Jefferson City administrator Brian Crane has been on the job for about a month-and-a-half, moving back to his hometown after serving as Moberly’s city manager. Mr. Crane joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” to discuss his priorities, which include a conference center and residential housing. Mr. Crane supports the proposed conference center site near Madison’s Cafe and says it’s the right time, right place and right team. He also says Jefferson City’s hotels are struggling and need more conventions and convention space. Mr. Crane says their occupancy rate is in the mid to high 40s, adding it needs to be around 60 percent:
(LISTEN): Jefferson City administrator Brian Crane discusses conference center and other priorities on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Jefferson City administrator Brian Crane has been on the job for about a month-and-a-half, moving back to his hometown after serving as Moberly’s city manager. Mr. Crane joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” to discuss his priorities, which include a conference center and residential housing. Mr. Crane supports the proposed conference center site near Madison’s Cafe and says it’s the right time, right place and right team. He also says Jefferson City’s hotels are struggling and need more conventions and convention space. Mr. Crane says their occupancy rate is in the mid to high 40s, adding it needs to be around 60 percent:
Record-setting food drive at Mizzou benefiting MU students and residents in 32 Missouri counties
Hungry residents in Columbia, Jefferson City, Fulton and in 32 counties served by our food bank now have nutritious food, thanks to a record-breaking canned good drive from the Mizzou Homecoming Steering Committee.
MU senior Jonathan Jain, the Mizzou Homecoming tri-director, says they brought in about 132,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. He says that’s the record for the largest food drive ever held in Columbia for the food bank. The Tiger Pantry on Mizzou’s campus is one of the beneficiaries of the drive.
“We knew we wanted to break some records this Homecoming, and we shattered them. Homecoming is all about traditions, and improving our tradition of addressing food insecurity was a major focus this year,” Mr. Jain says, in a statement.
He notes Mizzou’s student organizations brought in almost 100,000 cans alone on September 29 for the “Tiger Food Fight” canned food drive. The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri partners with food pantries, schools, soup kitchens and shelters, including the Tiger Pantry. Columbia, Jefferson City, Fulton, Moberly, Mexico and Hannibal are all served by the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.
Jain describes seeing all of the canned goods in the Food Bank’s warehouse as one of the most incredible experiences that he’s ever had.
(LISTEN): Missouri Congressman Graves focusing on transportation, railroad crossings and federal employees
A northern Missouri congressman whose district includes Moberly and Mexico predicts the massive I-70 expansion construction project will increase traffic on Highway 36.
Many truckers use 36, which runs across north Missouri from Hannibal all the way to St. Joseph. Powerful U.S. House Transportation Committee chair Sam Graves (R-Tarkio), says he’s like have some federal funding to help his district prepare.
“When we start expanding I-70, that’s going to route a lot of traffic up across (Highway) 36 and it could come right on up through the Moberly area as well. So we want to be ready for that when that time comes”
The budget recently signed by Missouri’s governor provides $2.8 billion to rebuild I-70 and expand it to six lanes. Congressman Graves has been a supporter of the I-70 project.
The approximately $50-billion budget signed by the Governor Mike Parson (R) also contains $60-million for railroad crossing safety improvements. That’s been a top priority for Congressman Graves, who says a grade crossing design near Mendon contributed to last summer’s horrific deadly collision between an Amtrak train and a dump truck.
“The angle was, as it turns out, was too great for that particular crossing. And then the grade was much higher than what’s recommended when it comes. We know the truck driver didn’t stop when he got to the top (of the hill). But I understand that too in a truck, it’s really hard to stop and then try to get it started back up again if you’re loaded,” says Graves.
The 2022 collision killed three Amtrak passengers and dump truck driver Billy Barton II. 146 passengers and crew were also injured. The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) 16-page report says the steepness of the road grade at the Mendon crossing was 13 times the maximum slope recommended by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
Congressman Graves also says it’s time for federal employees to return to work in-person. The issue came up during Friday afternoon’s meeting between Congressman Graves, city manager Brian Crane, community leaders, first responders and residents. He tells Moberly-area residents that only eight to 19 percent of federal employees in some agencies are working in federal buildings. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that it’s time to sell those buildings, if that continues.
“If you’re not going to show up for work, then we’ll sell the building. And of course they don’t like that at all. But that’s the hammer that I’m using to try to get them to come back to work. It’s just ridiculous that we can’t get federal employees to come back to work in these agencies. And it’s creating a problem whether you’re trying to get your passport done or you’re working on a project or something like that and you can’t get anybody to return your call because they’re not at work. It’s a huge problem,” Congressman Graves says.
He says the American people are tired of backlogs and unanswered phone calls. He also says unions oppose the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) plan to have FAA employees in the office at least three days a week, starting in October.
Another topic that came up from an audience member was a proposed animal waste lagoon in Cairo, which is a small town north of Moberly. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that the proposed lagoon is a state issue, not a federal one.
“The last thing you want, I’m always very careful with (the) federal government coming in on things like that. Because when the federal government … when they come in or rule or you give them jurisdiction, it’s like taking an axe to do an operation that you should be doing with a scalpel,” says Graves.
A group called “Citizens of Randolph County Against Pollution”, known as CRAP, is rallying against the proposal. Our news partner KMIZ reports more than 100 citizens showed up at a recent public meeting hosted by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about the proposal.
Mid-Missouri’s flood watch expires; more storms expected tonight
While the flood watch for the entire 939 the Eagle listening area has now expired, there are two flood warnings that remain in effect in mid-Missouri. They are Randolph and Howard counties, which include Moberly and Fayette. The two warnings expire at 12:37 pm.
National Weather Service (NWS) St. Louis meteorologist Lydia JaJa tells 939 the Eagle that Columbia has received 1.01 inches of rain since midnight, while Sanborn field has received 1.43 inches of rain. Ms. JaJa says the small town of Murry reports three inches of rain. Murry is northeast of Columbia.
The ground remains saturated, and more storms are expected tonight and tomorrow across the listening area. Keep your radio tuned to 939 the Eagle for updated forecast information.
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