Good Riddance Old Year ...

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Is Dropping On 2008...

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The Ball On 2008...

New York's new Times Square "New Year's" ball on a live look by satellite.

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Macy's Solves Sales Woes By Double-Billing Customers

If you've bought ANYTHING at Macy's by debit card over the past few weeks- make sure you closely examine the receipt.

This according to an article at Consumerist.com.

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Top National Story of 2008: Taxpayer Bankruptcies - Corporate Bailouts

Opinions may vary- but my submission for top national news story of 2008 was the economy: both the record number of home foreclosures and the amazing American taxpayer welfare for failed American corporations.

Taxpayer welfare to the tune of a trillion-plus dollars- and counting.

In fact- this may well be the top story for the coming year also- as American taxpayer debt due to corporate welfare may become a crushing load on the American economy.

A close 2nd for top story? Of course- America's FIRST non-white- upper/ruling-class president.

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Kansas City's Top Weather Event For 2008: May 2 Tornadoes and High Winds

KC-MO had gone many years without a F-3 or stronger tornado within it's corporate limits.

That changed in 2003- and again this year on May 2.

Two tornadoes stuck the Northland in the early morning hours of May 2- while hurricane-force winds ravaged areas south of The River.

These events- beginning with tornado warnings on the evening of May 1- are documented in print- photo and video elsewhere in this blog and on YouTube.

The first tornado- a F-3- touched down in Gladstone near 70th Street and North Oak and moved northeastward. A 2nd and stronger F-4 tornado then formed near Northeast 108th Street and Missouri-291

Amazingly- there were only several minor injuries due to the tornadoes although a man was later found dead near a destroyed Arby's fast-food restaurant in Independence.

Independence police later attributed that man's death to storm-related injuries.

No final damage figures on this event have been seen- but it's safe to say area-wide damages totalled in the millions of dollars.

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Time-Warner-Looney Tunes May Drop MTV- Comedy Central- TV Land- Others

On the heels of yet ANOTHER price increase for Time-Warner cable and other service here in K.C.- the Associated Press reports Time-Warner may drop a number of popular cable channels.

The reason: A $$$ pissing match with those channels' company Viacom. All those channels could go dark at 12:01am tomorrow morning.

Time-Warner: You're gouging your customers with price increases- so settle up with Viacom or lose MORE customers to AT&T and satellite

Heh- with no Daily Show- how the HELL will we get our national news?

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His 36th Year In Times Square- Dick Clark's A Trooper

Rock & roll icon Dick Clark will appear at the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square- according to the Associated Press.

Mr. Clark just turned 79 last month- and a little over 4 years ago Clark suffered a stroke that forces him to use a cane or walker and has made his speaking difficult.

Yet- Dick Clark WILL be on hand to ring in 2009 tommorow night in New York City.

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Plaza "West Edge" Project Wants MORE Taxpayer $$$

This is the seemingly-eternal construction project on Belleview at West 48th Street in The Plaza.

It was intended to be the new headquarters for local ad agency Bernstein-Rein as well as mixed use- including a "boutique" hotel and a 1000+ vehicle parking garage- according to a Tuesday morning article in The KANSAS CITY STAR..

The project was slated to be completed in the spring of 2008- but Bernstein got into a pissing match with the contractor at the time- J.E. Dunn- and work on the project ground to a halt.

Of course- The Plaza being a blighted area- Beinstein got more than $31-million in tax-increment financing (TIF a.k.a. Corporate Welfare) to build his company's new palace but- incredibly- the project is seeking MORE corporate welfare.

Robert Beinstein told The STAR "that the city might be asked to increase it's financial support to the $130-million project- which already is benefiting from $31.6-million in" TIF.

If the City Council approves one additional dime for this or ANY project in or near The Plaza- every council member approving this dreck in the face of a city budget deficit of nearly $100-million should be impeached and/or recalled immediately.

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Some Kansas City Area Rainfall Totals For 2008

Kansas City sits on the cusp between the semi-arid region of the High Plains and the more temperate area of the lower Missouri River valley. Thus- 50-inch rainfall totals- while not rare- are uncommon.

Yet- several reporting stations in the Metro- mostly in Johnson County-KS and southern KC-MO (including here at CSW) reported 2008 rainfall totals of at least 50-inches- some even more.

The highest total found was in Overland Park- at 143rd St. & Grant on the Tomahawk Creek watershed- where 57.68-inches was recorded.

Little if any precipitation is expected in the Kansas City MetroRegion through New Year's Day.

