Missouri Capitol grass killed, finger pointed at heat, state

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11/ 6/2009: Newspaper Story - Links to the week-long series on the history and causes of Ecoli pollution in Missouri

Intro:	Missouri's facilities department says the sun burned a 50-yard patch of grass outside the Capitol, but a landscaper says differently. Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: There's a straight line in the middle of the lawn separating living grass from the dead patch.

State facilities spokeswoman Wanda Seeney says the heat caused it.

Actuality:	SEENEY2.WAV
Run Time:	00:03
Description: "Both July and August have really had excessive heat."

Actuality:	KEITH2.WAV
Run Time:	00:11
Description: "I'm standing in the huge patch of dead grass, but the line between the dead and the alive is so long and so straight that I take one step, and I'm into the green grass. Could the heat have really caused this?

All Seasons Landscaping owner Kris Scheperle of Jefferson City says it's not the heat, but the state misusing chemicals.

Actuality:	SCHEP1.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "It looks like it was either sprayed to either kill everything or overapplicated."

The Capitol groundskeeper did not return a phone call seeking response.

From the state Capitol,

Intro:	First it was E. coli in Lake of the Ozarks, now it's dead grass at the state Capitol. Theo Keith explains in Jefferson City.
RunTime:	0:46
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: A year ago, Governor Jay Nixon suspended his Natural Resources director for covering up E. coli at the Lake.

Now, it's Grass-gate.

The south lawn at the Capitol is dead.

A state facilities spokeswoman blames the heat.

No way, says Kris Scheperle, who owns All Seasons Landscaping in Jefferson City.

Actuality:	SCHEP2.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "Typically you'll see drier spots, especially under the trees and in some of the open areas, too, but it's not a big 20-yard wide by 50-yard long area."

Scheperle says a 50-yard-long straight line that separates the dead patch from living grass is proof that the state sprayed chemicals on parts of the lawn.

The Capitol groundskeeper did not return a phone call seeking response.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Missouri's Capitol south lawn is dead, and a memorial garden for Mel Carnahan roped off, but the state won't answer questions. Theo Keith has the story from Jefferson City.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: A state facilities spokeswoman says the heat caused the lawn to die.

Kris Scheperle, the owner of All Seasons Landscaping in Jefferson City, says differently.

He looked at a straight line separating living from dead grass and says heat doesn't cause that.

Actuality:	SCHEP3.WAV
Run Time:	00:13
Description: KEITH: "Have you seen something like this on the Capitol lawn before? SCHAPERLE: "No I have not. Definitely something different, kind of an eyesore, but it's a good time to be reseeding and stuff, so I'm sure they'll get it back into shape."

The Capitol groundskeeper didn't return phone calls.

Crews have torn out the grass at a memorial garden for late Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, a popular wedding spot.

Caution tape now blocks the entrances.

From the state Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.