Boone County anticipates disaster

Next time you’re looking for a history of natural disasters in Boone County, you might want to refer to the Boone County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

As of 2003, FEMA requires local jurisdictions to have such a plan on file in order to qualify for certain types of grants. The roughly 180-page document catalogs the types of disasters likely to occur in Boone County as well as projects that could offset future costs incurred in the wake of such events.

The plan also catalogs natural disasters that have occurred here. For example, Boone County:

• Ranks fourth in the state in the number of tornadoes between 1950 and 2008 with 32;
• Suffered 41 winter storms between 1993 and 2008;
• Experienced its first known dam failure in March 2008 when Moon Valley Lake Dam in Columbia failed;
• Has recorded 97 heat-related deaths since 1994;
• Waded through 48 flood events since 1993 (including the devastating floods of 1993 in which all of the levees in Boone County failed).

There’s also this terrifying tidbit: according to the 2002 United States Geological Survey, there is a 25 to 40 percent chance of a magnitude 6.0 and greater earthquake along the New Madrid fault line in the next 50 years and a 7 to 10 percent chance of an 8.0 magnitude quake.

The New Madrid fault line, located south of St. Louis, was responsible for some of the strongest quakes on record between 1811-12 and were said to be felt as far away as Boston.

Officials from Boone County, Ashland, Sturgeon, Pierpont, Hallsville, Centralia and Columbia are contributing to the document’s writing. The Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission is coordinating the process and a draft plan can be found on their Web site.

Click here to read the whole story.

CDD 12/8: Development strategy approved for area near new school

Columbia’s Daily Dish 12/8

Development strategy approved for area near new school (CM) The Columbia City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt the first large-scale joint planning project between city and county planning and zoning officials. The Northeast Area Plan will not set policy but will serve as a guide for future land-use decisions near the proposed site of a new Columbia high school.

Columbia security camera issue to appear on April 2010 ballot (CM) The Columbia City Council decided to send the issue of whether to allow cameras controlled by the city to the voters. Some members of the council joined those arguing that security cameras could help reduce crime, while others quoted studies that show their ineffectiveness.

Mid-Missouri Internet crimes unit faces many challenges (CM) The detectives of the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force struggle daily to keep up with a flood of illicit material online and not to lose themselves in a world in which children are constantly victimized.

CDD 12/7: Proposed downtown safety cameras up for City Council discussion

Columbia’s Daily Dish 12/7

Proposed downtown police cameras up for City Council discussion (CM) Mayor Darwin Hindman said he supports the proposal, which he said would “extend the eyes of the police.”

City Council to vote on Northeast Columbia Area Plan (CM) The area plan is intended to guide future planning and zoning decisions in a roughly 5-square-mile area near the proposed site of a new Columbia public high school.

New bill steers red-light funds (CT) Proposed legislation could end Columbia’s red-light camera program.

Statehouse News: Nov. 30 to Dec. 4

The following headlines are compiled each week by Sarah D. Wire, a senior at the Missouri School of Journalism. The weekly newsletter — drawn from stories by student-reporters with Missouri Digital News — is dispatched to members of the Missouri Press Association.

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Missouri’s governor calls for mandated autism coverage — Gov. Jay Nixon, joined by legislative supporters, traveled across the state Thursday to announce support for legislation that would require health insurance to cover treatment of autism at up to $72,000 per year. A spokesman for the Missouri Insurance Coalition said the measure could raise premiums for all policyholders by three percent.

Missouri National Guard Troops not part of troop surge — Missouri National Guard spokeswoman Capt. Tammy Spicer said the state will not send more troops to Afghanistan “any time soon.”

Columbia Democrat no longer ranking member of House Budget Committee — Missouri Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, will lose his designated title as the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee. In exchange for serving on the House Judiciary Committee, Kelly will relinquish the position and no longer be a ranking member of the Budget Committee, a position that assists and communicates with the committee chair.

State revenue collections increase for the first time this year — Although still down for the year, state revenue collection increased in November compared to last year. “It’s the first positive number in quite a while,” State Budget Director Linda Luebbering said.

Ethics legislation tops new bills — Top legislative leaders have proposed measures to impose tougher conflict of interest standards on government officials. House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Jackson County, announced a legislative package that would ban elected officials and their staff from working as lobbyists for one year after leaving office. It would also place limits on campaign contributions. Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joesph, proposed banning lobbyists from giving campaign contributions to legislators or to the governor while the legislature is in session.

Columbia senator named vice-chair of Appropriations Committee — Missouri Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, was appointed as second-in-command of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Missouri to receive $2 million for broadband expansion — Missouri will receive $1.9 million in grant using federal stimulus funds for mapping and planning broadband Internet expansion across the state.

Keep Columbia Safe downtown camera petition certified by city

The petition to install surveillance cameras in the Special Business District to deter crime and help identify suspects was certified by City Clerk Sheila Amin and County Clerk Wendy Noren last month.

Because the petition had enough signatures, it forces the Columbia City Council to either pass the ordinance on the petition or put it up to a vote in the April election.

Both options are on the agenda for Monday’s meeting. We’ll be contacting the members of the council to see if they are leaning in one way or the other about what action to take.

Keep Columbia Safe, the organization that was collecting signatures for the petition, was founded by Karen Taylor, whose son Adam Taylor, 25, was attacked in a downtown parking garage in June.

No report from the city has said installing the cameras would legally be an invasion of privacy, but most arguments against the cameras believe installing them would invade citizens’ privacy.

Should the City put cameras up in the Special Business District in an effort to deter crime, or will the cameras be invading the privacy of citizens on public streets? Let us know what you think in the comments.

