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40th Annual
Dogwood-Azalea Festival
April 17-20, 2008
Our Hometown Hero:
The Blake Hall Story updated
Sabrina's Recipe Corner


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The Enterprise Courier Online
Farmers asked to allow geologist to search for
uranium in Mississippi County
By Liz Anderson
By Liz Anderson
Uranium in Mississippi County,
Missouri?
It’s here, according to a retired
geologist who met Monday with a group of around 25
farmers at the East Prairie Nutrition Center. And he
needs the farmers’ help in finding it.
John Gustavson has a long,
successful, record of work in engineering and
geology and was mentioned in a Wall Street
Journal article just last Thursday as the
individual who found large natural gas resources in
Hungary, now under development by ExxonMobil.
(more)
702 register for 2008 Tour de Corn
By Liz Anderson
A record 702 riders registered
for the 2008 East Prairie Tour de Corn, but the
total number of actual riders this year was 618,
according to coordinator Silvie Barker.
Whether high gas prices or a terrible weather
forecast caused some to stay away, those who braved
the potential bad weather were pleasantly surprised.
No one ran into heavy rains during their ride
Saturday, although it did sprinkle enough that
morning around 9 to cause us to use the windshield
wipers three times - four sweeps each time, to clear
the moisture from the windshield of our car as we
left the Mt. Level Rest Stop.
But the weather forecast issued Friday for Saturday
was grim: a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms with
hail and heavy rains expected.
Those storms hit western Missouri and then went
south into Arkansas. They did NOT materialize here.
There were four rides of various lengths this year
available to riders and a surprising number of them
took the newest one - the 100 mile ride.
This route went from East Prairie to Anniston and
then out Highway C to Morley, up to Benton, over to
Commerce and then back down through Charleston and
back to East Prairie.
2008 Puttin' on the Hits held
By Liz Anderson
The 2008 Puttin on the Hits
competition was held on Saturday, June 28 at the
East Prairie High School Football Field.
The stands were full at the field
anticipating who the 2008 winners would be.
This years winners in the 6 - 9
year old division were: 1st place Libby Cates, 7,
who performed "Lets Hear It For The Girls," by
Denise Williams; 2nd place Chanie Moreland, 9, who
performed " 9 to 5" by Dolly Parton; 3rd place Macy
Tanksley, 9, who performed "Wild Child."
The 10 to 12 year old winners
were: 1st place Spencer Cates, 12, who performed
"Sweat" by CNC Music Factory; 2nd Kali Thurman, 11,
who performed "Small Town Girl," by Kellie Pickler;
3rd place Denez and Deverence Tipler who performed "Soulja
Boy" by Superman.
In the 13 and over category 1st
place was awarded to Monique Thurman and Angie
Sullenger who performed "Welcome to the 60’s" fro
Hair Spray; 2nd place Maggie McTigue with "Billie
Jean" by Michael Jackson; 3rd place Phil, Matthew
and T. J. Rolwing with "She’s Got a Butt Bigger than
the Beatles," by Cletus T. Judd.
The Puttin on the Hits would like
to thank all the businesses who so graciously
donated to this event.
Everyone is looking forward to the 2009 Puttin on
the Hits, start
Tim Rolwing announces candidacy
for Mississippi County Assessor
Timothy J. (Tim) Rolwing has
filed for the office of Mississippi County Assessor.
He is a life-long resident of Mississippi County.
Tim is married to his wife of 27 years, Holly, and
they have two daughters, Emily and Rebecca.
"I am running for assessor
because the owners of real and personal property in
Mississippi County need a serious, honest, and fair
person to represent their interests in the
assessor’s office," says Rolwing. "I believe I have
the necessary skills, knowledge, and ability to
operate the assessor’s office in an honest, fair,
and open manner which will please the voters of
Mississippi County."
Rolwing is a resident of
Charleston, attended Charleston High School, and
graduated from Missouri University in Columbia. He
grew up on a farm along the Buffalo Island levee in
the northern part of the county. After graduation
from college he farmed for several years with his
father, Patrick.
Rolwing is familiar with the land
and the people of Mississippi County. During the
time he farmed Tim worked as a field reporter for
the Mississippi County ASCS office. Rolwing states,
"I have walked over most of the farms in the county.
