Heard on the Street

A GIFT FOR OTHERS

A groundbreaking ceremony was held May 17 at Cox Walnut Lawn Hospital for the Jane A. and Kenneth E. Meyer Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation, which is expected to be complete in about a year.

The center is named in honor of a major donation from Ken Meyer and the late Jane A. Meyer, who died Feb. 1.

"Jane always wanted what was best for those around her, and I believe that she saw this center as a great opportunity to help others at a very difficult time in their lives," Ken Meyer said in an announcement from Cox Health System.

The fund-raising goal for the 90,000-square-foot center is $1.2 million.

Thus far, $1.1 million has been raised. The facility will include lap and therapy pools, and it will integrate clinical programs with fitness. Patients will enjoy a consistent flow of care regardless of their illness, injury or rehab needs.

SPLISH-SPLASH

After nearly three years, all of Springfield's water reservoirs are full to capacity.

Recent rainfall was sufficient to fill Fellows Lake, which is located north of the city, according to City Utilities. The last time Fellows Lake was full was May 27, 1999. The other reservoir, McDaniel Lake, has been full the entire year.

Because the lakes are at capacity, water will not have to be pumped in from Stockton via the Nuccitelli Pipeline.

"At the same time, we are very thankful for that pipeline, because without it, Fellows Lake still would not be full and Springfield would have had severe drought restrictions in place the last two years," said CU Deputy General Manager John Twitty.

ALL SHOOK UP

The Missouri Department of Transportation's earthquake preparedness plan was put to the test for the first time May 23 during a statewide earthquake drill. MoDOT noted that on average, Missouri has 200 earthquakes each year, although only two or three of those are felt. The most recent one, on March 12 outside Advance, measured 3.6 on the Richter scale.

Research shows that a 4.0 quake occurs every 18 months; a 5.0 quake happens every 10 years or so; a 6.5 quake happens every 90 years to 100 years and a 7.0-8.0 quake happens every 450 years to 500 years.

MoDOT is concerned about the possibility of a 6.5 quake the last one in the state was Oct. 31, 1895, in Charleston 17 years beyond the average.

MoDOT plans to make the earthquake drill which tested not only aspects of the plan, but also employees' reactions an annual exercise.

REEL 'EM IN

"Hooked on a Cause," a bass fishing tournament to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, will be held 6 a.m.-3 p.m. June 1 at the Sterrett Creek Marina in Warsaw. Two member teams will fish Truman Lake in hopes of netting one of several cash prizes that will be awarded. The fee to participate is $130 per team, which includes a meal and T-shirts.

Proceeds will benefit programs that support southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas individuals who have multiple sclerosis. MS is a lifelong disease of the central nervous system that causes unpredictable symptoms, such as fatigue and paralysis, which come and go without warning. For more information, or to register, call the Multiple Sclerosis Society-Ozark Branch Chapter.