The following is a list of the area's heaviest rainfalls from sensors reported by Johnson County-KS' "Stormwatch" website:


1100- O.P. City Hall (87th St. & Antioch) - 49.53

1150- Mission Rd. @ Indian Creek - 49.64

1200- U.S.G.S. (103rd St. & Marty-OP-KS) - 48.23

1300- Corp Woods (I-435 @ Indian Creek near Antioch) - 44.33

1400- Waterford (108th St. & Nieman-OP-KS-OakParkBranch) - 46.06

1450- I-435 @ Quivira - 32.54

1500- Olathe (151st St. E. of Ridgeview) - 50.59

1600- Roe @ Tomahawk (Creek) - 48.30

1610- Metcalf @ Tomahawk Creek - 50.24

1620- Quivira @ Tomahawk - 51.14

1630- Switzer @ Tomahawk Creek - 52.40

1640- Morse (151st St. near Quivira) - 54.73

1650- Pflumm @ Tomahawk - 54.37

1660- 135th and Pflumm - 49.25

1670- 143rd (St.) & Grant - 57.68

1680- Wilshire Woods (127th St. near Grant-OP-KS) - 48.78

1700- JCCC (College Blvd. & Quivira) - 45.27

1720- 103rd St. @ Indian Creek (KC-MO) - 47.79

1730- I-435 & Nall - 48.78

1800- AS Toyta (Lydia @ Indian Creek-KC-MO) - 49.37

2010- 151st St. & England - 49.72

2030- 199th & Padbury - 47.12

2050- Bonita (175th St. E. of U.S. 169-JoCoKS) - 50.98

2060- 199th St. & Ridgeview - 47.12

2070- Stilwell (199th St. & Newton Ave.) - 51.30

2080- 191st St. & Mission Rd. - 50.39

2090- 191st (St.) @ E. Wolf Creek - 48.46

2100- Pflumm @ Coffee Creek - 50.94

2120- Switzer @ Coffee Creek - 46.18

2140- Mission @ E. Camp Branch Creek - 53.23

2180- Metcalf @ Negro Creek - 52.68

2200- Mission Rd. @ Negro Creek - 49.88

2210- Kenneth @ Negro Creek - 48.42

2220- Lackman (Rd.) @ Wolf Creek - 47.56

2240- 179th St. @ Wolf Creek - 46.77

2260- US69 @ Blue River - 48.90

2300- Kenneth Rd. @Big Blue River KC-MO - 48.54

2320- Red Bridge @(Big) Blue River KC-MO - 43.22

2380- AS 95th St. @(Big) Blue (River) KC-MO - 35.78

2400- AlliedSignal (Apx. 2100 E. 90th St.) @(Big) Blue (Tributary) KC-MO - 42.00

2420- 85th St @(Big) Blue River KC-MO - 41.21

2440- 63rd St. @(Big) Blue River KC-MO - 50.00

2500- 17th St. @(Big) Blue River KC-MO - 51.18

2980- Metcalf @ Turkey (Creek) - 46.18

2990- Lamar @ Turkey Creek - 46.61

3000- Southwest Blvd. @ Turkey Creek - 49.37

3010- Johnson Drive @ Turkey Creek - 50.35

3020- 69th (St.) @Turkey Creek - 41.97

3090- I-35/Antioch @ Turkey Creek - 45.86

3110- 87th Lane @ Mill Creek - 45.75

3120- Shawnee Mission Pkwy. @ Mill Creek - 46.22

3130- Lackman @ Little Mill Creek - 47.87

3150- Woodland @ Coon Creek - 47.20

3160- 79th St. @ Little Mill Creek - 49.72

3170- Woodland Rd @ Clear Creek - 49.09

3180- 67th St. & Caenen - 48.23

3190- Johnson Dr. & K-7 - 45.98

3200- K-10 and K-7 - 43.82

3210- Old Hwy 56 @ Harrison - 46.54

3220- Olathe Lake (135th St.) - 40.71

3230- 119th St. @ Cedar Creek - 45.83

3240- K-10 @ Cedar Creek - 43.66

3250- 119th St @ Little Cedar Creek - 46.69

3260- 95th St. @ Camp Creek - 46.14

3270- 127th St. @ Cedar Creek - 42.01

3280- Desoto Streamway Park (Gardner Rd. near KS River) - 43.27

3290- 75th St. @ K-7 - 44.92

3300- Gardner Lake (Discharge-151st St. - E. Kill Creek) - 43.15

3310- 143rd St @ Kill Creek - 42.40

3330- 127th St. @ Kill Creek - 44.06

3340- 95th St. @ Kill Creek - 40.59

3350- 151st St. @ Spoon Creek - 44.68

3360- Lexington Ave. & Sunshine - 43.82

3400- 127th and Evening Star - 43.11

3420- 159th St. & Edgerton Rd. - 44.33

3440- 191st St. & Dillie Road - 41.18

3450- New Century Airport - 47.60

3460- JOCO Transit (Old U.S. 56 & Robinson-Olathe) - 45.28

5020- 75th St. @ Brush Creek (Prairie Village) - 51.93

5030- 74th St. @ Brush Creek (PV-KS) - 47.68

5050- Lee Blvd. (8700 blk.) @ Dykes Branch (Leawood-KS) - 45.82

5100- Brooklyn PS (6100 Brooklyn-KC-MO) - 42.47

5200- Linwood (near U.S. 71) KC-MO - 49.25

5300- KC College (78th St. & Tomahawk-PV-KS) - 40.90

5400- Paseo HS (1900 E. Cleaver Blvd.) KC-MO - 45.51

5600- Porter Park (7400 Roe-PV-KS) - 50.27

5700- Martway @ Rock Creek (Mission-KS) - 43.81

5800- Ward Pkwy (@ Brush Creek) KC-MO - 45.39

5900- Main/Brookside (@ Brush Creek-KC-MO) - 48.46

6000- Elmwood (@ Brush Creek) KC-MO - 45.11

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You Get What You Pay For In This Company's Name

It's a Mount Vernon-MO-based outfit called "Freefall Express Skydiving"- their website's HERE.

