If natural gas costs increase this winter the way experts across the country are anticipating, school districts in the state of Missouri may be forced to dig into their reserve fund to pay their utility bill. “While most school districts have anticipated some increase in heating bills this year, very few have budgeted for increases as high as 50 percent,” said Dr. Carter Ward, executive director of the Missouri School Boards Association. North Platte Superintendent Dr. Francis Moran said his district is one of those that has not planned for a 50 percent increase. “We did anticipate it would go up a little bit, but we didn’t anticipate it going up as much as what they are saying,” Moran said.
Joe McHale has been suspended from his duties as chief of police for the City of Platte City. The decision was announced Monday morning. McHale, reached by The Landmark, said he was called into the office of City Administrator Keith Moody at 8:30 a.m. Monday and given the news. In a letter to McHale signed by Moody, the chief was informed he is being suspended “with pay for 15 days,” the chief said. The letter, in part, says: “A determination has been made that your actions have adversely impacted your ability to adequately perform the duties of your position.” McHale declined to speculate what alleged actions may have led to the suspension.