County Health Department Seeks Citizen Engagement

 

Remodeled lobby of health department (Photo: Jody Pena)

By Gretchen Garrity

The Christian County Health Department held their monthly board meeting on August 15, 2023. The meeting is open to the public and meets the third Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m., at 301 Brick St., in Ozark.

The board spoke with Carolyn O'Kelley  SPHR, SHRM-SCP,  Human Resources Consultant from Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors, who has worked with the health department in the past helping to develop job descriptions. The position of a marketing specialist is the first new position she is helping the health department to develop.

The marketing specialist position has been created in order to engage with the community as a purveyor of information, particularly the resources available to help Christian County citizens.

Board Member Ken Spangler noted that the position would not be one of trying to drive any particular behavior, but to allow citizens to make decisions on their own.

It was noted that trust in government health departments is very low, about 38% for local health departments. It was also noted that the Covid response has driven a lot of the distrust.

The role of a marketing specialist will focus on the sharing of information and resources to help Christian County residents, and to enhance transparency. Other duties will include online content creation, scheduling of events with the mobile unit, presenting, and coordinating community events.

Board Member Ron Nelson noted the position would be designed to improve outreach and listening skills on the part of the health department. Board Member Leah Gregory asked about the budget for a new position and Nelson noted that the current budget had more than enough funds to hire a marketing specialist. It will be some weeks before the position is ready to be advertised.

The health department has been seeking nurses to fill needed positions and currently has hired three part-time nurses, with two more in mind. One or more of those positions may be converted to full-time. All of the nurses are registered with current licenses.

Administrator Karen Peak also spoke about the local WIC program, noting that in upcoming reports, the Health Department should be seeing an increase in usage of the program. She noted that immunizations are up because the new school year is approaching.

In other news, the health department is currently consulting with an architect about a needed new roof, which has been leaking, as well as plans for an addition. There was discussion about whether the new roof on the current building could be rolled into the planned addition in a bid process. An architect will be consulted.

The remodel of the interior lobby is nearly complete, with a few finishing touches to be completed soon.

The health department's current mission statement is, “The Christian County Health Department serves and protects the county citizens by promoting healthy behaviors, increasing understanding of health issues and improving the quality of the environment. This is accomplished by assessment, planning, and assurance activities provided in a caring, confidential and cost effective atmosphere.”

This Week

 

Christian County Health Department Meeting

The Christian County Health Department is holding its monthly public meeting Tuesday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m., at the CCHD conference room, located at 301 E. Brick St., in Ozark.

A new position, "Social Media and Outreach Specialist," has been added, and will be advertised when a final job description is formulated. Discussion of the job description will be part of tomorrow's meeting.

For more information about the Christian County Health Department and its services, click here.

The Librarian's Dilemma

 https://twitter.com/SexHarassed/status/1690501789156560898?s=20

Via Dan Kleinman of Safe Libraries:

LGBT Children’s Books Drove Me From My Dream Job As A Librarian

From the article, but do read the whole thing:

"All caregivers of children who adore their library as much as I do should know that the LGBT agenda has infiltrated even books for babies, and therefore, public library children’s story times in some areas. Books for children do this now even without explicitly mentioning sex, such as this 2022 Christmas picture book about a dog owned by homosexual men. Books such as the Kitty-Corn series subtly encourage the ideology underlying transgenderism, even without mentioning sex or gender, like many other newer books libraries are buying for very young children.

Apparently aware of public disapproval of sexually themed books aimed at small children, industry book reviewers who are highly influential in library purchasing decisions are getting more deceptive in spelling this out in their book reviews. It is also getting harder for librarians to tiptoe around this topic when using these reviews (scroll down to “Editorial Reviews”) when selecting children’s books to put on the library’s shelves. This is true whether you go into a small public library like mine or into a big-city library.

This deceptiveness in both children’s book publishing and in the public library system for buying new books was making it more difficult for me to do my job confidently for my conservative rural community. It was also violating the principles upon which my faith is built, and therefore, my conscience. I cannot in good conscience use my public position and the public funds formerly entrusted to me to put books supporting gender dysphoria and sexuality on shelves where very small children browse."

 

Manufactured News

By Gretchen Garrity

We tend to think that news on the local level is pretty clean. Agendas don't seem to be much of a thing. 

Or are they? Let's take a look.

The Springfield News-Leader published an article on August 7, 2023 (keep that date in mind) titled "Ozark school board issues 'rebuke' of member who hosted solo 'town hall' meetings," by reporter Claudette Riley. In Riley's defense, reporters do not usually write the headlines.

