Princeton Archives - Missourinet

Rural lawmaker says shortage of gas stations near Missouri-Iowa border is a safety issue

April 12, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

(News director Bob Ehle at Missourinet Moberly affiliate KWIX contributed to this story)

A state lawmaker who represents four rural northern Missouri counties is warning about the lack of gas stations near the Missouri-Iowa border, saying it’s a safety issue in his farming district.

State Rep. Danny Busick (R-Newtown) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on February 9, 2021 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Danny Busick (R-Newtown), the Missouri House Special Committee on Small Business vice chairman, says regulations make it difficult to operate small, rural gas stations.

“Like I have to drive 25 miles … whether it be Milan, Unionville or Princeton to get gas. And within that 25 miles, there’s six little towns there that have gas stations located in them,” Busick tells our Moberly affiliate KWIX Radio.

Busick tells Missourinet that gas stations in those towns like Humphreys, Powersville, Galt and Newtown have closed in recent years. He says drivers can run out of gas and that it’s a safety issue.

“This area includes (the) western part of Putnam County, eastern part of Mercer County and most of western Sullivan County.” says Busick.

He says some of the gas stations that have closed were operated by families who have died. He says those stations were grandfathered in and that they should be grandfathered in again, to another owner.

Representative Busick is hoping to raise awareness about the issue. He’s also spoken about the issue on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City.

Missouri lawmaker wants to see statewide mass vaccination event for teachers (AUDIO)

February 24, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

A freshman Missouri lawmaker is calling on the Parson administration to prioritize teachers for COVID vaccinations. State Rep. Michael Burton, D-Lakeshire, wants to see teachers moved from tier three to tier two.

State Rep. Michael Burton, D-Lakeshire, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on February 23, 2021, as State Rep. Neil Smith (D-St. Louis County) listens (photo: Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“Right now, there’s a potential that they could not get the first vaccination shot for possibly months. Could be possibly two to three months, there’s no guarantee,” Burton says.

State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) director Dr. Randall Williams told Capitol reporters last week that the Parson administration’s main focus continues to be the most vulnerable and elderly residents.

“Our north star is our most vulnerable, and I think I’ve told you (Capitol reporters) the second thing I look at every morning after I look at the case rate is the percentage of our senior citizens who’ve been vaccinated,” says Dr. Williams.

That percentage is now 38 percent for those 85 and older, and 26 percent for those ages 75-84.

As for Representative Burton, he’s also asking the Parson administration to consider a statewide mass vaccination event for teachers.

“It will make the parents of those students safer, it will make the grandparents of those students safer. And I think that we need to prioritize the teachers,” Burton says.

An online petition is circulating in support of Burton’s call.

“We do have a petition going around right now, it has over 2,000 signatures. It’s been signed from people all across the state,” says Burton.

Burton tells Missourinet he’s had good conversations with Dr. Williams, adding that they both understand where the other is coming from and will keep the conversation going.

Missouri vaccinators have now administered more than one-million total doses of the COVID vaccine. About 709,000 Missourians have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, which is about 11.5 percent of the population.

The Missouri National Guard, DHSS and local health partners are planning multiple mass vaccination events on Wednesday. Events will be taking place in northern Missouri’s Moberly, northwest Missouri’s Princeton, southwest Missouri’s Anderson, west-central Missouri’s Warsaw and in southeast Missouri’s Bollinger County.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full five-minute interview with State Rep. Michael Burton, D-Lakeshire, which was recorded on February 22, 2021: