Bloomfield, Missouri - For many American, Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. While we enjoy our freedoms of picnics, swimming, fishing and summer sports, there are those who lost their lives for that freedom. Many Americans have died serving our country and we should take a moment to show respect on Memorial Day.
The Missouri Veterans Commission encourages the public to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, May 27, 2013. The program is expected to begin at precisely 1:00 p.m.
The Boy Scout Troop #72 from Bloomfield worked diligently over the past week to post a flag at each grave.
“Our cemeteries firmly believe in honoring in perpetuity those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” commented Larry Kay, Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission.
This year the guest speaker will be Paul Schuerenberg, MBA, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. It is hoped you will attend such an important ceremony. At 3:00 p.m. a National Moment of Remembrance will also happen across this great country!
Dexter, Missouri - The City of Dexter offices will be closed on Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day.
Trash services for the City of Dexter will run one day late.
Cairo, Illinois - Most of us call the bridge that connects Cairo, Illinois to Wickliffe, Kentucky as the Cairo Bridge.
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is gearing up for a repair project on the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge between Wickliffe, KY, and Cairo, IL, that will impact truck traffic this summer. Trucks will be have to be rerouted for approximately 70 days beginning after June 24th.
According to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1 spokesman Keith Todd, the agency wants truckers and suppliers who depend on the bridge to be aware of the coming project.
"This project involves repairs on bridge deck stringers and replacement of seven joints on the bridge decking," Todd said. "This work will exclude trucks and other large vehicles such as motor homes from the bridge for about 70 days."
Excluding commercial trucks and other large vehicles from the bridge work zone turns a six-mile trip from Wickliffe to Cairo into about an 80-mile detour via the I-24 Ohio River Bridge at Paducah. By falling in the window for harvesting of Spring wheat, the original project schedule would have created issues for area farmers attempting to haul their crop to grain facilities. That prompted transportation officials to move the project start date back two weeks.
While the work will create a major inconvenience for area shippers, Todd noted that the maintenance and repair work is required to maintain the long-term reliability of the river crossing.
"We want to give our industries and area farmers who regularly cross the bridge as much advance notice as possible so that they can plan and make logistical adjustments for the coming traffic restriction," Todd said. "As the schedule firms up, we will provide a specific start date for the project. This will impact tour bus traffic, people pulling boats, and any number of other vehicles that will not be allowed through this work zone."
The contractor is currently fabricating steel needed for the repair work. As that preliminary work nears completion, the contractor will schedule a more specific start date sometime after June 24th. Todd noted that will likely extend completion of the project into mid-September.
By maintaining passenger vehicle traffic, commuters who travel between Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri will still be able to get to and from work. While the project is scheduled for 70 working-days, KYTC engineers are optimistic it can be completed more quickly than that if the weather cooperates. The bridge will be restricted to one lane traffic and a strict 7 ft. load width due to equipment that will be needed on the deck to accomplish the work.
The U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge also carries U.S. 60 and U.S. 62 between Kentucky and Illinois. It connects with the U.S. 60/U.S. 62 Mississippi River Bridge which carries traffic between Illinois and Missouri. Commercial trucks make up about 35 percent of the 5,500 vehicles that cross the Ohio River each day, making it a key transportation link between the three states.
The structure was constructed by the Cairo Bridge Commission as a toll facility and opened to traffic on November 11, 1936. Tolls were removed from the crossing on November 11, 1948, when the highway departments of Kentucky and Illinois assumed responsibility for maintenance on the bridge.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Make sure you turn your weather radios on before you go to bed tonight. We could see some severe thunderstorms after 3 a.m. along with some large hail and damaging wind gusts. There is always the possibility of tornadoes as well.
A 50% chance of showers tonight will be possible in the Dexter area with a low in the upper 60’s.
Tomorrow additional severe thunderstorms are possible as the storm system advances very slowly to the East. Though isolated tornadoes will be possible, the main threats are large hail and damaging winds.
Tomorrow’s forecast for rain is 60% with wind gusts up to 21 mph. Temperatures will be in the low 80’s.
Stay tuned to your local t.v. station or KDEX radio in Dexter for weather alerts and updates.
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri — The public is invited to enjoy the entertaining sounds of bluegrass music on May 25 at Sam A. Baker State Park near Patterson. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the program will be held at 7 p.m. in the park’s amphitheater.
Whitewater is an upbeat bluegrass band that plays old traditional and new bluegrass music. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature great music, fun company and a little comedy just for grins. Seating is limited so lawn chairs or blankets are encouraged.
Sam A. Baker State Park is located four miles north of Patterson on Highway 143 in Wayne County. For more information on the event or to register, call the park at 573-856-4411. For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Aside from the new and upcoming Whitewater Bluegrass concert next Saturday, the park is now offering a variety of nature hikes. This event also takes place on next Saturday, where visitors will be able to join a park naturalist on May 25 for a two-mile hike to the fire tower on Mudlick Mountain at Sam A. Baker State Park near Patterson. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the hike will begin at 9 a.m. It is free and open to the public.
Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy spring with this with a relaxing hike to the fire tower. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp, the tower sits at the top of Mudlick Mountain, at 1,313 feet elevation. The hike is moderate and steep in some places so hikers should wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes and bring plenty of water and snacks. Participants should meet in front of the park’s Visitor Center.
Sam A. Baker State Park is located four miles north of Patterson on Highway 143 in Wayne County. For more information on the event or to register, call the park at 573-856-4411. For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
