CLARKSDALE HAPPENINGS, December 2024

CLARKSDALE HAPPENINGS

December 2024

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it. – Marianne Williamson

Opening Day for Election   Dec. 10th

City Council Mtg (6:30pm City Hall)Dec. 17th

Christmas (City Hall closed)   Dec. 25th

City Hall closed     Noon   Dec. 24th - 26th

Closing Day for Election (Noon-5pm) Dec. 31st

New Year’s Day (City Hall Closed) Jan. 1st

https://clarksdale-mo.com/ Find this newsletter, pay your bill, official minutes, reports, agendas, news about current projects, and more! 

Coming Soon! Paperless water bills!

NOTICE OF ELECTION:  The City of Clarksdale will be accepting declarations of candidacy for the April 8, 2025, municipal election. Offices to be filled are Mayor for a 2-year term, and 2 Alderman for 2-year terms. Filing starts Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 8:00 am and continues until December 31, 2024, at 5:00 pm.  Please file with Tina Good, City Clerk at Clarksdale City Hall, 114 N. Main, Clarksdale, MO. Office hours are M-Th 9-2, please call the office at 816-393-5363 for questions, or arrangements, if needed. 

CLARKSDALE CODE CHAPTER 43 - REQUIRE ADDRESS NUMBERS BE DISPLAYED ON HOUSES AND BUILDINGS - Please make sure they are visible, and 4 inch numbers for your safety so emergency services can find you if needed.

Clarksdale Christian Church - Community Christmas Soup & Sing - Dec 8th at 5pm Everyone welcome!

Breakfast with Santa  Saturday, Dec. 14th- Clarksdale Community Center basement. 9am -11am.   Free-will offering for breakfast, serving pancakes, sausage patties, and drinks. Crafts for the kids. Bake Sale. Raffles.  Come take pictures with Santa! All are welcome!

Lights and Decoration Contest – Decorate your yard for Christmas and win a prize. The Clarksdale Advancement Foundation has donated a $50 gift card for the best decorated yard. Judging will be Dec 9th- Dec. 16th, 2023. So be sure to have your lights on then.

Lions Pitch Tournament! Will be held the first Monday night of the month.  Games all at 7 pm.  December 2nd, January 6th, February  3rd, March 3rd.

Clarksdale Advancement Foundation  is looking for great people who want to make Clarksdale fantastic and help us achieve our goals. Come to our next meeting Tues., Dec 10th at 6:30pm at City Hall. “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in”.~Author Unknown

Fresh Mobile Pantry - Second Harvest Community Food Bank - Wed., Dec. 18th, 2024. Clarksdale City Park - 10am - 12pm  - While Supplies Last- Open to the Public. Please tell your friends and neighbors. Everyone is welcome. {NOTE: mandate from 2nd Harvest, we have been limited to three families per vehicle.} To sign up for our text alert system email your full name, phone number, and zip code to info@shcfb.org. This is the quickest and most effective way to get information on schedule changes. Visit www.shcfb.org  for more assistance options.The 2nd Harvest Food Pantry, sponsored by the Clarksdale Lions Club and the Clarksdale Christian Church.

The Clarksdale  Lions Club meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month and we welcome anyone to come and hear what our club does for the community and we are always looking for new members.

Coming!  Valentines Dinner Feb. 8th, 2025 details coming!

How to Protect Yourself from Winter Weather

IF YOU ARE UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING, FIND SHELTER RIGHT AWAY 

Know your winter weather terms:

Winter Storm Warning - Issued when hazardous winter weather in the form of heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet is imminent or occurring. Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued 12 to 24 hours before the event is expected to begin.

Winter Storm Watch - Alerts the public to the possibility of a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet. Winter Storm Watches are usually issued 12 to 48 hours before the beginning of a Winter Storm.

Winter Weather Advisory - Issued for accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and sleet which will cause significant inconveniences and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to life-threatening situations.

Know Your Risk for Winter Storms

Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of freezing weather and winter storms. Listen for emergency information and alerts. Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.

Preparing for Winter Weather

Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups. Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Remember the needs of your pets. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights. If you are unable to afford your heating costs, weatherization or energy-related home repairs, contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help.

In Case of Emergency - Be prepared for winter weather at home, at work and in your car. Create an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. Keep a full tank of gas.

Stay Safe During Winter Weather

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.

•       Stay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside.
•       Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
•       Reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow and walking in the snow.

Learn the signs of, and basic treatments for, frostbite and hypothermia.

Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and toes.

•       Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin.
•       Actions: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.

Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.

•       Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness.
•       Actions: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.

Winter Holiday Fire Safety Did you know? Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

It’s fun to decorate for the winter holidays, but holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire. As you deck the halls this season, be fire smart.

•       Inspect holiday lights each year before you put them up. Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires.
•       Water your Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is dangerous because it can catch on fire easily.
•       Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.
•       If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked down easily.

For more information and free fire-safety resources, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.