Local News – Thursday, July 12th, 2018

With temperatures staying in the 90’s consistently and heat indexes climbing into triple digits, everyone needs to be aware of how dangerous it is for a person or animal to be left in a closed up vehicle. On the average, 37 children die in the U.S. each year from heatstroke in cars, according to the nonprofit child-safety organization Kids and Cars. That’s one child every nine days. And there are hundreds of cases of nonfatal heat-related illness every year, some of which result in permanent brain damage. Pets, the elderly and people with movement disabilities are also at risk. Remember that leaving a child in car for even a few minutes is dangerous. The cool interior of an air-conditioned car can quickly turn deadly once you shut off the engine. Within 10 minutes the inside temperature can rise more than 20 degrees. After an hour, temperatures can increase by 40 degrees or more, according to a 2005 study published in the journal Pediatrics. The same study revealed that leaving windows open an inch or two won’t stop a car in direct sunlight from quickly becoming dangerously hot. The danger of heatstroke in cars isn’t confined to hot days. Even when the outside temperature is only in the mid-60s, sunlight can heat the interior to 110 degrees or more, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Some tips to prevent this from happening include “Look before you lock.” Make a habit of always checking the back seat of your vehicle before walking away. Place a needed item such as your phone, briefcase or purse in the back seat. That way, you’ll see your child when you retrieve the item. Keep your vehicle locked and keys out of reach of children. Almost 30 percent of vehicle-related heatstroke deaths happen when an unsupervised child climbs inside a vehicle. For bystanders who see a child alone in a vehicle: Make sure the child is OK. If not, call 911 immediately. If the child appears to be OK, try to find the parents. If at a store or other facility, try to have the car owner paged over the PA system. If the child is unresponsive and appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to help the child, even if that means breaking a window.

There will be a Community Blood Center of the Ozarks Blood Drive at the First Baptist Church TODAY from 1:00 until 6:00 at 201 North McArthur. Two blood types are in short supply at this time: B negative and A positive, but all types are needed during the summer months. To be eligible to give blood, you must weigh 110 pounds, be in good health and show a valid picture ID. At this blood drive, you will also get a cool heather gray T-Shirt with a patriotic summer message. For more information, contact Cindy Sachs at 729-4241.

Sample ballots for the Dent County Primary election on August 7th are available in the Dent County Clerks office in the courthouse. Five parties will be represented including the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, as well as the Green Party and Constitution Party. The contested Primary races include the race for the United States Senator seat, there will be 11 Republican candidates, seven Democrat candidates, and one each from the Libertarian and Green Party. In the state races, the State Auditor position features four Republicans running along with one Democratic candidate, and one candidate from the Libertarian and Green Party. The State Senator for the 16th District Senator contests have three Republicans running and one Democrat candidate. The State Representative for District 143 has two Republicans running for that position. Other contested offices in the area include the race for Circuit Judge for the 42nd Circuit, Division 1, which has three Republican candidates running, two Republicans will battle for Dent County Presiding Commissioner, two Republicans are challenging for Dent County Collector and two Republicans candidates seek to fill the unexpired term of Public Administrator. The sample ballots are free! For more information call the Dent County Collector Angie Curley at 729-4144.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Family Self-Sufficiency program will host a free Energy Savers Class Friday from 10:00 that morning until noon. Participants will actively look at their energy choices, energy use, and how to make the right choices when it comes to saving energy. The class will look at energy use for the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, cooling, heating and lighting as well as energy safety and kids and energy. The class will be held at Phelps County PHA located at #4 Industrial Drive in St. James presented by Christy Saylor, the Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA) county projects coordinator. This workshop is offered at no cost to the participant. For more information or to RSVP, contact Savannah Vandegriffe at 573-265-4200 ext. 132. Free training classes are a part of MRPC and PHA’s efforts to help prepare families by making them aware of the resources available to assist with self-sufficiency. Each participant who attends will receive a $25 Wal-Mart gift card, as long as they meet income qualifications.