I know the value of the land here, and what it is
capable of producing. I also know the value of the
work it takes to make the land produce."
After he left farming Rolwing
worked for several years in sales and market
development for a large agricultural spare parts
company. "I made quite a few business trips to
Mexico in the 1990’s," Rolwing confides. "One of the
things which impressed me most was the difference in
infrastructure between what they have there and what
we have here. Of course, that difference is mainly
due to two factors: 1) we have better methods of
determining what is to be taxed, and how those taxes
are collected and used, and 2) political graft and
corruption run rampant there. So, I have seen the
results dishonesty and a lack of fairness can
inflict on society. Therefore, I will always reject
them."
Currently, and for the past ten
years, Rolwing is self-employed, operating an export
brokerage shipping farm tractors, combines, and
spare parts to customers in Spain and Mexico. Tim
speaks and writes Spanish fluently.
Tim assured us that when elected
he will work for the people of Mississippi County.
Tim and his wife own a home in
Charleston, and like most people in the county they
pay their share of property taxes. "Taxes are a
necessary burden on society. Very few people enjoy
paying taxes, but because of the property taxes we
pay everyone can enjoy the smooth roads we travel,
the bridges we cross, and the opportunity to receive
a free public education, among other things,"
Rolwing concludes. "The assessor’s job is to provide
a base value upon which the county may set a tax
rate, and levy taxes. Thus, it is in everyone’s best
interest that each parcel of real estate and each
item of personal property are assessed fairly. As
the assessor for Mississippi County I will work
within Missouri state law to assure absolute
fairness in property assessments for every taxpayer
in Mississippi County - no matter whether he or she
owns a car, a home, a farm, or a commercial
business. I am asking every voter for his or her
vote and support in the general election this
November."
Paid for by the candidate.
Crop update from University
Extention
By Anthony Ohmes
University Extension
CORN:
Japanese beetle emergence has
been building over the last couple of weeks. The
concentration, like last season, seems to be
heaviest along Highway 77 area in Mississippi
County.
This area extends from Alfalfa
Center/Wyatt to Wolf Island/Dorena. Japanese beetle
economic damage occurs when significant silk
clipping occurs during pollination.
Threshold is the average of three
beetles per ear during pollination and before silks
are clipped to 0.5 to 0.75 inch above husks. Monitor
your fields closely during this stage of
development.
Japanese beetles are an aggregate
pest and pressure may be high in one field or area
of field and non-existent in another field or area
of field. Therefore scouting should be conducted
throughout the field.
Read and follow all label
instructions if you decide to apply an insecticide.
Pay special attention to tank mix label
specifications on application timing if planning to
apply with a fungicide.
SOYBEAN:
As wheat field beans begin to
emerge keep in mind that herbicide timing is
critical, especially for conventional beans. Back in
the conventional weed control days, weed control in
plots was highest on small, actively growing weeds.
Depending on product and weed, the timing window
may be narrow or wide. Read and follow closely the
height recommendations for weeds listed on a product
label.
Insects abundant on corn,
soybean plants
Thresholds mean little; farmers
should scout often & treat early, MU entomologist
says
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Higher numbers of
several crop pests are accumulating in fields across
Missouri, posing new threats to late-planted corn
and soybean and undermining traditional treatment
thresholds, said Wayne Bailey, University of
Missouri Extension entomologist.
While the black cutworm menace is
over, corn earworms, stinkbugs, Japanese beetles,
bean leaf beetles, burrower bugs and fall armyworms
are now out in abundance and can rapidly defoliate
plants. Farmers should closely monitor fields for
insect damage and take prompt action to avoid major
losses, Bailey said.
"We have a situation where
thresholds don’t fit very well," he said. "Because
we planted so late, most corn and soybeans are very
small. With all the other setbacks this season, we
want to protect as much of the foliage as we can."
Dailey recommends that farmers
spray if the amount of defoliation makes them
uncomfortable. "Don’t feel like you have to wait for
damage to reach threshold levels," he said. "If it’s
at the level where you can’t stand to get any more
plants damaged, go ahead and treat."
