Lafayette County Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh believes there are more victims out there and that the public can give authorities more information as they attempt to unravel a horrifying tale of widespread sexual abuse in west-central Missouri. [Read more...]
Guard contemplates New Madrid disaster
September 28, 2009 By
National Guard officials from eight states have contemplated disaster and hope that by doing so they have a better handle on how to react should the New Madrid fault rupture.
The Missouri National Guard hosted a conference to coordinate the emergency response of eight states should the New Madrid earthquake actually strike. The conference considered the damage an earthquake the magnitude of 6.5 would do in southeast Missouri and beyond. Public Affairs Representative for the 70th Troop Command of the Missouri National Guard, Bill Phelan, says the predictions are scary.
"According to the experts who were at this conference, the damage from a 6.5 magnitude or greater earthquake along the New Madrid fault would be a disaster of such magnitude that it would take ten years to recover from," says Phelan.
Phelan says those gathered at the conference in St. Louis looked at Karina as a model of what to expect.
"Katrina was a catastrophe that is similar in scope to what we think would happen if there was a catastrophic earthquake along the New Madrid fault," Phelan says.
The conference allowed the eight states to assess their readiness, to better understand what they will need should disaster strike. The eight states which participated were Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. The meeting was billed as the first New Madrid Seismic Zone Workshop. It was held at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis.
Guard contemplates New Madrid disaster
September 28, 2009 By
National Guard officials from eight states have contemplated disaster and hope that by doing so they have a better handle on how to react should the New Madrid fault rupture.
Col. Hagler, Gen. Danner
The Missouri National Guard hosted a conference to coordinate the emergency response of eight states should the New Madrid earthquake actually strike. The conference considered the damage an earthquake the magnitude of 6.5 would do in southeast Missouri and beyond.
Public Affairs Representative for the 70th Troop Command of the Missouri National Guard, Bill Phelan, says the predictions are scary.
“According to the experts who were at this conference, the damage from a 6.5 magnitude or greater earthquake along the New Madrid fault would be a disaster of such magnitude that it would take ten years to recover from,” says Phelan.
Phelan says those gathered at the conference in St. Louis looked at Karina as a model of what to expect.
“Katrina was a catastrophe that is similar in scope to what we think would happen if there was a catastrophic earthquake along the New Madrid fault,” Phelan says.
The conference allowed the eight states to assess their readiness, to better understand what they will need should disaster strike. The eight states which participated were Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. The meeting was billed as the first New Madrid Seismic Zone Workshop. It was held at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis.
Seven die in traffic wrecks this Labor Day Weekend
September 8, 2009 By
Seven people died in traffic crashes during the three-day Labor Day weekend.
That’s down from the nine fatalities recorded during the Labor Day weekend last year. The State Highway Patrol reports that troopers investigated 308 traffic crashes; 130 people were injured and six were killed. The seventh traffic fatality was reported by the St. Louis Police Department Monday. Troopers made 149 arrests for driving while intoxicated. Last year, the patrol worked 257 crashes and made 161 drunken driving arrests.
Saturday proved to be the deadliest day. Four people died on Saturday, including a head-on collision that claimed both drivers. The patrol reports that 47-year-old Jeffrey Harris of Lebanon crossed the centerline of Highway 42 in Miller County and struck head-on a car driven by 29-year-old Bradley Arndt of Iberia. The Miller County coroner pronounced both drivers dead. 55-year-old Janice Spear of Sedalia died when the driver of the car in which she was riding tried to make a U turn on Highway 5 in Morgan County and was struck by another vehicle.
The traffic deaths during the weekend included one pedestrian. The Highway Patrol reports that 28-year-old Shaundell Anderson of Portageville died after he was struck by a vehicle while walking on Highway 162 east of Portageville.
Trooper visibility appears to keep deaths down
July 6, 2009 By
Seven people died on Missouri roads this past three-day weekend; seven too many, but still a bit lower than what we might expect from a long holiday weekend.
Independence Day stretched out for a three-day weekend since the 4th fell on a Saturday. Seven people died in traffic accidents. Three drivers who weren’t wearing seat belts died, two motorcyclists died, one person riding a motorized wheelchair and one pedestrian.
State Highway Patrol Captain Tim Hull says despite the longer counting period, the number of people injured and the number charged with drunk driving were comparable to last year. He credits the high visibility of troopers during the most recent campaign.
"That’s something that individuals need to be aware of," says Hull, "They’re (troopers) going to be out there in these special enforcement campaigns, sobriety checkpoints and saturations are going to be on-going. Like the phrase says, the heat’s on."
"The Heat is On" campaign is a 70-day enforcement effort that runs through Labor Day Weekend. Hull says drivers slow down, pay more attention and appear more alert when they see a number of patrol cars on the road.
He says people plan trips well in advance, but sometimes forget to prepare themselves for the trip.
"People get off work; they’ve worked all day long and are trying to get to a destination. Sometimes they get tired and sleepy. They become aggressive drivers," Hull says. "You have a sleepy driver; it is sometimes similar to an intoxicated driver when they’re driving. They are weaving. They fall asleep."
Hull advises travelers to know how far you are going and how much you are capable of. He says a check of the SHP Web site or the Missouri Department of Transportation Web site can help, because they warn drivers of work zones on state roads.
