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State Health Department stresses ‘Ready in 3’ preparedness

In conjunction with National Public Health Week, which is this week, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and local public health agencies across the state are encouraging Missourians to take some time to find out how their family can be better prepared for any future public health emergencies.from bioterrorism and natural disasters to disease outbreaks. This year’s theme is Preparedness and Public Health Threats: Addressing the Unique Needs of the Nation’s Vulnerable Populations.

“Many Missourians were directly affected by or knew someone whose life was impacted by weather-related events that swept through the state during the past year,” said Jane Drummond, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “The ice storms, power outages, heat waves, and tornadoes reminded each of us how important it is to be prepared for emergencies. Families and friends, along with communities, emergency responders, and state agencies pulled together during these difficult times to help each other.”

Through the state health department’s emergency preparedness program called Ready in 3, families, faith-based groups, adult care facilities, child care providers, employers and others in local communities can receive information designed specifically for them on steps they can take to prepare for public health emergencies of all kinds. Missouri residents are urged to go to the department’s web site at www.dhss.mo.gov/Ready_in_3, or call 573-526-4768 for a free copy of the family safety guide and emergency checklist.

“You can play a very important part in getting yourself, your family, and your community ready for a public health emergency,” said Drummond. “By taking the three basic steps in the Ready in 3 program, you will help alleviate stress during emergencies and help the response agencies do their jobs.”

The three steps include developing a family plan, preparing an emergency kit, and preparing to listen for more information during an event. Missourians are encouraged to visit the Ready in 3 web site at www.dhss.mo.gov/Ready_in_3 during this week to print a family emergency plan and register to receive an item for their family’s emergency kit.  Individuals registering to win the 4-in-1 FM radio, alarm, flashlight and mobile phone charger will be notified no later than May 10, 2007 via mail.

MAC 4th Friday: Director of Missouri Economic Development

It’s an exciting time in Missouri, according to the state’s director of economic development, Greg Steinhoff.

Steinhoff will elaborate on the latest news on Missouri’s economy at Mineral Area College’s Fourth Friday Club luncheon at 11:45 a.m., April 27, in the North College Center on MAC’s Park Hills campus. The catered luncheon is open to the public. Lunch is $7 per person. Reservations should be made to Peggy Gillespie, (573) 518-2146, by April 24.

Steinhoff said the Missouri’s Department of Economic Development is operating at an exciting time in state history.

“Under the direction of Governor Matt Blunt reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation law, meaningful litigation reform and his innovative Quality Jobs Initiative helped revitalize Missouri’s once sagging economy and have contributed to the creation of thousands of new jobs,” according to his press release.

Steinhoff indicated the Department of Economic Development has undergone reorganization with a focus on two primary goals, attracting and retaining good jobs.

The governor’s DREAM (Downtown Revitalization And Economic Assistance For Missouri) program was created to help small and mid-size Missouri cities take advantage of state programs to help enhance downtown areas and enhance employment opportunities.

A Columbia resident, Steinhoff has been recognized for his involvement in numerous civic organizations and was awarded the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Citizen Award in 2004. Before becoming director of the Department of Economic Development, Steinhoff owned Option Care, a business he started in 1985 which grew to employ more than 400 people in mid-Missouri.

Steinhoff holds bachelor’s degrees from both the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Westminster College. He and his wife, Holly, have two daughters, Kristen and Lauren.

AmerenUE makes submission of recommendations

AmerenUE announced today that the company has submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff its report on the recommendations that a seven-person independent panel developed for using $5 million for project enhancements at or near the company’s Taum Sauk Plant. This submission awaits final approval from the FERC staff. 

AmerenUE in its submission to the staff wrote that, after careful consideration, the company adopted the panel’s recommendation as its own and requested that the FERC staff approve the plan as being in compliance with the FERC stipulation outlining what types of projects could be funded.

