Clarksdale Happenings

February 2025

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley

Groundhog Day Feb. 2nd

Lincoln's Birthday Feb. 12th

Valentine’s Day Feb. 14th

President’s Day             Feb. 17th

City Council Mtg (6:30pm City Hall) Feb. 18th

https://clarksdale-mo.com/ Find this newsletter, pay your bill, official minutes, reports, agendas, news about current projects, and more! 

Live! Paperless water bills! Sign up for paperless bills at https://clarksdale-mo.com/bill-payment.

Valentines Dinner By CAF Feb. 8th, 2025 5-7pm! Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, mac & cheese, green beans, drinks, cheese cake or brownies! Yum! All are welcome! Eat in or Carry out. $15/meal or $28/ a couple. RSVP by Jan. 30th, 2025 and pay by to be entered in a drawing for a door prize!!! Please call Tina @ City Hall 816-393-5363 or CAF @ 660-843-0955 Clarksdale Community Center, 402 N. Main Street, Clarksdale, Mo 64430 

NOTICE OF ELECTION:  The City of Clarksdale will be holding an municipal election on April 8, 2025,  Offices to be filled are Mayor for a 2-year term, and 2 Alderman for 2-year terms.  Natascha Hay is running for mayor. Christina Keesaman  and Zechiriah Hays are running for Alderman. There is also a question on the ballot, If Clarksdale shall continue to forgo an election and it’s expenses if the number of candidates equals the number of vacancies.

The Clarksdale Yard Waste Site - The Yard Waste Site is Only for yard waste! Not for trash, plastic bags, construction debris, anything that has nails or metal in it. If these rules are not followed, we may need to take further measures up to and including closing the site permanently. 

Lions Pitch Tournament! Will be held the first Monday night of the month.  Games all at 7 pm.   February  3rd, March 3rd.

Clarksdale Advancement Foundation  is looking for great people who want to make Clarksdale fantastic and help us achieve our goals. Come to our next meeting Tues., Feb. 11 th at 6:30pm at City Hall. “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in”.~Author Unknown

The Clarksdale  Lions Club meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month and we welcome anyone to come and hear what our club does for the community and we are always looking for new members.

National Canned Food Month

To help support nutrition education and reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Education Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). During National Canned Food Month, celebrate with NIFA as we highlight a few federally funded programs aimed to help families obtain nutritional foods.

SNAP-Ed

NIFA's involvement with SNAP-Ed began in 1999, as Land-grant University administrators identified the need for national leadership through their federal partner. NIFA supports SNAP-Ed by providing leadership, establishing collaborative relationships and strengthening communication across federal, state, and local partners. Specifically, it promotes well-trained staff; effective program planning, management and reporting; identification and use of effective and appropriate resources; and improved consistency and clarity of communication among SNAP-Ed's many partners.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a Federal Extension (community outreach) program that currently operates through the 1862 and 1890 Land-grant Universities in every state, the District of Columbia, and the six United States territories – American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. EFNEP uses education to support participants’ efforts toward self-sufficiency, nutritional health and well-being. EFNEP combines hands-on learning, applied science and program data to ensure program effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.

Program Impacts

The Plan. Eat. Move. program— through the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment— encompasses SNAP-Ed and EFNEP to show individuals how to plan nutritious meals on a limited budget, acquire safe food handling practices, improve food preparation skills, and change behaviors necessary to have a healthy lifestyle. Plan. Eat. Move. provides resources surrounding healthy eating, adapting physically activity and numerous recipes.

Here are two recipes that use canned foods that you may have in your cabinet. Switch up your taco Tuesday night dinner with zubeanie boats. Do you need a quick soup recipe? Check out this 10-minute bean soup.

Why should you be #WinterReady?

Being #WinterReady means understanding winter risks you face and taking steps now to prepare. 

• Sixty-three percent of temperature-related deaths are attributable to cold exposure.

• Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen. 
• Travel during the winter has unique risks, especially if you travel by car.

"Low Cost Tips for Keeping your Home Warm"

To save on heating bills, close the doors of rooms you are not using. Close the vents and shut the doors in these rooms and keep the basement door closed. Place a rolled towel at the bottom of all doors to keep drafts out.

