The first annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Day isn’t being forgotten in St. Joseph as area women are recognized Wednesday for their involvement in the workforce.

“It is for women who are leaders in their business or women who own their business,” said Rebecca Evans, Regional Dir. of the Small Business Technology Center. “It’s a networking opportunity for the women in the community.”

To celebrate the first Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, the SBTDC is hosting a networking event from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Historic Green Acres building, located at 3500 N. Village Drive in St. Joseph, Mo.

“The unique thing about women is that they actually make very good Entrepreneurs,” said Evans. “For micro loans they have a 96% payback rate which is really good compared to men so that makes them a good risk to lenders.”

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day will be recognized Wednesday in 144 countries.

“The purpose of it this year is just to bring awareness to the event,” said Evans.

The day is part of an entire week to celebrate innovators who launch startups. Global Entrepreneurship Week runs through Nov. 23. Evans said it’s important to recognize small business owners because they keep the community alive.

“When the economy tanked basically it was small business owners who were continuing to employ people instead of laying people off,” said Evans. “When you think small business you might think the guy down the street or the lady down the street that has a business that employees two or three people but they grown. If you go to their stores and you utilize their services they grow to then employ 20 people or 30 people and those are the ones that are going to stay.”

The Missouri Department of Transportation has named Fay Fleming as its new director of Customer Relations effective Dec. 1.

Fleming replaces Mara Campbell who left the department in September for a job in the private sector.

Fleming has more than 15 years of senior-level business experience in marketing, communications, strategic planning, research, training, writing, sales, and public speaking. She most recently was employed as the director of communications for the First Christian Church in Arlington, Texas, and as the director of the Business Performance Company in Dallas, Texas, where she served as a consultant in the areas of marketing, organizational strategy, research and leadership development training.

MoDOT’s customer relations director serves as the department’s chief spokesperson and public information officer and oversees all internal and external communications for the agency.

“We are excited to have someone of Fay’s caliber join the department,” said MoDOT Director Dave Nichols. “She assumes the challenging role of providing information to our customers at a time when funding for transportation continues to be on a steep decline.”

Fleming has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in marketing and media from Webster University in St. Louis.

Northwest Missouri State University – along with the National Weather Service (NWA), the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and local emergency managers – are joining forces to promote Wednesday, Nov. 19, as Winter Awareness Day in Missouri.

“With less daylight and colder temperatures, it’s a subtle reminder that winter weather is arriving,” said Lt. Mike Ceperley, emergency management coordinator for Northwest. “Winter Awareness Day reminds everyone that extreme cold temperatures are nothing to take lightly during coming months. We can’t stop winter storms or extreme cold from happening, but we can take a few moments to make sure we are properly prepared for their effects.”

Northwest and emergency management organizations across Missouri remind residents that extreme cold temperatures are a danger during winter months. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause frostbite, hypothermia or, in extreme cases, death. In fact, excessive cold is one of the leading weather-related causes of death across the country. Infants and the elderly are most susceptible to extreme cold. Freezing temperatures also cause damage to crops and property.

When dealing with winter weather, emergency management experts offer these tips:

Dress for the conditions: Wear several layers of light-weight, warm clothing. Layers can be removed to prevent perspiring and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven, waterproof and hooded. For the hands, mittens, snug at the wrists, offer better protection than fingered gloves.
Make a plan: Have an emergency plan in place, and do as much as possible before an emergency happens. Whether at home or traveling, determine how you will communicate with others and develop an emergency communications plan that includes communication methods and individuals to call.

Update your address book: Add emergency contacts, current work and school numbers and information for emergency services. Designate an out-of-state or out-of-area contact in the event family members cannot immediately communicate locally.
Put together a kit: Make a preparedness kit or review your existing kit with winter weather in mind. Kits might contain bottled water, high calorie non-perishable food items, a battery powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries and a first aid kit. Make a winter car kit to keep in the trunk of a vehicle as well. This kit might include a sleeping bag or blanket, high calorie food items, a first aid kit, a rain coat, gloves, a spare radio with batteries, jumper cables, flares and a shovel and sand to give tires traction.

It is also important to keep updated on weather forecasts and understand the difference between a watch and a warning. Evaluate current conditions and expected conditions, and take those into consideration when making travel plans. Also, know where to go for further information about what to do and where to go during an actual emergency.

Winter storm watch: Indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area within 12 to 48 hours.
Winter storm warning: Indicates severe winter weather is in the area or expected immediately, and that it can be life threatening.
Ice storm warning: Issued for ice accumulations of a quarter-inch or more.

The Missouri Department of Social Services has launched its program to help low-income households cope with heating bills through March.  The application period for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now open.

