Bloomfield, MO - State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Stoddard County. Citizens with information relevant to the audit are encouraged to contact the auditor's Whistleblower Hotline. The county received a rating of "fair" in an audit issued in March 2018.
"Audits can help local officials take steps to make government more efficient and effective for taxpayers," comment Galloway in a press release. "I encourage residents with information that would be helpful to our audit of Stoddard County to contact my office through the Whistleblower Hotline."
Residents who would like to provide information for consideration in this or any audit may contact the State Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov or by calling 1-800-347-8597.
Concerns may also be submitted anonymously online at auditor.mo.gov/hotline
The state of Missouri tries to personally audit a county every four years, according to presiding commissioner Danny Talkington.
The county was audited four times last year: One was the annual financial audit and three concerned the CARES Act.
Bloomfield, MO - The City of Bloomfield Park is seeking applications for part-time seasonal worker. The season runs from July - October of 2022.
Duties include, but not limited to cleaning restrooms, installing paper products, emptying trash cans, picking up limbs and trash as needed, water/weed flowers as need. No mowing involved.
Hours will vary to accommodate park activities, but are usually 10-15 hours per week.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Applications can be picked up and dropped off at the Bloomfield City Hall.
City of Bloomfield is an equal opportunity employer.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Missouri Commercial Poultry Flock
Virus found in Stoddard County commercial flock.
Stoddard County, MO - Federal officials have confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial chicken flock in Stoddard County, Missouri. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI) in the commercial broiler chicken flock.
Samples were delivered to the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Missouri for testing after a sudden increase in mortality in the flock. The National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Des Moines, Iowa, confirmed the positive results.
HPAI is known to be deadly for domesticated poultry. Missouri Department of Agriculture veterinary officials have quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the property will not enter the food system.
“The Missouri Department of Agriculture is working closely with federal animal health officials to contain and eliminate the disease,” Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn said. “Protecting the health and welfare of livestock and poultry is a top priority. We encourage both commercial and backyard poultry producers to tighten their biosecurity protocols to help stop the spread of the virus.”
Poultry producers should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or an unusual increase in death loss to a local veterinarian or the state veterinarian’s office at the Missouri Department of Agriculture at (573) 751-3377.
MDA Animal Health Division employees are working with federal partners on additional surveillance and testing in the areas around the affected flock.
“Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk,” Director Chinn continued. “Poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.
Sparklight®, a member of the Cable One family of brands, today announced it will offer its residential phone customers free, unlimited international calls to Ukraine from February 25, 2022 through March 12, 2022 in response to the current events in this region.
“During this time of unrest, we want to ensure our customers stay connected with what matters most – their loved ones in Ukraine,” said Julie Laulis, Cable One President and CEO.
Customers must visit www.sparklight.com/Ukraine and submit account information in order to have calls to Ukraine credited.
About Sparklight
Sparklight® is a leading broadband communications provider and part of the Cable One family of brands, which serves more than 1.1 million residential and business customers in 24 states. Sparklight provides consumers with a wide array of connectivity and entertainment services, including high-speed internet and advanced Wi-Fi solutions, cable television and phone service. Sparklight Business provides scalable and cost-effective products for businesses ranging in size from small to mid-market, in addition to enterprise, wholesale and carrier customers.
SB I-55, Route 61 Reduced at Center Junction for Repairs
Mile Marker 99
Contractor crews will soon begin repairs to the southbound Interstate 55 bridge at mile marker 99 between Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Missouri. Damage was caused during a traffic incident involving a tractor-trailer truck.
Both the bridge and safety barrier were inspected and are structurally sound. Repairs will be made to the concrete.
Contractor crews will be in the area today (Monday, Feb. 28) to remove any loose material. Icy conditions had previously prevented the contractor from getting equipment on the bridge.
Weather permitting, the repair work will begin Wednesday, March 2 at 8:30 a.m., following morning rush-hour traffic. As work is underway, the southbound I-55 bridge will be reduced to one lane. The lane reduction will be in place 24 hours a day until repairs are completed.
In addition, the right eastbound lane of Route 61 will be closed beneath the bridge. The lane reduction on Route 61 will only be in place as work is underway overhead.
Completion is anticipated by Monday, March 7, weather permitting.
