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Everette Wolfe, southern commissioner
Nevada Daily Mail
"When I managed a store for Producers Grain we'd have these meetings and one guy would always say 'I done this and I done that,'" said Everett Wolfe, Vernon County's southern district commissioner. "So I stood up and said, 'I can't find the letter "I" in Producers,' and that's the attitude a county commissioner needs to have as well."
Born in Fort Scott to Everett Wayne and Thelma Wolfe, Everett Leon Wolfe grew up on a farm near Deerfield with an older sister along with one brother and two sisters who were younger.
"I finished eighth grade in the Deerfield school and graduated from Nevada High School in 1968," said Wolfe. "That was a hard time for this country but I think by growing up on a farm, the hard work we had to do taught us to be responsible andt save our money. Besides, with all the chores we had to do, I was too busy to get into any serious trouble."
The family farm where Wolfe was raised was pretty good sized back then, some 550 acres, located three miles west of Deerfield. They grew corn, soybeans, milo and wheat. They raised hogs, chickens and Hereford cattle.
"Each summer when dad was finished using us he'd hire us out to neighbors to help them with haying or harvest," said Wolfe.
After completing high school, Wolfe attended Crowder College in Neosho, obtaining his Associate of Arts degree.
"They had just started an agriculture program and I was in the first ag class, recalled Wolfe. "That was a long while before they opened a campus in Nevada and so that was my first time living away from home."
Following those two years at college, Wolfe returned to work on the family farm, for neighbors and he did some construction work as well.
"When I was in high school, I met a gal named Rita States, who is three years younger than I am," said Wolfe. "A few years after she graduated we started seeing each other again and we married 43 years ago on July 27, 1973."
At the time, Wolfe was working for Curtis Lee Weber and could take off from his farming duties only after haying was over but before harvest began.
"We got married in the parlor of Keith Wilcox, who was the minister at Clayton Christian Church at Eve," continued Wolfe. "Rita's folks had a reception for us and then we spent three days in Joplin. Then we moved out to Deerfield. Rita is a wonderful wife and a great mother."
Everett and Rita have two children, Anthony and Marlene. Marlene married Jeremy Hogan and together they have the Wolfe's only grandchild, Maleah.
"You know Maleah won a blue ribbon at the fair," said Wolfe. "Not that I'm being a proud grandpa."
Everett farmed with his brother. Steven, for 18 years, on both family and rented ground. Rita was a stay at home mom until the kids were in school. She first worked in a restaurant and then over a number of years, took courses until she could attend Mercy School of Nursing in Fort Scott.
"Rita has always been a real good mom and wanted to be there for the kids," said Wolfe. "So between the limited time she had for classes and money being tight, it took some time but I'm real proud of her becoming a nurse. She's a floor nurse supervisor for the night shift at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott. She's been a nurse for about 20 years and can retire soon."
In 2001, Wolfe began to work for Producers Grain at their old location, near the subway. Wolfe's boss told him that a bigger store and more parking was badly needed but that it would only be built if Wolfe would commit to managing it. He agreed and the new facility was opened in May 2002.
"What I most loved about that job were the customers," said Wolfe. "It wasn't just selling them things, it was listening to them and then helping to solve their problems. I just enjoy people and I sure made a lot of friends."
That same attitude of listening and serving was also shown during his time serving on the board of Consolidated Public Water Supply District No.1 of Vernon County, as a trustee for Coal Township, and on the board of Deerfield Cemetery.
"One day, I was in my car with the radio on, headed to Walker," said Wolfe. "And I heard that Kennon Shaw announced his retirement from the county commission. I literally turned around, came back to Nevada and immediately filed for his seat which is the one I hold now and hope to be reelected to, if the people will have me."
Wolfe spoke of the work he has been a part of during the term he is about to complete.
"Four times a year, the commissioners of our 20 county region get together," said Wolfe. "And not a meeting goes by where I don't hear how commissioners in some counties are feuding with each other or with their sheriff. I am so thankful that in Vernon County, we don't work that way."
Wolfe spoke of how, when the three county commissioners decide an issue, there are relatively few votes that end up two to one.
"But even when we do, there's no sour grapes or constantly bringing the issue up over and over," said Wolfe. "None of the commissioners I work with are self-centered. And as to working together, people come in and ask if we ever get anything done because we kid each other and laugh so much."
Wolfe praised the city of Nevada for coming to an agreement with the county over the 911 emergency services dispatch center and being a part of a grant application for the hiring of a joint economic developer.
"I know there's been some strained relations between city and county but I think we've made progress on that so we can work together to help existing businesses, start up new ones here and recruit new ones to come in," added Wolfe. "Jobs are everything. Without them, things fall apart."
Another area Wolfe stressed had to do with the county's ability to build bridges.
"In 2014, our own county workers built 12 or 13 bridges," exclaimed Wolfe. "That's huge considering we have a total crew of eight and two of them are usually on the mowers during the summer. They tore out each old bridge, set the forms for the concrete, hauled the rock and did the finish work. That's one a month, including winter months, on bridges that were anywhere from 10 to 16 feet in length with most of the ones being 22 feet wide to accommodate farm equipment."
When asked about public complaints and comments, Wolfe started to smile.
"Some folks think the 911 dispatch center is located at the ambulance when it's actually out at the Sheriff's office," said Wolfe.
Wolfe began his trademark laugh even as his eyes began to twinkle.
"There are a folks who come in or call up thinking commissioners are kings of the county," he said with an exaggerated tone. Some folks think we can overrule state and federal laws and that we can authorize or do almost anything. And of course, we can't. But hey, if they want to call me 'Your Majesty,' that's OK, as long as my wife doesn't hear them. She'd set them straight real fast."
Wolfe spoke of how most complaints about road conditions are a township concern, while bridges and culverts are generally a county responsibility.
"Folks running for commissioner like to campaign on all they'll get done -- and I did that too -- but we have limited funds, limited authority and are up against regulations and bureaucracy that really slows things down and limits what a third class county like us is allowed to do," said Wolfe.
Looking ahead, Wolfe listed several projects.
"We need to keep working on bridges and culverts," began Wolfe. "We're working on improving the fairgrounds and I have long wanted to see improvements made to the area around Katy Allen Lake. And we've begun a multi-year effort at restoring the county courthouse."
"As I said earlier, meeting with the commissioners of other counties gives you perspective," concluded Wolfe. "When we tell them that all the offices in our courthouse have a monthly potluck and take turns hosting, they can't believe it. We're not here for a political party or ourselves. We're here for the people. After all, there's no 'I' in Vernon County."