• About 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through its windows. Keep window coverings like blinds or curtains open during the day to take advantage of the sun’s heat in the winter – especially windows that get direct sunlight. Close them at night to keep heat from escaping. If you have gaps around the windows, try using weather stripping or caulk to keep the cold air out. You can also apply inexpensive window insulation kits that create an airtight seal around windows.
• You may be eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which can help you pay your heating bills or get emergency services during an energy crisis. For home improvements that save money on energy, you may qualify for help through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

“I am an older adult.”

Use the worksheets and checklists in the Take Control in 1, 2, 3—Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults to create your plan, then add it to your emergency kit or put it on your refrigerator as a visible reminder that you are prepared.

The CDC recommends friends, family members, or caregivers follow some tips on keeping an older adult safe during the winter months:

Engage your support network if you need help clearing ice and snow from your property so you can keep outside walkways and steps clear of snow and ice.

• Low lighting is a major cause of falls, so make sure there is enough lighting outdoors, especially near walkways and stairs.
• Have the name and contact information of a nearby family member or friend who can regularly check in on you.
• Make sure your steps are sturdy and have textured grip to reduce falls if the weather is icy or wet.
• If you use walking aids such as a cane, walker, or a wheelchair, dry the wheels or tips of each before entering your home.
• Keep a small table or shelf near the entry door to put items while unlocking the door. This reduces distractions and dangers of slipping or tripping while trying to enter your home.
• If your home’s main entrance is often icy during the winter months, use a different entrance if you can. Stay warm by dressing warmly, and remember to eat enough food to keep yourself at a healthy weight.

“I work outside or frequently do outdoor sporting activities.”

Be careful if you spend time outdoors, including for work. Always have a fully charged cellphone and carry a portable recharger, if possible.

If you cannot avoid extremely cold situations – including windchill – follow these recommendations to protect yourself:

• Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation.
• Make sure to protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold weather. Boots should be waterproof and insulated. Wear a hat; it will keep your whole body warmer.
• Move into warm locations during work breaks and try to limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days.
• Carry cold weather gear, such as extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, a change of clothes and a thermos of hot liquid.
• Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.

5 Tips to Stay Warm and Safe This Winter

This month, cold, snow and ice have blanketed much of the country. This can create dangerous situations, including a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite and carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Here are five tips you can follow to stay warm and safe this winter.

1 - Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle

Last week, thousands of people were stranded overnight on a major highway in Virginia because of a snowstorm. As their gas ran out, many found themselves unprepared to stay warm. Keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle will prepare you for these types of situations.

A car emergency kit can include:

• Jumper cables.
• Flares.
• Ice scraper.
• Car cell phone charger.
• Blankets.
• Map.
• Food and water.
• Warm clothes and other necessities
  

2 – Prepare your car for the winter

It’s a good idea to prepare your car for winter. You or your mechanic can check your vehicle’s antifreeze levels, battery, brakes, heater and defroster. If you live in an area at increased risk for severe winter weather, install good winter tires and make sure they have enough tread, as well as any chains or studs required in your locality. You should also keep your gas from falling below half a tank in case of evacuation or power outages: this also keeps the fuel line from freezing.

3 – Never use a generator inside the house

NEVER use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage, even if doors and windows are open. Keep portable generators outside away from windows and as far away from your home as possible. Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators has unfortunately already taken lives this winter. To protect you and your family, it is also a good idea to install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.

4 – Take steps to keep the heat in your house

There are many steps you can take to retain as much heat in your house as possible, especially if there are power outages. Close blinds or curtains to help your house stay warm. Close off unused rooms to avoid wasting heat and stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.

House fires are common in the winter and can happen if you are not careful about how you are heating your home. Be sure to plug only one heat-producing appliance in an outlet at a time and keep anything that can burn at least three feet from any heat source (like a fireplace or radiator). Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.

If your power is out during extreme winter weather, there may be warming centers near you; contact your local office of emergency to find one.

5 – Keep your body warm

Layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing will keep you warmer than a bulky sweater. Eat regularly, as food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Drink liquids such as warm broth or juice. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

If you are experiencing numbness, memory loss, drowsiness or gray-yellow, firm or waxy skin, it’s possible you are experiencing either frostbite or hypothermia. Know the signs of both and take immediate action if you think you are experiencing either.

Actions include:

• Going to a warm room.
• Soaking in warm water.
• Warming the chest first
  

For more information on how to stay safe and warm this winter, visit Ready.gov/winter-weather.