The Houston Herald from Houston, Missouri • Page 3

NEWS HOUSTON HERALD WWW.HOUSTONHERALD.COM Thursday, June 5, 2014 A3 Linda Elliott and Rep. Robert Ross share a laugh as Ross reads a Missouri House proclamation honoring Elliott during an event last Thursday in Houston recognizing her retirement after a 35-year career in state social service work. Photo by Doug Davison, Houston Herald By DOUG DAVISON Houston Herald After 35 years of working in social services for the state of Missouri, Roby resident Linda Elliott is calling it a career. Elliott was honored for her lengthy stint in a ceremony last Thursday at the Division of Family Services building in Houston. Among more than 100 attendees of the event was Rep.

Robert Ross, who read and presented to Elliott a proclamation recognizing her career. A graduate of Plato High School, Elliott began working for the state in Lebanon in March of 1979 as a secretary for what was then the Division of Aging (now the Department of Senior Services). After about a year there, she transferred to Texas County and worked as a DFS secretary. Elliott went on to hold several other titles at the Houston ce. She was a caseworker for several years, took on the now defunct Futures program, and then moved over to the Services Division, staying in that position for nine years.

For the past year, Elliott has been a contract oversight specialist, overseeing work done for the state by contracted case man- agers. She said major erences exist between how DFS caseworkers performed their tasks in 1979 versus now. communication, the hands-on aspects and actually visiting with clients is she said. group in the ce here now see any clients they just do computer work. much less personable than it used to Elliott recalls regularly visiting with clients, even in their homes.

think where a lot of our workers are missing she said. have that communication with the clientele. As a service worker, right there hands-on with the children and the families. But today, I might not like doing the other job because I love that hands- on Next up for Elliott is focus on raising young horses and spend more time with her husband, Bo, who raises trains Missouri fox trotters. state has enabled me to raise my family and get great ts and I love it she said.

going to be hard to walk away from this is my other family. But time for me to devote more time with my husband, grandchildren and my Long-time county social worker honored at her retirement I remember growing up in Houston, Mo. I realize in my youth that I was fortunate to grow up in Houston, Mo. Several things have caused me to remember fondly my youth in Houston. Most of these revolved around athletics in high school.

I remember the great support that the area that fed into Houston High School had for its athletic program. This was so great that I felt a need to give my best ort so I would not disappoint these great fans. I remember that our teams were used to playing before a crowd. Our fans knew to show up early for the games to get a seat. If we ered a rare loss I dreaded going to school or downtown.

I remember especially two men who helped me develop my future athletic career. My brother, Lum, made me take up catching. This helped to later be on a national championship team at Mizzou and to be inducted into the MU of and the Missouri Hall of Fame headquar- tered in eld. I forget the four older brothers who refused to let me give anything but my best effort. Without a doubt the greatest aid to my future came from my high school coach and lifelong friend, Harold Eberhart.

Without his guidance and preparation, I would have never gone to college or been so well prepared to succeed. The greatest honor I ever enjoyed was to be named in advance as the man he wished to deliver his eulogy. In closing, when I achieved success or honor in athletics, I often reminded myself that Houston, was partly responsible for that. I often hoped that the Houston community shared with me because it was where my background started, and I felt proud that it was my hometown and I was lucky to have grown up in Houston, Mo. LLOYD ELMORE, BELLEVILLE, HHS CLASS OF 1951 ABOUT LLOYD ELMORE Lloyd Elmore was a member of the University of 1954 NCAA championship baseball team that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

The title is one of only two team championships MU has ever won, and a ceremony last month marked the occasion in Columbia. Elmore was a reserve catcher after arriving at Mizzou on a basketball scholarship. After earning a social studies degree and degree in physical education, Elmore was a coach for seven years at Fredericktown and went on to coach at Belleville East in Illinois when it opened in the fall of 1966, later becoming that athletic director. Elmore recalls the Houston support for him as he excelled in athletics. was proud to be from he said.

