Forsyth Archives - Missourinet

Former Missouri House Education Committee chair laid to rest; described as statesman and champion (AUDIO)

January 22, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s education commissioner and a number of current and former state lawmakers traveled to southern Missouri’s Ava for Thursday’s funeral for former State Rep. Maynard Wallace, R-Thornfield.

Former State Rep. Maynard Wallace, R-Thornfield, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on April 8, 2010 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

An obituary from Clinkingbeard Funeral Homes says Mr. Wallace died suddenly at his home on Sunday. He was 77.

The Thornfield Republican served in the Missouri House for eight years, from 2003-2010. He chaired the powerful Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee during his final two years.

State Sen. Karla Eslinger, R-Wasola, describes Wallace as a champion for public education.

“He would find an opportunity for folks to understand that we have some really good schools out there,” Eslinger says. “He was very proud of the work of the schools in his (southern Missouri) district, and so he was able to share those success stories to folks who may not have that perception of public education.”

Wallace also served as a school superintendent in Ava and in southwest Missouri’s Forsyth. Eslinger served as assistant superintendent under Wallace, at Ava.

She tells Missourinet that Wallace was a statesman.

“The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician is worried about the next election, a statesman is worried about the next generation. And I think that is definitely Maynard Wallace,” says Eslinger.

After leaving the Legislature, Wallace also served three years on the State Board of Education. He also served six years on the Missouri State Tourism Commission.

Senator Eslinger also describes him as a devoted husband, grandfather and a man of faith.

Former State Sens. David Sater, R-Cassville, and Mike Cunningham, R-Rogersville, were among the many former and current lawmakers who attended the funeral.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full five-minute interview with State Sen. Karla Eslinger, R-Wasola, which was recorded on January 21, 2021:

College of the Ozarks security bill to be heard by Missouri House committee on Monday

January 25, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation that would allow a private college in southwest Missouri to employ police officers on-campus will go before a House committee Monday in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Jeff Justus, R-Branson, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on March 12, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The bill from State Rep. Jeff Justus, R-Branson, will be heard Monday at noon by the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.

It’s called the “Private College Campus Protection Act.” Last year’s bill would have allowed any of Missouri’s private college or universities to employ police officers on-campus, but the bill stalled.

Justus has rewritten the language so that the new bill only applies to College of the Ozarks, which is located in Point Lookout.

College of the Ozarks Operation Head for Crisis Management Kurt McDonald traveled to Jefferson City last February to testify for the bill, saying it’s about response time.

McDonald notes Point Lookout is about 30 minutes away from Taney County Sheriff’s deputies in Forsyth. He testified in February that the bill is needed because of what he calls the too-often threat of an active shooter, and emphasized his respect for Taney County Sheriff’s deputies.

“I don’t want to be the person that calls a parent in the loss of a student, and this is a way that we can put another level of protection by being our own first responders,” McDonald testified in 2019.

Bill supporters say it would ensure campus safety and would require a professionalism for College of the Ozarks campus security. Under the bill, officers would have to take an oath of office and finish police training to obtain a peace officer license.

Justus’ bill is House Bill 1282.

This year’s bill includes a location description for “private college” or “private university” within five miles “of any city of the fourth classification with more than 4,000 but fewer than 4,500 inhabitants and located in any county of the first classification with more than 50,000 but fewer than 70,000.”

These provisions only apply to College of the Ozarks.