Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. As a current employee and graduate of the New Bloomfield R-3 School District, Brenda Maddox knows first hand how badly the district needs certain facility repairs.

I work at the school and I know some of the problems with the heating and cooling system were having, Maddox said. We had to bring in our own personal heaters to heat our classrooms. I know the heating system definitely needs to be repaired. The guys have done a wonderful job of basically putting band-aid fixes, but thats not going to help in the long run. Its going to cost more and more each year with these little fixes.

Maddox works in the district as a teachers aid. She said cold weather this winter prevented the districts maintenance employees from being able to repair the heating system.

Seeing these problems and feeling invested in the community are what led Maddox to volunteer as the president of the New Bloomfield Proposition KIDS (Keep Improving District Schools) election committee. The group will work to educate community members about the $2 million no-tax increase bond issue on Aprils ballot. If passed, the bond issue will fund facility repairs. The committee will promote the bond issue from now until election day.

Meeting for the first time this week, the committee elected leadership and discussed ways disseminate information to New Bloomfield voters. It also dedicated time to educating committee members making them experts on the bond issue and how funds will be used if approved.

The committee members will be looked upon for answers within the community, district superintendent David Tramel said. They are going to be our point people for this. We spent some time explaining to them the concept that yes, we are going to be borrowing money or selling bonds to finance the project, but it would not have an effect on our tax rate.

If voters approve the bond issue, it will fund the replacement of HVAC units and make major parking lot repairs. Maddox said the parking lot has a lot of pot holes that need repair. The bond issue, if approved, could also fund some additional facility repairs in the district, should money allow.

We would like to get as many people in the community involved in this project, Maddox said.

Tramel said about eight or 10 people came to the first meeting and started getting information ready to use on social media. They also discussed community groups to visit.

The election committee will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the community room of the districts central office building. Maddox said anyone interested in joining the committee and volunteering their time is welcome to attend.

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New Bloomfield school panel takes first steps

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Remodeling a garage can be a great way to add value to your home in Orange County. A garage addition or garage remodel is something that almost every home can use. Most of the time garages are neglected and a huge waste of space due to it being cluttered. The garage can be an extension of your home, a great place to hang out and work on home projects or your off road toys. Garage storage can be easily achieved by adding some inexpensive garage cabinets and work station. Doing just small things such as painting your garage floor with epoxy garage floor paint can make a huge difference and make it easier to keep clean. If you are considering doing a garage conversion or garage remodeling project in Orange County, give us a call. We also do garage additions.

Garage Remodeling & Garage Cabinets

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Orange County Garage Addition & Garage Remodeling Contractor

AUSTRALIA: Special fences built around dams in arid parts of Australia could help eradicate the menace of cane toads, according to new research.

The toads, regarded as poisonous pests, are drawn to the dams by the need for water and die in large numbers if fences hold them back, scientists said.

The animals were brought to Australia in the 1930s to get rid of beetles.

They have since spread from Queensland into the Northern Territories, New South Wales and Western Australia.

Their numbers have grown because they have almost no natural predators and their toxins kill native animals that normally feed on frogs.

Various methods to eradicate the toads have been tried, including mass culls by teams of volunteers, but have only had limited success.

Now a study led by experts at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) says toad-proof fences around dams may stem their spread because most areas the toads will invade in future are semi-arid or arid.

The dams are built to provide water for livestock but are a magnet for the toads.

Researchers built small fences from shade cloth around three dams in the Victoria River region of the Northern Territory and maintained them for a year.

They found that the toads were unable to jump over them or burrow under.

Continued here:
Fences could halt cane toad menace - study

The Missoula man who allegedly led deputies on a high-speed chase Wednesday night hit several fences, poles and signs in Missoula and Lolo before crashing into a ditch outside of Lolo on U.S. Highway 12.

Shayne Spence, 46, was pepper-sprayed by Missoula County sheriff's deputies in an effort to get him out of the mangled truck he was driving. He was taken into custody about 10:30 p.m. and transported to a Missoula hospital.

The incident was the second high-speed chase to take place in Missoula County on Wednesday.

Sheriff's Capt. Bill Burt said Spence will face several felony charges related to the incident, including three counts of criminal endangerment and one count of reckless driving.

Missoula police and the Montana Highway Patrol may have other recommendations for charges related to the incident, Burt said.

Apparently, law enforcement was searching for Spence after he began contacting the person who filed an order of protection against him 10 days earlier.

About 9:35 p.m., a caller informed 9-1-1 dispatchers that a truck had crashed into their fence in the 3300 block of South Avenue West and the driver, who quickly fled, appeared to be intoxicated.

The caller reported the truck's airbags appeared to be deployed and it seemed to be impossible for the driver to see the road, the caller said.

