Jefferson City, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invite Missouri public, private, and home-school students in grades K-8 to help fight litter in the Show-Me State -- and to have creative and educational fun -- by participating in the 2016 "Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free" trash-can-decorating contest.

The annual trash-can contest encourages school classes and groups to join in the fight against litter by decorating and displaying a large trash can with the "No MOre Trash!" logo and a litter-prevention message using a variety of creative media.

The annual contest is sponsored by MDC and MoDOT as part of the state's "No MOre Trash!" (NMT) statewide litter campaign. This partnership between MDC and MoDOT, along with thousands of volunteers, is working to prevent and reduce litter in Missouri through education, prevention, and cleanup activities.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American generates about four pounds of trash each day.

“Missouri’s six million residents produce nearly 26 million pounds of garbage in one day. That’s more than nine BILLION pounds of trash per year!” said MDC NMT Coordinator Joe Jerek. “Much of that trash shows up on our streets and roadsides, natural areas, and waterways. Litter harms our fish and water quality, plants, and hurts wildlife. Litter also hurts property values, landscape appearance, and our overall quality of life.”

Jerek added that littering is illegal in Missouri and can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and one year in jail.

"In addition to teaching kids about how litter hurts them, their communities, and their environment, the No MOre Trash! contest gives students an opportunity to help prevent littering by creating and providing trash cans with the No MOre Trash! message in their schools and communities," said MoDOT NMT Coordinator Stacy Armstrong.

CONTEST DETAILS

Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to contest rules, and effective use of theme and logo.

First-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools. All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of a trophy and $600 awarded to the sponsoring school.

There is no entry fee for the contest. Participating school groups must submit a completed entry form online with up to three photos to nomoretrash.org by Friday, March 18. Contest rules, entry forms, logo, past contest entries and winners, and educational information can also be found at nomoretrash.org.

2015 WINNERS

Southwest Livingston, Ross Elementary, and Schaible Homeschool were the winners of the 2015 trashcan-decorating contest. They were among 21 entries involving more than 240 students.

Southwest Livingston County R1 School in Ludlow won the 6–8-Grade Category and the Grand Prize with their entry, "In Recycling We Trust." The 14 students created a trash can featuring Ernie the Eagle made with turkey feathers, paper mache, paint, and construction paper.

Kindergarten and first grade Girl Scouts at Ross Elementary School in St. Louis won the K-2-Grade Category for their entry, "Girl Scouts Make the World a Better Place with No MOre Trash!" The 18 students converted an empty 50-gallon plastic drum.

Two fourth and fifth graders at Schaible Homeschool in Union won the 3-5-Grade Category for their entry, "Littering Is For the Birds" featuring the Missouri State Bird the Eastern Bluebird.

Photo and article submitted by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Joe Jerek, Statewide New Service Coordinator.

Southeast, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Transportation has closed routes in Southeast Missouri due to the recent flooding. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution and plan alternate routes.

Routes that are closed include: Updated Sunday, January 3, 2016

Butler County

• Route 142- from Route 67 to Route W (Ripley County)
• Route HH – from CR 202 to CR 214
• Route N – from CR 243 to CR 232

Cape Girardeau County

• OFF-RAMP - I-55 NB to Hwy74 - mile marker 93
• OFF-Ramp I-55 SB to MO 74
• South Kingshighway in Cape – from Route 74 to Diversion Channel
• Route 177 – from Cape Rock to CR 640
• Route 177 – from Route J to CR 610 over Indian Creek
• Route 177 – from CR 627 to CR 649 (Closed except for LOCAL/FOOT traffic)
• Route 25 – from Route 74 to Blomeyer
• Route 74 – from Route 25 to Diversion Channel
• Route A – over Hubble Creek
• Route AB – over Ramsey Creek to SEMO Port (Scott County)

Carter County

• Route M – over Mill Creek

Dunklin County

• Route ZZ – from CR 721 to end of state maintenance

 Iron County

• Route F – from CR 164 to CR 165 (Crane Pond Creek)

Madison County

• Route V – from Route F to CR 243

New Madrid County

• Route 162 – from CR 439 to end of state maintenance
• Route P – CR 727 to Route BB
• Route WW – from Route P to end of maintenance
• Route V – from CR 702 to CR 708

Mississippi County

• Route 60/62 – Closed in Cairo
• Route 77 – from Route A to the Dorena Ferry
• Route 80 – from Levee Rd to end of state maintenance

Ozark County

• Route 95 – over Bryant Creek

Pemiscot

• Route 164 – from Levee Road to CR 553

Perry County

• Route 51 – Chester bridge to Illinois
• Route A – from CR 460 to end of state maintenance
• Route C – from CR 352 to CR 354
• Route E – from CR 322 to CR 354
• Route H – from Route 51 to Route 61 (Ste. Gen County)
• Route M – from CR 924 to Route H

Reynolds County

• Route CC – From CR 464 to Wayne County line 

Ripley County

• Route 142- from Route W to Route 67 (Butler County)
• Route H – from CR H-8 to Route KK
• Route H – from Route KK to CR H-9
• Route W – from 142 to the Arkansas State Line

