THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
MARYVILLE, MISSOURI
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VOL. 111, NO. 11
NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
@THEMISSOURIAN
MAINTENANCE MONEY I think it shows that (Department of Natural Resources) and many of our state agencies are working towards helping us solve this long term project.
Maryville receives grant for Mozingo treatment
KIERSTEN HELM Missourian Reporter | @TheMissourian
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aryville City Council has agreed to contract with HDR Engineering Inc. for engineering services at Mozingo Lake. HDR will work to develop services for a Water Treatment Alternative Analysis and other improvements. After applying for the grant in June, the city was awarded a $200,000 grant Oct. 17 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. This grant will be directed towards the watershed. This grant will help cover the estimated $334,250 project to develop the Quality Assurance Project Plan, purchase and install various pieces of sampling and monitoring equipment and develop a nine-element plan approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The monitoring equipment that will be purchased consists of two buoys that measure the lake temperature profiles over time. The samples will help track algae bloom levels to monitor taste and odor issues. In November of 2019, the city began to experience taste and odor issues which were combated by ap-
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NATHAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHER
City Manager Greg McDanel chuckles at a comment by a community member next to Administrative Assistant Heather Griffith. Maryville was granted $200,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that is going to be put toward the watershed.
-TYE PARSONS
plying an algaecide in Mozingo Lake. While this does not have a direct impact on current taste and odor issues, it will minimize algae blooms in the future. These blooms have the potential to present cyanobacteria. Now there is a pilot water being built to help combat the water issue in Maryville. The data collected will in turn help build a long term watershed management plan. “I think it shows that (Department of Natural Resources) and many of our state agencies are working towards helping us solve this long term project,” Mayor Tye Parsons said. There is a local match of $134,250, and $22,800 is identified as an in-kind administrative service. The remaining amount of $111,450 will be left unbudgeted but City Manager Greg McDanel said it was recommended to be an equal split between the Water Sewer Fund and Mozingo Recreation Fund. There was a kick-off meeting that included city, state and federal officials to begin phase two of the South Main project. However, this meeting — talks of Phase 2 finally emerged.
SEE COUNCIL | A4
Regents approve renovations to McKemy Center SIDNEY LOWRY Managing Editor | @sidney_lowry
Northwest Board of Regents approved over $1.9 million in funding for the renovation of the McKemy Center for Lifelong Learning to accommodate a new agribusiness program at its Oct. 21 meeting. Parts of the renovation include transforming the existing classrooms into a welding simulation lab. On top of the welding, it will host a space for courses like precision measuring, electronics and electricity, mechatronics and personal protective equipment. Provost Jamie Hooyman said the expansion of this facility is to accommodate the interest already seen in the program, but also to expand on the possibilities of what degrees or certificates students can obtain. “What I was really proud to be bringing forward is this is a stackable program, so somebody can come in and get a certificate, build upon that and end up with their degree,” Hooyman said. This project funding in part comes from the Missouri MoExcels Workforce Initiative. This program is meant to assist with funding in developing facilities for training programs that relate to workforce needs. Northwest received $763,211 from Missouri through the program. The Regents approved the renovation of the McKemy Center and a contract with Herner Construction, Inc., for a total project cost not-to-exceed $1,976,423 to accommodate the Systems Management for Manufacturing and Agribusiness Program. The Regents also approved the annual Information Security Policy brought forward by Assistant Vice President of Information Technology Brennan Lehman and Assistant Vice President of Finance and Administration Stacy Carrick. From the Annual Cybersecurity Update, it was found that phishing is the No. 1 attack facing the University and that cyber insurance policies are becoming difficult to obtain.
SEE REGENTS | A4
RENEE HASKEL PHOTOGRAPHER
Maryville High School is one of six schools in Maryville R-II School District. The Maryville R-II School District’s number of substitutes has decreased from 70 substitute teachers in the 2021-2022 school year to 56 substitute teachers.
Maryville R-II talks substitute teacher shortage
JAKOB PRATER News Editor | @JakobLPrater
Missouri is still struggling with the ongoing teacher shortage caused by inadequate pay, and while this has a great effect on K-12 educators from schools of all sizes, the shortage has also taken a toll on substitute teachers. Gov. Mike Parson signed Senate Bill 681 into law, loosening the requirements to be a certified substitute teacher. Individuals interested now only have to earn 36 semester hours at an accredited university. Prior to this, 60 semester hours were required. Another option
for becoming a substitute is to be a high school graduate and complete a 20-hour training program approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Logan Lightfoot, superintendent of the Maryville R-II School District, said that while its numbers for substitute teachers are down, it’s not the worst. “Compared to previous years, we’re down. I would say probably everyone in our state is the same way,” Lightfoot said. “We’re not in crisis-mode at this point. We’re at a level where it does hurt.”
SEE TEACHER | A4
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