Brewery coming to Lathrop?
New business could land on Oak Street, trash rates on the rise in Lathrop.
LEADER || PAGE A2
CLINTON COUNT Y
“The People Have The Right To Know”
Thursday, November 28, 2024 | Plattsburg • Lathrop • Gower • Cameron | FREE |
“Covers Clinton County Like Dew”
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Local traffic stop lands on President Biden’s desk illegal immigrants. Missouri Sixth District US Representative Sam Graves penned a letter last week to President Biden requesting answers after a Clinton County traffic stop on October 25 resulted in the detainment of two Ven-
by brett adkison leader editor
The fallout from a traffic stop in Clinton County last month has made its way to President Joe Biden’s desk, highlighting the difficulties of enforcing deportations of some dangerous
ezuelan nationals—believed to be members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang—for whom US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had orders to detain and report. However, after the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department detained the
two men, ICE officials contacted the department and informed them that Venezuela had refused to take the men, so they would need to be released. Graves’ letter was undersigned by seven other members of Missouri’s
congressional delegation (Graves’s weekly column on this matter can be found on page A4). Clinton County Sheriff Larry Fish said that a county deputy initiated the October 25 traffic stop just south of the Lathrop exit on
Interstate 35 after witnessing a traffic violation. Two of the four people in the vehicle were found to have hold and deport orders from ICE, once of which included a previous assault charge in the United States. ||Continued on A2
JINGLE ALL THE WAY Local group COMMUNITY
eyes the addition of new library
by brett adkison leader editor
Communities throughout Clinton County are gearing up for coming Christmas events. That includes Plattsburg, where Keith and Kari Stayton and family (right) were busy Sunday decorating the Pocket Park in anticipation of the Plattsburg Community Christmas on Friday, December 6. The Beadles family (left) were enjoying the weather downtown and caught a sneak peek at the decorations. brett adkison | the leader
Unlike many surrounding communities, Clinton County doesn’t have its own tax-funded library. One community organization aims to change that in the near future. The Clinton County Initiative (CCI)—a local community leadership and betterment group through Maximize Northwest Missouri— has laid the groundwork for the effort. Two years ago, CCI held community forums and sent out surveys to each Clinton County resident, asking a multitude of questions. Many of the respondents prioritized a community library, while also citing internet access, business
and job growth, and innovation opportunities. CCI went on to apply for, and receive, a grant from the USDA to study the feasibility of a library and innovation center in Clinton County that can address those goals. For some, the thought of a library in the age of technology might seem passe, but modern libraries are much more than physical books, serving a multitude of purposes for the community. “Library usage is up, with the growth of digital collections leading the way,” said CCI President Joe Gagnon. “The recommendation from CCI’s USDA||Continued on A2
HOLIDAYS
EAST BUCHANAN
New middle school building Christmas events coming coming along on schedule up around Clinton County by jim bonebrake leader reporter
During the East Buchanan Board of Education meeting on Monday, November 18, there was a short update regarding the new middle school building project, and the board voted against opting into a program to provide information in-district about
organ donation. All those involved in this discussion voiced support for the organ donation program, but there were concerns about whether it should be done in a school setting, and whether doing so would appear to be the district supporting the idea. There was also concern related to how this program
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would be shown and the method to do so since the information seemed to be somewhat vague in that area. After much discussion, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, the board voted in split fashion against participating in the program; three voted in fa-
INSIDE One Section | 12 pages
Community.........A3 Community.........A5 Opinion..............A4 Sports................A12 Legals................A8
||Continued on A3
by brett adkison leader editor
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the Christmas season is officially in full swing throughout Clinton County. That includes a number of traditional Christmas events in the area. The 14th Annual Plattsburg Community Christmas will be Friday, Dec. 6, and
Saturday, Dec. 7, in downtown Plattsburg. Friday’s festivities will start with train rides from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (in front of the courtyard), games and more from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Locust Street), Kids’ Holiday Small Mall from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Club Pulse), and a visit from Santa at 6:15 p.m. at The Backyard. The
Sports history at East Buch
Reflecting on the loss of JFK
After years of co-oping with Plattsburg, East Buchanan adds wrestling for this winter ||
Steve Tinnen looks back at the JFK assassination through the memories of those who lived it.
PAGE A12
|| PAGE A4
Forever Christmas Bazaar, Sweet Shoppe and Cafe Noel will be from 5 p.m. to 8 :30 p.m. There will also be crafts and photos with Mrs. Claus from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tinnen Town Hall, coinciding with the Festival of Trees, which will run throughout the month. The main event ||Continued on A3
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VOL. 130, NO. 4