Red Cross volunteers join flood, tornado efforts

Eleven volunteers from Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross are being deployed to the State Emergency Operations Center in the Ike Skelton Training Facility.

The volunteers, who will be working in shifts, will be the liaisons between the Red Cross and state and other relief agencies. They will be providing information about Red Cross disaster-relief operations in areas of the state affected by flooding and tornadoes.

The volunteers are: Roy Beal, Carl Nappier, Don Barnett, Leslie Myers, Mike Bonham, Sara Spillane, Steve Stacey, Rexanna Shackleford, Don Shackleford, Harry Kennedy and Rebecca Thompson.

Mo. lets overweight trucks move crops, animals

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - Missouri farmers are being allowed to haul extra-heavy loads to move grain and livestock out of areas threatened by flooding.

The Missouri Department of Transportation says trucks may exceed their licensed weights by up to 10 percent to move farm commodities to safer storage. The special permission expires at noon on May 10.

The waiver applies only to Missouri highways, not interstates, and is limited to trips between farms and other facilities. Trucks must slow to no more than 30 mph while crossing bridges.

Boaters told to stay off Table Rock, Taneycomo

BRANSON (AP) - The Missouri Water Patrol is asking boaters to stay off Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo in southwest Missouri.

The patrol says high water from flooding is creating hazardous conditions and potential damage to docks on the lakes.

The state has also canceled current regatta permits for fishing tournaments on both lakes.

The patrol also is warning dock owners to be cautious while working on docks that are under pressure from increased water flows. They say dock owners should not work on their docks alone.