Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, my fellow Missourians

This past Saturday was the bi-annual Osceola Heritage Tour and Fish Fry. This event is a fundraiser and is sponsored by the Colonial John T. Coffee Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp. Richard “Rick” Reed and his wife, Deona are very generous hosts to this living history tour. Rick is the tour guide and accepts pre-registration for 50 people who board a school bus early in the morning for stops that include: Civil War cannon placements on the Sac River Bluff; Missouri Brigade Monument at the Roadside Park overlooking the forks of the Sac-Osage River; Burning of Osceola Monument in the Osceola Cemetery; burial site of John Younger at the Yeater Cemetery northwest of Osceola; Monegaw Springs Bluff where the James and Younger Gangs used to hide out; site of the Roscoe Gun Battle where the Pinkertons and Youngers had a shootout and John Younger was killed; and the trenches on the west side of the Sac River. The final stop is back at the Reeds’ hand hewn log cabin and barn where everyone enjoys a fish fry and buffet of food.

After a wonderful meal, two fully costumed gentlemen portraying Frank James and Warren Welch shared the tales and stories of their infamous lives as they both were in the Missouri State Guard at the outbreak of the Civil War and served under General Sterling Price for the first six months of the War. The Battles they fought in were Carthage, Wilson’s Creek or Oak Hills as Southerners call it. Then the Battle of Lexington or Hemp Bales as it’s often referred to. Then during the winter of 1861/62 while General Price recruited and raised a 10,000 man Army for the Confederacy at the Forks of the Sac/Osage just 3 mile upriver from Osceola. However instead of Frank and Warren continuing to serve with Prices Army they chose to stay in Missouri and joined up with the Guerrilla Fighter Captain William Quantrill. After the War they took up an outlaw way of life with Frank’s younger brother Jesse James and the Younger Brothers. The James and Youngers began robbing Banks and Trains. One of their favorite hideouts was at Monegaw Springs just west of Osceola. About 100 people listened and learned of the history of Osceola.

Osceola is a destination for tourists seeking Civil War history and is listed with 29 other locations throughout the State of Missouri in the Missouri Civil War Pass-Port Program. More information can be found at https://mo-passport.org

House Approves Spending Bill for Coronavirus Relief Efforts (HB 14)

Called back to Jefferson City by the governor, lawmakers met this week to work on a nearly $1.3 billion supplemental spending plan. Gov. Parson called for the second special session of 2020 to work on a supplemental budget that will provide access to Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, which is intended to provide additional resources to respond to COVID-19.

The spending plan that was approved by the House by a bipartisan vote of 133-4 authorizes critical funding in a number of areas. The nearly $1.3 billion price tag for the bill is based on the fact the state currently has $1 billion that remains unspent from the original $2 billion that was allocated to the state under the CARES Act. The state also anticipates counties returning up to $300 million of the funding that was allocated to them. The state budget director told members of the House Budget Committee that the state’s plan is to spend all of the federal CARES Act funding to help Missourians as they deal with the pandemic.

The supplemental spending plan now requires the Senate’s approval before moving to the governor’s desk. The Senate plans to take up the bill next week.

Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2020, I will be back in District full time. If you need any assistance my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will be happy to help you Monday-Thursday.

It is my honor to serve the constituents of District 125. If you ever have questions, concerns, or input, please feel free to contact me any time at (573) 751-4065.

YOUR District 125 Capitol office is 413B, and YOU are always welcome!

If you would like to be added to the e-mail list to receive our Capitol Reports, you may e-mail me at warren.love@house.mo.gov or call the Capitol office at (573) 751-4065 and speak with my Legislative Assistant.