Archive for 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams came in to have the commissioners sign off on the second of four transfers from the Senior Citizens Fund to the Salem Nutrition Site of $13,750 and to the SMTS Bus service for $6,750. The commissioners signed off on the budgeted transfer. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2470, 5610, 5620, 5680, 5690 and 6410. He went on to say that materials would be added and brush would be cut on county road 6660. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3250, 4330 and 4370. He also stated materials would be added and brush would be cut on county road 2630. Larson went on to say a man would be doing chip and seal repair on county roads 3260 and 3280. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended an Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management Full Council meeting on Tuesday and they elected new officers: Brady Wilson was re-elected chairman from Rolla Recycling, Skiles was elected vice-chairman and Jay Whitaker from Phelps County was elected secretary. Skiles went on to report that recycling grant applications are now available and they will be due on August 24th at noon. He said a grant workshop would be held on July 26th. If persons would be interested in the getting a recycling grant application, please contact Jill Hollowell at 265-2993. Skiles stated they also have a new camera for cities and counties that can be used to help detect vehicles at illegal dumpsites by reading their license plates. Skiles on Thursday attended a Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation meeting followed by a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting and the MRPC regular board meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register for the August Primary will be July 11th. She also presented to the commission Resolution #1-2018 that established the procedures to disclose conflicts of interest and substantial interest for the candidates for certain offices. This has to be signed every two years and the commission signed the resolution. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will host a special meeting this morning at 9:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington Street to discuss medical plan options for city employees and select an option for the next fiscal year effective July 1st, 2018. The meeting, called by Mayor Brad Nash, is open to the public.

A Summer Art Party will be held Friday night at the Creative Arts Center from 6:30 to 8:30. This time of year, we are thinking about vacations, relaxation, and sunshine. How better to prepare than to take a relaxing evening to have fun painting. For $25 per person, all supplies are provided including the acrylic paints, aprons, brushes, canvas, easel for this fun event! Led by Tana Kettner, professional artist and art teacher, you will be guided through the process of painting a summertime picture and then put your own special creative spin to it to take home. This event for adults does NOT require any talent or previous experience, just a happy spirit and willingness to try. Reservations can be made by contacting the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center (729-0029) or the Salem Area Arts Council (247-0279) and arranging to pay your registration to secure your spot! Bring your own personal style, your favorite bottle of wine or other beverage, and let us do the rest

The Missouri Department of Conservation offers nearly 1,000 conservation areas around the state for public use through wildlife watching, hiking, hunting, fishing, and more. The MDC is developing a mobile application for the public to easily find conservation areas and outdoor recreation activities near them and wants public input on three potential names for the new app: MO Explore, MO Nature, and MO Outdoors. The winner from the public vote will become the new mobile app’s name when it goes live later this summer. The new mobile app will allow the public to enter a location or use a device’s GPS feature to locate the closest conservation areas. Results will include full details about the areas and directions. Users can also use search and filter functions to narrow search results to see what recreational activities and outdoor features are available at the areas. Cast your vote at mdc.mo.gov and click on the voting tab.

The public comment period is open on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). A draft of the 2019-2023 Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program that builds on MoDOT’s long-range transportation plan, financial forecast, asset management plan and the prioritization of project needs at the local level by planning partners has been presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. Transportation Planning Director Machelle Watkins told commissioners the draft STIP includes 1,319 projects, which for the most part will maintain the system in the condition it is in today. On average, this STIP annually invests in 586 lane miles of interstate pavements, 1,065 miles of major route pavements, 2,754 miles of minor route pavements and 172 bridges. According to MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna, community input is critically important to the process of prioritizing local needs and putting the STIP together. The STIP represents MoDOT’s commitment to Missourians of the projects that will be developed and delivered over the next five years. To make a comment, go online to www.modot.org.

The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History presents the “Great American Campout Challenge” this Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. The challenge will be hosted by Janet Price, a naturalist of Moonshadow Moments, LLC, formerly of Johnson’s Shut-Ins. Everyone from seasoned campers to newbies are welcome to attend and will have fun with this challenge! This program is appropriate for all ages and is especially family-friendly. The cost is $1.00 per person or $5.00/family, regardless of the number, which includes a light snack. Phone reservations are requested to plan for snacks and activities. Please call the Bonebrake Center at 729.3400 for more information or register. The Bonebrake Center is located at 601 North Hickory Street in Salem, at the corner of North Hickory Street and East Rolla Road.

New Medicare cards are on their way to everyone enrolled in the program. Cards will be mailed automatically and free of charge. People should be wary of anyone calling to offer assistance with the cards or to request money or personal information. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks for your Social Security number or bank information, Procter says to hang up. Scammers may even threaten to cancel your benefits if you don’t give up information but Medicare will never ask for your Social Security number or bank information. The new cards are intended to provide more privacy protection than the old cards, which used Social Security numbers as identifiers. The mailings, which began in April, are coming in waves. Missouri’s cards are due to be mailed after June 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS offers a few tips and things to know about the new cards: You can and should destroy your old card when the new one arrives. You can start using your new card immediately. If you are using a Medicare Advantage plan, the card for that plan is still your main Medicare card, so you need to keep it and be ready to show it to providers. They may also ask you to show the new card. If someone asks you for your information or money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call Medicare toll-free at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). If you suspect identity theft or worry that you gave your personal information to someone you shouldn’t have, contact the Federal Trade Commission toll-free at 877-438-4338. For more information about the new Medicare cards, visit medicare.gov/newcard.