LEADER CLINTON COUNT Y
Thurs., April 4, 2024 |
$1.00 | “Covers Clinton County Like Dew ”
Plattsburg, Lathrop and Gower, Mo. APRIL ELECTION
Unofficial Clinton County Election Results by brett adkison leader editor
There will be a new man leading council meetings at Plattsburg City Hall. Challenger David Jett was able to unseat incum-
bent Plattsburg Mayor James Kennedy in the Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 2. Jett earned 229 votes (44.99 percent) to Kennedy’s 172 votes (33.79 percent), according
to unofficial results from Clinton County. The race’s third candidate, Ricky Volkmann, received 108 votes (21.22 percent). The City of Plattsburg will also have a not-so-
new councilman, as Larry Schussler (who previously served on the council) was able to unseat Ward I Alderman John Mirosh. Schussler earned 68 votes (56.67 percent) compared to 52
votes for Mirosh (43.33 percent). Ward III Alderman Scott Gordee was able to keep his seat, gaining 91 votes (44.17 percent), compared to challengers Travis ||Continued on A6
EAST BUCHANAN SCHOOLS
INSIDE One Section | 12 pages
Honoring Our Vietnam Vets The Missouris Shoal Chapter of DAR honors veterans of the Vietnam War 50 years ago. || PAGE A6
Fun with the Easter Bunny! Photos from the Lathrop Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Lathrop Area Chamber of Commerce. || PAGE A2
Lights Could Go in at 116/33/A
Breaking New Ground
Officials at the East Buchanan C-1 School in Gower made history Monday, April 1, with a ceremonial ground breaking at the site of the new East Buchanan Middle School. The new EBMS--which will sit on the west side of S. Fourth Street (DD Highway) across from Heritage Park--is expected to be completed in 2025. (Above, left to right) Superintendent Dr. John Newell, EBMS Principal Becky Schilling; Duane Cash and Josh Conrad with Incite Design Studio; East Buchanan Board of Education members Andrea Wilson, Lori Caylor and Dean Walkup; Jeff Gray with Al J. Mueller; board members Kyle McCoy, Beth Gregory, Jesse Fisher and Ryan Harper; Cody Arrowood and other representatives of Al J. Mueller. (Left) East Buchanan Board President Dean Walkup speaks ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday. Turn to page A12 for more photos from the event. brett adkison | the leader
Steve Garrett named $450 million plant interim administrator planned for Turney
leader editor
The City of Plattsburg has tabbed its next city administrator, at least in the short term. The city has enlisted Steve Garrett to serve as the interim administrator, filling the office after the city and former administrator Chase Waggoner decided to part ways in March. Garrett has worked 35 years with municipalities in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas, primarily as an administrator. A native of Stillwell, Oklahoma, Garrett now lives in Smithville, where he was the city admin-
Community........A5 Opinion..............A4 Legals..............A10 Sports................A7
THE LEADER Est. 1895
CLINTON COUNTY
CITY OF PLATTSBURG
by brett adkison
The busiest intersection in Lathrop could soon have some extra illumination at nighttime. || PAGE A3
istrator from 2010 to 2017. “I’ve only been here two days but I’m enjoying it,” Garrett said on Monday. “There are some challenges but I enjoy a challenge.” He said that Plattsburg is an interesting community with a great history, which—with a degree in history—he can appreciate. “It’s a quintessential small hometown in America,” he said, adding that small towns have to work hard to maintain that atmosphere while progressing forward. Chase Waggoner joined the city in 2022, after former administrator Greg Harris resigned amid ||Continued on A2
by brett adkison leader editor
A $450 million electric generation plant is moving closer to reality in rural Turney. Representatives from Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) met with the Clinton County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 2, during which the reps said the proposed Turney site is one of the two locations prioritized for a pair of $450 million electric generation plants. The other plant—located near Ripley, Oklahoma (between Tulsa and Oklahoma City)—is eight
months ahead of the Turney plant in the construction process. If things go smoothly, construction could start on the Turney plant midway through 2025, and the facility could be operational in 2027. When constructed, the natural gasfired, simple cycle plant will produce upwards of 445 megawatts. AECI plans to use it as a “peaker plant”—it will be used primarily when energy demand is high. “I’m feeling really good about it,” said First District Commissioner Jay Bettis after the meeting. “I think it was a positive meeting.
||Continued on A2
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VOL. 129, NO. 24