Stoddard County, Missouri - A St. Francois County man is missing, last seen six weeks ago just west of Advance in the Sturdivant/Arab area.

According to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office, Kenneth Willard, 53, was last seen with blue jeans, shirt with a pocket on it and hunting boots.

He's from St. Francois County, but has a family farm in the northern part of Stoddard County.

Willard is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, heavy build with blue eyes, brown hair and tattoos.

According to the sheriff's office, a camper was set up and a car was in the area of the family farm.

They say he was reported missing on Sunday, Dec. 14 by family.

If you see Willard, please contact the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office.

Williamson County, IL - The Williamson County Sheriff's Office is searching for two missing girls believed to have been kidnapped by their stepfather.

The girls are 9-year-old Corbyn E. Erwin and 7-year-old Celsie E. Erwin. 

Authorities believe they may be in the company of their stepfather, Damon Jones, 37, of Johnston City.

The entries for Celsie and Corbyn in the Statewide and Nationwide computer database have changed from “Missing” to “Missing/Involuntary” and a request for an Amber Alert has been sent to the Illinois State Police.

Jones is most likely driving a white 2006 Chrysler van with an Illinois Temporary Registration 823R204.

Corbyn is 4'8" tall and 80 pounds with brown eyes and hair.

Celsie is 4'2" tall and 60 pounds with hazel eyes and hair.

Damon Jones is 5'8" tall and 140 pounds with brown eyes and hair.

The girls were last seen at home around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14th. 

There has been no contact with Jones or the girls since then. 

If anyone has any contact with Damon Jones, Corbyn Erwin, or Celsie Erwin contact the Williamson County Sheriff's Office at 618-997-6541 or your local law enforcement agency.

Missouri - This week’s cold weather caught many of us off guard. It takes quite a bit of preparation to really be ready for winter storms. We check our vehicles to make sure they’re full of fluids and the tires have tread. We stock warm blankets, extra water, extra food supplies in our homes and our cars just in case we’re stuck in one place for a while due to weather. All of this preparation takes time and energy on our part, to get it all done. It makes me wonder what kind of energy it takes for wildlife to survive the cold of winter.

Some wildlife, like squirrels, will spend time stocking up and storing food sources before the cold hits. Black bears eat as much as they can in advance to store up the necessary fat they need to survive. Still others are subject to what’s available throughout the cold months, which takes a toll on their energy levels and can make surviving the winter a game of chance.

Angela Pierce, a naturalist at the Missouri Department of Conservation Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, said we can help these animals conserve some of their energy by helping to provide their three basic needs throughout the winter months: shelter, food and water.

“Making a shelter is as easy as making a brush pile,” Pierce said.

Larger limbs and branches can be piled and then filled in with dried leaves and grass. Fallen trees can be left for the winter, also, to provide a place for wildlife to shelter in from the wind and elements. Real Christmas trees are great items to recycle for wildlife shelter, she said, by simply placing them outside after the holidays.

“These shelters provide cover for ground-foraging birds, rabbits, chipmunks, hibernating reptiles, amphibians and insects,” Pierce said.

To help provide food in the winter months, high-fat suet and sunflower seeds can be provided to winter songbirds. High-fat food sources help the birds to build up their energy sources.

Pierce also said providing warm water on a daily basis will save animals from using their energy to search for unfrozen water sources. She recommends either replenishing water daily, or purchasing a heater for bird baths or backyard ponds.

By taking a few steps to help wildlife find shelter, food and water throughout these cold months, we can help make their chances of survival much higher. To find more resources on winter wildlife, go online to www.mdc.mo.gov.

This week’s frigid temperatures and forecasts calling for accumulating snow are excellent reminders that it’s time for Missourians to think about and prepare for winter weather. When winter does arrive, it will bring an assortment of potentially dangerous conditions for which Missourians should be ready to deal with. That’s why the National Weather Service has set Nov. 19 as Winter Weather Awareness Day.
 
“Missourians should always be mindful of the dangers associated with severe winter weather and be prepared for driving on snow and ice-covered roads, losing power and heat at home, and understanding frostbite and hypothermia,” said Ron Walker, director of the State Emergency Management Agency.
 
