Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks closed to all visitors Tuesday due to the coronavirus pandemic/NPS file, Jacob W. Frank

Editor's note: This updates with road closures at Mount Rainier National Park.

Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks announced Tuesday afternoon that they would close to all visitors. The announcement came hours after Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials, unable to discourage visitors from coming into the park, announced that they would close most of the park to the public in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. That was followed by news that the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway would close, and Mount Rainier National Park officials said they were closing all roads into their park.

The National Park Service listened to the concerns from our local partners and, based on current health guidance, temporarily closed the parks, said Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly and Grand Teton Acting Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail in a joint statement. We are committed to continued close coordination with our state and local partners as we progress through this closure period and are prepared when the timing is right to reopen as quickly and safely as possible.

Sholly had said Monday night that the park staff had received "a substantial number requests to temporarily close, from state and local partners, including the governors of Montana and Wyoming, health officials from all surrounding counties, and local government leadership."

Under the parks' closures, there will be no visitor access permitted to either park. State highways and/or roads that transcend park/state boundaries and facilities that support life safety and commerce will remain open. Both parks will cooperate on the implementation of the closures.

Across the country at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, officials said their decision to close most of the park stemmed from daily crowds averaging roughly 30,000 people that resulted "in congested conditions at popular locations, such as Laurel Falls, Newfound Gap, and Cades Cove. Visitors from across the country have flocked to the area due to spring break, wildflowers, and warm weather conditions."

Just after 9 a.m. local time Tuesday a park release said that "all park areas, except the Foothills Parkway and the Spur, will close at noon on Tuesday, March 24, through Monday, April 6."

"The park will continue to assess changing conditions in our region and work with local communities to extend or terminate closures, as appropriate to ensure the health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, partners, and local residents," the statement said.

Late Tuesday morning officials at Blue Ridge Parkway announced that "the southernmost 14 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, from Milepost 455 to 469, will close effective immediately in a continuing effort to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and in coordination with travel restrictions in place from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Great Smoky Mountains Park."

At Mount Rainier,all park roads to public vehicle access closed at 1:30 p.m. local time. "This closure will prohibit all vehicles, including cars, buses, motorcycles and nonmotorized vehicles such as bicycles from entering the park," a park release said. "The parks main gate near Ashford will also be closed."

At Shenandoah National Park, staff announced that all huts and cabins along the roughly 100 miles of Appalachian Trail in the park were closed.

Sandra "Sandi" Marra, president and CEO of theAppalachian Trail Conservancy, made a personal plea that hikers stay off the A.T.

"In a time when social distancing is necessary to minimize the spread and contraction of a dangerous virus, many have escaped to nature seeking isolation and unpopulated spaces. On the A.T., however, what theyve found are trailhead parking lots exceeding their maximum capacities, shelters full of overnight hikers, day hikers using picnic tables and privies, and group trips continuing as planned," she said. "Popular spots along the Trail like Blood Mountain in Georgia, the McAfee Knob area in Virginia, and Annapolis Rocks in Maryland have seen day use reach record-breaking levels. Cars line the highways leading to popular day-hiking spots on the Trail. Hiking the A.T. has become, in other words, the opposite of social distancing.

"These same crowds accessing the A.T. may not know how a simple half-day hike can spread COVID-19. While hiking, they may have eaten lunch at a picnic table, taken a break in a shelter, used a privy, or shared a map or food with someone unknowingly infected with COVID-19 and carried this highly contagious virus back to their communities at the end of the day," she went on. "They may not have realized that ATC staff and trail volunteers have been recalled from the A.T. and cannot maintain the footpath, trailheads, shelters and privies that may be heavily (or permanently) impacted by increased visitor use. And, they may not be aware of the rural communities adjacent to the trail that may not have the healthcare resources to help a sick hiker or volunteer or manage a COVID-19 outbreak should a hiker transport the virus in from the trail.

"There is an unfortunate truth about this virus: unless everyone is safe, no one is safe. So, take a walk around the block. Spend time with your loved ones. And, please, stay home."

Also on Tuesday, officials at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River in Pennsylvania announced only essential personnel were being kept on the job.

"These are extraordinary times. The unprecedented steps our society and community are taking in the name of public health will inevitably entail some unwanted physical impacts on the park itself. Grass will not be mowed. The National Cemetery may soon be in a state that at any other time would be unacceptable," said John Hennessy at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. "If nature intervenes with storms or floods, we may have to close trails, scenic roads, or significant areas of the park. While unpleasant, all of these things are temporarythey can be remedied once the crisis passes. In the meantime, they constitute some of the burden we will all have to shoulder as we work our way, together, through this emergency."

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Georgia announced Tuesday that all parking lots, buildings, facilities, and trails in the park were closed. Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, announced expansion of previously announced closures:

*The Cruz Bay Visitor Center is closed. Information and services will not be available.

* The park dock and bulkhead at the Cruz Bay Visitor Center is closed to commercial activity.

* No more than two individuals may occupy a dinghy when travelling to or from the NPS dock.

* All restrooms and porta johns in the park are closed.

* Guided hikes and other on-site public or educational programs are cancelled.

* Food service and watersports rentals at Trunk Bay will not be available.

* The park will not issue special visitor use or business permits.

* Trash will not be collected. When visiting the park bring garbage bags so you can take your trash with you. Pack it in, pack it out!

* Trash receptacles will not be available for boater trash. Boaters must make other arrangements for trash disposal. Do not leave trash on shore.

* The pavilions at Trunk, Maho, and Hawksnest Bays are closed, as are changing rooms and showers.

