Clinton Thomas
Agribusiness Reporter

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Kids compete in miniature ‘Tour’
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, Sept. 8, 2008

Kobe Montgomery didn’t want to lose to big brother Kaeden.
In a prelude to today’s Tour of Missouri, kids like the Montgomerys raced around Civic Center Park on Sunday for bragging rights, a free drink and plain old fun. The winners — every rider in the field — even got gold medals.

Bushels of hope
by Clinton Thomas
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008

Farmers have a lot to live up to. Last year’s bin-busting corn crop was the largest in the nation’s history. But can they do it again?

United Way has high hopes
by Clinton Thomas
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008

It’ll take more than a dip in the economy to slow down the United Way of Greater St. Joseph Inc.’s fundraising campaign.
Representatives of the local charity told an audience of more than 300 people Thursday that it had raised $804,398 toward its $3.55 million goal during the United Way Kickoff Breakfast at Ramada Inn.
Perhaps more impressive, the United Way raised its goal by $100,000 from last year.

It's a Triumph ... in Japan and Russia, too
by Clinton Thomas
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008

Triumph Foods has made a name for itself. Not only in St. Joseph, but in places like China, Russia and Japan.
Triumph and its marketing partner, Seaboard Foods, are responsible for 10 percent of the United States’ world pork exports, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. The total includes more than 30 percent of the country’s exports to Mexico and more than 20 percent of the fresh chilled products sent to Japan. In all, Triumph saw a 43 percent increase in exports through the first half of 2008.
Strong export sales have fueled $15 million worth of expansions at the plant in St. Joseph. Expanded equilibration bays and new CO2 stunning allow for more efficient processing in the plant, while a new freezer facility improves Triumph’s ability to store product.

Fuel economy meets horsepower
by Clinton Thomas
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

KANSAS CITY — Fuel costs have given many drivers reason to dream of fuel sipping hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells and cars that you plug in to the wall.

Graves talks Farm Bill at visit
by Clinton Thomas
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008

Congressman Sam Graves’ latest trip to St. Joseph felt more like a lunch among friends than a bid for votes.

Field day gives farmers tips on cutting expenses
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

CORNING, Mo. — With grain prices and costs at high levels, farmers have plenty of incentive to make sure they’re squeezing every last dollar of profit out of their fields.

Revved up for charity: Auto show raises funds
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, Aug. 25, 2008

Triumph Foods played host to a different kind of hog Sunday.

Little beauties show up at mall
by Clinton Thomas
Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008

The only thing bigger than Mackenzie Davis’ smile was the trophy she held (or tried to hold) in her arms. Mackenzie topped a field of 54 girls for the title of Little Miss East Hills on Saturday at East Hills Shopping Center.

Labor report adds historical perspective to economic pinch
by Clinton Thomas
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008

Monthly bank statements only confirm what Mark Anderson already knows. He’s worse off than he was a year ago. Mr. Anderson didn’t lose his job. No family members fell ill and went to the hospital. He can’t think of any large, unexpected expense that would have set him back financially. Bank accounts don’t dwindle all by themselves. So what’s the problem?

Snorkel to lay off up to 125 workers by late September
by Clinton Thomas
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008

The tough economy soon will get tougher for some employees at a local manufacturing plant.
Snorkel International has announced that it will lay off up to 125 workers by the end of September at its factory in Elwood, Kan.
The move is a reaction to decreased demand for the company’s aerial lift trucks, according to Dan Jenkins, spokesman for Snorkel’s parent company, England-based Tanfield Group. Mr. Jenkins said increased costs in the construction industry have slowed many projects, which had led contractors to order fewer Snorkel products.

Snorkel to lay off workers
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, Aug. 18, 2008

Snorkel International has announced that it will lay off up to 125 workers by the end of September at its factory in Elwood, Kan. The move is a reaction to decreased demand for the company’s aerial lift trucks, according to Dan Jenkins, spokesman for Snorkel’s parent company, the Tanfield Group. Mr. Jenkins said increased costs in the construction industry have slowed many projects, which leads to fewer contractors ordering Snorkel products.

