The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 11

Ozarks To report a news tip, call the Information Center at 417-836-1199 ore-mail webeditor News-Leader Saturday October 2. 2010 Carnahan touts thrift in office ELECTION 2010 In a meeting with the News-Leader editorial board, Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan said she has cut the secretary of state's office budget by 20 percent. SOS spokeswoman Laura Egerdal provided the office budget for the years 2005 to 2010, while Carnahan has been secretary of state. The generally accepted number, Egerdal said, is the total budget, which is how much the General Assembly sets aside for the office. You can find that number by looking at the final version of HB12, the annual counts, but not spent, she still reduced it by a little more than 20 percent.

Carnahan's office hasn't spent more than three quarters of its budget in any year. In 2005, when the General Assembly appropriated 66.8 million for the office, it spent less than half that. Carnahan spent 10 percent less in the last full fiscal year, 2010, than in 2005. And she spent the least in the most recent fiscal year, 2010, than any of the intervening years. She was also See Notebook.

Page 2B CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK MORE AT bill that appropriates money to the office. Carnahan and the legislature have reduced the budget by about 22 percent from her first year in office 2005 to the 2011 budget. When you don't include transfers, which is money moved between ac 7'V K' '5l Kickoff unveils new arena on Drury campus 0l The 31st annual Ozark Fall Farmfest (above) goes on through Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. Fairgoers can see attractions like old tractors (top).

Farming trade show attracts local families Photos by DEAN CURTIS NEWS-LEADER Ozark Fall Farmfest, homecoming event, AIDS Walk and Taste of Springfield among many weekend activities in Ozarks. i ULI MARK SCHIEFELBEIN FOR THE NEWS-LEADER Drury student Jonathan Thomas (right) and his friend Michel Maass look over the court at the new O'Reilly Family Event Center at Drury University during a kickoff event on Friday evening. Visitors wowed by first look inside the $13.5 million O'Reilly Family Event Center V. -T 5 I NEWS-LEADER STAFF One of the largest agricultural trade shows in the Midwest with hundreds of farm-related exhibits and more than 500 head of registered livestock vies for attention with marching bands, walking fundraisers and humongous pumpkins during a busy weekend in the Ozarks. The 31st annual Ozark Fall Farmfest continues 9a.m.

to 5 p.m. today and Sunday at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3100 N. Grant Ave. Admission is free. For information, call 833-2660.

2010 AIDS Walk, a fundraiser for the AIDS Project of the Ozarks, begins with registration at 9:15 a.m.; the walk begins at 10 and there's a dog parade at 11:15 at Phelps Grove Park. Call 881-1900 or visit aidsprojectoftheozarks.org. Brentwood Christian Church 50th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration is 4-8 p.m. at 1900 E. Barataria St.

All ages. Free. Call 881-0144. Moxie Cinema Five-Year Anniversary Party to thank loyal fans is p.m. at the theater at 431 S.

Jefferson Ave. Watch free screenings, call 429-0801 or visit www.moxiecinema.com. Taste of Springfield gives foodies a chance to check out some of Springfield's local eateries, from noon to 4 p.m. on South Av- MARK SCHIEFELBEIN FOR THE NEWS-LEADER An engraved panther logo adorns a locker. Photo gallery: See 11 more photos from Ada Mabary, 3, from Preston, tries out a tractor at the 31st annual Ozark Fall Farmfest.

enue between McDaniel and Pershing streets. It's free to get in, but restaurant samples are 10 tickets for $10. The Valhalla Marching Festival features 33 top marching bands and begins at 8:30 a.m. at JFK Stadium on Grant Avenue, adjacent to Parkview High School. The event is scheduled to conclude with a final awards ceremony at 10:30 p.m.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children and seniors. Aurora's 26th annual Aurora Auto Fest kicks off at 9 a.m. at Oak Park on U.S. Business 60. Entry fee: $20.

Republic's Pumpkin Daze, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. brings out the big gourds for this National Weigh-in of outsized pumpkins, watermelons, gourds and other produce. Also on hand, 185 booths for arts and crafts. Admission is free.

ghihw KicKOTT event at News-Leadexom. By Cory de Vera On the first day that the public could get a look at the new O'Reilly Family Event Center on the Drury campus, lots of visitors were wowed. "What's not to like?" said Cathy Long, class of 1973, who attends men's and women's basketball games with her husband Mike. "Every seat looks like a good seat, nothing to block the way. "And I like the openness of the lobby.

Look how many people there are here in wheelchairs. They are able to move around." Mike Long, who graduated from Drury in 1970, said, "JQH may be bigger, but it's not nicer!" a reference to Missouri State University's newest arena a few block away. More than 1,000 people were expected to turn out to "Celebrate Good Times on the Plaza" event, featuring tours of the facility, music and barbecue. Pete Goos, president of the class of 1960, and wife Anna Goos settled into seats in one of the luxury suites. Student tour guides Lisa Hellmich and Alex Duello told them that the suites would have full concessions, including selling alcohol.

"That's not the Drury I remember," said Pete Goos with a smile. Hellmich and Duello explained that the center was expected to receive Gold LEED certification for MARK SCHIEFELBEIN FOR THE NEWS -LEADER Karen Fulks shops for Drury merchandise at the team store with her granddaughter Tanna Fulks, 7, at the new O'Reilly Family Event Center. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. There will be a screen installed in an area where visitors can find out about the environmentally favorable processes used in the building, as well as see how energy and water use is tracked, said Hellmich. "I think it's one of only two arenas in the country that's gold certified," she said.

The Gooses, who live in Lee's Summit now, said they thought the new building was fantastic, and thought it would work especially well as a concert venue. "We suffered through Weiser (Gymnasium) when Tennessee Ernie Ford did his show there. The acoustics they had to come do stuff to try to the acoustics. When you are in an old Quonset hut, it's pretty tough." Director of the center, Myra Miller, could barely walk a few feet without pointing out another feature that excited her. "Ladies, if you've ever eral events on opening day.

Fordland resident Sandy Perry, a basketball fan, was wowed by the locker room for the women's basketball team. It featured a lounge area with granite counter tops and lockers made of burl walnut. "It's gorgeous, just gorgeous," said Perry. The $13.5 million facility is being paid for through private pledges, including a $6 million gift from the O'Reilly family. gone to the bathroom at Weiser game, there's only 11 stalls," she said to a group she was touring.

"Here we have 36 on this level alone." A couple of women in the group gave cheers of approval. She pointed out the Panther Deck, an area that seats 40 and can be reserved for birthday parties or corporate events, as well as a banquet room that had already been used for sev ty -Jill Farming rules the roost at 31st annual Ozark Fall Farmfest going on through Sunday. Breaking news on your cell phone Starting Sunday: "Your Money" Road projects. Textbooks. Jails.

Fire trucks. Local, state and federal government budgets are filled with line items for programs, employees, supplies, buildings and many other specific SH0W-ME CASH 3-10-11-17-33 MEGA MILLIONS 3-8-21-28-52 Correction policy The News-Leader strives for accuracy and fairness. We will correct any errors or misunderstandings created by stories, headlines or photographs. To request a correction, call Shawna Kipp at 836-1112. Lottery PICK 3 2-6-9 (midday) 8-1-2 (evening) PICK 4 8- 2-8-1 (midday) 9- 2-3-3 (evening) Text SNLNEWS to 44636 (4INF0) presented by projects.

Every Sunday in "Your Money," we'll take a look at specific projects and ways governments spend their budgets. It's part of our commitment to being a watchdog on government and helping you get the most from your tax dollars. It's your Sunday it's your Sunday News-Leader..