Local News – Friday, September 15th, 2017

Salem Chief of Police Keith Steelman is asking for the public's help in finding the person or persons who committed the vandalism at the Salem City Park. You may be eligible for a reward if you can provide information that would lead to an arrest in the case and all information you provide would be kept confidential. You can call the We Tip Hotline at 1-800-782-7463. Someone knows who did this damage to the City Park, so please come forward. Please pass this message to everyone.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Randy League from the Midwest Blue Oval Club presented the commissioners with a plaque thanking them for allowing the club to use the courthouse lawn for the car show held this past weekend that was very successful. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5380 and 5880 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 4210. He went on to say workers would be cutting brush on Dent County Road 6190. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Road 5280 while brush would be cut on county road 2450. He indicated workers would be installing a pipe on county road 3220 and would be hauling materials to repair the road after the installation. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles presided over a PHA hearing on Thursday and also attended the External Relations Committee meeting at the MRPC in St. James as well as attended their regular monthly meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the collector and assessor on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of August. She said there are still a couple of county offices that are having some long-distance issues with CenturyLink, but they are now dealing directly with them in trying to get those issues corrected. The Commission approved adding a policy amendment to their employee handbook for CERF medical leave. This amendment needed to be made so that employees could be eligible for a $10,000 death benefit through the County Employee’s Retirement Fund if they passed away while on certified medical leave. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and that meeting is open to the public.

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) now offers an all-online hunter-education course for Missouri residents 16 years or older to provide a more flexible and convenient option to become hunter-education certified. The all-online course includes videos and animation to teach hunter safety, firearm safety, ethics, regulations, and wildlife management. Students will receive a temporary hunter-education certificate once they complete and pass the 60-question final exam with an 80% or higher. Individuals 15 years or younger are still required to complete the blended hunter education course requiring both a knowledge portion and in-person skills session to receive certification. The only Hunter Education Skills Session on the MDC website for this area will be in Bunker at the Bunker High School on Eagle Pride Drive onSaturday, October 14th starting at 8:00. Students should be sure to bring either a completed workbook or a copy of the certificate verifying the completion of the online portion. Also there is a minimum of 9 students required to have the class. If this minimum is not met the class will be cancelled. Currently, there are 42 seats remaining in the class. Missouri’s hunter education course is required for any hunter born on or after January 1, 1967. Hunters who plan to hunt during a Missouri firearms season or are acting as an adult mentor must first complete an approved hunter-education certification program and provide proof of completion unless: 15 years of age or younger and will be hunting with a properly permitted adult mentor 18 or older; born before January 1, 1967. Disability exemption from MDC’s Protection Division for 16 years of age or older and have purchased an apprentice hunter authorization and will be hunting with a property permitted adult mentor 18 or older. Landowner or lessee hunting on self-owned land or land of residence. Learn more about MDC’s hunter education program at mdc.mo.gov.

According to Salem FFA Instructor Heather Johnson, the Salem FFA Chapter has sold out of mums from the Greenhouse Operations and Management Class. They appreciate the fine support of the community!!!