Opinion

It has been our company’s pleasure to have had help from the Ray County Sheriff’s Office, deputies, road patrol, civil and criminal departments, and of course Sheriff Garry Bush, who has personally been involved with a dozen or more of our law enforcement issues in the last few years and currently.

We have seen a great deal of misinformation circulating around Amendment 3, which will be on the November ballot. In reality, this measure is an attempt by out-of-state special interests to influence the drawing of legislative districts in our state. The redistricting proposal put forth two years ago isn’t a Missouri idea, and it’s disingenuous to portray it as such. On the contrary, Amendment 3 is a proposal that was developed and written by Missourians. This proposal will give voters the opportunity to truly clean up Missouri politics.

As with many ballot issues we have seen in the past few years, the ballot language is misleading and omits what you really are voting on. What the ballot language does not tell you is that you will be giving up your right to vote on five present officeholders in Clay County.

An Oregon County judge erroneously ruled the state of Missouri must sell 625 acres next to the pristine Eleven Point River downstream from Greer Spring. The judge’s ruling threatens our beloved state park system and sets a dangerous precedent that cannot stand. Missouri needs to appeal – and appeal now.

The Excelsior Springs and Richmond school districts are among the area school districts that have taken the right approach to the coronavirus. The districts opened with plans in place to address the virus.

In less than 60 days, voters will pick two new Clay County commissioners. Until then, present commissioners should give no further consideration to the controversial, $20 million annex a plan – one marked by outrages against the public’s interest.

Gov. Mike Parson gave a baffling explanation for refusing to require everyone to wear face masks in public places.

A terrible dark cloud hangs over any bid for the Clay County commissioner offices. That cloud should be washed clean by the culmination of the state audit and thereby the conclusion of any findings and misdeeds or malpractice by current members of the County Commission one way or the other.

Officials in Lawson have good reason to feel outrage over the seemingly plodding and distrustful way the Ray County Commission has clung to federal coronavirus relief money that could be assisting Lawson and other communities across the county, but city leaders should not blame Ray County officials.