Listed below are a few interesting articles we found and wanted to share with you this week. The information comes from a variety of organizations and media outlets, which provides topics for a wide range of interests. This means there is a little something for everyone that enjoys the great outdoors and follows issues relating to the environment.
Categories: Environment, Food, Outdoor and Nature, Climate, Outdoorsmen and Women, and just a good read on an interesting person or topic.
Nature Stock Photo
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) 2016 holiday closing schedule for their offices, nature centers, and staffed shooting ranges is available. “Trails and other outdoor offerings at MDC nature centers and interpretative centers are still available for public use on most days the facilities are closed.”
Continue reading below for more information and a list of dates from the MDC.
“Tree-Hugging, Green-Shirt, Compost-Head, Climate Freak, Enviro-Nut, Weather-Wanker, Eco-Nazi, Eco-Fascist, Eco-Freak, Gang Green Member, Planeteer-Primitive, Eco-Nanny, Eco-Mystic, Eco-Terrorist, Climate Crank, Eco-Warrior, Ecolo-jista, Eco-Druid, Warm-Alarmist, Global Warmist, Carbon Crank …”
Pictured above: Carolyn Finney. Photo provided by Carolyn Finney.
Carolyn Finney, Ph.D., is the guest on this edition of “Behind the Editor’s Curtain” with Don Corrigan. Finney is the author of “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors.”
Speaking about the absence of African-Americans engaging in outdoor activities portrayed in popular culture, such as in movies and magazines:
“Just because we don’t see any (African-Americans) doesn’t mean there aren’t any. That’s myth number one,” Finney said. “Actually, black people, like everybody else, have been around doing everything like everybody else since the beginning of the time. You have black mariners, you have black hikers, you have black people camping – I mean black people have been doing it too.”
Fenton sewer plant, December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.
“There absolutely has to be a regional meeting to discuss what to do about the flooding,” said Fenton Mayor Mike Polizzi. “It’s getting worse. Having both I-44 and I-55 shut down by the flooding is unprecedented. I am hearing that this sewage problem could be with us into April or May.”
Photo by Diana Linsley, Webster-Kirkwood Times.
Carl Campbell, a retired petroleum investment advisor, searches for interesting and important environmental news on the internet daily. The St. Louis resident publishes Carl’s Climate Letters, a daily newsletter containing summaries and analysis of important environmental topics that he thinks his readers should be aware of.
Find an excerpt below from Carl’s Climate Letters #583, posted February 1, 2016. The interesting topic is “Texas is being taken over by wind power.”
Photo by Holly Shanks
In honor of Black History Month, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is holding an event for the public at Washington State Park to learn more about Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1743. The CCC Company 1743 was an African American company, and the DNR says that their “Craftmanship can be seen throughout the park.”
Find more information about the event on the DNR press release posted below.
Photos provided by Jan Oberkramer, The Green Center.
“I remember taking children outdoors on a night hike…I suddenly realized the children weren’t with me and I turned around and they were just amazed by the stars. They were mesmerized. They weren’t moving,” said Jan Oberkramer, the Executive Director of The Green Center in University City. “I was so humbled because as beautiful as (the stars) are, I see them and look at them all the time. These kids had never seen stars.”
Oberkramer is the guest on this edition of “Behind The Editor’s Curtain.”
Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant, December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is advising the public to avoid contact with the Meramec River between Fenton, Mo, and the Mississippi River. The Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant is not operational due to damage from the late December flooding. The damage, which could take months to repair, has resulted in untreated sewage being pumped directly into the Meramec River from homes and businesses.
Fenton Sewage Treatment Plant, December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.
The Fenton Treatment Plant is not expected to be operational for several months. We want to keep our viewers up to date on the Fenton Treatment Plant and the Meramec River issues. A statement released from the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is posted below.
Don Corrigan will have in-depth coverage on the situation next week. Be sure to check back with Environmental Echo for Don’s article.
Environmental Echo 