FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY THERE HAVEN'T BEEN THIS MANY HOME FORECLOSURE SCAMS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION .

ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, IN JUST THE PAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS HAVE SKYROCKETED.

DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY, THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF MISSOURI AND KANSAS ADDRESSED THE FORECLOSURE SCAM ISSUE.

DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT NUMBER TWO HAS ANNOUNCED A BOIL ORDER THROUGH TUESDAY MARCH 9TH.

LINE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED IN WHICH THE WATER SUPPLY IS BEING SHUT OFF. SERVICE IS EXPECTED TO BE RESTORED BY NOON TODAY (FRI).

THE BOIL ADVISORY IS FOR ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED ON HIGHWAY N-N WEST FROM HIGHWAY 6 AT JAMESPORT, SOUTH OF HIGHWAY N-N ON 280TH AND 290TH TO HIGHWAY 6 AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY N-N ON 292ND TO JULY AVENUE.

KEEP IT HERE ON CLASSIC HITS 100.1 FOR THE LATEST ON THIS BOIL ORDER

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WAS IN CAMERON THURSDAY COLLECTING SOIL SAMPLES AFTER RECEIVING AN ANONYMOUS TIP FROM A RESIDENT.

THE SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED FROM THE CITY-OWNED SOCCER COMPLEX.

THE SITE WAS ONCE THE SITE OF A RAIL SPUR USED BY THE FORMER ROCKWOOL INDUSTRIES PLANT.

OTHER SAMPLES WERE TAKEN FROM YARDS IN AN ADJACENT SUB DIVISION.

THE SAMPLES WERE TAKEN TO A FEDERAL LAB IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS FOR ANALYSIS.

THE LAB SHOULD HAVE RESULTS IN 30 TO 45 DAYS.

BRIGADER GENERAL NICK TOOLIATOS, THE DEPUTY COMMANDING GENERAL OF 1ST THEATER SUSTAINMENT COMMAND, CONGRATULATES HAMILTON, NATIVE, NAVY COMMAND MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER DAVID ADKISON AFTER PRESENTING HIM WITH A MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, MARCH 4TH FOR HIS END OF TOUR AWARD.

MILITARY ADMINISTRATION EXPERTS SAID GETTING AN AWARD FROM ANOTHER BRANCH OF SERVICE IS A DISTINGUISHED HONOR, WHICH ADKISON EARNED BY WORKING WITH THE ARMY DURING HIS TOUR HERE WITH NAVY LOGISTICS EXPEDITIONARY COMMAND.

NAVELSG, UNDER 1ST TSC, CONDUCTS CUSTOMS INSPECTIONS IN SUPPORT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS IN KUWAIT, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

REVEREND BILL KIRKEMO, PATTI IRELAND AND BARRY ARTHUR OF CAMERON ARE HEROES FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. THEY HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO HELP WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ANNUAL FUND DRIVE, HEROES FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

THEY WILL REPRESENT DEKALB AND CLINTON COUNTIES AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE CAMPAIGN RUNS UNTIL APRIL 9TH.

AS HEROES, KIRKEMO, IRELAND AND ARTHUR WILL WORK TO EACH RAISE A MINIMUM OF A $1,000 FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICES OF THE RED CROSS.

ALL THE FUNDS STAY LOCALLY TO HELP FAMILIES WITH HOUSE FIRES AND OTHER DISASTERS AND ARMED FORCES EMERGENCY SERVICES.

LAST YEAR, THE RED CROSS PROVIDED $8,062 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 9 FAMILIES IN CLINTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES AFTER HOUSE FIRES AND OTHER DISASTERS.

THE RED CROSS ASSISTED 12 MILITARY FAMILIES WITH ARMED FORCES EMERGENCY SERVICES.

YOU CAN JOIN KIRKEMO, IRELAND OR ARTHUR'S HERO TEAM BY MAKING A GIFT TO RED CROSS.

PLEASE MAKE A GIFT TO HONOR THEIR SERVE TO OUR AREA AND TO SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE DIRECTLY TO PATTI, BILL OR BARRY OR BY MAIL TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AT 401 NORTH 12TH ST., ST. JOSEPH.

GIFTS CAN ALSO BE MADE ONLINE AT WWW.REDCROSS-STJOSEPH.ORG.

THE RED CROSS WORKS CLOSELY WITH CLINTON AND DEKALB COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO PREPARE FOR DISASTERS.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO DISASTER. FLOODING AND ICE STORMS HAVE SHOWN THE NEED FOR THE CROSS RED TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY PREPARE. MOST COMMON HELP THE RED CROSS PROVIDES IS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WHEN A FAMILY LOSES THEIR HOME TO A HOUSE FIRE.

THE PLATTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STAFF HAS SUCCESSFULLY RENEWED THE PLATTE COUNTY STORMREADY DESIGNATION FOR THE SECOND TIME AND HAS MAINTAINED THIS DESIGNATION SINCE 2004.

THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY, COUNTY, AND REGION, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STAFF HAS DEVELOPED A PROGRAM OF SEVERE WEATHER READINESS AND EDUCATION THAT IS A MODEL FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

BECAUSE OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, THE RESIDENTS OF PLATTE COUNTY CAN COUNT ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE DURING TIMES OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER.