Winter Weather Awareness Day is sponsored by the National Weather Service, along with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri’s emergency management directors.
 
Here are some of the winter storm preparations Missourians should make:

·         Create a family emergency plan and an emergency kit. These kits should include bottled water, canned and dry foods, battery-powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, manual can opener and a first-aid kit.
·         Assemble a separate vehicle winter emergency kit. Include a blanket, radio with spare batteries, snacks or energy-type food, jumper cables, flares, shovel and sand or shingles to give tires traction.
·         Make sure alternate heat and power sources, such as fireplaces, woodstoves, oil heaters and generators function properly, are safely operated and that adequate fuel is on hand. Carbon monoxide detectors should be properly installed throughout the home. Only operate generators outdoors.
·         Avoid driving when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow or dense fog. If travel is necessary, make sure an emergency kit is in the vehicle, that cell phones are charged and important emergency numbers are saved for fast dialing in an emergency. If your vehicle breaks down or slides off the road, stay with your vehicle and call for help.
·         Protect against frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.
 
People should also be aware of the weather forecast and understand the different terms the National Weather Service uses when issuing weather advisories:
 
·         Winter Storm Watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area within 12-48 hours.
·         Winter Storm Warning indicates severe winter weather is in the area or expected immediately and can be life threatening.
·         Ice Storm Warnings are issued for ice accumulations of a quarter-inch or more.
 
Additional information about winter weather and preparedness tips can be found at the following websites:
 
·         National Weather Service - St. Louis Winter Weather Awareness Page: www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=winterday

SEMA: www.sema.dps.mo.gov (Click on "Severe Winter Weather" in the "Plan and Prepare" section.)

Missouri Dept. of Transportation's Travel Information Map: www.modot.mo.gov

Missouri Ready in 3 Program's Weather Preparedness Page: http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/weather.php

Missouri Ready in 3 Program also provides free family safety guides to help prepare your family and household: http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/pdf/familyguideenglish.pdf, or call (573) 526-4768 to order a free family safety guide. The family safety guide is available in several languages.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

By order of the President of the United States, in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the United States flag at all State and government offices will be flown at half-staff, Sunday, October 12, 2014 from sunrise to sunset in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Fires can take lives, devastate communities, and destroy our homes and businesses. They pose a threat to Americans across our Nation, and they cost us billions of dollars each year. As we mark Fire Prevention Week, we emphasize the importance of taking steps to prevent fires, and we recognize the selflessness of those who answer the call to fight these blazes, placing themselves in danger to help others.

All Americans can protect themselves by taking precautions to guard against fires. This week's theme, "Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month," reminds us of the importance of installing and maintaining smoke alarms in the places we live and work. Powerful and unpredictable, fire spreads rapidly and widely. That is why I encourage every American to develop and practice fire evacuation plans that will allow for swift exits from regularly visited places. It is our responsibility to teach our children about fire prevention and do everything we can to protect our loved ones during these emergencies. To learn more about fire safety, visit www.Ready.gov.

This year, our Nation has suffered tragic losses as wildfires ravage States across our country. As wildfires increase in frequency and intensity in a changing climate, fire prevention and planning only become more urgent. My Administration continues to take action to increase our Nation's preparedness and resiliency, and every person can do his or her part. Americans who live near woodlands should clear flammable vegetation away from homes and buildings, and everyone can be ready by making an emergency kit and discussing evacuation routes and emergency plans with their families.

We owe a great debt to our brave first responders and firefighters who run toward the scene of a disaster to fight fires. They are heroes who demonstrate courage, determination, and professionalism every day as they battle flames and smoke and teach their neighbors how to protect themselves. During Fire Prevention Week, we recognize our duty to be vigilant and take action to avert fires, and we remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives so others might live.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim October 5 through October 11, 2014, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 12, 2014, in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the flag of the United States will be flown at half-staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call on all Americans to participate in this observance with appropriate programs and activities and by renewing their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic consequences.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA