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Articles by Anna Sturdefant
- Parade is Dec. 2... Float deadline to register Dec. 1
There’s nothing that says Christmas more than a candy cane. And perhaps nothing better describes a Christmas parade than “Candy Cane Christmas,” which is the theme for the Seymour Christmas Parade, which steps off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, beginning at the southeast corner of the city square on East Washington Street. The parade’s lineup begins at 4:30 p.m. on East Washington Street.
- Parade is Dec. 2... Float deadline to register Dec. 1
There’s nothing that says Christmas more than a candy cane. And perhaps nothing better describes a Christmas parade than “Candy Cane Christmas,” which is the theme for the Seymour Christmas Parade, which steps off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, beginning at the southeast corner of the city square on East Washington Street. The parade’s lineup begins at 4:30 p.m. on East Washington Street.
- Loura’s day in court
Loura Harper had her day in court. Specifically, Seymour Municipal Court, where her 30-minute trial last Thursday afternoon before City Judge Chuck Replogle resulted in her two-year probation from the Seymour Apple Festival, meaning Harper can’t return to the three-day celebration on the city square until 2025. And if she does get within 200 yards of the square for this year’s or next year’s festival, Harper must pay a $500 fine, per Replogle’s sentence.
- Firefighters to training
David Smith has made a splash as the city of Seymour’s new fire chief. When he inherited the job this summer, the city was down to a handful of firefighters. Speaking before the Seymour Board of Aldermen last Thursday at the group’s regular meeting, Smith said the local department now has almost 20 volunteers on the city roster. Next month, Smith will accompany his firefighters to Columbia, where he and four others will attend a winter fire school on Feb. 3, 4 and 5.
- Downtown park renamed
For 16 years from 1988 to 2004, Jimmy Crisp was Seymour’s elected mayor. For almost the entirety of his eight terms, he also served as the city administrator, inheriting a city with cash-flow problems and financial burdens and changing Seymour’s course, leaving office of city government that had nearly $4 million in reserve.
- Four new members on city’s library board
Four new members were appointed to the Seymour Community Library Board earlier this month. Appointed by Mayor Alicia Hagen and approved by the Seymour Board of Aldermen at the city’s regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8, were new board members Mandy Crisp, Kay Reuther, Susanna Smith and Christy Young. However, the appointments didn’t come without a hitch.
- Festival changes approved by city
When the Seymour Apple Festival arrives next September, there will be one traffic change on the city square. The square will be closed to traffic beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the Wednesday of the festival. In a 4-0 vote last Thursday, the Seymour Board of Aldermen voted for the change in an attempt to keep the square safer for both motorists and vendors setting up for the annual event in downtown Seymour that draws more than 35,000 visitors over three days.
- 2022 Seymour Christmas parade "Christmas in the 50s" Dec. 3
Entries in the annual Seymour Christmas Parade sponsored by the Seymour Merchants’ Association are being asked to take a step back in time. More than 60 years back, to be exact. The theme for this year’s parade is “Christmas In The ‘50s,” selected by association members at the group’s meeting early last week at the historic Owen Theatre in downtown Seymour.
- New drive allowed in city
A new street headed north and starting near the northeast corner of the Hucklebuck 60 Bar-B-Q property at the city’s northwest edge soon will be built; however, it won’t be a city street, members of the Seymour Board of Aldermen determined earlier this month. The aldermen discussed the street opening at the group’s regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 15, per a request made by property owner Wayne Dunning.
- ATV ordinance debated at Aug. 11 meeting
The city of Seymour will consider approving an ordinance that makes operating an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on city streets legal at its next meeting on Thursday, Aug. 11. That decision was made after the Seymour Board of Aldermen debated the issue for about 15 minutes last Thursday at the group’s regular meeting after South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer suggested allowing the legal operation of ATVs after being approached about the issue by his neighbor, who also lives in his ward.
- City disagrees on R.V.s
Bobby Stidham would like to bring a recreational-vehicle (R.V.) park to Seymour’s east edge. The Seymour Board of Aldermen made it clear Thursday they didn’t support his idea. Stidham was on the agenda at last week’s regular meeting of the city board, where he asked the aldermen to consider his idea of placing a park for R.V.s just east of his buildings located at 1050 East Clinton Avenue.
- Sales tax spikes!
There is an old saying that numbers don’t lie. If that’s true, then the “Shop Seymour This Christmas” promotion held in November and December and sponsored by the city of Seymour was a success. Actually, a huge success. Sales-tax numbers received last week from the Missouri Department of Revenue showed that during the months of November and December of last year, which is when the aforementioned promotion was held, the city of Seymour’s sales-tax revenue was up more than $15,600.
- City debates possible sales tax for streets
Seymour South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer, the city’s acting mayor, told his fellow elected officials last Thursday that the future of Seymour’s streets isn’t a bright one. “It’s a simple matter of money,” Wehmer told the aldermen. “In the city’s general fund, each year we’re struggling to find funds for paving, and our other obligations are leaving us with less and less funding available.
- Mayor’s race features two
Next April, the city of Seymour will elect a new mayor. As it now stands, the winner will be a newcomer to elected office. The end result even could be the city’s first female mayor. The race’s field grew from one to two late Monday afternoon when Richard Bell entered the race, joining first-day filer Alicia Hagen. Bell is known to many in the community as a pack and troop leader for the Seymour Scouts.
- Election filing opens Tuesday
Next Tuesday is the start of a new, shortened 21-day filing period for municipal and school elections next April that ends three weeks later on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Previously, the filing period for spring elections began the second week of December and continued into the third week of the following January. Election filing opens Tuesday But state law changed. The new filing period for April elections now begins the first Tuesday in December of the previous year and continues until the fourth Tuesday.
- No dogs at cemetery
Want to take a walk at the city’s Seymour Masonic Cemetery? No problem. It’s allowed and even encouraged. Want to take your pet along for that walk? It’s not allowed. In fact, doing so now is illegal, per an amendment to a city ordinance approved last Thursday evening by the Seymour Board of Aldermen.
- Parade’s start time same
Wide variety of Christmas activities on square Dec. 4 Despite a bevy of activities on the Seymour square that day, the annual Seymour Christmas Parade, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4, will step off at 5:30 p.m., as has been the case for the past two decades. “Nothing has changed regarding the start time for the Seymour Christmas Parade,” explained Dan Wehmer, the parade’s chairman.
- Parade’s start time same
Wide variety of Christmas activities on square Dec. 4 Despite a bevy of activities on the Seymour square that day, the annual Seymour Christmas Parade, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4, will step off at 5:30 p.m., as has been the case for the past two decades. “Nothing has changed regarding the start time for the Seymour Christmas Parade,” explained Dan Wehmer, the parade’s chairman.
- Speeders scare city residents
Amanda Thompson shared a story Thursday night with the Seymour Board of Aldermen. She told about motorists speeding down the street where she lives — North Frances Street. Speeds of 50, even 60 miles per hour are common. Thompson even had video to prove her point. “I guess my issue is that there are five babies on that street who are under the age of 5,” she told the aldermen.
- Vinson leaves mayor’s seat
Richard Vinson, who is in his second term as Seymour’s elected mayor, resigned the position early Monday afternoon, citing his recent move from the city limits. He submitted his resignation Monday at Seymour City Hall to City Administrator Hillary Gintz. The Seymour Board of Aldermen held a brief emergency meeting Monday evening to accept Vinson’s resignation. It was accepted in a 4-0 vote by the aldermen. No other action was taken at the meeting.
- DNR: Hot Spot admits fuel leak
A television story that aired last week on KY-3, the local affiliate for NBC based in Springfield, was the topic of conversation last Thursday night at the regular meeting of the Seymour Board of Aldermen as South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer asked City Administrator Hillary Gintz about details provided in an evening news report.
- Troubleshooting trash on square
In his report at last Thursday’s regular meeting of the Seymour Board of Aldermen, South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer warned his fellow members that he “was getting ready to go on a rant.” What followed was a two-minute description of what he’s observed over the past three weeks on the west side of the Seymour square, where teenagers and young adults hanging out during late afternoons and evenings on weekdays and weekends left what Wehmer described as “regular messes.” He said the trash volume is...
- No mowers on streets at dark?
The initiative to eliminate the operation of riding lawn mowers on city streets when it’s dark took a step forward last Thursday night. An ordinance modification that was suggested by South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer ultimately received unanimous approval to be read for voting approval at the next meeting of the Seymour Board of Aldermen on Thursday, July 8.
