We dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution.  

John F. Kennedy

 

Make a day of it at the
River City Cruisers Car Show!

More Info Here

Sunday September 11

Historic Hermann, Missouri
(map)

with music at:

OakGlenn Winery
Jessica Tipton — 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Cedar Creek
Betty Crawford — 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

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http://visithermann.com/event/river-city-cruisers-car-show/

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Here are seven easy things you can do to save money on air conditioning / electrical costs:

1. Replace filters every three months. Clean filters reduce fan pressure, requiring less energy.
2. Make sure the area around the unit is free of grass clippings, leaves, and other debris.
3. Operate with  fan switch on “auto”, instead of the ‘on’ position so that the fan runs only when the compressor runs.
4. A  programmable thermostat set slightly higher during off-hours can save up to 10% in cooling costs a year.
5. Draw shades, hopefully insulated shades, especially on the southern facing windows to minimize the amount of hot sunlight entering the room.
6. Use efficient lighting such as LED lights that do not give off excessive heat.
7. Ceiling fans can reduce the need for AC, resulting in a potential 15 percent savings.

An annual inspection by a licensed technician can further reduce your risk of lost business, repair and energy costs. A technician will:

1. Check electrical connections for looseness, and signs of moisture, damage or corrosion.
2. Recommend a power protection device to protect the unit from brownouts, power surges or lightning.
3. Check lubricating oil in the compressor’s crankcase heater.
4. Check that the condenser is clean and surrounding area is free of vegetation, trash and stored materials. A dirty unit can increase power consumption by 10%.
5. Keep surfaces of the cooling coils clean with filters.
6. Check for proper refrigerant levels.

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Summer Time Quick Tips

Here are Five Summer Time Quick Tips

1. Set your laptops and other mobile devices to NOT automatically connect to nearby Wi-Fi connections or hotspots.
2. Make sure your electronics are up-to-date with the latest patches and fixes to avoid vulnerabilities to hackers. Hackers love people to steal from those who do not take the time to protect themselves.
3. Make sure your devices are all password protected in the event they’re lost. This could buy you valuable time to contact your vendor to shut down the account.
4. Don’t let thieves know you’re going to be gone or that you are gone. It’s fun to post pictures on social media, but you put yourself at great risk by doing so. There’s plenty of time to post the great pics once you return.
5. Watch for skimming devices on ATM’s and other card terminals. If there is ANY sign of tampering, do not use it. Here’s a good article to help.
   

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   or to find an agent near you, visit
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In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14.

It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14th in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day

In August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

 

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Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. It was originally known as Decoration Day from its inception around the time of the Civil War. The preferred name for the holiday gradually changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day. It was officially named Memorial Day by Federal law in 1967.

TRADITIONAL OBSERVANCE

Traditional Observance dictates that on Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who have given their lives in service of their country. At noon, their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

We thank those have given all in order to protect our freedom. 

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Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day;
Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving,
while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.

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Poverty Statistics in the United States in 2014

• 46.7 million people (14.8 percent) were in poverty. This number has increased to at least 48 million in 2016 and increases daily.
• 15.5 million (21.1 percent) children under the age of 18 were in poverty.
• 4.6 million (10 percent) seniors 65 and older were in poverty.
• The overall national poverty rate according to the Supplemental Poverty Measure is 15.3 percent, as compared with the official poverty rate of 14.8 percent.
• There are 48.4 million people living in poverty, nearly 2 million more than are represented by the official poverty measure (46.7 million).
• Missouri exhibits a statistically significantly higher household food insecurity rate than the U.S. national average at 16.8%

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES: Visit Food Pantries at foodpantries.org to find a local pantry near you. Volunteer! Contribute!
• FRIDAY BACKPACK PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN: Visit the University of Missouri Extension site at http://extension.missouri.edu/hes/backpackprogram/ to find out how you can help.
• Search around. The need is all around you.

If you decide to become part of the answer…Thank You!

 

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The 2016 Strawberry Festival Kimmswick will be held on Saturday June 4th and Sunday June 5th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Strawberry Jam may be purchased at the City Hall building.

There will be a petting zoo, pony rides, various inflatables, and small carnival-like rides. Various musical artists will be playing around town for your listening pleasure. Hi Tadah, the famous top spinning artist, will also be entertaining throughout the day.

A variety of food vendors will be selling their tasty treats and they will be sure to satisfy your taste buds, some foods that will be offered are kettle corn, shish kebobs, funnel cakes, onion blossoms, smoked pork chops and BBQ burgers and hot dogs.

