Archive for 2019

The South-Central Drug Task Force concluded a short-term narcotics investigation on April 3rd that led to a search warrant for a residence in the 12000 block of Highway 72 in Bunker. From that search, the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office arrested 40-year old Rickey B. Holt of Bunker. He was charged with four felony drug charges, plus felony charges of the unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and maintaining a public nuisance. Another suspect identified during the investigation may also be facing charges from the investigation. Officers of the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office, Dent County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the South-Central Drug Task Force served the search warrant at the residence where officers found marijuana, a substance believed to be LSD, a 115 grams of a substance that is believed to be Psilocybin mushrooms, 15 firearms and also cash. The charges for which Holt was arrested are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Dent County Service Unit of the Salvation Army would like to send youth and families to camp this summer. This free camp, located in Bourbon, Missouri is made possible by local donations. Nestled in the foothills of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, Camp Mihaska has been a Christian retreat and sanctuary for more than 60 years, serving thousands of youth, families, churches, organizations and individuals seeking personal growth and spiritual development. Owned and operated by The Salvation Army, Camp Mihaska provides a safe, fun and memorable experience for those seeking adventure. The activities at camp are endless. When you’re not hiking in the woods along endless miles of trails, exploring the caves or fishing and paddle boating in the magnificent lakes, you can soak up the sun at their pool with water sprays, a lap pool, vortex and an in-pool bubble tub. Basketball, volleyball, tennis and miniature golf are available day or night, as well as outdoor paintball games. A number of camps are available. There will be a sports camp from June 11th trough the 14th that allows campers to experience a variety of different sports and exercise for youth age 8 through 12. A Kid’s Camp will be held June 17th through the 20th and this is for children 6-9 years of age where they are encouraged to learn, laugh and experience new things as they grow closer to friends, family and God. During that same time period, The Salvation Army Outdoors camp will be held allows teens ages 13 through 16 to make new friends while experiencing recreation, fishing, swimming, Hunter’s Safety, conservation, team building games and growing together. This camp features sleeping in an outdoor tent. A Teen Camp will be held July 8th through the 12th to allow teens from 13 to 17 years of age to make new friends through recreation, swimming, fishing & team building games while growing together with a “Tween” Camp held the following week from July 15th through the 19th that features the same activities for those 10 to 12 years of age. There will also be a Family Camp held July 22nd through the 26th for parents with small children 16 years of age and under that will allow parents & children to spend time together without the interruptions normally found at home while camping. Come and allow the staff at Camp Mahaska to pamper, challenge and minister to you on a fun-filled, educational and inspirational outdoor retreat you won’t forget. The deadline for camp applications is May 10th. For camp applications and additional information, please call your local Dent County Salvation Army Service Unit at 729-8163.

Businesses with seasonal or temporary employees are invited to send their employees to boost their skills in customer service and hospitality to an upcoming Customer Service Training workshop this Friday hosted by University of Missouri Extension. Tourism plays a significant role in our region’s economy. Improving employees’ customer service skills and knowledge of local attractions can help improve the visitor experience, and draw tourists back for future visits. Workshop participants will update their customer service skills, learn about regional tourism resources, and practice answering common visitor questions. The training will be in Salem at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Rd in Salem. There will be two time options available for the training: from 9:00 – 11:00 in the morning or from 1:00 – 3:00 in the afternoon. This training is free to employees of Dent County businesses or Naturally Meramec Consortium members, otherwise there is a $6.00 charge per employee. Call the Dent County Extension at 729-3196 to register. This workshop will be led by University of Missouri Extension, with funding support from Naturally Meramec Consortium and Dent County Tourism Tax Commission. The University of Missouri Extension is an equal opportunity and ADA institution.

The 2019 Business Expo will be held this Saturday morning from 9:00 until noon at Salem Community Center @ the Armory, located at 1200 West Rolla Road. The Business Expo is an excellent opportunity for businesses to advertise their products and services and many of them will be giving away promotional items or have their own drawing. There are four star giveaways this year and they are provided by A-1 Tech of Rolla, Town & Country Bank, Your Community Health Center, and Salem Bowling Center. There is no cost to attend the annual Expo, it’s FREE and open to the public. The Business Expo is organized by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the 2019 Business Expo, you can contact the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 729-6900, emailing them chamber@salemmo.com, or visiting the website at www.salemmo.com.