Strong finish for Trails West!
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, Aug. 18, 2008

Scott Downing knows the routine. By the time the sun went down and the speakers flared up, Civic Center Park would fill up for one of Trails West!’s nightly concerts. The beer garden would be packed and food lines would block the street. The Downings, however, headed for the gate before Night Ranger played its first note Sunday evening. Nothing against the band, some families just like to have their fun a little earlier in the day. “It’s hot, but you don’t have to deal with the crowds,” Mr. Downing said. “We pretty much have the run of the place until 4 or 5.”

Energy key issue for voters
by Clinton Thomas
Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008

It’s the economy, stupid. Political pundits pull the phrase out for their audiences every four years when searching for the key issue in the upcoming presidential election. Of course, the economy is a broad topic that gives candidates plenty of wiggle room to claim that they — and only they — can point the market in the right direction.

Jimmy John’s to open ... soon
by Clinton Thomas
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008

Jimmy John’s will bring its gourmet sandwiches to The Belt sometime in the next week. Maybe. I just don’t know for sure. I know what you’re thinking. “Wow, the reporter is so lazy that he didn’t even track down the date for the restaurant’s opening.”

City has fastest-growing Hispanic population in U.S.
by Clinton Thomas
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008

St. Joseph is No. 1. Or perhaps numero uno is more appropriate. New data from the Census Bureau shows that St. Joseph has the fastest-growing Hispanic community in the United States. The Hispanic population in Buchanan County grew from 2,397 people in July 2006 to 2,980 in July 2007, a 24 percent increase. The majority of the growth occurred in St. Joseph, where a 21 percent jump was the largest by percentage in the nation.

Go ahead, eat ice cream -- it's an official treat
by Clinton Thomas
Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008

The Missouri Legislature has found a way to combat one of the state’s most serious problems.
No, not gas prices. The stifling heat.
In July, Gov. Matt Blunt signed a bill that made the ice cream cone Missouri’s official state dessert. The bill was originally proposed to bill sponsor Sen. John Loudon of St. Louis County by a group of students who wanted to recognize Missouri’s role in inventing the ice cream cone, which debuted at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.

TV's 'Design Star' has family ties
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, Aug. 4, 2008

America’s new interior design star may reside a few miles to the south, but she’s close enough for St. Joseph to stake a claim.

Pasture profits
by Clinton Thomas
Thursday, July 31, 2008

WHITESVILLE, Mo. — With profits tightening in the beef industry, cattlemen are on the lookout for new ways to maximize production on their pastures.

Hulshof talks jobs during St. Joe visit
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, July 28, 2008

Kenny Hulshof’s campaign trail to the Governor’s Mansion finally found its way to St. Joseph. The Republican congressman from Columbia toured Heartland Regional Medical Center on Sunday to take a firsthand look at one of the area’s largest employers. Mr. Hulshof spoke with doctors about various developments at Heartland, with a 64-slice CT scan machine serving as the centerpiece of the tour. The $2.1 million machine produces advanced imaging so doctors can pinpoint physical ailments quickly and accurately.

Missouri's gas prices still don't ease pain
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Even with some of the cheapest gas in the nation, Missourians feel a pinch every time they open their wallets at the pump. The Natural Resources Defense Council released a report Tuesday that ranked the 50 states by their vulnerability to spikes in gas prices. Missouri drivers might not like what they hear. The study used statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy to compute consumer fuel costs by state, then factored in the average income for citizens in each state to find how vulnerable they are to soaring prices.

Midwest cuts K.C. flights
by Clinton Thomas
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Travelers who seek the best care in the air may want to double-check the fall flight schedule from Midwest Airlines. Midwest announced Sunday that it will cut all flights from Kansas City International Airport to San Antonio and San Diego and end nonstop service to Orlando, Fla., and Madison, Wis. The airline will suspend flights to Orlando from Sept. 8 to Oct. 20, after which Kansas City passengers can fly to Orlando via Midwest’s primary hub in Milwaukee. Nationwide, Midwest will reduce its number of flights by 30 to 40 percent. The move comes one week after Midwest announced that it would cut its work force by 40 percent, including 110 of the 274 employees in Kansas City.

Hopefuls show up for shot at stardom
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, July 21, 2008

In the fashion industry, a model’s big break can happen almost anywhere. Even in a hotel bar in St. Joseph. Dreamers by the dozens lined up to apply for a spot on “America’s Next Top Model” on Sunday at Stoney Creek Inn. Some of those dreams ended at the door, where the prospective models were measured to make sure they met the height requirement. The sign says if you’re under 5’7”, you need not apply.

