The USDA says there is “virtually no hay available in Missouri.” As a result, Brent Haden, head of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, says the price of hay has increased drastically. He says there is no cheap hay to be found anywhere in Missouri, or anywhere nearby.

Haden says the shortage is aggravated by drought conditions that cut pasture output. That reduced the amount of hay baled in Missouri, and poor pastures forced livestock producers, horse owners, and others to feed hay much longer than normal. The increased demand puts additional pressure on already-reduced supplies. The shortage is forcing some producers to send their cattle to market early. Hay shortages are reported from Texas to as far north as Ontario, Canada.

Water officials say excessive water consumption led to low pressure and a boil advisory in part of DeKalb County. The advisory covers about 400 residents in an area bounded by Lakeside Road on the east, Fairmont Road on the south, and the western and northern boundaries of the DeKalb County Water District.

Officials are urging residents to conserve water to let the pressure rise. The boil advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

Admission buttons to Trails West!® 2012 are now available. The festival “celebrating 20 years of arts and entertainment” will be August 17-19 at Civic Center Park . This is the festival’s 20^th year. Buttons are on sale for $7 in advance. They’ll be $10 at the gate. All festival guests under the age of 12 are free while accompanied by an adult.

Festival buttons are at the Allied Arts Council office, local banks, or at one of the many local businesses listed on the Trails West!® website. 

Due to continued very dry conditions, the Doniphan County Board of Commissioners has issued a burning ban effective immediately.  The ban will continue until further notice.  The ban includes enclosed barrels and fire pits.

A 21-year-old Chillicothe man was killed after losing control of his SUV northwest of Chillicothe Sunday afternoon.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says James Reynolds was not wearing a safety belt, and was ejected when the Nissan Pathfinder overturned.

The accident happened at about 1:20 p.m. on Highway A, seven miles northwest of Chillicothe.

This marks the 17th traffic fatality in Troop H this year.

A fireworks accident east of Columbia has left two boys with badly burned hands. Officials report the boys’ hands appeared to be missing portions of flesh, including fingers. The 14- and 11-year-old were taken to University Hospital.

Sergeant David Alexander of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department says the explosion happened Friday night while the victims apparently were attempting to stuff a large firework into a nearby pipe. He says one of the boys was holding the device while the other attempted to light it. The short fuse burned faster than expected and exploded.

A marina on Truman Lake in west-central Missouri says a microburst that churned up 75 mph winds caused a dock to flip over. All five people who initially were unaccounted for have been found. Sterett Creek Resort and Marina reports that a number of boats also flipped over when the storm moved through Saturday afternoon. The marina is near Warsaw, about 90 miles southeast of Kansas City.

Three men were assaulted and their truck stolen along a street leading into the Shoppes at North Village this morning. Police say the attack was carried out by occupants of another vehicle shortly after midnight. One of the men who was assaulted was hospitalized with injuries described as serious but not life threatening. The other two were treated for minor to moderate injuries.

The stolen truck has been recovered but no arrests have been made. The incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Saint Joseph Police Department or the TIPS Hotline at 238.TIPS.