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Missouri solar company switches to exclusive use of U.S. made panels

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Sun Solar in southwest Missouri’s Springfield is transitioning to using American made solar panels only.

Sun Solar of Springfield (Image courtesy of KOLR-TV)

After President Trump implemented tariffs impacting the cost of the products, Sun Solar will only buy panels made in the United States as a more cost-effective way of doing business.

Essentially, it means customers won’t have to worry about the cost of solar panels going up because now Sun Solar won’t have to compensate for the 30% tax increase on the products.

According to Sun Solar owner, Caleb Arthur, the idea of solar panels hasn’t caught on in the state of Missouri.  He says less than 1% of the state uses them but stresses that the majority of those consumers reside in his southwest Missouri market.

“What’s exciting is that we have over 4,000 solar customers between homes and businesses and most of those are here in southwest Missouri so southwest Missouri has had some of the fastest growing solar installs in the entire Midwest,” says Arthur.

Moving forward, Sun Solar won’t be using foreign manufacturers for solar panels, but will instead work with a company in Bellingham, Washington.  That state’s governor, Democrat Jay Inslee, is considering a run for President in 2020 positioned as a “climate” candidate.

Arthur thinks the American made product could contribute to more Missourians using solar panels.  “Being in this area, being more conservative minded Americans, what we like to see is manufacturing comebacks, we like to see job creation and so this is going to be a big selling point for customers to be able to adopt solar and feel good about the products we’re putting on their roofs,” said Arthur.

According to Arthur, Sun Solar’s existing customers will also benefit from the company switching to U.S. made panels. If the power goes out on the grid, they’ll still be able to use the panel because of another American made product.

“Tesla Powerwall batteries are also made in the United States so now homeowners can say ‘I’m able to get my solar panels and my battery storage from U.S. manufacturers’, which has really never occurred before,” says Arthur.

Currently, Sun Solar is trying to persuade Springfield City Utilities to offer cash rebates as an incentive for customers to go solar, but the company isn’t doing so at this time.

President Trump’s tariffs on solar panels, although seen as an opportunity by Sun Solar, may have stifled some utility-scale developers.  A report last June published by Reuters revealed U.S. companies have canceled or frozen $2.5 billion in large solar power installation projects due to the tariffs.

(Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV provided this report,  Missourinet’s Jason Taylor contributed) 

Hotline aims to help Missouri federal workers impacted by government shutdown

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Many federal government workers have faced their first pay day without a paycheck and are about to go without another one. Penny Adams is the Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Community Services Agency in northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph. Adams said the Help-Me-Hotline is a resource available to anyone impacted by the federal government shutdown.

Hotline aims to help Missouri federal workers impacted by government shutdown

“For a lot of these workers, they have not ever had to reach out for any kind of assistance. Hopefully many of them have some sort of savings they can fall back on, but the majority of the people live paycheck to paycheck and that’s not an option for them. When they are in these situations, they don’t really know where to begin, so what we want to let them know is the first place we recommend they call is the Help-Me-Hotline. It’s committed to connecting people needing assistance to the resources that are out there in our community,” she says.

Adams says furloughed federal employees in need of social services and anyone with questions about availability of public benefits can call the Help-Me-Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get help.

“They can call about absolutely anything. We have a database that we can enter in what their needs are – say if they’re calling about food – we can enter in ‘food pantries’ and bring up all the food pantries and then we will help them narrow it down to a food pantry that works for them… because everybody’s situation is different,” Adams says. “If they’re needing help on utilities, we can tell them based on what kind of utilities they have, where they’re located, what agencies they need to call.”

Callers also can receive information on mental health counseling, transportation, job training, substance use recovery services, child care and volunteer opportunities. Additional information about unemployment benefits for furloughed employees is available from OPM at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/#url=Unemployment-Insurance-Resources.

Adams says while they are focused on helping those in the northwest Missouri area, they also have access to resources all over Missouri and in Kansas. The Help-Me-Hotline is a free and confidential service.

For more information visit www.helpmenow.org or call (816) 364-1131 or (800) 365-7724.

