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GOVENOR NIXON VISITS NORTHEAST MISSOURI TO VIEW DROUGHT CONDITIONS Page 3A
The Macon County
USPS-299800 Vol.137, No. 3 La Plata, MO, 63549 • 12 Pages • 1 Sections • 50 Cents
Serving Macon County Since 1876 Subscribers to the Home Press are the nicest people! This week we salute
Stan & Kathy East, La Plata, MO BURN BAN IN EFFECT The Board of Directors of the Community Fire District has ordered a ban on burning for the entire fire district. This includes the City of La Plata and the Village of Gifford as well as all of the rural areas lying within the District boundaries. This order is in effect immediately, and will remain in effect until further notice.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Farm Bureau Presses Ideas For Drought Assistance Missouri farmers face lost crops and are reducing cattle herds that lack forage and water as the drought deepens across the Midwest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken a number of steps to help farmers and Missouri Farm Bureau resident Blake Hurst reiterated the need for creative ways to continue helping those suffering crop and livestock losses. “Your decision to simplify the process for making Secretarial
disaster designations, lower interest rates on emergency loans administered by the Farm Service Agency, and provide more flexibility with regard to haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program acreage was welcome news last week,” said Hurst in a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. Farmers also saw prompt attention given to the state’s disaster designation request allowing access to the emer-
gency loan program. In the letter, Hurst suggested other ways to mitigate the drought’s effect on farmers and ranchers through additional USDA actions such as: utilizing the Emergency Conservation Program to help with livestock watering needs; taking steps to expedite crop insurance claims processing, accelerating distribution of 2012 crop year direct payments; expediting the federal Emergency Loan Program
approval process; and allowing more flexibility in the use of Conservation Reserve Program acres. Federal disaster assistance programs lapsed last fall, but there is an opportunity to reinstate the non-program crop programs as part of a new farm bill. Missouri Farm Bureau, along with Secretary Vilsack, continues to urge Congress to approve the legislation as soon as possible.
COME ON RAIN
BLOOD DRIVE IN ATLANTA The United Methodist Church of Atlanta, Missouri will be sponsoring a Blood Drive on Monday, August 13th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Main Room of the Church. Everyone who attempts to donate will receive a complimentary t-shirt (while supplies last). To make an appointment visit redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: UMCAtlanta.
CIVIL WAR IN MISSOURI EXHIBIT Kirksville Tourism, in partnership with Missouri History Museum and Missouri Humanities Council, is proud to present “A State Divided: The Civil War in Missouri,” an exhibit on display at the Kirksville Arts Association July 22 through September 4, 2012. This exhibit takes a closer look at the Civil War and its effects on Missouri. Free interactive workshops and lunch and learns will take place during the display and require only an RSVP to participate. A full schedule of activities can be found at www.visitkirksville.com/civil-war.
The local crops are not looking so good. Rain is needed in all local counties and farmers are praying for precipitation.
PETERBILT VS. LOCOMOTIVE At approximately 6:40 a.m. Wednesday (July 18, 2012) a 1995 Peterbilt driven by William Swetnam, age 59 of Moberly failed to yield at the Crossbuck Railroad Crossing on Indiana Place, just 2 miles Southwest of La Plata and was hit by a 2008 General Electric Locomotive (Union Pacific) driven by Robert Becker, age 53 of Kansas City, Missouri. Swetnam was northbound, Becker was westbound. Swetnam was flown by Air Evac to the University Hospital in Columbia with moderate injuries. The Peterbilt was totaled and the engine received moderate damage and was released back to the engineer. The Missouri State Highway Patrol was assisted by the La Plata Police Department, La Plata Fire Department and the Macon County Sheriff’s Department.
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