* The park will not operate or provide restrooms, maintain roads or walkways.

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UPDATE 3 | Around The Parks: Coping With Coronavirus, March 24 - National Parks Traveler

TAMPA, Fla. Two men are facing federal charges in Florida for using small explosions to rob ATMs in the Tampa Bay area, authorities said Monday.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Tampa has charged Mawdo Malick Sallah, 33, of Clearwater, Florida, and Kirk Douglas Johnson, 34, of Anderson, South Carolina, with conspiring to commit arson. They each face up to 20 years in prison.

Sallah and Johnson took nearly $70,000 from several Florida ATMs between November and January and vandalized others without taking any cash, according to a criminal complaint. Investigators believe the men injected some type of flammable fuel into the machines and used a spark to ignite it. The men were arrested Sunday after setting off an explosion at an ATM in Watkinsville, Georgia, prosecutors said. That ATM was damaged, but Sallah and Johnson were unable to retrieve any cash, authorities said.

Online court records didnt list attorneys for Sallah or Johnson.

The Associated Press

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Men accused of creating explosions to rob ATMs in 2 states - mymcmurray.com

Each year new gadgets, designs, and features drive boaters to trade in, trade up, or just turn their heads and appreciate the coolest new thing.

The well-spring of human ingenuity does not skip the boating fraternity. Each year new gadgets, designs, and features drive boaters to trade in, trade up, or just turn their heads and appreciate the coolest new thing. In 2020 local dealers will be promoting toys for riders and dockers.

On the WaterTwo sports similar to waterskiing, wakeboarding and wakesurfing, each work best with specific shaped wakes. Boats capable of custom tailoring the wake for each watersport are now available, according to Ryan Moriearty, retail manager at Wake Effects by Big Thunder Marine. These watersport boats are all lumped under the general heading of tow boats meaning they are not only designed to gain the maximum performance advantage for the person riding the wake, but also to provide the safest environment for those in the water behind the boat. This generally means a V-drive instead of an outboard motor or even an inboard/outboard setup. With a V-drive, the propeller is located under the hull, safely away from lines and legs. Having the prop under the hull means steering is accomplished with a rudder instead of an outdrive unit. More responsive rudder steering means the crafts handling characteristics are more like a car than a boat.Tow boats have very specific spots where ballast can be added to keep the bow higher in relation to the stern creating more wake at the speeds required for wakeboarding or wakesurfing. This ballast movement is accomplished by pumping water from one tank to another to create the specific wake desired and is automated from the control station. In addition, Ryan points out, brands like MasterCraft tow boats handled by Wake Effects are equipped with plates on the transom to shape the wake to a specific profile custom designed for each rider being towed. MasterCrafts Gen 2 Surf System automates this process with push-button ease and can be changed on the fly without tussle or tools. And to ensure maximum performance, the plate system is specifically designed for each model of MasterCraft boat.Docking and parking assist, common on larger cruisers, are now available on tow boats, too. Some even include a bow thruster for total joy-stick maneuvering during docking. In addition, cruise control on tow boats allows the captain to focus more on the person in the water and neighboring craft instead of the throttle. On the electronic side of boating, many of the new model tow boats come with Bluetooth capability to fully integrate the helm station screens with action cameras such as GoPro. Some even have the camera already built into the hull design. Trista Vossman, of Big Thunder Marine, says one of the coolest comfort features this year is really designed to keep the boater cool through a misting system producing a fine water mist from above for those on board. Trista also points to the growing use of counter rotating props on many models in order to reduce the effect of torque steer on the boat created by a single prop rotating. New in 2020, Big Thunder offers the Crest tri-toon Continental model equipped with two Suzuki 350 HP outboard motors utilizing twin counter-rotating prop technology.Chad Neubauer, of Formula Boats, sees more custom colors being offered as the innovators at Formula are pushing the envelope on color choices. In addition, Chad says custom lighting and remote control of convenience features through smart device apps are gaining popularity. In fact, the higher-end Formula boats come with an iPad now for this purpose.The growing trend to more custom features includes an array of lighting options ranging from custom LED lighting under the tri-toon deck, underwater LED lights, to on-board lighting such as walk-way, cup holder, helm station and mood lighting in a rainbow of color options custom controllable by touch screen.While a joy to look at and use, it is important to keep in mind that any exterior lighting is illegal while the boat is underway as these beautiful light displays tend to mask the visibility of required navigation lights. Such lights inside the vessel are legal while the boat is moving. All custom lighting options are safe and legal while anchored or docked.Trevor Gardner, of Premier 54 Boat Sales, the number-one Chaparral dealer world-wide in 2019, points to the new Infinity Power Step on the Chaparral 257, 277, and 297 SSX series boats. Push-button operation deploys a set of steps extending 20 inches below the swim platform. Also new this year, the Chaparral 280 OSX is designed for rough water. As a hybrid center console, the 280 OSX offers a large open bow, seating, and amenities for a large group of people. The trend toward center console boats will only continue according to Big Thunder Marine Sales Director Thad Jameson. He explained that as popularity grows, manufacturers are rapidly adapting new and innovative ideas for this boat layout. In what was once the go-to boat for fishermen, equipped with bait stations as well as tackle and rod holders, the center console now sports summer kitchens and luxurious lounge seating. Cabins are also more luxurious, and upholsteries richer. Thad says Chris Craft, Fountain, and Statement have all raised the bar on this boat layout because of the rapid growth for this segment of the market.High-tech innovations continue to grow across other segments of the boating market, including tri-toons. Joy-sticks and rear-facing cameras simplify the difficulties of docking. Touch screens at the helm station not only include GPS plotters but now link to the engine management systems allowing the captain to monitor engine function at the touch of the screen.Teresa Riley, Marketing and Event Coordinator at MarineMax, says remote monitoring is gaining in popularity. It provides security by notification to a smart device in case of boat movement due to anchor drift or attempted theft. Owners also receive notifications about maintenance issues such as battery condition, bilge pump monitoring, and engine hours tracking. Boat Fix, available at MarineMax, provides (in addition to the above list) mechanical and technical assistance on a live telephone call if needed.According to Teresa, MarineMax also handles Seakeeper, an anti-roll gyro that can be retro-fitted to almost any boat or ordered as an option on a new boat. Seakeeper is installed on all Azimut yachts sold by MarineMax. Measuring approximately two feet by two feet by two feet and weighing slightly over 400 pounds, the smallest Seakeeper unit is designed for boats from 27 to 35 feet. While not an inexpensive option, the Seakeeper eliminates up to 95 percent of roll, both side-to-side and front-to-back. Any Saturday morning on the lower end of the Lake would demonstrate the advantage to a boater. A busy afternoon coving out will be calmer.Whether controlled by a cell phone app or a touch screen at the helm, boat decks are virtually awash with technological innovations in boating. It appears most of the new trending innovations in the boating world are electronic in nature.

