Memphis Democrat Newspaper

A month after a Memphis man was finally brought into custody following a stabbing in the small northeast Missouri community, charges continue to be issued in the case.

A third arrest warrant for hindering of prosecution was issued April 19th. Jeffrey Mark Jalinski 33, of 17 Ridge Road Trailer Court in Memphis, is wanted on the class E felony charge. He faces a $10,000 cash only bond.

According to court documents, Jalinski was present in the mobile home, along with Julie Forquer, on March 20th, when police were searching for Curtis Cousins, who was a suspect in a stabbing earlier that morning.

Both Forquer and Jalinski, allegedly repeatedly denied that Cousins, or the trailer owner, Robert Young, were in the mobile home. Ultimately both men were located by law enforcement inside the residence and Cousins was taken into custody.

Forquer was arrested on a felony charge of hampering prosecution and Young is wanted on a similar charge. Jalinski has now been added to that list.

Forquer, the lone member of the trio to be taken into custody on the charge, is now facing additional charges after being released on her personal recognizance.

According to court documents, she is being sought on a warrant for stealing a motor vehicle.

According to law enforcement she is being sought in connection to the theft of a 2003 Ford Ranger pickup from her father’s residence, which was reported missing at 7 a.m. on April 20th.

The Memphis Police Department is asking anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of Forquer, Young, or Jalinski, to contact the MPD at 465-2106.

The Downing House Museum Complex is planning the 3rd annual Candlelit Tour of the Past for October 2018 when several new characters will be added to the cast.

The Downing House Museum complex is getting ready to reopen for the 2018 season on May 1, 2018. The facilities will be open each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through September from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with volunteers available to provide guided tours to visitors.

“We also try to accommodate visitors on other days by appointment,” said volunteer Rhonda McBee.”

The museum phone number is (660) 465-2259, if there is no answer call (660) 465-2195 or 2510.

Workers recently replaced the roof on both the Downing House and the Boyer House, replaced the guttering, and have begun to clean and rearrange for those who wish to visit during this year’s season.

“The museum is very fortunate to have excellent volunteers to provide informational tours to our patrons and to help with the everyday upkeep and maintenance of our complex,” said McBee.

During 2017 volunteers provided tours to more than 450 patrons during the regular season.

The “Soldier in the Field” also known as the Barnett Statue found a new home on the northwest corner of the Memphis Depot. Many volunteers worked to get the monument moved and erected. It was officially dedicated on Memorial Day.

“In observance of the annual Scotland County Antique Fair we opened the doors to visitors for a ‘free will offering’ and were happy to see visitors of all ages enjoy our artifacts, buildings and grounds,” said McBee. “We also hosted descendants from the Downing Family in August 2017.  They came from all over the United States and Central America. We were happy to provide them a tour and they provided our volunteers with information and background from their family tree.”

“An Evening at the Museum – a Candlelit Tour of the Past” was held on October 13 & 14, 2017. This marked the second year the complex hosted the event. Guests experienced actual local history provided by characters from the past.

“We are planning a 3rd annual event and have tentatively scheduled this year’s evening tour for October 19h and 20th, said McBee. “We will be adding some new characters to the local favorites. Look to see Ella Ewing, Tom Horn, William G. Downing, and others. Mark your calendars and watch the Facebook page for more information.”

Also new for 2018 will be a Townsend Wagon that was manufactured right here in Memphis, MO in the late 1800s and on loan, a Circus Wagon from Billy Hall’s (Lancaster, MO native) traveling days with a circus. More information will be available at a later date.

The complex continues to collect aluminum cans as a fundraiser. If you have cans, they can be left on the north porch of the Downing House. There are also rag rugs and coverlets for sale at the museum gift shop.

“We rely heavily on the generous contributions from our loyal patrons to keep the museum functioning and the repairs made and we appreciate the contributions made by our patrons and the volunteers who give so freely of their time,” said McBee.

