Large rock will be put in place to stop erosion and try to correct the flow of the James River.  About fifty feet of the bank has disappeared in the last few years.  Flooding in 2008 and again this Spring have accelerated the problem, and if it keeps up, it could compromise the Highway 413/248 bridge. (more)

Julie Bass, of Oak Park, Michigan, wanted to grow her own food. She was a fan of organic vegetables, so she decided to convert her front yard from the grass-and-tree landscaping typical in her neighborhood into an edible garden. Because she had just torn up the front lawn to install a new sewer system, she had a perfect opportunity to start fresh. She planted cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs in raised wooden planters, and waited to reap her produce.

A neighbor didn’t like her choice of landscaping.

The neighbor called the city and complained that Bass’s yard disrupted the look of the neighborhood. The city agreed, and issued Bass a ticket. (more)

Wanted to share this email update we just received from our friends at Special Olympics Missouri.  Needless to say our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of devastation and loss.  I hope everyone who reads this can share your message of support by commenting here, sending letters to the address included, posting on their Facebook wall, Tweeting them, or in your own unique creative way just offering any support you can to them in this difficult time.

June 1, 2011

Thank you to each of you who have reached out to us with words of comfort, encouragement and offers of support. This last week has been one of much grief as so much has been lost in the devastating tornado in Joplin. The outpouring of love we have felt from you is comforting and so appreciated.

Sadly, we lost three very special men. Tripp Miller, Rick Fox and Mark Farmer were lifelong friends and had been SOMO athletes for decades. The three men lived in their own home and took great joy in being Special Olympics Athletes. All three had bowled in our state tournament last November which was held in Joplin. At Tripp’s funeral they shared the story that upon being found in the rubble of what was left of his home, he greeted his first rescuer with a huge smile, and said, “thank you.” Those were his last words. Read more about Tripp.

(more)

The North Arkansas Ancestor Fair is the longest running genealogical event of its kind in North Arkansas.  It has two sections:  on Friday, there are speakers who talk about subjects of interest to genealogists and family historians; on Saturday family genealogists are provided tables and chairs so they can visit and swap information with the public, who have com to see what information is available.  North Arkansas county genealogical and historical societies have tables to offer information, publications for sale and to attract new members.

This year, there will be enough seating for both Friday and Saturday events so that advance registration is not necessary, but early arrivals will get the best seats, or table locations.  Friday’s talks will be held at the new VFW building, located just north of the Stoplight, and Northeast of Highway 65.  Russell Baker, Arkansas History Commission-Retired and perhaps the most knowledgeable person on Arkansas research, will speak from 9:30am on “Finding Confederate and Union Ancestors”.  He will also have a fillip on results of DNA tests on a couple of Newton/Searcy county families.  Friday afternoon, James Johnston, Searcy County historian, will tell about what happened in Searcy and surrounding counties in 1861.  This will include the formation, betrayal and capture of the Peace Society and the Chain Gang that took them to Little Rock.  This will be followed by a discussion group where attendees will be invited to tell their family stories of the Chain Gang.  Friday’s lectures cost $7.50 for a half day or $10.00 for all day, which will be collected at the door.  The Discussion Group is free and everyone is encouraged to attend.

Friday night there will be a Mixer Dinner – place to be announced – where folks can mingle, visit, meet new-found kin, and get a start on Saturday’s ancestor hunting.  There is usually some musical entertainment as well.

Saturday’s Genealogical Swap Meet at the Searcy County Civic Center on Zack Road is free all day for providers who want table and chairs for their information and wares and for the public who only want to browse.  The doors are open at 8:00 am to set up for providers of information and wares, and are open at 9:00 am for the public.

The Ancestor Fair has drawn as many as 500 in years past, but recently the numbers have declined.  However, the sponsor, Searcy County Historical Society, expects the Civil War Sesquicentennial theme will attract over 200 visitors this year.

Additional information is available at the Ancestor Fair website.  www.ancestorfair.us ,or from Shirley Gray at shirleysdream@windstream.net or 870-448-3308

Investigators have begun alerting Missouri sale barns about stolen livestock that may turn up at their auctions in an attempt to stifle a lucrative rustling trade.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said it began sending the alerts to the sale barns in the spring, providing the businesses with descriptions of the stolen animals.

“We approached them from a networking, partnership point of view,” said Maria Furey, a criminal intelligent analyst for the Patrol’s rural crimes investigative unit. “Most of them, pretty much all of them, are accommodating because they don’t like the idea of potentially selling stolen livestock either.”

The St. Joseph News-Press reports that livestock, especially cattle, are an easy target for thieves and can be sold at reputable sale barns without the owner’s knowledge unless proper precautions are in place.

“The thing I hear about the auctions is they’re so incredibly fast-paced and they can be almost chaotic, in a rhapsody kind of way. A complete controlled chaos,” Furey said.

The alerts allow sale barn owners to identify stolen livestock before they’re put on the auction block. Jeff Windett, executive vice president of the Missouri Cattleman’s Association, said the effort has been successful so far.