PARKING
For the safety of our vendors and visitors only foot traffic is allowed in town during festival hours. Parking for a fee is available off of Hwy K. and Windsor School Campus, as well as along Windsor Harbor Road and at the Anheuser Estate. There will be shuttle buses running continuously from the Windsor School area.

Handicap parking is available, but very limited.

For more information, visit: http://gokimmswick.com/strawberry-festival-kimmswick-mo/

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Become a donor. Become a hero.

At this moment, more than 120,000 people in the United States alone are waiting for an organ. One more person is added to the national waiting list every 12 minutes.

Each of these people is in desperate need of a liver, heart, kidney, or other organ. More than 6,500 people a year — about 21 a day — die before that organ ever becomes available.

The majority of the organs that are available come from recently deceased donors. When you fill out an organ donor card with your driver’s license, you’re agreeing to donate all or some of your organs if you die.

A smaller number of organs come from healthy people. More than 6,000 transplants from living donors are performed each year.

You might have wondered about donating an organ — either to a friend or relative who needs an organ right now, or by filling out an organ donor card. Before you decide to become an organ donor, here is some important information you need to consider.

Who can donate?

• Just about anyone at any age.

How can I become an organ donor?

• To donate your organs after death, you can either register with your state’s donor registry (visit OrganDonor.gov), or fill out an organ donor card when you get or renew your driver’s license.

Will I be paid for donating an organ?

• No. It’s illegal to pay someone for an organ. The transplant program, recipient’s insurance, or recipient should cover your expenses from tests and hospital costs related to a living organ donation. The transplant program can go over what coverage is available for additional medical services. Some or all of your travel costs may also be covered.

Will organ donation after death mean I can’t have an open-casket funeral?

• No. The surgical incisions used for organ donation will all be closed.

Will my organ donation after death incur any costs to my family?

• No. The costs of the tests and surgery related to the donation will be covered by the recipient — most often by the recipient’s insurance.

Does signing a donor card have an impact on the quality of medical care I get at a hospital?

• No. When you are in a life-threatening situation, the medical team that is treating you is separate from the transplant team.

Should You Become an Organ Donor? Making the Decision

• As you decide whether to donate an organ as a living donor, weigh the benefits and risks very seriously.It’s important for you to get as much information as you can before making a decision. The transplant center should fully explain the organ donation process to you. You should also be assigned an independent donor advocate who will promote your medical rights.Make sure you ask a lot of questions throughout this process. It’s important for you to fully understand the surgery and how becoming an organ donor might affect your future health.

Finally, remember that this is your decision — yours alone. Don’t let anyone sway that decision. Even if a friend or loved one is very sick, you have to consider how donating an organ might affect your own life. Remember that even though the donation process has started, you have the right to stop it at any time if you change your mind.

Information Source: WebMD

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Ha Ha Tonka State Park

The name Ha Ha Tonka is from the Osage Indian phrase “Ha Ha Tonka” meaning “Laughing Spirit” in reference to the gushing springs.

Imposing architecture and breathtaking scenery combine to make Ha Ha Tonka State Park one of Missouri’s most treasured spots.

Located on the Lake of the Ozarks, the park features the stone ruins of a turn-of-the-20th-century castle began in the early 1900’s by a prominent Kansas City businessman, Robert McClure Snyder, high atop a bluff. His tragic death, one of the first automobile fatalities in Missouri (on Independence Boulevard in Kansas City), brought an end to the rise of a powerful businessman, his legacy, and the building of the castle at Ha Ha Tonka.

For sixteen years, the castle remained unfinished. Snyder’s sons Robert, Jr., Leroy, and Kenneth continued the work but the pace was slow and not nearly as elaborate as the original plans. In 1922, the interior and upper floors were finally completed. During this time, Robert Snyder, Jr., lived at the castle.

By the time the castle was finally complete, the family businesses were in decline. The family eventually leased the building to a woman named Mr.s Ellis who operated it as a hotel for the next several years. In 1942, sparks from one of the many fireplaces ignited the roof, gutting much of the structure.

The building sat abandoned for many years and has been the target of vandals and a victim of the elements until in 1978, the State of Missouri purchased the estate and opened it as a State park.

The park of approximately 3,000 acres on the Niangua Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, has more than 15 miles of trails traversing the park leading visitors to sinkholes, natural bridges, caves and down to the lake for many fishing, boating, and swimming possibilities.

More information about the park may be found here.

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Be safe out there while you enjoy Missouri !

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