Another restraining order against towing company.

Attorney General Chris Koster said today his office has obtained a temporary restraining order against a Parkville towing company in the aftermath of the May 22 Joplin tornado.

Koster said Northland Tow Service, LLC, was towing motor vehicles that had been damaged by the tornado, falsely representing to some consumers that it worked with an insurance company and simply towing other vehicles without the owners’ knowledge or permission. Fifty-four vehicles were towed from the area affected by the tornado to a location in Baxter Springs, Kansas.

Koster said the court order prohibits the company from conducting business in Joplin, Jasper County, or Newton County, without having previously been solicited to do so. This is the second time the Attorney General has obtained a temporary restraining order against a towing company related to the Joplin tornado. In June, the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Independence Tow & Recovery, Inc. In addition to obtaining the temporary restraining orders, the Attorney General is seeking restitution.

Jasper County Jail Count

186 July 8, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

I’ve never known anyone who could explain why a dog circles several times ‘for it finally lays down. There could be a number of explanations I suppose, but it’s such a common occurrence, there must be one absolute reason.

I’d have ta guess that it has somethin’ to do with the instinct to not perch on some object or critter that might be harmful.

The old story of the coon dog sittin’ on the porch howlin’ comes ta mind.

"Somethin’ out in the woods makin’ that dog howl like that," asked a visitor.

"No," says the owner, "the dog just sat on a nail and is too lazy to get up."

I suppose even more interestin’ is the fact that us humans will sit and watch an animal goin’ round in circles tryin’ to figure out why. Makes ya wonder who the superior species really is.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Safe Summer Fun

Even in the northernmost reaches of the country, we’re now well into summer and its routine of barbecues, swimming and general outdoor fun. Of course, with all these activities, an element of risk is always present.

Here are a few suggestions to keep your family and yourself safe this summer:

• Keep barbecue grills at least 5 to 10 feet away from the house. Grills give off tremendous heat, which will melt vinyl siding easily and can cause a house fire.

• Place a fire extinguisher near the grill when it’s in operation.

• Prevent excess sparks and flare-ups on the grill: Heat the charcoal properly, and don’t place too many high-fat items over the charcoal at once. If the fire flares up, close the grill lid for a few seconds, then open and remove greasy foods from the grill.

• If using an inflatable swimming pool to entertain the kids, assign a responsible adult to watch the pool at all times. Toddlers can drown in just a few inches of water.

• The same goes for any type of backyard activity with children: Have a responsible adult supervise all activities to prevent accidents or stop kids from wandering off.

• Repair or replace any broken or splintered outdoor furniture before your event, and put away lawn tools and pet toys.

• Wear high-SPF sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses when outside on a sunny day. Drink plenty of water throughout the event, and limit alcohol consumption.

• Check yourself and the family for ticks at the end of the day, and remove them immediately. You can reduce the chance of having one jump on you by trimming the grass beforehand, pruning back low-hanging tree branches, and wearing hats and long sleeves when possible.

HOME TIP: Try using a charcoal starter to preheat charcoal more evenly; this provides more consistent heat and gives off fewer sparks.