“We judged the panel’s recommendation to be a fair and balanced allocation of the $5 million,” says Dan Cole, senior vice president, Ameren Corporation. “We again want to express appreciation to the members of the panel, the advisory members, the emergency management system technical committee and representatives of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Attorney General’s Office. In addition, we thank Lesterville High School’s staff for use of the facilities, all those who submitted comments and applications and the many people who came to the meetings to participate in the process.”

The submittal, which has been placed on the Ameren Web site — www.ameren.com/taumsauk — includes the panel’s recommendations and a discussion of approximately 80 comments received from citizens who were offered a chance to provide input on those recommendations.

Also included in the submittal is an implementation plan that outlines the steps successful applicants must take to complete their projects.

Once the FERC staff rules on the project recommendations, The Forrester Group will then help applicants with the implementation process, including preparation of grant agreements, bid development and selection, record-keeping and other assistance, as required.

The Forrester Group — veteran Missouri-based environmental management consultants — facilitated the panel review process and has been on the ground in the area since January, when AmerenUE established the independent panel. The seven-person panel conducted four public meetings to evaluate more than 100 recommendations totaling more than $50 million. Of the 100-plus recommendations, approximately 24 project enhancements were selected for a total of approximately $5 million. 

Panel members include the following community leaders: Patty Barton, Greg Batson, Chauncy Buchheit, Jim Chadbourne, Wanda Corder, Don Goodman, and Caroline Sheehy. Non-voting advisors to the panel are Reynolds County Presiding Commissioner Donald Barnes; State Sen. Kevin Engler (R-District 3); State Representative J. C. Kuessner (D.-District 152); and Iron County Presiding Commissioner Terry Nichols. 

AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. Ameren companies serve 2.4 million electric customers and one million natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.

Built in 1963, AmerenUE’s Taum Sauk is a “pumped-storage” hydroelectric plant. It stored water from the Black River in an upper reservoir, built atop1,590-foot-high Proffit Mountain, and released the water to generate electricity when power was needed. The water flowed down a mile-long tunnel inside the mountain, turning turbine-generators to produce electricity. When power demand was low, the same turbines ran in reverse to pump water back to the upper reservoir.

On December 14, 2005, the AmerenUE Taum Sauk Plant experienced a breach in its 1.5 billion-gallon upper reservoir that caused flooding in the Johnson’s Shut-Ins area.

Put spring in your step with Gateway City Big Band

Get ready to stomp your feet— the Gateway City Big Band and Mineral Area Council on the Arts (MACOA) are holding a dinner-dance on Saturday, April 14, at Alexander’s at the Factory on the upper level of The Factory in Farmington, 200 W. First Street.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with buffet dinner service beginning at 6:45 p.m. A cash bar will be available throughout the evening. After dinner, at 8 p.m., Gateway City Big Band will play for three hours of dancing to “the best music in town,” said MACOA Director Betty Schaper. The cost of a ticket is only $35 per person. Tables for six or eight or more may be reserved by calling Schaper at 518-2125. The RSVP date is Thursday, April 9.

Tickets are available at The Factory, Botaniques on the Square, Bonne Terre Memorial Library, MAC Bookstore, from the dinner-dance committee members or from MACOA at (573) 518-2125.

The Gateway City Big Band is a 17-piece dance band with two vocalists that has been entertaining audiences in the St. Louis region since 1966. Originally known as the “Friends of Music”, the group’s founders conceived the band as a volunteer organization where musicians could perform their favorite big band arrangements while simultaneously helping local charities. Over time the band’s quality steadily improved and the demand for its services increased. On the bus trip home from a gig in 1975, the group decided the band’s name needed a little “jazzing up”, and the name “Gateway City Big Band” was born.

