Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Missouri - With planting season in full swing, the Missouri Department of Transportation wants to remind motorists to pay extra attention for farm equipment using and crossing state roadways.
"Spring planting time is a busy time of the year for Missouri's farm families, and MoDOT wants to make it a safe time of year too," said MoDOT Director Dave Nichols. "Tractors, trucks and other farm equipment are slow moving, and motorists may be surprised when they come up behind one on a Missouri highway."
Missouri's 33,000 miles of state roadway pass alongside the fields of more than 100,000 farms throughout the state.
Motorists are advised to slow down when approaching farm vehicles. Be patient as the farm vehicles travel to their field entrances. In passing zones, please wait until it is safe and pass at a safe distance and speed.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bloomfield, Missouri - In order to assist the cemetery staff in maintaining the appearance of the cemetery in an appropriate manner, they ask that you review and follow cemetery regulations. Please contact their office if you have any questions regarding these policies.
Flowers and Flower Containers: Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Cemetery personnel will remove and discard flowers, which have become withered, faded, or otherwise unsightly. No permanent plantings are made on the graves. Inexpensive metal or plastic floral containers should be used to display flowers. The use of glass containers is prohibited. Vases are available from the cemetery staff. The cemetery is not responsible for lost or damaged containers.
Artificial Flowers: Artificial flowers are permitted on graves from October 15th through April 15th. Artificial flowers will also be permitted on graves 3 days prior to and 3 days following Memorial Day. Potted plants will be permitted on graves 10 days before and 10 days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day only.
Christmas Season: Christmas wreaths and floral grave blankets will be permitted from December 1 through January 15.
Unauthorized Decorations: Permanent plantings, statues, pictures, balloons, vigil lights, breakable items of any kind, and similar commemorative items are not permitted on graves, markers, or niche covers. Upright metal grave markers (flag holders) are not permitted. Unauthorized items will be removed and disposed of by cemetery personnel.
Memorial Day: Graves will be decorated prior to Memorial Day with small flags. These flags will be removed immediately after Memorial Day and are not permitted on graves at any other time. Only one flag per grave is permitted. Artificial flowers will be permitted on graves three days before and three days after Memorial Day.
Prohibited Activities: Littering; cutting of trees, shrubs, grass, or other plantings; allowing pets to run loose; recreational activities such as jogging, skating, bicycling, etc; public gatherings of a partisan nature. Please do not sit on grave markers.
Visiting Hours: The cemetery is open to the public for visitation from sunrise until sunset daily. The cemetery office is open from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.
Thank you for respecting their requests. Keeping the cemetery nice year round is a tremendous challenge and they do such a good job. Please come out at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day for their annual celebration and tribute to those that sacrificed their life and served in our nation's military.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Missouri - Summer travel season is upon us. Whether you're planning a weekend drive or that long summer trip, please protect yourself and those you love by making sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up - every trip, every time.
The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is joining with state and local law enforcement May 19 - June 1 in the national "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign to crack down on buckling up.
Missouri's seat belt usage remains relatively unchanged at 80 percent, and consistently below the national average of 87 percent. "The best thing motorists can do to protect themselves while traveling in a motor vehicle is to buckle their seat belts and to make sure everyone else in the vehicle is buckled as well," stated Colonel Ronald K. Replogle, superintendent of the Highway Patrol. "We want to encourage everyone to wear a seat belt every time they get into a car or truck."
This type of campaign and enforcement effort is just one method used to heighten awareness about the importance of wearing a seat belt and saving lives. Highway Patrol troopers will continue to take a zero tolerance approach in the enforcement of seat belt and child restraint laws throughout the year in our effort to reduce injuries and save lives." In 2013, 757 people were killed in traffic crashes on Missouri's roadways, and 63.4 percent of those were not wearing seat belts.
"Sixty-five percent of Missouri fatalities since the first of this year have been unbuckled vehicle occupants," said Leanna Depue, chair of the coalition's executive committee. "We want to make sure everyone is buckled up - day and night."
Wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to reduce injuries and fatalities in a crash. When worn correctly, seat belts can reduce the risk of death for front seat occupants of passenger cars by 45 percent. Similarly, belt use reduces the risk of serious non-fatal injuries by 50 percent for front seat occupants.
For more information about Click It or Ticket, visit http://www.savemolives.com/, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter at Save MO Lives.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Stoddard County, Missouri - Route E in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane with a nine-foot width restriction as contractor crews overlay the roadway.
This section of roadway is located from Rt. 25 to Rt. N on Monday, June 2 through Saturday, June 21 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Monday, June 2 at 6 a.m. to Monday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Rt. E will be closed from County Road 563 to County Road 567 for replacing the bridge with pile culverts
The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.
For additional information, contact Resident Engineer Audie Pulliam at (573) 840-9781 or MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Missouri - As part of the company’s ongoing support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) – McDonald’s U.S. will kick-off the 12th annual “Give a Hand” (GAH) fundraiser to continue educating customers on ways to give, while encouraging and celebrating the gift of family and the gift of togetherness. New this year, the GAH fundraiser will take place in participating U.S. restaurants from May 1 – 10, 2014.
Similar to years past, guests can support the Charity by purchasing a paper hand in varying denominations of $1, $3 and $5. To remind customers to lend a hand to support those in need, the paper hands will also be displayed in participating McDonald’s restaurants throughout the month of May.
“Our customers and crew are always so generous and eager to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities. We are excited to partner with such a great cause annually,” said local McDonald’s Owner-Operator, John Moreland.
Community Donations Add Up. Demonstrating the generosity and value of McDonald’s customers, last year more than $5 million were raised for RMHC through the “Give a Hand” fundraiser at participating McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. This donation along with others RMHC receives allows the Charity to serve seven million children and families every year around the world.
