Bad Translations

Here's a great translation I found in the shower in Anji.

Neosho R-5 Receives State Award for Professional Development

From the Joplin Globe:

NEOSHO, Mo. — The R-5 district has received the 2011 Commissioner’s Award for High Quality Professional Development.

“We’re proud,” said Alma Stipp, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “It was a group effort.”
The state award recognizes the district’s efforts to improve the personal and career-related development of its faculty and staff as a means to bolster student achievement.

Stipp said the district’s focus on professional development began five years ago, when it developed a plan that centered on an initiative to help students in poverty. Since then, the district has brought in people from a national organization — the Highlands, Texas-based Aha! Process Inc., which seeks to improve poverty levels through the education system — to coach faculty and staff on how to reach those students.

“We trained large groups of our staff on different strategies for teaching and good practices we need to understand in order to meet our students’ needs,” she said.

The district was presented the award last week by the state Commissioner of Education, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Staff Development Council at an annual conference in Branson. District officials will formally announce their receipt of it at their monthly Board of Education meeting.

The board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the library reference room of Neosho Junior High School.

(Blogger's note:  Great Job Alma!)

PPI/CPI Up In February

The PPI for finished goods increased 1.6% in February.  That follows a rise of 0.9% in December and marks the largest increase in finished goods prices since a 1.9% advance in June 2009. 

The CPI increased 0.4% in January.  Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.6% before seasonal adjustment.  Large increases were seen in grocery and energy.  Food increases were the largest in over 2 years.

Intermediate goods prices (prices paid by manufacturers) moved up 2.0% in February. 

Unadjusted, finished goods advanced 5.6% for the 12 months ended February 2011, the largest 12-month increase since a 5.9% rise in March 2010.

You can view the latest reports here.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ppi.pdf

February Housing Down…Again

From the Economics and Statistics Administration:

Building permits in February 2011 were 517,000, down 8.2% from January and down 20.5% from February 2010. Housing starts were 479,000 in February 2011, down 22.5% from the prior month and down 20.8% from the prior year.

$65K Will Get you 45 (days)

From today’s Joplin Globe:

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Former long-time Carthage city worker Amy Harrison pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $65,000 in city court funds on Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court.

As part of a plea agreement, Circuit Judge Gayle Crane sentenced her to 45 days in jail, after suspending a 10-year prison sentence and placing her on five years of probation.

Assistant prosecutor Kimberly Fisher said it appears all the city’s loss calculated at $64,682 will be covered by an insurance bond, so the state is not requesting restitution. But, if any of the amount is not covered, Harrison will be expected to cover that amount, as part of the plea agreement.

Harrison was represented by Charles Genesio, and was accompanied to court on Monday by her mother and two children.

Police Chief Greg Dagnan was in court along with Randee Kaiser, assistant chief, said the investigation showed Harrison “made a concentrated effort” to hide the theft by falsifying reports and shifting money between court funds

Water Service Restored

Water service has been restored.

Known Water Issue

City crews are working to address the low water pressure issue in parts of Neosho. More information as it becomes available.

Local Pilots Suffer Crash in Texas

Local airshow performers Kyle and Amanda Franklin were reportedly injured in a crash yesterday while performing in Brownsville, TX.  The couple is based at the Neosho Municipal Airport. 

As a sponsor of their airshow act, I’ve gotten to know them both over the past few months.  They are a great couple and great aviators.  My prayers go out to them and I hope they will be back in the skies together soon.

Neosho March Sales Taxes Receipts Decline

Neosho’s March sales tax receipts were DOWN just over 21% compared to the same time last year.  That follows an increase of 26% last month vs. the same time a year ago.  For the first half of the year, Neosho’s 1% general sales tax revenues are DOWN 2.62% compared with the previous year – or about $25,500.

The last time sales tax revenues were this low was in 2007.

(This data reflects sales tax receipts which are paid to the city during the first week of each month.  Tax receipts to the city typically lag several weeks from when the taxes are collected and remitted to the state by businesses.)

Hannibal to Build New Airport Terminal Building

(From the Quincy Herald –Whig)

The City of Hannibal is one step closer to having a new terminal at the Hannibal Regional Airport (KHAE).

The finalized terminal plans include a pilot's lounge with kitchenette and sleeping area, a lobby, a conference room, restrooms, areas for flight instruction, offices for the fixed base operator (FBO) and other amenities.

"It seems to me like a functional building, and the architect has put some of his gingerbread on it to make it eye-pleasing and an amenity out there," Rees said. "When people land their plane and first walk in Hannibal's doors, they (will) see something nicer."

Barron Aviation will experience something nicer, as well. The main hangar currently serves as the airport's hub and offices.

"This will give an actual terminal for people, a presentable place for businessmen and politicians and people who come and go at the airport," Barron said.

The new facilities will run about $1.2 million, funded by Missouri Department of Transportation aviation dollars, a federal grant matching that amount and a city match.

Federal money also will fund the access road and parking lot.

The full article is here.

MIAA Women's Quarter Finals

MIAA basketball continues from the Kansas City Municipal Arena. Northwest leads Truman 33-31 at halftime. MSSU Lady Lions play at 2:30pm against Pittsburg State.

Go Lions!

Neosho City Census Information

If you haven’t seen the final figures, the census data for Neosho came out as follows:

Neosho’s population increased from 10,505 in 2000 to 11,835 in 2010.  The increase of 1,330 equates to 12.7%

The link for all of Missouri is here.