■ In anticipation of $1.5 million in state funding cuts over the next 15 months, the Jefferson College Board of Trustees is considering massive slashes to the current year’s and next year’s operating budgets, as well as dipping deeply into reserve funds. Board members are talking about possibly closing the pool at the college’s Hillsboro campus, freezing salaries, shuttering the satellite library at the Arnold campus and increasing student tuition, among an array of options. See Kevin Carbery’s Page 1 story.
■ Fox High graduate Anthony Hill, a junior in the business sequence at Truman State University in Kirksville, has been making money hand over fist as a member of college-sanctioned competitive teams and organizations. Unfortunately, he’ll never be able to spend any of it. The competitions involve “virtual funds,” although one of his organizations seeks to make real money through investments for the benefit of Truman State students. See Kevin Carbery’s Page 1 feature story.
■ Ted “the Nuge” Nugent will be the headliner for the Jefferson County Fair on Friday, July 21. Nugent the 68-year-old rocker from Detroit never fails to bring in the crowds, said Jefferson County Fair chairman Doug Goforth. “He is one of our artists who have brought good crowds,” he said. “This will be the third time we have him and he has brought near-record crowds anytime he’s come.” Nugent performed at the Jefferson County Fair in 2003 and 2006. See Tracey Bruce’s story.
■ Arnold Ward 3 City Councilman Phil Amato has filed a complaint against city attorney Bob Sweeney, claiming Sweeney violated client-attorney privilege by talking about a conversation the two had in January, when Amato told him he was offering not to run for mayor in exchange for the city meeting four conditions. Sweeney would not confirm whether he was aware of a complaint filed against him, but he said March 13 that “anyone can file a complaint against any lawyer and this is the process someone uses to do that.” He would not comment about any specifics about the complaint but said “it is a political ploy.” See Kim Robertson’s story.
■ While the De Soto School District $3.2 million auditorium project remains on target – weather permitting – to finish in mid-May, fundraising plans are already in the works to add a balcony. The initial 527-seat auditorium is coming about as part of a $9.5 million bond issue approved by voters in April 2015. A balcony could add approximately 240 seats. See Kevin Carbery’s story.
■ Editor Page editor Patrick Martin writes about his memories of a long-ago interview with rocker Chuck Berry, right here in Jefferson County.
■ Sports editor Russell Korando writes about Dave Dallas, the former North County head football coach who will take over as the new head coach at Grandview just as the Eagles are scaling back to a JV-only schedule for 2017.
***It’s spring! It’s spring!