STORMREADY IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT GIVES COMMUNITIES THE SKILLS AND EDUCATION NEEDED TO SURVIVE SEVERE WEATHER, BEFORE AND DURING THE EVENT.

THE NATIONWIDE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM USES A GRASSROOTS AND PRO-ACTIVE APPROACH TO HELP COMMUNITIES DEVELOP PLANS TO IMPROVE LOCAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS FOR LOCAL SEVERE WEATHER THREATS.

INFORMATION ABOUT STORMREADY IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: HTTP://WWW.STORMREADY.NOAA.GOV

AN OSBORN TEENAGER HAS RECEIVED A NATIONAL AWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS IN VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY.

EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD NICK BESTGEN OF OSBORN HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, RECOGNIZING AMERICANS OF ALL AGES WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF TIME TO SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE AWARD IS PRESENTED BY THE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT OBAMA.

BESTGEN PARTICIPATED IN THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAM THIS YEAR AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE OSBORN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BESTGEN RECEIVED THE AWARD FOR HIS TIME AND EFFORT VOLUNTEER WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OSBORN SINCE THE AGE OF THIRTEEN.

IN HIS APPLICATION BESTGEN STATED "I WAS MOTIVATED TO HELP OTHERS FIRST BY WATCHING MY FATHER PERFORM HIS DUTIES AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS IN NEED AND AS I GREW OLDER I GAINED MORE AND MORE PLEASURE IN SERVING MY COMMUNITY."

THE MISSOURI AIR NATIONAL GUARD’S 139TH AIRLIFT WING IS SENDING TWO AIR CREWS AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT PERSONNEL TO SANTIAGO, CHILE, IN SUPPORT OF EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS THERE, GOVERNOR JAY NIXON ANNOUNCED TODAY.

IN A RELEASE GOVERNOR NIXON SAID "THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MISSOURI AIR GUARD ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, RELIEF AND RECOVERY SERVICES, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD. I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE SKILL AND PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR AIR GUARD UNITS, AND I KNOW THEY WILL PROVIDE INVALUABLE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF CHILE DURING THIS TIME OF NEED."

ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD BRIGADER GENERAL STEPHEN DANNER ADDED "YOUR MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD IS ALWAYS READY AND ALWAYS THERE, LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY."

THE AIRMEN ARE CURRENTLY SUPPORTING SOUTHERN COMMAND (SOUTHCOM) OPERATIONS IN PUERTO RICO AND ARE BEING ROUTED TO CHILE FOR THIS NEW MISSION.

COLNEL MICHAEL MCENULTY, 139TH AIRLIFT WING COMMANDER SAID "THE 139TH AIRLIFT WING IS AGAIN AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IN SUPPORTING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORTS. WE ARE ALWAYS LEANING FORWARD TO COME TO THE AID OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY DISASTERS WHETHER AT HOME OR ABROAD."

THE MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD SUPPORTED EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS EARLIER THIS YEAR BY FLYING PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES TO PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD, PLEASE CALL 1-888-GOGUARD OR VISIT WWW.MOGUARD.COM.

THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS ANNOUNCED THAT BRIDGE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR TODAY (FRI) ON ROUTE N IN ATCHISON AND HOLT COUNTY, WEATHER PERMITTING.

AREA MAINTENANCE CREWS WILL BE MAKING BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS ON ONE BRIDGE NORTH OF MO 46 (IN ATCHISON COUNTY) AND ONE BRIDGE SOUTH OF MO 46 IN HOLT COUNTY.

THE BRIDGES WILL REMAIN OPEN TO ONE LANE AND FLAGGERS WILL DIRECT MOTORISTS ACROSS THE BRIDGES.

THE WORK ON THESE BRIDGES IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ONE DAY TO COMPLETE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OR OTHER PROJECTS BEING HANDLED BY MODOT, PLEASE CALL THEIR TOLL-FREE CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE AT: 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

ON APRIL 3, 2007, CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF CHILLICOTHE HAVE ENDORSED AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES.

THE SMOKING BAN INCLUDES THE PROHIBITION OF SMOKING IN TAVERNS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS WELL AS PRIVATE CLUBS. THE CHILLICOTHE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF SMOKING VIOLATIONS WITHIN SEVERAL LOCAL TAVERNS.

CHILLICOTHE POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE TAKING PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THE SMOKING ORDINANCE, AS PASSED BY CITIZENS OF CHILLICOTHE, WILL BE ENFORCED.

OFFICERS WILL BE PROVIDING UNANNOUNCED COMPLIANCE CHECKS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING TAVERNS.

THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF COMPLIANCE CHECKS WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC.

POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE INVESTIGATING COMPLAINT BASED VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS VIOLATIONS OBSERVED DURING THE COMPLIANCE CHECKS.

POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE ENTERING PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS TAVERNS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT THE SMOKING ORDINANCE IS BEING FOLLOWED.