A deputy responded and attempted to initiate a traffic stop at 9:41 p.m., but Spence allegedly continued to drive recklessly south on Reserve Street, turning onto U.S. Highway 93.

Burt said deputies were concerned that he was armed, and he exhibited suicidal and homicidal tendencies when he was served the order of protection 10 days earlier.

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Man accused of hitting fences, signs, poles then crashing on U.S. 12

Cheltenham Festival Specials Cheltenham Specials: Silviniaco Conti to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup by 5 lengths or more 8/1

Wind-Ups and Wind Ops

As wind-ups go, Paul Nicholls opening gambit at his Cheltenham Festival media day wasnt the best one ever. Breaking news. Ive actually supplemented Rocky Creek for the Cheltenham Gold Cup this morning, as the handicapper has put him up 9lb after winning on Saturday. Well run in the Gold Cup before running in the National at Aintree. Pause, a few chuckles, one or two puzzled looks. No, that is a wind-up, confirms Paul, the old tease. Still, it was too late for one eager beaver who had already tweeted the news (maybe thats why there is the odd social media embargo at these things). If Nicholls isnt very good at wind-ups, he is very good at wind ops and there were at least two horses paraded in front of the assembled press that have benefitted from a tweak in the breathing department; Vibrato Valtat and Calipto. The latter horse is an interesting one for the Vincent OBrien County Handicap Hurdle on the final day of the Festival and his position in the market (as favourite) is understandable. He was operated on after he 'made a noise' at Cheltenham in October and shaped with much promise in the Betfair Hurdle on his return at Newbury last month. That race wasnt run to suit as nothing got into it from off the pace, but he did run on well for fourth and could still be well treated off 143. Not dissimilar in profile to last years County Hurdle winner Lac Fontana, his position in the handicap, relative to his Irish-trained market rivals, will be one of the major talking points at Wednesdays weights release.

Cut To The Chase

Its nice to have all these good chasers back again, says Nicholls, with genuine affection, as he gazes at the back end of Southfield Theatre making his way back to his box. And good chasers is an understatement looking at the betting for all the top races over fences at this years Festival. The Arkle second-favourite, the Champion Chase third and fifth-favourites, the JLT second-favourite, the RSA Chase fourth-favourite and the Gold Cup favourite are all trained at Ditcheat, which means its a very short price that Nicholls has a winner over fences at Cheltenham next month. Nothing new there you might think, but you have to go back to the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup and Kauto Star for the last winner Nicholls had over fences at the Festival. Thats 72 races over fences at the Festival ago. Its taken time since that golden era of Kauto and Denman and Master Minded for Nicholls to build up his team again, and, make no mistake, chasing is Nicholls bread and butter. While Willie Mullins seems to thrive on bringing through novice hurdlers, staying chasers is what Nicholls does, as four Gold Cups testifies. It would be nice to win it for a fifth time, says Nicholls, whose bullishness over the prospects of Silviniaco Conti in the blue riband is infectious. We had a few years without any [Gold Cup chances] after Denman and Kauto but weve got a nice lot of chasers again now. And Conti is the best hes ever been. On form hes the one they all have to beat.

Natural Selection

Paul Nicholls hasnt counted exactly how many horses hell be taking to Cheltenham this year, but its going to be significantly less than usual by design. We might have around 25 or something this year where as we had 36 or so last year, he says, noting how light he is in the novice hurdling department. No runners in the Sky Bet Supreme, no runners in the Neptune, no runners in the Albert Bartlett and no runners in the Triumph. With all the ones that Willies got Im better off waiting for Aintree with mine, Nicholls says, only half-jokingly. Vago Collonges ran really well at Kempton on Saturday and hes one of my better novices but well wait for Aintree with him. All Yours will wait for Aintree too. Im a bit light on novice hurdlers and you can waste a run at Cheltenham, theres so much good prize money on offer at Liverpool now. Its pointless, weve learnt the last couple of years weve run too many at Cheltenham that didnt have chances.

Sammy the champion of the world?

