Local News – Thursday, June 14th, 2018
The public comment period is open on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). A draft of the 2019-2023 Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program that builds on MoDOT’s long-range transportation plan, financial forecast, asset management plan and the prioritization of project needs at the local level by planning partners has been presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. Transportation Planning Director Machelle Watkins told commissioners the draft STIP includes 1,319 projects, which for the most part will maintain the system in the condition it is in today. On average, this STIP annually invests in 586 lane miles of interstate pavements, 1,065 miles of major route pavements, 2,754 miles of minor route pavements and 172 bridges. According to MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna, community input is critically important to the process of prioritizing local needs and putting the STIP together. The STIP represents MoDOT’s commitment to Missourians of the projects that will be developed and delivered over the next five years. To make a comment, go online to www.modot.org.
The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History presents the “Great American Campout Challenge” this Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. The challenge will be hosted by Janet Price, a naturalist of Moonshadow Moments, LLC, formerly of Johnson’s Shut-Ins. Everyone from seasoned campers to newbies are welcome to attend and will have fun with this challenge! This program is appropriate for all ages and is especially family-friendly. The cost is $1.00 per person or $5.00/family, regardless of the number, which includes a light snack. Phone reservations are requested to plan for snacks and activities. Please call the Bonebrake Center at 729.3400 for more information or register. The Bonebrake Center is located at 601 North Hickory Street in Salem, at the corner of North Hickory Street and East Rolla Road.
New Medicare cards are on their way to everyone enrolled in the program. Cards will be mailed automatically and free of charge. People should be wary of anyone calling to offer assistance with the cards or to request money or personal information. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks for your Social Security number or bank information, Procter says to hang up. Scammers may even threaten to cancel your benefits if you don’t give up information but Medicare will never ask for your Social Security number or bank information. The new cards are intended to provide more privacy protection than the old cards, which used Social Security numbers as identifiers. The mailings, which began in April, are coming in waves. Missouri’s cards are due to be mailed after June 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS offers a few tips and things to know about the new cards: You can and should destroy your old card when the new one arrives. You can start using your new card immediately. If you are using a Medicare Advantage plan, the card for that plan is still your main Medicare card, so you need to keep it and be ready to show it to providers. They may also ask you to show the new card. If someone asks you for your information or money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call Medicare toll-free at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). If you suspect identity theft or worry that you gave your personal information to someone you shouldn’t have, contact the Federal Trade Commission toll-free at 877-438-4338. For more information about the new Medicare cards, visit medicare.gov/newcard.