Most stolen livestock are sold within 100 miles of the theft location, so emphasis in the alerts is placed on livestock stolen within their particular region. The Patrol’s rural crimes division has six regions in the state.

Not all stolen livestock are sold through sale barns, Furey said, and not all sale barns are negligent in making illegal sales.

Mark Servaes, manager of the St. Joseph Stockyards, said his business takes many measures to make sure its selling legitimate, healthy livestock. He said the company checks the identification of sellers and allows only those it is familiar with or who come with a reputable reference to sell livestock there.

“We’re pretty tough security at our place,” Servaes said. “If someone has a reputation that could be a little bit off the record, we just don’t invite them to sell at our place. So that keeps most of those doors unopened for us to get some of those stolen cattle, because they know we’re going to look for something. Other places will invite them to make a dollar off them, but we don’t do that.”

Farmers are asked to diligently keep track of their livestock so they can provide accurate descriptions for the alerts. That includes keeping regular inventory of their herds and being able to describe the color, size and tags of the animals.

“We need to have concrete, identifiable attributes,” Furey said. “That’s the best way to put out an alert, so that people who are trying to help know what to look for.”

Information from: St. Joseph News-Press, http://www.stjoenews-press.com

Registration is from 6:45-7:45 p.m.. The contest will probably last until 10 p.m., with Deep Fried Squirrel playing afterwards. Registration is $10 at the door, or you can register online at queencitybeards.com. Also visit the website to learn more.

(See 417 Mag for more outlandish things to do in 417 Land!)

Horns are honking and the crowd is cheering and waving flags and signs that say “God Bless Joplin” and “We Support You, Joplin.”

The protest is a response to the possibility that members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church have indicated they will be in Joplin today to protest the president’s visit.

Police use tear gas to control crowd

(more)

The Pedaler’s Jamboree is Missouri’s first bike- powered music and camping festival! Welcome in the summer with a slow paced, family friendly, two wheeled celebration on the Katy Trail! With six stages of staggered live music, a main stage party in Boonville and 75 miles of great riding, this is a two day event not to be missed!

Saturday May 28th in Columbia

Check in/registration and departure from Shilo Bar & Grill, 8-10 am.

Bicyclist’s Breakfast Shiloh Bar & Grill and Broadway Diner
Broadway Diner: Breakfast Buffet – $6.99 all you can eat
Shiloh Bar & Grill: Grandma Millie’s famous egg and cheese casserole Hash Browns – Fruit Plate
Massages available from Cherry Hill Massage

MTK Trail to Katy Trail.
Mile 3 = Habitat for Humanity fueling station with free Pop Chips/water/bananas!
6 more miles on MKT to Katy Trail. Stop at your leisure. Take a right turn at Katy Trail.

Huntsdale

Katfish Katy’s – Food and Drinks available
The BluesSlingers – Music from 10 am – 1:30 pm

Rocheport

Trail Side Cafe – Plenty of food options
Shea and Silverstreak – Music from 11 am – 1 pm

General Store – Food, beer and wine

“Big Muddy Oasis” – Rocheport City Park – Food specials & beer garden
The Bait Shop Boys – Music from 11 am – 1 pm

Les Bourgeois Winery – Food, beer and wine
Man in the Ring – Music from 3 pm – Dusk

Franklin

“Tallgrass Oasis” at Katy Roundhouse – Food – Beer – Yummies
Man In the Ring – Music from 1pm – 3pm
Decadent Nation Acoustic – Music from 3pm – 5pm

Boonville

Live music on Main Street all day long

Festival at Kemper Park
3pm – Acoustic Jams
Featuring: “Yes Dear”, “Mario Pascal”
6pm – Artie’s Univibe
7:15pm – Ha Ha Tonka (More Homies)
9pm – The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Sunday May 29th in Boonville

Breakfast available at Kemper Park Sunday morning from WJ’s Bar
Depart Boonville at your leisure and return east on the Katy Trail.
Travel back to the Katy & MKT trailhead and back to Columbia.

Franklin

“Tallgrass Oasis” – Katy Roundhouse
Sugar Tree Road – Music from 8am – 10am – Breakfast food options

Rocheport

TrailSide Cafe – Plenty of food options – Open at 8 am
Shea and Silverstreak – Music from 10 am – 12 pm

“Big Muddy Oasis” – Food specials & beer garden
The Mere Mortals – Music from 10 am – 1 pm

Les Bourgeois Winery – Food and wine
Raven Wolf Jennings – Music from 12 pm – 5 pm

Huntsdale

Katfish Katy’s – Food and drinks – down at the River Stage
The Honky Tonk and Blues Jam – Music from 1 pm – 5 pm

Columbia

Bag pick up available from noon – 5 pm

Shiloh Bar & Grill – Pizza, burgers & drink specials
Band TBA – Music from 12 pm – 3 pm

Broadway Diner – Buffet all day

Cherry Hill Massage – Massages all day

Broadway Brewery – Great food and handcrafted beer

Tickets are still available for the weekend bicycle tour

and for the Kemper festival (non-cyclists) in Boonville