TWO TOWNSHIP RACES CONTESTED IN STODDARD PRIMARY

Stoddard is one of only 22 counties in the state that has the township form of government, an extra layer of government primarily responsible for maintaining roads and bridges within the township boundaries.

Each of the six townships has its own tax collector and is governed by a three-member board of committeemen.

Only two of the races for committeeman are contested in the next Tuesday's primary, both on the Democratic side. Newcomers C.W. "Dave" Crutcher and Willard Adams are competing for the open seat in Liberty Township, which includes Dexter, Mo. In Castor Township, Bob Blair is challenging incumbent Luther Burns.

A retired farmer and trucking firm operator, Crutcher served four terms as collector in the Richland Township. He said friends asked if he'd run for the position in Liberty Township.

He has no immediate plans to make changes.

"I have to get in and feel things out first, see what the score is," he said.

Crutcher, who lives in Dexter, is widowed and has a son.

Adams, also retired, was just elected to his second term as mayor of Bernie, Mo. He had served on the Bernie Board of Aldermen for 25 years before becoming mayor.

This is his first run for committeeman.

"There didn't seem to be much interest in it, and I'm retired, so I had time to devote to it," he said. "I have no ax to grind."

Adams worked for the Brown Shoe Co. for 37 years before retiring. He and his wife, Myrtle, have two children.

The Democratic incumbent in Liberty Township is Bloomfield Police Chief Rick Stanfield, who is running for sheriff instead of committeeman.

Blair and Burns could not be reached for comment.

This is Blair's first run for the office. He lives in Dexter.

Burns is seeking his second term on the Castor Township Board. He is a retired union truck driver. He and his wife, Carolyn, live in Bloomfield, Mo., and have two grown children.

Incumbents running unopposed on the Democratic ticket are Castor Township Committeewoman Frances Moore, Duck Creek Township Committeeman Jeff Holloway, Duck Creek Committeewoman Opal Lee Cookson and Pike Township Committeewoman Juanita Holder. Non-incumbents running unopposed on the Democratic side are Bonnie Yersak in Liberty Township, David S. Harris in Pike Township and Paul M. Schuerenberg in Richland Township.

On the Republican side, incumbents Delitha Smith in Duck Creek Township, Elizabeth Rowland in Elk Township, Wayne Jean in Liberty Township and Etheleen Montgomery in Liberty Township are unopposed. Unopposed non-incumbents running on the Republican ticket are Sanford "Sandy" Smith in Duck Creek Township, Eldon Evans in New Lisbon Township, Tila Edwards in New Lisbon Township, Danny Talkington in Richland Township and Sondra Talkington in Richland Township.