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Parish council asks Wardsville trustees for help after Dec. 24 crash near St. Francis Xavier
Summary
Leaders from St. Stanislaus Parish Council asked the Wardsville Board of Trustees for guidance after a Dec. 24, 2025 crash on the state highway near St. Francis Xavier. Trustees discussed lighting, grant opportunities and short-term safety measures including a crossing guard.
Tim Hagenhoff and Pam Stonner, representing the St. Stanislaus Parish Council, told the Wardsville Board of Trustees on Feb. 4 that they sought "help and maybe a little guidance" after an accident on Dec. 24, 2025 near St. Francis Xavier in Taos. They said the crash occurred on a state highway that runs between the church/school and the church parking lot.
Board Chairman William Gratz and trustees discussed several possible next steps. Board member Rachel Busche said there was new state grant money and that she would send the parish council information about available grants. Village Clerk Libby Chipman agreed to contact Three Rivers to explore whether additional lighting could be installed and to gather cost estimates. Trustee Brian Schrimpf suggested arranging a crossing guard from the Knights of Columbus during church events as an interim safety measure. The board also recommended the parish council consult with Bartlett & West on identifying grant opportunities and noted prior outreach to the Missouri Department of Transportation and Cole County.
The discussion focused on short- and long-term remedies: locating funding, adding lighting where none currently exists on an existing pole, and deploying volunteer crossing help during services or events. No formal motion or vote on an improvement plan was taken at the meeting; trustees and parish representatives left with follow-up tasks to pursue funding and technical options.
The board will consider any returned cost estimates or grant information at a future meeting. The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for March 4, 2026.
