State Representative Bennie Cook

It was an honor to attend the Summersville Community Prayer Service for our schools. Thank you Pastor Nate for the invite to pray for our students, teachers, staff, administrators and school board.

Pray every day for our schools!

I have been informed that business customers of brightspeed in Maries County are having experiencing outages with their landlines.

I have been informed that when a cell phone calls the landline you get a busy signal.

If you are experiencing this issue or other problems with brightspeed please message me or email me at [email protected]

It was an honor to work with State Representative Tara J. Peters, Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, the Phelps County Commissioners & Missouri Farmers Care to add Phelps County to the Agri Ready list.

“As a first-generation farmer in Phelps and Pulaski counties, I know this designation reflects the hard work and dedication of farm families and their significant contributions to Missouri’s economy,” said Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe. “I look forward to the work Missouri Farmers Care and their partners will continue to do supporting our state’s rural communities and strengthening Missouri’s agricultural future.”

Read more here: https://mofarmerscare.com/celebrating-progress-phelps-county-receives-agri-ready-designation/

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It was an honor to attend the Veteran's Memorial Park Dedication today in Rolla.
State Representative Tara J. Peters

It was an honor to help Maries County join the Agri Ready Designation. Thank you Maries County Commissioners, Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe & Missouri Farmers Care for helping with the event today!

It was an honor to attend the Texas County Memorial Hospital Licking Clinic Grand Opening!
I would like to thank the TCMH employees for all they do!

State Representative Tara J. Peters and I, met with Robert Edwards and Rodney Edwards with Grellner Sales this week. This family owned business has been in existence for over 60 years.

🇺🇸Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸
Let us always remember to honor our servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom, and continue honoring those who are still fighting for our freedom!

I had the honor of joining State Representative Tara J. Peters to deliver food to some of our local law-enforcement & telecommunications agencies. It was a small gesture of gratitude for their tireless service and dedication to keeping our community safe. Thank you to all the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day. Your hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed!

I definitely enjoyed speaking and visiting with the Texas County Retired Teachers and School Personnel at their monthly meeting.

Good Luck to the Licking R-8 School District Wildcats.

Continuing to pray for everyone impacted by the tornadoes.

Today and every day we honor the brave service men and women who fought and died protecting our freedom! Their sacrifices will never be forgotten!

It was an honor to attend the Armed Forces Day event in Licking this year. Thank you to all of our veterans and active duty military for your service!

On Saturday, I attended the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Houston. My daughter, Addi & her friend Miah sang the National Anthem to open the event.
🙏Thank you to the Houston Ministerial Alliance for asking me to pray for our government officials.

Last week, I toured Zimmerman Quality Meats in Summersville, with Congressman Jason Smith & Texas County Commissioners.

It was great to hear this small business is able to utilize the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority program to benefit our rural area.

To learn more about these programs go to: https://agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/masbda/index.html

Stay weather aware!

Most of the area is under an Enhanced (3/5) to Moderate (4/5) risk for severe weather today. With two different rounds of severe storms, very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes will all be possible. Remain weather aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings.

Capitol Report- May 3, 2024

It was definitely an honor to attend the Midwest March for Life.



Travis Smith for Missouri
State Representative Tara J. Peters

It was great to have constituents from Maries County at their Missouri State Capitol this week. Thank you all for more making the trip up to Jeff City, to learn more about the legislative process.

Thank you Attorney General Andrew Bailey, State Treasurer Vivek Malek, Senator Justin Brown, Senator Andrew Koenig, Representatives Bruce Sassmann, Bill Hardwick, Don Mayhew & Hannah Kelly for meeting with the group.

I am already looking forward to next year!

I would like to thank everyone who came out to the South Gate meeting and continued to stay engaged to get this gate open 24/7!
This was definitely a team/community effort. I am honored to represent Northwest Texas County, the South Gate area & all of the 143rd District!

Now we get the Plato Post Office reopened!

Fort Leonard Wood staff completed a 60-day assessment on gate operations. Based on the results of the new technology, processes and procedures assessed, the South Gate will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the West Gate will be open from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily, beginning May 6. There are no changes to the North or East gates’ hours of operation.

“I am proud of the tremendous work our Garrison team conducted during the 60-day assessment on the changes to the South and West gates,” said Maj. Gen. Chris Beck, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general. “The team and I understood the concerns that were raised, we listened, and we worked diligently to analyze new technology and personnel procedures, which has led to adjustments at the South and West gates based on the efficiencies gained, additional resources that are now available, and our ability to make these adjustments while still reducing military manpower at the gates. We will continue to assess and analyze the effectiveness of our gate operations while ensuring the safety and security of all those who live, work and visit Fort Leonard Wood.”

If you are from Maries County and would still like to attend Maries County Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 23, please message me, email me ([email protected]) or call me at 573-751-2264. This event promises to be a unique opportunity for friends, neighbors, and constituents to engage with the state's legislative process and connect with elected officials,. Pizza will be provided for lunch.

We will meet with Attorney General Andrew Bailey, State Treasurer Vivek Malek, Representative Bill Hardwick, Representative Don Mayhew, Representative Hannah Kelly and more.

Recently, I helped organize several meetings for students from Maries County R2 Schools to meet with elected officials at the Missouri State Capitol.
🔴The students discussed the importance of funding for Water and Sewer Infrastructure for the city of Belle. This funding will benefit the city residents, positively impact our community, economy, and our youth.

Thank you to State Senator Lincoln Hough, State Senator Justin Brown, State Senator Karla Eslinger, State Senator Jason Bean, State Senator Rusty Black, State Senator Ben Brown, Speaker Dean Plocher, State Representative Cody Smith, State Representative Don Mayhew & State Representative Bruce Sassmann for meeting with the students and listening to their requests.

Thank you to my former Science teacher Mr. Vogt for bringing the students to Jeff City. Thank you to Jimmy Zumwalt for helping me organize this trip.