Newsletter

Volume 3 Issue 10: October 2019

Willard Fire News

Fire Prevention Month

It’s Fire Prevention Month. That seems like such a small statement but the truth is it is what the fire service is all about. It’s our foundation, our basics, it’s what we live, eat, and breathe. Okay, maybe we can’t go that far but it truly is one of the most important jobs we have.
What is fire prevention month? It’s a time when we focus on getting our safety message out to our community. Again, you may ask, what does that mean? Well, it means we want to get the word out to you, the people we serve on how to be safe in your homes, your jobs, your cars, and with your families.

Let’s go over some things we want you to know about:

What number do you call in an emergency? 9112.
What should you have in your homes to alert you to smoke in the home? Smoke Detectors (test monthly, change batteries in the spring and the fall, replace every 10 years)
What should you teach children not to play with? Lighters and matches and stay away from things that are hot that can burn (at least 3 feet away from ovens/stoves)
What should you plan and practice with your family? A Fire Escape Plan
What phrases should you remember in case of fire? Stay low and go. Get out and stay out. Stop, Drop, and Roll if your clothes are on fire
What should you use on a burn? Cool water not ice
When you plan a fire escape, how many ways should you know how to get out? At least two ways out.
Those two ways should be free of what? Obstacles and clutter

What about your health and safety?

If you do smoke, smoke outside (for fire reasons and health reasons of others)
Everyone should wear seat-belts in your vehicles
Older adults need to be aware of fall and slip risks
Get plenty of exercise and eat right

Know the signs of stroke

Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing, in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden severe headache with no known cause

These are just some of the tips we would like to get out to our community. There are plenty of others. Look for us at local community events or come by the station to get more information. You can also email us at info@willardfire.com.

Also, for all residents, consider a Residential Fire Safety Survey. This is where we can come in your home and look for potential hazards in the home. This is not an inspection. It’s a courtesy check to help you see where there might be dangers in your home. It would be confidential and would give you a baseline for making any changes in your home to keep you and your family safe. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us at 417-685-3114 or info@willardfire.com.

Fire prevention makes our jobs easier but it also saves lives and property. This is our core value and we want to serve you!

We hope this information is helpful to you. If you have questions or would like further information, please contact us at 417-685-3114 or info@willardfire.com. You can visit our website www.willardfire.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Willard Parks News

Community Involvement Opportunities
“Trunkocolypse” Vote – Register on our website WillardParks.com to compete in our new Trunk or Treat trunk-decoration competition! It only costs $5 to enter and you’ll have a shot at an awesome trophy and ALL the bragging rights! As always, regular participation in Trunk or Treat is FREE for everyone! Register to be a “trunk” for free at WillardParks.com.
Sponsorship Opportunities – If you can’t attend Trunk or Treat or the Haunted House, please consider donating to be a part of this super fun event! We are needing candy donations, spooky décor donations, and we will accept financial contributions as well. We want to give our community the best, sweetest, scariest Halloween that Willard has ever seen, but we can’t do it without your support.
Veteran’s Stand Down – November 1st, 9am -4 pm; Veterans can take advantage of free services at the Willard Community Center
Veteran’s Supper – November 1st, 6pm- 8pm; Free Dinner for Veterans and their families.
Co-Sponsored by Willard Chamber of Commerce, Willard Parks and Recreation, and Boy Scouts Pack 52 and Troop 52. Willard Community Center
Veteran’s Day Parade – Scheduled for November 2nd; registration is available on our website WillardParks.com. The parade will travel from the high school to Jackson Street Park along Jackson St.
Heroes’ Run 5k – Nov 2, register online at ActNowRacing.com. Meet at Community Center in Willard, MO.

Camp
We will be offering a full day of School’s Out Camp weekdays between Friday, November 1 – Tuesday, November 5! Cost is $22.50 per day. There will be a field trip to the Aquarium at Wonders of Wildlife on Monday, November 4 with a $5 copay.

Sports
Soccer and Volleyball – Soccer’s last game is Oct 26, and Oct 22 for Volleyball! We’ve had a lot of fun this season and hope you have too!
Basketball – Early registration discount for basketball ends Oct 12, and regular registration ends Oct 15! Get that discount!
Cheer – Be sure to register before Oct 15th!

