Letter to the Editor

Along with most of the people of Owensville, I am very sorry that all our efforts failed to have the County Seat moved from Hermann to Owensville.

As most of you know, Mr. Don Lenauer and Mr. Jim Decker purchased the former middle school building and donated it to the county for this purpose. Since the proposition lost, the building reverts back to the owners.

I have come up with what I think is a great idea for the used of this building. Owensville needs a small hospital badly.

When my husband died 30 years ago I, a St. Louis woman, decided to remain in Owensville for I loved the town and I loved the people. I did not think ahead to the time when I would be older and need many visits to specialists and to hospitals for tests. We do have an excellent ambulance service, but for most tests, small procedures and visits to specialists we have to drive 37 to 90 miles in every direction. Finding drivers has become a problem for the elderly and the very ill — a problem also is having the money to pay for this. I’ve been lucky in having a friend who drives me but the time may come when he will not be able to do this.

I have two good friends who live just outside Owensville. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he leaves at 5 a.m. and drives to Washington for five hours of dialysis — then drives himself back home. She was in an automobile accident recently and was in the hospital and then a nursing home for about six weeks. This is just one couple in our area of many people who would benefit by a hospital in Owensville.

I do not know exactly how this could  be accomplished, but if it could be done, Don and Mary Jo Lenauer and Jim and Pat Decker could do it! They have in the past done many good things for our town anonymously.

Thank you

Ellen Adams

Member and two-time former President Owensville Chamber of Commerce; former board member of the Owensville Senior Center; and former board member of the Gasconade County Historical Society