IF AN OFFICER DETECTS AN ODOR OF SMOKE AND OBSERVES OTHER SIGNS OF SMOKING SUCH AS CIGARETTE BUTTS AND ASHES IN AN ASH TRAY, THE OFFICER WILL ISSUE THE BAR TENDER OR OTHER RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR THE PUBLIC PLACE A CITATION FOR VIOLATION OF ORDINANCE 18-93 FOR ALLOWING SMOKING IN THE PREMISES.

ADDITIONALLY, ANYONE CAUGHT SMOKING INSIDE A PUBLIC PLACE WILL BE CITED FOR VIOLATION OF ORDINANCE 18-93 BY SMOKING IN A PUBLIC PLACE.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S VISION TOWARD THIS EFFORT IS TO PROTECT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION REGARDING SMOKING VIOLATIONS IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 660-646-2121.

THE CHILLICOTHE POLICE DEPARTMENT APPRECIATES ANY AND ALL TIPS PROVIDED BY CITIZENS.

CITIZENS REPORTING TIPS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS.

THE TINA-AVALON R-2 SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI COLLEGE (NCMC) IN TRENTON RECENTLY SIGNED AN ARTICULATION AGREEMENT THAT WILL ALLOW TINA-AVALON R-2 STUDENTS TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THE TECH PREP PROGRAM OFFERS STUDENTS A WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND TIME IN COMPLETING AN ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE AT NCMC.

DOCTOR NEIL NUTTALL, PRESIDENT OF NCMC SAID IN A RELEASE, "EMPLOYMENT TRENDS ILLUSTRATE MANY OF TODAY’S CAREERS REQUIRE SOME SORT OF POST-HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND TRAINING. THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TINA-AVALON R-2 AND NCMC WILL PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AND WILL ALLOW NCMC TO BE AN AFFORDABLE AND LOCAL CHOICE FOR AREA STUDENTS."

THROUGH THE TECH PREP PROGRAM, COLLEGE COURSE TUITION AND FEES ARE WAIVED AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GAIN CAREER TRAINING IN AREAS SUCH AS ACCOUNTING, AGRICULTURE, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH NCMC.

AT TINA-AVALON R-2, THE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT INCLUDES COURSES IN AGRICULTURE.

A PROPOSAL WAS INTRODUCED THURSDAY IN JEFFERSON CITY TO ELIMINATE MISSOURI INCOME TAX.

THE PLAN IS TO PHASE OUT THE INCOME TAX OVER FIVE YEARS AND HAVE A STATE SALES TAX AROUND 7 PERCENT.

STATE SENATORS IN JEFFERSON CITY INTRODUCED THE PROPOSAL THURSDAY AND ARE ASKING FOR A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE TAX STRUCTURE.

THE TAX WOULD AFFECT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FOR SALE, INCLUDING MEDICAL SERVICES.

IF THE PROPOSAL PASSES IN JEFFERSON CITY, IT COULD BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT FOR EVERYONE TO VOTE ON.

SENATORS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE PROPOSAL HAVE FELT SO MUCH BACKLASH THAT THEY ARE WORKING TO EXCLUDE THINGS FROM SALES TAX SUCH AS TUITION FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL, PREMIUMS ON INSURANCE AND PURCHASES FOR CHARITIES.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE PROPOSAL COULD JUMP START THE ECONOMY, BUT SKEPTICS SAY HIGHER SALES TAX WOULD HURT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

ON MARCH 23RD AT 7PM, THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL WILL BE HOSTING A CHURCH SECURITY PROGRAM IN SAINT JOSEPH.

THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD AT FREDERICK BOULEVARD BAPTIST CHURCH, 5502 FREDERICK BOULEVARD, SAINT JOSEPH.

THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR CHURCHES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC.

THIS PROGRAM IS APPROPRIATE FOR ANY DENOMINATION AND IS FREE OF CHARGE.

TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM, CONTACT BRENDA AT FREDERICK BOULEVARD BAPTIST CHURCH, AT 816-233-2824 FOR RESERVATIONS.

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM’S CONTENT, CONTACT SERGEANT SHELDON LYON AT 816-387-2345.

THE ARTWORK OF RACHEL MINDRUP WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY KANSAS CITY CENTER THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH.

THE EXHIBIT WILL OPEN WITH A RECEPTION FROM 6 TO 8PM, MONDAY, MARCH 8TH.

THE KANSAS CITY CENTER IS LOCATED AT BLUE JAY TOWER PLAZA, 8 VICTORY LANE, IN LIBERTY.

AFTER GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-KEARNEY, MINDRUP CONTINUED HER EDUCATION AT THE LOVELAND ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS AND THE LOS ANGELES ACADEMY OF ART.

THE NORTHWEST KANSAS CITY CENTER IS OPEN FROM 9AM TO 6PM MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ART SHOW, CONTACT THE NORTHWEST KANSAS CITY CENTER AT 816-736-6600.

MARYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRONS WILL SOON SEE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE LIBRARY’S WEB SITE CAPABILITIES.

THE LIBRARY RECEIVED A FOUR THOUSAND DOLLAR MISSOURI STATE LIBRARY WEB SITE MAKEOVER GRANT TO UPDATE THEIR SITE AND CONTENT SERVER.