This time of year, lightning strikes and thunderclaps are common in Missouri.
The recent extreme weather and water have caused significant harm to the area.
After feeding the dairy cows on a Saturday morning, Jared Blackwelder, a farmer in Springfield, and his wife Misty heard loud crashes, but they didn’t pay any attention to it.
However, Blackwelder discovered the horrifying sight when he returned to the field to gather the cows for the milking at night: his thirty-two dairy cows were dead and stacked on top of each other in the mulch.
“He went out to bring the cows in and that’s when he found them,” stated Stan Coday, president of the Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau, as reported by CBS News.It happens a lot. It does happen. The worst thing about this issue was the sheer number of animals affected.
Coday was informed by the local veterinarian conducting the examination that the cows’ deaths were actually caused by lightning.
Perhaps while the storm raged overhead, the cows coordinated their retreat under the trees.
“You’re at the mercy of mother nature,” Coday said, mentioning that a few years before he had lost a cow to lightning.
Farmers are aware of the possibilities, but Coday stated that it is very difficult to experience such a loss.
They are nothing like pets. But all of the ones I’m milking, I’ve grown,” Blackwelder told the Springfield News-Leader.They are a little different because you handle dairy animals twice a day. It knocks you quite hard.
It’s a financial disaster as well.
Although Blackwelder claimed to have insurance, the News-Leader expressed doubt about its ability to cover his losses.
According to his estimation, the value of each certified organic cow ranges from $2,000 to $2,500, meaning that the total is around $60,000.
According to Coday, “the majority of producers don’t have insurance.””Losing a cow means you lose everything.”
In answer to questions from neighbors, Coday, a beef cow breeder, would want to clarify that it was not possible to retrieve any meat from Blackwelder’s animals.
He said, “Those animals are damaged, and when he found them, it was clear they had been there for a few hours.”Processing an animal requires that it go through a specific process. It would not have been appropriate for humans to consume them.
Coday also mentioned that the majority of Missourians do not own a separate cow barn due to the state’s milder climate.
Fitness guru Richard Simmons dead at 76, cause of death revealed
Richard Simmons, renowned for inspiring overweight individuals to get active and adopt healthier eating habits, passed away on Saturday.
Simmons, famous for his vibrant tank tops and short shorts, brought boundless energy to television as the lively court jester of physical fitness. He turned 76 on Friday.
According to an email from Richard Simmons’ publicist Tom Estey to The Associated Press, the fitness guru passed away at his Los Angeles home. “We lost an Angel today – a true Angel,” Estey said.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a 911 call from Richard Simmons’ home on Belfast Drive and arrived at 9:57 a.m. on Saturday.
“Upon arrival, one rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old male who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics due to apparent natural causes.
“As a result, no hospital transport was necessary,” LAFD Captain Erik Scott said.
Just two days before his passing, Richard contemplated his aspirations for his legacy.
“I never thought of myself as a celebrity. People don’t know this – I’m really a shy person and a little bit of an introvert,” he told People.
“But when that curtain goes up that’s a different story. I’m there to make people happy.
“But the accolades I get from emails. I mean, today most probably, we’ll answer over 100 emails.
“And they’ll say, ‘I’m your No1 fan’, and I just write back, and I say, you know, ‘Don’t say that because I’m a human being just like you. And I know that you do good things, too.’”
Simmons’ brother, Lenny Simmons, confirmed the death in a statement.
“I don’t want people to be sad about my brother,” Lenny Simmons said. “I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives.”
“We are in shock,” Lenny added. “Please respect the family at this difficult time.”Tom Estey, Simmons’ longtime publicist, said in a statement, “Today the World lost an Angel.”
A day before his sudden passing, Simmons celebrated his 76th birthday and took to the social media to thank everyone for the birthday wishes.
“Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!” Simmons wrote. “I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.”
He signed the post “Love, Richard.”
Simmons, who grew up in New Orleans, battled weight issues from a young age, tipping the scales at nearly 200 pounds by age 15. By the time he graduated from high school, he weighed 268 pounds, as documented on his website.
From 1980 to 1984, he hosted the Richard Simmons Show that focused on personal health and fitness.
He also gained fame through his aerobic exercise videos, such as 1988’s Sweatin’ to the Oldies and its sequels in 1990 and 1991.
Simmons expanded his early success with frequent appearances on various TV shows, ranging from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson to game shows like Match Game and The New Hollywood Squares. He became a staple of late-night television during the ’90s and 2000s, appearing on shows hosted by Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Throughout the years, Simmons sold millions of workout videos. He owned a Beverly Hills exercise studio and restaurant frequented by celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Paul Newman.
Following his recent withdrawal from public life, during which he disclosed a skin illness in March 2024, speculation about Simmons’ health and well-being had circulated. His death was initially reported by TMZ.
We are so very sorry for this loss. May he rest in peace.
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