Tuesday, May 22, 2012
One year after the devastating tornado brought destruction to the Missouri city, 'Patch' looks back at how rescue workers, your friends and neighbors offered a helping hand to those in need
Almost as if to show the state and the nation that it is on the road back to recovery, high profile remembrances of the May 22, 2011 Joplin Tornado took place a day before the anniversary itself, as President Obama, Governor Nixon and other dignitaries were on hand in the city for Joplin High School's graduation exercises. The EF5 tornado and the damage it caused drew many with Manchester and Town and Country ties to jump into action. Rescue workers from West County EMS and Fire Protection District were some of the first to head down to Joplin to help with search and recovery efforts. We thought now would be a good time to reintroduce you to many of those stories here. We might humbly suggest that you might give a thanks to the people …
38.594261
-90.515357
West County EMS and Fire Protection District
223 Henry Ave, Manchester, MO
/articles/joplin-1-year-later-how-west-county-ties-helped-out
1510700
/locations/7071393
Monday, January 2, 2012
New sirens are part of a county-wide emergency warning system.
Did you hear the St. Louis County emergency siren system test Monday? The county is in the process of switching from the old system of sirens to the new, and Monday morning at 11:00 the new, but not the old sirens went off. They’re tested every first Monday of the month. According to the St Louis County Office of Emergency Management, chances are the siren you heard was louder than what you've heard in the past. With the new system, 185 sirens are replacing 210 old sirens, but county Emergency Communications Network Director David Barney said many of the old sirens were installed in the 1960s and 70s and are defective. Also, no sirens were placed in the far west and far south parts of the county. "These new sirens are more effective," he …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Town and Country State Rep. Sue Allen says she believes the governor overstepped boundaries regarding Joplin, MO funding.
Two weeks ago, State Auditor Tom Schweich, served Gov. Jay Nixon a lawsuit over funds Schweich claims the governor unconstitutionally withheld for the Joplin, MO relief effort. Prior to the lawsuit on Aug. 19, Rep. Sue Allen-R Town and Country sent a letter to her constituents commenting on the state auditor's claims. That letter can be read in the PDF portion of this article. According a State Auditor’s press release, in June Schweich conducted a regularly scheduled audit of the governor’s office. After reviewing the more than $170 million the governor withheld for Joplin relief efforts, the auditor sent a letter to Nixon accusing the governor of withholding the funds prior to the start of the current fiscal year. The Missouri …
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Despite being on summer vacation, Parkway students headed south to Joplin, MO, to aid recent tornado victims.
Parkway School District students may be on summer vacation, but they're not all taking a break. Recently, some headed south to Joplin, MO, to help the recent tornado victims. Parkway school officials said in a news release that the students were spurred to action by a statewide Missouri Kids Helping Missouri Kids initiative. District spokesperson Cathy Kelly said it took students only a few days to raise $7,500 to help schools devastated by the May 22 tornado. “We can only imagine the sense of loss this tragedy has caused in the Joplin school community, and it’s great to see how Parkway students and others around the state are reaching out to help the kids in Joplin,” said Desi Kirchhofer, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, in…
Thursday, June 9, 2011
MoDOT's plan to save $512 million by making job, facility and budget cuts is approved. The necessary changes are already taking place.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved the Missouri Department of Transportation's (MoDOT) plan to cut staff, facilities and equipment in an effort to save the department $512 million. MoDOT presented the plan to the commission on May 4 and it was approved Wednesday. Read Previous Story: Transportation Funding Crisis Blamed For MoDOT Cuts For the most part, the approved version of the plan is what was presented in May: reduce the size of staff by 1,200, close 135 facilities and sell more than 740 pieces of equipment. MoDOT Director Kevin Keith said that by 2015, this plan will not only save the department $512 million, but it will save the department $117 million annually, which will be used for road and bridge …
38.64037
-90.513233
Missouri Department of Transportation
14301 S Outer 40 Rd, Town and Country, MO
/articles/modot-job-budget-cuts-approved
1718793
/locations/4568311
Thursday, June 2, 2011
A charity drive to help the victims of the Joplin tornado is taking place Thursday until 2 p.m. at the Dierbergs at Manchester and Baxter roads in Manchester.
