Voters in Maryville will decide on Tuesday whether to impose a “transient tax” on hotels and motels in the city. The five percent tax would be used to promote tourism, and would include funding to help pay for a new multipurpose complex on campus at Northwest Missouri State University.

The proposed $20 million Northwest Multipurpose Center would also provide space on campus for off-season athletic training.

City officials estimate the tax would generate about $215,000 per year. Tax funds would pay off about 17% of the $20 million facility and would also fund tourism and marketing efforts in the city. The university hopes to get private donations and other sources to pay for the remaining $16.5 million during the school’s capital campaign.

Northwest Missouri State President Dr. John Jasinski told the Maryville City Council in August that the center represents the largest public/private partnership in the 111-year history of the university.

Here’s the text of the ballot question:

“Shall the City of Maryville, Missouri, be authorized to impose a tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels and motels situated in Maryville, Missouri at a rate of five percent for the purpose of promoting tourism, including without limitation providing funds for a portion of the costs to construct, operate and maintain an indoor multipurpose complex to be located on the campus of, and to be owned by, Northwest Missouri State University?”

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Madraliers will present their fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will showcase choral music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century.

The program will feature music by Claudio Monteverdi, Henk Badings, Egil Hovland, Józef Świder and Estonian composer Pärt Uusberg. The concert also will include a performance by the low brass ensemble conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Rob Pippin and solo music performed by Northwest staff accompanist Dr. Jiwon Choi.

The Madraliers choral ensemble is a select group, consisting of 35 undergraduate and graduate students and representing a variety of disciplines and majors at Northwest. In the spring, the same students become Celebration, the show choir for the University. Professor of Music Dr. Brian Lanier conducts the choirs.

The ensemble will present its 43rd Annual Yuletide Feaste Dec. 9-10 in the J.W. Jones Student Union on the Northwest campus.

An upcoming educational series will focus on peer counseling and helping veterans and their family and friends understand mental health.

Frank Sindelar with Mosaic Life Care said Mosaic is involved with the three-part series of seminars and workshops because they have a desire to get out into the community.

“Veteran’s Day is right around the corner and there’ll be a lot of attention for a short period of time on the sacrifices that veterans and their families have made,” Sindelar said. “So we thought this would be a perfect time to see if this workshop concept could gain some traction going forward. We would like it to continue as an ongoing educational series but there’s no sign in, there’s no obligation, you can come and go as you please, we just want to try to be there to help, to listen and to provide good factual information or resources.”

Michael Focke is with the VA and works with an organization providing readjustment counseling. He said the seminars and question and answer sessions are offered as a safe and relaxed atmosphere to help with understanding the complexity of PTSD and more. Focke said these sessions are not just for veterans.

“This is for the families and the friends,” Focke said. “If we can reach them, they can reach the veterans, because maybe that veteran doesn’t want to come out of reclusion, maybe they’re stuck in their house because of overwhelming Post Traumatic Stress issues. But they have a next door neighbor that notices this and you want the information so you can know how to help, because that’s what it’s all about, doing something for someone else.”

Speakers at the three sessions include St. Joseph School District Trauma Counselor Jean West, Major Marty Clary and Colonel Scott Jensen.

The sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on November 10th and 17th and December 1st in the Community Room at the Rolling Hills Public Library, 1904 North Belt Highway.

For more information, contact Frank Sindelar at (816) 752-2624.

A head-on crash in Northwest Missouri sent two people to the hospital Saturday afternoon.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says one vehicle turned left in front of the other on U.S. Highway 36 at Route T five miles east of Bethany at 12:50 p.m.

According to the crash report, Brenda Stout, 58, of Princeton suffered serious injuries. Rodney Vantellman, 53, of Bethany is listed with moderate injuries.

Both were transported to Harrison County Community Hospital for treatment.

JEFFERSON CITY – Snow is not in the local forecast yet, but the Missouri Department of Transportation wants to be ready when winter weather is here.

To prepare, MoDOT will test its readiness for the upcoming winter season with a statewide drill on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

The drill tests MoDOT’s winter battle plan to ensure its readiness to get travelers back on Missouri roadways as quickly as possible after winter storms.

“Over 3,200 MoDOT employees are involved in our winter operations, including every maintenance crew across the state,” said State Maintenance Engineer Becky Allmeroth. “The annual drill helps to make sure we all know our roles during a storm, and we can do our jobs successfully.”

During the drill, MoDOT employees will react to a simulated forecast of significant snow for the entire state. The department’s emergency operations centers will activate and maintenance employees will be deployed to their trucks. Emergency communications systems will also be tested.

“One of the most valuable parts of the drill is to measure our snowplow assignments by driving routes we may have modified since the previous winter season. As we open new roads and lanes we must modify our snow removal plans.” said Allmeroth. “It also allows our newest snow fighters the opportunity to drive a snowplow over some of their proposed routes so they are aware of obstacles and obstructions that might be hidden in a storm by snow or ice such as curbs and raised islands.”

Motorists may notice increased numbers of MoDOT vehicles on state routes during the drill. In rural areas, crews will deploy after 8 a.m. In urban areas, the drill will not begin until after 9 a.m. The exercise should be completed by 3 p.m.

The drill isn’t the only element to MoDOT’s winter weather operations. All maintenance employees complete an annual winter skills training that serves as a refresher course for plowing snow. The training assures that proper equipment operation, plowing techniques and safety measures are fresh on employees’ minds as winter approaches. Every piece of equipment – every truck, motor grader, snow blower, and tractor – is inspected to ensure proper operation.

“Our ultimate goal is to handle the first snowfall like we’ve been plowing snow all year,” said Allmeroth. “Careful planning and preparation mean our crews can mobilize when needed and our equipment will be ready.”

The Missouri Department of Transportation annually spends about $43 million to keep roads clear in the winter and help ensure motorists get to their destinations safely and quickly.