Local News – Thursday, August 31st, 2017

This year, the Missouri Department of Conservation’s State Forest Nursery is taking orders starting a couple months early. Orders will be accepted beginning on Sept. 1st, instead of waiting until November, and orders will be accepted through April 15th, 2018. Supplies are limited so early orders have a much better chance of being filled with desired species. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking from February through May. Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White State Forest Nursery offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for erosion control, reforestation, windbreaks, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The nursery provides mainly one-year-old bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, persimmon, birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, holly, dogwood, hazelnut, redbud, spicebush, sumac, wild plum, and others. Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 16 to 80 cents per seedling. Sales tax of 6.1 percent will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is an $8 handling charge for each order. Producers can receive a 15-percent discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. Those interested can see images and information on available items, along with ordering information, in MDC’s 2017-2018 Seedling Order Form. It is available in the September issue of the Missouri Conservationist, at MDC regional offices and nature centers, online at mdc.mo.gov/seedlings, or by contacting the State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229 or StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov.

Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, urges Missouri’s travelers to drive and boat responsibly during the 2017 Labor Day weekend. In Missouri, 20 people died and 429 were injured in 1,028 traffic crashes over the 2016 Labor Day holiday. That means one person was killed or injured every 10.4 minutes. Of that total, troopers worked 293 traffic crashes, which included 139 injuries and 14 of the fatalities over the 2016 Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested 100 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The 2017 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6:00 tomorrow night through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 4th. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. Thus, all available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists. Troopers throughout the state will participate in a special enforcement operation on September 1st, and again on September 4th. This operation will include Interstates 29, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 61. Troopers will be targeting all traffic violations, and be especially vigilant of aggressive driving violations. Col. Karsten reminds the public that the Labor Day holiday is also a busy boating weekend. In 2016, there were 10 boating crashes which included zero fatalities and 10 injuries. There were no drownings over last year’s Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested 12 people for boating while intoxicated during last year’s counting period. In an effort to increase safety on our state’s waters, all available officers will be working over the holiday weekend. Missouri’s boaters are asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers, and being courteous on the water. With more boats on the water, it is even more important to pay attention when operating a vessel. Remember: Never operate a vessel while you are impaired. Alcohol consumption slows reaction time. Avoid overloading your boat with too many passengers and pay close attention to the boats around you. Check your vessel’s navigation lights before heading out at night, be sure to have spare bulbs on board, and observe Missouri’s nighttime speed limit of 30 mph on the water. Causing harm to another person or their property with an excessive boat wake may subject you to enforcement action or civil liability. Treat other boaters and property owners as you want to be treated. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency. These emergency numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies.