Local News – Wednesday, January 10th, 2018
It is the final full week where candidates can file for school board of education openings, the hospital board opening, the Dent County Health Board vacancy, the Dent County Fire Protection District Board as well as for offices for the City of Salem. Filing will continue through the close of business on Tuesday, January 16th. For those interested in filing, Monday will be Martin Luther King Day and almost all of the registration locations will be closed. As of Friday, January 5th, Oak Hill R-1 school had three persons sign up for the school board openings and they are James Terrill, Nathan Ragsdale and Amanda Dooley. Persons signing up for the Green Forest R-2 school board openings are Dee Moser and Michael Jones. At Dent-Phelps R-3, Alisha Brookshire is the only person to file, while three persons have filed for the Northwood R-4 school board openings and they are Dave Tiefenthaler, Dawn Ros and Chris Welch. For the Salem R-80 board openings, Chris Heavin, Carrie Snider and Kevin James have all filed. The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board has one seat available for a six-year term for District 5 and incumbent Ray Bruno has filed for that seat. For the Dent County Health Board of Trustees seat, Dennis Floyd has filed for the position. The City of Salem has one West Ward Alderman seat and one East Ward Alderman seat available as well as the Mayor’s position. Incumbent Kim Shelton has filed for the East Ward Aldermanic position, while incumbent Molly Zettel has filed for the West Ward Aldermanic seat along with former Aldermen Kenny Nash. Incumbent Brad Nash has filed for the mayor’s position. Those interested in filing for a position on any school board or the hospital board should file at each particular entity and there is no cost to file. Those wishing to file for a position on the Dent County Health Board need to go to the Dent County Clerk’s office to file. Those wishing to file for either Aldermanic position or the mayor’s position for the City of Salem should file at the City Administrative building and there is a $25 fee to file and you must be current with your city utilities. Again, the deadline to file for any of these positions is Tuesday, January 16th at the regular close of business.
The University of Missouri Extension Dent County Council is currently holding their election for council members that will assist in the planning and the carrying out of extension programs in the county. They will also provide local extension governance and will represent the diversity of the county’s changing population. The University of Missouri Extension offers educational programs addressing high priority areas like agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, consumer and family economics, business and industry, community development and youth development including 4-H. There are three districts: the Central District (which includes those living in the City of Salem and close outlying areas); the Northern District (Watkins, Norma, Shortbend, Meramec and Osage Townships); and the Southern District (Texas, Franklin, Linn, Sinkin, Gladden and Current Townships.) On the ballot, only vote for the people who live in your district. If you do not know which district you live in, call the extension office at 729-3196. Ballots must be postmarked by Friday, January 12th, or you can drop them off on the second floor of the Judicial Building until 4:30 Friday afternoon. Ballots are available at the extension office, in Monday’s Your World Today, in Tuesday’s Salem News and at Vandivort Drug. You can also vote online at www.extension.missouri.edu/dent by Friday.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 10,025 deer during the alternative-methods portion of the fall firearms deer season, which ran December 23rd – January 2nd. Of the total harvest, 2,827 were antlered bucks, 1,312 were button bucks, and 5,886 were does. Top harvest counties were Howell with 249 deer harvested, Franklin with 215, and Oregon with 214. The harvest total for last year’s alternative-methods portion was 10,602 consisting of 2,787 antlered bucks, 1,496 button bucks, and 6,319 does. Deer hunting continues for this season with statewide archery hunting through January 15.
The Salem VA Clinic will have a DAV Van to provide transportation for local Veterans with appointments at the VA Hospitals in Columbia and Poplar Bluff. There is an immediate need for volunteer drivers. It is preferred that volunteers would be able to commit to a certain day or two per week. The van will be a valuable asset for Veterans traveling long distances due to the recent changes in reimbursements for travel. Anyone interested in helping should contact Richard LaBrash at (573) 729-1394.