Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri – Missouri has been named the “Best Trails State” by American Trails, a national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of the nation’s hiking, biking and riding trails. The award was announced today at the International Trails Symposium in Arizona. The national award is presented every two years to the state that has made tremendous contributions to promote and improve their trails system.
“Missouri has an outstanding system of trails that can accommodate a wide variety of activities ranging from a short walk to a hike through the wilderness,” said Gov. Jay Nixon. “This award is a great honor for our state, and I encourage all Missouri families to get out there and take advantage of this incredible resource found right here in the Show-Me State.
Missouri State Parks offers almost 1,000 miles of managed trails and the state claims more than 500 miles of National Recreation Trails designated by the U.S. Department of Interior. The state lives up to its reputation as “Gateway to the West” with significant trails including the Lewis and Clark, Trail of Tears, Santa Fe National Historic Trails passing through the state and the Pony Express, California, and Oregon National Historic Trails beginning on the western border. Missouri is also the home of the Katy Trail, the longest developed rail-trail in the nation.
“Missourians can walk, hike or bicycle on 230 incredibly diverse trails throughout the state park system,” said Sara Parker Pauley, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “Spending time outdoors exploring our trail system not only provides us with a great adventure, it also provides us with an opportunity to improve our overall health and well-being.”
“The contributions of staff, volunteers, and support groups have made Missouri’s state park trails stand out as the best in the nation,” saidBill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “We are proud of these efforts and look forward to continuing work to build on our network so even more families can enjoy trails in our state,” added Bryan while accepting the award on behalf of Missouri State Parks.
The award also recognized Missouri State Parks for a project that began in 2008 to inventory and manage trails, which is being used in a statewide effort to consolidate and coordinate trail data. Missouri State Parks recently released Trails of Missouri State Parks, a publication that provides detailed information on 230 Missouri State Parks trails.
Earlier this year, Gov. Nixon announced that attendance at Missouri’s State Parks increased in 2012, another sign of Missouri’s economic recovery. More that 18 million guests visited Missouri’s State Parks in 2012, the fourth consecutive increase in attendance since Gov. Nixon took office, reversing a 10-year decline in parks attendance.
Increased attendance at Missouri State Parks is also an important factor in the state’s economic growth. An economic impact study for the Missouri state park system released in 2012 reported that the total annual expenditure of state parks visitors in 2011 was approximately $778 million. The overall economic impact of these expenditures is estimated at $1.02 billion in sales, $307 million in payroll and related income, and $123 million in federal, state, and local taxes. Also, visitors’ expenditures support 14,535 jobs in Missouri.
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri — The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will welcome more than 1,200 fifth graders from all over Missouri to Earth Day 2013, Friday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the South Lawn of the Capitol. Capitol Circle Drive and a portion of Broadway Street will close temporarily to accommodate the event.
The Department of Natural Resources sponsors the event and is being joined by 12 other local and state agencies with booths, exhibits, interactive displays and stage shows on the grounds. Stage shows will include Environmental Survivor, a game show based on the popular television series and hosted by KAT Country 94.3 morning show hosts Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart; a presentation from the World Bird Sanctuary; and the Department of Natural Resources' own Science Guys, Nick Newport and Chatchai Pinthuprapa, who will entertain students with feats of science.
Nearly 1,200 students, representing 66 classes from 25 schools, have registered to attend Earth Day 2013. Registered classes include schools from St. Louis and 11 counties: Boone, Callaway, Camden, Chariton, Cole, Gasconade, Lincoln, Maries, Moniteau, Montgomery, Osage, Randolph and Scott.
This year marks the department’s 19th annual recognition of Earth Day. Earth Day is targeted toward students, but the event is free and open to the public, as well.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – The National Weather Service in Paducah, KY has advised us that a line of strong to severe storms will move east across Missouri and western Illinois this morning, possibly intensifying as it crosses our region later today. Isolated storms may develop ahead of the line this morning, especially over southeast Missouri and southern Illinois.
Any storms today could be severe. The forecast for the Dexter area is windy with scattered thunderstorms this morning, then strong thunderstorms becoming likely during the afternoon hours. Storms may produce large hail and high winds. High this afternoon with temperatures increasing to 78 degrees with a cold front coming in later. Temperatures will drop in the mid 30’s tonight.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – The National Weather Service at Paducah, KY has issued a Wind Advisory from 1 a.m. today until 1 a.m. Friday morning. A wind advisory is issued when sustained winds are expected to reach 30 MPH or greater for longer than one hour or wind gusts are expected reach 45 MPH for any duration.
A fast moving and fast developing storm system will usher in strong winds today and tomorrow. South winds will increase through the teens MPH today and occasional gusts could reach 45 MPH tomorrow.
These strong winds will occur outside of expected severe weather today. Take appropriate measures to secure loose outdoor items that may be blown about by strong winds or wind gusts.
If traveling, be prepared for strong winds across area roadways, especially if you are in a high profile vehicle.
Area lakes will experience high waves.
Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri — Bellflower fifth-grade student, Shelby Stille, recently submitted the winning slogan contest for the Department of Natural Resources’ Earth Day 2013 slogan contest. Shelby took first place by creating her slogan called “Energy Efficiency: It’s the Bright Idea”. Although there were more than five-hundred other entries from students of all ages based on the same theme: “energy efficiency”, Shelby toppled them all with her idea.
Shelby is the daughter of Ned and Maria Stille, a family who lives in Bellfower, Missouri. She is a student at Montgomery City Elementary School and is in Christina Harms’ fifth grade class. Since she is the winner of the themed slogan contest, she has been rewarded with a $50 gift card (donated by her local Central Bank in Jefferson City) and she will even get the chance to appear on stage during the 2013 Earth Day opening Ceremony this weekend in Jefferson City on April 19th.
Shelby’s slogan was unique, clever, and thoughtful. It reminds people every day that being energy efficient is not only easy, but it is a smart thing to do. Lighting, heating and air conditioning, and transportation are daily parts of our routines but we should also make being energy efficient part of our routines too. It does not only effect our environment, but it also affects our lives economically.
Earth Day 2013 represents the Department of Natural Resources’ 19th year sponsoring the event, which will include multiple educational displays and activities from the department as well as a number of other state and federal agencies. The day’s events will also include a number of stage shows and contests. Although geared toward upper elementary school age students, the event is free and open to the public and is fun for people and students of all ages.
Earth Day will be celebrated this year on Monday, April 22nd but it is never too soon or too late to start “Going Green” or working to save our environment. With the simple tasks that Shelby mentioned with her award-winning slogan, everyone can take steps towards a brighter future for our society and our planet. There will be many other Earth Day activities that will take place throughout the weekend and next week, so be sure to stay updated and to get involved, whether it is a local or national cause. As we move into spring, remember that “Energy Efficiency is the Bright Idea”.