By Sarah Thomack of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Some Missouri charities stepping in to help food stamp recipients during shutdown

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits commonly referred to as food stamps for the month of February early.  It’s not additional benefits, but an early release because of the federal government shutdown.

According to the USDA, a provision in the congressional spending plan that expired in late December leaves funding in place for program’s such as food stamps for an additional 30 days.

Food stamp recipients in Missouri will receive their early benefits by Sunday.  But Missouri Department of Social Services Director Steve Corsi has warned recipients not to use those benefits before February because they won’t be issued again in that month.

Because of the situation caused by the shutdown, some charities across Missouri are stepping in to help. Among them is the Council of Churches of the Ozarks Crosslines food pantry in Springfield.

Crossline’s Tom Faulkner notes that it’s not known what will happen with food stamp distribution in March.  “These families are already in need, and now they’ve been asked by the federal government to make those dollars stretch,” Faulkner added. “We don’t know if they’re going to be able to do that.”

As a result, Crosslines is changing the way it hands out food. Typically, it invites families to load up on food once every other month, but will now allow them to do so twice a month until the Government reopens.

Faulkner says this change might put a strain on Crossline’s operation, but he has faith the community will support the organization’s efforts.  “We’re going to double that amount, which concerns us because that’s not anything that’s been budgeted for,” Faulker said. “But we feel this is the right thing to do for those families that are coming in.”

In December, Missouri’s food stamp program served 703,365 individuals.  The average benefit was $256.81 per household or $119.66 per person.  Missouri receives roughly $84.2 million in Food Stamp benefits from the federal government on a monthly basis.

A division of the state Department of Social Services processes food stamp applications but is not guaranteeing that eligible applicants will receive the benefits while the partial federal shutdown is in effect.

(Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV contributed to this report)

Fallen professional bull rider remembered in his southwest Missouri hometown

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Mason Lowe, the bull rider from southwest Missouri’s Exeter, was 25 when he died Tuesday night from injuries after competing at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado.

Fallen professional bull rider remembered in his southwest Missouri hometown

His death is only the third involving a rider at a Professional Bull Riders-sanctioned event since the organization’s founding in 1992. Lowe was ranked No. 18 in the world when a bucking bull threw him off and stomped on his chest. Lowe attempted to stand up, then collapsed and died of a massive heart injury at a hospital later on.

His name echoes through the halls of Exeter High School, where principal Tim Jordan says Lowe is well known and admired.

“He knew what he wanted to do with his life and he went out and did that,” Jordan says Wednesday.  “All the people in our community are so proud of him.  His life has given them pride in our school and our community.”

One of Lowe’s classmates was Kandace Koehler, who says she couldn’t help but see him as the funny kid from school.

“He was always the class clown,” she says. “If his name got brought up it would be like ‘Can you believe that he did that?'”

Koehler is now a first-grade teacher at the school where she and Lowe first met. She says his image is larger than life for kids growing up in and around Exter.

“He went to this school, this small school in a small community and he was in the big leagues,” says Koehler. “I mean he was awesome. It’s heartbreaking that we lost him so young but he’s like a hero to these kids.”

A tribute to Lowe was held at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

(Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV contributed this story)  

Fire at St. Louis Lambert International Airport causes evacuation Sunday

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Terminal 1 at St. Louis Lambert International re-opened at 9:30 a.m. Sunday after a two and a half hour evacuation caused by a roof fire. The fire was isolated on the western end of the roof in Terminal 1. 

St. Louis firefighters inspect the damage in a cooper roof in Terminal 1 at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on January 13, 2019. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

According to an airport statement, more than 130 firefighters responded to the incident from the St. Louis City Fire Department and other agencies assisting the City’s Airport’s fire division. The firefighters extinguished the smoldering fire, which appeared to be burning through plywood and roofing insulation under the top copper layer of the Terminal 1 roof. There were no injuries. There was no fire inside the building.

“There was a tremendous and quick response from the St. Louis Fire Department and our mutual-aid agencies to quickly isolate, contain and put out the fire to minimize the damage and determine the terminal was safe to re-open,” said STL Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge. “We know this was a difficult fire to attack. They were operating on a sloped, copper roof, with snow.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Passengers were relocated to the Terminal 1 Garage during the incident and there were only two temporary flight diversions during the incident.