If you haven’t visited recently, the volunteers urge you to stop by for a tour. Admission is $5 per person over aged 10. The museum tour requires walking and climbing stairs, so keep this in mind and wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

“Our Mission Statement is: Working to preserve the local history of Scotland County for future generations, and we strive to do this for all of our patrons,” said McBee.

The Memphis FFA team of Parker Triplett, Anna Triplett, Morgan Blessing and Jenna Blessing took second place in the livestock evaluation career development event at the 90th Missouri FFA Convention.

The Memphis FFA Chapter placed second in the livestock evaluation career development event at the 90th Missouri FFA Convention. There were 59 teams in the competition.

Memphis members include Morgan Blessing, Anna Triplett, Jenna Blessing and Parker Triplett. Individually, Morgan Blessing placed 8th, Anna Triplett placed 9th, Jenna Blessing placed 11th and Parker Triplett placed 45th out of 219 participants. The Memphis FFA advisor is Waltedda Blessing.

Participants in the contest evaluate beef, sheep and swine using performance records and physical appraisals. The team members present oral reasons to defend and explain their placing of three of six classes.

The Memphis soils judging team also participated at the state level placing 8th out of 48 teams.  Memphis members included Luke Triplett, Brock Aylward, Jared Dunn and Jacob Kapfer.

Sponsored by University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, this CDE is one way the FFA prepares student members for career success. CDEs engage student learning and make a real connection to lifetime goals.

The Missouri FFA has 25,375 members representing 343 chapters. The national organization has more than 653,000 members representing 8,568 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

We can always count on the fabulous fire sign, K*, to show up for a prescribed burn. Photo by Javi.

by Ted

At last, perhaps, our trials of a lingering winter are coming to an end. Sara and I celebrated 15 years of living at Dancing Rabbit on the 16th, and this seems to be the lengthiest cold spring we can remember. Warm spells almost always start to show up in March, but from later February to mid-April this year we saw not a one. Cold weather hung around gratuitously like the proverbial guest that has overstayed its welcome.

The arrival of milder weather this past week still feels tentative and slow-moving, as though the land doesn’t believe it yet. Thankfully our bees are out to show us all the tiny things that are already in leaf or flowering, especially henbit and willow, with dandelion muscling in. We’ve been munching the copious chickweed for weeks, but will taper off now that they’re in flower and we have other options coming up. I’ve harvested a couple bowls-full of shiitake mushrooms from our logs, and I witnessed Ben harvesting nettles down the draw several times this past week. I think I’ll cook some up tonight myself for Ironweed supper.

Ted here to tell the news of the village.

Tree leaves are starting to creep out ever so slowly, the grass only just beginning to overgrow last fall’s dead thatch, so that goats are still down in the barnyard eating hay instead of out on pasture. I have a feeling I’ll blink and all of a sudden the real riot of green will have taken over, but who knows? We’ve had lows in the teens in mid-May before. Avert!

Last week closed out the second week of our first visitor session, with at least two folks applying for residency to arrive in autumn. Feels like a good start to the year. I led an alternative power workshop mid-week, which is always a little creaky when I haven’t done it in six months. Some groups are more keen than others on the topic; this one was all engagement and it went well.

I’ve lately joined in the work of our grid-tied village power cooperative’s current expansion effort, adding around 17kW of new photovoltaics to our production. Managing a grid, even a small one, can be a challenging task on numerous fronts. It helped, though, in terms of refreshing my framing for that workshop at the start of the season.

Friday a group of us burned one of our CRP prairie fields over against Red Earth land on our west side. Wind has been strangely more from the East in recent weeks, our least typical wind direction. That meant it would blow toward Matt and Carolyn’s homestead across the fence line rather than away, but we went ahead with it with their permission.

he back fire went according to plan, slowly burning from the mown and raked margin toward the windward from the top of the slope. Once that had effectively widened the fire break on that edge, we rounded the fire to the windy side and let it rip. It is always a thrill to see how rapidly it takes off, and then just as rapidly goes out when it reaches the back-fired edge. Everything went as well as it could, no escapes, well-timed. Now the preferred native grasses will be renewed and the less preferred ones set back, and within days the ground will green up from the ashes. The smoke of other fires is in the air these days, and Rabbit/Rutledge fire chief Javi has been called out to fires a number of times in recent days.

