Archive for 2019

Two Salem Tiger Students who are currently in the Construction Trades program at the high school competed in the Skills USA district contest that took place on February 22nd. There were 12 contestants total from different schools who participated in the contest and five of those students were able to finish their project. Both of the Salem students who participated finished their project. At the awards ceremony held February 27th, the Skills USA personnel gave out awards for the top three places. Dell Hoffmeister who is a junior in the Construction 1 class this year placed 1st in the skills contest. There was also a district written contest that was held in January for Skills USA. There are 7 schools in our district and they send as many students as they want for each program to take the written contest. Jay Busbey from Salem, who is currently a senior in the Construction 1 program this year, placed 3rd in the written contest out of over 50 other students. Hoffmeister and Busbey will now get to go to the Skills USA state contest that will be held on April 4th, 5th, and 6th at State Technical College of Missouri in Linn, Missouri.

The City of Salem’s Airport Board will hold a meeting tonight at 7:00 at the Dent County Fire District at #2 S Main in Salem. At the meeting, the board will get an update on the tree clearing project, get an update on airport lights, receive an update on hangars then address any other business before the meeting is adjourned. This meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invite Missouri public, private, and home-school students in grades K-8 to help fight litter in the Show-Me State — and to have creative and educational fun — by participating in the 2019 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free” trashcan-decorating contest. The annual contest is sponsored by MDC and MoDOT as part of the state’s “No MOre Trash!” statewide litter campaign. Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to contest rules, and effective use of theme and logo. First-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools. All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of a trophy and $600 awarded to the sponsoring school. There is no entry fee for the contest. Participating school groups must submit a completed entry form online with up to three photos to nomoretrash.org by THIS FRIDAY!!. Contest rules, entry forms, logo, past contest entries and winners, and information can also be found at nomoretrash.org.

If your weekend plans include having a few drinks while watching some live basketball action or bending an elbow at your local Irish
bar, make sure it also includes a sober ride home. Law enforcement agencies across Missouri will be participating in additional patrols to prevent the often deadly consequences of impaired driving. Their message is clear: drive sober or get pulled over. Based on preliminary 2018 data, 184 people were killed and 531 more were seriously injured in Missouri traffic crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety reminds motorists to designating a sober driver to get everyone home safe. Remember, if you feel different, you drive different. Besides driving completely sober from alcohol and drugs, motorists are also advised to put their cell phones down while driving and always buckle up – everyone, every trip, every time.

Captain James W. Remillard, commanding officer of Troop I, announces that during the month of March, Troop I officers will conduct five seat belt enforcement operations. These operations will be conducted in the counties of Dent, Pulaski, Crawford, Phelps, and Laclede. Officers assigned to these five operations, will focus on violations of Missouri traffic laws with an emphasis on youth seat belt violations. The purpose of this Youth Seat Belt Enforcement project is to encourage Missouri’s youth to use seat belts. The only 100 percent survivable traffic crash is the one that never happens. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Every day as we travel on Missouri’s roadways, we trust that every driver on the road is going to obey the speed limit, pay attention, and drive sober. “Don’t Violate The Trust.”

The Salem Police Department has rescheduled the City of Salem storm siren testing that was postponed last Tuesday, March 5th to Wednesday morning, March 20th at 10:00.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not able to attend due to a prior commitment so Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson to serve as the acting Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that crews removed two trees that blew down over roads this past the weekend. One tree partially covered Dent County Road 4110 and the other tree completed shut down Dent County Road 6080 for a time. Purcell said some roads were dry enough to grade and crews will be adding materials to and grading Dent County Roads 4080, 4210 and 6580 as well as other roads if time permits. Larson said District Two had numerous reports of downed trees over the weekend and crews responded to those locations to remove those trees. Larson stated materials would be added and grading done on county roads 4060 and 5260. He went on to report grading only would be done on Dent County Road 2403 and materials only would be added to county road 2150. County Clerk Curley wanted to remind voters absentee voting for the April 2nd Municipal Election is going on now. She said that Dent-Phelps R-3, Northwood R-4 and Salem R-80 School Districts do not have races, nor does the Dent County Fire Protection District or the Salem Memorial Hospital District. She said the last day to mail out an absentee ballot will be Wednesday, March 20th which is a week earlier than it used to be. If anyone needs to change their address or needs to update their voter registration, please call her office at 729-4144 or drop by her office in the Dent County Courthouse. Kevin Barker with Mapping Solutions came in to discuss plat books with the commission. He says his company would require less books for the initial order than other companies and the county could reorder as few as 20 books at a time if they needed them. He also said they have an app that can be purchased for your smart phone or tablet that will show you exactly where you are in the county along with the property information. He left information with the commissioners about his company. The county does not have any money in the budget in 2019 for new plat books. Curley said the county has a box left from their last order that was in 2015. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Mark Twain National Forest is recruiting individuals to be members of a Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) that will be established as required by the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Recruitment activities will end on or about March 31st, 2019. The RAC will be established to improve collaborative relationships and provide recommendations to the National Forest concerning project proposals being considered for implementation with funding provided by the Act. The RAC will include 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture following a review of some brief background information provided by the prospective member. RAC members must reside in the Dent, Douglas, Oregon or Ozark counties in Missouri. Membership will be balanced and diverse representation and include individuals who are recreation users, members of environmental organizations, elected officials, tribal representatives, school officials, timber industry, public at large, and other interested groups. Membership is voluntary and those selected will serve a 4-year term. For more information on Resource Advisory Committees, check the Forest Service web-site at www.fs.usda.gov/main/pts/specialprojects. If this opportunity is of interest contact Richard Hall at 573-368-9286, or Laura Watts at 573-341-7471.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Saturday afternoon, March 2nd, at approximately 4:23, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown had stolen a Sig Sauer P238 .380 caliber handgun from a residence in the 900 block of East Hawkins. The report is under investigation. Then on Sunday morning, March 3rd at about 1:30, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 22-year old female of De Soto, Illinois on an active arrest warrant from Vienna, Missouri. The suspect was later released with a new date to appear in court after posting a $250.00 bond. On Tuesday morning, March 5th, at approximately 9:08, an officer was dispatched to Casey’s General Store located on Highway 32 in reference to property damage. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown apparently ran into the corner of the building causing damage valued at $500.00 to the brick and mortar. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.