CDD 11/4: Police chief fires veteran officer after arrest for DWI

Police chief fires veteran officer after arrest for DWI (CT) Officer Ted Anderson, an 18-year-veteran of the Columbia Police Department, was fired by Chief Ken Burton on Friday in the aftermath of a driving while intoxicated arrest last week, according to a news release from Deputy Chief Tom Dresner.

Landlords discuss background checks, evictions (CM) Columbia landlords met Thursday to discuss ways of improving communication and background checks to weed out bad tenants.

Collectible mice fund community outreach (CM) A hand-crafted tradition draws Columbia-area shoppers to Calvary Episcopal Church’s holiday bazaar.

CDD 12/03: Horace Johnson found guilty of second-degree murder of son

Columbia’s Daily Dish 12/03

Horace Johnson found guilty of second-degree murder of son (CM) He faces 10 years to life in prison. His sentencing is set for Feb. 1.

Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper crashes, totals patrol car (CM) Trooper Derek Sullivan lost control of his 2008 Ford Crown Victoria on Missouri 22 in an effort to overtake a violator’s vehicle Thursday morning. Sullivan was later released from the hospital with minor injuries.

Architect’s 50-year-old homes in Columbia inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright (CM) In the 1950s, William Bernoudy, a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright, brought his architectural genius to the design of eight houses in Columbia. Bernoudy learned from Wright about respecting the landscape and incorporating nature into a home’s design.

CDD 12/01: Voluntary Action Center matches individuals, families with Christmas sponsors

Columbia’s Daily Dish 12/2

Voluntary Action Center matches individuals, families with Christmas sponsors (CM) Sponsors signed up earlier than usual for the Voluntary Action Center’s Christmas program. The center matched more than 1,000 Boone County families and individuals with sponsors from the community.

Trial begins for second parent in death of 2-year-old (CM) The second-degree murder trial began Tuesday for Horace Johnson, who is accused of killing his 2-year-old son. The child’s mother, Keyonda Lumpkins, was found guilty of second-degree murder in September and sentenced to 24 years in prison a month later.

KAHLER KILLINGS: Elderly Kansas woman dies following shootings (CM) Dorothy Wight, 89, died from injuries in a shooting that claimed her granddaughter, Karen Kahler, and two great-granddaughters, Emily and Lauren.

10,000 books hit recycling bins (CT) The State Historical Society of Missouri disposed of some 10,000 old books Tuesday, clearing space that will ultimately house a more efficient reference library.

CDD 11/30: Former Columbia utility director charged with murdering wife, daughters

Columbia’s Daily Dish 11/30

Former Columbia utility director charged with murdering wife, daughters (CM) James Kraig Kahler, the former director of Columbia Water and Light, was charged with capital murder in Kansas in the shooting deaths of his estranged wife and two teenage daughters.

Deadline for sending military care packages nears (CM) Deadlines to send holiday packages to Air/Army Post Offices and Fleet Post Officess are quickly approaching. The U.S. Department of Defense has tips for family and friends sending packages to servicemen and women.

Club Memoir tries to move past Athena’s reputation (CM) Club owner Vinay Atluri said that safety has been his No. 1 priority for Club Memoir, and the club has not received a single police dispatch call during the six months it has been open.

Columbia man arrested Saturday after shots fired at car (CM) Columbia resident Hunter Garza, 21, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon.

Statehouse News: Nov. 16 to 20

The following headlines are compiled each week by Sarah D. Wire, a senior at the Missouri School of Journalism. The weekly newsletter — drawn from stories by student-reporters with Missouri Digital News — is dispatched to members of the Missouri Press Association.

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MU student leaders watch as Gov. Jay Nixon gives details regarding the agreement to freeze tuition for undergraduate in-state students Wednesday at the Reynolds Alumni Center. "By helping keep higher education affordable, we are taking bold steps to prepare the workforce that will move Missouri forward," Nixon said. Jessica Cherry / Missourian

Governor announces tuition freeze — Gov. Jay Nixon announced a plan Tuesday to freeze tuition at state universities for a second year. The freeze would only apply to in-state students. Nixon said he will have to reduce higher education spending by 5.2 percent — or $42 million — for the next fiscal year. The general assembly must vote on the plan. If approved, it wouldn’t take effect until next July. Opponents to the freeze said there will be difficulties deciding where to cut other programs.

15-year-old to be tried as adult in death of 9-year-old St. Martin girl — Wearing pink ribbons in remembrance of the 9-year-old St. Martins girl killed nearly a month ago, two Jefferson City High School students watched as a classmate faced first-degree murder charges. Alyssa Bustamante, 15, was indicted Wednesday for the murder of Elizabeth Olten and certified to stand trial as an adult.

4,000 Missourians find jobs as unemployment rate drops — Missouri’s unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percent in October as 4,000 more people found work. The state’s jobless rate is now nearly 1 percent below the national average, which sits at 10.2 percent. The biggest industry winner was in durable goods manufacturing, which gained 2,200 jobs. Transportation and utilities lost 2,800 jobs, while government cut 1,300 workers.

Judge says state auditor can’t review state retirement system — A federal judge ruled Monday that State Auditor Susan Montee can’t legally audit the state’s retirement system for local government workers.

St. Louis and surrounding counties fail EPA standards in 2008 — The Environmental Protection Agency has slapped the city of St. Louis with air quality violations, stating St. Louis released too much carbon into the atmosphere on 5 different days last year. Still, the city is not expected to be punished for the violations.

DNR director speaks at energy-futures hearing — Natural Resources Director Mark Templeton testified Monday in one of his first public appearances since being suspended on Sept. 30 for issues stemming from pollution in the Lake of the Ozarks. Templeton said that providing financial incentives to companies that provide combined heating and power systems was one option the legislature should consider next session.