139th News

Missouri governor announces funding for levees

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Crane
  • 139th Airlift Wing
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --  Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon held a press conference today at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base about approved funding for the surrounding area levees along the Missouri River.

The governor announced that $5 million from the state budget for fiscal year 2017 would be used to repair the levees in St. Joseph. The levees protect the 139th Airlift Wing as well as local businesses in St. Joseph and Elwood, Kan.

"Missouri's military bases and service members put billions of dollars into the state economy, create jobs, fuel local business activities, and are central parts of their local communities," said Nixon. "That's why we need to make sure that these bases and towns like St. Joe are protected from Mother Nature here at home."

About 1,200 traditional Guardsmen and women are assigned at Rosecrans. The wing operates the C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft.