Monroe County | 98.3 The Dove

(LISTEN): Mid-Missouri lawmaker predicts I-70 expansion plan will save lives

August 25, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A state lawmaker who represents three mid-Missouri counties says the massive I-70 expansion project is critical to his district. State Rep. Kent Haden (R-Mexico) represents Audrain, Callaway and Monroe counties.

“Big, big, big for our area. Like I say, our commerce goes down (Interstate 70). I mean, it’s just a big deal. And I’m so thankful that we got it done, so thankful,” Haden says.

Representative Haden has lost hospitals in Mexico and in Fulton and he says that people die if I-70 is clogged. Haden, who chairs the House Healthcare Reform Committee, predicts the I-70 expansion plan will save lives.

“It’s an important aspect for all of the state and all of the country. But in my district, this is a lifeblood. This will save a lot of lives,” says Haden.

Governor Mike Parson has signed bipartisan legislation allocating $2.8 billion in funding to six-lane and rebuild I-70 from St. Louis to Kansas City. The project will begin with the Columbia to Kingdom City stretch.

(LISTEN): Boone Electric Cooperative general manager Todd Culley appears on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”

August 20, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia-based Boone Electric Cooperative was Missouri’s first electric coop. It was formed in 1936 as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Rural Electrification Administration. Boone Electric today has more than 28,000 individual accounts that serve about 36,000 meters. While most of its members are in Boone County, they also have members in Audrain, Callaway, Howard, Monroe and Randolph counties. Boone Electric general manager and chief executive officer Todd Culley joined 939 the Eagle host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on Saturday morning’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Culley outlined the importance of their new $29-million corporate headquarters on Columbia’s Rangeline and they also discussed Columbia’s power plant on the Business Loop, which Mr. Culley says is no longer burning coal. Mr. Culley also says no new power plants are being built on the system, and he warns about potential large rolling blackouts across parts of the country in the next few years:

Weekend Columbia crash kills motorcyclist

July 10, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A mid-Missouri motorcyclist has been killed in a weekend collision on St. Charles road in east Columbia.

The Columbia Police Department identifies the victim as 48-year-old Cory Peterson of Paris, Missouri. Paris is located in Monroe County, east of Moberly.

CPD’s Facebook post says Saturday afternoon’s crash happened at about 3:50 on St. Charles near Richland road. There is a big curve near that location. Investigators say Mr. Peterson was driving his motorcycle southbound on St. Charles road near Richland when he apparently failed to negotiate a corner and crashed into a vehicle that was traveling northbound.

Peterson, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

CPD’s investigation is continuing.

(AUDIO): Boone Electric Cooperative encourages other businesses to invest on Columbia’s Business Loop

May 15, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s first rural electric cooperative says they’re committed to staying at Columbia’s Rangeline and Business Loop intersection.

Boone Electric Cooperative recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new $29-million headquarters facility. It’s located just south of I-70.

“We’re committed long term. The board (of directors) made that clear several years ago when they made this decision that we are committed to this community, and what a better way to show it as to put this investment right in the middle of it,” Boone Electric general manager Todd Culley tells 939 the Eagle.

He hopes other companies will invest in the area around the Business Loop.

“So we are part of the beautification and improvement efforts that are going to continue around the Business Loop and I-70 area here for the next decade or so. And we hope that others look at the example that we have provided and follow suit,” Culley says.

Mr. Culley says the new cooperative campus will serve the area for decades to come. The new campus has three community rooms for the public to use. Culley encourages anyone who wants to reserve the rooms to call (573) 449-4181 or to check their website. Boone Electric has more than 30,000 members in a six county area: Boone, Audrain, Callaway, Howard, Monroe and Randolph.

(AUDIO): Boone Electric’s leader praises mid-Missouri contractors and workers for $29-million headquarters project

April 28, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce ambassadors prepare to cut the ribbon on the $29-million Boone Electric headquarters building on April 26, 2023. Photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

The chief executive officer of Boone Electric Cooperative publicly thanked his employees during this week’s ribbon-cutting for the Co-op’s $29-million new headquarters building. It’s on Columbia’s Rangeline, just south of I-70.

“Running a utility is a 24-7-365 operation. And then in addition to that, we had to disperse our employees in a different location while we built the project. And then in addition to that, we had the pandemic that happened,” Boone Electric general manager Todd Culley says.

Mr. Culley tells 939 the Eagle that the new cooperative campus will serve the area for decades to come. Boone Electric has more than 30,000 members in a six county area: Boone, Audrain, Callaway, Howard, Monroe and Randolph.

The new headquarters has three community rooms for the public to use. Offering those rooms is important to Boone Electric general manager Todd Culley.

“There are conditions for that use, but it’s made to serve the community for decades to come and we encourage people to come check it out,” Culley says.

Mr. Culley encourages anyone who wants to reserve the rooms to call (573) 449-4181 or check their website, which is booneelectric.coop.

He’s praising the work of Columbia-based Coil Construction in overseeing the project. Mr. Culley says Coil executives did a fabulous job during and after the pandemic.

“And from the very beginning, I told Randy (Coil) that I know I can trust you. I’ve seen the work that you’ve done in the community and central Missouri for years. And he just proved himself again,” says Culley.

Mr. Culley tells 939 the Eagle that there were more than 400 employees on the project, along with 57 contractors. He says about 90 percent of the contractors were from mid-Missouri.