Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

United States of America - By order of the President of the United States, in accordance with Section 6 of the U. S. Flag Code, all flags at all State facilities are to be flown at half-staff on Monday, May 26, 2014 until noon that same day in recognition of Memorial Day.

For locations that display illuminated flags that remain up at all times, these flags need to be lowered to half-staff for the morning of May 26, 2014 and returned to full staff at noon that same day.

For flag locations at which the flags are not illuminated or for other reasons are raised and lowered each day, the flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position, and returned to full staff at noon.

Your office is responsible for distributing this information throughout your department for compliance with this order on May 26th.  Following is the proclamation from the President.

PRAYER FOR PEACE, MEMORIAL DAY, 2014

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Constant in the American narrative is the story of men and women who loved our country so deeply they were willing to give their all to keep it safe and free. When a revolution needed to be won and our Union needed to be preserved, brave patriots stepped forward. When our harbor was bombed and our country was attacked on a clear September morning, courageous warriors raised their hands and said, "send me." On the last Monday of each May, our Nation comes together to honor the selfless heroes who have defended the land we love and in so doing gave their last full measure of devotion.

Today, we pause to remember our fallen troops, to mourn their loss, and to pray for their loved ones. Though our hearts ache, we find a measure of solace in knowing their legacy lives on in the families our heroes left behind -- the proud parents who instilled in their sons and daughters the values that led them to serve; the remarkable spouses who gave our Nation the person they cherished most in the world; and the beautiful children who will grow up with the knowledge that their mother or father embodied the true meaning of patriotism. To those we lost, we owe a profound debt that can never be fully repaid. But we can honor the fallen by caring for their loved ones and keeping faith with our veterans and their fellow brothers and sisters in arms.

The security that lets us live in peace, the prosperity that allows us to pursue our dreams, the freedom that we cherish -- these were earned by the blood and the sacrifices of patriots who went before. This Memorial Day, as we near the end of more than a decade of war, let us never forget their service and always be worthy of the sacrifices made in our name. And today and every day, let us pray for and hold close the families of the fallen.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

BARACK OBAMA

 

Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Missouri - With planting season in full swing, the Missouri Department of Transportation wants to remind motorists to pay extra attention for farm equipment using and crossing state roadways.

"Spring planting time is a busy time of the year for Missouri's farm families, and MoDOT wants to make it a safe time of year too," said MoDOT Director Dave Nichols.  "Tractors, trucks and other farm equipment are slow moving, and motorists may be surprised when they come up behind one on a Missouri highway."

Missouri's 33,000 miles of state roadway pass alongside the fields of more than 100,000 farms throughout the state.

Motorists are advised to slow down when approaching farm vehicles. Be patient as the farm vehicles travel to their field entrances. In passing zones, please wait until it is safe and pass at a safe distance and speed.

Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Bloomfield, Missouri - In order to assist the cemetery staff in maintaining the appearance of the cemetery in an appropriate manner, they ask that you review and follow cemetery regulations. Please contact their office if you have any questions regarding these policies.

Flowers and Flower Containers: Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Cemetery personnel will remove and discard flowers, which have become withered, faded, or otherwise unsightly. No permanent plantings are made on the graves. Inexpensive metal or plastic floral containers should be used to display flowers. The use of glass containers is prohibited. Vases are available from the cemetery staff. The cemetery is not responsible for lost or damaged containers.

Artificial Flowers: Artificial flowers are permitted on graves from October 15th through April 15th. Artificial flowers will also be permitted on graves 3 days prior to and 3 days following Memorial Day. Potted plants will be permitted on graves 10 days before and 10 days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day only.

Christmas Season: Christmas wreaths and floral grave blankets will be permitted from December 1 through January 15.

Unauthorized Decorations: Permanent plantings, statues, pictures, balloons, vigil lights, breakable items of any kind, and similar commemorative items are not permitted on graves, markers, or niche covers. Upright metal grave markers (flag holders) are not permitted. Unauthorized items will be removed and disposed of by cemetery personnel.

Memorial Day: Graves will be decorated prior to Memorial Day with small flags. These flags will be removed immediately after Memorial Day and are not permitted on graves at any other time. Only one flag per grave is permitted. Artificial flowers will be permitted on graves three days before and three days after Memorial Day.

Prohibited Activities: Littering; cutting of trees, shrubs, grass, or other plantings; allowing pets to run loose; recreational activities such as jogging, skating, bicycling, etc; public gatherings of a partisan nature. Please do not sit on grave markers.

Visiting Hours: The cemetery is open to the public for visitation from sunrise until sunset daily. The cemetery office is open from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Thank you for respecting their requests.  Keeping the cemetery nice year round is a tremendous challenge and they do such a good job.  Please come out at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day for their annual celebration and tribute to those that sacrificed their life and served in our nation's military.

Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Missouri - Summer travel season is upon us. Whether you're planning a weekend drive or that long summer trip, please protect yourself and those you love by making sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up - every trip, every time. 



The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is joining with state and local law enforcement May 19 - June 1 in the national "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign to crack down on buckling up.

Missouri's seat belt usage remains relatively unchanged at 80 percent, and consistently below the national average of 87 percent.  

"The best thing motorists can do to protect themselves while traveling in a motor vehicle is to buckle their seat belts and to make sure everyone else in the vehicle is buckled as well," stated Colonel Ronald K. Replogle, superintendent of the Highway Patrol.  "We want to encourage everyone to wear a seat belt every time they get into a car or truck."

This type of campaign and enforcement effort is just one method used to heighten awareness about the importance of wearing a seat belt and saving lives. Highway Patrol troopers will continue to take a zero tolerance approach in the enforcement of seat belt and child restraint laws throughout the year in our effort to reduce injuries and save lives."

In 2013, 757 people were killed in traffic crashes on Missouri's roadways, and 63.4 percent of those were not wearing seat belts.



"Sixty-five percent of Missouri fatalities since the first of this year have been unbuckled vehicle occupants," said Leanna Depue, chair of the coalition's executive committee. "We want to make sure everyone is buckled up - day and night."

Wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to reduce injuries and fatalities in a crash.  When worn correctly, seat belts can reduce the risk of death for front seat occupants of passenger cars by 45 percent. Similarly, belt use reduces the risk of serious non-fatal injuries by 50 percent for front seat occupants.  



For more information about Click It or Ticket, visit http://www.savemolives.com/, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter at Save MO Lives.

Stoddard County, Missouri - Route E in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane with a nine-foot width restriction as contractor crews overlay the roadway.

This section of roadway is located from Rt. 25 to Rt. N on Monday, June 2 through Saturday, June 21 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Monday, June 2 at 6 a.m. to Monday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Rt. E will be closed from County Road 563 to County Road 567 for replacing the bridge with pile culverts

The work zone will be marked with signs.  Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

For additional information, contact Resident Engineer Audie Pulliam at (573) 840-9781 or MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.