Local News – Friday, October 6th, 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting in the courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said with the recent rainfall in portions of his district that full grading would start with Dent County Roads 5615 and 5680, while materials would be added to and grading would be done on county roads 5110, 5115, and 5130. He also noted that brush would be cut on county road 5390. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he had a short crew with only two grader operators and that they would be grading on Dent County Roads 4430, 5340, 2550, and 2540. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste District recycling collection held in Salem on Saturday had 90 cars and trucks drop off recyclables, which included 164 tires. He said he would share more data as it became available. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that she balanced with the Collector and Assessor on all monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of September and that the Commissioners reviewed her reports. Curley noted that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. She went on to say that she had been re-elected Chair of the South Central County Clerks Association Region. Curley and Skiles noted that Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft stopped by on Tuesday and visited with Dent County elected officials. They shared that Ashcroft had visited with them about projects they have going on, how to improve voter turnout and other issues. The Courthouse will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day so the next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 in the courthouse.

The University of Missouri Wurdack Research Center Field Day will be today with registration beginning at 8:30. Tours will begin at 9:00, with lunch being served at noon. Christopher Daubert, MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources new Vice Chancellor and Dean will be introduced and will have the opportunity to visit with those in attendance. Featured presentations will include research on fescue, sawmill operation and shortleaf pine management, tick-borne illness and prevention, wildlife damage and management, plus challenges and opportunities for agriculture and rural Missouri. The Wurdack Research Center is located about 15 miles north of Salem in the Cook Station area between Highways 19 and Highway 68.

“Tie One On” is the theme for the 54th Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby to be held today, Saturday and Sunday at Montauk State Park. Today’s activities include a cruise in sponsored by the Current River Cruisers Car Club and trout bingo. Then Saturday there will be SMDH free health screenings, a country store, a bake shop, kid’s activities, face painting, guided hikes, live entertainment and an auction. Prizes will be awarded on Sunday at 12:00 noon in front of the Dorman L. Steelman Lodge. Awards will go to the men and women’s heaviest stringer, kids’ heaviest stringer, heaviest brown trout and tagged fish caught and registered. The Rose Holland Trout Derby is sponsored by anglers and friends of Montauk State Park and coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources. All proceeds benefit the American Heart Association

The Missouri Sheriffs’ Association in cooperation with the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Salem Police Department will be hosting a basic law enforcement training academy starting January 9, 2018 in Salem at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The Academy will be a 700 hour course that will qualify graduates with a Class A peace officer license in Missouri. The class will meet Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-10 pm as well as Saturdays from 8 am-5 pm and some Sundays. This is an eleven month program with a maximum of 25 students and a graduation being held in November 2018. The Missouri Sheriffs’ Association Training Academy meets and exceeds the State of Missouri’s minimum basic training requirement for peace officer certification. Graduates will be certified in several areas from report writing to arrest procedures, intake booking to inmate supervision. Driving instruction courses will be held at the Salem airport and firearms training will be held at the law enforcement firing range. The Missouri Sheriffs’ Association Training Academy (MSATA) plays a vital role in the training and education of law enforcement and emergency services professionals statewide. Those wishing to attend may register by going to the Missouri Sheriff’s Association website at www.mosheriffs.com and clicking on the training academy tab. Financial aid and college credits are available through Columbia College. Contact Janette Nichols at 573-819-2862 concerning the financial aid process. The Salem Community Center @ The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road in Salem. Sergeant Lenny Pabin, Dent County Sheriff’s Office will serve as the coordinator for this academy. For questions please call Sgt. Pabin at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

It’s harvest time on Missouri farms and the Missouri Department of Transportation wants to remind motorists to pay extra attention to farm equipment using and crossing state roadways. Farm equipment vehicles can be slow moving, and motorists may be surprised when they come up behind one on a Missouri highway. Missouri’s 34,000 miles of state roadways pass alongside the fields of thousands of farms throughout the state. Farm equipment vehicles were involved in 582 crashes in the three years of 2014 through 2016. These crashes resulted in 17 people being killed and 199 injured. Motorists are advised to slow down when approaching farm vehicles. Be patient as the farm vehicles travel to their field entrances. In passing zones, please wait until it is safe and pass at a safe distance and speed.