Christmas trees provide brush and aquatic vegetation for pond and lake fish. Kennedy likens the addition of a dead tree to fish habitat to how humans furnish our homes. It gives fish resting areas, shade and escape cover.
“Small fish need vegetation and brush to help them hide from predators,” Kennedy said. “Additionally, predator fish like crappie and bass sometimes hide behind a limb to wait for an opportunity to grab its prey.”
Large trees and multiple trees make the best fish habitat, Kennedy said. He encourages neighbors to get together and combine efforts by recycling all their trees together in one lake. To place trees in a pond or lake, they’ll need to be anchored with concrete blocks. Kennedy said to place small brush piles next to each other to create larger habitat. Water depth should also be considered. The best depth is 8 feet deep in the water, with the trees placed in a row, he said.
Other ways to recycle live Christmas trees include placing in a backyard to offer cover for wildlife, or under bird feeders to provide nesting locations in the branches. Live Christmas trees can also be shredded or chipped for mulch.
For more ideas on how to help winter wildlife by developing habitat, go online to mdc.mo.gov.
Dexter, Missouri – Santa has been spotted by NORAD! Did you know that children all over the United States can track Santa Clause? The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is set to start tracking St. Nick’s travels tonight. This is the 59th year Norad has been tracking Santa!
You can head over to NoradSanta.org to see the countdown clock ticking down to that final hour. NORAD has been tracking Santa via its high-tech instruments since 1955 with its festive annual program designed to show children how the red-suited, jolly fellow makes his way to chimneys all over the world.
Children can explore the North Pole and see Santa’s Village. There are games, movies and music to keep the children entertained for hours as they wait for Santa.
How did all this get started? Go to the Secret Santa Files and learn how Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for children to call Santa. The phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline”. OOPS! Not to disappoint all the children, the Director had his staff check the radar for Santa and so it became tradition. CONAD was later renamed to NORAD.
Satellites help track Rudolph’s red nose with no problem. The satellites are only 22,300 miles above the earth each with infrared sensors searching for heat. Rudolph's red nose sure puts off some heat with that GLOW!
NORAD intelligence even posts videos almost every hour on Christmas Eve of Santa making his way around the world. There is even specific technical data about Santa’s sleight. Did you know it is 75 candy canes long and 40 candy canes wide? Or that the maximum speed is faster than starlight? Or that the fuel consists of hay, oats and carrots to keep his nine reindeer in tiptop shape? There is so much to learn at NoradSanta.org. Go check it out this holiday season.
HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas to all!
Dexter, Missouri – Trash pickup for the city of Dexter will change this week due to the Christmas holiday.
Trash that is normally picked up on Monday and Tuesday will both be picked up on Monday, December 22nd.
Wednesday and Thursday trash pickup will be picked up on Tuesday, December 23rd.
For New Year’s week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday trash schedule will follow the usual schedule; however on Thursday there will be no trash pickup, but they will get it on Friday.
There will be no bulk or yard waste pickup on Friday of this week or next week due to Christmas and New Years!
Dexter, Missouri- Business 60 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs.
This section of roadway is located between Route Cooper Street and West Oak Street.
Weather permitting, work will performed Tuesday, Dec. 16 through Tuesday, Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
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.
