On the Street

Missouri farmers hurt by record drought conditions can apply for low-interest emergency loans from the U.S. Farm Service Agency. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Aug. 24 approved Gov. Matt Blunt’s request to declare 112 of Missouri’s 114 counties disaster areas, making these loans available. Interested farmers can contact Springfield’s FSA office at (417) 831-5246 or visit the agency’s Web site, www.fsa.usda.gov/dafl/guaranteed.htm.

Scam in the Ozarks

The Better Business Bureau of the Ozarks reports that a California company is targeting Ozarks residents in a nationwide telephone scam. Orange County, Calif.-based telemarketer Buyer’s Union reportedly is offering promotional products worth up to $500 in exchange for membership in its program, charging between $100 and $250 a year for discounts at Home Depot, Sears, Wal-Mart, KMart and other retailers. However, the company makes it very difficult for consumers to cancel agreements – membership packets usually are not delivered before the seven-day cancellation period expires, and the retailers named are not affiliated, thus few promotions exist. Other BBBs have taken notice. Of the 1,275 consumer complaints to BBBs, nearly half said the company refused to tender a full refund, and a third said the company failed to perform according to their contracts. BBB of the Ozarks CEO Judy Mills suggests that consumers ask for membership terms and a phone number for cancellations before agreeing to membership.

Land conflict resolution

A Greene County land dispute was resolved Aug. 23 when Springfield and Rogersville officials withdrew their annexation ordinances for the same property along U.S. 60. Each city had earlier voted to add the 7.3 acres to its urban service area, which essentially means providing sewer services. The cities compromised so that their respective urban service areas will meet halfway, at Farm Road 213. The agreement must be approved by the cities’ governing bodies; approval is expected in the next 90 days.

Slice of Nice

Local disaster response groups didn’t wait long to lend their services to areas of Mississippi and Louisiana devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Convoy of Hope and Compassion Alliance trucks filled with ice, water, food and other supplies left Springfield almost immediately after the storm hit. And the local American Red Cross chapter had deployed about a quarter of its trained volunteers. Convoy is committed to sending 27 truckloads, and Compassion Alliance is prepared to send water, ice and ready-to-eat meals until the need is met. “This makes Hurricane Charlie look like a picnic,” Compassion Alliance staff member Steve Ewing told his Nixa cohorts by phone Aug. 31. Meanwhile, ham radio operators from the Nixa Amateur Radio Club have been using their radios to help Ozarks residents make contact with family members who might have been caught in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

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