Ozarks Celebrates the 4th

SEVERAL MORE COUNTIES AND TOWNS ACROSS THE OZARKS ARE ISSUING BURN BANS BECAUSE OF THE HOT, DRY WEATHER.  WEBSTER AND POLK COUNTIES ARE ASKING RESIDENTS NOT TO DO ANY OUTSIDE BURNING.  BANS ON FIREWORKS ARE ALSO IN FORCE IN HALFWAY AND FORSYTH.  OUTDOOR BURNING BANS ARE IN EFFECT FOR MARSHFIELD, FAIR GROVE, ASH GROVE, SEYMOUR, NIAGUA, NIXA, ROLLA AND ALL OF PHELPS AND MILLER COUNTIES.
THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC FIREWORKS DISPLAYS AND CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE OZARKS.  IN SPRINGFIELD, FIREWORKS AT THE FIELD KICKS OFF A 3PM WITH ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA CONCLUDING WITH A FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT HAMMONS FIELD AFTER SUNSET.FIRE HAS DESTROYED ONE HOME AND DAMAGED ANOTHER SOUTH OF SHELL KNOB.  INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE FRIEWORKS SHOT OFF BY A 14 YEAR OLD BOY SET FIRE TO A FIELD, SPREAD TO SOME TREES AND INTO THE HOME.
THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL IS OUT IN FORCE OVER THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY.  THE 20 MILE TROOPER OPERATION WILL HAVE A TROOPER STATIONED EVERY 20 MILES ALONG I-44 AND SOME OTHER MAJOR HIGHWAYS ACROSS THE STATE BETWEEN NOW AND SUNDAY NIGHT.  EMPHASIS IS ON SPEEDING, SEAT BELT USE AND DRUNK DRIVING.  LAST YEAR 14 PEOPLE DIED ON THE STATE'S HIGHWAYS OVER THE 4TH AND 478 WERE INJURED IN A TOTAL OF ONE-THOUSAND-55 CRASHES.