Elmore recalls past in Houston Lloyd Elmore smiles as he grasps a replica of a 1954 MU baseball jersey received by members of the NCAA championship squad at a recent event honoring the only national title ever won by a Tiger team in any sport. Submitted photo The Houston Rural Fire Department will host an event this Saturday that will include a motorcycle poker run and an open house at the re station. The poker run fundraiser will begin at 10 a.m. at Pizza Express, on U.S. 63 adjacent to Walmart.

Cost to participate is $20 per rider and $15 per passenger, and sign-ups will begin at 9 a.m. The biker with the best hand will win a $100 cash prize, and door prizes will also be presented. Lunch will be provided at the end of the run, and all pro- ceeds will the Houston Rural Fire Department. Also beginning at 10 a.m., an open house will take place at the Houston Rural re station on Walnut Street in downtown Houston. The eet will be on display and ghters will be on hand to answer questions.

Refreshments will be available, and membership dues can be paid at the scene. For more information about the poker run or the open house, call Houston Rural Fire Chief Don Gaston at 417-217-1747. Houston Rural FD to host open house and fundraiser At rst, it appeared to be a pothole in the pavement in front of a truck bay at the Houston Rural Fire Department station on Walnut Street in downtown Houston. But when department personnel dealt with the situation last Friday, the hole turned out to be a 29-foot deep cistern. probably dates back to horse and buggy said Houston Rural re- ghter Jon Cook.

The location allowed trucks to miss it the hole was directly between the path taken by the tires. Had it been two feet to either side, it likely would have been discovered much sooner. just glad it one of those big sink holes you see on TV that could have swallowed our said Houston Rural Fire Chief Don Gaston. The hole was reinforced with welded rebar and lled with concrete. Anyone with information about the origination of the cistern is encouraged to call the Herald at 417-967-2000, or email Pothole at local re station proves to be something more LEFT: Jon Cook, of the Houston Rural Fire Department, kneels last Friday next to a hole in front of a truck bay at the re station on Walnut Street in downtown Houston.

ABOVE: Skillfully placed hewn rock is visible around the old walls. Photos by Doug Davison, Houston Herald Deadline extended in county essay contest The Texas County Republican Party has extended the deadline for submissions to participate in Declaration The party has approved $500, $250, and $100 scholarships for juniors and seniors in high school, and $100, $50, and $25 cash awards for seventh and eighth- graders in the competition. Competitors will be judged on the quality of a written essay, which is due by June 10, at 5 p.m. Middle school essays must be a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 400 words. High school essays must be a minimum of 300 words and a maximum of 800 words.

Finalists will be chosen from submitted essays and will be asked to present their essays orally at a special meeting set for June 19 at 7 p.m. in Houston. Winners will be decided by the vote of all those in attendance at the meeting. The essay will be titled, the Declaration of Independence Means For My Students will be scored on the level of their insight into our founding document and principles, and how those truths relate to their lives both now and in the future. To enter, send essays to Texas County Associate Circuit Judge Doug Gaston, P.O.

Box 15, Houston, 65483, or email to Douglas.Gaston@courts.mo.gov. On June 10 at 10 a.m., the Texas County Salvation Army will kick its rst-ever Spring Ring at the Houston Walmart to help raise money for needy Texas County residents. This special bell-ringing event has been coordinated to help the local Salvation Army recover much-needed funding after last propane crisis and subsequent high utility bills. During the rst quarter of 2014, the Salvation Army purchased the minimum amount of propane and utility bills for several clients, and assisted several new clients who typically do not need assistance. In all, this life-saving assistance program helped more than 150 families stay warm and alive by spending more than $15,000 during the rst quarter.

The goal of the Spring Ring is to raise at least $3,000. The Salvation Army also provides food, clothing, prescription medication, medical service, transportation and rent assistance. To sign up to ring the bell, call Tanya Pacheco or Bennie Cook at the Texas County Food Pantry at 417-967-4484. The Spring Ring fund-raising drive will continue through June 17. Small kettles will also be placed at stores across the county.

Salvation Army planning spring fundraiser.