Rec Center
Boo Bash – We will be hosting our annual Halloween dance on October 18th for grades 5-8! Come dressed up and hang with your buddies! Entry is $5. We will have a costume contest!
Haunted House – Our haunted house is back! Sponsored by many great local businesses, it will be open 7-10:00pm Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th!
Trunk or Treat – Trunk or Treat is going to be a big party this year! You can register to be a “trunk” on our website WillardParks.com or donate candy to the Rec Center to participate! We will be hosting a NEW trunk-decorating contest this year, determined by trick-or-treater vote! If you would like to enter the competition, register online for a small fee of $5 that goes to support great local events such as this one!

Electric Bike for Willard Police

Have you seen this bike on the Frisco Trail this past month? If not you probably will. Matt Kelley, executive vice-president at Freedom Bank, presented Tom McClain, and the Willard Police Department, with this electric-powered bicycle to be used for patrolling the town’s Frisco Trail.

“The beautiful thing about this bicycle is that it’s got a powerful electric motor,” McClain says. “So … this bike can actually go 20 miles without a single stroke on the pedal. So, it’s electric, and it’s powerful. It will help us because we can patrol the extent of our trail from end to end, two or three times over, with minimal physical (exertion).”McClain added that the bike is designed to perform in off-road conditions, making it ideal for use on the trail.
“We just feel that the Willard Police Department does an excellent job taking care of our City and that the bike (is) going to be a very useful tool in patrolling the Frisco Trail and keeping it safe” said Kelley. “ The trail has become a staple of the Willard Community and provides both recreational and business opportunities for our citizens, and we want it to stay as safe as possible.”

Willard School News

September was such an exciting time in Willard! We had an incredible day uniting our entire District for the Willard Tiger Hollywood Homecoming Parade on September 20th. Jackson street was lined with thousands of Willard Tigers and phenomenal floats paraded through Willard proudly. Thank you to our Willard Fire, Willard Police, Willard Parks, and the City of Willard for their support to make these exciting memories for our learners! Catch a video recap of this day at www.willardschools.net!

First Friday For Families

Looking ahead, we have an exciting new monthly event, “First Fridays for Families”, happening on the first Friday of each month for our PreK-4th grade families at each elementary! Take a look at our website (www.willardschools.net) for more information as we hope you’ll join us to learn family leadership skills with your students!

October 18th Half Day

Please note that Friday, October 18th is a half day for students and a learning day for our teachers! Students PreK-6 will dismiss at 12:30PM and grades 7-12 at 11:30AM. Also coming up the last week of October are Parent/Teacher Conferences as we wind down on first quarter!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more Willard Schools news!

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids. Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help ensure they have a safe holiday.

All Dressed Up:

Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes. Makeup should be tested ahead of time on a small patch of skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises on the big day.
When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
Review with children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency or become lost.

On the Trick-or-Treat Trail:

A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out of driveways.
Don't assume the right of way.
Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

For more helpful tips, please visit www.healthychildren.org.

Contacts

Meeting Dates

Mayor
Corey Hendrickson…………….…..............417-234-4713

Board of Aldermen
Clint McEntire……………..........................417-631-1599
Donna Stewart………...........……..….........417-493-9894
Sam Baird…..………….……………..…......417-844-0636 Samuel Snider……….…....……….….........417-839-9444
Jon Jones..................................................417-224-2805
Larry Whitman………..……………........….417-343-0994

City Administrator
Bradley Gray…...…………...…....417-742-3033 ext 5304

City Clerk
Jennifer Rowe.…..……..…....…..417-742-3033 ext 5302

Chief of Police
Tom McClain ……………...….….417-742-3033 ext 5341
www.cityofwillard.org

Board of Aldermen
October 15th & 28th...............…..……...........…. 7:00 pm

Planning and Zoning
October 22th..............…………….....…......…......7:00 pm

Park Board
October 24th............….…..........….......…...…….7:00 pm

Economic Development
November 18th....…...……........................….…..7:00 pm