Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Wappapello, Missouri – Still want to celebrate after Independence Day? The Fourth of July festivities at Lake Wappapello will be held on Saturday, July 6th in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Annual Ranger Willie B. Safe’s Wet ‘n Wild Waterfest.
This event is FREE and co-sponsored with the SEMO Regional Water Safety Council and is held at Redman Creek Beach from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. All day use fees will be waived at Redman Creek Beach for this wonderful event.
The Wappapello Volunteer Fire Department will provide concessions.
Kid’s games will be conducted near the registration booth. Activities are as follows:
10:00 a.m. Registration/Begin Boat Construction
11:00 a.m. Life-Jacket Fashion Show
11:30 a.m. Pass the Sponge
Noon- Sand Sculpture Contest begins
12:45 p.m. – Inner Tube Races
1:30 p.m. – Hypothermia Game/OHIO (Optical Hydro Illusion Obstacle) Challenge
2:00 p.m. Tug-O-War/Sand Sculpture Judging
2:30 p.m. Water Balloon Toss
3:00 p.m. Cardboard Board Races
The Fireworks Display will be held at dusk.
For more information, contact the Wappapello Lake Management Office at 573-222-8562.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Bloomfield, Missouri – The Bloomfield Firefighter’s Association will conduct the city’s fireworks display shortly after dark on Thursday, July 4th at the Bloomfield City Park.
The fireworks display is solely supported through private donations and the cost is about $4,000 to host a display like they had last year. This year the Bloomfield Firefighters Association is hoping to raise at least that amount for this week’s celebration.
A fireworks display on the 4th of July is as American as apple pie, backyard barbecues and baseball. However, safety must always be the primary concern whether at a large public display or backyard outing.
The Missouri Division of Fire Safety has the duty of enforcing the laws governing the sale and use of fireworks, licensing individuals responsible for public displays and the inspection of sites where fireworks are sold or displayed.
An important aspect of the fireworks enforcement program is the testing and licensing of fireworks display operators and pyrotechnic operators. Before obtaining a license, all applicants must attend an approved training class, pass a state examination, and provide documentation of assisting with actual displays. The division licenses over 550 display operators for public displays.
Not just anyone can go out and purchase Class B fireworks and use them in a display. Multi-shot ground and shell displays, which are common to large fireworks display and are designed to fire simultaneously an arrangement of shell sequences in a horizon or angle effect. Your normal day-to-day Roman candles purchased at a fireworks tent are nothing compared to the 3” diameter of a display Roman candle.
For a small city type display to last approximately an hour the cost can exceed $4,000 to $5,000. Some of the large shows like in Boston, New York or Washington, D.C. can cost in the upwards of $100,000 or more.
We applaud efforts of the Bloomfield Firefighter's Association and appreciate all that they are doing to allow us to celebrate our Independence Day with tradition. There is no government funding for their display, so if you can donate just a little to keep our fireworks tradition alive for our children, it is greatly appreciated.
If you would like to donate, please contact Brooke Smith at 820-7841 or Randall McCollum at 820-1640. You may also make checks payable to Bloomfield Firefighters Association and send to BLFA, 21681 County Road 510, Bloomfield, MO 63825.
“With your donation and dedication to our community, we can continue this family-oriented celebration of our country’s independence the way our forefathers intended.”
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Commonly referred to as the Fourth of July, Independence Day is a Federal Holiday and commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
In the United States, we commonly associate our celebrations with fireworks, parades, BBQs, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and ceremonies.
The first 4th of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine in 1820 and is still one of the largest in the country.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy -- farm-raised catfish. In 1986, catfish comprised the third highest volume of finned fish consumed in the United States.
Ninety-nine percent of all these catfish were farm-raised. Between 1975 and 1985, production of farm-raised catfish increased by 1200 percent. Most observers expect that production will continue to increase in 1987. Production costs of catfish farming, which have averaged only 65 cents per pound over the past 8 years, have resulted in a stable income for growers and an economical food product for consumers. The accompanying growth of the catfish processing industry also has created thousands of permanent jobs.
Farm-raised catfish have come a long way from their bottom-feeding ancestors. The catfish that are available today, fresh or frozen in markets nationwide, are products of state-of-the-art methods of aquaculture. They thrive in clean freshwater ponds on many American farms, where they are surface-fed soybean meal, corn, fish meal, vitamins, and minerals. Farm-raised catfish not only furnish American consumers with a tasty delicacy but also provide a nutritious, low-calorie source of protein that is also low in cholesterol.
In recognition of the value of farm-raised catfish, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 178, has designated June 25, 1987, as ``National Catfish Day'' and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in its observance.
Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 25, 1987, as National Catfish Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eleventh.
President Ronald Reagan
If you haven't been to Fiddlers Fish House lately, tonight is the perfect night, besides President Reagan made it a proclamation to honor thy catfish and celebrate!
The specials for tonight are Crab Cakes and Yellow Fin Tuna, but not to worry they still have delicious Catfish platters with hushpuppies, choice of potato and salad bar! Serving catfish for over 30 years!
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Stoddard County, Missouri - Route WW in New Madrid and Stoddard Counties will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe under roadway.
This section of roadway is located between County Road 404 and County Road 733.
Weather permitting; work will be performed Wednesday, June 26 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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