What's the 'brew' haha?
by Clinton Thomas
Sunday, July 20, 2008

There’s a new batch of concern brewing at the local bar. Be it a small-town tavern, a working-class dive or an urban cocktail bar, the conversation always turns to Budweiser. When Belgium-based InBev purchased Anhueser-Busch for $52 billion last week, a groundswell of patriotic outrage was felt anywhere the Great American lager is served. St. Louis was the epicenter, but the rumble has spread to St. Joseph as well.

Maryville's last independent pharmacy to close
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Rick Carter just made one of the hardest decisions of his life. After 23 years in the Maryville pharmacy business, Mr. Carter signed a deal last week to sell Carter’s Pharmacy to Hy-Vee. Carter’s — the last independent pharmacy in Maryville — will close its doors and shift all of its customers to Hy-Vee effective July 28.

Hereford group welcomed
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

St. Joseph played host to nearly 100 young livestock leaders Tuesday.

Schumann new leader at American Angus
by Clinton Thomas
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

As the new leader of the American Angus Association, Bryce Schumann knows a lot about the iconic all-black cattle that dot pastures across America.

KCP&L era begins
by Clinton Thomas
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The switch went unnoticed, and that’s a good thing.

Picnic gives veterans a lift
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, July 14, 2008

MAYSVILLE, Mo. — Thousands of World War II veterans never had the chance to honor their fallen brothers.

Jobless rate on the rise
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The rise in St. Joseph’s unemployment rate looks small to someone reading a chart.
For the crowd at the Missouri Career Center, it feels like a steep climb.
The local unemployment rate rose to 4.7 percent in May, up from 4.1 percent in April, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. St. Joseph’s mark remains lower than the Missouri average of 5.7 percent and trails both Kansas City and St. Louis, yet such numbers offer little consolation to people like Melodine Thompson.

60 years on, Cool Crest just keeps putt-putting along
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, July 7, 2008

When Guy and Jan Saxton opened Cool Crest Garden Golf 60 years ago, they offered an escape from bustling post-war St. Joseph, where families could relax and knock around a few golf balls. Old aerial photos show a mechanized green-felt oasis, stuck like a postage stamp among open fields on a quiet road. But six decades of commercial growth have changed the view. Now the city surrounds Cool Crest on all sides, and the country road has become the Belt Highway. Even so, the crowds still line up, convinced that with a little concentration, they can beat that pesky windmill for a hole-in-one.

Vineyard blossoms in Rushville
by Clinton Thomas
Sunday, July 6, 2008

Riverwood Winery sits a far cry from the hustle and bustle of a big-city courtroom. That’s just how the owners like it. David Naatz had practiced law for more than 25 years in Washington D.C., Kansas City and Seattle before he and his wife, Ginah Mortensen, opened their winery in February 2007.

Aquila sale gets final approval
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

It’s lights out for the Aquila era. After more than a year of hearings, paperwork and shareholder votes, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved the merger between Aquila and Great Plains Energy on Tuesday by a 2-1 vote. Great Plains Energy is the holding company for Kansas City Power & Light. After the $1.7 billion deal is complete, KCP&L will manage all electric services formerly run by Aquila in Missouri. Aquila’s natural gas utilities in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado — plus a Colorado electric utility — will be sold to South Dakota-based Black Hills Corp.

Port authority gets a move on
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, June 30, 2008

A lack of barges hasn’t stopped business for the St. Joseph Regional Port Authority.

Rally 'round the re-enactment
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, June 23, 2008

The Confederates may have won the battle, but both sides won the crowd.
Nearly 150 re-enactors staged a mock Civil War battle Sunday afternoon in a riverside field near Terrible’s St. Jo Frontier Casino.
A few hundred spectators sat in bleachers that shook with each volley of artillery fire.

Aquatic plant balance key to maintaining healthy summer ponds
by Clinton Thomas
Sunday, June 22, 2008

Summer is approaching and the desire to be outside and enjoy the farm ponds comes right along with it.

Shatto Milk Co. an unlikely tourist attraction
by Clinton Thomas
Friday, June 20, 2008

Five years ago Leroy Shatto hoped his herd would remain profitable long enough to build up his idea of a glass-bottle dairy. He never dreamed the cows would turn into a tourist attraction. He never dreamed the cows would turn into a tourist attraction.

