Western Commissioner Hosea Bilyeu (below)
OZARK, MO — The old courthouse is spooky enough on its own.
Built in the days of black and white photos, the three-story brick structure stands in the center of the square in Ozark, the county seat of Christian County, Missouri.
Making things spookier at Halloween time, two county officials have mysteriously disappeared since the primary election in August: Presiding Commissioner Ralph Phillips and Western Commissioner Hosea (pronounced “HOSE-ee”) Bilyeu.
Bilyeu has 2 years remaining on his term. Phillips’ term expires at the end of the year because he lost a race for re-election.
With two of three commissioners, erm, out of commission (sorry, couldn’t resist), the situation is downright eerie.
Phillips is still on the public payroll. He was supposed to finish out his term through the end of the year, and he is needed for a successful transition to the next Presiding Commissioner.
Instead, he left on a European Vacation (too late to be in the movie)…
Now he’s back in town, but not around for regular Commissioner meetings to conduct county business.
Phillips is paid by your tax dollars to do his job overseeing the county’s $30 plus million budget. But because he lost an election, and couldn’t get his way…
He gone.
Buh bye!
Which ain’t no way to treat voters and taxpayers that depend on him between August and December!
Ralph was a cop prior to holding the highest county office. Perhaps he should have stuck with his gun and badge. He was faithful doing that!
Hosea is an Evangelist and Southern Gospel musician. Perhaps he’s more comfortable onstage, but he has 2 more years to “evangelize” the county. Please come back, Rev. Bilyeu, we need you for county meetings!
We look forward to your input for the next 2 years as we build better communication! We believe in you, Rev. Bilyeu!
Heck, we believe in Ralph, too, if he’ll come out and play the rest of his term…
Indeed, Ralph and Hosea are two of the most important officials and this is no time to play hooky.
If you find them, please return them to the big, old spooky brick building on the Ozark square, so this Halloween nightmare can end!