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July 19
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July 21
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August 2
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August 4
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August 6 & 9
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August 9
Planning & Zoning Meeting*
August 16
City Council Meeting
August 18
Chamber of Commerce Meeting
September 1
Park Board Meeting
September 7
Chamber of Commerce Meeting
September 10 & 13
City Court
September 13
Planning & Zoning Meeting*
September 15
Chamber of Commerce Meeting
September 20
City Council Meeting
*If agenda item is submitted.
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Strafford News Archive
Our city's history is a work in progress. The archive
will serve to record this history as our great town
continues to grow and develop.
Strafford News and Archive Search
Recent Archived News
2006
Stories | 2007 Stories
| 2008 Stories |
2009 Stories
 Look out for an increase of kids along Old Route 66!
The Front Door Student Center, managed by Alter Student
Ministries and the Strafford First Assemblies of God, has
opened the doors. The center gives Strafford teens a
positive place to hang out after school. Inside they are
invited to play video games and pool, a cafe, and a concert
stage.
Don't worry parents, because there are also educational
opportunities available inside. The children will have
access to tutoring, study rooms, and filtered WiFi internet.
 The
annual Strafford 4th of July parade will take place on July
4th, at 10:00 a.m. Participants need to sign in at 8:30,
behind the high school in the parking lot. Groups, floats,
classic cars, animals, tractors and 4-wheelers are all
welcome to participate. A bike judging contest for children
will take place at 9:00 a.m. The parade is sponsored by VFW
Post 7214. Come out and enjoy the fun!
Strafford Fire Department to Receive Two New Trucks
 The
Strafford Fire Department will operate two new trucks to
keep up with Strafford's growth. The Strafford Fire
Department Board of Directors unanimously voted for the new
tankers citing the importance of safety for our community
fire fighters. The tankers, capable of holding 2,000
gallons, should be in service by February of next year. The
fire department also acquired two lots of land that will be
used for future station expansion.
Community Raises Over $42,000 for Cancer Research
 On June 2, 2006, the town came together at the Strafford
High School track to raise money for cancer in the 5th
annual Relay for Life. The relay is twelve hour walk in
which teams pace themselves around the track for donations.
When it was all totaled up, Strafford raised over $42,000.
The carnival like event features games, a dunk tank, food
and drink, an auctions, and lots of prizes. Sharon Mickey
was topped the donations collected with over $2500 in
individual sponsorship and $750 in corporate sponsorship.
Plans are already in the works for next year's walk.
New Chamber of Commerce President Named
 Kelly Hunt has been named to new Strafford Area Chamber of Commerce
President. Hunt currently owns and operates the Farmers
Insurance branch across from Kum & Go. Hunt is working to
promote the businesses of Strafford, help increase economic
growth in Strafford, and he is also helping plan this year's
Route 66 Days. The outgoing President is Carla Keiser.
A Strafford Area Landmark to Close
 For
35 years,
Exotic Animal Paradise has been a community landmark. On
October 1, the animal and theme park will close its doors
forever. The cost to upkeep the park has forced the owners
to consider other options. They recently sold the park to a
real estate developer who will use the land to build a new
subdivision with a golf course and possibly a family
entertainment center.
Pat Jones, the father of Dallas Cowboy's owner Jerry
Jones, opened the park in 1971. Ron and Brenda Armitage
currently operate the attraction. The park features animals
ranging from ostriches, bears, giraffes, and a white Bengal
tiger.
New Exotic Animal Paradise Owner Reconsiders Closing
Down the Animal Park
 Long
time Strafford landmark, Exotic Animal Paradise, was
scheduled to close later this fall to build a new housing
subdivision. However, new owner Tony Oddo, announced in a
press conference that he is planning on reopening the park
in the spring. He also mentioned that he would like to add
restaurants, mini-golf, a gas station, and hotels to the
area in an effort to keep it open as a vacation destination.
The park attracts over 190,000 visitors a year, and is
ranked fourth as the most visited Springfield attraction.
