Barnes Bros Bill Goes to Governor
03/21/2012

The only thing missing is the Governor's signature.
That's the status of a bill, which would rename a portion of Kansas Highway 79, in honor of two baseball playing brothers from the Jackson County community of Circleville.
The highway renaming bill, to recognize baseball-playing brothers Jesse and and Virgil Barnes, was written by a group of around 15 eighth grade students from Royal Valley Middle School,  and introduced in the Kansas House by State Representative Trent LeDoux, of Holton(Play Audio :26 seconds)
That happened last month, following the student testimony to the Legislature, accompanied by their teacher, Nathan McAlister.
Once House approval was gained, the bill moved to the Senate Transportation Committee earlier this month.  Once that approval was granted, the bill went to the full Senate which gave unanimous approval, on a vote of 40-0, last week.
Now, the bill is sent to the desk of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, and awaits his signature.  While he does hold veto power, it's expected that he will give his approval.
Once that happens, the students will work to create fundraisers in order to generate the
2-thousand-880-dollars needed to purchase signage for the highway, and then maintain the signs for life.
The students began the project during their 7th grade year when they learned of the Barnes Brothers, who were both Major League Baseball players in the 1920's and are credited as the first brothers in the Major League to pitch against each other as starting pitchers.
It was in 2010 that another group of Royal Valley Middle School Students-also under the guidance of McAlister-gained the approval of the Legislature to rename a portion of
U.S. Highway 75 in Jackson County as the “Lane Freedom Trail.”


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