The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

(Updated April 19, 2018)

CAMDEN COUNTY – High winds last week help to fan the flames – literally - on two intentionally set natural cover fires, according to the Mid-County Fire Protection District (MCFPD).

Last Thursday (April 12) at 7:39 p.m., the MCFPD was dispatched to a natural cover fire on Cross Creek Drive, just off of Highway 54 behind the Camdenton Walmart.

First arriving fire units found approximately three acres on fire, with the fire rapidly spreading through the top of the pine trees due to the high winds.

Firefighters entered the woods with blowers and rakes to stop the fire advancement and to contain the fire.

“Access to the fire was difficult, but eventually firefighters were able to use water to extinguish the fire,” MCFPD Chief Scott Frandsen said.

The fire was brought under control in approximately 55 minutes. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.

MCFPD cleared the incident at 9:19 p.m. In little over an hour they would be back.

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Infant survives fatal rollover

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – An infant has survived a rollover accident that took the life of the driver last week.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), last Monday, April 9, around 5:42 p.m., a 1998 Buick LeSabre, driven by Cathy Byler, 48, of Montreal, MO, was eastbound at 14469 West Highway 54 in Macks Creek when the vehicle went off the left side of the roadway and overturned.

Byler was pronounced dead at the scene by Camden County Medical Examiner Dee Ballard.

A one-year-old infant, from Eldon, MO, who was a passenger in the vehicle, survived with minor injuries and was transported to Lake Regional Hospital.

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Sunrise Beach named Opportunity Zone

JEFFERSON CITY – Sunrise Beach has been named one of 161 “Opportunity Zones” in Missouri - low-income areas that will see added incentives for investment according to Governor Eric Greitens and Senator Roy Blunt.

The locations of the Opportunity Zones were determined by the state and made possible by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Areas with high poverty rates and slow job growth will get a boost as they compete for jobs, with additional state and federal tax incentives for businesses that invest in these communities.

“We’ve already seen jobs coming back to Missouri as a result of strong conservative reforms. Now I’m proud to share that, because of tax reform, we have a new tool to bring businesses back to the areas that need it most. The communities that need quality jobs - areas with a lot of poverty and not a lot of opportunity - will get a leg up as they compete for jobs. I’m grateful to everyone who worked on this issue, and proud to announce these opportunity zones today,” said Governor Greitens.

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Calls drop for second month

CAMDEN COUNTY - For the second month in a row, the Mid-County Fire Protection District (MCFPD) responded to fewer calls than the previous year. During March 2018, MCFPD responded to 173 incidents compared to 196 incidents in March 2017.

The significant drop in incidents is due to a decrease in brush / natural cover fires during March 2018, MCFPD Chief Scott Frandsen said.

For the 173 incidents in March 2018, this averaged to 5.5 incidents per day.

The breakdown for the 173 incidents in March 2018 was:
• 117 medical emergencies
• 17 brush / natural cover fires
• 14 cancelled en route
• 5 smoke / odor investigations
• 4 false fire alarms
• 4 citizen Assist
• 3 structure fire
• 3 rubbish / dumpster fires
• 2 vehicle accidents
• 1 vehicle fire
• 1 boat fire
• 1 gas leak
• 1 Carbon Monoxide / CO alarm sounding.

Motorists: buckle up, put phones down in work zones

JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Department of Transportation Senior Maintenance Worker Justin Sundell recalls a time he was flagging vehicles through a work zone on Route 68 when he noticed a car that wasn’t slowing down. Sundell says the next thing he heard was the sound of squealing tires and locking brakes.

“It was really scary,” Sundell said. “The driver was looking at his phone the whole time.”

Last week was National Work Zone Awareness Week but it is important to observe it all year long. Sundell is speaking up in hopes of getting drivers to pay more attention in work zones, which will be cropping up throughout the state as warmer weather moves in.

“I’m begging you – when you are driving a motor vehicle, please buckle up and put your phone down,” Sundell said. “We all want to go home safe each and every night.”

Unfortunately, work zone crashes are on the rise nationwide.

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