Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds the general public of the importance of water safety during the extremely hot weather. The heat causes people to gravitate toward all kinds of waterways, public and private. Even those who are weak swimmers, including small children, may enter waterways to get relief, so taking the proper precautions is paramount.
Drownings do not typically occur as dramatized on television. Drownings occur quickly and in many cases, the drowning itself is not actually witnessed. The victim is there one minute and gone the next. Life jackets are an important part of drowning prevention, whether boating or simply swimming from the shoreline or a dock. It is imperative for children to be instilled with the habit of wearing a life jacket whenever they are around the water. State law requires children under seven to wear a life jacket while on a watercraft, but that is only a minimum requirement. Life jackets clearly benefit persons of all ages.
It is common for teens and even adults to overestimate their swimming ability, so even if a person chooses not to wear a life jacket, keeping a life jacket or other adequate flotation within reach is imperative. It is difficult to judge distance on the water, so what appears to be a short swim across a pond, lake, or river may actually be further than you think. The current on rivers may also extend your swim beyond your abilities. Panicking is a key component of drowning. The best way to avoid panic is to be prepared around the water. Once the struggle to stay afloat begins, it may be too late to retrieve a flotation device. Clearly, the best practice is to wear a life jacket.
As we get into what is typically the hottest weather of the year, help ensure you don't become a drowning victim. Make sure you and your loved ones are prepared when they hit the water.
Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others: Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!
Shown in the photo is Camden Stone swimming at Lake Wappapello, 2-year old son of David and Laura Stone of Dexter, Missouri.
Annual cicadas have dark eyes and greenish bodies, unlike the slightly smaller periodicals which have red eyes and blackish bodies.
After spending two-to-five years underground feeding on root juices, the annual cicada nymphs emerge and begin the search for mates using their raspy hum.
The cicada’s endless drone seems to come from everywhere. Cicadas emit a sound that can reach up to 95 decibels, depending on proximity. That is the equivalent noise level of a Boeing 737 before landing.
Unlike crickets rubbing together parts of their wings to create a chirp, male cicadas rapidly vibrate a piece of their exoskeleton to produce their loud call.
Despite the mild sound annoyance cicadas induce, the insect is a valuable food source for wildlife such as birds and other insects. In other countries it’s common for people to chow down on the meaty bug due to its predictable emergence in the summer. Cicadas pose no threat to people and minimal threats to trees.
While Missouri doesn’t have to worry about a large periodical cicada invasion this summer, states toward the east such as Ohio and West Virginia are dealing with a 17-year brood. The next 13-year periodical will not make an appearance in Missouri until 2024.
Missouri - Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the Patrol's participation in Operation Dry Water. Operation Dry Water is a national campaign in which marine law enforcement officers from across the country coordinate special patrols during the last weekend in June to keep our waterways safe from boaters operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Troopers will focus their efforts over the weekend of June 24-26, 2016, to detect and apprehend impaired operators.
Missouri boat operators found to have a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater will be arrested for boating while intoxicated. Intoxicated boat operators endanger themselves, their passengers, and other boaters utilizing our many waterways.
Last year, 582 local, state, and federal agencies participated in a weekend long event of heightened BWI enforcement known as Operation Dry Water. Officers removed 278 intoxicated boat operators from the water. In addition, law enforcement officers made contact with over 125,087 boaters concerning BWI or boating safety enforcement and awareness. From 2010 to 2015, over 1,870 BWI operators have been removed from the water by law enforcement officers during the Operation Dry Water weekends.
In 2015, during less than desirable boating weather, troopers arrested a total of three people statewide for boating while intoxicated, contacted 543 vessels and 1,531 boaters, and issued 85 boating violation summonses and 588 warnings on Missouri waterways. Marine operations troopers also issued 137 summonses for non-boating violations during the 2015 Operation Dry Water weekend. Special enforcement operations will continue throughout the summer months. Boaters are reminded that designating a sober operator is always the safest bet if alcohol is going to be included in their boating experience.
Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others: Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!
Shown in the photo is Lucas Foster, age 3, son of Matt and Miranda Foster of Puxico, Missouri.
This section of roadway is located from Route 25 to County Road 237.
Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, June 28 through Thursday, July 7 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Dexter, Missouri - The City of Dexter will host their annual fourth of July Fireworks Display on Sunday, July 3, 2016 at dusk at the East City Park complex. S&N Display Fireworks of Lincoln, Illinois will be providing the pyrotechnics for the city.
The event is FREE and open to everyone. There will be parking at the East City Park Aquatic Center, along the Dexter Creek levee, the Stoddard County Fairgrounds, and also the parking area south of the ball field. The baseball and soccer fields will be roped off by the Dexter Fire Department prior to the event.
In case of rain on Sunday, July 3rd, the fireworks show will be held on Tuesday, July 5th.
Dexter city ordinance prohibits shooting of fireworks inside the city limits, but will be waived both Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th to allow residents a chance to celebrate the holiday.