Grant Will Help Build City Sidewalks
 A
grant provided by the Missouri Department of Transportation
(MODOT) combined with other funding will help build
sidewalks along our city streets. Phase One will place a
sidewalk along McCabe Street, providing safer methods for
our children who walk to school. Phase Two, if approved by
MODOT will focus on placing sidewalks alongside other city
streets. City Engineer King Coltran commented, "We plan to
focus now on the center section of town and move out from
there."
Parks Referendum Passes
 Greene
County Voters passed the referendum to carry out a five-year
action plan for parks, open space and greenways. The plan is
derived directly from the most recent Vision 20/20 process.
For more information
visit the election web site or
visit TV23 to view an election video. Thank you
Strafford and Greene County Voters!
Strafford Library Coming Soon
 The
corner of Pine and Madison will soon find new life as the
Greene County Library has agreed upon a plan that provides
Strafford its first library. The former home of MFA will now
host the library.
The library is projected to be open in September. A
$26,300 donation given by Friends of the Library will help
furnish the necessary shelves, desks, tables, and computers
for the library. Plans for the library consider and preserve
the historical importance of the building. The library will
also contain a coffee shop.
Hours of operation of the library will be 2-7 p.m.
Mondays through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays, and 10
a.m.-3p.m. Saturdays. Hours for the coffee shop have not
been established.
Exotic Animal Paradise Closes
 For
the first time in 35 years, Exotic Animal Paradise has
closed the doors to the public. The new owners will be
meeting with employees of the animal park to discuss the
plans for the park. The animals are scheduled to be
auctioned on October 14, and the new owner as speculated
that he might interested in keeping the park open. There has
been no confirmation to date of the possibility of reopening
the park.
Since this story first ran, an update was recently published
by The News Leader. Pressure from the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) due to park violations of federal laws
eventually led to the agreement of the park closing. Recent
changes in federal regulations have led to several closings
of parks like Exotic Animal Paradise around the country.
USDA regulations went as far as requiring all automobiles to
keep their windows rolled up when driving through the park. All
of the park's animals have been recently auctioned.
 Strafford Passes Fair Housing Act
The
Board of Aldermen recently passed Strafford's Fair Housing
Act. The law is available for your viewing through Sullivan
Publications Web site. The Web site features all of
Strafford's municipal code. To view the Fair Housing Act and
other codes, please visit Sullivan Publications.
-
 Click
on the
QuickCode link or the QuickCode online icon
-
In the new browser window, click the HTML Version link
- Click the plus next to the K-S folder on the left portion
of the site
- Click the plus on the Strafford folder
- Click the code you wish to view
The Fair Housing Act is filed under Chapter 230: The
Human Rights section of the code. Please see Article I:
Discriminatory Practices.
City Employees Receive Pay Raise
 This
past week, the board of aldermen passed the 2007 fiscal
budget for the city. Included in the budget is a 4 percent
for city maintenance employees. City police received a 5
percent raise for the year. The pay increase was across the
board for all city employees.
Strafford Senior Center Bazaar
The Strafford Senior Center will hold their bazzar on
November 18, 2006. The times of the bazaar is 8 a.m. to 3
p.m. The Strafford Senior Center is located at 210 West.
Baumgarner. Please call 736-98989 for additional
information.
Strafford to Receive Federal Grant for New Park (October
27, 2006)
 Congressman
Roy Blunt announced a federal grant that will help fund
Strafford's new Howard Smith Community Park. The federal
grant will cover $55, 556 of the estimated $111,112 price
tag for the park. The grant will help cover the cost of
playground equipment, parking lot, sidewalks, and a splash
pad. The new city park will be built on the southeastern
side of Strafford.
Highway Construction
 Be sure to leave a few minutes earlier for work.
Resurfacing of Interstate 44 from Strafford to Springfield
is underway. The project should be finished around the first
of November. Alternate routes include Old Route 66 and the
north Outer Road.
Expect detours at the I-44 and US-65 interchange.
Interchange improvements will force ramp closures over the
next several weeks. Please check the
MODOT Web
site for additional details.
Strafford
High School Softball Standouts Receive Scholarships
(November 8, 2006)
Both Sophia Alexander and Chelsea King will be running
the bases for the Drury Lady Panthers softball team next
season. The senior standouts signed letters of intent this
morning at the high school gymnasium.
Congratulations to the Volleyball Lady Indians (November
5, 2006)
 The
Strafford High School volleyball Lady Indians reached the
MSHA Class 2 state championships this weekend at Central
Missouri State in Warrensburg, MO this past weekend. The
Lady Indians finished third in the tournament. The team set
a school record of 30 wins this season. They are coached by
longtime Strafford coach, Jerry Schneider. This was Coach
Schneider's 22nd season.
Looking for That Holiday Puppy for the Kids
 The
City of Strafford works hard with Southwest Missouri K-9s in
preventing euthanasia of stray puppies and dogs found by our
animal control workers. We ask during this holiday season
that if you are considering a new pet, please be sure to
consider adopting one of these lovable dogs. For more
information, please visit
Petfinder.
The city Web site now has a page dedicated in finding a home
for the stray dogs that are found in Strafford. Please take
a few minutes to look at the beautiful dogs that are needing
a home. For more information about adopting one of these
animals, please contact Petfinder or city hall.
If you would like to assist the city in finding homes for
these stray animals, we are looking for a local volunteer to
take digital photos of these animals. We would like to
assist in the adoption process by creating a stray animal
section on our site. If you are interested in volunteering,
please contact
Clayton Bowler. A digital camera would be required for
any volunteer.
Wicked Winter Weather Hits Strafford (January 13, 2007)
 Strafford
families were invited to seek warmth and shelter in the
Lucille Cogdill Early Learning Center as an ice
storm dumped on the Ozarks over a period of two nights. The
center was one of the few places in the city with power.
Power outages blackened most of the city during the storms
as Empire Electric tried to get the power back into
Strafford Homes. The weather didn't cooperate, and most of
Strafford remained without power during the second night of
storms. Strafford looked like a war zone as fallen trees
littered the yards of most Strafford residents. The early
learning center remained open throughout Sunday afternoon as
threatening weather approached the Ozarks.
 Governor
Matt Blunt declared a state of emergency for much of
southwest Missouri as he
toured neighboring Springfield on Saturday afternoon. The
governor, a Strafford native, ordered the Missouri National
Guard to help many Missouri communities clean up from the
storms. Many
areas in the Ozarks will qualify for federal disaster relief
due to the severity of the storms. Mayor Myrl Bowler will
work with state officials to insure the city receives
federal help to uncover from these recent storms. Earlier in
the week, the mayor was finishing up work for federal
assistance for the ice storm that hit the area in December.
 City workers worked throughout the weekend to see that
streets were clear of fallen debris. The main streets were
cleared first, and the side streets will be cleaned
after that. "With the number of trees that were down, it's
going to take time to get all the streets cleared," said
Mayor Bowler.
City
worker Jarrett Burke claims the damage in the city is so intense that it could take a good month before the city is
cleaned up from all the fallen trees. Burke reminds people to be
careful around the trees. "The ground saturation mixed
with the weight of the iced branches lead to another dangerous
condition that needs to be considered in the days after the
storm."
Fire Board to Host Public Meeting to Discuss Ballot
Measure (February 18, 2007)
A series of meetings will begin on March 3, to discuss a
possible transition of Strafford's fire department to an all
volunteer department to a combination of full-time and
volunteer department. The meetings will occur at the fire
station located on Highway YY and Missouri State Highway
125. The first meeting will begin at 6:00 PM.
Greene County announces storm clean up aid for seniors
(March 6, 2007)
Senior
Citizens living in Greene County may qualify for storm clean
up. The county approved $50,000 to help aid in clean up
after the ice storms that disabled southwest Missouri in
early January. To qualify you must be a Greene County
resident and at least 60 years old. The county will conduct
an in-home assessment to determine eligibility. If you need
assistance, please call June Huff at (417) 862-0762.
