ENFORCEMENT OF REAL ID TO BEGIN IN MAY
Anyone who will be taking a flight in the latter half of this year will need to make sure that their ID is Real ID compliant.
According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, the federal Real ID enforcement deadline is May 7th.
Officials say that 41 percent of the Missouri Department of Revenue’s total document holders have a Real ID.
While a final rule issued at the federal level allows federal agencies to utilize a phased-in approach to card-based enforcement for up to two years beyond the May 7 deadline, the Department is encouraging Missourians to be prepared for all possible scenarios.
Individuals will soon be required to present a REAL ID-compliant document for official purposes including, but not limited to, accessing federal facilities and boarding federally regulated domestic flights.
If you plan on flying in the future but do not want to apply for a REAL ID, you can present another Transportation Security Administration approved acceptable form of ID such as your U.S. passport.
A Missouri-issued REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card will have a star in the upper right-hand corner.
You can find more information at dor.mo.gov.
DEADLINE UPCOMING TO REGISTER FOR POPLAR BLUFF YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL
The Registration deadline is coming up for adult and youth baseball and softball in Poplar Bluff.
According to the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department, registration will be available through March 28th. For adults, there will be women’s and men’s leagues in addition to a men’s church league. Youth ball will be available for kids ages three to 14.
For more information, or to complete the registration, go to pbparks.recdesk.com or visit the Parks and Recreation office on North Second Street.
ALMOST TWO MONTH LONG ROAD PROJECT UNDERWAY IN NEW MADRID AREA
Route 61 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction through mid-May as contractor crews perform pavement repairs.
The work zone is located from Route 60 in Sikeston to County Road 302 near New Madrid.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Saturday, May 17.
POPLAR BLUFF KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT SET FOR NEXT MONTH
The Poplar Bluff Kindergarten enrollment is set for early next month for the 2025/26 school year.
According to school officials, the screening day will take place April 1st through April 3rd at the 1110 N. Westwood Campus.
To be eligible, children must be turning five on or before July 31st, 2025.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 573-785-6803.
MDC RECOMMENDS YOU DON’T PLANT INVASIVE CALLERY PEAR TREE
Spring is underway and the Missouri Department of Conservation is cautioning residents to stay away from planting a specific kind of tree.
MDC officials are urging the public to avoid the Callery pear tree.
Also known as the Bradford pear, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, or Aristocrat, the Callery pear tree is a highly invasive tree that multiplies quickly and crowds out Missouri native plants.
Callery pears’ ability to cross-pollinate is why many roadsides, rights-of-way, parks, and other natural areas are filled with white blooms every spring.
Missourians with Callery pear trees on their property have the opportunity to cut down their trees and receive a free, noninvasive tree in return at several “buy-back” events around the state from 3 to 6 pm on April 22, including at the Southeast Missouri State University Campus in SIkeston.
To qualify, participants must submit a photo of their cut-down Callery pear online. One free native tree will be provided to each registered participant at the selected location.
For more information on the buy-back events and how to register, visit MOInvasives.org.
EASTER EGG SAFETY TIPS
Easter is next month and that means many families will be decorating eggs to go with celebrating the holiday.
Officials with the Food and Drug administration have released some tips for preparing your eggs for the weekend.
To prevent the spread of dirt and germs, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before handling eggs at every preparation step, including cooking, cooling, dyeing, and hiding.
Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs refrigerated until just before the hunt. Cold temperatures keep most harmful bacteria from multiplying.
If you are having an Easter egg hunt, hide eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets, and other potential sources of bacteria such as wild animals.
After the hunt, find all the eggs you have hidden. After the hunt, discard eggs that are cracked or dirty. Bacteria can enter eggs through cracks in the shell.
If your eggs have been at temperatures above 40ºF for more than two hours, don’t eat them. Throw them away. More information about food safety is available at fda.gov.
