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WMOK News Check “Yellow Sheet” – Wednesday, March 1, 2023

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WMOK News Check "Yellow Sheet" - Wednesday, March 1, 2023


WMOK News Check “Yellow Sheet” – Wednesday, March 1, 2023

WMOK Metropolis – Serving Metropolis and the surrounding area since 1951
93.7FM 920AM and streaming worldwide at 920wmok.com

Hear Today’s WMOK News Check Below:

Today – Sunny/Chance of Thunderstorms  High: 76 °

Sunset in Metropolis – 5:49 PM

Tonight – Showers/Cloudy  Low: 48 °



There is a marginal risk of severe storms this afternoon and evening. Damaging wind and large hail are the main severe hazards.

Thursday through Tuesday There is a marginal risk of severe storms Thursday evening. Damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes are the main severe hazards. Heavy rain is expected Thursday night, heightening the potential for localized flooding. Strong and gusty winds are forecast late Thursday night through Friday. Sustained winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected. A few storm aided wind gusts to 60 mph are possible.

Upcoming Fundraisers and Events

National Dadgum That’s Good  Day– March 1, 2023

National Dadgum That’s Good Day, annually observed on March 1 is dedicated to sharing delicious meals and connecting with family. Of course, you’ll agree, there’s nothing quite like a home-cooked meal and belly laughs with the family. “Dadgum, That’s Good”, from the Southern U.S. is more than just a phrase. It’s a mantra to connect through delicious meals and stories. It is also the title of John McLemore’s best-selling cookbook series. National Dadgum That’s Good Day, the brainchild of Masterbuilt Manufacturing LLC, owned by McLemore and his family, kicked off in 2015.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL DADGUM THAT’S GOOD DAY

Man loves to eat. The art of cooking for the family has been around for centuries. Eating together brings warmth, solace, and strengthened ties.  It brings an opportunity to build better relationships and enjoy laughter.  It also brings the amazing benefit of helping keep family recipes alive.

National Dadgum That’s Good Day origins go way back, dating decades following the McLemore family’s love for cooking. Since 1973, the McLemore family empire, Masterbuilt, Columbus, Georgia, a subsidiary of Outdoor Leisure Products, Inc., which produces cooking equipment such as fryers, smokers, and grills has blessed homes with cooking products and remarkable recipes. Masterbuilt company was started by John McLemore’s father, Dawson, together with him. In 2015, they created National Dadgum That’s Good Day, which aims to remind us about the importance of good food and family love. #NationalDadgumThatsGoodDay has been observed since 2016.

Through John McLemore’s best-selling cookbook series, he impressively presents his whole life experiences; love, passion for food, and more than 125 professionally-tested smoking, grilling, frying, boiling, and steaming recipes. These include 16 of McLemore’s signature recipes using his top-notch Masterbuilt cooking product. McLemore also hosts a television cook show where he showcases and teaches different recipes. Masterbuilt encourages eating home-cooked “Dadgum good” meals together with family surrounded by love, building sweet memories. Life may bring different things our way, but it’s up to us to see the rainbow amid the clouds. Make awesome memories together with your family.

 

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Contact Kim Comer at WMOK
WMOKnews@frontier.com

Local News

Joppa-Massac Annexation Issue to Appear on April 4 Ballot in Massac County

The Joppa-Massac Annexation Issue will appear on the ballot in Massac County on April 4.

For the annexation to pass the issue would need to pass by majority in both taxing districts – meaning the Massac Unit #1 taxing district and the Joppa Maple Grove Taxing District.  If the issue passes in both taxing districts it will move forward. If the issue fails to pass in either taxing district it is a dead issue.

Superintendent Hayes told WMOK during our January Coffee Break that there will not be a reduction in staff.   Hayes said one reason for that is that there are positions within the district to currently be filled.  Hayes discusses this further in the audio clip included further down in this article.

Should the issue pass the closure of Joppa High School it would not effect Joppa Maple Grove at this time.  Mr. Hayes told WMOK that folks are concerned about the future of Maple Grove but it would have to stay open with the current structure of buildings due to the fact that there is no school among the Massac Unit #1 elementary schools which could house the Maple Grove students.  Hayes said that could change someday when a new facility is built that could house all of the students – however if that became the case other Massac County Unit #1 Elementary schools would be consolidating as well.

 

If the vote is approved by both districts the closure of Joppa High School would not be immediate – a transition plan will need to be formulated before the annexation occurs.

 

The discussion of Joppa-Massac annexation has been taking place for decades but this is the first time that the topic has made it to the point of appearing on the ballot.

 

Hear our discussion with Massac County Superintendent Hayes below:

 

 

In February Massac County Supervisor of Assessments Gary Hamm joined WMOK for Coffee Break.  We discussed the tax implications of the potential Joppa-Massac Annexation.

Hamm explained that the current issue has been brought to the forefront by the early closure of EEI in September of 2022.  Hamm said that the total value of the EEI plant on its parcel of land was $11 million dollars and it’s closure dropped the equalized assessed value – or “base”.

Hamm told WMOK that had the Joppa School Board not dropped their levy last year and again this year that taxes would have been “astronomical”.   Hamm said though the tax rate is currently low that is because the school board chose to drop their levy.

The Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) will have an effect on the numbers.  With the Payment in Lieu of Taxes in place – EEI will continue to “make payment in lieu of taxes” in the amount of 500,000 in 2023, 500,000 in 2024, 400,000 in 2025 and 200,000 in 2026.  Hamm elaborates on this as well as Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the audio clip further down in this article)

In our clip with Hamm below he goes on to discuss the tax implications on businesses in that taxing district such as LaFarge in addition to the Property Tax Limitation Law.

Of  the tax rate moving forward should the annexation take place, Hamm said: “I can’t see where Massac Unit #1 would have to raise their taxes and add what Joppa has levied on top of what they levying – if that’s the case and they don’t then the tax rate is going to drop over 1% for everybody.  Anyone who says that if you consolidate taxes are going to go up is misinformed.”

In our discussion with Hamm he discussed the hope by some that EEI will be replaced by Battery Energy Storage System.  There are some logistics to be worked out with that arrangement and Hamm said to assume that the Battery Energy Storage System would make up the difference is speculation.  He told WMOK there are still moving parts in legislation regarding how the plant will be assessed.

Hear our conversation with Massac County Supervisor of Assessments Gary Hamm below:

This is a topic that has many in the county seeing things from different perspectives.  There are pages to support both the annexation viewpoint and the anti-annexation viewpoint on Facebook:
The Joppa-Massac Merger Facebook page is pro-annexation.  
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Coffee Break

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WMOKnews@frontier.com

WMOK School and Sports News

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The Massac County Patriot boys season came to an end last night against a tough Pinckneyville team in the Sectional semifinal. The guys played a good game and had a great season finishing (25-7) with a Regional Championship.

Hear Tuesday’s WMOK Post Game Below:

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