The band has made a number of recordings, most recently “Swingin’ for 40 Years” in 2006 to celebrate its 40th Anniversary and “Live at the Casa Loma” in 2002 made up of live recordings from the St. Louis Casa Loma Ballroom. Other recordings include “Dedication” in 1995, which was dedicated to band supporter “Cactus” Charlie Menees and former leader Jim Bolen, and “Let’s Go Dancing” in 1999. Their newest release will be available for sale at the dinner-dance.

MAC athletic department to host banquet

Mineral Area College Athletics Department will host its Second Annual Athletic Banquet on Sunday, April 22, 5-7 p.m. at the Centene Center in Farmington.

Student Services Dean Jean Merrill-Doss said this event will be open to the public. Recognition will be given for both academic and athletic achievements of this year’s student athletes in men and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s baseball, and cheerleading.

“We hope that our fantastic fans and loyal supporters will be able to join us as we honor and recognize individual and team achievements,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for the Cardinal fans to support their favorite teams one more time, and to say farewell to the sophomores who will be leaving Mineral Area College in continued pursuit of their academic and athletic dreams.

Tickets to the dinner and awards presentation will be $10.00 per person, reservations can be made by calling Patsy Hunt at 518-2154 no later than Monday, April 16. Dinner will be served beginning at 5:10 pm, with the awards and recognition ceremony beginning at 6 p.m.

For further questions, call Dean Merrill-Doss at 518-2262.

Emerson votes for ‘Wounded Warrior’ legislation in House

U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today cast a vote in favor of H.R. 1538, The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act. The legislation provides for weekly review of each case in the military health care system and better target Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It also would raise the number of resident physicians at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities nationwide.

“When the duty of our soldiers on the field of battle ends, that is when our duty as Americans begins. We have a solemn obligation to ensure that our military hospitals, outpatient housing, clinics and veterans facilities are held to the highest standards of comprehensive care. We cannot allow this system of health care for members of the armed services to fail even one soldier or veteran. This bill is a starting point for massive reassessment and reform of military and veterans health care,” Emerson said. “No one who fights beneath the American flag should later fall through the cracks.”

In addition, the bill would create a toll-free hotline for military personnel and their families to report problems with health care and facilities. Also, case managers in the military health care system would not be allowed to manage more than 17 outpatient cases, increasing the amount of time and attention they can pay to each soldier in their care.

Emerson also cosponsored language included in the bill by amendment to raise the 11 cent per mile travel reimbursement for veterans driving to their appointments. The new language would create parity between the rate for veterans and the federal reimbursement – 48.5 cents per mile as of February 1 – and would repeal a $3 deductible veterans must pay per trip.

“In our rural district for our veterans in need of health care, it can be a real hardship to travel to Poplar Bluff or St. Louis for a VA appointment. It might require a family member to drive their loved one to the VA hospital or a whole day off of work. The VA should not rely on regulations written in 1977 for their guide to fair reimbursement for travel expenses for veterans in need of medical attention,” Emerson said.

On Wednesday, April 4, Emerson will hold a roundtable in Poplar Bluff, MO, to discuss the successes and failures of the health care services of the Department of Veterans Affairs with patients, former patients, and their families. On Tuesday, April 10, she will hold a similar event at the Civic Center in West Plains.

“Public servants and U.S. military and VA personnel should be aggressive and active in finding where the problems exist and correcting them. This process starts with initiating in-depth and frequent conversations with our enlisted men and women and our veterans,” Emerson said. “In Southern Missouri, where we have a tremendous and active veterans population, we must be involved and observant in our VA facilities. Our responsibility ranges from oversight to on-the-job help by volunteering for those who have so diligently served us.”

Emerson will attend the name dedication of the new Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Farmington, MO, Tuesday, April 3. The clinic is being named for veteran and advocate for the clinic, Robert Silvey.

MAC Junior High, High School Math Tournament Winners Announced

Mineral Area College’s junior high and high school math tournament found math winners from several school districts recently.

