Archive for 2018

An accident happened in Dent County on Highway 119 about six miles south of Highway 32 Sunday evening at about 7:10. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford Escort driven by 26-year old driven southbound by 26-year old Terry Storm of Salem, traveled off the left side of the roadway where the Ford struck an embankment and overturned. Storm suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by the Salem EMS. The Ford Escort was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing of Salem. Storm was not wearing his seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Missouri State Highway patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and Montauk Fire Department.

An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 4:59 in Crawford County on North Klein Road less than a mile from the South Klein Road cut-off. According to the highway patrol report, 16-year old Haylea Barnicle of Steelville was driving a 2006 Nisan Pathfinder southbound when she lost control of the vehicle on a curve. The Nissan slid off the roadway and struck several trees. A passenger in the Nissan, 15-year old Ryan Nickles of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital by the Steelville Ambulance. Nickles was wearing a seat restraint when the accident happened while Barnicle was not. The Nissan sustained moderate damage in the accident and was driven from the scene.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has launched a 30-day public comment period on an update of the state’s Long Range Transportation Plan. The Long Range Transportation Plan is a federally required process that sets the state’s 25-year vision for transportation. Missouri’s current plan was approved in February 2014, but new federal laws and regulations require additional content, including safety performance measures and targets. MoDOT sought public input in the fall to determine if their original goals were still valid, or if priorities had changed. Nearly 8,000 people participated in the online survey and submitted about 5,400 comments. Based on that feedback, the four goals above were validated and the updated plan adds an new plan to improve reliability and reduce congestion on Missouri’s transportation system. The draft Long-Range Transportation Plan can be viewed online at www.modot.org/LRTP/, or at any MoDOT District Office. Those interested in offering comments on the plan can contact MoDOT by emailing LRTPcomments@modot.mo.gov Additional questions about the survey and the long range planning process can be addressed by calling customer service centers at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). The final plan will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for approval at its June 2018 meeting.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports 33 new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been found following the testing of 24,486 free-ranging Missouri deer through its 2017-2018 sampling and testing efforts. Of the 33 new cases, 16 were from hunter-harvested deer, one was from a road-killed deer, and 16 were from MDC’s post-season targeted culling efforts in the immediate areas around where previous cases have been found. This year’s findings bring the total number of free-ranging deer in Missouri confirmed to have CWD to 75. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/cwd. It is encouraging that cases of CWD are still pretty low overall, and MDC remains committed to monitoring the disease and taking actions to limit its spread. Efforts are vital in limiting the spread of the disease. If nothing is done, areas affected by CWD will increase in size and many more deer will become infected by the disease. Over time, this would lead to significant long-term population declines. MDC will again require mandatory sampling of deer harvested during the opening weekend of the fall firearms deer season, Nov. 10 and 11, in and around counties where the disease has been recently found. MDC will again also offer voluntary CWD sampling during the entire fall and winter hunting season of deer harvested in and around counties where the disease has been recently found. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend hunters in areas known to have CWD test their deer before consuming the meat. More information on specific counties, sampling locations, and requirements will be published in MDC’s “2018 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet, and online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd, starting in July.

Time is running out on ordering your native trees, shrubs, and woody vines that can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of your private property. You only have until April 15th to place your order! The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White State Nursery near Licking offers Missouri residents a variety of native seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The State Nursery provides mainly one-year-old bare-root seedlings that vary greatly depending on the species. Seedlings varieties include pine, pecan, oak, dogwood, cottonwood, sweet gum, cypress, birch, hickory, willow, persimmon, pawpaw, deciduous holly, redbud, wild plum, ninebark, witch hazel, serviceberry, mulberry, elderberry, and many others. Seedlings are available in quantity bundles of 10, 25 or 100 per species. Prices for seedling quantities range from $6-32 per bundle. You can receive a 15-percent discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card. Orders can be placed now by fax, Internet or mail. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the State Nursery starting through May. Many quantities are now limited. Find images and information on available items as well as and ordering information in the Department’s 2017-2018 Seedling Order Form catalogue. The catalogue is available online at mdc.mo.gov or call the State Nursery at 573-674-3229.