KSHB-41 Action News reports that one of their customers got what the company promises when a parachute failed to open Sunday.

No report if the company was using Maxwell House parachutes.

You know- the ones that are "good to the last drop."

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Poppin' The Mushrooms and Drinkin' The Kool-Aid

That's the ONLY logical conclusion I can come to when I see some people actually ADMIRE Pres. Chimp (G.W. Bush- apologies to GOOD apes everywhere) and the Sarahcuda (S. Palin).

I won't even name the local blog that came up with that fantasy- for they probably still call black folk "Negroes" and long for the 1950's. Only one blogger I read regularily links them anyway (for comic purposes).

I can understand Americans becoming jaded with things- but being brainwashed by idiots stretches even my imagination.

Of consolation is the fact these seemingly "tripped-out" Americans ought to go crazy with Obama in charge for the next 4 years...

Ought to be good for the mushroom & Kool-Aid industry anyway....

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Raytown-MO: Keep Two - Lose One

Ah- bring back the old days!

The days when a merchant saw profit in locating their business in a city without that merchant holding that city's tax revenue hostage.

Raytown-MO falls willing victim in giving 2 of it's thriving businesses- WalMart and HyVee- tax breaks to build new structures (get ready for a new eyesore at 67th St. & Blue Ridge).

Raytown didn't extend any corporate welfare to another (purely) local business- and that business- Coddington's Thriftway grocery store- announces it's closing it's doors in 2009.

Local blogger Greg Walters tells the story over at his blog Raytown Report on how corporate welfare ALWAYS slaps-back to the taxpayer.

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"Enjoy Your Jackson County Parks"

We've had liked to- seeing how it was a nearly 70-degree winters' day last Friday.



But alas- the Jackson County-MO taxpayer apparently doesn't pay enough to keep those parks open on spring-like winter days.



Jackson County should change the tagline on their TV commercial to "Enjoy Your Jackson County Parks When They're Open."

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"The Dog-and-Pony Show of Kansas City"

No- I'm not speaking of KC-MO city council meetings.



The title quote is from fellow blogger Mark Smith (no relation to the Raytown Ford guy) who operates the Kansas City blog The Random Ramblings of The Midtown Miscreant.



The local free rag The Pitch did a story on The Midtown Miscreant recently- a story you may want to pass on if you're a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

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Lee's Summit Girl Shot While In Bed

It happened around 1:20am Sunday morning in the 600 block of Northeast Newport Drive in Lee's Summit.

L.S. police reported they received a call from the father of the reported 10-year-old female victim. The girl apparently screamed from her bedroom that her knee was bleeding and Dad went to investigate.

The father reportedly told police the girl's wound was round and there was a hole in the wall next to the girl's bed.

Police and paramedics arrived: EMS took the girl to an area trauma center in good condition- police took a neighbor- suspected of firing the shot inside his duplex and causing the girl's wound- to LSPD headquarters.

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All-Night Tornado Watch - All-Night Broadcast News and Weather Too?

From what I'm hearing- there were either few or no TV and broadcast radio pre-warnings for Saturday morning's severe storm and wind event.

Metro Kansas City and a large part of the surrounding area was under a Tornado Watch until 5am Saturday morning.

There were isolated thunderstorm cells already in the Metro when I began my shift at midnight. One inch hail was reported in Independence-MO around 12:15am..

Lines of thunderstorms were building from north-central into south-central Kansas at that time- and they roared east and northeastward- at speeds up to 75MPH as reported by one NWS warning text over the next few hours.

Around 4:30am- a wind gust of 79 MPH was officially recorded at New Century (IXD) airport near Gardner-KS- and the NWS office in Pleasant Hill announced a severe storm warning was being issued for Johnson County (it would also include Wyandotte in KS as well as parts of Cass- Clay & Jackson counties MO.).

Over the next 20 minutes- winds of 60 to 80 MPH ripped east and northeastward- bringing down power lines and tree limbs (some whole trees too). There was scattered structural damage: a roof ripped from an apartment building in Grandview-MO as well as a business in southern Overland Park-KS and KC-MO. Trees fell on houses in Prairie Village-KS as well as KC-MO..

I was too busy taking information and passing it on to my media client KSHB-41 to notice who was doing what on TV or commercial radio. Too busy even to take phone calls during and post event from concerned friends and family.

I do know the morning news producer had arrived but there apparently was no one in 41's weather center. From what I've heard from others- it was basically the same on all the other TV stations in town- as well as commercial radio.

Fortunately- except for the driver of a UPS truck that was blown over on I-435 in Lenexa during the storm- there were no reported injuries.

Other than what I know for sure who was where- this I DO know:

Like the early-morning hours of last May 2nd- when there's a tornado watch that includes Metro Kansas City and the watch covers overnight periods- during the winter- you BEST have somebody ready to go on the air when hurricane-force winds are about to strike a 2-million-person metropolitan area.

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K.C. BREAKING WEATHER: ICE STORM COMETH?

As a cold front plows into the Metro- an area of freezing rain is not far behind.

It was 34 at Lawrence & 33 in Topeka- both with freezing rain - at 5am..

Temperatures here in south KC-MO have fallen from 68-degrees at 4:45am to 40-degrees at 5:45am..

Keep close check on the weather for at least the next 2-4 hours as a large area of precip moves through the Metro as temperatures fall to near freezing this morning.

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Kansas City's BREAKING NEWS: Wind Damage in JoCo-Kansas - KC-MO

There are reports of structures- both residential and commercial- damaged by high winds from a severe thunderstorm that moved through between 4:30 and 5am Saturday morning.



Areas of West 159th and Outlook to the 151-15700 blocks of Metcalf are among those affected. Thus far- no injuries reported in these areas...



Probably high winds blew a semi-trailer truck into the median of I-435 south of 87th in Lenexa. The driver's injuries were not life-threatening.



Power lines are down throughout northeastern JoCo-KS. with widespread power outages through JoCo-KS & mid & southern KC/Jackson County MO..



Mission Road closed at 56th Street due to downed power lines just to name one of an increasing number. Trees reported down on houses in Prairie Village & KC-MO- 400 block of East 69th Street for this one.



No injuries heard from flying debris yet...





More later...

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K.C. Metro BREAKING WEATHER: Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Johnson COunty KS

Wind gust of 79 MPH reported at New Century Airport- also reported a tree fell on a police patrol car- possibly near Gardner- officer not injured.

Warning until 5:15am...

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K.C. MetroRegion BREAKING WEATHER: Severe Thunderstorm Warning- Douglas County KS- Lawrence

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
347 AM CST SAT DEC 27 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
DOUGLAS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...
FRANKLIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...
EASTERN OSAGE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 430 AM CST

* AT 343 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES
WEST OF POMONA STATE PARK...OR 22 MILES WEST OF OTTAWA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 75 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
OTTAWA...
CENTROPOLIS...
GLOBE...
RANTOUL...
LONE STAR...
CLINTON...
CLINTON LAKE...
PLEASANT GROVE...
BALDWIN CITY...
CLINTON STATE PARK...
WELLSVILLE...
VINLAND...
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE...
EUDORA...

THIS INCLUDES THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 200 AND 206.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 158 AND 199.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE
TORNADOES RAPIDLY.

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K.C. Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: SPC Tornado Watch Continues

Tornado Watch Number 955 continues for the entire K.C. Metro and that part of the MetroRegion generally along and south of U.S. 36 until 5am this Saturday morning.
A thunderstorm squall line continues to develop from north-central into southern Kansas at this time- moving eastward toward the KS MetroRegion counties- and the Metro.

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K.C. Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: NWS-SPC- "Slight Risk" Of Severe Storms Today- Overnight

No- it's NOT April 1st...

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman-OK has most of the southern half of the Kansas City MetroRegion- including about the southeastern half of the Central States- in a "slight risk" of severe thunderstorms and their accompanying weather.

This risk runs mainly later this Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning.

The following graphics (click on to biggen) show the risk area- as well as risks for tornadoes- hail and high winds.

CSW will be on-duty overnight tonight and tomorrow night (wintry precip) for updates....

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Kansas City's BREAKING NEWS: Fire At Bayer Plant (KCPL Hawthorne Plant)

At 5:12pm- fourteen (14) KC-MO Fire companies were sent on a "high-rise response" to the KCP&L's Hawthorne power plant at 8400 Hawthorne Road in the East Bottoms.

The plant is northeast of the I-435 & Front Street intersection.

Firefighters arrived and waited- only to find out at 5:22pm the fire is at the Bayer plant next door.

Chief 104 reports "smoke and fire showing" at the Bayer plant a minute later. The Bayer plant contains many chemicals.

At 5:24pm- a 2nd-alarm was requested and seven (7) more fire companies were sent- more than half of the KC-MO Fire Dept. companies in the city..

More as received...

--------

UPDATE - 1943 CST - This fire- which was reported by the KC-MO FD as being a solvent used in making herbicides- was declared under control about 6:15pm.

The fire was in a tower-like structure that contained piping carrying the burning agent. Firefighting foam was applied to the fire via flypipe from a ladder truck. The Southern Platte Fire Protection District (Parkville) assisted with their foam unit.

No damage estimates were yet available and there were no reported injuries.

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America Owes Caroline Kennedy

You may disagree with me on this- but I think this country OWES Caroline that New York Senate seat Hillary Clinton is vacating.

If nothing else- because Caroline lost her father who was serving his country- again mind you.
If Caroline wants to serve the citizens of New York in this manner- I say more power to her and the seat SHOULD be offered to John F. Kennedy's lone surviving child.

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Merry Christmas From CSW

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White Christmas? Sort Of...

Snow has ended over most of Metro Kansas City- and will be ending from west to east over the Missouri MetroRegion during thr next several hours.

Snowfall totals ranged from around 1/2-inch in southern Overland Park and Olathe to nearly 3 inches in northern portions of the Metro- 2-1/2-inches reported at K.C.I. airport.

Conditions on area freeways and heavily-travelled roadways for the most part are patchy ice & snow spots. Side and lesser-travelled streets have snow and ice accumulations- but for the most part are passable.

A warm day Friday with temperatures in the 50's should melt most of this snow cover- in time for another snow system moving in here Saturday.

Travel safe and smart- and a heartfelt Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

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Kansas City Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: NWS "Winter Weather Advisory" Overnight

From the National Weather Service offices in Pleasant Hill and Topeka:


.A COLD FRONT WILL BE ENTERING NORTHWEST MISSOURI THIS EVENING...MOVING TO NEAR A KANSAS CITY TO BETHANY LINE BY LATE EVENING.
BEHIND THIS COLD FRONT...LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN TO BREAK OUT ACROSS EXTREME NORTHEAST KANSAS AND THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF MISSOURI DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS.
HOWEVER...THE HEAVIER SNOWFALL WILL NOT START TO FALL UNTIL THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. BY MORNING- AREAS FROM KANSAS CITY TO FAYETTE- NORTHWARD TO THE IOWA BORDER MAY PICK UP AT LEAST 3 INCHES OF SNOW- AND A HEAVIER BAND OF SNOW OF UP TO 5 INCHES MAY OCCUR IN THIS AREA.
TO THE SOUTH FROM EAST CENTRAL KANSAS INTO CENTRAL MISSOURI SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE MAY OCCUR BEFORE THE SNOW PICKS UP...SO AMOUNTS OF SNOW MAY BE 3 INCHES OR LESS.
ALL THE SNOW SHOULD TAPER OFF IN THE MORNING HOURS ON WEDNESDAY.



(Kansas Metro KC and Missouri Counties included are:) MIAMI- LINN KS- LAFAYETTE- CASS- JOHNSON MO- BATES- HENRY-ATCHISON KS- DONIPHAN- LEAVENWORTH- WYANDOTTE- JOHNSON KS- ATCHISON MO- NODAWAY- WORTH- GENTRY- HARRISON- MERCER- HOLT- ANDREW- DE KALB- DAVIESS- GRUNDY-BUCHANAN- CLINTON- CALDWELL- LIVINGSTON- PLATTE- CLAY- RAY- CARROLL- JACKSON-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ATCHISON- TROY- LEAVENWORTH- KANSAS CITY KS- OVERLAND PARK- OLATHE- TARKIO- ROCKPORT- MARYVILLE- GRANT CITY- ALBANY- STANBERRY- BETHANY- PRINCETON- MOUND CITY- OREGON- SAVANNAH- CAMERON- GALLATIN- JAMESPORT- TRENTON- ST. JOSEPH- PLATTSBURG- KINGSTON- HAMILTON- POLO- CHILLICOTHE- PARKVILLE- PLATTE CITY- WESTON- LIBERTY- EXCELSIOR SPRINGS- RICHMOND- CARROLLTON- KANSAS CITY- INDEPENDENCE- PAOLA- MOUND CITY- LEXINGTON- CONCORDIA- RAYMORE- HARRISONVILLE- PLEASANT HILL- WARRENSBURG- BUTLER- RICH HILL- CLINTON-

422 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST WEDNESDAY.

SNOW WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHEAST KANSAS AND NORTHWEST MISSOURI DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS BUT SHOULD NOT BECOME WIDESPREAD OR HEAVY UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES LATE TONIGHT THROUGH DAYBREAK...WITH AT LEAST 3 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE BY MORNING. SOME LOCATIONS MAY SEE HEAVIER BANDS OF SNOW SET UP...WHICH MAY RESULT IN 4 OR 5 INCHES OF SNOW OCCURRING. THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF WEDNESDAY MORNING.

------

(Kansas Counties Included are:) JEFFERSON- MORRIS- WABAUNSEE- SHAWNEE- DOUGLAS- LYON- OSAGE- FRANKLIN- COFFEY- ANDERSON-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF TOPEKA- LAWRENCE- EMPORIA- OTTAWA

337 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE AND SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY.

FREEZING DRIZZLE LATE THIS EVENING WILL TRANSITION TO LIGHT TO AT TIMES MODERATE SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT... WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW ENDING BY DAWN. A GLAZE OF ICE IS EXPECTED WITH THE FREEZING DRIZZLE... THEN ONE TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW... SLEET...FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES.
BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

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Next In America: The Worthless Dollar

This will be in response to the trillions of dollars government presses are printing to "ease" the coming Great Depression.

The Worthless Dollar BTW - is sponsored by Mega-Inflation and the Mega-Rich.

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K.C. Metroregion WEATHER: New Storm Not A BIG Deal

It now appears any new snow cover for Christmas Day appears negligible- maybe only an inch or two..

There will probably be at least 2-3 periods of light precipitation- some may be the frozen variety- but no major travel problems IN THE Metro and immediately surrounding areas- through Wednesday.

We also could see some sort of winter weather advisory due to light freezing drizzle or rain- but rising temperatures to around the freezing mark should make road treatments effective.

There COULD be some light precip on Christmas evening- but again that shouldn't be of great concern.

I'd be nice to see some snowflakes on Christmas Day anyway....

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Crude Oil Price Below $40

At 3:29pm- the listed price on CNBC of a barrel of crude oil stood at $39.80.

We had gas prices as low as $1.28 a gallon 2 weeks ago- most areas had gone back up to the $1.40 range.

Big Oil wasn't making enough money off us citizens.

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Denver Jet Just Missed An Airport Fire Station

The Continental jet that crashed off a Denver International airport runway missed one of the 4 DIA fire stations by a mere 200 yards- according to Associated Press reports and the following AP images.

Yes- it's a miracle that no one died in this one and that the jet didn't go off the runway 200 yards (600 feet) sooner....

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AP: No Accountability In Wall Street Bailout

The Feds will come after you in a heartbeat if you chince them out of a few HUNDRED dollars- but hundreds of BILLIONS in taxpayer dollars have literally disappeared.

In our continuing series Nothing Makes Americans Angry- here's more ammo for those who DO care- courtesy of the Associated Press and MyWay- your non-spam portal to news.

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K.C. Chiefs Reward Faithful Fans...

by losing again.

I wonder- did the K.C. Chiefs Inc. treat what few thousand fans showed up with ANY freebees?

Free parking? Hot coffee at least?

You'd think that Chiefs Inc. could afford it- seeing how they just got a $25-million tax break from the State of Missouri to move their "training camp" facility to St. Joseph.

If Chiefs Inc. DIDN'T give those faithful few that showed up Sunday a victory at LEAST (not)- then who can blame those that have said: To Hell with the Chiefs?

There are LOTS of other- CHEAPER and more rewarding things in life to be obsessed about anyway....

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Visible Satellite and Snow Cover Over America

Here is a visible weather satellite from this Sunday afternoon.

Above the red line is the visible snow cover (where cloud cover doesn't hide it)- showing virtually the northern half of America covered in snow.
Earlier this morning- a freezing rain storm hit parts of the Pacific Northwest.

Here are a few traffic camera images from Seattle and Vancouver-WA- taken about 3AM Pacific Time.

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It's Now Officially Winter

Having had a lot of practice- we are now ready for what is official as this minute: winter.

I'm looking just as forward as you are to the announcement of the spring equinox next March.

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Video Snips Of A December Weekend in Kansas City-MO

These videos were shot last Saturday as we took Ms. Rittenhouse's kids to go see Christmas lights.



These are of 1) the Grand side of the Power & Light district-

2) exterior driving shot of Sprint Arena-
3-4) some vids of people on The Plaza waiting forand riding the horse-drawn carriages &
5) the moving LED lights on the Downtown Marriot hotel.
More videos of area residentIal Christmas light displays coming over the next few days....

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"No Joking Matter?"

I'm sure you've heard about this con-man who bilked investors out of a crapload of money.

Hard to really explain it all- just suffice with Madoff with billions....

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Snow On The Ground For Christmas? Maybe

The latest weather models are showing a chance for snow next Tuesday and early Wednesday- Christmas Eve.

I'll keep you informed on this....

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Oil Companies Set-Up Christmas Price Gouge

As I write this at 10:29am Friday December 19- 2008- the listed price for a barrel of sweet crude oil is selling at $34.61- a new low this year.

Yet locally- gasoline prices have risen anywhere from 10 to 20-cents per gallon this week- from the upper $1.20's now into the mid-$1.40's.

I'm sure the oil companies won't require you to giftwrap those gouge dollars you pay them. Just as well- I'd tell them to go $@!& themselves anyway....

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KC-MO Council Gives Away $20.5-Million

They say if you live long enough- there is nothing new under the Sun.

I guess I've lived long enough.

Kansas City-MO- like many cities and governments across the UCSA (United Corporate States of America) is hurting financially.

To the tune of a $90-million shortfall it's reported.

Yet incredibly- Thursday the KC-MO council APPROVED $20.5-million in corporate welfare to finally build the "high-risk"* Citadel Plaza project.

You can mark these words: Within 5 years or so- the Citadel Plaza retail will be as dead as that other subsidized strip center at 31st Street & Prospect. And the taxpayers of Kansas City-MO will be on the hook to pay for it all.

Remember this $20.5-million handout when the City Council wants to charge city residents for trash pickup- etc..

The City will bilk us TWICE with that....

(* According to The KANSAS CITY STAR)

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Metro K.C. BREAKING Weather: Precip Entering Southern Metro Counties

Shown below is the latest NWS weather radar image from Topeka (click on it for full-size)- showing freezing rain- sleet and/or snow now entering southern Miami county KS and Cass county MO..

This area is lifting north to northeast toward Metro Kansas City.

Temperatures in the Metro remain below freezing- 11am readings ranged from 24 at KCI to 28-degrees at New Century airport in JoCoKS..

Precipitation will move in during the next hour- and temperatures are to remain BELOW FREEZING through at least 4pm now.

This is a developing and changing weather event- PLEASE check the latest weather sources before travelling later today.

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New NWS Winter Forecast For January- February and March 2009

The new NWS-Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 3-month weather outlook charts are out- it appears the MetroRegion could expect above-average temperatures and precipitation through March.

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Jackson County Coroner Rules August Infant Death A Homicide

This is according to The KANSAS CITY STAR's "Crime Scene KC" page.

Two questions:
1) Doesn't Clay County-MO have a coroner and
2) The kid died in AUGUST- so WHY did it take this long to determine the child's death was a homicide?

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"High Risk" Citadel Plaza Project Gambling With Taxpayers Dollars

The long-awaited Citadel Plaza project in the 63rd Street & Prospect area wants $20-million in backing for it's bonds from the city's coffers.

All I and probably many citizens can say to this is HUH???

This retail & residential project has been in the planning stages for about the past 15 years. I know the area well- having grown-up around 61st Street & Swope Parkway.

In 1967- a Milgram's grocery store and Katz (later Scaggs) drug store sat on the southwest corner of 63rd & Prospect. A popular Zesto drive-in sat just east of the intersection on the southeast corner.

Six blocks west was the Metro Plaza strip shopping center that also contained a drug store- grocery store- multi-screen theaters and other retail.

The neighborhoods surrounding these areas were thriving and vibrant.

Then- what happened in most large American cities happened here- accelerated by the 1968 race riots.

The wealthier white folks moved out- the poorer people of color moved in.

Over the next 30 years- my lovely old neighborhood deteriorated to the point our old house is now boarded-up- yards unkempt and all just generally neglected.

$20-million plus whatever else is the cost of this new development would have gone a long- long way in making and keeping these surrounding neighborhoods viable.

The fact remains that the people in this area have limited incomes- many decimated by the present failing economy.

And I don't think many white folks in the 'burbs are going to drive in just to shop at Citadel Plaza.

Oh- did I mention that likely everything sold in the new development will COST MORE than stores a few miles away near the inner ring of suburbs?

Those two factors alone make the Citadel Plaza project "high risk" as The KANSAS CITY STAR calls the project in a news story this morning.

Fifth-district councilman Terry Riley should be praised for TRYING to do SOMETHING to make that wonderful area gone sour viable again.

Councilman Riley also should be brought to his economic sense regarding this project- which has failure witten all over it as it stands.

You probably would have better luck making a profit on that $20-million playing blackjack with it.

The odds of success surely must be higher at a casino than at 63rd Street & Prospect.

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K.C MetroRegion WEATHER: NWS Freezing Rain Advisory Metro - Ice Storm Warnings North

Here are the latest advisories for the Metro and MetroRegion.

Expect freezing drizzle to develop over Metro K.C. around or just after midnight.
I still expect the worst of this storm passing to our north thru northeast- we should (better) see above freezing temperatures by noon Thursday.


URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
448 PM CST WED DEC 17 2008

...SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED ACROSS FAR NORTHERN
MISSOURI THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.AN INTENSE WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. ON tHURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL DRAW ABUNDANT MOISTURE NORTHWARD WHILE COLD AIR LEFT OVER BY A RETREATING AREA OF ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING KEEPING THE COLD AIR IN PLACE NORTH OF THE TRACK OF THE LOW. LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THURSDAY MORNING OVER WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI WITH FREEZING RAIN EXPANDING IN COVERAGE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE UPPER SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
THE HEAVIEST ICE ACCUMULATIONS AREA FORECAST NORTH OF A ST JOSEPH TO KIRKSVILLE LINE WHERE ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH OF ICE IS LIKELY. FURTHER SOUTH FROM THE ST JOSEPH AREA TO MACON ONE TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE IS POSSIBLE. AREAS FROM KANSAS CITY TO MOBERLY SOUTHWARD CAN EXPECT LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE.


