Since the end of session when I arrived back at home in the 33rd Senatorial District, I have been busy, and the last few weeks have been no exception.
On July 8, I attended a celebration of the completion of Web-Co Custom Industries, Inc. and its new 20,000-square-foot recycling center in Marshfield. Web-Co is a multi-faceted business. It provides light assembly and packaging of finished products. Employees can repack and ship products along with labeling them for mailing. The company is able to shrink wrap products, manufacture custom promotional and advertising buttons, and complete custom Web designs.
The recycling center accepts a wide range of recyclable items and provides secured document destruction. The expansion will allow the company to increase business and ultimately add employees. It was built using a USDA Rural Development Community Facility Direct Loan.
I attended the Heart of the Ozarks Fair in West Plains. Events included entertainment; market steer competition; goat, swine and lamb shows and auctions; carnival rides; rabbit and poultry shows; tractor pulls; home economics demonstrations and exhibits; fine arts and photography judging; flower shows; food vendors and much more. I really enjoy being able to see the hard work youth put into raising their livestock and placing their projects in competitions. They are extremely determined and it shows in the animals and their final products-whether they are photographs or baked creations.
I was pleased to join the Texas County Young Farmers and Ranchers at a meeting in Houston to discuss Amendment 1 – the “Keep Missouri Farming” initiative. I was happy and surprised to see the interest generated by our young farmers, who hope to be able to make their living farming like generations before them.
Vanzant’s festival ran July 11-13, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Festivities included live bands, food vendors, a farmers market and homemade items. I enjoyed getting to see the pottery classes and displays, painting activities, and digital photography displays. It is always nice to see a wide variety of talent.
I had the opportunity to attend the Wild Turkey Federation’s Dinner, Auction, and Fundraiser in Mountain Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Jones did an outstanding job of bringing this group back to Mountain Grove. Attendance at the event was up considerably and everyone appeared ready to do it again next year.
Wednesday evening (7-16), I attended the Webster County Fair, where White Dove of Frontier Theatre kicked off the fun with an adventure-based performance featuring Indian and pioneer stories and activities, including a ventriloquist puppet. Then there were farm tours, classes in weaving, spinning, tapestry weaving, felting and dyeing and working with Alpaca wool. Thursday through Sunday includes pottery classes given by professionals from Branson, gardening, culinary arts, old-fashioned gospel sings, pie auctions and performing arts. And in amongst these activities are cattle, sheep and goat shows/competitions, and of course carnival rides. It’s a true old-time festival.
Thursday at noon (7-17), I attended to the ribbon cutting for the South Central Education Consortium in Willow Springs. I was responsible for getting the presidents from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri State University – West Plains and Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff together to form the consortium. The presidents also helped to develop curriculum to provide certificates/degrees for certified nursing assistants, certified medication technicians, insulin administrators, EMTs, as well as areas of fire science, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and general studies. The two universities collaborated to identify appropriate credit and non-credit courses to be offered at the facility in Willow Springs. The consortium will provide much-needed education services to this underserved area of the state. I was able to work with a team of talented and dedicated educators and civic leaders to secure start-up funding for the program.
As always, I appreciate it when groups from around Missouri and from our community back home come to visit me at the Capitol, however during interim I may be in district. If you would like to arrange a time to come and visit me in Jefferson City, or if you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol office at (573) 751-1882. |