On the DockWhile amenities abound on the water, life on the dock for both boat and boat owner have some cool stuff trending at the Lake. Safety, convenience, comfort, and fun drive the innovations on docks.Theresa Fears of Aqua Pest Solutions describes the growing popularity of their chemical-free pest control solution for boat docks. Utilizing a blend of essential oils, this product beats back the spider hoards on Lake without the use of dangerous chemicals.Shelby Burns at Rough Water Docks says the growing popularity of their custom-built swim-up dock steps prove their value again and again. Giving not only an easier path back on the dock, the steps offer additional seating for those wishing to dip their toes in while sipping a glass of wine and slowly watching the sun set on the Lake. Since a dock sits up high off the water, these steps get you closer allowing you to hang out without having to get all the way into the water a great way to enhance the lake-life experience. According to Angie Schuster at Summerset Boat Lifts, docks and lifts have changed to match the growth of boats on the Lake. When smaller boats are on wider lifts, reaching or stepping to the boat can create a hazard. Summerset installs custom walkways providing ease of access for loading, covering, or maintenance. Walkways can be installed at the rear of the boat to access the motor or drive units. Although not a new concept in 2020, this useful option has seen great growth at the Lake.When the sun hits the water, and the boats come out to play in 2020, there will be plenty of new ideas and new gadgets causing boaters to say, I gotta get me one of those!

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Whats New on the Lake for 2020 - Mexico Ledger

UPDATE: March 12, 8:30 PM ET -

Disney has now announced it will officially close Disney World because of coronavirus concerns.

UPDATE: March 12, 5:30 PM ET -

Disneyland has officially announced it will temporarily close due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Trending Now

With the busy spring break season upon us and COVID-19, aka novel coronavirus, today declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, families with plans to head to Walt Disney World and Disneyland have a lot of questions about how the virus could or should impact their travel plans.

Internationally, four Disney parks remain closed in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai, although Shanghai has begun reopening its shopping and dining district. A Disneyland Paris worker tested positive for coronavirus but that park remains open.

Domestically, Walt Disney World and Disneyland also remain open for business. Dr. Pamela Hymel, Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said in a statement on the Disney Parks Blog that Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are open and welcoming guests and we continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health agencies.

What Steps Is Disney Taking to Keep the Parks Safe?

In her statement, Hymel detailed the additional steps Disney is taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other diseases in the parks, including frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas, easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers, and frequent cleaning of outdoor locations, including walkways and queue.

Hand sanitizer stations have been added throughout the parks, and today new portable handwashing stations began showing up at Walt Disney World. Disney has published the locations of many of the hand sanitizer stations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. (Update: As of March 12, Disney has updated the Walt Disney World MyDisneyExperience app and the Disneyland app to map hand sanitizer locations within the parks and resorts as well as locations where guests can get more information about COVID-19.)

Should Travelers Keep Their Plans to Visit Disney Parks and Resorts?

Its well known by now that the CDC is recommending that high-risk individuals, mainly older adults and those with serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, avoid crowds, cruise travel, and non-essential air travel.

But, for healthy individuals, it remains more of a personal choice. A statement by a coalition of 150 travel-related organizations issued by the U.S. Travel Association seeks to reassure healthy travelers:

Though the headlines may be worrisome, experts continue to say the overall coronavirus risk in the U.S. remains low. At-risk groups are older individuals and those with underlying health conditions, who should take extra precautions. The latest expert guidance indicates that for the overwhelming majority, its OK to live, work, play and travel in the U.S.

A Doctors Take

We asked Dr. Colleen Nash, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Rush University Children's Hospital and Medical Director of the Pediatrics Antimicrobial Stewardship Program for her advice on how families should decide whether to take a Disney vacation. She recommends families evaluate the potential outcomes.

Visiting a theme park or partaking in any activity involving very large crowds always poses a risk of (any) infection transmission, she says. She suggests those considering travel evaluate the health of those in their party as well as family members back home and how illness could potentially affect them.

Even for healthy individuals, she recommends considering how coronavirus infection (if it were to happen) could impact your family and if that is a tolerable risk and potential time away from school, work, normal daily activities, say, if you had to undergo quarantine.

For those comfortable with those possible outcomes, there arent currently any official recommendations that go against proceeding with travel plans.

Whats It Like to Be at Walt Disney World Right Now

I visited Walt Disney World last week and found almost no discernible difference in the experience from other times Ive visited the parks. This week, aside from the noticeable uptick in hand-sanitizing stations and handwashing stations, it feels like business as usual for vacationing families. Meet-and-greets, buffet meals, and other higher-contact experiences havent been reduced.

Len Matela of Western Springs, Illinois, is currently at Walt Disney World with his wife and three sons and said the main difference their family noticed was that guests were utilizing personal hand sanitizer and hand-sanitizing stations more frequently.

Were not germaphobes so its not stressing us out, Matela says. If you didnt watch the news or look at your phone and continuously see new information about the virus spreading, you wouldnt notice any changes.

Matela says concerns about the virus havent impacted their vacation at all. Were having a blast, he says, noting that worries dont seem to have had an effect on crowd levels yet. Selfishly we were hoping for smaller lines and less of a crowd!!

What If Disney Does Decide to Close Walt Disney World or Disneyland?

Should the spread of coronavirus or official government recommendations lead the domestic parks to make the decision to close, as was the case in Asia, its safe to assume Disney will offer refunds of park tickets and resort stays, as theyve done in Asia. Should guests electively cancel a Disney vacation, standard resort cancellation terms will apply. Park tickets are changeable but non-refundable.

Now that most major airlines have issued waivers and have given travelers the flexibility and peace of mind to change their flights without fees, guests who are planning or looking forward to planned Disney vacations should feel reassured that any official park closures will likely see them fully reimbursed or able to change their vacation plans without fees.

How to Stay Healthy During Your Disney Vacation

We asked Dr. Nash what families can do to stay healthy during a Disney trip, and they are much the same as recommendations youve been hearing across the news mediamainly, wash your hands!

She recommends frequent, meticulous handwashing or hand sanitizing before and after meals and regularly at the parks, particularly after each ride.

I cannot stress enough the importance of washing your hands (and doing it well, at least 20 seconds, with soap and water OR using alcohol-based hand sanitizer) and not touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth), she says. This provides so much protection against many infectious diseases and cannot be overstated.

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How Coronavirus Is Impacting Disney World and Disneyland - TravelPulse

Looking for affordable, low maintenance living in Cumberland Valley School District? We've found your home! This charming, entirely brick, 3 bedroom, 1 bath rancher is ideally located with quick access to Target, Wegman's, shopping, restaurants and more on the Carlisle Pike. You'll love the large, level backyard which offers plenty of space to throw a football, host a BBQ or make s'mores in your fire pit. The backyard comes complete with a storage shed, lovely garden and mulched flower beds. Step inside to find original hardwood floors, functional built-ins and a cozy wood burning fireplace in your spacious family room. Newer windows provide tons of natural light as well as lower electric bills. Your generous, eat-in kitchen is perfect for hosting guests! All 3 bedrooms are nicely sized and feature hardwood floors! The dry, unfinished basement offers ample storage space. With a coal stove for heat, finishing part of the basement would be a breeze! The possibilities are endless, whether you want a rec room, gym, theatre or play space! All appliances included. Whether you are just starting out, downsizing or looking for an investment property, this home is a MUST SEE!

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Homes Recently Listed in the Carlisle Area | Home & Garden - The Sentinel

(MENAFN - Caribbean News Global)

By Caribbean News Global contributor

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent Presenting the 2020 budget last month, St Vincent and the Grenadines minister for finance Camillo Gonsalves noted that last year, the government introduced the Pedestrian Access for Village Enhancement (PAVE) programme funded through grant financing from the United Arab Emirates. Phase One of the PAVE programme began in late 2019, with physical works in many communities commencing last month.

'The PAVE access paths, walkways, steps, handrails, wheelchair ramps, and inter-village connections will markedly and measurably improve the quality of life, comfort, access and safety of the most vulnerable populations in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

'Many of our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals to reduce poverty, improve infrastructure, build climate resilience and make communities accessible and sustainable are partially addressed by the PAVE programme. Over the two-year life of PAVE, the project will build almost 40 miles of access paths in villages across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,' Gonsalves said.

Addressing the issue of road repair and reconstruction finance minister Gonsalves requested Vincentians to identify a strip of roadway in urgent need of repair.

'Despite record expenditure on construction and rehabilitation over the past two decades, the condition of our road network remains a sore point. The generally excellent condition of our Windward, Leeward and Vigie Highways is belied by the uneven quality of the secondary and feeder roads that take most commuters to those main thoroughfares.'

Gonsalves further pointed out that 'the road network requires constant and very expensive upkeep, due to the mountainous terrain, heavy rainfall, and an upsurge in the number of cars on the road.

'In the last two decades, we have experienced an eightfold increase in the number of automobiles in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, an increase that shows no signs of abating.

'As recently as 2013 and 2014, an annual average of 940 cars was imported to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. However, over the last four years, that average has shot up to 1,680 cars per year, a 79 percent increase. Last May, a record 263 vehicles arrived at Port Kingstown, an ominous harbinger of future traffic jams and escalating pressure on our road network.'

Despite all of those problems gazing Dr Ralph Gonsalves-led government, the Vincentian minister for finance said that the government is committed to maintaining the highways and roads in a responsible and sustainable manner.

'Budget 2020 allocates over $39 million to the repair and construction of roads and bridges this year, not including the $15 million subventions to the Buildings, Roads and General Services Authority (BRAGSA).

These resources and additional support that is being creatively sourced will form part of a multipronged programme of road repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, taking into account our fiscal constraints, the increasing stresses on our road network, and our desire to build back better.

