REBECCA McAley celebrates Monday afternoon as Caleb De Vore drives their vehicle away from the curb along Cuba Street where it was stuck due to city plowing efforts over the weekend. McAley and De Vore had been working to free their vehicles for about two hours, she said. “I’m happy,” she exclaimed. The scene was played out in several locations around town on Monday. City workers plowed local roads throughout the weekend storm which brought layers of freezing rain sleet, and snowfall depending on the location. An estimated 5 to 6 inches of frozen precipitation was reported in the area. Schools were not in session Tuesday, and the Owensville boys basketball tournament has been delayed.

Early test for new county road agency chiefs as winter storm cripples Mid-Missouri

It didn’t take long for the new management team of the Gasconade County Road Department to be put to the test as Gasconade countians were forced off the roads by the powerful fast-moving …

Hermann ambulance district to seek half-cent sales tax hike on April ballot

HERMANN — Faced with flat revenue and increasing expenses, officials of the Hermann Area Ambulance District will be asking voters in April to approve a half-cent sales tax increase. This will …

Tons of food delivered to the Gerald community

Since August, on the first Friday of each month Gerald’s Community Outreach has conducted a food drive through for anyone in the community. Last Friday, the driver was nearly two hours late in …

LOIS WYMAN visits Friday with Owensville Fire Chief Jeff Arnold after a public hearing was held in Gasconade County Circuit Court where a petition asking for voter approval for forming a tax-supported fire protection district was accepted into the court record. Circuit Judge Ryan J. Helfrich was issuing an order declaring the petition valid and authorizing it for the April 2025 ballot. Wyman was asking if her family property along Boettcher Road was included in the proposed district. It is, Arnold told her.

Judge approves petition placing Owensville Fire Protection District initiative on April ballot

HERMANN — Twentieth Circuit Court Judge Ryan Helfrich on Friday approved the Owensville Volunteer Fire Department’s petition to move forward with placing a proposal to establish a rural …

High school bleacher decision expected at January meeting

A new bid was presented to the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education on Dec. 26 regarding the Owensville High School (OHS) replacement bleachers from Heartland Seating and Kansas. The board …

A firefighting plane dumps water on one of the fires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025.

Firefighting planes are dumping ocean water on the Los Angeles fires − why using saltwater is typically a last resort

In emergencies, dumping ocean water on fires may be the best option. But seawater can have long-term effects on equipment and ecosystems, as a novel coastal experiment shows.

Curious kids ask questions

Will we eventually have to send our trash into space if we run out of room on Earth?

Humans generate a lot of trash, but there are cheaper and safer ways to handle it than loading it on rockets.

Why does the Earth spin?

An astronomer takes us on a tour of the universe to learn about the birth of stars and planets and how they get their spin.

Why do we use gasoline for small vehicles and diesel fuel for big vehicles?

Both gasoline and diesel fuel are refined from crude oil, but they are good for different things and can’t be used interchangeably.

Thinking green

How the world fell in love with plastic without thinking through the consequences – podcast

Plastic waste expert Mark Miodowonik explains the history of plastic and why he believes manufacturers must be responsible for making sure plastic is recycled.

Ambitious L.A. water recycling plan could serve half a million households

LA Post reports on a new UCLA study that confirms LA's ambitious wastewater recycling initiative would strengthen the city's water security amid growing climate challenges and potential natural disasters.

A Greener Home Starts Today: Save on ENERGY STAR Appliances with New Home Rebates

(BPT) - Energy efficiency isn't a trendy buzzword — it's quickly becoming the new normal for everyday Americans across the country. Beginning this fall and throughout next year, consumers will …

Coal plants are closing. What can be done with them?

(BPT) - The next generation of energy technologies is coming online, delivering energy that is more affordable, reliable and cleaner than ever before. But what happens to the older generation of …

Make a New Year's resolution to prepare your home

(BPT) - When it comes to goal setting for the new year ahead, why not put prepping your home for unexpected life moments top of the list? After all, your home is the center of your life, and the …

How the Earth’s tilt creates short, cold January days

The Sun rises in Midland, Michigan, shortly after 8a.m. on Jan. 13, 2017.

The winter solstice is past, but bundle up – January is when winter really arrives in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

End your year meaningfully with a gift that grows

(BPT) - With one year coming to a close and another about to begin, this is the perfect time to reflect on how you've been blessed this year, as well as ways to best live your values going forward. …

The giant panda's diet is almost 100% bamboo.

Climate change is making plants less nutritious − that could already be hurting animals that are grazers

Rising carbon dioxide levels in the air are making plants grow larger and faster, but diluting their nutritional content. This could threaten the health of herbivores worldwide.

5 tips for staying safe during a winter power outage

(BPT) - Winter is in full swing. It's a beautiful season, but as the temperature drops and the snow, ice and cold approach, there's always the possibility of a power outage. When it's cold outside …

Top 2025 outdoor design trends

(BPT) - Americans are spending more time in their outdoor spaces — and want to maximize those spaces. Studies show that nearly 90% of homeowners consider their outdoor areas to be important to …

How Solar Generators Revolutionize All-Hazards Preparedness

(BPT) - By Craig Fugate, former Administrator of FEMA and a lifelong advocate for all-hazards preparednessWhen you've been in emergency management as long as I have — whether it was leading …

14 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year. 6 ways you can help reduce waste

(BPT) - The world's oceans are a magical, beautiful ecosystem ... and they also need help — urgently. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, by 2050, there will be more plastic by weight …

3 Reasons to Ditch Your Laundry Detergent for Eco Strips

(NewsUSA) - The laundry industry would have you believe that in order to get brilliant, clean laundry, you need to use powders, liquids and pods that are diluted with water, and come in bulky, …

Why the toilet macerator or grinder you choose is so important

(BPT) - When Matthew and Michele Jones decided to renovate their disabled son's basement so their adult grandson could move in to care for him, they didn't expect a toilet nightmare.To keep costs …