The Sam Twiston-Davies-Paul Nicholls partnership has had its fair share of ups and downs already in their brief but successful time together, but their relationship seems to be getting stronger by the week. Nicholls has admitted lessons were learnt after losers that shouldve been winners earlier in the season (Vibrato Valtat and Zarkandar), yet he was full of praise for Twiston-Davies following his victory aboard Rocky Creek in the BetBright Chase at Kempton on Saturday. His ride on Rocky Creek was one of the best hes given us, hes improving all the time. He was an investment for the future and if I hadnt gone for him then hed have gone somewhere else. It was a very good move and everybodys happy. With Nicholls confirming he and Twiston-Davies are in it for the long haul, talk turned to who will replace AP McCoy as champion in the coming seasons. And Nicholls was quick to state the case for his stable jockey. Hes got to be up there in the running. Him and Scu [Tom Scudamore] are ten winners behind Richard Johnson at the moment so that says it all and with Aidan Coleman as well there are some good jockeys out there, it will be interesting. It wont be quite the same without AP but things move on. Sams done amazingly well, hes won more prize money than any other jockey this season and Saturday he reached 2million in prize money - really quickly from 90 winners, which says how well hes been doing. Ive always thought he will be a champion jockey one day and I havent wavered from that at all. Im going to help him, his dads going to help him but hes probably going to need some help from elsewhere too. Its all about the numbers. Prize money wise hes there, but if he could just get a few more outside rides hell ride more winners and more outside rides are going to be there for the taking now.

Le Cheval Noir

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Paul Nicholls: Ben Linfoot's view

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Good fences make good neighbours, they say. But does this aphorism really apply to international relations? As Kenya contemplates walling off its troublesome border with Somalia, we look at the history of separation barriers and how effective they really are. By SIMON ALLISON.

Kenya is going to build a wall. Not just any wall, but a separation barrier, to employ the euphemism coined by Israel to describe the towering, snaking monstrosity that now separates it from Palestine's West Bank. Kenya's version will be on sections of its notoriously porous border with Somalia, a physical rendering in bricks, mortar and barbed wire of that line on the map.

"Construction works will begin soon. We expect to have finished the project before the end of the year," said Lamu County governor Issa Timamy, as reported in the Daily Nation. As yet, more details on the project are not forthcoming, and Lamu County did not respond to requests for comment. All we know is that the wall will be erected along the sections of border near the coast, and that it's intended to keep out illegal immigrants from Somalia as well as dangerous Al-Shabaab militants.

"This is where immigrants have been arrested trying...

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Kenya: The Great Wall of Kenya

LEAD | A century ago, philanthropist Phoebe Apperson Hearst, wife of legendary Homestake Mining Co. founder George Hearst, donated to the people of Leadthe Homestake Opera House and Recreation Building, complete with an expansive theater, bowling alley, swimming pool, library, social rooms and a billiard hall.

Now T. Denny Sanford, South Dakotas lone billionaire, is giving the city a modern-day equivalent: a $5 million visitor center that celebrates the colorful history of a town built on gold and seeking a return to glory.

Rising at the city's northern gateway, the center will perch on the edge of the Open Cut, which visitors will view through large windows. Interior displays will include the story of how the Homestake Mine, which ceased operations in 2002, became the Sanford Underground Research Facility, a renowned scientific center.

Project managers and city officials hope the contemporary structure, scheduled to open June 1, leads to the revitalization of what was once South Dakotas richest town.

The new Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center will be the link from our past to our future, Lead Mayor Jerry Apa said Tuesday. It will provide a dramatic gateway to Lead and hopefully result in the rebirth of our downtown. People will see that there is an energy here and a commitment to this community, that were welcoming and that they can move here and prosper.

Certainly, prospering was on the minds of the gold-seekers who showed up in the Black Hills in the last quarter-century of the 1800s. When they discovered gold just south of Deadwood in 1876, they created the city of Lead. By 1910, Lead was South Dakota's second-largest community.

Construction of the 9,000-square-foot visitors center began with groundbreaking last July 7, and nearly a dozen workers with Ainsworth-Benning Construction of Spearfish this week were finishing the assembly of the building's skeletal steel frame.

Soon, subcontractors installing heating and cooling systems, plumbing fixtures, electrical connections, windows, doors and drywall will arrive, according to Project Manager Josh Willhite, who also serves as engineering director at the nearby Sanford Underground Research Facility.

We are on track, Willhite said while surveying the site. I am fairly confident we are going to make the June 1opening, but there may be some overlap between exhibit installation and finishing up the building. Of course, that could change if we get 3 feet of snow in March, which has been known to happen.

Willhite said he is excited about the design, nearly $1 million in planned interpretive and educational exhibits, classrooms, office space and picture windows that will allow visitors to gaze at the Open Cut.

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$5M Lead visitor center on track for June 1 opening

OETA/KWTV Tower Demolition
When completed in 1953, it was the tallest man made structure in the world at 1576 feet. The tower dominated the landscape for six decades, bringing OETA to...

By: OETA

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OETA/KWTV Tower Demolition - Video

Demolition begins on old hotel
2 NEWS at 6pm.

By: WDTNTV

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Demolition begins on old hotel - Video

Pool Demolition And Pool Excavation
Coming at you with this impressive feat of skill and talent!! Basically the owner did not want the pool he had and wanted a new pool. Simple enough. I obliged his request and rubles his...

By: Dig It Exc

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Pool Demolition And Pool Excavation - Video