'Two overlapping road reconstruction projects, funded by Kuwait and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), will spend $14 million on the reconstruction of roads in Belair, Benjamin Bristol, Brighton, Calder, Carriere, Chapmans, Colonaire, Copeland Mountain, Erie Hill, Enhams, Fair Hall, Gomea, Greiggs, Lammie Mountain, Maloney Mountain, Mongoyia, Ottley Hall, Palmyra, Richland Park, Sayers Village, Veryvine Mountain and Montreal Gardens.

'These represent almost 50 kilometres of roadway that will be repaired under this programme. While construction work on the Kuwaiti-funded rehabilitation programme began in earnest in 2019, it was plagued by administrative challenges that unduly lengthened contractors' approval and payment processes.

'The ministry of transport and works, in consultation with our Kuwaiti partners, has resolved these challenges. As such, we expect accelerated progress on these roads in 2020. Road reconstruction will also take place under the CDB-funded Natural Disaster Management Programme (NDM).

'Budget 2020 allocates $10 million to the NDM programme of works. Roads and bridges in Langley Park, Maroon Hill, Dickson Village, Gracefield Mountain, and Ferguson, among others, will receive attention under the NDM in 2020.

'In addition to the complete reconstruction of roads envisaged by the Kuwait, OFID and NDM programmes, BRAGSA plans a comprehensive campaign of patching and repairs to less seriously affected thoroughfares. The minister of transport and works will likely speak to this far-reaching patching and repair programme over the course of our debate on budget 2020.'

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Major infrastructure works underway in St Vincent and the Grenadines - MENAFN.COM

Clever feeding and bedding kit is helping livestock farmers shave hours off their daily routine.

Weve picked out some of the best ones from the many entries to our 2020 Inventions Competition

Check out the videos for some of the entries below too.

See also:Workshop tips: How to make the perfect MIG weld

David Boyd built a slick swing-down frame to ensure trouble-free calf feeding.

The first of two moving sections involves a box-section frame that can hold six buckets.

This pivots down to put the buckets in their feeding position and carries shields between each calf to prevent the greediest members of the group pilfering from their neighbours.

The second moving part is the headlock, which prevents fast-drinking calves from bothering slowcoaches.

It means Mr Boyd can get on with other jobs while the calves are feeding, safe in the knowledge that each one has sunk its allotted amount.

He can also quickly identify sick animals if they have gone off their milk.

Pneumonia was proving a problem for Nick Eccles hutch-housed calves, so he decided to assemble a circulation system that would maintain a fresh breeze through the accommodation, no matter the weather.

This, he hoped, would reduce issues on windless days when the hutches have a habit of getting stuffy, exacerbating infections.

The starting point was a solar fan, typically used to ventilate caravans, that was sourced from China for a meagre 25.

It was neatly grafted into the roof of the hutch, drawing stagnant air out and encouraging a fresh flow through the entrance. It also has a battery to keep it spinning on still days.

We have seen several cubicle brush attachments over the years of our Inventions Competition, but few look as polished as Andy Dymonds so-called Xtra Arm.

The first iteration was assembled from scrap found on his farm at Colyton, Devon. However, after fine-tuning the design, he is hoping it will appeal to other dairy farmers looking at ways to improve bed cleanliness and reduce instances of mastitis.

Its attached to the front of a tractor a two-wheel-drive New Holland, in Mr Dymonds case via a mounting plate that can be adapted to suit different models.

A locking pin at the top of the main frame holds the brush in its upright position when out of work. The pin can also have a rope attachment, allowing it to be pulled free without leaving the tractor seat.

Power is provided by a single spool, and brush speed is altered by adjusting a flow restrictor in the hydraulic line. A non-return valve means the brush will only spin one way, so it remains static as the hydraulic ram retracts into its upright, locked position.

Custom spacers allow the brushs working height to be adjusted as the bristles wear and there are three grease points for maintenance.

To take a little of the hassle out of handling sheep spread over a large area, David Devine from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, built a neat mobile race to tow behind his ATV.

His multi-use design incorporates a foot-bath and weighing crate and has the option of three-way shedding. It can also carry 10 x 1.8m and 10 x 1.2m hurdles on board.

He says the setup is particularly handy in the summer, when ewes and lambs are running together in small groups. It means he can send all the animals through the foot-bath and quickly single out the heaviest lambs.

A simple strap and winder allows him to raise the rear of the crate, making it quick to remove and refit the wheels.

The entire frame was built in Mr Devines farm workshop and the only components he bought in were the plastic foot-bath and the Salter clock.

Once the frame was completed, he had it galvanised, before fitting a chequer plate floor and 6mm stock board on the sides.

It took a few months to put together and cost about 1,500.

Eighteen-year-old Molly Robson built a feed hopper to slot in the back of a John Deere Gator, reducing the sheep feeding workload for her grandparents.

The container is strapped onto hooks on the UTVs rear deck, so can easily be taken out and put back in using a telehandler. Feed is emptied through a sliding shutter on the side.

Being 6ft 8in tall comes with its own unique set of challenges, especially when bending over to trim cows feet.

This issue has prompted lofty Ayrshire farmer Nigel Rowney to modify his 35-year-old Wopa cow crush to lift each one of the 600-strong herd 800mm off the floor to save breaking his back.

The crush is powered from the mains and runs a hydraulic power pack. There are four rams on each corner from various front-end loaders the farm has owned over the years Massey Ferguson and David Brown units are on two of the corners.

The animal walks on and Mr Rowney raises it via a little hand control button, trims the feet and then lets it down again. He reckons his design has saved thousands on anything brand new.

This year we can officially claim that the Farmers Weekly Farm Inventions Competition has gone global, with our first entry from Tasmania, Australia.

Dairy farmer Rob Frampton milks 400 cows and to put an end to having to pick up and manhandle heavy calves, he came up with a trailer that lowers to the ground using an electric winch.

The so-called Kaleeya Calf Carrier has a clever, but simple, design where the wheels are attached to a U-shaped frame that only has two permanent attachment points at the rear of the trailer body.

During transport, the front of this is clamped to the drawbar, giving the trailer a normal ride height.

But for loading, the clamp is released and the winch is wound out, allowing the front of the U-shaped bar to rise and the rear of the trailer to drop slowly to the ground.

Mr Frampton has also fitted one-way gates so he doesnt have to fiddle around with latches and he opted for a mesh floor, which gives plenty of grip and makes it easy to keep clean.

He says the trailer is also handy for fencing work, as makes it easy to load heavy rolls of wire. Mr Frampton put the trailer together in his shed and had it galvanised to make it last longer.

To avoid using tractors and trailers to block openings when moving cattle, Keith Maxwell built a set of cattle guide gates to help funnel the animals to their destination.

The sets weigh about 150kg and have three gates in, with a single span measuring 3.9m long by 1.4m high.

These are self-standing, thanks to some big feet at the base, but Mr Maxwell admits they work better when slightly staggered for extra stability.

Based in East Lothian, Mr Maxwell has made six sets in total and all are galvanised before use. Helpfully, he can shift them around on the front of the telehandler and each set can be pinned to a neighbour to make some long runs.

The metal needed to build a set costs about 100 and then a further 90 for the galvanising. Mr Maxwell tends to make the gates in his spare time and reckons it takes less than four hours to manufacture a full set.

Wanting to spend less time bedding cow pens without spending vast sums on an extra tractor, Cumbrian farmer Ian Cleasby has mounted a sand spreading box on top of his cubicle scraper to combine the two jobs.

The Scrapenser holds enough sand to bed more than 100 cubicles and is the right width to be loaded by a skid-steer loader bucket.

Under the sand is a hydraulically driven toothed belt to propel the sand into the cubicles, and the belts speed can be adjusted via a control panel.

A clever hinged design brings the contents at the back of the box onto the belt at the front to make sure all the sand is spread.

Cows can then return to their cubicles quicker and it can be run on any tractor with a two-way spool valve with the belt able to discharge from both sides.

Mr Cleasby is starting to sell these commercially after the first idea way back in 2003. The retail price is 3,900.

Raking sand in cow cubicles was a two-hour job each day for Richard and David Pike while looking after their 350-strong herd in Gillingham, Dorset.

Then they had the idea popped to convert the old Terex dumper that was sat in the yard without a job into a cubicle leveller. They removed the body and attached a full-width cubicle rake to the front.

It works from the same hydraulic feeds as before, with the arm cobbled together from an old McConnel hedgecutter.

Once the farmers had realised it was a bit of a game changer, they treated the setup to some new bushes and beefed up the design a little. It took a few days to build and saves hours of raking a day and .

James Small was having issues with cattle turning around when waiting to go into the crush. After realising there was nothing on the market to suit his need for a self-adjusting cattle squeeze, he set about designing and building his own.

The self-adjusting side squeeze can accommodate any size of animal consecutively without the need for manual adjustment.

The sides are set narrow and as an animal walks in, the boarded sides move and apply only light pressure on the animal.

Once the cow walks through, the squeeze returns to its original size, ready for the next animal. The springs that apply the pressure are from Mr Smalls defunct childrens trampoline, and the whole build cost about 300, labour included.

He says it works with four-month-old calves, right up to the biggest bulls on the farm, set within the Mendip Hills, Somerset. Since it was built, he hasnt had any of the 250-strong herd attempt to turn around and Mr Small says it helps to keep them calmer before going in the crush.

In a bid to speed up the chopping of beet going into cattle and sheep feed, Oliver Uffold, who farms near Craven Arms, Shropshire, created an electric pulping machine.

The starting point for the build was an old GHL chaff cutter, which he cut up and spilt the chopping rotor in half. He then remounted the two halves with the blades meshing and rigged up the driveline so they rotate toward one another.

This means the beet can be tipped into the top of the machine with a wheelbarrow, before being finely chopped and falling through a hole he cut in the bottom.

Power is provided by an electric motor that sits in place of the old petrol engine, and drive is sent to the first rotor via a belt.

Drive to the second rotor comes from a sprocket at the opposing end of the first rotor and the chain passes over an idler gear to reverse the drive to the second one.

Finishing touches included fitting a remote greasing bank for the bearings and installing weld mesh guards to protect all moving parts.

An integrated ramp was also fashioned out of an old set of twisted John Deere combine steps, making it easier to bowl the wheelbarrow up to the hopper.

According to Mr Uffold, the machine is significantly faster than the Bamfords Root Pulper they used to use and the finer chop makes it easier to mix in with concentrate cattle and sheep feed.

Regular inventor Marcus Tucker came up with a portable sheep foot-bath to speed up the treatment due to their spread-out locations around the village of Talaton, Devon.

He is a strong believer that sheep should have regular foot-baths, so he made a 2.4m race to accommodate the bath he already owned.

A no-spill wooden cover was added so it can be transported without spillages and, when the sheep dont need foot treatment, the cover can be walked on. It raises the animals up by 250mm to an ideal height for drenching.

There is a small race section that has a guillotine gate on the exit and a swing gate on the entrance. Handily, the whole unit can be picked up by pallet forks and taken to wherever it is needed and there is space for a couple of 25-litre drums inside.

It took a couple of days to knock up and cost about 600, including labour. The whole frame was made out of hollow steel box section and has been galvanised to protect it.

Dairy farmer Philip Davies has developed his own automatic flood wash system to keep shed passages, the parlour and outside collecting yards clean for his 220-cow herd.

He first developed the system for his milking parlour 19 years ago, but the latest iteration has added automated functions to eliminate operator input.

The setup centres on an 18,000-litre tank, which he mounted on 3m-high stilts in the shed. A 12cm Mono water pump brims it with recycled water until it is tripped by a level sensor.

In work, a double-acting pneumatic cylinder powered by the parlours compressed air system and engaged by a 24V DC solenoid valve opens butterfly valves on a pair of 35cm pipes.

The plumbing system is gravity fed, so when the valves are opened, a tsunami runs through the two 60m-long walkways. The same system also produces a strong enough flow to clear the 12m-wide collecting yard.

Complete automation comes by way of a timer-based control. It has two settings the first determines the times between washes and the second dictates how long the valves are open for (typically 30secs).

Mr Davies says the system produces a far cleaner finish than a scraper tractor and its a massive time saver, too.

In all, it cost roughly 6,000 to assemble one-third of which went on the pump.

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Video: Time-saving feeding and bedding kit inventions - FarmersWeekly

TROY Troy Post Office Postmaster Nathan Walker is working toward additional ways to keep postal carriers safe.

Were finding creative ways to reduce dog bites and slips, trips, and falls, Walker said.

One strategy the post office has incorporated is the placement of a dog sticker on mailboxes where there is a known dog in the immediate area. The paw sticker would be placed on the outside of a mailbox. When the carrier approaches the area, the sticker would act as a reminder to proceed with caution.

This is especially important if the carrier leaves the vehicle to deliver a package to the door, Walker said.

Beginning the week of March 7, the Troy Post Office will be placing the paw stickers on mailboxes where appropriate. If any customer objects to having a paw sticker placed on their mailbox, he or she need only call the post office at (937) 339-2697 and postal workers will remove it immediately, Walker said.

It is our expectation that the strategy will reduce the incidents of dog bites and attacks, keeping our employees safe and local dog owners appreciative, he said.

Walker said they will also be asking residents to repair porches, rails and steps if they are unsafe. He said they may even suggest customers move their mailbox to ground level so carriers can avoid hazard areas.

Of course, when it snows, please make sure walkways, steps, and porches are clear, Walker said. We want every delivery to be a safe one. We are grateful for our communitys support and cooperation in this initiative. Thank you for your help with this very important issue.

Paw stickers to be added to mailboxes with dogs in homes

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Troy Post Office to begin safety program - Troy Daily News

The coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has now crossed borders with cases confirmed in several regions outside of mainland China, including Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Japan. In Singapore alone, there are over 90 cases according to South China Morning Post.

Airports such as Singapores Changi Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, have begun to take precautionary steps to curb the spread of the virus. From carrying out more temperature screenings, to switching out regular cleaning solutions for disinfectants, the airport said it has stepped up measures to safeguard and protect workers, passengers and visitors travelling through the major transportation hub against the coronavirus (Covid-19).

More hand sanitisers at terminals

The airport said the number of hand sanitisers in the terminals and Jewel, a mixed-use complex that opened in April last year, has increased from about 160 to more than 1,200. It added that a few hundred of these sanitisers operate using a motion sensor, reducing the need for users to touch them.

These hand sanitisers can be found at check-in rows, departure and arrival immigration areas, staff entrances, retail and dining outlets, gate hold rooms and many other high-traffic locations.

At Jewel, they are available at the concierge counters and at the entrances and exits of all the Canopy Park attractions.

Frequent cleaning of high contact areas

Changi Airport said it has at least doubled the frequency of all its cleaning efforts in the four terminals and at Jewel. It is now using disinfectants, a chemical liquid that destroys bacteria, instead of general purpose cleaning solutions.

Frequently used areas such as door knobs and handles, touch-screens, handrails (e.g. on moving walkways and escalators), counter tops, railings at taxi and bus queues, lift buttons, water coolers and play areas. These areas, the airport said, are cleaned and disinfected more frequently, up to four times a day. Tables at food and beverage outlets are cleaned and disinfected each time they are cleared.

In the airport terminals and at Jewel, toilets are cleaned and litter bins are emptied out more frequently, said the airport. Disinfectant is used for toilet flush buttons, door knobs, grab bars, toilet paper dispensers and seat sanitiser dispensers.

All cleaning staff are equipped with disposable gloves and masks to carry out cleaning and disinfection works, the airport added.

As an added layer of protection in between cleaning rounds, Changi Airport said it has started to coat frequently-touched surfaces with a protective disinfectant coating known as quaternary ammonium chloride.

This coating is applied to automated check-in kiosks and automated bag-drop machines, GST refund kiosks, immigration counters, lift buttons, escalator handrails, and information counters. The attractions at Jewels Canopy Park, such as the discovery slides, have also been similarly coated.

With a single application sprayed onto surfaces, the compound used reduces the chance of viruses and bacteria staying on them, said the airport.

Temperature screening

Airport staff, passengers and visitors entering the transit areas of the airport need to undergo temperature screening.

Temperature screening is also carried out for guests entering Jewels Canopy Park, Changi Experience Studio, Changi Lounge, Shaw Theatres, and Yotelair Changi Airport.

Cleaning with ozone-infused water

For the first time, ozone-infused water is being used to disinfect toilet floors, toilet bowls and urinals in high-usage toilets, said the airport.

