2020 Year In Review

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2020 has been a wild ride of a year.  While it will be remembered as the year the Coronavirus impacted everyone’s lives, a lot of other things happened in Kahoka and Clark County.   Heres’ a look back at the news from January through June.

January

Darin Uhlmeyer, originally from Kahoka, senior recruiter for Witte Brothers Exchange of Troy was chosen to represent Witte and meet with their driver at the Wreaths Across America wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

On January 3, Clark County Indian and Lady Indian alumni took to the basketball court to raise funds for the basketball program.

Kahoka and Clark County have a new local source for information: www.kahokamedia.com.  The new website includes an entire e-edition of the newspaper for readers, as well as online news, sports and obituaries.

Missouri officials encouraged residents to get a flu shot as flu was widespread in Missouri.

Delbert and Twila Harper celebrated their 65th anniversary.

Fire destroyed a home in the 400 block of North Walnut Street in Kahoka.  

Sports-related items highlighted the Clark County R-1 School Board’s January  agenda, but classroom technology needs dominated the discussion.  The board met at the high school so they could tour the activity field locker room/concession building.  That tour never happened. 

Instead, the board discussed classroom technology, and the disparity between Running Fox and Black Hawk Elementary Schools.  At Running Fox, every student has access to a computer, and use computers about two hours a day.  At Black Hawk, most students have computer access only one or two hours per week.

Six candidates filed for election to the CCR-1 School Board:  Kevin Ross, Ruth Brotherton, Doug James, Cibyl McIntire, Dr. Heather Weber Webster and Tammy McDaniel-Rmasy.  

Lady Indian Head Coach earned his 200th win as a coach with a 65-50 win over Canton.

The Clark County Commissioners approved a nearly 5.6 million dollar budget for 2020.

February

Kahoka Medical Clinic has been accredited as a Certified Rural Clinic and granted Exemplary Provider status.  The clinic is owned and operated by Blessing Physician Services.

A mobile home in Mac’s Trailer Court was destroyed by fire.

A pair of key transportation improvements for northeast Missouri appear to be moving to the next cycle of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs, which sets forth specific construction projects MoDOT will undertake in the next five years.  Upgrades likely to advance are shoulder working and resurfacing of Hwy. 15 between Memphis and Edina, and raising Hwy 61/136 new Alexandria to battle flooding in the area.

Black Hawk Elementary students how have access to more than 125 additional Chromebooks to use in the classroom.

Members of Kahoka’s American Legion Post 192 presented the Great River Honor Flight with a check for $1270 raised from their turkey and noodles meal.

March

Charles West of rural Clark County filed as a Democrat candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Missouri’s Sixth District, challenging incumbent Republican Sam Graves.

CCR-1 Senior Andrew Moore advanced to the American Legion High School National Oratorical Finals.

The 35th Annual Farm/City Night, sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension Council, honored Joe and Susan Thomson with the Leaders’ Honor Roll award.

The Trump Train Whistle Stop campaign tour across northeast Missouri made a stop in Edina.  Governor Mike Parson, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick  attended.

Beverly Hasner was honored with the Frank Graham 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award for 43 years of service to 4-H programs in Clark and Lewis Counties.

CCR-1 approved adding E-sports as an extracurricular activity.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson urged cancellation for large group activities as concerns over the COVID-19 virus grows.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued a State of Emergency Declaration in response to the COVID-19 virus.

The University of Missouri System canceled in-person classes for the spring semester for all four state universities.

The Clark County R-1 School District school board voted to closes school through at least April 3.  The district is providing meals for students at eight pickup locations in the county.  Local banks, the Clark County Courthouse and several other businesses have closed their doors to the public and allow access by appointment only.  Restaurant dining rooms are closed, and many churches have suspended worship.  

Governor Mike Parson postponed the April 7 municipal elections until June 2.

April

The Clark County American Cancer Society canceled their Daffodil Days fundraiser.

Kahoka Police cautioned residents and businesses that a number of counterfeit twenty dollar bills have been circulating in the community.  The bills have the same serial number and are marked “Prop Copy”.

