boone County Sheriff’s office, the Boone County juvenile office, the Fulton Missouri police department, the Holts Summit police department, the Callaway County Sheriffs office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri attorney general’s office, the Fulton Illinois police department, the Columbus Georgia police department, and last, but not least, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” says Edwards.
Chief Edwards is proud of his officers, and says the community shares that pride. Ashland-area residents held a candlelight vigil for Emilee on Wednesday.
UPDATE: Governor Parson says mid-Missouri’s Gygr-Gas has closed
Missouri’s governor confirms that Boonville’s Gygr-Gas has closed, leaving several thousand rural Missourians without propane with winter and Christmas approaching.
Governor Mike Parson (R) has signed a one-page executive order, which will allow other companies to fill current Gygr-Gas tanks. State law prohibits propane tanks owned by one company to be filled by a different company. The governor’s executive order pre-empts that.
“While that state law is important for safety standards, this is a unique situation that requires immediate action. Gygr-Gas has left its customers without proper recourse, but we won’t. We are issuing this executive order to ensure that former Gygr-Gas customers can keep their homes heated and families warm this winter and holiday season. We know this is a busy time of year for many propane providers, but we encourage them to do all they can to help Missourians abandoned by Gygr-Gas,” Governor Parson says, in a written statement.
The Missouri Propane Gas Association has been encouraging customers of Boonville’s Gygr Gas to contact the state attorney general’s office to file a complaint or to seek restitution. Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s spokesman, Chris Nuelle, tells 939 the Eagle that their office has received five complaints about Gygr-Gas. Mr. Nuelle encourages anyone with a complaint to contact AG Schmitt’s office. You can submit a report online or you can call 1-800-392-8222.
The Propane Gas Association says the attorney general’s office and the Missouri Propane Safety Commission are investigating, now that the company is not answering its phone. 939 the Eagle News has called Gygr-Gas Boonville headquarters and calls go to a voicemail. They’re not being returned at this time.
State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) tells 939 the Eagle that Gygr employees tell him they’ve all been let go. Taylor has been on conference calls with Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) and with the governor’s office as well. Many of Taylor’s constituents are customers of Gygr, and says they need propane during this cold week. Taylor says Gygr was a solid company until it sold to out-of-towners a few years ago.