- ‘Tiny home’ request denied
In a public hearing that took the full 30 minutes allotted for debate and discussion, the Seymour Board of Aldermen voted 4-0 against approving a variance for new Seymour residents Elijah Thomas and his wife, Talia, to place a “tiny home” on a lot they recently purchased on West Puryear Street. Present at last Thursday’s hearing were about 10 guests, including Thomas, as the aldermen discussed waiving the city’s requirement that single-family dwellings be at least 750 square feet.
- Weather the Oak Lawn culprit
The Oak Lawn Road railroad crossing at the city's east edge is in the process of being revamped. Want someone to blame for the delays in the closure of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad crossing at Oak Lawn Road at the city of Seymour’s east edge? Tony Boring, the longtime foreman for the Seymour Special Road District (SSRD), has a culprit. “Mother Nature,” Boring said Monday afternoon.
- Budget meetings set
South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer shared an observation with his colleagues at Thursday’s regular meeting of the four-member group. “We’ve got the DNR snooping around town,” he said to aldermen Jim Ashley and Darrel “Bub” Wallace from the North Ward and Nadine Crisp of the South Ward, referring to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, known to most by its acronym of DNR. “I don’t have a clue what they’re doing here, but I’ve seen them with our water guys, seen them with our sewer guys.
- City cleanup reform?
Despite the apparent success of Seymour’s spring citywide cleanup earlier this month, it appears some reform may be needed by the next time the event is held this fall. City Administrator Hillary Gintz reported at the city’s regular meeting last Thursday that the cleanup, held May 1 through May 9, ended with 16 large dumpsters being filled, perhaps the largest-ever amount of waste. That’s the good news. And the bad news? One is the expense, likely to total $10,000 or more.
- Electric equality
“We’ll never get this to where everyone pays their exact fair share, but I do think this plan is as fair as we can be.” — Seymour North Ward Alderman Jim Ashley What does a city do when its wholesale electric bill jumps by more than $500,000 a month to $542,973.33? It finds a solution.
- Power problem
A year ago, the city of Seymour’s electric usage for February was 1,987,400 kilowatts (KWs). This year, that tally was slightly up to 2,223,100 KWs as record-low temperatures struck Seymour and the entire Midwest for nearly two weeks. However, wholesale electric bills tell a different story. Last year’s February bill to the city was $39,107.38. This year’s bill amount? $542,973.33.
- Library legalities
“I’m not trying to be a smart aleck about this, but this seems to be one of those cases where the old ‘be careful what you wish for’ adage rings true. I suppose that some of those who are running the library and the library board got what they wanted, but the price could end up being more than half of your funding and a few of your best and most-involved board members.” — Seymour South Ward, Alderman Dan Wehmer There will be change in how the Seymour Community Library operates.
- Flower power?
Courtesy of a joint effort between the city of Seymour and the Seymour Community Development Association (SCDA), the city's downtown business district should be beautiful this spring, summer and fall with fresh-growing flowers.
- New vendor to mow city cemetery
Sam Hunsucker attended last Thursday night’s meeting of the Seymour Board of Aldermen. It was a good decision. Had he not attended, perhaps the four elected aldermen would’ve chosen a different vendor to mow the Seymour Masonic Cemetery this year. Hunsucker, who owns Full Property Maintenance LLC of Rogersville, was the only company owner present last week as the city opened four bids for weekly mowing of the cemetery and its adjacent Silvey Cemetery on West Steel Street.
- City flag votes sought
In the timeline of Seymour, the newest decision facing city residents may be our version of Coke vs. Pepsi. Maybe not. Regardless, beginning today (Wednesday) and continuing through Thursday, Feb. 11, the public is being asked to vote on one of two designs for a new city flag, which will be created once the local vote is tallied. There are two designs. One is a horizontal design. The other is a vertical design.
- Citizen TBT picture - April 16.1987
THE WINNER — Steve Bryan, third from left, and his daughter, Jennifer, are shown with Bob Crump, left, an Scott Codding, right, following the drawing for a Rugger 10-22 rifle at the music show here Saturday night. Proceeds from the music show, featuring great blue grass music, and the drawing went to help purchase Jaws of Life for the Seymour Emergency Rescue Team. Crump is president of the team and Codding is treasurer. They reported a total of $1,600 raised for the purchase of the jaws.
- Parking soon restricted on South Water Street
South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer told fellow aldermen last Thursday night that residents are griping to him about blocked traffic on Water Street. South Water Street, to be exact. “I just heard another complaint about it this afternoon,” he told members of the Seymour Board of Aldermen at the group’s regular meeting last Thursday night. “And the complaints are valid. We’ve got people parking along the street, creating a bottleneck. It’s not just an inconvenience.
