Perspective: Support for Joplin

Since my last column I, like you, have spent a great deal of time praying for our fellow Missourians in Joplin and Sedalia - who are even now in the beginning stages of recovering from the grief of loved ones and friends lost and rebuilding homes and livelihoods.

I have spoken regularly with my friend and Joplin senator, Ron Richard, since the tornado, and he has repeatedly thanked me for the outpouring of prayers, financial support and supplies from central Missouri.

His only request is that we continue to pray for those impacted and that we not forget about Joplin as the rebuilding process stretches over months and years. The community of Joplin is being supported and sustained through the generous donations of Missourians and Americans from all across the country, and an easy-to-use and effective conduit to helping in that recovery is: www.rebuildjoplin.org.

As southwest Missouri recovers from tornado damage, and as water continues to recede from flooding in southeast Missouri, central Missouri is preparing to deal with flooding along the Missouri River.

Like you, I am watching current and projected river levels closely, and remain hopeful and prayerful that these imminent rising waters will have minimal impact on property and farms. I am grateful that Gov. Nixon has proactively activated the Missouri National Guard to help defend against flooding, and while I am hopeful that they will not be necessary in Central Missouri, I know that these citizen soldiers stand ready to assist.

On May 26, I was pleased to meet and chat with many of you at a morning coffee stop at the Burger Haus in California. At the Burger Haus, I was asked a number of pointed, thoughtful and direct questions about the session just completed. I also received my fair share of good-natured ribbing and more than a few honestly critical comments. All-in-all it was a great morning, with great conversation and I thank Mike for his hospitality and excellent coffee.

That same evening, I enjoyed dinner with members of the Co-Mo Electric Cooperative in Tipton, and this, too, was a great event. Co-Mo and electric cooperatives across the state are exceptional organizations that are professionally run, and it is always my pleasure to work with co-ops.

Co-ops from across the state are among the biggest supporters of early site permit legislation that is the critical first step in building additional nuclear power production at the current Callaway site. I have asked Gov. Nixon to call a special session to address this legislation, and while a decision has not been made on a special session, parties on both sides of this issue continue frequent discussions in a continued effort to make additional nuclear power production in Missouri a reality.

Last week marked the first stop on the flap-jack tour, and I thank everyone who stopped by McClung Park. I saw many old friends and met a number of new ones, a trend that I hope continues at each and every stop. Our next tour stop will be today, from 7-8:30 a.m., at the all new Moser's Food Store on the Business Loop in Fulton. The whole tour schedule is posted on my Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/kehoe.

On June 8, I was honored to have lunch with the Eldon Kiwanis Club. This is a great group of folks and they proved to me once again that good food is made all the better by good company.

On June 10, it was my pleasure to participate in festivities commemorating the 175th anniversary of the Missouri State Penitentiary site in Jefferson City. When Wilson Eidson first darkened the door of a cell in 1836, I am certain that he never imagined his name would be invoked 175 years later by community, business, and state leaders.

I join Rep. Barnes and Bernskoetter, Mayor Struemph, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce, and businesses and community leaders in Jefferson City in working diligently to ensure that the rich history of this Missouri jewel is preserved and appropriately utilized long into the future.

Please contact us at 573-751-2076 if my office or I can be of any assistance to you, or if you have questions.