Forecasters are predicting rain beginning this evening, changing over to snow as temperatures drop around 9 p.m. through midnight across the Southwest District. The forecast calls for the changeover to snow to begin in the Nevada/Lamar/Jopin areas around 9 p.m. and move northeast through 1 a.m. While the forecast calls for up to 1/2 inch of snow in areas, roadways could become slush covered in areas north and east of the I-44 corridor. The weather system is predicted to move out of southwest Missouri by 2 a.m.

The 82^nd Stone County Livestock and Forage Conference will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Hurley Baptist Church, located 1.5 miles east of Hurley, Missouri on highway A.
This annual Stone County Extension program dates back to 1931 and was formerly known as the Soils and Crops Conference.

MoDot has released the followig information regarding work for next week on the Branson West to Kimberling City widening of Highway 13.
Short traffic stops will occur during the week as crews work near the Highway 13 and Joe Bald Road intersections.

Work scheduled:

• Reinstalling traffic signal detector loops at Route 13/Lakeshore Drive intersection

Gary W. Barta, 63, of Shell Knob, was killed Thursday evening in a one-vehicle accident on Missouri 39, one-half mile frmo Carr Lane, in Stone County.
The Missouri Highway Patrol said Barta was driving his 2008 Ford F150 at approximately 7:20 p.m. when he went off the roadway, struck a culvert and overturned.

Five Missouri state senators, all Democrats, found stickers resembling rifle crosshairs on the doors to their capitol offices Tuesday as the legislature debated health care reform, several senators said.

“This is a very open act,” said Sen. Maria Chappell-Nadal, who said she was taking it as a serious threat.

An early morning fire has destroyed a two-story home in Lampe, in Stone County.
According to the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, the home was located on Sun Valey Lane, and the first alarm came in at approximately 5:20 a.m. Monday.
The first engine on scene found a large two story residential structure with heavy fire coming through the roof.
The home was occupied by a family of three. The District said, one family member left the home t0 take another family member another to work.
Upon returning they found the home on fire. American Red Cross was called to assist with family needs.