Knowing that people often read only the headline--especially those who are online and don't subscribe to either the digital or physical edition of the paper--the impression overall is a negative one.

While Riley quoted part of the public letter the Ozark School Board issued in response to School Board Member Christina Tonsing's community chat, she left out some important points that bring clarity to the issue.

Link

The actual meat of the Board's letter was this ill-advised statement:

"However, under Missouri Law individual Board members have no authority outside official Board meetings or unless a majority of the Board votes, to provide specific authority to an individual Board member regarding a matter. The Missouri Court of Appeals has stated as follows: 'Unless otherwise authorized by the board, individual members are not empowered to act and cannot govern.' Colombo V. Buford. 935 S. W. 2d 690, 698 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996)."

Tonsing responded publicly by pointing out the cited court case actually supported school board members meeting with the public:

"The quoted sentence, which IS indeed found written in the opinion on the case (seventh paragraph under "Discussion" part C, found at https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/court-of-appeals/1996/wd51723-2.html, does not AT ALL reference one board member holding listening sessions or anything else like that. It instead is used to support the next sentence's conclusion (note the use of the word 'thus') that groups of less than a quorum do NOT violate the Sunshine Law, so they CAN talk together with each other (and as the entirety of that point in the court case addresses, with the public) without worry of violation. Ironically enough, the very quote attempted to use to quell individual "meetings" with the public, was instead intended by the Appeals Court to support them:

This court previously addressed the issue of what constituted a "public governmental body" in Tribune Pub. Co. v. Curators of Univ. of Mo., 661 S.W.2d 575, 584 (Mo.App.1983). There we recognized the power to govern as being a factor in determining what constitutes a "public governmental body", stating that "the quintessence of a `public governmental body' is the power to govern.... It defies semantics to believe that the legislature intended inclusion of bodies or entities barren of the power to govern in the definition of `public governmental body'." Id. Unless otherwise authorized by the Board, individual members are not empowered to act and cannot govern. Thus, because members of a body cannot act individually. Groups of less than a quorum of the board would not logically fall within the definition of a "public governmental body" subject to the Sunshine Law."

Read Tonsing's July 22, 2023 response for yourself. (Scroll down) It's quite good. While the Ozark School Board's letter was linked to in the article, Riley failed to link to Tonsing's public response, which frankly, is a devastating critique of the Board's action against her.

The real issue, that the School Board was somehow threatened by a board member meeting with the public which elected her, was entirely missing from the article. Does anyone else wonder why the article was just now published on August 7, when the Board's public letter was presented at the June 29, 2023 meeting? Timing is everything, as they say.

MOVING ON

 On Thursday, August 10, 2023, a marvelous puff piece of an article was published about Lori Wilson, Ozark School District's interim superintendent. Riley was again the reporter.

In over four printed pages of text, there is not one criticism to be had of Wilson. Additionally, surrounding a link to the article about Tonsing (see screenshot above), is the following:

"Wilson said the community wants transparency, good communication and fiscal accountability. She said all of those are high priorities."

It goes on:

"Board president Sarah Adams Orr," (the same gal who signed the Board letter rebuking Tonsing for meeting with citizens) "said the district has committed to hosting four town hall meetings this school year dedicated to hearing from the community...Orr said parents and taxpayers are also welcome to "email or call board members with questions, comments" before and after the meetings. She said public comment regarding agenda items will still be accepted at board meetings."

RECAP

1) August 7: article published about Christina Tonsing's June 29 public rebuke by Ozark School Board.

2) August 7: Springfield News-Leader's Claudette Riley interviews Interim Superintendent Lori Wilson and Board President Sarah Adams Orr.

3) August 8: Riley tweets out a thanks in response to a School District teaser tweet about the upcoming puff piece on Wilson.

4) August 10: Springfield News-leader publishes article about Lori Wilson.

Does anyone believe this is all just a coincidence?

There are many well-known issues with the Ozark School District. That is why two new board members were recently elected. It's why groups like Ozark Schools Support Team exists. The OSST has published an open letter to the School Board. It is worth reading. You will get a truer picture of the situation. And then attend one of their two town hall meetings scheduled for next week.

By all means attend everything the Ozark School District is offering and take advantage of the new spirit of transparency there. But don't rely on either the press or the school district to give you the whole picture.

 

Sometimes you just have to laugh

 

 

When making a Sunshine Law request, one of the expectations is that the information will be shared with the public in “usable electronic formats.” Here are the results of one request that was made to the Christian County Library. The scrolling went on for seven minutes, and that was just half of one file (of 60+ files). There’s the letter of the law, and then the spirit of the law. Happy warriors fight on!

“Public governmental bodies are strongly encouraged to make information available in usable electronic formats, and requests that records be provided in a particular format must be honored if the public governmental body is able to produce the record in the format requested.”

There is a list of recent Sunshine requests in the sidebar to the right. They will soon be available to view as well. You may be able to view them. Reading some of them is another thing. :-)

Ozark Schools Support Team Upcoming Meeting

 

 

For more information, visit the Ozark Schools Support Team Facebook page, or join their email list: OSST65721@gmail.com.

 

Making Sunshine Requests

 

 

Discovering Faithful Tales: Building a List of Children's Books for Your Local Public Library

Nixa's "See You at the Library" event

By Deborah Spindle

 

In the aftermath of the "See You at the Library" event on Saturday, Aug. 5 I am deeply encouraged, and my resolve to impact change has been strengthened. Over 100 children and adults attended the event in Christian County. There are SO MANY parents in our county that are thirsting for faith-filled books in our libraries, yet are hesitant to allow their children to browse the bookshelves out of concern for their mental/emotional well-being.

 

The work to improve our libraries is being done--book challenges are in process, library board of trustee members have been newly appointed, and Secretary of State John Ashcroft has admonished the American Library Association. And just last weekend, the Brave Books event happened at all four of our library branches. 

 

In order to aid parents who are rightly concerned about sexually explicit and agenda-driven books in the children and teen sections of the library, we have decided to compile an easily-searchable database of good books available in the Christian County Library, along with those books patrons would like to see there. We're reaching out to our community for help in creating a list of inspiring Christian and classic children's books, all with the aim of fostering strong values and enriching the young minds of our children. 

 

Our goal is to advocate for the inclusion of these faith-based gems in our local public library, which we can only do if there is an active DEMAND for them, which means the books have to be checked out--and often. Christian values are not being represented in the collections because many parents have been avoiding the library. That is understandable! But by avoiding the public library, citizens are inadvertently giving the library license to cater to ideologies and agendas that do not reflect the values of the community. Taxpayers are essentially paying for the agenda-driven indoctrination of children and teens.

 

A database of available Christian and Classic books will make it easy for parents to locate and then place a hold without children being exposed to inappropriate materials in the library itself.

Why a Christian Children's Book List?

In a world that constantly presents confusing and chaotic messaging, it's essential to equip our children with stories that instill moral character, and provide avenues to faith and its needed expression in our public arena. A robust collection of Christian and Classic children's books in our public library will provide families with easy access to literature that supports their spiritual journey and helps children understand the importance of a strong moral foundation.

As we embark on this wonderful venture, we ask you to share your favorite Christian and Classic children's book titles. Whether you're a parent, teacher, librarian, or simply an avid reader, your contributions are invaluable in building a book database that resonates with different age groups and interests.

What to Look For:

 

When suggesting titles, consider books that are not only rooted in our traditional Judeo-Christian teachings but also weave captivating narratives, engaging characters, and delightful illustrations. The list should appeal to young readers while also catering to various sub-genres, such as Bible stories, parables, inspirational biographies, fiction with strong moral themes, history, and more. 

 

Here is a video on how to search the current catalog to see if your favorite titles are available:

 

 

 

If a searched-for book is not present in the library, it can be entered in the database list as a Book-in-Demand. Cardholders can request up to three books a month to be added to the library's collection. Requests will be compiled in the database so we know how much demand there is for a certain title.

Join hands with us as we begin to build this custom resource for families. Share your favorite Christian children's book titles. You can leave your recommendations in the comments section below or reach out to us via email or social media. Since there will likely be many wonderful books missing from the library's collection the database will also serve as a focus for collection requests. Again, DEMAND for these books is key.

Together, we can make a difference in the literary offerings available to families in our community. By building a comprehensive list of Christian children's books, we hope to enrich young hearts with tales that resonate deeply, inspire, and, above all, celebrate the goodness found in our faith traditions. Thank you for being a part of this uplifting journey, and let's sow the seeds of faith, one book at a time!

Last Call for "See You at the Library" Event

 

 

FOX News highlighted the nationwide Brave Books event for Saturday. Two Texas groups and citizens from Christian County were featured. From the article:

"The Right to Win Ozarks community group is also holding "grassroots events" in southwest Missouri on Saturday.

"These are citizen-led initiatives taking place this Saturday at all four branches of the Christian County Public Library, in Clever, Nixa, Ozark and Sparta. The times vary by location," said a spokesperson from the group to Fox News Digital on Wednesday. 

"As passionate supporters of our public libraries, we believe in their fundamental role as knowledge repositories that spark imagination, learning and intellectual growth."

The Right to Win Ozarks spokesperson also said, "We are excited to be a part of the work happening under the library mission, priority No. 1 for access."

She also said, "We are striving to create a welcoming event and offer books and stories that reflect the community. It's about reigniting the community's love for reading and emphasizing the crucial role [that] libraries play in offering enlightenment and education to everyone."

The spokesperson added, "Parents and volunteers are coming together to offer story hours, activities and more to teach kids about faith, hope and love. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating and sustaining the essential service our libraries provide."

The story hour will include crafts and refreshments. Click here for more information, or visit Brave Books.

 

NOTE: The event was also organized by other local citizens not involved with RTWO. Reporters don't always get things exactly right, even if they have the best of intentions.

 

World Library Association Enters the Fray

 

 By Gretchen Garrity

 Americans are fed up with public and school libraries that promote the early sexualization of children. There are a plethora of books in our public institutions that push gender ideology and the LGBTQ+ agenda from toddlers up through high school. The American Library Association (ALA) and its chapters around the nation are actively supporting and pushing these subversive political agendas, and have been for years.

Citizens are pushing back. Through exposing the political rot and the smut, they've been able to take back their school and library boards. It's an uphill battle, but places like Wyoming and Montana are hope-filled victories.

Dan Kleinman, of Safe Libraries, has paved the way for local citizens to take back their schools and libraries. And, as a counter to the ALA, Kleinman has founded the World Library Association. 

 According to a press release, "The WLA will foster safe environments for librarians, curate valuable reading materials for children, and maintain a public space that promotes information literacy and political neutrality. It will also provide a comprehensive database of laws and legal cases pertinent to libraries, with a focus on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The WLA will stand with parents in legal battles for defending their children in school libraries, offering financial support and active assistance.

 The WLA is more than a new library association; it's a promise of a brighter future for libraries
across the nation. We're raising hopes, providing free memberships, trainings, and sample
policies that benefit communities nationwide."

The Daily Caller has taken note of the new organization. In the article, Kleinman states, “School policies right now recommend, basically that anything goes and that it’s literally age discrimination to keep a child from any material,” Kleinman told the DCNF. “New policy guidance from the World Library Association is going to recommend that schools follow laws or case laws like Board of Education vs. Pico, a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case that allows schools to remove educationally unsuitable and pervasively vulgar materials and to do so immediately. So schools now can have books that are for children that comply with common sense, the law and community standards, instead of what’s going on in the news right now.”

The ALA is the head of the snake when it comes to the indoctrination of librarians around the nation. A constant stream of seminars, articles, and resources pour forth into the email boxes of teachers and librarians on a daily basis. A lot of it concentrates on LGBTQ+, gender ideology, Critical Race Theory (CRT), Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI). 

Through a highly developed web of associated organizations, not least of which are the state chapters like the Missouri Library Association (MLA), librarians are trained in how to implement programs that push a political agenda often having little to do with a local community. The ALA runs a top-down organization, which means your local library is unduly influenced by a political agenda that is most likely the antithesis of the community's culture and values.

Barely out of the gates, activist librarians and their supporters are already attacking the WLA. In this article, which tries to sell the narrative that citizens who want to restrict books according to age are evil book banners, we see lawfare implemented. The political extremists are going to fight hard to keep that smut in front of children. They will attack parents and citizens who merely seek to prevent the sexualization of children at schools and libraries.

The Connecticut Centinal has this to say about the new WLA: "Library watchdog Dan Kleinman has just launched the much-needed World Library Association (WLA) to compete with the Marxist-led American Library Association (ALA), which has come under fire most recently for a potential First Amendment violation over its attempt to silence Brave Books, while at the same time promoting highly sexualized "Drag Queen Story Hours" at public libraries across the country."

 BizPac Review has also covered the new WLA.

By providing an alternative to extremist organizations like the ALA, the World Library Association will help local libraries and schools to establish local control. You can follow the WLA on Twitter,  and here at Dan Kleinman's Twitter, as well as the WLA website.

https://twitter.com/MassResistance/status/1686398987904184320?s=20