On the Street

As ice storms interrupted power to residents in the Kansas City area and parts of Kansas over the last few weeks, Empire District Electric Co. crews came to their aid. More than 30 Empire workers, including four support personnel, helped Westar Energy restore service to 26,000 customers in the Newton and Wichita, Kan. areas Jan. 9-13. The same Empire crew helped Kansas City Power and Light restore power to customers Jan. 4-8. Joplin-based Empire also sent a truckload of materials to Westar, part of the mutual assistance provided among utilities. “Whenever a utility is faced with conditions that are beyond the capabilities of their own crews, they call on neighboring utilities for help,” said Mike Palmer, Empire’s vice president of commercial operations, in a news release.

Tsunami effects

The world’s most powerful earthquake in 40 years, which brought devastating Indian Ocean waves ashore in South Asia, had a ripple effect in southwest Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Water levels in a southern Lawrence County well that DNR observes registered a volatile shake-up Dec. 25. DNR equipment that monitors the well in southern Aurora recorded a large, sudden fluctuation in the water level attributed to shockwaves from the quake. As a precautionary measure, the Lawrence County Health Department recommends that residents living near the well and the adjacent Aurora water tower have their water tested for pollutants.

New super in school

Ozark’s R-VI School District will begin the 2005-06 school year with a new superintendent at the helm. Leo Snelling is retiring after nine years as superintendent and 34 years in education. Gordon Pace, Reeds Spring superintendent since 1999, will succeed Snelling. In his time at Reeds Spring, Pace managed a 10-year master plan and worked to pass a $13.4 million bond issue to fund renovations, a new stadium and a new elementary school. Pace inherits a $26 million budget and more than 250 employees in Ozark.

Slice of Nice

Two educational exhibits are landing in Springfield within days of each other. The Big Mouth opens Jan. 23 at Discovery Center of Springfield, 438 E. St. Louis. The grand opening, 1-5 p.m. that day, is free to the public. The permanent exhibit completes the center’s BodyWorks Sense-sational Hall, which uses the five senses to teach visitors about the nervous system. The Big Mouth teaches about preventive dental care and the sense of taste. Five days later, a giant sea creature begins a three-month stay at Wonders of Wildife. In Search of Giant Squid, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit, opens Jan. 28 with an exhibit preview and reception, 6-8 p.m. Exhibit curator Clyde Roper speaks at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (417) 890-9453. Reception tickets are $10 for WOW members, $12 for students and $17.50 for all others.