Missouri - For many children, riding the bus or walking to school represents a new level of freedom and maturity. It also creates new risks that you and your children should be aware of.

School buses are nearly eight times safer than passenger vehicles; however, a majority of bus-related deaths and injuries that do occur involve pedestrians - mostly children - who are struck by a bus or injured when they are exiting the bus to cross traffic.

Make every trip to and from school a safe one by following these guidelines:
Always stay in sight of the bus driver.
Don't hurry off the bus. Make sure to check traffic first.
Don't go back to the bus after exiting.
The Safe Routes to School program makes bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative. By encouraging more students to walk, wheel or bike to school, the program encourages a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age.

During the month of August, at times when MoDOT's digital message signs are not being used to convey critical information to motorists, the signs will be used to reinforce safe driving practices for back to school:


Safe Routes to School projects include sidewalk improvements, traffic calming, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, bicycle parking facilities and traffic diversion - http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/.

Dexter, Missouri - New Wave customers can receive Text Messages when an unexpected outage occurs or when they do routine maintenance and your service is unavailable for a period of time. 

In this day and age, text alerts seem to be the manner in which many business can get in touch with a multitude of people quickly.  Not many New Wave customers are using this feature at this time, but according to New Wave it's a great way to find out when your service is experiencing an outage without you having to contact the call center.

It's great to know in advance when routine maintenance is being performed during the night when most are snug in their beds; however there are a few who are burning the midnight oil and being informed is key to communication.  This text alert system is a great communication device and easy to utilize.

It's very simple to set up on your cell phone, but please remember standard text messaging charges may apply depending on your cell phone carrier.

Text Alert Steps
1.  Text to 25370
2.  In the body of the text type NEWWAVE and your ZIP CODE
3.  You will receive a response once you are signed up



That's all you have to do.  Then when New Wave experiences a cable, phone, or internet outage in your zip code area, a text message will be sent to your phone.

If you have further questions about your the service call 1-888-8NEWWAVE or stop by your local office.

Dexter, Missouri - It doesn’t take a lot of land to have a big impact on local wildlife populations according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Though the words “wildlife habitat” may bring to mind vast forests, tall timber and massive wetlands, MDC Private Lands Conservationist Kara McSpadden says setting aside low production areas like field borders can make a big difference for wildlife.

“Small areas like pivot corners and field borders are good places for farmers to develop habitat for quail, rabbits and even deer,” McSpadden said.

McSpadden’s been working with Steve Jackson, a row-crop producer from Cardwell. Jackson has numerous field borders and odd field corners that he’s transitioned into wildlife habitat. He’s planted native broadleaf plants, native grasses and scattered clumps of brush in these small areas.

“I have seen more pairs of quail and rabbits this spring than I have in years,” Jackson said, adding that it’s his goal to take his grandson on a successful quail hunt on the Cardwell farm someday.

“Many Bootheel landowners wish they had quality small-game hunting on their own family farm,” McSpadden said. “Steve has proven that even with a few acres, it is very possible.”


McSpadden added that the MDC has various programs to help fund wildlife habitat development on private land.

“Most of the land in Missouri is privately owned, so if wildlife habitat was only developed on public land, our wildlife wouldn’t have enough,” she said. “That’s why is so important that we work with private landowners on the ground and financially to help transition land into areas where wildlife can thrive.”

More information on financial and technical assistance for private landowners can be found online at mdc.mo.gov or by contacting a Private Lands Conservationist. McSpadden can be reached at (573)624-5939, extension 136.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - It’s nearly time for ruby-throated hummingbirds to depart on their annual fall migration to Central America. Before these tiny birds leave the area, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center will host a hummingbird banding event Saturday, Aug. 29, from 8 a.m. to noon.

“This event is truly a special opportunity for children and adults to get up close to a hummingbird,” said Sara Turner, manager of the center. “If you’ve not had the opportunity to see these fragile little birds when they’re banded, then this is something that you won’t want to miss.”

Cathie Hutcheson of Makanda, Ill., will be capturing, banding, and releasing hummingbirds. She will record important information that can be used to track the annual migration of these small birds.

Many people provide needed energy for hummingbirds by growing native plants and hanging out feeders. Participants will learn how to attract hummingbirds as well as how to choose and maintain feeders which give the busy birds the needed boost for their long journey. Those who wish to attract hummingbirds to their own garden will be able to pick up free seeds for native plants that provide the preferred nectar for hummingbirds.  

Doors will open at 8 a.m. with banding beginning shortly after. The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center is located in Cape County Park North, just off I-55 at exit 99. No advance registration is required for this program. For more information, call the nature center at (573)290-5218.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - A $250,000 grant has been awarded to Poplar Bluff Schools to add a preschool program that will further help serve the needs of the community in getting district children school-ready.
 
The funding through the Missouri Preschool Program will allow the Early Childhood Center to enroll 60 students ages 3-5, and employ six staff members to manage three classrooms. Pending licensing by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the plan is for the preschool to be operational by Monday, Sept 21.
 
Enrollment will take place on a first come, first serve basis. Cost of tuition will be set on a sliding scale based on the income levels used for the free and reduced lunch program.
 
“Studies have shown over the years that when students enter kindergarten, there is a marked difference in skill levels from students who have or have not participated in preschool education,” said JoAnne Westbrook, Early Childhood Center director. “Currently our highly qualified staff at Early Childhood is only able to serve a fourth of our kids entering the Kindergarten Center.”
 
Westbrook, who wrote the grant, has been employed by the R-I school district since 2005. For the needs assessment component of the proposal, she solicited AmeriCorps Director Becky Winters to enlist an advisory committee consisting of parents, educators, child care providers, civic leaders, officials from the social services sector and members of the faith-based community.
 
“When students do not receive that jumpstart on their academic careers at an early age, they’re more likely to wind up in remedial programs in the upper grades,” Winters stated. “In recent years, the community has lost multiple child care facilities for different reasons, and our committee wants to help fill that void.”
 
According to their research, 568 district children are not receiving a preschool education. The area child care facilities available are presently serving 610 children with only 36 openings. Of those children, the Early Children Center is at capacity with 250 students registered in two half-day sessions based on family needs determined by the federal Title I and Early Childhood Special Education programs.
 
R-I was among 20 schools the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced would be awarded the five-year MPP grant on July 13. The money will go toward start-up costs with the goal of self-sustainability upon conclusion. By year four, the preschools will be accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
 
A waiting list is currently being compiled at the Early Childhood Center located at 1235 N. Main St. For consideration, a child must be 3 years of age but not older than 5 as of July 31. For more information, call 573-785-6803.

(From left) Jacob Woodruff, Ja’Meir Hood-Daniels and Logan Keown of the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center pose in their dream job attire during Career Day this past May.

Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator
Poplar Bluff R-I School District