First-place winners in the March 13 Junior High and High School Math Tournament at Mineral Area College were: Mark Elders, North County sophomore; Luke Elders, North County senior; Brandon Basler, Valle Catholic senior; Dillion Lustick of Farmington (Christian Woodell standing in); Jared McKeon, 7th grade, DeSoto Junior High; Robert Naeger, Valle Catholic junior; and Chris Lutsch, Farmington freshman.

Other individuals who placed include:

7th Grade: 2nd- Ethan Pinkley, Fredericktown; 3rd- Kaden Ribble, DeSoto.

8th Grade: Tie for 2nd- Andrew Naeger of Valle Catholic, Andrew King of Farmington, and Alexander Cofer of Farmington; 3rd- Collin Schlosser, John Evans Middle School.

9th Grade: Tie for 2nd- Shelby Raper of Farmington and Whitney Heuring of Farmington; 3rd- Courtney Heuring, Farmington.

10th Grade: 2nd- Erich Diesel, Ste. Genevieve; 3rd- Alex Hermann, Ste. Genevieve.

11th Grade: 2nd- Rachael Naeger, Valle Catholic; 3rd- Corey King, Fredericktown.

12th Grade: 2nd- Jacob Darling, Potosi; Tie for 3rd- Justin Ross of Potosi and Chris Mueller of Ste. Genevieve.

Team placement was as follows:

7th & 8th Grades: 1st- Farmington, 2nd- DeSoto, 3rd- Grandview. 9th & 10th Grades: 1st- Farmington, 2nd- Valle Catholic, 3rd- North County. 11th & 12th Grades: 1st- Valle Catholic, 2nd- Farmington, 3rd- Fredericktown.

Nominations being sought for Missouri History Teacher of the Year

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is seeking nominations for the annual Missouri History Teacher of the Year Award. The Institute, in partnership with Preserve America, inaugurated the award in 2004.

The History Teacher of the Year Award is designed to promote and celebrate the teaching of American history in classrooms across the United States. It honors one exceptional teacher of American history from each state and U.S. territory. (This year, only K-6 teachers are eligible for nomination.) The selection of the state winner is based upon several criteria, including; experience in teaching American history for at least three years; a deep career commitment to teaching American history; evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom; and close attention to documents, artifacts, historic sites, and the other primary materials of history.

The state winner will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will be in the running for the National History Teacher of the Year award to be selected this fall. His or her school library will receive a core archive of history books and materials.

The deadline is April 17. For more information, contact Bill Gerling, Missouri Coordinator, at 800-845-3545 or bill.gerling@dese.mo.gov.

Founded in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History promotes the study and love of American history. Increasingly national and international in scope, the Institute targets audiences ranging from students to scholars to the general public. It helps create history-centered schools and academic research centers, organizes seminars and enrichment programs for educators, partners with school districts to implement Teaching American History grants, produces print and electronic publications and traveling exhibitions, and sponsors lectures by eminent historians. The Institute also sponsors awards including the Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and George Washington Book Prizes and offers fellowships for scholars to work in history archives, including the Gilder Lehrman Collection.

Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past and increased local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets.

Ironton mayor bestows proclamation on Camp Penuel

On Tuesday, March 20, Ironton Mayor Robert “Bob” Halket signed a proclamation recognizing Camp Penuel for its service to children. Mayor Halket presented the signed proclamation to Rev. Harry H. Douma, president of Camp Penuel.

The proclamation notes that Camp Penuel was chartered as a Missouri corporation in 1973, and is now starting its 34th year of reaching out to children. Camp Penuel has served over 57,000 children with free camping over the past 33 summers, receiving over 2,500 children each year.

In part, the proclamation states: “Whereas, Camp Penuel has given children a chance to see the beauty of the Arcadia Valley, to breathe fresh clean air and to taste good food in a rustic camping atmosphere. Now, therefore, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ironton, Missouri, hereby extend appreciation to Camp Penuel for the service to children and issue this proclamation in recognition and appreciation of the service it provides.”

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