Nevada, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is planning major improvements to levees and water supply for wetlands and a lake at the Schell-Osage Conservation Area. New levee placement and design will reduce damage from flooding, saving costs in the long run and providing better water management for wildlife habitat in marshes. Fish habitat and angler opportunities will be improved for Schell Lake. A new pump station to draw water from adjacent Truman Reservoir will enable water levels to remain more stable in Atkinson and Schell lakes, which will also benefit fishing.
The project is currently scheduled to begin early in 2018 with a drawdown of Schell Lake, said Frank Nelson, MDC resource scientist and wetland ecologist who is co-manager for the project. The project will cause a temporary shutdown of waterfowl hunting in the wetland pools in 2018 and possibly in 2019. But when the project is complete, near the current number of hunting blinds will be available. The changes will also provide better food and resting areas on the waterfowl refuge portion of the area for migrating ducks, geese and shorebirds.
Schell-Osage Conservation Area opened for public use in 1962 and is one of MDC’s oldest managed wetland areas. The 8,633-acre area borders a section of the Osage River and straddles the line between northeastern Vernon County and southwestern St. Clair County in west central Missouri. Wildlife management includes upland areas with forest, woodland, native grass restoration, a small prairie remnant, old fields and crop fields. But wetland habitat and waterfowl hunting are also key components.
Wetlands provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat. They help filter and store water that feeds groundwater and streams. Wetlands are also valuable for outdoor recreation such as hunting, birding and photography.
Major flooding through the years has caused repeated and expensive damage to levees and wetlands at Schell-Osage, Nelson said. The original levees for managing 1,425-acres of wetlands in six pools were built largely on straight north-south lines. Included in Pool A is Barber Lake, a shallow Osage River oxbow. Schell Lake at 355 acres includes much shallow water on the west end. Construction of Truman Lake in the 1970s placed Schell Lake and the wetlands in Truman’s flood pool.
Plans call for re-alignment of the levees to better follow the natural topography and hydrology, Nelson said. Levee design will also be more gradually rounded. Both steps should reduce flood damage. A new pump station drawing water from the Osage River, essentially the upper end of Truman Reservoir, will eliminate the necessity for drawing water from Schell Lake and Atkinson Lake to serve wetlands.
Schell Lake will be reduced in length on the west end. But the remaining lake will be deeper, fishing jetties will be added for anglers, and fish habitat will be added to the lake bed. The old shallow end of the lake will be merged with the wetland units.
Nelson anticipates that many of the current hunting blinds will remain in the same location upon completion of the project. But some may be moved depending on levee placement.
Most of the fish in Schell Lake will be flushed out as the lake drains. But there will likely be a fish salvage opportunity at a future date.
In 2004, MDC kicked off a Golden Anniversary Wetlands Initiative to make improvements on the state’s five oldest wetland management areas, including Fountain Grove, Duck Creek, Montrose, and Ted Shanks. Schell-Osage is the last wetland on the list to receive renovations. In the coming year, MDC will be working on engineering designs, seeking permits and soliciting construction bids for the project. A final cost is not yet available. MDC is seeking federal wildlife grants to assist with costs and working with key conservation partners such as Ducks Unlimited.
Updates and links regarding the project’s progress and recreation access during construction activities will be posted on the area website. For information, visit https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/schell-osage-ca.
For information about other MDC conservation areas and outdoor opportunities, visit http://mdc.mo.gov.
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| Ruby Pauline Yeats |
Ruby Pauline Yeats, 80, Nevada, MO, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin following a brief illness. Pauline was born March 17, 1936 in Milo, MO to James B. and Mary Alma (Bridgewater) Smith.
Pauline grew up in Nevada and attended Nevada High School graduating with the Class of 1954. Following high school Pauline became an LPN and worked at Nevada City Hospital for 36 years until her retirement. After retiring she stayed active caring for and helping others. She was an active member of the Baptist Faith and currently attended Calvary Baptist Church in Nevada. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and attended the Nevada Senior Center. She volunteered at the Kansas City Veterans Hospital, and at On My Own in Nevada. Pauline was a caregiver in the Nevada area most of her life. In her younger years she loved to fish, enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and knitting.
Pauline was preceded in death by two husbands, Carl Wilkerson, and Earl Joe Yeats; her parents; and two brothers, Cecil Smith, and Elza Smith. Survivors include nephews and nieces; great-nephews and great-nieces, great-great-nephews and great-great-nieces; and great-great-great nephews, and great-great-great nieces; other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Rev. Terry Mosher officiating. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, Nevada. Friends may call after 1:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening.
Contributions may be made in her memory to Calvary Baptist Church in Nevada, or the Nevada Senior Center in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.
On 3/17/17 around 4:30pm the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Henry County responded to a one vehicle rollover accident on Route Z at County Road 1021 in rural Henry County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the 2002 Ford Explorer driven by 59 year old Teresa J. Dyson of Deepwater, Missouri traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch before overturning.
Teresa J. Dyson sustained minor injuries in this accident and she was transported by ambulance to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Missouri for treatment.
The vehicle was totaled and towed from the scene by Tollivers Towing.
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Funeral services for Kathy Brink will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri with Dr. Terry Davis officiating.
Visitation will be prior to services from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Schowengerdt Chapel. Cremation following services. Contributions to Relay For Life or Salvation Army.
Kathryn Sue Brink, age 64 of Butler, Missouri died Friday, March 17, 2017 at her home in Butler. She was born June 2, 1952 to Gilbert Francis and Betty Louise Martin Mullies in Butler.
Kathy is survived by her two sons, Tyler Ragan of Butler, Missouri and PJ Ragan and wife Katie of Kansas City, Missouri; one daughter, Ky Brink of Butler, Missouri; lifetime companion Michael Ragan of Butler, Missouri; one brother, David Mullies of Waynesville, Missouri; special brother, Todd Black of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; five grandchildren, Mikinzie Ward, Macy Ragan, Ella Ragan, Brody Ragan and Max Ragan; and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ronnie Mullies; and one sister, Janice Wheeler.
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| Michael Helm |
On March 16, a St. Clair County warrant was issued for Michael Helm, 32, El Dorado Springs, for failing to appear in court on an original class B felony charge of burglary first degree. Bond is set at $10,000 cash only.
The original charge stems from a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office investigation on May 6, 2015 when deputies were dispatched to SW 900 Road, El Dorado Springs, in reference to an attempted burglary.
Stormy Haddan reported two individuals attempted to enter her residence through a window and fled from the residence in a vehicle.
Sheriff Keeler urges those with any information or the location of
any wanted persons to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Tip
Line, 417-646-5832, or email to tips@scsomo.org.
Tonight we have Breakaway to help celebrate St. Patrick's day.
Tonight's dinner special: corn beef,cabbage, potatoes and carrots.
Butterfish or halibut. Let's pack the Pennell