The temporary emergency closure of the Jacks Fork River at Alley Spring has been lifted. The damaged pedestrian bridge has been completely removed, allowing floaters and river users to once again safely enjoy the Jacks Fork River beneath the Highway 106 vehicle bridge. The National Park Service (NPS) worked in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on the removal of the old pedestrian bridge, which was originally damaged during the April 2017 flood. Additional flooding in February 2018 caused further structural damage to the bridge, making it unsafe for visitors below and prompting an emergency closure of the river beneath the bridge. The NPS and FHWA are working together on the construction of a new pedestrian bridge at Alley Spring in the future, through the Emergency Relief of Federally Owned (ERFO) program. The timeline for completion of that project is unknown at this time. The replacement of the North River Road Bridge over the Alley Spring Branch is currently underway and progress is going well. It is expected to be open this summer. The small foot bridge over the Alley Spring Branch near Alley Mill, which was destroyed in the 2017 flood, will also be replaced in the future utilizing the ERFO program. For more information, contact park headquarters at 573-323-4236, visit the park’s Facebook page, or check out their website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

The prolonged winter weather has left behind an unwanted reminder: potholes. The Missouri Department of Transportation crews will be focusing on repairs through April. Crews started working to address the pesky potholes as soon as there was a break in the weather. MoDOT will have about 300 pothole patching crews statewide working to make roadways safer. About 400,000 potholes have been patched during the first two months of 2019. In contrast, approximately 619,000 potholes were patched for the entire year in 2018. Crews address the deepest potholes first. Until roadway temperatures rise – and remain – above freezing, the repair is made using a cold asphalt mix. However, this is a short-term repair. The long-term fix, a hot asphalt mix, isn’t effective until temperatures are warm for a prolonged period of time. Motorists can report the location of potholes on state maintained roads by calling the 24/7 Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636); you can use the “Report a Road Concern” form on the web at modot.org; or use a smart phone or tablet with a mobile friendly form at modot.org/report-road-concern. MoDOT spends approximately $15 million a year on pothole patching. MoDOT maintains 34,000 miles of road including interstates.

The South Central Missouri Community Action Agency announces that Dent County Head Start and Early Head Start Recruitment is going on now for children ages from 0 to 5 years of age. Head Start provides services for children with special needs and severe disabilities. These services are provided at no cost to families. The recruitment will be held today and tomorrow. Call to make an appointment 729-3188.

An accident happened Monday morning at 7:50 in Texas County on Highway 32 about a mile west of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Chrysler 300 driven by 57-year old Christy Porter of Licking, ran off the roadway and struck a parked and unoccupied 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Porter suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and was left at the scene. The Chrysler sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Triangle Wrecker.

According to preliminary data from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 2,540 turkeys during the 2019 spring youth season, April 6th and 7th. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 61 turkeys harvested, Laclede with 56, and Texas with 52. Warm weather and sunny skies helped increase this year’s youth-weekend harvest over last year’s where young hunters checked 1,729 turkeys. Spring turkey hunting continues with the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season April 15th through May 5th. For more information on spring turkey hunting, get a copy of MDC’s 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold, or online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/spring-turkey-hunting-regulations-and-information. Hunters who harvest their first turkey can have the accomplishment recognized through a special certificate from MDC, complete with a photo. Learn more at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trophies-certificates/certificates.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports. On Tuesday April 2nd at approximately 9:29 in the morning, a vehicle was stopped for a warrant investigation. The investigation led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Salem on an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was later released with a new date to appear in court after posting bond. That same night at about 11:50, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 59-year-old female of Salem for driving without a valid license. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. The next evening at approximately 8:03, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 34-year old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. Then on Thursday morning, April 4th, at about 11:14 an officer was conducting an investigation of a stolen vehicle in the 600 block of North Main. The investigation led to the arrest of a 38-year old male of Salem for possession of a vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number and possession of an open title. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. Finally Wednesday, April 10th, near 9:30 at night, an officer transported a 77-year old female of Salem to the Parkland Health Center in Farmington due to a commitment order. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any investigation.

The Salem Community Garden will be hosting their “Meet us at the Garden” event this Saturday at starting at 10:00 behind the Salem United Methodist Church. The first half hour of the event will be your chance to ask a Master Gardener questions and get hands on gardening demonstrations. Then from 10:30 until noon, it will be garden volunteer work. If you would like to have your own plot, just call 729-3196 to sign up. The first plot is free and it is just $10 for each additional plot you want. If you have any questions about the event or getting a plot at the community garden, call 729-3196.

According to preliminary data from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 2,540 turkeys during the 2019 spring youth season, April 6th and 7th. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 61 turkeys harvested, Laclede with 56, and Texas with 52. Warm weather and sunny skies helped increase this year’s youth-weekend harvest over last year’s where young hunters checked 1,729 turkeys. Spring turkey hunting continues with the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season April 15th through May 5th. For more information on spring turkey hunting, get a copy of MDC’s 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold, or online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/spring-turkey-hunting-regulations-and-information. Hunters who harvest their first turkey can have the accomplishment recognized through a special certificate from MDC, complete with a photo. Learn more at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trophies-certificates/certificates.