On the Street

Deer are on the move this time of year, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol cautions drivers to be on the lookout. In 2003, Missouri had 3,819 deer-vehicle traffic crashes. In those crashes, four people were killed and 374 were injured.

Because this is mating season for deer, motorists are more likely to see them crossing roads. Hunting and crop harvesting may cause these graceful areas where they aren’t easily seen. Passengers can help drivers watch for deer – and since they often travel in groups, drivers should be on guard when a lone deer is spotted. Also, deer aren’t only found in rural areas. In 2003, 28.4 percent of the traffic crashes involving the animals happened in urban areas.

Hit the books

CoxHealth Auxiliary will hold a fall book sale 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 8 & 9 in the main lobby of Cox North and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 9 in the west lobby of Cox Walnut Lawn. Books also will be sold 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Nov. 10 and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 11 in the main lobby of Cox South. Proceeds from the book sale benefit auxiliary programs.

Holiday lights

More than 5 million lights will illuminate the Tri-Lakes area during the 2004 Branson Area Festival of Lights, which will run through Jan. 1. The drive-through lighting display stretches for two miles along Branson Hills Parkway near Highway 65 and Bee Creek Road. Displays include “12 Days of Christmas,” Santa and his reindeer, sailboat races, a nativity scene and a Victorian Christmas Scene. Branson Area Festival of lights is open 5 p.m. to midnight seven days a week. Admission is $7 per family vehicle and $50 for each commercial bus or motorcoach. Unlimited admission passes are $15 per family vehicle and can be purchased the Parkway or at any of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce welcome centers.

Kimberling City’s Port of Lights holiday lighting display runs 5:30 p.m.-midnight Nov. 3-Dec. 31. This three-mile attraction includes a holly wreath tunnel, a life-size Fontanini nativity and a candy cane forest, among others. Admission to the Port of Lights display is $7 per family vehicle or $1 per passenger for group tours.

On the Street

With Christmas less than eight weeks away, Court Appointed Special Advocates is offering holiday cards through its “Helping CASA Helping Kids” project. The cards feature seasonal pictures drawn by area schoolchildren in kindergarten through 12th grade. This year, CASA received 805 submissions from students of 24 southwest Missouri schools. A panel of judges selected 11 pictures for reproductions on the 2004 holiday cards. Cards are sold in packages of 20. The price varies depending on the number of cards purchased.

The card project is now in its fourth year. In 2003, CASA sold nearly 20,000 cards. Proceeds help CASA to provide trained volunteers for abused and neglected children. To order CASA holiday cards, call the local office at 417-864-7413, or visit www.casaswmo.org.