Officials urge caution on hiking trails

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Branches still hanging from some trees after the recent ice storm have prompted state officials to close some Kansas City-area hiking trails and caution people to be careful on others.

The Missouri Department of Conservation last week closed the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area near Lee's Summit and all trails and picnic shelters at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs.

The department put "anybody qualified to use a chain saw" to work clearing debris and problem trees at the Reed area. It reopened to the public Friday evening but several trails will remain closed until broken limbs hanging in trees are cleared away, said Mark Nelson, regional forestry supervisor.