Camping World is coming to Strafford
 Planning
and Zoning approved the final details to bring Camping World
to Strafford. Camping World will begin building next to
McDonald's later this year.
Camping World is the nation's largest
supplier of RV and camping accessories. The retailer was
founded in 1966 by David Garvin and have over 50 stores in
27 states. The Strafford store will be the first Camping
World retail store in Missouri.
City election notice
 The
general municipal election for the City of Strafford will be
held on April 3, 2007. At that time, the city will go the
polls to elect the mayor and aldermen for two year terms.
Strafford Fire Department Chief: Go Big or Go Home
(March 3, 2007)
 Fire
Chief Jerry Schiman spoke to the board and made his
recommendation for the future of the department. Schiman
would like to see the tax payers approve a tax levy that
would allow the district to hire 15 firefighters, 1
daytime officers and a full time secretary. For Schiman
to see his plan become a reality the voters will need to
approve a 55 cent tax increase.
The plan would provide 24/7 coverage for the district
with two crews of five firefighters on duty at all
times. The firefighters would work a 24 on 48 off
schedule. The officer and secretary would be 8-5 Monday
through Friday positions. Schimian proposes a salary for
the firefighters that will be competitive with other
career departments in the area. He would like the
firefighters to start with a salary of $24,000 annually
plus insurance and retirement benefits. Board member
Mark Poynor was pleased with the salary recommendation.
“I want to offer a good job, a job they can be proud
of,” says Poynor.
After much discussion the Board of
Directors voted 3-0 to seek a 55 cent levy for the
purpose of personnel. The district will now focus on
educating the tax payers on the tax issue. Plans are now
underway to form a community committee to promote the
issue. All tax issues will be placed on the August
ballot. Anyone interested in serving on the committee or
anyone with questions regarding the issue is welcome to
contact Chief Schiman by calling 872-5155. Strafford Relay for Life is Scheduled (March 18, 2007)
The
annual Strafford Relay for Life will take place the evening
of June 1. The event begins at 6:00 PM at the Strafford High
School football field. Last year the
city raised over $42,000 for cancer research. Let's come
together as a community and try to beat last year's amount.
Another New Business Will Soon Open in Strafford (March
19, 2007)
A dollar store is set to open in Strafford
in the next couple of months. The store will soon open its
doors in the new strip mall next to Cowan's General Store.
City Election Results (April 4, 2007)
When the polls closed at 7:00 PM yesterday
evening, Strafford elected a new mayor. Tom Vicat will take
office on April 16 during the Board of Aldermen meeting.
John Vicat won his bid for reelection in Ward 1. Susan
Krieger and Kelly Brown ran unopposed in the races for Ward
2 and Ward 3 seats.
Tim Knox and Clayton Bowler spent many
hours revamping a cleaner and faster loading Web site for
the city. "We have watched Strafford grow over the past few
years and realize the importance the Web site plays not only
as a portal of information to the people living in Strafford
but also as a tool to promote economic growth in the city,"
says Bowler. "As Strafford grows, the Web site will play an
important tool for companies considering opening their doors
in Strafford."
The new site was a donation by the
recently formed
SpringSource Media and Design. There was no cost to the
city in developing the new look. The original site was
designed by Bowler as part of an internship with the city.
SpringSource is a Strafford company that is developing Web
sites and marketing materials throughout the country for a
variety of industry.
City Aldermen Vote on City Cleanup and City-Wide Garage
Sale Day (March 20, 2007)
 The
Strafford Board of Aldermen decided on two important dates
for the city. City Cleanup Day will be held April 28, 2007.
The city-wide garage sale will take place on May 5, 2007.
