Submitted by
Dee Loflin, Manager/Writer SMT
Jefferson City, Missouri - Missourians from every corner of the state worked together in April to collect almost 130,000 bags of litter during the 2013 No MOre Trash! Bash.
The Bash is an annual event where volunteers and others clean up litter all across state - from roadsides and parks to rivers and streams. With the final reporting now complete, the Missouri departments of Conservation and Transportation report 129,255 bags collected in April during the Bash.
"On behalf of our state's forests, fish and wildlife, and the millions of Missourians who enjoy them, we offer a great big ‘Thank You!' to the almost 1,000 groups and more than 16,000 volunteers who bashed trash by picking up litter and educating others about the dangers of littering," said Conservation Department No MOre Trash! Coordinator Joe Jerek.
"Animals get tangled in litter, such as plastic six-pack holders and discarded fishing line, and it hurts and kills them." Litter poisons fish, birds and other wildlife, along with their habitats, such as rivers, fields and forests. Trash Bash volunteer efforts are essential to prevent that from happening.
"The No MOre Trash! Bash is a success because everyone involved pitches in," said Stacy Armstrong, MoDOT roadside management specialist. "Conservation groups, Adopt-A-Highway members, Stream Teams, inmates, MoDOT employees and many other volunteers all work together to pick up litter and give Missouri a spring cleaning."
Hundreds of educational efforts were also held in schools, at rest areas, community events, during Earth Day celebrations, and more.
While it's great to see the impact these efforts have, it's important to remember why they take place. "Litter is a big problem because it's unattractive, costly, and harmful to the environment," said Armstrong. "If more people would keep their trash and properly dispose of it, or, better yet, recycle it, we would reduce the amount of litter we need to pick up in the first place.
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For MoDOT, litter clean-up is a year-round job, costing the state over $5 million every year. Programs like the Trash Bash and the Adopt-A-Highway program help offset those costs and allow the department to devote resources to other much needed tasks.
The No MOre Trash! Bash is sponsored by the Missouri departments of Conservation and Transportation.
For more information about the Bash and other litter prevention activities, visit www.nomoretrash.org or call 888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636).
Written by
Dee Loflin, Manager/Writer SMT
Stoddard County, Missouri – The American Red Cross blood supply took serious hits during the Independence Day holiday and days following. The Red Cross has issued emergency requests for blood and platelet donors.
They need blood of all types, and those with O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially encouraged to give. There is also a critical need for platelet donors as well.
Nationwide, donations through the Red Cross were down approximately 10% in June, resulting in about 50,000 fewer d onations than expected. This is not unusual for this time of the year with many on vacation this time of year there are more people traveling, more accidents therefore more folks require blood or blood platelts. At the same time less people are donating during the summer months.
There will be two blood drives in Stoddard County.
July 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wal-Mart, 2025 W. Business Highway 60 in Dexter, Mo.
July 19 from 1-5 p.m. at Bank of Advance, 105 E. Gabriel in Advance, Mo.
Written by
Dee Loflin, Manager/Writer SMT
Bloomfield, Missouri – In 1974 everyone enjoyed the jingle, “Hotdogs, Apple Pie, Baseball and Chevrolet” ringing in their ears. Independence Day is blessed with American traditions, as it should be. Happy Birthday USA!
Some things just go hand-in-hand, like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, mashed potatoes and gravy, and baseball and hot dogs!
This 4th of July, join the Bloomfield Firefighters Association as they host their annual fundraising SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT.
There are several teams competing and it all begins at 9:00 a.m. with the last game to be played around 4:00 p.m. The Bloomfield Fire Department will compete against the Liberty Hill team, Flaming Rubber Ducks, JSC, and the Misfits
Watch the players pay $10 for every homerun hit over the fence! Or you can participate by offering $10 for a hit out of the park.
Rumor has it that the Hot Dog Guy is going to be there! Come out and enjoy this American tradition and raise some money for the brave firemen of Bloomfield.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, Manager/Writer SMT
Missouri - The 2013 July Fourth holiday is fast approaching. All across Missouri, people will gather to have some fun, share a meal, or simply enjoy fireworks. Whether your plans will take place on land or on the water, Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds Missouri’s travelers of the importance of safety during the upcoming July Fourth holiday.