Saturday brought a raft of choices of how to spend my time.

Among other things, the village hosted a return visit from a community friend who specializes in the study of burnout, and avoiding it. He had come for a shorter talk during our retreat, and we invited him back for a more thorough jump into the topic. Some of us here experience burnout more readily than others, with the steady stream of events and visitors piled on top of our personal goals and projects each year. All those I’ve heard from said it was just as thought-provoking as the first, only more so with more time to get into it, and to offer some tools to help avoid burnout.

Saturday also brought an auction at the Possibility Alliance, another community not too far from us down in La Plata. In anticipation of a move to a new location, and to benefit that effort as well as some of their favorite local organizations, they were auctioning the many goods and tools they could not take with them. Given their focus on radical simplicity, I was keen to attend the auction and perhaps bring home some gems for our own related efforts. Mae and Arthur and I drove together.

I did indeed bring home some tools and hardware useful to my needs, as well as a couple handmade bows, one for Aurelia and one for me (we’d been to a bow-making workshop there a couple years back, but never finished the bow we’d started). Though it made sense for them to do it, I nonetheless struggled with the scene emotionally, imagining an auction of all the goods we have accumulated ourselves here, and that stark contrast between the value of a thing to me and what it might go for in a fast-paced auction setting with whomever happened to show up. The pace is brutal.

A small host of folks from our three local communities rode the 40 miles or so to the event on bicycles, very fitting for a trip to a project where bikes and human-powered everything were so much to the point. They went both for the auction and for the later potluck celebration, to which a couple carloads of folks from here also traveled. Here’s to a bright future for the Possibility Alliance in its new home; and thanks for the community gathered around it that continues to take root, along with the time we’ve had to benefit from their work and example.

As if that were not enough for one day, Javi also hosted a bonfire Saturday night to celebrate with our soon-departing visitors down by the pond. I enjoyed talking and drumming until bedtime, at which point I happily collapsed into slumber after a long day. Javi had also supported the Rutledge Fire Department fundraiser in town earlier in the day, so I expect he slept well too. He took a sweet video from the bonfire, with Improvised percussion, kids’ voices, and a train whistle all contributing to the soundtrack.

Sunday we managed the second game of Ultimate in the space of a few days, which we hadn’t done since February by my recall. That I can now look forward to much more regular play leaves me very happy indeed, and now we’re discussing a possible return to the Show-Me State Games Ultimate tourney in July in Columbia, after a few years’ hiatus.

Now it is Monday and I’m looking ahead to leading the mushroom inoculation workshop for the Mercantile on Saturday, getting all my gear together and getting organized. Aurelia helped me pull the logs out from the far side of our land early in the week, so they’re stacked and ready to go. There may still be spaces available to join in, so if you’re interested, give them a ring or check out their website and sign up! You’ll take some mushroom logs home with you to fruit for years to come. Hope to see you there.

I leave you with the latest from my child Aurelia, who is re-enlivening the blog she started a year or two ago, an impassioned campaign to gain an Amtrak stop here in Rutledge (where the train already passes daily).

Happy spring to all! And remember that we’ve started our public tours for the year, 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 1pm. See you soon.

Train Stop for Rutledge

by Aurelia Sterling

Every time my family or anyone else in my village goes on a train trip we have to go at least one hour in every direction, even though Amtrak runs right through Rutledge two miles away. If we could get even a 60 second stop, my family and everyone else would use so much less fuel that rises and burns a hole straight through our atmosphere. We try, but ride sharing doesn’t change the fact that every time we use gallons of fuel just going to the train station. If we had a station in Rutledge we could be able to bike all of our stuff there in a trailer.