You are required to apply for a
garage sale permit to
participate. (A correction was made to this story on
3/23/2007, and you must apply for a garage sale permit to
host a garage sale on May 5. This day does not count against
your two allowed sales per year)
Different Name, Same Adventure and Some New Ones (April
7, 2007)
 For
thirty years, kids around Strafford and the Ozarks enjoyed
Exotic Animal Paradise. Last October, it closed its gates
and sold off the animals. Six months later, the park has
dropped the Exotic from its name and has opened with a new
logo, new Web site, and new animals for more generations of
children and their families to enjoy. The park also has
go-karts, miniature golf, bumper boats, petting zoo, driving
range, restaurant, and shopping. For more information, visit
the
Animal Paradise Web site.
Strafford First Baptist Church to Hold Relay for Life
Fundraiser (April 10, 2007)
The First Baptist Church Relay for Life
team will be sponsoring a gospel sing fundraiser on Friday,
April 27th. The evening will begin with entertainment
provided by Lonesome Hallow. This group of doctors will sing
bluegrass gospel. After a short intermission and concession
time with homemade baked goods, the Dean Family will take
the stage. Admission will be free. Donations will be taken
for the Relay for Life team. The concessions will also be
offered on a donation basis. The sing will be at the First
Baptist Church located at 400 South Madison. The sing begins
at 6:30 PM. For more information call Terri at 736-3277.
 Strafford
Relay for Life Teams to Hold Garage Sale to Benefit the
American Cancer Society (April 12, 2007)
Teams participating in Strafford's annual
Relay for Life to benefit cancer research will be holding a
garage sale on May 5, 8:00 AM at the Max Evans Gymnasium
next to the high school. Proceeds will be donated to the
American Cancer Society.
City Wide Garage Sale to be Held This Saturday (May 1, 2007)
The City of Strafford is holding its annual
city wide garage sale on Saturday, May 05, 2007. It is being
held in conjunction with the Relay for Life Yard Sale at
Strafford Schools. Over 54 residences have signed up to be
placed on the map. Maps will be available after 3:00 p.m. on
Thursday, May 03, 2007, at most retail establishments in
Strafford, MO. The map will also be posted at City Hall, 126
S. Washington, Strafford, MO.
New Mayor Takes Office (April 16, 2007)
 Tom
Vicat took office at Strafford's new mayor at the Board of
Aldermen meeting this evening. Vicat outlined his vision for
Strafford in a letter he
wrote following the election earlier this month. The new
mayor wants to protect the property values of Strafford
homes by insuring ordinances are enforced throughout the
city. The new mayor will also follow through with existing
improvements going on throughout the city while also
implementing a list he gathered during his campaign.
Strafford also has one new alderman. Kelly
Brown will represent Ward 3 with longtime Strafford
resident, Eddie Cruse.
Strafford High School's Old Gymnasium Locker Rooms to be
Used as a Storm Shelter (April 15, 2007)
 Outgoing
Mayor Myrl Bowler worked with the the board of education to
open the old locker rooms of the old gym when severe weather
hits the Ozarks. The school board voted to allow the gym to
be open, and it will be the responsibility of Strafford's
emergency management departments to open and run the shelter
in case of bad weather. School Superintendent John Collins
noted, "The police and fire have keys to the gym and they
are welcome to open it for the public; we want to do what we
can to help the city and the residents."
Part of the agreement with the city is
that the city must respect the rules of the school including
no-smoking. The shelter is located on the northwestern
corner of the gymnasium.
Strafford Fire Protection District to Auction off Truck
(April 25, 2007)
The Strafford Fire District will begin taking
bids for a 1980 one ton duel-wheel GMC truck. The truck is
available to view at the Strafford Fire Station next to the
post office. Please mail your bid to P.O. Box 9, Strafford,
MO 65757. Bidding will stop on May 12 at 9:00 AM.
Strafford High School Alumni Banquet Plans Announced (April
22, 2007)
Alumni from Strafford High School should sign
up now for the annual alumni banquet. The banquet will be
held the evening of May 19, at the Lucille Cogdill Early
Childhood Center. Tickets are $10 and reservations and
payment should be mailed to Jeanette Forney, 8706 Farm Road
80, Strafford, MO, 65757. Female alumni should include their
maiden name with their registration. For details about the
banquet or scholarship fund, call alumni president Robyn (Bott)
Vicat at (417) 736-9518.