Scott County

• Route AB – over Ramsey Creek to SEMO Port
• Route E – from CR 342 to Washington Street (Commerce)

Ste. Genevieve County

• Route 61 – from Route M to Route H
• Route J – from Buehler Road to Route 61
• Route U – from Route 61 to end of state maintenance (St. Mary)                    
• Route V – from Route 61 to Sugar Bottom Road
• Route M – from Route J to Eisenbeis Bottom Road

Wayne County                                                              

• Route FF – from CR 380 to Route 67

For more information, please contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636)

Jefferson City, Missouri - Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 11,061 deer during the alternative-methods portion of the 2015-2016 Missouri firearms deer-hunting season, which ran Dec. 19-29. Of the total harvest, 2,994 were antlered bucks, 1,594 button bucks, and 6,473 does. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 260 deer harvested, Howell with 247, and Texas with 235.

The harvest total for last year's alternative-methods portion was 11,067 and consisted of 2,851 antlered bucks, 1,503 button bucks, and 6,713 does.

For 2015 harvest totals by county and season portion, visit the MDC website and under “Telecheck: Deer and Turkey Harvest Data.” For past season numbers, visit the same link under “Deer Harvest Summaries.”

Deer hunting continues for this season with statewide archery hunting through Jan. 15 and the statewide firearms late youth weekend Jan. 2-3.

During the alternative-methods portion of firearms deer season, hunters are allowed to use muzzle-loading firearms, center-fire pistols, air-powered guns, bows, crossbows, or atlatls.

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country, and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians' lives and family traditions. Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies. For more on Missouri deer hunting, go online to the MDC website at www.mdc.mo.gov and click on Hunting/Trapping at the top of the home page.

Press Release and Photo submitted by Joe Jerek, MDC Statewide New Service Coordinator.

Missouri - Flooded Roadways in Southeast Missouri as of 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2015.

Update 10 am

Flooded Roadways Southeast MO

Bollinger County

• Route H – from CR 702 to Route 51

Butler County

• Route 158 – from Route 67 to Route 142
• Route 142 – from Route EE to CR 353
• Route N – from CR 243 to CR 231
• Route 53 – from Route HH to Route 51
• Route MM – from CR 355 to end of state maintenance

Cape Girardeau County

• South Kingshighway in Cape – from Route 74 to Diversion Channel
• Route 74 – from Route 25 to Diversion Channel
• Route U – from Route A to CR 391
• Route 177 – from Cape Rock to CR 640
• Route A – over Hubble Creek
• Route 25 – from Route 74 to Blomeyer
• Route N/U/T junction

• Ramp I-55 SB to MO 74
• Route 61 – right lane closed to Route 74

Carter County

• Route M – over Mill Creek
• Route Z – near CR 206
• Route Z – Skyline Drive to end of state maintenance

Douglas County

• Route Y – over Cowskin Creek

• Route FF- over Hunter Creek

• Route U – over Bryant Creek

• Route EE – over North Fork River

 Dunklin County

• Route DD – from Route 53 to CR 228

• Route ZZ – from CR 721 to end of state maintenance

• Route F – from Route AC to Arkansas line

 Howell County

• Route 142 – from 17 to CR 9330

Iron County

• Route F – from CR 164 to CR 165 (Crane Pond Creek)

Madison County

• Route V – from Rt F to CR 243
• Route 162 – from CR 439 to end of state maintenance

New Madrid

Oregon County

• Route 142 – over the Eleven Point River

Ozark County

• Route 95 – over Bryant Creek

• Route 95 – from Route N to CR 167

• Route H – over North Fork River

• Route T – from CR 527 to CR 512

Perry County

• Route E – from CR 322 to CR 354
• Route A – at CR 460
• Route C – from CR 352 to CR 354
• Route M – from CR 924 to Route H
• Route 61 – from CR 502 to CR 506
• Route 51 – Chester bridge
• Route U – from Route 61 to end of state maintenance

Reynolds County

• Route F – over Logan Creek

• Route CC – From CR 464 to Wayne County line

Ripley County

• Route H – from CR H-8 to Route KK
• Route H – from Route KK to CR H-9
• Route 142 – from Route 67 to Naylor

Scott County

• Route E – from CR 342 to Washington Street

Shannon County

• Route KK – over Gladder Creek
• Route H – over Rocky Creek
• Route NN – over Rocky Creek
• Route HH – over Carr Creek

Ste. Genevieve County

• Route J – from Buehler Road to Route 61

• Route 61 – from Route M to Route H

Stoddard County

• Route D – from CR 725 to CR 751 

Texas County

• Route BB – over Big Piney River

• Route U – from Route HH to Route 137

Wayne County                                                              

• Route KK – south of CR 456
• Route FF – from CR 380 to Route 67
• Route C – over Bear Creek

Wright County

• Route Z – over Elk Creek

• Route AB – over Wolf Creek

• Route E – from Kempt Road to Dake Road

• Route E – from Day Road to Wylie Road

For more information, please contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit the Traveler Information Map at:

http://traveler.modot.org/map/?district=SOUTHEAST