The Clark County Health Department confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Clark County.  The 50-60 year old Clark County resident is currently hospitalized and receiving care at Hannibal Regional Hospital.

Presiding First Circuit Judge Gary Dial retired after serving 24 years on the bench.  Dial was appointed Circuit Judge by Governor Mel Carnahan in 1996.

The Clark County Commissioners and Clark County Health Department issued a county-wide “Stay At Home” order on Friday afternoon, April 3, effective starting Monday, April 6 until the end of the month.

The CCR-1 School Board extended the school closure until May 1. 

The City of Kahoka ordered all city parks closed.  These areas include public parks, park restrooms, ball park areas, batting cages and the Farmers’ Market shelter.

Governor Mike Parson ordered schools remain closed through the rest of the academic year.

A late-season winter storm dumped several inches of heavy wet snow on the Kahoka area.

Sharon Miller was named the new administrator of the Clark County Senior Center.

Fire destroyed the City Hall building in Wyaconda.  There were no injuries but the structure was a total loss.

Members of the Clark County A&M Fair Board announced that the 2020 Clark County Fair would more forward as scheduled.

The Clark County FFA Chapter received a Top Chapter Award.  Only 10 percent of state chapters receive the designation each year.

May

Steve’s Family Dining in Kahoka reopened their dining room on Monday morning, May 4.

A woman that went missing while mushroom hunting west of Wayland was found safely.

Clark County will receiver $797,824 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. 

The Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant has been postponed until June of 2021.

Clark County R-1 High School seniors will graduate after all.  After several months of uncertainty, the board made the decision to proceed with the Commencement Ceremony on May 17.  The graduation will be held outside at the Activity Field. 

Samantha Arnold and Brynn Sprague shared Co-Valedictorian Honors at the CCR-1 graduation ceremony.  Sprague was also Outstanding Senior Girl and Outstanding Instrumental Musician.  Andrew Moore received the Leadership and the Core Values/Character Traits awards.  Corbyn Harper was named Outstanding Senior Boy, and Madison Bergman received the Citizenship Award.   Kevin Smith received the High ACT award.  Maci Winters was named Outstanding Senior Art Student, and Jewell Hopp was named Outstanding Vocal Musician.  Caleb Lapsley was named Outstanding Senior Athlete, along with Jade Ross and Madison Kauth.

Kenneth and Patricia Winters of Wayland celebrated their 60th Anniversary.

The Media and kahokamedia.com were selected to receive funds from Google’s Journalism Emergency Relief Fund. 

Clark County graduate Shannon Hillyer’s original oil painting, titled “The Glimpse”, has been chosen for the Third Annual Undergraduate Juried Exhibition at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum in St. Joseph.

June

Kahoka’s pool will remain closed until necessary repairs are completed.  The pool has been losing approximately six inches, or 10,000 gallons of water per day for the past several seasons.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Mike Kauth retired June 1.  He was appointed to the patrol January 1, 1992.

A lightning strike damaged a transformer and control panel at Kahoka’s substation behind City Hall, leaving the city in the dark.  Power was restored later in the morning.

The Kahoka/Clark County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Clark County Auto, owned by Quentin Hamner.

The City of Kahoka has a new animal ordinance in effect.  The ordinance includes pit bulls in the definition of vicious dogs, subjecting them to new regulations.  No new vicious dogs may be brought into Kahoka, and existing vicious dogs have several new regulations their owners must comply with in order to remain.

Dozens of Kahoka residents took to Facebook to vent their frustrations over the condition of the Kahoka Cemetery during the Memorial Day holiday., which included muddy ruts and uneven mowing.

Mark Plenge was elected president of the Clark County R-1 School board.  New board members Doug James and Heather Weber Webster joined incumbent Kevin Ross in taking the Oath of Office.

Steve and Virginia Brammer celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Sixteen trenches were cut in Kahoka’s baseball field.  More than 6000 feet of tiling was laid to help drain the outfield.