Repairs to Missouri 125 Between Strafford and Fair Grove (May 17,
2007)
Use extra caution if you are heading north of Strafford on Missouri
125. Road workers will be patching the stretch of road between Strafford
and Fair Grove. Traffic will be down to one lane on sections of the
road.
Tyler Goodin and Trent Oxenreider Sign Letters of Intent to
Play Baseball at College of the Ozarks (May 6, 2007)
 Strafford
Indian baseball standouts Tyler Goodin and Trent Oxenreider
will play baseball at The College of the Ozarks in Hollister
next season. Goodin, a left-handed pitcher, posted an
impressive 12-1 record as a pitcher for the Indians. He is
5-0 this season. Trent Oxenreider catches for Goodin.
Oxenreider has .450 batting average this season.
Congratulations to both standouts!
Strafford Police Announce They Will Participate in the National
"Click It or Ticket" Program (May 18, 2007)
In an opportunity to promote seat belt use, Strafford police will be
participating in the national program designed to promote seat belt use.
Your chances are 1 in 32 of dying in a car accident if you don't wear
your safety belt. Beginning Monday, Strafford police will be strongly
enforcing Missouri's seat belt law.
“Safety belts clearly save lives. But unfortunately too many folks
still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in force buckling
down on those who are not buckled up,” said Strafford police Chief
Justhan Webster.
Rain
Forces Relay Participants Inside (June 4, 2007)
The weather put a damper on the city's Relay For Life Event.
Threatening weather moved the event into the high school's gymnasium.
Official numbers for amount collect for the American Cancer Society will
be noted once they are made official.
Alderwoman Susan Krieger Receives the Missouri Silent Hero Award
(June 10, 2007)
Strafford Alderwoman Susan Krieger was recognized for her service to
the community with the Missouri Silent Hero Award. The award
presentation took place at Strafford City Hall on Saturday, and numerous
state officials attended. Strafford resident Alice Delcour nominated
Krieger for the award.
Aldermen Seek to Fix Drainage Problems at Washington Road and Farm
Road 84 (June 4, 2007)
The city's aldermen have asked City Engineer King Coltrin to take
bids for a pipe system and and larger ditches to prevent the drainage
problem on the city's north side. The water will be moved to a
collection site.
4th of July Fireworks and Parade Planned (July 2, 2007)
If you are planning on participating in the 4th of July parade,
please be at sign in at the Max Evan Gymnasium at 8:30 this Wednesday.
Veterans, children, cars, and floats are invited to participate.
Festivities include:
- Parade
- Fireworks provided by Tony and Lisa Ann Oddo of Animal Paradise
- Gospel music
Pine Street to be Resurfaced (July 9, 2007)
The board of aldermen approved a plan to resurface Pine Street from
125 to Jefferson Street. This will be one of the largest road project
for the city in a while. The business along Pine Street will be given
plenty of advance notice before the project begins. City maintenance
supervisor John Dudley said the street will be closed for at least half
a day.
The city also approved new pavement for Washington and Dogwood as
well as a new parking surfaces for Croxdale Community Park and the
Police Department.
Farm Road 84 repaving has been delayed until the drainage repairs
have been made. The city will work with the Missouri Department of
Transportation for other improvements around the city.
Northstar School Historical Project (July 2, 2007)
Susan Krieger is busy working on the Northstar School Historical
Project. Any former student who attended the school and would like to
share a story or photos, please contact Susan at (417) 736-3429.
New City Well (July 2, 2007)
The new city well at Howard Smith Park has been tested. The well is
pumping 550 gallons of water per minute. The city's water supply should
be healthy for years to come.
Attention Dog Owners
Please remember city employees read water meters between the 20th and
the 24th of each month. Please be sure your dog isn't a nuisance to city
workers while they are reading the meters.
