Proposed $4 Billion White Cloud Acres AI Data Center in Rural Barnard

Posted on April 29, 2026 by roger

A proposal by Scale Microgrids to open the White Cloud Acres $4 billion AI data center that is expected to use 600 megawatts of electricity from what sounds to be another natural gas generating station, and would be across Highway 71 east of the 440 megawatt Mullin Creek plant that is scheduled to be built by 2029-2030.  Additional generating plants have been proposed for Mullin Creek.  The data center and the Mullin plant are in the South Nodaway R4 School District, which would get the majority of the taxes paid for them.  Nodaway County lacks zoning and thus has limited power over the operation.  The plant is expected to use 200,000 gallons a day and could have constant noise at the level of a vacuum cleaner.

The scale of this is massive, and at this writing, it would appear to be the first such plant north of the Kansas City metro area.  Here is some background

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Fraternities Throw 1971 Tower Yearbooks into the Fine Arts Building Fountain After Book Snubs Frats and Does Spread on Hole in the Wall Bar

Posted on April 27, 2026 by roger

In 1971, Northwest fraternity members threw Tower Yearbooks in the fountain at the Fine Arts Building after the yearbook for the first time in college history snubbed any special section about fraternities and instead posted a double-page spread about Palms and Hole in the Wall bars.

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Poppa Brothers Win Both Age Categories at Jaycee Marble Contest at Eugene Field, 1956

Posted on April 26, 2026 by roger

Participants in Jaycee Marble Tourney
The Maryville Daily Forum, June 5, 1956, Page 1. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-marble-tournam/196367012/

And it’s keen competition all the way in the Jaycee-sponsored marble tourney held at Eugene Field school Saturday, but the two Poppa brothers- Terry and Fred came out on top with high honors. Some of the other entrants are shown in the picture.

First row, kneeling, Terry Poppa, Larry Dew, Stephen Whitney, Richard Rowlett, Kirk Shaduck, Ronald Wiederholt, Jim Vawter, and Greg Walkup.

Second row standing: Gary Dew, Michael Burgett, Bob Tonnies.  Standing at right is the marble committee chairman, Ronald Wray, and Jaycee president Jim Smith. Marble tournament committee chairman, Ronald Wray, First row, kneeling: Terry Poppa, Larry Dew, and Jaycee president Jim Smith.

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Obituary for R. Scott Marriott, Spoofhounds Football Coach 1969-1973

Posted on April 26, 2026 by roger

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First Spoofhound Football Team 1922

Posted on April 26, 2026 by roger

This is a photo of the first Spoofhounds football team.  In 1921 L.E. Ziegler scolded his Maryville High School football team as “a bunch of Spoofounds.”  The name stuck as a mascot, and the 1922 football team was officially called the Spoofhounds.  Below is the caption.

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Allison Fisher Flies Planes Solo and Owns a Cessna in High School in Preparation for a Colorful Aviation Career

Posted on April 25, 2026 by roger

Allison Fisher and Gordon Miller, queen and king of the French Club Mardi Gras, AI colorized/enhanced from the 1970 Maryville, Missouri, High School Maryvillian Yearbook.

Allison Fisher was flying solo in planes and co-owned a Cessna during her junior year in high school.  This would be prophetic, as she launched an aviation career in which she sold planes and helicopters and provided aviation consulting in Colorado, Oregon, and Texas.

Below is the high school story about her in 1970.

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Maurice Chick’s 1953 Escapade That Landed the Original Spoofhound in the Nodaway Valley Bank Vault

Posted on April 24, 2026 by roger

Here’s an amazing 1953 story about Morris Chick, one of the players scolded by L.E. Zieger in 1921 as “a bunch of Spoofhounds,” who wound up with one of the plaster casts of a Spoofhound that was sold during the dedication of the Liberty Memorial.

Included in this very funny stunt was Homer Ogden, president of the school board in 1953, who was also part of the Ziegler scolding.  Ogden  “borrowed” Chick’s Spoofhound during a visit to set up the punchline that Chick, an employee of Nodaway Valley Bank, would decide to place the statue for safekeeping in the bank’s vault.

The article says the statue was thought to be the only one in existence.  But there are multiple statues, including one that I own.  The AI colorization/enhancement on a very poor quality Forum photo may not get the participants’ faces right, but it is spot on for Spoofy, as that is a copy of the one I have.

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The Hanamo (Holt, Atchison, Nodaway, Andrew – Missouri) Telephone Company

Posted on April 23, 2026 by roger

The Hanamo (Holt, Atchison, Nodaway, Andrew – Missouri) Telephone Company opened April 26, 1897 and was organized by H.E. Ralston

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Nat Towles and His Orchestra Arrive in Style Direct from Chicago Savoy Ballroom to Club 71 in Pumpkin Center

Posted on April 22, 2026 by roger

Club 71, from a DX gas station in Pumpkin Center, had to be one of the most exciting and eclectic music roadhouses anywhere.  It could be hosting square dances and fox hunt dances, and, seemingly most out of place, the black music scene in this very white rural setting.

Nat Towles and his orchestra played there multiple times and would stop there as the first gig after performances at Chicago’s famous Savoy Hall in a very stylish truck trailer.

Below is the Forum article about the visit, followed by references for the photos, then a discussion of the truck trailer, and a few jokes.

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Pumpkin Center Fox Hunters Association 1941 (started 1928)

Posted on April 22, 2026 by roger

Above is an AI colorized and enhanced image of the article referenced below

Men Who Promote the Fox Hunt – Nodaway County Tribune, September 4, 1941, Page 4. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/nodaway-county-tribune-pumpkin-center-fo/196061801/ )

J. W. Clayton, Fay Baker, Bert Icke, Chester Espey, and Bill Hall, left to right, are officers of the Pumpkin Center Fox Hunters Association who arranged for this annual event, which closed last week. Mr. Clayton, Mr. Icke, Mr. Espey, and Mr. Hall have served as directors since the association was formed 14 years ago. Mr. Baker is master of hounds, Mr. Icke is president, Mr. Espey is secretary, and Mr. Hall is director of grounds.

Below is some background

 

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