 

Chocolate delicacy form southeast Missouri store makes splash at governor’s ball

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A sweet treat made its way from Cape Girardeau to Jefferson City. At the Legislative Ball on Wednesday, people got the chance to try a creamy chocolate specialty from southeast Missouri.

Bourbon Balls (Image courtesy of the Corner Grocery Store in Cape Girardeau)

According to the owners of The Corner Grocery Store in Cape Girardeau, their bourbon balls are customers’ favorite.

“Everything about them. They’re so creamy on the inside, and then when we submerge them in milk chocolate and garnish them with that roasted pecan, they’re just delightful. Everybody seems to like them,” said Co-owner, Mary Gentry.

Even Missouri Republican state Senator Wayne Wallingford likes them. Robert and Mary Gentry own The Corner Grocery Store.  Mary told KFVS-TV the Senator took more than 80 bourbon balls to the capital for the Governor’s Ball.

“We’re excited anytime, but when a person of his stature comes in, it makes it a little bit more exciting that someone is gonna take your candies and share them with others. And ya know, the state capital isn’t a bad place to have a tray of bourbon balls,” said Robert Gentry.

He said these homemade specialties started about 76 years ago.

Mary Gentry of The Corner Grocery Store in Cape Girardeau with state Senator Wayne Wallingford (Image courtesy of the Corner Grocery Store)

“It was as if my grandmother was saying if you’re gonna do something with my recipe, now is the time, and we did,” said Robert.

The Gentry’s opened their store 12 years ago, and four years later, they decided to start making chocolate.

“So we went to my grandmother’s recipe, and that’s a bourbon ball. And we decided to take her bourbon ball recipe and create a delicious candy for the people of Cape Girardeau, and that was the start of our candy making and our most popular candy, our Kentucky bourbon ball,” said Robert.

Robert tests each candy for quality when he’s making them, and he loves them all.

“It’s like my grandmother used to say when someone asked her who was her favorite grandchild, she would say the one she was with at the moment. So, I guess it depends on which candy I’m eating at the moment. But the bourbon ball is a little bit dearer to heart because it is my grandmother’s recipe.”

The Gentry’s keep the special bourbon ball recipe a secret between family members.

(Missourinet media partner KFVS-TV contributed this report)

Separation of church and state group lodges 2nd Missouri complaint in the last month

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The Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation has lodged its second complaint in a month against a local Missouri jurisdiction.  And the latest engagement may end up in court.

In December, the group asked the city of Ozark south of Springfield to remove a cross from a city-owned park. The complaint led the city to move the structure to privately owned land.

Now the Foundation has moved onto its next battle in Camden County near Lake of the Ozarks.  The group claims two paintings in the Camden County Clerk’s Office violate the separation of church and state clause in the U.S. Constitution.

Paintings in the Camden County Clerk’s office that led to a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (Image courtesy of KOLR-TV)

One is a painting of two steel beams, in the shape of a cross, with the date: 9-11.  The other piece of artwork has an American flag with the Bible verse John 15:13.  So far, the county has removed a ballot box that was positioned near the paintings.

KOLR-TV in Springfield reports roughly 200 people packed into a Camden County Commission meeting Tuesday to express their views.

Representatives of the family that filed the complaint say the paintings represent a clear First Amendment violation.

“Well, I’m here to tell you that their rights do matter,” Joe Poor, a family representative said. “Their rights are guaranteed by the same documents that Mr. Hasty (Presiding Commissioner) referenced earlier. They’re guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and they have every bit of a right, to not have you impose your beliefs upon them.”

But many Camden County residents say they don’t want the items removed.

“I agree that they have a right to speak under the Constitution, but they don’t have a right to sue us because we have a different stand than they do,” a community member said.

Camden County Presiding Commissioner Greg Hasty told attendees that the views of residents would be heavily considered moving forward.

“The commission is in the position where we have to make some decisions,” said Hasty. “If I am getting the views of the majority of the people here, they would rather fight to the end rather than remove this.”

