Football Friday
Lathrop, Plattsburg suffer tough losses on the Gridiron || PAGE B1
LEADER CLINTON COUNT Y
Thursday, September 26, 2024 | Plattsburg • Lathrop • Gower • Cameron | FREE |
“Covers Clinton County Like Dew”
CITY OF CAMERON
Council approves budget despite COLA concerns in the month Tuesday night.. With the deadline to approve a balanced budget for the upcoming year, council members wrangled over whether or not to give city employees a smaller than normal raise. During the
by jamey honeycutt leader publisher
Despite last minute opposition to cost of living adjustments (COLA) increases being cut, the Cameron City Council passed a largely unchanged budget from earlier
last regular session, a compromise to reduce the annual raise by way of cola from three to one percent was reached with Councilman John Feighert III leading the charge to cut costs as the City Hall repair esti-
mates mount. Park Board president and Cameron citizen Matt Arndt led off in public participation to speak in favor of employees receiving their full three percent increase. “Before you vote to pass
the budget tonight, I ask that you return the cost of living increase back to staff to three percent from the one percent it was reduced to last meeting,” said Arndt, “I understand that the purpose of these cuts is to not
incur debt as a result of the city hall repairs…but why do city employees have to pay for it out of their own pockets?” Later in the conversation, it was questioned whether Arndt was speaking ||Continued on A2
POWER STATION
Work on $450M plant starts in ‘25
AECI holds info meeting on Turney power project by brett adkison leader editor
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.—the incorporated not-for-profit preparing to build a 445-megawatt, natural gas-fired power generation plant in rural Turney—held an informational open house last week in Lathrop. Upwards of 80 residents attended the event at the Goppert Community Center on Wednesday, September 18. AECI had 18 employees in attendance, many of which are experts in specific areas (such as siting of the plant, noise emissions, environmental impact, and more). There were several stations set up with informational panels, and resi||Continued on A3
A rendering of the proposed Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI) peaking power station outside of Turney, Mo. AECI held an informational meeting on the project last week in Lathrop. AECI expects construction to begin in 2025 and for the plant to become operational possibly as soon as 2027. graphic courtesy of aeci
CAMERON SCHOOLS
GOWER
East Buchanan school Bainum brings focus on board welcomes new staff effective communication Prior to the East Buchanan Board of Education meeting on Monday, September 16, the board held a reception for the newlyhired staff at East Buchanan. The new staff included East Buchanan Middle School Principal Chris Anderson, music teacher Christian Estella, Hope Georges with Parents as Teachers, Spanish teacher Madilyn Harlow, kindergarten teacher Emily Kimsley, tech assistant Zach Kee, school resource officer Deputy
Robert Loper, Mary Newellmiddle school special education, middle school science teacher Phillip Norris, East Buchanan Elementary Principal Rachael Parkey, middle school math teacher Jane Scott, and tech assistant Christian Velez. The board heard a CTA report and celebrated a work study program that the special education students are participating in. This program includes students working at BulldogLand and others who are working with the nutrition and custodial staff. This program
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teaches the students relevant job skills and provides them with the opportunity to gain more real-life exposure. The board received a construction update on the new middle school while also discussing and approving the lease-purchase funds amounting to $9.6 million. Adam Lewis, who has been working on the new bulldog logo, presented what he hopes will be the final result, and the board accepted his option by a 7-0 vote. In other action, the board discussed and ap-
two Sections | 16 pages
Community.........A5 Community.........A3 Opinion..............A4 Sports................B1 Legals................B4
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by jamey honeycutt leader publisher
The Cameron R-1 School District has created a new position, director of communications, to better facilitate communication between the district and patrons. Gina Bainum, a 1997 CHS alumna, was selected for the position and assumed the role on September 9. She started in the communication field at the age of 16 when she joined Cameron radio station KMRN/ (and at the time) KNOZ,
at the request of her guidance counselor. There, she developed an appreciation for some very important things. Firstly, methods of communication—writing ad copy and weather re-
Lady Bulldogs keep winning
This Week’s Sheriff ’s Report
The East Buchanan volleyball team has already racked up 16 win on the year as they eye a district crown.
See which calls for service came through the Clinton County Sheriff ’s Dispatch for the previous week.
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ports, recording ads, running the sound board at the station during on-air sporting events, and even disc jockeying. Secondly, multitasking—recording the Brownfield Network on reel while answering calls and taking notes for “The Trading Post.” Thirdly, time management— ”American Pie” has a run time of 8 minutes and 42 seconds, and every second of dead-air is a financial loss). Fourth, adult contemporary music, a fancy term for what we now call “old||Continued on A2
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VOL. 129, NO. 47