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”
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:
Treece, Buffaloe see bright future with new COU terminal
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
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.
Wooldridge residents and state lawmaker say rebuilding church is symbolic
A state lawmaker with more than 30 years of fire experience has never seen a blaze like last Saturday’s wildfire that destroyed 23 structures in mid-Missouri’s rural Wooldridge.
State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed), who represents Wooldridge in the Missouri House, helped fight the fire. He tells 939 the Eagle that the heat was intense.
“If you look around, you’ll see the pools of molten, they’re cool now but pools of molten aluminum. And that just shows you how hot this fire got,” Taylor says.
The state Department of Public Safety (DPS) says the cause of the fire remains under investigation. While the fire damaged between 3,000 and 4,000 acres of land in Cooper County, there were no fatalities nor serious injuries.
Meantime, townspeople and churchgoers in mid-Missouri’s Wooldridge have started efforts to rebuild the historic church that was damaged in the fire. Much of the church was boarded-up when Governor Mike Parson and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) toured the damage last week. Representative Taylor joined them.
“I look at it as a symbol for this community, right. A cornerstone here to show the rebuilding right here is a good sign,” says Taylor.
The fire’s cause is still under investigation. Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) tells 939 the Eagle that the Wooldridge recovery will be an issue that state lawmakers will address when they return to Jefferson City in January.
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