Hasty says the commission most likely will vote to retain the religious paintings based on the feedback they heard Tuesday.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation says it will take the matter to court if the County Commission does not remove the painting.

(Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV supplied this report)

Marijuana bills on the upswing in Missouri Legislature

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There are a number of bills in the state legislature that would loosen marijuana laws further after voters approved its medical use in November’s election.

Marijuana bills on the upswing in Missouri Legislature

Democratic Representative Barbara Anne Washington of Kansas City and Republican Representative Ron Hicks of St. Charles are sponsoring measures that would remove marijuana convictions from criminal records.

Washington thinks the recent election shows that residents views toward marijuana have evolved. 

“I think that both sides of the state of Missouri have spoken that they want to move forward with marijuana,” says Washington.

Hicks sees a possibility for the further relaxing of penalties involving marijuana use.  

“If we can regulate it the same way they regulate alcohol then I can totally see it happening,” Hicks says.

Hicks’ bill would remove convictions for individuals who now qualify for medical marijuana prescriptions.

“Why would we not. We want to help the sick,” Hicks says. “This is another way to help somebody. You’re doing something that’s legal now that’s for your health care but you’ve been in trouble in the past for treating yourself, for a medical condition, but now you have a record due to it but now it’s legal.

Washington’s proposal would lift convictions for those who were only in possession of 35 grams or less. 

“You can’t get financial aid for college if you have any drug conviction, including marijuana possession,” she says. “You are not allowed to get housing vouchers.”

A bill sponsored by Democratic Representative Brandon Ellington of Kansas City would go much further than the other two measures would.  It would legalize the possession of less than two ounces of marijuana and the growing of fewer than six cannabis plants for any individual at least 21 years or older.  Ellington introduced the same proposal in 2018.

(Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV provided this report)

SSM closing Women’s and Children’s services in northern Missouri community

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SSM Health is closing the Women’s and Children’s Services department at the Mexico Hospital and its Women’s Health Clinic and Pediatrics Clinic in Mexico. The Mexico hospital will also no longer have after hours, weekend or holiday anesthesia coverage. The site will no longer provide surgical services during those times.

SSM closing Women’s and Children’s services in northern Missouri community

In an email sent out by the SSM today (Monday), it says the department and clinics will be closing effective February 28th due to increasing challenges of provider staffing and consistently low patient volumes. The message goes on to say the Mexico operation is losing two key providers next month – an OB/GYN and a pediatrician.

SSM says there has been a consistent decline in the number of babies born at the hospital each year and St. Mary’s Hospital-Audrain anticipates less than 200 total births this year. It says the figure is not enough to sustain a best practice full-service program.

SSM says it will be working with their patients by helping them transition to another local provider of their choice.

The changes will impact 24 employees and the company says it is working with each individual to identify other open positions within SSM Health.

SSM signed a letter of Intent to transfer ownership of St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital in Audrain and Jefferson City to MU Health in August. The proposed sale is expected to go to the Missouri Legislature for approval.

By Aimee Higgins of Missourinet affiliate KXEO in Mexico

Parson says Panama Canal expansion is quite the deal for Missouri

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Gov. Mike Parson says the Panama Canal expansion is an opportunity to make greater use of the Mississippi River for shipping agriculture products. During the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Convention in Columbia on Saturday, Parson says the two-and-a-half-year-old expansion can give an edge to Missouri farmers.

Gov. Mike Parson

“No matter what part of the state you’re in, in agriculture, that’s going to play a huge role of how we get our products out of this state and the opportunities we’re going to have for that,” he says. “I think that’s definitely an area we’ve got to focus on.”

Parson, a Republican, says alternatives must be found for state transportation funding, since Missouri voters have rejected a fuel tax increase more than once.

“The problem does not go away and we have to figure out a way to be able to meet the demands of the future for this state,” Parson says.

In November, Missouri voters rejected a gas tax increase to help maintain roads. The ballot measure would have boosted the fuel tax by 2.5 cents annually over four years.

Parson spoke to a crowd of about 700 people at the event.

By Tom Steever of Brownfield Ag News