The St. Lou Crew for Joplin, a charity drive to help the victims of the Joplin tornado, is taking place Thursday until 2 p.m. at the Dierbergs at Manchester and Baxter roads in Manchester. Craig Wicker, organizer of the event, said residents have been giving generously since 7 a.m. and hopes the donations will continue well past 2 p.m. Wicker said residents can donate anything from dog food to clothes to diapers or non-perishable food goods. Wicker, an Anheuser Busch employee, said a couple weeks ago he was sitting watching T.V. and looking at the Joplin devastation. He said he decided to get on Facebook and post the question, "Who wants to go to Joplin?" "From there it just blew up," Wicker said. "We have gotten boxes with shoes, clothing…
38.595595
-90.522014
Dierbergs
421 Lafayette Ctr, Manchester, MO
/articles/joplin-charity-drive-at-manchester-dierbergs
1767814
/locations/4496451
Supplies are being collected at the Town and Country Municipal Center to help victims of the deadly tornado that tore through Joplin, MO.
Supplies are being collected at the Town and Country Municipal Center to help victims of the deadly tornado that tore through Joplin, MO. Sue Allen and John Diehl, state representatives representing Town and Country, have organized a collection effort in Town and Country to assist those affected by the tragedy in Joplin. Some of the most needed items are non nonperishable food, water, juice, baby food and formula, diapers, wipes and personal care items. Items will be collected at the municipal center until June 8. They can be dropped off at the lower level of the building, which is accessible through the doors at the back of the building. Collection hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. During those hours items can …
38.63183
-90.450909
Town and Country City Hall and Police Department
1011 Municipal Center Dr, Saint Louis, MO
/articles/town-and-country-helping-joplin-tornado-victims
1510360
/locations/4491438
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The service will remember those affected by the devastating tornado that struck the city last Sunday.
Missourians will gather in Joplin, MO, for a community memorial service in the wake of the devastating tornado that truck the city last Sunday. Seating for the public service starts at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 29. No tickets are required for the service, which will formally begin at 2 p.m. in the Taylor Performing Arts Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State University. Clergy from the Joplin area will lead the service, and a local choir will provide musical accompaniment. Gov. Jay Nixon will deliver a message, and President Barack Obama will offer brief remarks. In the event that the auditorium is full, overflow seating will be available at several other campus facilities, including campus tennis courts, Corley Auditorium in Webster…
38.594261
-90.515357
West County EMS and Fire Protection District
223 Henry Ave, Manchester, MO
/articles/public-invited-to-sunday-joplin-community-memorial-service-2
1510700
/locations/4457346
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Manchester rescue workers update "Patch" readers on the efforts in Joplin after spending days sifting through the rubble in search of survivors and victims.
When the tornado tore through Joplin Sunday night, it flattened everything in its path. At latest count, CNN reports more than 120 dead, but Manchester rescue crews heading back from the disaster Wednesday told Patch upward of 1,500 people are still unaccounted for. Since the devastation, there's been a desperate search and rescue effort underway as emergency crews, residents and volunteers sift through the rubble nonstop. Among those helping are rescue workers from the West County EMS and Fire Protection District based in Manchester. (Read Previous Story: Manchester Firefighters Help Joplin Tornado Victims As Death Toll Hits 116) Deputy Chief Jeff Sadtler tells Town and Country-Manchester Patch that some West County EMS and Fire …
38.594261
-90.515357
West County EMS and Fire Protection District
223 Henry Ave, Manchester, MO
/articles/manchester-crews-give-first-hand-account-of-joplin-rescue-efforts
1510700
/locations/4436730
Monday, May 23, 2011
Rescue workers with the West County EMS and Fire Protection District are in Joplin helping with rescue and recovery efforts after a deadly tornado tore through the town.
UPDATED: 4:15 p.m. Monday Rescue workers with the West County EMS and Fire Protection District are in Joplin helping with rescue and recovery efforts after a deadly tornado tore through the town. Local emergency agencies called out strike teams of rescue workers Sunday night after the tornado hit, leveling businesses and damaging a hospital in Joplin. Crews are searching for survivors Monday, as the the death toll from the tornado rises. West County EMS and Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Jeff Sadtler toldTown and Country-Manchester Patch they are typically put on alert when they know storms are coming in, and then they react depending on the outcome. "I got called last night about nine-o-clock that we were deploying people right …
38.594261
-90.515357
West County EMS and Fire Protection District
223 Henry Ave, Manchester, MO
/articles/manchester-firefighters-helping-joplin-tornado-victims
1510700
/locations/4412803
survivor
10:19 pm on Saturday, May 28, 2011
Did I miss something here? These highly trained crews deserve our sincere thanks +++ for their dedication and hard work. Go back to Canada and stay there unless you want to help...with a Muzzle screwed your head. more ›