Plans are coming together for the celebration of Cole County’s 200th anniversary in 2020.
Cole County commissioners heard from Marc Ellinger, who is heading the committee that will oversee the events (and who is a former presiding county commissioner), during their Tuesday meeting.
Ellinger, whose father led the group that helped organize the celebration for the county’s 150th anniversary, said the kickoff will be in June in Marion, which was the first county seat.
They plan to have members of the bicentennial committee — made up of representatives from all communities within Cole County — speak at events such as church picnics and Salute to America about the county’s history, which will lead up to events marking the founding of Cole County, which occurred in November and December 1820.
Fourth-grade students from schools across the county will be asked to give presentations about county history, and those judged to have the best presentation will be recognized during an event April 16, featuring Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson, Ellinger said.
As renovations to the Cole County Courthouse grounds continue, the County Commission is also looking at adding a memorial to mark the county’s bicentennial.
Ellinger also said they plan to produce a commemorative coin as part of the county’s bicentennial celebration.
Cole, Boone and Callaway counties were all formed within a few days of each other, and representatives from all three counties have been working to place a monument honoring the counties and to have a ceremony around Nov. 16, 2020, when the monument would be placed in an area near the Katy Trail in North Jefferson City, Ellinger said.