Dexter, Missouri – You are cordially invited to attend an Open House hosted by Republic Services at the Lemons Landfill located at 15250 Old Bloomfield Road, Dexter, Missouri.

The Open House is scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Informational tours of the landfill will be provided and a light lunch will be served.

Please R.S.V.P. by September 29th to Doug Ticer at 573-820-6932.

Check-out how beautiful the landfill really is and you will be surprised!

Columbia, Missouri - World-renowned primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall will visit the University of Missouri Sept. 17 to speak about her new book, her life and work, and environmental issues.

Goodall is best known for her research on chimpanzee behavior, which laid the foundation for future study in the field of primatology and helped redefine the relationship between humans and animals.

In 1977, Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute, a global organization supporting primate research in Tanzania as well as community-centered conservation efforts in Africa. In 2002, Goodall was appointed to serve as a United Nations Messenger of Peace because of her work with her youth program, Roots & Shoots. She was named a Dame of the British Empire in 2003 for her service to conservation and the environment.

Goodall’s visit to MU is sponsored by the Delta Gamma Lectureship in Values and Ethics, Missouri Students Association/Graduate Professional Council Speakers Committee, Mizzou Advantage, the Chancellor’s Distinguished Visitor’s Fund, the Mizzou Alumni Association, the Organization Resource Group, the Distinguished Lecture Series and the Department of Student Life.

WHEN & WHERE:
7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17
Mizzou Arena

NOTE: Tickets are free for MU students, $10 for the public and are available at the MSA/GPC Box Office or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - The mighty Mississippi River is an exciting place to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day. People of all ages are invited to spend “A Day on the River,” hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) on Saturday, Sep. 20. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Riverfront Park in downtown Cape Girardeau.

According to the event coordinator, MDC Naturalist Angela Pierce, no registration is required and all ages, youth, and adult groups are welcome. Activities include boat rides, live aquatic animal displays, Asian carp filleting demonstrations, kids’ crafts, and informational booths from many supporting agencies.  Boat rides will take place every half hour (except from noon – 1 p.m.) at Riverfront Park. Pierce said this event will be fun for the whole family.

“Families can enjoy boat rides, practice casting a fishing pole, see and touch fish of the big river, and even taste an Asian carp,” Pierce said.

“The Mississippi River and surrounding wetlands are not only a huge part of Cape Girardeau heritage, but are also important habitats to diverse wildlife. This makes for excellent hunting and fishing opportunities,” Pierce said. “We hope lots of people will join us for this unique event to celebrate our amazing natural resources.”

For more information on this event and others offered at the MDC Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, call 573-290-5218 or go online to mdc.mo.gov.

People of all ages are invited to spend “A Day on the River,” hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) on Saturday, Sep. 20. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Riverfront Park in downtown Cape Girardeau.  Activities include boat rides, live aquatic animal displays, Asian carp filleting demonstrations, kids’ crafts, and more. (Photo by Candice Davis)

Stoddard County, Missouri - Route OO in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs.

This section of roadway is located from Route 25 to County Road 337.

Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The work zone will be marked with signs.  Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

For additional information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) welcomes a new wildlife management biologist, Ryan Dirnberger, to the River Hills and Crowley’s Ridge districts. Dirnberger is based out of the MDC’s Perryville Forestry Office, although his responsibilities include managing conservation areas in Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott, Ste. Genevieve, and Stoddard counties.

Matt Bowyer, MDC wildlife regional supervisor, said Dirnberger will also be an asset to the community as a resource to answer wildlife and habitat questions.

Dirnberger earned his B.S. Degree in Wildlife Conservation Biology from Southeast Missouri State University -.  After obtaining his degree, he worked part time for the MDC’s Fisheries and Resource Science Divisions in the southeast region before being hired as a resource science assistant in Chillicothe.

In Chillicothe, Dirnberger worked as a crew leader for large river sampling on the Missouri River, supervised staff, and assisted with public events and educational programs.  During this time, Dirnberger also produced a report on the growth of sauger that was later published in the American Journal of Fisheries Management.

In 2010, Dirnberger transferred to the MDC’s Wildlife Division and gained experience in the management of wildlife habitats as a resource assistant at Duck Creek Conservation Area.  In the last four years, he has worked at Duck Creek carrying out numerous management practices on the wetland and upland habitats.

Over the years, Dirnberger has worked additional assignments doing urban deer surveys, waterfowl banding, dove banding, elk trapping, quail surveys, and swamp rabbit surveys.  He has worked hard to obtain additional training in areas that add to his skill set as a manager, including certification as a Missouri Prescribed Fire Burn Boss and burn planner.  He has federal certifications as a Fire Fighter Type 2 and is chainsaw certified as a Faller Type A.  During his time at Duck Creek, Dirnberger became known for always being one of the first to volunteer to help other districts and divisions in their time of need.  He has repeatedly taken advantage of opportunities to cross train with other divisions including working with professional staff in Fisheries, Forestry, Resource Science and Private Lands Divisions.

“This desire to grow professionally as a biologist combined with a strong work ethic, great teamwork, and a broad background of on the ground management and monitoring practices will benefit Dirnberger greatly as a wildlife management biologist,” Bowyer said.

“I am really excited to improve habitat on our conservation areas and work with landowners in the River Hills and Crowley’s Ridge districts,” Dirnberger said.

Dirnberger may be reached at the Perryville Forestry Office at 573-547-4537. He currently resides in Chaffee with his fiancée, Lora Brewer.