WARNING Signs Along Spring River, Carthage

The Jasper County Commissioners heard a report/presentation by Wayne Christian and Frank Martinez of the Carthage High School Stream Team, regarding plans to post WARNING signs at popular swimming and wading places along Spring River, warning swimmers that full body contact would pose a health risk. Tony Moehr, Director of Jasper County Health Department suggested that the signs be made so that they could reflect changes in the river quality, based on testing by the Carthage High School Stream Team.

The Joplin Globe, Friday, March 16, 2007, Tony Moehr said that the Jasper and Newton County Environmental Task Force is also looking for ways to help or serve as a funding mechanism to expand the scope of the Stream Team's work. He said that Spring River's designation as impaired, based on stream-team tests and some conducted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, could open the door for money for more testing “and opportunities to fix the problem.”

Jim Honey, Eastern District associate commissioner, offered the use of the county highway department’s sign machine to make the placards.