A year ago I started a blog advocating for a train station in Rutledge, MO, U.S.A., and I called it Amtrak for Rutledge (amtrakforrutledge.wordpress.com). If I succeed, it will ease our travel guilts immensely.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community and educational nonprofit outside Rutledge, focused on demonstrating sustainable living possibilities. We are excited to offer public tours at 1 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month April through October! You can find out more about us by checking out our website, www.dancingrabbit.org, calling the office at (660) 883-5511, or emailing us at dancingrabbit@ic.org.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – House Speaker Todd Richardson, House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, and House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo issued the following statement calling for Gov. Eric Greitens to resign from office:

“At the outset of this process, we said the governor needed to be forthright and accountable for his actions. After thoughtful consideration of the findings in the House committee’s report and today’s news that the Attorney General has evidence to support another felony charge, we believe the governor needs to take responsibility for his actions.

Leaders at all levels of government are entrusted with an incredible responsibility to the Missourians we represent. When leaders lose the ability to effectively lead our state, the right thing to do is step aside.  In our view, the time has come for the governor to resign.”

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize the importance of families and communities working together to help promote healthy families and prevent child abuse. This month and throughout the year, the Missouri Department of Social Services encourages everyone in the state to play a role in making Missouri a better place for children and families.

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect is to make sure parents and caregivers have the knowledge, skills, support and resources they need to care for children. Here are some things parents can keep in mind to help build strong relationships and protect their children:

Spend time bonding with your child each and every day and show them you love them by talking with them or offering them a hug or smile

Learn how to best parent your child by learning about your child’s development and what they are able to do at different ages

Try to face challenges and stressful situations with strength and a positive mindset

Keep helpful and supportive family, friends and members of the community around you, and don’t be afraid to ask for their help when you’re feeling overwhelmed

Get help if you’re struggling and are unable to provide care, food, medical care, or you are worried your child may not be safe

Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and show you are supportive and care

Carefully choose who cares for your child and remember that not every relative or friend is a safe choice

Everyone can take steps to help strengthen and empower families. Communities have a great influence on the lives of children and families, and sometimes a helping hand is the most valuable resource during tough times. A child who is connected to people who care and are involved will have a better life experience and will be safer than a child who is isolated.  Some ways to support families include:

Meeting your neighbors

Participating in your child’s school or community activities

Volunteering, joining or creating a group where parents and children play or serve together

Becoming involved in local government or school board meetings

Child abuse or neglect has lifelong consequences for children, families, and communities.  By working together we can help keep children safe, support families, engage community members, and prevent child abuse and neglect.

In fiscal year 2017, the Children’s Division received 68,014 reports of suspected abuse and neglect, which resulted in contact with families to ensure child safety and to assess the family’s needs for services and supports.

The Department of Social Services strongly encourages anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-392-3738 or 1-844-CAN-TELL.  The Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is answered 24-hours a day, every day, all year round.

Shelley Curry, MSW

Circuit Manager

1st Judicial Circuit

Clark, Scotland, Schuyler

Scotland

The Memphis City Parks & Recreation Department will be hosting a free Major League Baseball Jr. Home Run Derby and the Scotts Pitch, Hit & Run  competition events for area youth.

The events are scheduled for Saturday, May 5th at Johnson Park in Memphis, beginning at 9 a.m. The park is located at 344 N. Knott St.

This fun and exciting youth competition is a free way for talented youngsters to showcase their hitting abilities, with the opportunity of competing at the National Finals during MLB All-Star Week.

Boys and girls are divided into two age divisions: 12U and 14U, and will have the chance to advance through three levels of competition. The Local Champions from both age divisions will advance to the Regional Level, and Regional Champions will advance to the National Finals, which will take place during the 2018 MLB All-Star Week.

Pitch Hit & Run is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. This grassroots program is designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball/softball skills.

Boys and girls are divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including Team Championships at Major League ballparks and the National Finals during the 2018 MLBTM All-Star Week.