Board of Aldermen Seeks Natural Gas Expansion (June 18, 2007)
Strafford residents will receive an information packet in their July
water bills after the board began conversations with Southern Missouri
Natural Gas to expand their services into Strafford. A representative of
the gas company estimates that the average four-person home in Strafford
would average $90 a month to heat their homes with natural gas.
Strafford Route 66 Days Celebration Date Announced
The annual Strafford Route 66 Days will take place September 8, 2007.
The event will include a car show, rides and attractions, live
entertainment, craft fair, games, tractor pull, and the One-Day Route 66
Museum. For more information, visit the
Strafford Route
66 Days official Web site.
Strafford Surplus City Auction (October 17, 2007)
The City of Strafford is accepting sealed bids for miscellaneous
surplus property. This property will be sold “as is” and the City of
Strafford reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
It is possible to view the property at the City of Strafford Public
Works Shop, Monday – Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00
p.m. For more information contact the City of Strafford Public Works
Department at (417) 736-9314.
Please submit all bids to the City of Strafford
City Hall, 126 S. Washington, P.O. Box 66, Strafford, MO 65757, in a
sealed envelope with your name, address and telephone number on the
outside of the envelope. Bids will be accepted until Thursday, November
01, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. The bids will be opened on Friday, November 02,
2007 at 11:30 a.m. The Board of Aldermen will award the bids at their
Regular Meeting on Monday, November 05, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Visit the
City Surplus Auction page for more
information.
Board of Aldermen
Approve City Administrator Position (October 22, 2007)
Strafford’s
Board of Aldermen at their October 15th meeting appointed current Mayor,
Tom Vicat, as the City’s part-time City Administrator for an indefinite
term, effective immediately. Accepting the position required Vicat to
resign as Mayor. With Vicats’s resignation, Barb Helvey, President of
the Board, assumes the position of Acting Mayor until the April 2008
elections.
For the past several years, the Board of Aldermen has agreed
unanimously that Strafford needs a City Administrator to help develop
and direct a plan to enhance the City’s image and economic development;
however, the position was not filled because of budget constraints and
the salaries requested by past applicants. Since Vicat was elected
Mayor, he has assumed the duties of a city administrator. His work
ethic, ability to communicate with citizens, and handle the everyday
problems in running a city has been exemplary the past six months.
Vicat is a retired businessman and has agreed to accept a fraction of
the salary of past applicants. Vicat says, “There are good things
happening in Strafford and we must keep the momentum going.” He also
said, “In working with our excellent Board of Aldermen, it is my goal to
move Strafford forward from the bedroom community image into a more
vibrant growing town with new businesses that will help keep Strafford
dollars in Strafford.”
Former Beatle Paul McCartney Drives Through Strafford (August
7, 2008)
 Paul
McCartney is celebrating his 66th Birthday by driving across Route 66.
Saturday, he was spotted by St. Louis Cardinal fans in Springfield, IL
and dined on St. Louis' famous Hill district that night. He was seen in
Lebanon on Sunday morning which means he probably was through Strafford
anywhere before or around noon. Did anyone see the former Beatle driving
a 1989 Ford Bronco? Gotta wonder if Sir Paul drove south to Branson
where George Harrison's sister Louise produces the Liverpool Legends, a
Beatles tribute band. McCartney was seen in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Federal Grant Would Fund Strafford's Fire Department
A $1 million federal grant would be provided to Strafford's fire
department if voters approve a tax levy that would turn Strafford's
volunteer fire department into a full-time department. Voters have
failed to pass the initiative twice, but federal money wasn't included
each time. The grant is contingent on the initiative passing.
The $1 million dollar grant would go to pay firefighters' salaries
and would also help cut down on the response time to an emergency.
Representative Roy Blunt help secured the grant. The grant decreases in
20 percent increments each year and covers the first five years of the
full-time department.
New City Polling Place
At the suggestion of the school superintendent, John Collins, the NEW
Strafford voting location is now at the Strafford Senior Center located
at 201 W. Bumgarner, just west of Madison.