According to Changi, ozone-infused water is a stronger cleaning agent and disinfectant compared to chlorine, a commonly used disinfectant.

Disinfecting floors and cleaning carpets

The airport said automation is used to clean the floors.

A total of 26 automated machines make their rounds scrubbing the hard floors while another two sweep the carpets daily, said the airport.

changiairport.com

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Here's what Changi Airport is doing to protect travellers from the coronavirus - Business Traveller

Hemmed in by the Tasman Sea and the serrated peaks of the Main Divide, there really is no region in New Zealand quite like Westland. Its pitch-perfect for an autumn road-trip. After traversing the Southern Alps, and spilling out in Kumara, my first stop was just south of Greymouth at Shanty Town, a faithfully re-created 1860s gold-mining town, complete with pub and post office. There are lots of interactive experiences to try your hand at, including gold-panning, sawmilling and the far more leisurely pursuit of the miniature train rides.

Highlights include the cluster of 30 gold rush era buildings, painted in the bright colours of boiled sweets. Enjoy a tipple in the evocative Golden Nugget Hotel, learn the art of gold panning and enjoy the short movie in the opulent Victorian-themed theatre, where holographic technology brings to life the extreme stories of hardship and danger characteristic with the gold boom. But the prize draw are the steam train rides following an original bush tram-line through native rainforest, replete with vestiges of the goldmining era.

Heading further south on SH6, I went as far as Ross, a cute-as-a-button settlement, with a storied past in gold-mining. The historic village of glories lost sports a cluster of colonial buildings, including the old Ross jail and miners cottages. The 150-year old Empire Hotel (the current building dates from 1908) is one of the most treasured on the Coast, bursting with history, personality and great pub cuisine. Whitebait, anyone?

From Ross, I ventured back up SH6, to take in a recent addition to Westlands stable of top-billing attractions. Turning off the highway on to the Woodstock-Rimu Rd, the $7 million Treetops walk is a series of elevated steel walkways allowing you to traverse the canopy of the podocarp forest by Lake Mahinapua. 25 metres above the forest floor, the mesh-steel gantry leads you through a dense vista of native forest, with giant specimens of rimu, kamahi and matai, interspersed with tree ferns, orchids, liverworts and fellow forest floor residents.

Lush and intimate, the highpoint is the 47metre high spiral staircase leading you up to lofty views of the forest, Lake Mahinapua and the mountains of Westland. The lovely Treetops staff, who will equip you with a brolly if its wet, advised me their most frequently asked question is how to get to Hokitika Gorge from here. And if you have the time, Treetops is the perfect starting point for a grand circuit of the Hokitika Valley, lacing a slew of striking spectacles into one great hinterland drive.

From Treetops, head to Rimu and Woodstock, two pint-sized vestiges of the goldmining legacy, with a spectacular lookout over the Hokitika River and panels illustrating one of the Coasts last great gold rushes. Follow the signposts to Kokatahi and Kowhitirangi. The West Coasts multitude of vivid greens comes into sharp focus as you wend your way through the fertile farmland. From here, a short gravel road leads you to one of my favourite New Zealand settings, the ravishing granite ravine of Hokitika Gorge.

Sometimes youll see a photo of brochure perfection of a scenic spot and you think, yeah right, I better it doesnt look that good in the flesh. But Hokitika Gorge is one of the rare exceptions where the setting is as dreamy as reality gets, deep in the Whitcombe Valley. Right by the Alpine Fault, surrounded by dense native bush, thronging with native birds, the turquoise water is so absurdly vivid and otherworldly, it looks photo-shopped. (Its due to the glacial flour seeping into the water.)

But after heavy rain, the water turns a soupy grey, so you will be at the mercy of the weather gods. I struck a mix of milky blue and grey. Either way, cross the swing bridge and take in the enchanting bush walks, adjacent to the gorge. After youve had your fill of turquoise glory, complete your valley circuit by following the sign posts around the eastern side of Lake Kaniere, taking in the lusty waterworks of Dorothy Falls. If its been raining heavily, the upside to natures vagaries is that the falls will be gushing like a fire hydrant. Directly adjacent to the road, its the easiest, shortest of walks to waterfall wonder. From there, a plethora of lakeside spots beckoning you to pause, before completing the circuit in Hokitika.

Youd be hard pressed to find any other town or city in New Zealand with more galleries, studios and arty types. Within this creative powerhouse, you could spend all day wandering the wide streets of Hokitika, admiring the studios, talking to the painters, glass blowers, craftspeople and pounamu carvers. Scattered across windswept, wave-lashed Hokitika Beach, the sculptural driftwood art is ever-evolving. Unleash your own creative juices and assemble something, while youre there. If youve ever seen those iconic West Coast stone mats, fashioned as door mats or table mats, Waters Edge headquarters is just out of town, on the Kumara Junction Highway. They make for a trusty, totally usable memento.

I stayed at Shining Star Beachfront Accommodation in Hokitika. With a supreme beachfront location and nestled in a garden landscape, Shining Star boasts homely self-contained beachfront chalets with free WiFi and a private balcony just steps from the ocean and sunsets to die for. Pack your pooch, its dog-friendly too. I booked through Wotif.co.nz who offer travellers access to millions of rooms, hundreds of airlines and thousands of destinations both locally and around the world. You can search, plan and book your next trip in the one place and have access to special package savings when you combine a hotel and flight in the same booking. http://www.wotif.co.nz

Mike Yardley is our Travel Correspondent on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.

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Mike Yardley: Road-tripping Westland this autumn - Newstalk ZB