Going mobile
by Clinton Thomas
Thursday, June 19, 2008

Cell phones have been a must-have electronic gadget ever since Zack Morris answered his first call on “Saved By The Bell.” So it seems odd that one of the world’s largest electronics retailers, Best Buy, has struggled to grab a share of such a popular market. In fact, the store claims a mere 2 percent of cell phone sales.

'All natural' pays off for beef rancher
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

KING CITY, Mo. — With costs rising, beef producers who hope to remain profitable must find their niche in a tough market.

Soggy fields could cause food, gas prices to rise
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, June 16, 2008

The June flood of 2008 could have effects that range much further than the levees or the land they protect. This problem doesn’t start in the flooded cities, homes, or roads that attract television cameras. It sits in the soggy fields that go largely unnoticed. And it could spread to every dinner table and gas tank in the country.

Work on mall kicks into high gear
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

East Hills Shopping Center will go through a few minor growing pains in the coming months, but shoppers say a rejuvenated mall is worth the trouble.
Construction on the new open-air Lifestyle North shopping element forced mall officials to close the northwest entrance off the Belt Highway as well as the parking lot west of J.C. Penney and Home Style Furniture on Tuesday. A smaller parking area was closed between Dillards and Home Style Furniture as workers prepare to start work on the new tower entrance.
Chain link fences force shoppers to change their routes into the mall, but most don’t mind. All mall businesses, plus the Ground Round Restaurant, will remain open during construction, officials said.

Flood waters staying around awhile
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, June 9, 2008

Like a house guest overstaying his welcome, flood waters will stay in Northwest Missouri for a few extra days. A strong thunderstorm swept across the Midland Empire on Sunday, dumping rain just as rivers had begun to fall after hitting their crests.

Officials keep an eye on rising river levels
by Clinton Thomas
Friday, June 6, 2008

Rising rivers have put St. Joseph and Buchanan County officials on the lookout for a flood that could surpass the one that came to St. Joseph last May. The National Weather Service released flood warnings for the Missouri River on Wednesday night after heavy rains soaked Nebraska in midweek. As more rain entered the area Thursday night, the weather service predicted that the Missouri River could crest at 26.9 feet — nearly 2 feet above last year’s flood — by about 1 p.m. Sunday.

New homes aim to curb market
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, June 2, 2008

The most complicated problems often have the simplest solutions.

Vantec building in Falls City
by Clinton Thomas
Friday, May 30, 2008

After a wait of nearly 10 years, a small town’s industrial speculation finally paid off. Vantec Inc. announced Thursday that it will operate a factory in the long-empty Falls City Speculative Building in the town’s industrial park. The facility will make plastic injection molded components that can be used in products such as washers and dryers, vacuums, or even small engines. A crowd of more than 100 people, including Falls City-native Gov. Dave Heineman, attended the announcement ceremony.

High food costs: Are farmers to blame?
by Clinton Thomas
Thursday, May 29, 2008

Fresh off one of the most bountiful harvests in history, American farmers are stuck on the defensive. High grain prices brought a welcome piece of good news to rural America with last fall’s harvest. But soon after, those prices dragged farmers and the ethanol industry into the headlines as possible scapegoats for rising grocery bills. Assigning blame proves a tricky situation for the average consumer who lacks knowledge in farm economics. Unlike most forms of business where a seller sets a price for his product, the farm economy forces producers to sell at a fixed market price set by outside sources. In basic terms, farmers must sell or wait for a better price. They’re price takers, not price makers.

Not driving as much? You're not alone
by Clinton Thomas
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Armchair economists once speculated that drivers in the Midwest would never tolerate $2 gas. But people bought it. When unleaded neared $3 per gallon, pump predictors decided that customers would cut down on their driving and buy less fuel. People still bought it.

Big Lake area bouncing back
by Clinton Thomas
Monday, May 26, 2008

BIG LAKE, Mo. — The summer of 2007 never felt quite right.

Corn prices take a bite out of hog market
by Clinton Thomas
Sunday, May 25, 2008

Living high on the hog isn’t as easy as it used to be. For the guys who raise the hogs, it’s even harder.

Moila’s Leland to take manager job at SJCC
by Clinton Thomas
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

For the second time in six months, a new general manager will take over at St. Joseph Country Club.