Overheard

A report released May 23 finds that an Amtrak rail between Springfield and St. Louis faces “formidable obstacles” in hefty costs and low ridership. Benefits in the Amtrak study were that it would connect the railway to Missouri’s third-largest city and would increase tourism. The direct cost to provide the service would be $4.1 million annually, while it would generate about $700,000 in projected ticket revenue. The initial cost to the state would be about $3.4 million, the report said. Ridership is projected to be a lower-than-needed 34,000 passengers, partly due to low train speeds. Travel time would be nearly six hours, the report said, citing challenging terrain. “While we were hoping for more positive news in Amtrak’s anaylsis of this proposed passenger rail service expansion, MoDOT will continue to seek to increase transportation options for Missourians,” said Brian Weiler, MoDOT multimodal operations director, in a news release.

Alleged Loan Fraud

Larry Steven Aduddle, former Springfield branch manager of the U.S. Small Business Administration, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly making false statements on a loan application and to the SBA, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Aduddle, 60, of Springfield, was charged in a two-count indictment alleging that he made a false statement on an $80,000 loan application for Amarillo Scottie’s LLC, a frozen custard stand in Amarillo, Texas, for which he allegedly serves as managing member. The charges against Aduddle are accusations, and evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal jury. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard E. Monroe, and was investigated by the SBA, Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

Extra Arts Adventures

Due to popularity, the Springfield Regional Arts Council’s Arts Adventures were expanded to include summer trips, beginning with a June 30 visit to Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum and the newly opened Bloch wing.

On July 28, SRAC will take a group to Jefferson City for a guided tour of the murals of Thomas Hart Benton and N.C. Wyeth and a one-hour private tour of the Governor’s Mansion and its portraits of Missouri’s first ladies. The same trip takes guests to Fulton for a tour of Sir Christopher Wren’s Church of St. Mary the Virgin and Aldenbury on the Westminster College campus.

The summer series wraps up Aug. 25 with a trip to Rose O’Neill’s Bonniebrook Home and Museum in Walnut Shade. O’Neill is known for creating Kewpie dolls.

Tickets are $60, except for the Bonniebrook trip, which is $50. For more information, call (417) 862-2787.

Slice of Nice

Springfield Public Schools was the fund-raising champion at the May 18–19 American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Hillcrest High School. The district won the award after its teams collected the most money among all participating Springfield organizations.

As of May 22, SPS had collected $29,128; the total amount collected in the community is $550,000. The American Cancer Society will continue to collect money through September.[[In-content Ad]]