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You may remember a story that ran on KMEM years ago when residents took advantage of a housing rehabilitation grant.  That was in 2004, and now some of that money has become available to assist residents with ongoing cleanup efforts.

Originally, more than four hundred thousand dollars was funded through a Community Development Block Grant as part of the Federal Neighborhood Development Program administered through the Missouri Department of Economic Development through the Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission.

Over the years the funding was utilized to rehab low and moderate income level housing.  Now that the housing rehabilitation projects have been completed, the remaining funding is available for demolition and cleanup projects in the City of Memphis.

On Thursday,  August 2nd, the City of Memphis announced the availability of demolition funds for residential use.  Residents of the City of Memphis may apply for the funds at Memphis City Hall, at 125 West Jefferson in Memphis between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, from now through August 31st, 2012.

To ensure the most efficient usage of the funds, the City of Memphis will be handling the bid process for contractors for the demolition and cleanup services and awarding the contracts.

Recipients will be determined by a lottery drawing at the September 6th city council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Memphis City Hall.

For more information, contact City Hall at 660-465-7285.

The City of Memphis reserves the right to reject any and all applications.

Farmers in almost ever county in the immediate KMEM listening area in Iowa are eligible EQUIP funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service office in their respective county.

$150,000.00 is currently available in Iowa, with priority to those in areas affected by this year’s drought.

Producers interested in financial assistance for drought related issues are urged to contact their local NRCS office, or log onto the NRCS website www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov.

The sign-up dates are August 13-17th.

Incumbent Jerry Neyens is the lone candidate on the Democratic ticket.  In the race for County Commission in the Western District, incumbent Roger Sedore is being challenged by Paul Brotherton and Ed Knupp.  Other Democrat candidates include Daron “Digger” Dalton, who is running for Sheriff, Donna Oilar for Assessor, and Dixie Regennitter for Public Administrator.

On the Republican ticket, there is a contested race for County Commissioner in the Eastern District, where the candidates are Larry E. Saxton and Henry Dienst.  Other Republican candidates include incumbent Paul Gaudette, who is running for Sheriff, Gloria Ann Hodges, who is running for Public Administrator, Incumbent Coroner Ed Wilson, and Kevin E. Flood is running for Surveyor.

The open house will include a ribbon cutting ceremony Sunday afternoon at 1:00 P.M. to dedicate a brand new on-campus facility that will house a new Daycare and Pre-school for the community on the lower level, which will also feature a new kitchen.  Other amenities offered in the new building will be upstairs offices for the Job Opportunities Program, Parents As Teachers, the Healthy Villages program, a conference room, and a new Optometry office.

The event is open to the public, with tours available this Sunday (August 5th) from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M..

Both contested races are on the Republican ticket.  The race for Public Administrator is between Kelly Cochran and Patty Freburg.  Two people are also running for Presiding Commissioner in the Western District, where the candidates are George Fredrick and David Wiggins.  Others running on the Republican ticket are incumbent Craig Redmon, who is running unopposed in the Primary and General Election for State Representative in the Fourth District.  Our district has changed from NUMBER ONE to NUMBER FOUR as the result of redistricting.  Also running on the Republican ticket are incumbent Danette Clatt, who is running unopposed for County Commissioner in the Eastern District; Incumbent Wayne Winn is running for Sheriff; and Jim Ward for Assessor.  On the Democratic ticket, incumbent Paul Campbell is running for Commissioner in the Western District, and Ginny Monroe is running unopposed for County Coroner.

Voters in Missouri will decide the fate of a possible Constitutional Amendment that deals with religious issues.

By a simple “Yes” or No” vote, the amendment will address the rights of Missouri citizens so that their right to express religious beliefs shall not be infringed; that school children have the right to pray and acknowledge God voluntarily in their schools; and that all public schools shall display the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.

This proposal will result in little to no costs or savings for state and local governmental entities.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon was in Northeast Missouri surveying drought conditions devastating crops and livestock throughout the state Tuesday, July 17th.  During the visit, Nixon announced that USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has now designated all 114 Missouri counties as disaster areas due to the excess heat and lack of rain.

Yesterday, Nixon toured the Sharpe family farm near Ewing, Missouri and met with Greg Sharpe and other area farmers to assess the hardships they have faced so far during these extremely dry conditions.  The Sharpe family farms 800 acres of corn and soybeans.  Nixon also visited farmers near Tarkio and Bolivar.

A disaster designation allows eligible farmers to be considered for assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency, including FSA emergency loans.

I addition to keeping an eye on crops and livestock, producers should document any losses or additional costs experienced as a result of weather events, including drought.  That information is often required for producers to be eligible for physical and/or production loss assistance from the FSA, as well as other assistance programs.

Missouri also has a hay directory for livestock producers as well as other information and resources online at MO.gov.

Hope is also available for southeast Iowa producers, as ten counties along the Iowa-Missouri border have been issued the same declaration.  The counjties include Davis, Van Buren and Lee counties, as well as Appanoose, Decatur, Fremont, Page, Ringgold, Wayne and Taylor counties.

Both the Scotland County and Knox County water districts are asking rural water district users to please conserve water due to the lack of rainfall and high temperatures.

Both districts have issued a request for users to voluntarily reduce their water consumption, however they report they could make the request mandatory if conditions do not improve.

Right now, the Knox County Water District is asking users to please refrain from filling swimming pools, washing cars, and limit watering lawns and gardens, until further notice.

72 year-old James F. Wood appeared fr an arraignment before Judge Gary Dial this morning in Scotland County court.  During the arraignment, Wood entered a plea of not guilty.  Wood is currently free on bond, with a hearing on his bond conditions set for July 10th.

Wood’s trial has been set for August 1st at 9:00 a.m. in Scotland County court before Judge Gary Dial.

Officials report the arrest of 19 year old Don Johnson of Ottumwa on Friday.  Johnson was being held in the Wappello County Jail on $100,000.00 cash only bond as the result of being arrested on three warrants.  One for three counts of delivery of marijuana, one warrant for conspiracy to deliver a schedule one substance-marijuana, and a warrant for ongoing criminal conduct.  20-year old Rene Perez-Chaparro of Ottumwa is incarcerated in the Wappello County jail on $10,000.00 cash only bond, charged with conspiracy to deliver marijuana.

Four people were also arrested Friday on Meth warrants.  49-year old Virginia Kopp and 60-year old Donald Essary of Fairfield were arrested on Wappello County warrants of conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of Methamphetamine.  They are jailed on $100,000.00 standard bonds.  26 year old Christopher Allensworth of Fairfield and 30-year old Stephen Grothe of Ottumwa were both arrested on warrants of conspiracy to manufacture Methamphetamine.  Both are being held on $100,000.00 bond as well.

Saturday, 23-year old Travis Jordan of Ottumwa was arrested on three warrants, including possession with the intent to distribute less than fifty kilograms of Marijuana, unauthorized possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of Methamphetamine, a serious misdemeanor.  At last report, Jordan was lodged in the Wappello County jail on $10,000.00 cas only bond.