LEAVENWORTH-WYANDOTTE-JOHNSON KS-PLATTE-CLAY-RAY-CARROLL-CHARITON-
RANDOLPH-JACKSON-LAFAYETTE-SALINE-HOWARD-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEAVENWORTH... KANSAS CITY KS... OVERLAND PARK... OLATHE... PARKVILLE... PLATTE CITY... WESTON... LIBERTY... EXCELSIOR SPRINGS... RICHMOND... CARROLLTON... SALISBURY... KEYTESVILLE... MOBERLY... KANSAS CITY... INDEPENDENCE... LEXINGTON... CONCORDIA... MARSHALL... FAYETTE... NEW FRANKLIN

448 PM CST WED DEC 17 2008

...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST
THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A
FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST
THURSDAY.

AREAS OF LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE EXPECTED TO FORM FROM EXTREME EAST CENTRAL KANSAS INTO CENTRAL MISSOURI BY THE MID TO LATE MORNING HOURS. SOME PATCHY LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IS ALSO FORECAST TO DEVELOP DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS BEFORE WARMER AIR MOVES BY LATE AFTERNOON.
TEMPERATURES BY THEN WILL REACH THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 30S AND ALL OF THE FREEZING PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO RAIN. ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY BE LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH.

A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS. SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.


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URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
448 PM CST WED DEC 17 2008

...SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED ACROSS FAR NORTHERN
MISSOURI THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

AN INTENSE WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. ON tHURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL DRAW ABUNDANT MOISTURE NORTHWARD WHILE COLD AIR LEFT OVER BY A RETREATING AREA OF ARCTIC HIGH pRESSURE. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK ACROSS WEST
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING KEEPING THE COLD AIR IN PLACE NORTH OF THE TRACK OF THE LOW. LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THURSDAY MORNING OVER WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI WITH FREEZING RAIN EXPANDING IN COVERAGE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE UPPER SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THE HEAVIEST ICE ACCUMULATIONS AREA FORECAST NORTH OF A ST JOSEPH TO KIRKSVILLE LINE WHERE ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH OF ICE IS LIKELY. FURTHER SOUTH FROM THE ST JOSEPH AREA TO MACON ONE TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE IS POSSIBLE. AREAS FROM KANSAS CITY TO MOBERLY SOUTHWARD CAN EXPECT LESS tHAN A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE.


ATCHISON KS-DONIPHAN-DE KALB-DAVIESS-BUCHANAN-CLINTON-CALDWELL-
LIVINGSTON-LINN MO-MACON-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... ATCHISON... TROY... CAMERON... GALLATIN... JAMESPORT... ST. JOSEPH... PLATTSBURG... KINGSTON... HAMILTON... POLO... CHILLICOTHE... BROOKFIELD... MACON... LA PLATA

448 PM CST WED DEC 17 2008

...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM THURSDAY TO 6 AM
CST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A
FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM THURSDAY
TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY.

AREAS OF LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE AND PATCHY LIGHT FREEZING RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO FORM FROM EXTREME EAST CENTRAL KANSAS INTO NORTHERN MISSOURI DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE FREEZING PRECIPITATION WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD BY LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING...AND MAY EVEN MIX WITH RAIN AS TEMPERATURES NEAR THE FREEZING MARK.
IN ADDITION...A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY RANGE BETWEEN ONE AND TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH.

A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS. SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

$$

MJ

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URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
448 PM CST WED DEC 17 2008

...SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED ACROSS FAR NORTHERN
MISSOURI THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.AN INTENSE WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL DRAW ABUNDANT MOISTURE NORTHWARD WHILE COLD AIR LEFT OVER BY A RETREATING AREA OF ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING KEEPING THE COLD AIR IN PLACE NORTH OF THE TRACK OF THE LOW. LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THURSDAY MORNING OVER WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI WITH FREEZING RAIN EXPANDING IN COVERAGE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE UPPER SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THE HEAVIEST ICE ACCUMULATIONS AREA FORECAST NORTH OF A ST JOSEPH TO KIRKSVILLE LINE WHERE ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH OF ICE IS LIKELY. FURTHER SOUTH FROM THE ST JOSEPH AREA TO MACON ONE TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE IS POSSIBLE. AREAS FROM KANSAS CITY TO MOBERLY SOUTHWARD CAN EXPECT LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE.


MIAMI-LINN KS-CASS-JOHNSON MO-PETTIS-COOPER-BATES-HENRY-

\INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLA... MOUND CITY... RAYMORE... HARRISONVILLE... PLEASANT HILL... WARRENSBURG... SEDALIA... BOONVILLE... BUTLER... RICH HILL... CLINTON

448 PM CST WED DEC 17 2008

...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 12 PM CST
THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A
FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 12 PM
CST THURSDAY.

AREAS OF LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FROM WEST CENTRAL INTO CENTRAL MISSOURI THURSDAY MORNING. ALTHOUGH ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY BE A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH OR LESS... EVEN A LIGHT GLAZING OF ICE CAN CREATE SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY WARMER AIR WILL BE DRAWN NORTH AND BY THE NOON HOUR TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY REACH THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 30S AND ALL OF THE FREEZING PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO RAIN.

A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS. SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

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