The change was made from the Early Childhood Center on McCabe
because of the concerns about traffic around the school and the
proximity of the small children around the heavy traffic on election. Note
that the election of April 8th will be held at the new location.
For those not familiar with the location of the Strafford Senior
Center, cross the railroad tracks south of City Hall and follow Madison
to Bumgarner and make a right.
You are looking at the Senior Center on the right.
Plenty of parking available and you can drop off less mobile
people at the front door under the covered portico.
City Officials Approve Plan to Decorate the Downtown Area with
Snowflakes
December
5, 2008
Alderman Eddie Cruse motioned the board to decorate the downtown area
for the Christmas season. The board approved the measure and will
purchase six foot tall snow flakes that mount on light poles. The
funding for the project is from a recent grant the city received from
the state to revitalize the downtown area. The city will purchase seven
of the snowflakes from The Den of Metal Arts in Conway, MO.
Aldermen decide fate of Delp hotel
December 5, 2008
The city acquired the old Delp Hotel Building. After an inspection by
city engineer King Coltrin, the alderman approved a motion to have the
building demolished. The city will now take bids for the demolition.
January 1, 2009
Don't forget the Strafford Branch of the Springfield-Greene
County Library is now open. The library is located at 125 and
Chestnut. The library is opened on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays from 8:30 to 5:00 and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30
to 7:00. For more information call (417) 736-9233.
Animal Paradise Family Fun Park
Wild Animal Safari is now the owners of Animal Paradise Family
Fun Park. The park is now open. For more information on this fun
family experience call, (417) 859-5300.
Strafford Teacher Named Best in Region
 Congratulations
to Strafford High School math teacher Barbara Spriggs. She was named
Teacher of the Year for 2008 by the Missouri Council of Teachers for
Mathematics. Spriggs claims her greatest achievements are watching
her students move on to become engineers and math teachers.
Strafford Students Meet Solider They Support
 Strafford
Middle School students have prepared care packages for 1st
Lieutenant Adam Freeman, who has been stationed in Iraq. On his 15
day leave, Lt. Freeman, from Strafford, spent time at the middle
school to thank the students for the numerous car packages they have
sent. Lt. Freeman has received boxes and boxes filled with personal
hygiene items, letters, and pictures.
Lt. Freeman returns to Iraq after his leave. He will be taking
the hearts of many middle students with him.
Strafford Senior Signs Letter of Intent to Play Football at
Oklahoma
February 5, 2009
Strafford Indian standout Tyler Evans signed a letter of intent
to play football for the Sooners in the fall. Congratulations and
best of luck as you compete for a starting position in one of the
nation's premier football colleges.
Relay for Life
Don't forget, Strafford's relay for life takes place at the High
School football field Friday night. Be ready for a night of fun and
the relay to help find a cure for cancer.
City of Strafford Employees will be honoring Andy Brown,
son of Ward 3 Alderman Kelly Brown during the relay Friday night.
The relay starts at 5:00 PM and runs until 6:00 AM on Saturday
morning.
Congratulations to Strafford High School Baseball
Strafford High School Baseball finished second in the Missouri
State Championships. Congratulations for a great year!
Strafford Fourth of July Celebration and Parade
The annual Strafford Fourth of July celebration and parade starts
at 10:00 am. If you plan on participating the parade, sign in begins
at 8:30 with the bicycle judging contest at 9:00 am. Sign in and the
bike contest will be in front of the high school gym.
The official opening ceremony starts at 10:00 and the parade gets
underway at 10:15. Lining up for the parade takes place in the
school parking lot.
Also, the VFW will host a pig roast at their post. The pig roast
begins at 6:00. For more information, call Gene at (417) 736-3226.
Route 66 Days
 Don't
forget Strafford's annual Route 66 Days begins the
evening of September 11. There will be a Route 66 Days
beauty pageant to start the festivities. There will be a
classic car show, tractor pull, pie eating contest, and
entertainment. Route 66 Days lasts through Sunday
evening, September 13. Come out and join the fun.
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