- Two city races set
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- Seymour man voices his fire, police gripes
Seymour’s Kenneth “Kenny” Powers had three minutes to speak last Thursday during the “citizens’ comments” portion of the regular meeting of the Seymour Board of Aldermen. He took full advantage of those three minutes, making a wide variety of allegations in a prepared written statement he read to city officials, voicing his grievances with the city of Seymour’s fire and police departments. A fire last Dec. 27 at his home on South Division Street is what brought Powers to Thursday’s meeting.
- City to enforce housing laws
A year after the city’s Home Reclamation Project began and now has ended with the sale of a double lot on East Summit Avenue, South Ward Alderman Dan Wehmer unveiled a new program designed to eliminate dangerous dwellings in Seymour. “I don’t have a name for it ... I just call it enforcing the laws we have on the books,” Wehmer said during his alderman’s report at last Thursday’s regular meeting of the Seymour Board of Aldermen.
- Incumbents file for city, school seats
Last Tuesday’s first day of filing for city and school elections was a somewhat slow one. Because classes were dismissed at the Seymour R-II School District, the administrative offices were closed, so filing had to wait until Wednesday. At Seymour City Hall, two were there to file for their respective alderman seats once filing opened at 7 a.m. Incumbent Jim Ashley filed for alderman in the city’s North Ward, while incumbent Dan Wehmer filed for the same seat in the city’s South Ward.
- 2019 Youth Apple Peeling Winners
Some of the youth Apple peelers.
- 2019 Adult Apple Peeler Winners
Adult Apple Peeler contestants.
- Apples for sale at the festival this weekend
Golden Delicious and Jonathan apples. 5 pound bags for $6. Available at the merchants booth on the northwest of the square during Apple Festival.
3. 'SHEP' STANDS OUT
Arguably the most impressive play in the Packers’ 28-26 victory over the Texans last week came from Darrius Shepherd (above), who reeled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from No. 2 quarterback DeShone Kizer with an acrobatic, body-contorting catch after Kizer’s throw sailed high. He not only made the grab, but he absorbed a hard hit by Houston cornerback Johnson Bademosi in the head and left shoulder and held on.
1. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL While Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur have conferred and decided that the starters will play, in LaFleur’s words, “a quarter or so,” that still leaves ample opportunity for the guys fighting for roster spots to show what they can do against the Ravens.
• Car wash Saturday
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• Register for 5K ‘Fun Run’
The Seymour Apple Festival’s annual 5K “Fun Run” again will be held in conjunction with the three-day celebration. Race day is Saturday, Sept. 14. At the event, registration is from 7 to 7:30 a.m. on the morning of the race, with the start time set for 8 a.m. The race starts and ends in the parking lot of the Seymour Price Cutter grocery store, located behind the east side of the city square.
2. TACKLING TROUBLES
By Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s count, Green Bay missed 24 tackles on defense and special teams in the preseason opener against the Texans. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL Packers inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti scoffed at the notion, even though he’s an old-school coach who remembers when tackling was a colossal part of any NFL training camp.
Jerry Jones updates Cowboys contract concerns
OXNARD, Calif. – When Jerry Jones talks, everybody listens. Following Tuesday night’s practice, the Cowboys’ owner/general manager stopped to chat with reporters, touching on contract talks and other tidbits from around training camp. As is often the case, Jones covered a lot of ground in a little amount of time.
Scary fight involving helmet-swinging Kyle Long mars Bears mock scrimmage
The Bears simulated a full mock game at Halas Hall Wednesday night, pitting the starters vs. the reserves and bringing in everything from portable lights to a live DJ to, yes, the Bear raid siren. The good news: the Bears won. Not so good: a scary fight broke out between RG Kyle Long and backup DE Jalen Dalton and fellow starting guard Cody Whitehair exited early with a finger injury on his left hand.
Bears were frontrunners for Ravens-turned-Vikings PK Vedvik ... until they weren't
It is possible — likely, even — that either Eddy Pineiro or Elliott Fry will be the Bears placekicker on opening night against the Packers, and it's equally reasonable to project that one or both will go on to very successful NFL careers. It is also reasonable to assume that Ryan Pace, Matt Nagy and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor are happy with their two kickers and confident that one of them will be the answer. But that hasn’t stopped the Bears from shopping for more options.
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