Puxico, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has installed a new accessible hunting blind at Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA) for waterfowl hunters with disabilities. The blind, which is ready for use in the upcoming waterfowl seasons, is a final piece of renovations to the area.
“We want to help all people discover nature and this accessible duck blind is part of making that happen,” said Keith Cordell, manager of Duck Creek CA.
The ADA blind is in the south central corner of position 16 in Unit A. A paved walkway starts at a parking pad and descends toward the blind, which reaches out into the pool. The structure took an MDC construction crew about six weeks to build.
To make a reservation to use the blind, hunters may call the Southeast Regional Office at (573)290-5730 on or after Oct. 1. Once the season starts, the Duck Creek Office will manage availability of the blind and can be reached at (573)222-3337.
During the waterfowl season, if the blind isn't reserved by a hunter with disabilities, the position/blind will go into the morning draw and may be used by other hunters.
More information on accessible conservation and hunting areas can be found online at mdc.mo.gov or by calling the MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at (573)290-5730.
Bring your pills for disposal to the Dexter Police station at 305 Cooper Street. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons (over 617,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.8 million pounds—more than 2,400 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the September 26 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control site or contact the Dexter Police Department @ 573-624-5512.
"Who's Hiding in Your Family Tree" will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Community Room. Coffee and refreshments will be available.
Glynda Bates of the DAR will have a presentation at 10:00 a.m. Christina Joy will present, "Understanding DNA" following Mrs. Bates.
Francis Moore and Betty McClintock of the DAR will present a pioneer skit at 11:30 just before they break for lunch. Following lunch, Paul White Eagle will speak on Cherokee Ancestries.
At 1:30 p.m., "Chasin' Women" will be presented by Carolyn Cox, followed by "Memories" at 2:00 p.m. by Nan Snider.
The Keller Public Library encourages anyone to attend. The cost is $15.00 which will cover the cost of lunch.
RSVPs are appreciated by Saturday, September 26th by calling the library at (573) 624-3764 or email Shirley Richard at shrl.richard@gmail.com.
Stoddard County, Missouri - On September 15 , 2015 the Professional Fire & Fraud Investigator’s Association (PFFIA) named Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver their Arson Prosecutor of the year.
Oliver was nominated for the award by PFFIA association member and State Fire Marshall Jason Dunn. Over the past 5 years, Dunn has worked with Oliver on numerous arson cases. In introducing Oliver to receive the award, Dunn stated, “Russ has been great to work with on arson cases. He takes them very seriously, devotes the time and resources to insure that the investigation and prosecution of these crimes is complete and thorough. He also obtains very appropriate sentences for Defendants of arson cases. Russ is an all-around great prosecutor of arson cases for Stoddard County.”
While accepting the award Oliver addressed the crowd of fire investigators, Oliver stated “any prosecution can only be as effective as the investigation of the crime. Stoddard County is very fortunate to have Tim McCoy as an Investigator in the Prosecutor’s Office. Tim is willing to work tirelessly to solve these difficult cases. Tim is the most tenacious investigator I have ever had the pleasure to work with and the Prosecutor’s Office is blessed to have his service. This award is as much Tim’s award as it is mine.” Oliver continued “arson cases are some of the most difficult cases to investigate. Scant evidence at the scene (due to it all burning in the fire) sometimes makes it very difficult to tell the difference between a fire that involves only a tragedy and one that involves a crime. These cases take an enormous amount of time and manpower to properly investigate. But these cases are worth the effort, because the victims’ loss deserves justice.”
Oliver continued, stating that “arson is a violent crime. No other crime can change the world view of victims like arson can. Security in our homes and businesses is paramount and essential to Americans’ sense of safety and well-being. When a coward is able to reduce the entirety of your life’s work to a heap of ashes, it changes that victim. Now that his or her security has been violated, every time they turn the deadbolt on their door and leave their home or workplace unattended, they have to walk away wondering if the entirety of their life’s possessions will be safe.”
Pictured in the photo (left to right) is Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Investigator Tim McCoy, Stoddard County Prosecutor Russ Oliver, and State Fire Marshall Jason Dunn.
Advance, Missouri - On September 2, 2015 Dr. Brett Ward of Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic received a letter from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
The letter states that an 8-week-old puppy from Bollinger County tested positive for RABIES on August 26, 2015. Because rabies in a domestic animal represents a serious and imminent public health threat, the Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services placed Bollinger County under a RABIES ALERT!
The puppy belonged to a resident of Bollinger County and was one of a litter of four. Around July 20th of this year a skunk was observed under the front porch of the owner’s home where the puppies and their mother were located.
Skunks are known carrier of Rabies in Missouri and it is presumed that’s how the puppy was infected. The puppies were adopted to three families and on August 21st the puppy in question became sick, was subsequently euthanized and submitted to the Missouri State Public Health laboratory for rabies testing.
A positive rabies test resulted on August 26th whereby 12 people who had contact with the puppy were notified and are receiving anti-rabies series of shots.
The remaining puppies were euthanized and tested negative. As you know, these results do not mean that the puppies were not infected with the rabies virus. Instead, the results indicate that since there was no rabies virus in the brain, there was also no rabies virus in the saliva. Therefore, these puppies could not have infected anyone who came in contact with them.
With that being said, the three puppies where not infectious when tests were performed, however they could have gone on to develop rabies over the next several months and become infectious at that time.
No one wants to have puppies euthanized, but this option must be employed at times to protect the health of the public according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
According to the MDHSS, RABIES occurs naturally in Missouri wild animals and occasionally in domestic animals. In 2014, a total of 27 rabid animals were detected. They included 9 skunks, 16 bats, and 2 cats. Missouri has averaged about 50 rabid animals per year over the past ten years. The main animals were bats and skunks. Statewide to date in 2015, a total of 21 rabid animals have been detected, including 13 bats, 6 skunks, and 2 dogs.
Please be responsible and vaccinate your dogs and cats against rabies. It serves as a buffer between the wildlife reservoir and the human population. Two individuals have died in recent years from rabies in Missouri.
See your local Veterinarian for RABIES vaccinations immediately. Most cities and counties have ordinances that require the vaccination annually.
If you need to get your pet vaccinated please contact your local Veterinarian. Dr. Brett Ward with Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic will be glad to schedule you an appointment as soon as possible. To contact them call (573) 321-2021.
