Rural Missouri - December 2011 - (Page 22)

On the road again After enduring the effects of flooding for more than four months, most of northwest Missouri is finally getting back to normal. Although substantial damage has been done to farmland, homes and major utility systems, a sign of hope is the reopening of Interstate 29. Since June 15, a 15-mile stretch of the major interstate was closed from Rock Port to Pacific Junction, Iowa. Except for a few days at the height of the flooding when water did cross the interstate at the state’s border, the Missouri portion remained dry and undamaged. This made it easy for the Missouri Department of Transportation to reopen the interstate. Several highways and county roads continue to be closed due to damage from the flooding. MoDOT urges drivers to take caution and do not drive around any road closed signs, fences or gates. For more on road closures across the state, visit www.modot.mo.gov. N E W S ture designated 101 out of Missouri’s 114 counties as natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought and excessive heat. Farmers and ranchers in these designated counties are eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provided proper requirements are met. Applicants have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. For more information on assistance programs available and to find out if your county made the list, visit http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov. B R I E F S tional wine competitions. Now you can connect more with Missouri’s wine industry with a new free application available for the iPhone and iPad. Users can browse the entire directory of Missouri wineries or locate them by name, city or wine trail. Information about each winery, including business hours, contact information and website, is available. A searchable, interactive map allows users to view every winery in the state and narrow down wineries within specific mileage points. The app also features a wine log where users can store details of the wines they taste, rate individual wines and even save photos of their favorite vinos. To download this free app, search “Missouri Wines” in the iTunes store or visit www.missouriwine.org. A year to forget For most Missourians, the start of a new year hopefully will put the troubles of 2011 in the past as Mother Nature wrecked havoc in almost every corner of the Show-Me State. The U.S. Department of Agricul- Vino on your phone For more than 160 years, Missouri has been quietly perfecting the art of growing grapes and making wine here in America’s heartland. Many of the state’s nearly 100 wineries consistently take top honors in prestigious domestic and interna- Salvaged scraps Sadly, it is becoming cliché to report about financial problems and the rocky status of the economy. Many communities across the state are having to cut back, and unfortunately the first thing to go are parks. Thankfully, there is a glimmer of hope for improvements to our green spaces from a new grant available from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Available now are Playground Scrap Tire Surface Material Grants that help promote the use of recycled scrap tires for playground cover or surfacing material. Recipients requesting mats or pour-in-place materials will be eligible for up to $20,000 while those requesting loose surfaces are eligible for up to $10,000. Parks, non-profit day-care centers and organizations, state agencies and public and private schools are eligible to submit applications. Since 1994, DNR has awarded more than $2 million in grants to more than 300 organizations. The source of funds for this grant program is the 50-cent-per-tire fee collected on the sale of new tires in the Show-Me State. The fee also finances cleanup of scrap tire dumps and enforcement activities. Applications and instructions are available at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/ swmp/tires/tirefinassistance.htm or by calling 800-361-4827. STEEL MOBILE HOME ROOFING Insurance credit Expert installation Increase the value of your home Energy Star Certiﬁed Cut your electric bill Stop leaks LIFETIME WARRANTY Since 1983 roofover.com 800.633.8969 COMPLETE METAL BUILDING PACKAGES PRICES INCLUDE DIRECT SAVE MONEY QUALITY 1978 FREE ESTIMATES 22 22 WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov http://www.modot.mo.gov http://www.missouriwine.org http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/tires/tirefinassistance.htm http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/tires/tirefinassistance.htm http://www.rob-bilt.com http://www.roofover.com http://www.rob-bilt.com http://www.roofover.com http://www.bcibarns.com http://www.GoCowellSteel.com http://www.GoCowellSteel.com http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - December 2011

Rural Missouri - December 2011
Table of COntents
Comments
Columns
Giggin’ on the Gasconade
A historic rumbling
Outdoors
Bent on perfection
Out of the Way Eats
Christmas country church tour
Hearth and Home
News Briefs
Of two governments
Best of rural Missouri
Marketplace
Around Missouri
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - December 2011