In 2012, four people were killed and 194 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 385 traffic crashes. One person was killed or injured every 9.1 minutes. Of that total, troopers worked 104 crashes, including three of the fatalities and 56 injuries during the 2012 July Fourth holiday. Troopers arrested 59 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. Last year's counting period was 30 hours in length.
The 2013 counting period for the July Fourth holiday will be from 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 7. This year's counting period will span 102 hours.
The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the July Fourth holiday weekend. All available officers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and alcohol laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists.
Troopers throughout the state will participate in a 20-Mile Trooper operation on Wednesday, July 3, and Sunday, July 7, 2013. This operation will include Interstates 35, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 63. Troopers will be targeting all traffic violations, and be especially vigilant of aggressive driving violations.
Motorists who need assistance or who witness criminal activity while traveling on Missouri’s roadways can contact the nearest Highway Patrol troop headquarters by calling the Patrol Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. Motorists may call 1-888-275-6636 to check for road construction or possible flooding along their travel route.
The Highway Patrol also reminds the public that the Fourth of July holiday is one of the busiest boating holidays of the year. In 2012, there were zero boating fatalities. However, four people were injured in four boat crashes. Three people drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. One person drowned at Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County; two people drowned at Lake of the Ozarks in Morgan County.
Additional officers will be working on the state’s waters to ensure safety. Missouri’s boaters are asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers, and being courteous on the water. With more boats on the water, it is even more important to pay attention when operating your vessel.
Remember:
· Distractions and alcohol consumption slow reaction time.
· Appoint a passenger to help monitor the other boats around you.
· Make evasive maneuvers early and deliberately.
The many firework displays after dark attract many more boaters at night.
At night, remember to:
· Check your vessel’s navigation lights before heading out, and be sure to have spare bulbs on board.
· Avoid overloading your boat with too many passengers. This can cause the boat to become swamped and affect the handling of the boat.
· Observe Missouri’s nighttime speed limit of 30 miles per hour on the water.
· Slow down and take your time. Nighttime accidents tend to involve more serious injuries and damage, due to the lack of visibility.
Finally, it is illegal to discharge fireworks from a vessel, so leave them in a safe place on shore.
“The Patrol encourages motorists and watercraft operators to protect themselves by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint and everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket," said Colonel Replogle. "Please be courteous whether operating a vessel or vehicle. If your celebration includes alcohol, designate someone else to drive, whether operating your boat or your car."
Article Submitted to
ShowMe Times
news@showmetimes.com
Puxico, Missouri - Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center held its annual Public Safety Day on June 25th in conjunction with the National Safety Council's Safety Month. Over 100 students and staff participated in the program.
Dexter Fire Chief Don Seymore and Firefighter Todd O’Dell demonstrated one of the department's Pumper trucks. By combining a pumping capacity of 1,250 gallons per minute and the ability to control the volume and direction of flow by remote control, it is a powerful firefighting tool that provides an extra level of safety for the operator.
Chuck Kasting, Assistant Manager of Stoddard County EMS, and Communications Supervisor Jamie Holcomb discussed career opportunities in the emergency medical field and presented tours of an ambulance and the high tech equipment on board.
"Many of Job Corps’ Health Occupations Career Technical Training graduates continue their training and have found careers as EMTs and Paramedics. These young men and women here today may find themselves as part of an ambulance crew someday in their future," stated Tim Aslin, Business and Community Liaison with Mingo Job Corps CCC.
"Mingo Job Corps CCC maintains a U.S. Forest Service Wildland fire team and while traditional firefighting is somewhat different, there is overlap in training and technique. I believe the students were intrigued by the level of technology used by the Dexter Fire Department.” added Ryan Lindsley, Safety Officer at Mingo.
Mingo Job Corps CCC offers educational and vocational training in seven occupations: welding, painting, heavy equipment operator, carpentry, brick masonry, health occupations, and office administration in a residential setting.
The U.S. Forest Service operates 28 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers across 18 states with a capacity of 6,200 students. There is no cost to qualifying students.
For more information, call Mingo Job Corps CCC at 573-222-3537 or visit their website at www.jobcorps.gov
