Guard Cables on Highway 63 Kristin Arena
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COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - New safety measures are coming to Highway 63. The Missouri Department of Transportation will install guard cables between Jefferson City and Columbia.
The cables are used to prevent cars from crossing over the median into head on collisions like the one that occurred on Highway 63 over the weekend, killing two Boone County women.
Jeff Briggs with MoDOT says guard cables have helped save lives on Missouri interstates.
"We put the cables in on I-70, a few years ago, and on a yearly basis, the year before we put them in, we saw 25 fatalities from cross-over crashes on I-70. After we put them in, the number dropped to 2. We're looking at more than a 90 percent reduction. These cables are extremely effective in preventing fatalities."
Briggs says the cables are already installed on almost 500 miles of interstate in Missouri. They are now beginning to be installed on medians of major highways all across the state.
This stretch of 63 is one of the first highways recently selected for these guard cables.
The federal government will fund the project but has not determined when installation of the cables will begin.
© Copyright 2009, KBIA
Click here to listen
COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - New safety measures are coming to Highway 63. The Missouri Department of Transportation will install guard cables between Jefferson City and Columbia.
The cables are used to prevent cars from crossing over the median into head on collisions like the one that occurred on Highway 63 over the weekend, killing two Boone County women.
Jeff Briggs with MoDOT says guard cables have helped save lives on Missouri interstates.
"We put the cables in on I-70, a few years ago, and on a yearly basis, the year before we put them in, we saw 25 fatalities from cross-over crashes on I-70. After we put them in, the number dropped to 2. We're looking at more than a 90 percent reduction. These cables are extremely effective in preventing fatalities."
Briggs says the cables are already installed on almost 500 miles of interstate in Missouri. They are now beginning to be installed on medians of major highways all across the state.
This stretch of 63 is one of the first highways recently selected for these guard cables.
The federal government will fund the project but has not determined when installation of the cables will begin.
© Copyright 2009, KBIA
Jefferson City Police Department Tries to Keep Kids on Right Path Kristin Arena
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COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - The Jefferson City Police Department is getting creative in its efforts to keep kids and teens out of trouble when they're not in school.
The Jefferson City Police Department is putting together new programs to provide activities for children who have had discipline problems or who have been in trouble in the past. Programs like the Summer Send Off tend to run over breaks when the kids are not in school in order to keep them busy and give them an alternative to staying at home all day.
Special Services Division Captain Doug Shoemaker says he hopes the programs will go a step further to help kids get into college and to be a positive influence in their lives.
"It's difficult in a community where there seem like there are limited options and activities. And particularly in the summer time when kids may not have parents around during the day because they're both working, they just don't have anything that they necessarily might be doing. So, we try and get them involved in these alternative, positive activities."
These programs are available at little or no cost to the parents. Shoemaker says parent feedback has already been positive and hopes to eventually get federal funding for additional activities.
© Copyright 2009, KBIA
Camden County Domestic Violence Cases on the Rise Kristin Arena
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COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - Camden County officials are noting a rise in domestic violence cases. The Camden County Sheriff's Department has reported almost one case of domestic violence per day so far this year. This number equates to 282 cases, which is more than all reported cases of 2006 combined. The police department considers each incident a new case.
Captain Gary Bowling of the Camden County Sheriff's Department attributes a rise in population for these increasing numbers, but Bowling also says it's not just women reporting violence anymore.
"The immediate image in the public's mind is a man beating on a women. That's not we're seeing an increase in male victims. It's just not acceptable. Violence in family matters is just not acceptable."
Bowling says the best way to prevent domestic violence is to start educating children as young as possible that any type of violence, especially in the home, is wrong.
© Copyright 2009, KBIA
Arts in the Park for Self-Esteem and the Environment Kristin Arena
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COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - Self esteem and the environment are the goals of Linn Creek's 14th Annual Arts in the Park this weekend.
"Building Self-Esteem by Thinking Green" is the theme of the event this year. Arts in the Park reaches out to children who want to express themselves in forms other than speech including theatre, dance, and arts and crafts.
In addition to building self-esteem in children, the event aims to promote a positive treatment of the environment. All the food items being used are either recyclable or biodegradable, and the craft items will also be made out of recycled material.
Nancy Pope, an organizer for the event, says the children will be encouraged to work together in order to accomplish a goal of theirs.
"This is on learning how to play as teams, working together, or developing confidence by accomplishing something on your own. So, it's nothing really competitive. It's more team building and working in proximity with each other."
The event is free to everyone who attends, and parents are encouraged to come with their children to participate in activities with them.
Arts in the Park will take place on Saturday from 10a.m. to 3p.m. at Linn Creek Memorial Park in Camden County.
© Copyright 2009, KBIA
Fossett's Missouri Ties Kristin Arena
COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - While the search continues in Nevada for adventurer Steve Fossett, members of Washington University in St. Louis are hoping for his safe return. Fossett has strong ties to Missouri and to the university. He graduated from Washington University in 1968 with an MBA from the School of Business. Currently, Fossett is a member of the Board of Trustees which serves as the chief group of advisors for the school.
Associate Vice Chancellor Steve Givens says Washington University served as mission control for four of his attempts to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon.
Givens says members of the academic community have gotten to know him for the adventurous person he is.
"We got to see him for what he was. As a great adventurer, as someone who was willing to put himself on the line and go out there and do things that he thought were interesting and important. We learned to respect him for the way he went after those things."
Givens says those at the University are staying hopeful and waiting to hear any new information. © Copyright 2009, KBIA
Lake Coves Test High for E. Coli Kristin Arena; KBIA News COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - Two Lake of the Ozarks coves are showing elevated levels of the bacteria E. coli. Three samples taken from Jennings Branch Cove and Davey Cove during a routine test last week exceeded the level of bacteria considered safe.
Department of Natural Resources spokesman Larry Archer says the high levels of E. coli bacteria could be a result of a number of factors.
"There might have been a big flock of geese right in that cove, you know, resting, and doing what geese do in coves. Or, it may be a local, you know, someone who lives by there who's got a septic system that's malfunctioning. Sometimes it depends on whether or not recent rains that have washed things off the land and into the lake."
Archer says his office is currently not discouraging people from going into the coves. The Springfield regional D-N-R office plans to see if the area needs closer monitoring. The final round of water testing will occur in October. © Copyright 2009, KBIA