Vice President of LIHEAP and Weatherization Administration, Connie Taylor, says Missourians living at 135 percent of the federal poverty level or below qualify for LIHEAP. “Typically, if someone is receiving social security benefits or SSI benefits, they’re on a fixed income.  More than likely they’re going to be able to qualify for the program.  Also, if someone is receiving food stamps, they’ve already gone through some income eligibility requirements.”

“We work through the state system to determine eligibility based upon the income information that applies to that household,” Taylor explains. “$1,313 dollars is the maximum monthly income a household of one can make in order to apply and be eligible for LIHEAP.”

Payments can range from $45 to $450, based on household size, income, and type of fuel used for home heating. The payments are generally made directly to the utility company.  More than 146,000 Missouri households received LIHEAP assistance last fiscal year.

Missourians interested in the program can download the application online, but they must apply through their local LIHEAP contract agency. There are currently 19 agencies across the state of Missouri.

For many motorists, the rest areas and welcome centers found along Missouri’s highways can be a welcome sight during a long drive. Whether you need to stretch your legs, walk the dog, or use the facilities, Missouri’s rest areas are there for all travelers’ convenience and safety.

The Missouri Department of Transportation wants to make sure all eight welcome centers, 15 rest areas, and 22 truck-only parking sites are clean, safe, and accessible, and they are asking travelers for their input when they stop at these facilities.

“We know thousands of people stop at Missouri’s rest areas every day, and we do our best to make sure the sites provide customers with a good experience,” said David Belanger, MoDOT’s general services manager. “If you stop at any of Missouri’s rest areas, welcome centers, or truck-only sites, we would like your feedback on your experience and what we could do to make it better.”

Historically, MoDOT has asked rest area visitors to rate their satisfaction on the various amenities of the rest areas through an online survey. Now that feedback can occur instantly, as the department has installed posters at each location with QR codes that will take smart phone users directly to the online survey. Snapping the QR code with your smartphone camera will allow you to submit your comments quickly and easily. The posters are located at all Missouri rest areas, welcome centers and truck-only parking.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that hunters checked 91,460 deer during the opening weekend of the 2014 November Portion of Firearms Deer Season this past weekend. Top harvest counties for the opening weekend were Franklin with 1,839 deer checked, Howell with 1,793, and Callaway with 1,791.

In Buchanan hunters bagged 257 deer, and in Andrew Co. 386 were taken during the opening weekend in firearms.

MDC also reports that there were three deer-hunting incidents over the weekend with two being fatal. One fatality was in Ste. Genevieve County where a heater in a hunting blind exploded, killing the hunter. The second involved a fall from a tree stand in Crawford County. A third non-fatal incident involved a hunter in Phelps County shooting himself in the leg while loading his rifle.

The southbound Interstate 229 Bridge in St. Joseph will be narrowed to one lane beginning at approximately 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Contractors will close the southbound driving lane of I-229 from just after the St. Joseph Avenue on ramp to just before U.S. Hwy 36. There will be a 10-foot width restriction in place throughout the project. As the project progresses, crews will close the southbound passing lane, the northbound driving lane and the northbound passing lane at different times. Crews are planning to work during daylight hours on weekdays. Currently, no weekend work is planned.

This bridge rehabilitation project will begin now, but work will be suspended when temperature and weather prohibits further work. The contractor will resume work when temperatures permit in the spring. All work schedules are weather permitting.

In preparation for its centennial celebration in 2015, Missouri Western State University continues to accept nominations for Griffon Notables – students, alumni, faculty, staff or community members who have made a positive impact on Missouri Western.

“As we look back on 100 Years of Transforming Lives, we want to honor those who have had a role in transforming Missouri Western into the institution it is today,” said Colleen Kowich, director of alumni relations and centennial steering committee co-chair.

Notables may be recognized for:

· Demonstrated excellence in service to the university

· Continuous commitment to Missouri Western and its mission, vision and legacy

· Professional achievement and distinction that contribute to University pride

· A pioneering spirit reflected in starting a new program, or greatly expanding an existing program

· A pivotal role in the university’s establishment and growth.

Nominees may be living or deceased. Nominees will not be contacted in advance of selection. Self-nominations will be accepted.

Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 1 on the Centennial website, www.missouriwestern.edu/centennial. Those selected will be listed on the website, and living notables will receive a congratulatory letter from Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president, as well as an invitation to the Founders’ Day celebration in September.

For more information, contact Kowich at 816-271-5650 or ckowich@missouriwestern.edu.

Today Scattered flurries. Partly sunny, with a high near 19. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 13 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 8. Wind chill values between -3 and 2. West northwest wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values between -1 and 9. West wind 5 to 11 mph.

Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. South wind 9 to 14 mph becoming west northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Saturday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.