U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler

Missouri congresswoman questioning management of wildlife refuge near Wooldridge fire scene

November 28, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville), right, tours fire-damaged Wooldridge with Missouri Governor Mike Parson, state Department of Public Safety deputy director Kevin Bond and first responders on October 26, 2022 (photo courtesy of Congresswoman Hartzler’s website)

The congresswoman who represents fire-damaged Wooldridge in Cooper County has questions for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about how they’ve managed the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

The October blaze destroyed 23 structures in Wooldridge and burned more than 3,000 acres. That includes some land in the Big Muddy. Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that she will hold a conference call soon with Fish and Wildlife representatives.

“I heard that day criticism that there had not been managing it according to what they believe were the standards of burning off that tall grass every three years. So we’ve been trying to get answers of really what is the policy. Are they required to burn it every three years and did they or did they not,” Hartzler says.

Hartzler says she’s thankful for the more than 50 fire departments that battled the blaze. Some firefighters came from as far away as St. Charles County and the Lake of the Ozarks.

Meantime, Congresswoman Hartzler is praising mid-Missouri churches for offering to donate a new organ and piano to the historic Wooldridge church damaged in the late October wildfire. She says church officials are still assessing damage.

“It was absolutely a beautiful, historic church built in around 1905. And there’s just so much history there. So from what I’ve read, there is still hope that it will be able to be fully restored,” says Hartzler.

Hartzler says the church’s stain glass windows were saved. She’s confident that Wooldridge will bounce back from the blaze.

(AUDIO): U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) discusses Thanksgiving and Wooldridge fire on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

November 23, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Outgoing U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) is finishing her sixth and final term on Capitol Hill, after her unsuccessful Senate run in August. Congresswoman Hartzler joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning, saying she’s thankful on this Thanksgiving for her family and for her constituents for electing her six times. She also spoke in-detail about the massive October Wooldridge wildfire, saying she has questions for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about how they handled tall grass at the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge:

(AUDIO): U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) discusses Thanksgiving and Wooldridge fire on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

November 23, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Treece, Buffaloe see bright future with new COU terminal

November 17, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (right) visits with former Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and others at the October 18, 2022 ribbon-cutting for COU’s $23-million new terminal (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

A former Columbia mayor describes Columbia Regional Airport’s (COU) $23-million new terminal as a six-year project that culminated with the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony and first flight.

Former Mayor Brian Treece is proud of this project.

“It’s really due to no small part to the partnership between local, state and federal government, our two U.S. Senators, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) but also MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) and the taxpayers of Columbia,” Mr. Treece says.

Treece tells 939 the Eagle that his first vote in April 2016 was one asking voters to increase a hotel tax for economic development. Columbia voters approved that 2016 hotel tax, and it’s the new terminal’s main funding source. He says the new terminal is better than you can imagine. Treece notes the new terminal is 52,000 square feet, compared to the 16,000 square foot terminal that was built in 1968.

“And it really dramatizes how tired our current and now former (COU) terminal is. And what a great front porch this is going to make for the University of Missouri, for people that are visiting Columbia for the first time to see family or friends or visit a doctor. Or to maybe locate a new business here or send their daughter or son to college here,” says Treece.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson predicts the new terminal will help make Columbia a top medical destination. Current Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe agrees. She describes COU’s new terminal as eye-opening.

“So we have the opportunity here already with our regional medical destination but also we have the research that’s now happening with the University of Missouri Health Care System to bring people in from other states, other cities to come here. So we do have that potential,” Treece says.

COU will use the old terminal to house car rental counters until the project’s second phase is finished.

West-central Missouri Democratic congressional candidate is self-funding his campaign

November 4, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Lamar Democrat Jack Truman stands outside former President Harry Truman’s birthplace in southwest Missouri’s Lamar in 2022 (photo courtesy of candidate Jack Truman)

West-central Missouri’s sprawling fourth congressional district hasn’t sent a Democrat to Capitol Hill in 14 years. That’s when the late U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Lexington) won his final term in 2008.

Lamar Democrat Jack Truman believes he can win Tuesday’s election in the heavily-Republican district. The 57-year-old Truman tells 939 the Eagle that times are difficult across the rural district.

“Financially people are having to watch their pennies. And inflation and the economy is one of my top issues,” Truman says.

Mr. Truman says the regular person is having difficulty now just surviving, citing the cost of gasoline, food, rent, utilities and more. He’s self-funding his campaign and has been traveling across the sprawling 24-county district. He says there several other key issues that voters want to see addressed.

“Protecting our children, a woman’s right to choose, the economy, gun control, the environment,” says Truman.

He’ll face GOP nominee Mark Alford on Tuesday. Alford is a veteran Kansas City television new anchor.

The district includes parts of Columbia, Hallsville, Centralia and Sedalia. The district has only had two congressional representatives since 1977: Skelton from 1977-2010 and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) from 2011 to today. Hartzler gave up her House seat to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.