The individual Pitching, Hitting and Running Champions, along with the All Around Champion in each division age group at the Local Competition will be awarded and advance to the Sectional Level of competition.

All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and have their parent or guardian fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition.

For questions concerning the competitions, please contact local coordinator, Michele Drummond at 660-465-7285.

For updates, weather conditions and more information check out the City of Memphis, Missouri Facebook page.

Thursday, April 26 – Walk-in clinic hours from 8-10 a.m. for immunizations.

Friday, April 27 – Walk-in clinic hours from 8-3:30 p.m. for fasting blood sugars, cholesterols, and blood pressure checks, and nail care.  Blood draws from 8-1 p.m.

Tuesday, May 1 – Walk-in clinic hours from 8-9 a.m. for fasting blood sugars, cholesterols, and blood draws and from 12-2:30 for blood pressure checks, immunizations, nail care, etc.

Thursday, May 3 – Walk-in clinic hours from 8-10 a.m. for immunizations.

MENU

Thursday, April 26 – Roast Pork, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Sauerkraut, Cranberry Sauce, Bread, Cookie

Friday, April 27 – Fish Fillets, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli Salad, Peas, Cornbread, Cream Pie

Monday, April 30 – Juicy Burger/Bun, French Fries, Cauliflower Blend Vegetables, Peaches, Cookie

Tuesday, May 1 – Meatloaf, Baked Potato, Marinated Tomatoes, Lima Beans, Slice Bread, Pudding

Wednesday, May 2 –Chicken Strips, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Buttered Corn, Hot Roll, Fruit Salad

Thursday, May 3 – Ham and Beans, Carrot-Pineapple Salad, Buttered Beets, Cornbread, Cake

ACTIVITIES

Thursday, April 26 – Card party at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 2 – Red Hats will join us for lunch.

Thursday, May 3 – Card party at 5:00 p.m.

Breakfast

Thursday, April 26 – Breakfast Burrito, Choice of Cereal, Toast/Jelly, Orange Wedge/Grapes, Juice/Milk

Friday, April 27 – Sausage/Gravy, Biscuits, Choice of Cereal, Blueberry Muffin, Banana, Juice/Milk

Monday, April 30 – French Toast Sticks, Choice of Cereal, Toast/Jelly, Fruit Medley, Juice/Milk

Tuesday, May 1 – Mini Donuts, Choice of Cereal, Toast/Jelly, Fruit Medley, Juice/Milk

Wednesday, April 25 – Bacon/Egg/Cheese Sandwich, Choice of Cereal, Toast/Jelly, Orange Half, Juice/Milk

Thursday, April 26 – Breakfast Burrito, Choice of Cereal, Toast/Jelly, Orange Wedge/Grapes, Juice/Milk

Lunch

Thursday, April 26 – Goulash, Chicken Stir Fry, Hamburger Bar, Green Beans, Garlic Bread, Fruit Cocktail, Fresh Fruit

Friday, April 27 – Tuna Walking Taco, Fish Square/Bun, Diced Tomatoes, Cottage Cheese, Sliced Peaches, Fresh Fruit

Monday, April 30 – Hot Dog/Bun, Bar BQ Ribb/Bun, 5th/6th Grade Chef Salad, Macaroni and Cheese, Mixed Vegetables, Mandarin Orange Slices, Fresh Fruit

Tuesday, May 1 – Cheeseburger/Bun, Tenderloin/Bun, 5th/6th Grade Taco Bar, Oven Ready Fries, Buttered Corn, Brownies, Applesauce, Fresh Fruit

Wednesday, May 2 – Country Fried Steak, Chicken and Noodles, 5th/6th Grade Potato Bar, Whipped Potatoes/Gravy, Cauliflower/Cheese Sauce, Dinner Roll, Sliced Pears, Fresh Fruit

Thursday, May 3 – Spaghetti/Meat Sauce, Deli Wrap, Hamburger Bar, Green Beans, Garlic Bread, Fruit Cocktail, Fresh Fruit