Corn earworm and stinkbug
populations are particularly high. Both pests are
generalist feeders on corn, soybean and other crops.
Over a seven-day period, MU Extension field staff
caught 540 earworms in Callaway County, 148 in Boone
County and 95 in Audrain County. Over a three-day
period, 141 were caught in traps at the MU Delta
Research Center in Portageville, New Madrid County.
"These are things we need to keep
our eye on," said MU Extension integrated pest
management associate Steven Kirk, who manages the
trap counts.
Stinkbugs are proliferating and
are more widely dispersed in fields than usual.
Damage has been rapid, with 10 to 15 percent of
plants already injured in some fields, Bailey said.
Stinkbug damage often takes a few days to show up
and can affect as much as 50 percent of plants if
not caught, he said.
"The calls I’m getting are ones
where stinkbugs are present in high numbers across
whole fields, not just in isolated spots," he said.
"Because plants are small, the stinkbug toxin is
more effective. So 10 to 20 days after emergence,
we’re seeing twisted plants and holes across leaves
with yellow borders, indicating stinkbugs. Plants
are dying now and tillers are coming up."
Tillers resulting from insect
damage often become weeds and can cause yield loss
by crowding healthy plants and sucking soil
nutrients, Bailey said.
"You need to get rid of stinkbugs
because high numbers now will stay high even as corn
grows towards ear production," he said. "If it gets
cooler, they will just be closer to the ground and
harder to find."
Stinkbugs are often found close
to the ground, near the base of corn plants. "You
should treat if more than 3 percent of your plants
are damaged, or if you’re close to the economic
threshold of one or more stinkbugs per linear foot
of row."
Bean leaf beetles and
white-margined burrower bugs are damaging soybean.
The burrower bug nymphs resemble stinkbugs and are
causing plants to wilt and die, Bailey said.
"The nymphs have a black head and
bright fire-engine red body," he said. "They often
reside under crop and weed stubble. You may see
soybeans in poor shape, and if you look under the
plant, you’ll see them feeding. They may be up
higher on the plant, but if you can’t see them, look
low."
True armyworms have been found on
wheat in southwest Missouri, with some cutting
heads. "Where this was found, it was limited to less
than a county area," Bailey said. "As the wheat
dries down, this will become less and less because
they only like wheat when it’s green."
Japanese beetles, currently
scattered in smaller numbers around Missouri, may
soon be a significant threat.
"They’re coming into their own,
raising their little metallic heads," Kirk said.
"Over a couple days, 620 were caught in Mississippi
County. There have been reports from southern
Illinois where numbers are already very high. This
tells us they’re coming in and coming strong, and
they’re moving this way."
For questions on pest damage, crop health or
treatment options, contact your local MU Extension
office.
Four arrested in Charleston
drug bust
On 06/26/2008 at about 3:00 p.m.,
the Charleston Department of Public Safety executed
a search warrant at the residence of Vernon Haynes
and Tiffany Clemons located at 410 Cleveland St.,
Apt B. Our agency was assisted by members of the
SEMO Drug Task Force and the Mississippi County
Sheriff’s Department, as well as the K-9 unit from
the Sikeston DPS.
Upon initial entry to the
residence, one suspect fled through a side door. He
ingested a large amount of what is believed to be
heroine before his capture. He was hospitalized for
evaluation.
Another suspect assaulted an
officer and escaped from custody while his handcuffs
were being loosened. He was quickly recaptured.
Officers found a sizeable amount
of heroine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and drug
paraphernalia while executing the warrant. Four
suspects were arrested at the scene and later placed
in the Mississippi County Jail.
Formal charges have been filed
on:
Lamont Bullocks, 26, of Chicago,
Ill. - 2 counts of possession of a controlled
substance with intent to distribute, resisting
arrest and tampering with evidence - bond $100,000
cash only.
Vernon Haynes, 21, of Charleston
- 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance
with intent to distribute, escape from custody,
resisting arrest, assaulting a law enforcement
officer and possession of drug paraphernalia - bond
$100,000 cash only.
Teco Woods, 25, of Charleston -
possession of a controlled substance and resisting
arrest - bond $25,000 cash only.
Shaundale Johnson, 26, of Charleston - possession
of marijuana - bond $1000.
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