Blog Archives

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The Myth About African-Americans and the Outdoors

Pictured above: Carolyn Finney. Photo provided by Carolyn Finney.

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.”

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Meramec River Sewage Crisis Could Go On Through April

Fenton sewer plant, December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

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.”

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Carl’s Climate Letters #583: Wind Power Taking Over The Lone Star State

Photo by Diana Linsley, Webster-Kirkwood Times.

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.”

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EVENT: History Celebration of CCC Company 1743 at Washington State Park

Photo by Holly Shanks

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.

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The Green Center: The Importance Of Connecting With Nature

Photos provided by Jan Oberkramer, The Green Center.

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.”

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Don’t Go Near The Water…

Fenton sewer plant, December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

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.

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Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant Will Take Months To Repair

Fenton sewer plant flooding December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

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.

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West Lake Landfill Issues Continue: Latest Updates

West Lake Landfill photo provided by Just Moms STL.

West Lake Landfill photo provided by Just Moms STL.

 The West Lake Landfill issues and nuclear waste contamination are hot topics currently in the St. Louis region and public concerns are growing. Environmental Echo wanted to provide several updates relating to the situation.
Updates include radiation found migrating off-site at West Lake. Huge sums needed for remediation and possible buy-out. And the landfill near radioactive site continues to be plagued by underground fire prompting the EPA’s announcement of West Lake Landfill Isolation Barrier Decision.

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Challenges Facing The Missouri Deer Population

Deer hoof print in the snow. Photo by Holly Shanks.

Deer hoof print in the snow. Photo by Holly Shanks.

John Vogel, Missouri Department of Conservation’s Wildlife Regional Supervisor for the St. Louis area, talks to Environmental Echo about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), changes to the upcoming deer hunting season regulations and other issues affecting Missouri’s deer population.

 

 

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Green Spiral Tours: Seven Years Of Family Eco-Adventures

Green Spiral Tours. Photo provided by Jessie Hoagland.

Green Spiral Tours. All photos provided by Jessie Hoagland.

 

Jessie Hoagland, the founder of Green Spiral Tours, is the special guest on this edition of “Behind the Editor’s Curtain” with Don Corrigan.

Green Spiral Tours is an “eco-adventure school designed to connect people with their place on the planet.”

 

 

 

 

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