subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Fri, Nov 27 2009 

Published June 17, 2009 08:42 pm - After repeatedly being turned down for financial assistance, Newton County officials learned on Wednesday that the county would receive a $1.3 million grant to repair and replace houses damaged by the May 2008 tornado.

In our view: 'It's never too late'



After repeatedly being turned down for financial assistance, Newton County officials learned on Wednesday that the county would receive a $1.3 million grant to repair and replace houses damaged by the May 2008 tornado.

Presiding Commissioner Jerry Carter told the Globe’s editorial staff he considered it a victory, despite the fact that the county received no federal assistance for the public-sector cleanup.

“We haven’t given up on getting that help,” he said. “We believe it’s never too late, so we’re going to keep on trying.”

Newton County, in our view, is paying the price for a slipshod assessment job performed by federal emergency workers.

The county was unable to obtain a public-sector disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That declaration would have provided funds to remove and dispose of debris. Federal authorities denied the declaration on the grounds that the three Missouri counties hit on May 8 — Newton, Jasper and Barry — would have needed to sustain about $6.94 million in cleanup costs and damage in the public sector to qualify, based on their populations. The assessment fell just short of the needed amount. To this day, piles of debris can be seen in fields and along the roads. There is no money available to clean it up and haul it to the landfill in Lamar.

The good news this week is that the grant will help 45 families whose homes are not habitable. It will also help the 23 families whose homes still need to be replaced.

We have full faith that local officials will eventually clean up Newton County and repair roads and bridges damaged when the EF-4 tornado, in some areas, left a mile-wide path of destruction in its dust.

We don’t offer up that same type of confidence in FEMA. But, as Carter says, it’s never too late to right this wrong.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Jobs

TRUCK DRIVERS NEEDED

for local construction project, must have CDL and experience on construction site belly dumps. 417-206-0930.
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

FORD, 1997 F150
V8, automatic, extended cab, high miles, $2600. (417)214-0145....>MORE

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, sharp, loaded, automatic, air, CD, extra nice, $2600. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

JEEP 2000 CHEROKEE SPORT
JEEP, 2000 Cherokee Sport, 6 1/2” lift, 35” foggers, locked front end, welded rear end, off road use, winch not included...>MORE

2002 FORD TAURUS SE
nice car, 3.0 liter V6, $2900. 417-850-0731....>MORE

2003 SATURN L200
4 door, 4 cylinder, 127,000 miles, $4495. 417-434-0925...>MORE

HONDA 2001 CIVIC EX
HONDA, 2001 Civic EX, 4 door, automatic, 94,000 miles, $5800; 1998 Accord, 4 door, $4200; 1999 Honda Prelude, automatic...>MORE

1997 OLDSMOBILE 88
runs good, $1900. 417-850-0731....>MORE

2005 FORD FOCUS
4 cylinder, 5 speed, 134,000 miles, $3495. 417-434-0925...>MORE

2001 FORD WINDSTAR SE
Sport, loaded, all options, great looking van, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

525 E. 41ST, JOPLIN, MO

to be sold at auction December 5th or before. Lovely all red brick home on large corner. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, double
...>MORE

NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE

3 ACRES
3 ACRES more/less with pond. Nice park-like setting, just minutes from Range Line. Close to area of newer homes. $19,900...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

(2) TEACUP CHIHUAHUA
APRI puppies. (417)673-1997....>MORE

REWARD $50,000 REWARD

Offered for any information leading to conviction of any person or persons known to have been involved in alleged
...>MORE

YORKIES
12 weeks old, 2 males, AKC, 1st shots, $175. 417-291-6590, Webb City...>MORE

INDIAN HEAD PENNIES
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, 35% Civil War II nickels, V nickels, Buffalo nickels, lots of other coins. Garage full of antiques ...>MORE

NEW IN BOX
New in box, Lucchese cowboy boots, black, size 9D, $200. (620)231-9256...>MORE

MALTESE PUPPIES ADORABLE!!

6 weeks old Thanksgiving. 2 boys and 2 girls. Shots, wormed, and vet checked. Healthy, active, and loved! Great Ch
...>MORE

I WANT TO BUY
6’ t-post, 5’ wire. Call for details. (417)396-1339...>MORE

MALTESE PUPPIES
2 gorgeous AKC males, 8 weeks on 11/30, all shots/vaccines, $200 each. 417-325-4340 ...>MORE

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE

SCHNAUZERS
one white puppy, one registered silver adult female, one white adult male. (417)437-0300....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition