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Unionville Fourth of July Event Planned Submitted by Mary Frank The Putnam County 4th of July Celebration will be held again this year at the Unionville City Park and will be an evening for family fun. The celebration will begin on Thursday, July 4th with a parade at 6 p.m. and conclude with fireworks at 10 p.m. Children’s activities and vendors for food and items for sale are being sought for the evening. Activities can be held as a fundraiser or a community service. Activities & vendors will operate after the main parade. Families will be hungry and it is hoped some enterprising groups or individuals will provide food for sale. Anyone interested in participating should call Mary Frank at 947-2827 or message on the Unionville Lions Club Facebook page. The musical entertainment this year will be No Apology Band. The band is from Kirksville, MO, and plays a variety of classic rock songs and will begin playing at the north shelter house at 7 p.m. Events this year include three parades: the traditional parade, a kiddie parade, and a glow parade. The traditional parade, organized by the American Legion Post #34, will leave the City Park at 6 p.m. and follow the normal route to the square, north to the PC Care Center, and back to the park. Anyone can enter the parade
with no sign up required - just line-up at the park at 5:30 (watch for signs to enter on North gate on 22nd St). The Grand Marshal for the parade will be Earnie Otto, World War II Veteran, Army Air Corp. A Kiddie Parade will be held on the park walking trail at 7:30. Kids can walk, ride tricycles or bikes in the parade; no motorized vehicles will be allowed. This event has been held several times over the years and kids have fun decorating their trikes and bikes. Line up will be in the pool parking lot with no sign up required. The American Leion Post #34 will Post the Colors at 9:00 p.m. A Glow Parade will again be held at the walking trail at 9:45 p.m. Side-by-sides and golf carts will be allowed at this parade, but participants can also walk or ride bikes. Entrants should decorate with glows sticks and/ or lights. Line up will be in the pool parking lot for this parade also and no sign up required. Following the parade will be the singing of “The National Anthem” prior to the big fireworks display at 10 p.m. The American Legion Post #34 and Auxiliary, the Unionville Lions Club and the City of Unionville are planning the event. The event is sponsored by donations from our local businesses.
The following PC athletes were selected for GRC All-Sports Team honors. Boys First Team Jude Watt Second Team Reise Brundage Kooper Hornaday Mason Morris Third Team
Trace Riediger Girls First Team Allise Perkins Second Team Abbie Koenen Third Team Traylen Brundage Congratulations on this acheivement and for representing your school.
GRC All-Sports Teams – 2023-2024
The Unionville
REPUBLICAN & Putnam County Journal
“157 years of continuous service to Putnam County” www.unionvillerepublicanonline.com
Volume One Hundred Fifty-seven, Issue Number 50
June 19, 2024
Littrell Presents Business Philosophy at Rotary
Eric Littrell (left) is shown with Rotarian Joel Pratt. Littrell Family Towing and Recovery serves Putnam, Sullivan and Adair Counties. At a recent meeting of the Unionville Rotary Club, owner Eric Littrell shared the story of his business and the plans to restore the Unionville location. Tow truck companies
sometimes have a bad reputation for gouging customers who are in a tough situation. Eric told the group his business is not like those other companies, stating “We are in the business of trying to help people.” The company has a fleet of five trucks, including two semi tow trucks.
The Littrell Family Towing and Recovery sign has been erected in front of the old Noel Neighbors Sinclair filling station just a block west of the square. The building has been gutted and will be restored, hopefully by the fall. Eric is searching for Sinclair memorabilia to
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds Missouri’s travelers to make smart choices for a safe July Fourth holiday. Whether planning to visit one of Missouri’s recreational opportunities or hosting a backyard barbecue, everyone should make safety part of their plans. No matter how you decide to celebrate, your smartest choice is to follow all Missouri traffic and boating laws. During the 2023 counting period, 15 peo-
ple were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year’s July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend. The 2024 July Fourth
holiday counting period will be from 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2024. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri roadways and waterways to enforce traffic and boating laws and offering assistance as needed. The Highway Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) and Operation Dry Water over the July
Plan for a Safe Fourth Holiday
Safe Fourth ... Cont. to pg. 3
re-create the look of the business that operated in the 1940s and 1950s. Eric said, “We want to get involved in this community.” The towing company is truly a family affair. Brooke, age 22, and Ivan, age 16, both work in the business. Brooke has been operating a tow truck since age 18 and drives when she is home from college. Brooke was a high school basketball standout at Green City and played college ball at the University of Central Missouri and Creighton University, achieving All- American status three times and Division 2 Player of the Year. Brooke also has a sideline pork and poultry business. Ivan is just starting to operate a tow truck, but helps with tows. Eric’s wife, Deb, is a detective with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop B, and does not participate in the business.
All-State Baseball
The following Putnam County baseball players were named to Class 2 All-State Baseball Team. Mason Morris, junior, first team, pitcher Reise Brundage, senior, honorable mention, catcher Kooper Hornaday, junior, honorable mention, infield Brock Munden, junior, honorable mention, outfield Congratulations on this recognition and on a stellar baseball season!