MDC encourages people to help prevent wildfires

MDC Forester Sam Jewett stands on the bulldozer he uses to fight wild fires.
    

JEFFERSON CITY Mo -- A combination of strong winds, low humidity, dry conditions, and warming temperatures this time of year has the potential to create explosive wildfires. Each year, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) staff work with fire departments around the state to help suppress thousands of wildfires that can consume tens-of-thousands of acres.  

According to MDC’s Forestry Division, the main cause of wildfires is improper burning of debris such as trash and brush piles. The Department urges landowners, hunters, campers, and others in the outdoors to help prevent wildfires and offers the following tips.

Outdoor Burning 

• Do not conduct outdoor burning during times when grasses, brush, and other fire fuels are very dry, humidity is low and weather is windy.
• Dry fuel, combined with high temperatures, low humidity, and high winds, makes fire nearly impossible to control. 
• Check with local fire departments regarding burn bans that may be in place, or if there is a “red flag warning.” A red flag warning is issued when there is a high risk of fire spreading rapidly because of low humidity and high winds.
• A person who starts a fire for any reason is responsible for any damage it may cause.
• For more information on using prescribed fire as a land-management tool, visit mdc.mo.gov and search “Prescribed Fire.”

Driving Off Road

• Wildfires can start when fine, dry fuel such as grass comes in contact with catalytic converters on motor vehicles.
• Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field.
• Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle.
• When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact and no oil leaks are apparent.
• Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road.
• Check for the presence of spark arresters on ATV exhausts.

Making a Campfire

• Clear a generous zone around fire rings. When humidity is low and wind is high, debris can become tinder for a stray spark or ember.
• Store unused firewood a good distance from the fire.
• Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquid to start a fire.
• Keep campfires small and controllable.
• Keep fire-extinguishing materials, such as a rake, shovel, and bucket of water, close by.
• Never leave a campfire unattended! Extinguish campfires each night and before leaving camp, even for a few moments.

Smokers: Practice Extra Caution

• Extinguish cigarettes completely and safely and dispose of butts responsibly.

Don't Delay Calling for Help!

• Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control.

 Report Forest Arson

• Many wildfires are set by vandals.
• Help stop arson by calling Operation Forest Arson at 800-392-1111. Callers will remain anonymous and rewards are possible.

DID YOU KNOW: In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, MDC provided more than $354,000 in grants to 182 volunteer fire departments last year for protective clothing, equipment, and training. The Department also obtained more than $5 million in equipment from federal government programs for volunteer fire departments in the state, and provided wildland fire-suppression training to more than 400 Missouri firefighters.
For more information on preventing wildfires, go online to mdc.mo.gov/node/9409

Weather Update: Warming on up... Gradually

 A gradual warm up is in store for the area starting today. Expect the next week to be above freezing during the day time. Wednesday, we can expect to see some passing snow showers, with up to an inch possible. After that, the warm up should continue into the weekend. Saturday will bring a lull to the warm up as temps will be in the 40s, but Sunday we'll see a rebound back into the 50s. 60 degrees for Monday? It's possible!

Butler Elementary School February Pizza Hut Night Class Winner

February Pizza Hut Night class winner:  Ms. Orr's third grade.

Warrant Issued for Osceola Man

 Anthony Hess

On Monday, March 3, four St. Clair County felony arrest warrants were issued for Anthony Hess, 55, Osceola. The warrants are for failing to appear in court on class C felony charges of stealing wire and receiving stolen property, stealing a firearm and burglary in the second degree. Total bond is set at $10,000 cash only. The alleged crimes were committed in Febuary and March 2012 and in April 2013.Those with any information on Hess’ location are urged to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, 417-646-5832, or email to tips@scsomo.org.

Doctors to rally at state Capitol‏

JEFFERSON CITY --- Doctors from all over the state will descend upon the Missouri Capitol in their white coats on Wednesday, March 5, asking legislators to rein in lawsuits in an attempt to control medical liability insurance premiums.

 
Doctors will take a day off from their practices and travel to Jefferson City to ask lawmakers to enact a commonsense, bipartisan tort reform measure, the linchpin of which is a reasonable $350,000 limit on non-economic damages. 
 
The Show Me Tort Reform Coalition, a statewide group of some 31 medical/health care organizations and Missouri business interests/associations, is supporting legislation that would restore the state's cap on damages that could be awarded for such non-quantifiable things as loss of enjoyment, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium in medical malpractice lawsuits.
 
The cap was lifted by a deeply-divided Supreme Court in 2012.  That ruling eviscerated Missouri's successful tort reform law that was enacted in 2005.  
 
The bills are SB 589, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, and HB 1173, sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison.
 
The White Coat Rally Day will begin at 9:00 a.m. in rotunda of the first floor of the Missouri Capitol.
 

Nevada Man Killed In Traffic Accident Yesterday

A Nevada man was killed Monday afternoon when two vehicles collided in Bronaugh. The Missouri Highway Patrol says 44-year-old Thomas E. Smith was pronounced dead at Nevada Regional Medical Center shortly after 5:00 p.m. Trooper Justin Leemasters says the collision happened about 4:15 p.m. at the intersection of highway 43 and route N when an East-bound Ford Explorer, driven by Smith, pulled into the path of a South-bound GMC 2500 driven by 19-year-old Tyler Bohannon, of Adrian. Bohannon was taken to Nevada Regional Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury.

Butler Police Department Activity Report 2-25 / 3-3-14

02/25/2014 

Warrant service
Disturbance Wal Mart
Assist 800 block of W Grove 
Animal complaint 300 block S High

02/26/2014 

Disturbance Grove St 
Warrant service 500 block of N Water
Disturbance 100 block of S Broadway

02/27/2014 

Theft report 500 block of S Orange
Vandalism report Lyons st
Harassment report 500 block of S Mechanic
Warrant service Fran and Ft Scott
Well being check 800 block of S Birch
Alarm Max Motors
Disturbance 100 block of Wilson 

02/28/2014 

Attempted break in 200 block of S Broadway
Disturbance 800 block of N Fulton
Well being check  

03/01/2014 

Vandalism 100 Block of N Orange
Keep the peace 500 block of W Pine
Animal complaint 400 block of N Main

03/02/2014 

Alarm Max Motors
Accident High School parking lot
Stolen car report 

03/03/2014 

Prowler call 1200 block of N Orange
Disturbance Medical lodge 
Theft report 400 block of W Ohio
Keep the peace 800 block of Wix Lane

Friends are common sources of abused prescription pain medications

CHICAGO -A new study says most people who abuse addictive prescription painkillers get them for free from friends or relatives.

It also says drug dealers are a relatively uncommon source for those at highest risk for deadly overdoses.

People who abuse the most frequently often doctor-shop; more than 1 in 4 who used these drugs almost daily said they had been prescribed by one or more physicians. Almost as many said they got them for free from friends or relatives; only 15 percent said they bought the drugs from dealers or other strangers.

The study is from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers who analyzed national health surveys. Two-thirds of abusers said they used the drugs infrequently.

The study was published online Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.