Archive for 2020

The Dent County Health Center announces the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Positive COVID-19 Cases. These individuals are now in isolation in their homes. All close contacts to these have been identified, and notified of their exposure, and given quarantine instructions. The following locations have been identified as places of possible exposure from all four cases. People at these locations are at a low risk for contracting COVID-19 but should monitor for symptoms. On Sunday, July 5th a person was at the First Baptist Church for worship service from 10:00 to 11:30 in the morning, then went to Bigos Mexican Restaurant and was there from 11:30 in the morning until 12:30 in the afternoon. Also on Monday, July 6th, a person who tested positive was at the Salem Wal-Mart from 4:30 to 4:45 in the afternoon. To reduce risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19, people are encourage to follow preventative measures such as washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; stay home if you are sick, cover any coughs and sneezes, and you should clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces frequently. Wearing a mask is optional, but should be seriously if you are going to be in the vicinity of a lot of people. If you suspect that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, and are experiencing symptoms, call your healthcare provider to let them know before seeking care. It is critical that your provider is aware that you may have COVID-19 prior to your arrival at a healthcare facility, and that you follow all instructions for arriving at the healthcare facility. For more information, contact the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106.

An accident happened in Iron County Saturday afternoon at 4:00 on a private road about a mile and a half east of Viburnum. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Can Am four- wheeler driven northbound by 78-year old Gary Jordan of Viburnum overturned in the roadway. A passenger on the Can Am, 49-year old Victoria Shover of Viburnum, suffered serious injuries flown by Air-Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Neither Jordan nor Shover was wearing any safety equipment when the accident happened. The Can Am sustained extensive damage and was removed by Abney’s Wrecker from the scene.

An accident occurred on Saturday morning at 2:15 in Crawford County on Evans Road about seven miles southwest of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Ford F-250 driven by 20-year old Bree-Anna Bergner of Viburnum was traveling too fast northbound when she failed to negotiate a curve. The Ford skid and Bergner overcorrected and traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Bergner suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Heath Rolla by the Steelville Ambulance. An occupant in the Ford, 25-year old Henry Conaway of Viburnum, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health Rolla by Steelville Ambulance. Both Bergner and Conaway were not wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was towed by Miles Towing.

An accident happened Friday afternoon at 12:12 in Dent County on Highway 19 about two miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Toyota Highlander, driven by 19- year-old Sylvan Rosenthal of Garland, Texas, was backing from a private drive when she traveled into the path of a 2006 Peterbilt, driven by 58-year-old Lewis Gibbs of Salem. A passenger in the Toyota, 20-year-old Lucila Spannaus of North Salt Lake City, Utah, suffered minor injuries and chose to seek her own treatment. The report stated that Rosenthal, Spannaus, and Gibbs were all wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Toyota was totaled and towed from the scene by American Muffler and Towing. The Peterbilt sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Salem Police Department, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the Dent County Fire Protection District.

Though not as dramatic as the name would imply, pavement “blow-ups” are the summer’s version of potholes, created by a combination of moisture, weakening pavement and temperatures consistently reaching 90 degrees or more across the state. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges motorists to stay aware of road surfaces during these hot summer days. Pavement blow-ups are fractures that occur when a roadway surface expands at a crack or joint where moisture has seeped in. That crack weakens the pavement and the heat causes the pavement to buckle and warp, creating holes in the surface. Despite the term, the pavement does not actually explode. According to MoDOT State Maintenance Director Natalie Roark because it is difficult to know where or when a pavement blow-up will happen, our maintenance staff continually monitors road conditions on state routes. When you encounter a blow-up in the road, slow down and report the location to MoDOT as soon as possible so our maintenance crews can make repairs. Remember, never make a cell phone call from behind the wheel. Buckle Up Phone Down. Be alert to MoDOT crews making emergency roadway repairs. Slow down and move over for maintenance workers and other emergency personnel. It’s the law. Motorists can call MoDOT’s toll-free customer service center to report pavement blow-ups at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636). Plan your summer trip at MO on the GO, MoDOT’s suite of mobile information tools that shares the latest news on work zones, road conditions and traffic incidents. You can access it online at modot.org/mo-go.

Currently on the Salem R-80 Website, parents can register their child for kindergarten for the William Lynch Elementary School. If you have a child who will be turning 5 before August 1st, you can register them now online. Once you have filled out the form, you will be contacted at a later date at the phone number you put on the form. The website is https://www.salemr80.org.

Have you filed your federal and state tax returns yet? The 2019 federal income tax filing and payment deadlines for all taxpayers who file and pay taxes was extended until July 15th, 2020. This relief applied to all individual returns, trusts, and corporations. This relief is automatic, taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify. This relief also included estimated tax payments for tax year 2020 that awere due on April 15th, 2020. Penalties and interest will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of July 16th, 2020. You will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by July 15. The State of Missouri also extended their tax deadline to July 15th for filing your income taxes and payment. This filing and payment relief applies to all individual income tax returns, income tax returns filed by C Corporations, and income tax returns filed by trusts or estates. The filing deadline for partnership returns that were originally due on April 15th, 2020 was also extended to July 15th, 2020. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file their federal tax return beyond the July 15th deadline can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004. If you do owe Missouri tax, you can request a Missouri tax extension with Form MO-60. Make sure to file Form MO-60 by July 15th. If you have an approved Federal tax extension (IRS Form 4868), the State of Missouri will automatically grant you an extension as well.

Plans have been finalized for the 4-H and FFA Expo July 15th through 18th at The Commons. Due to the COVID-19 virus a number of events and activities have been cancelled or highly modified. Scheduled activities will begin Wednesday evening with the Dessert Auction at 6:00. Desserts need to be entered by 5:00 Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday all livestock must be in place on the grounds no later than 11:00 and weigh-ins will begin around noon. Competition kicks off Friday morning early with the Hog Show starting at 7:00, and it will be followed by the Sheep and Goat Show. The Small Animal Show will be conducted at 1:00 in afternoon followed by the Beef and Dairy Show at 2:00. The 4-H/FFA Market Sale will be Saturday morning starting at 9:00. For additional information contact the Dent County Extension Center at 573-729-3196. The Junior Livestock Committee encourages everyone to observe social distancing, stay home if you are sick, cover any coughs and sneezes, and clean and disinfect hands frequently. Hand sanitizing stations will be located around the barns. Wearing a mask is optional, but should be seriously considered since those attending are going to be in the vicinity of a lot of people.

Going on now, deer hunters can apply online through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website for a shot at more than 100 managed deer hunts throughout the state for archery, muzzleloading, and modern firearms from mid-September through mid-January at conservation areas, state and other parks, national wildlife refuges, and other public areas. Some managed hunts are held specifically for youth or for people with disabilities. The managed deer hunt application period will be open through the 31st. Before you apply, here are a couple of reminders about the managed hunts. First, you may apply for only one managed deer hunt each year. If you apply for more than one, you will be disqualified from this year’s drawing and will not receive a preference point. Second, youth who apply for a youth-only hunt may not also apply for a regular managed deer hunt. Third, if you cannot attend, another hunter cannot take your place. Only those hunters who applied and were drawn may attend. Also, some managed hunts require hunters to attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation. If you cannot attend the orientation, do not apply for these hunts. Whether you apply as one in a party or as an individual, your chances of being drawn for a managed deer hunt are the same as everyone else’s. However, if you are not drawn for a managed hunt this year, you will earn one preference point that will increase your odds the next time you apply which MDC calls a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available August 15th through January, 15th, 2021. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by mail. For more information on managed deer hunts or to preview hunt details, go to mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt. Details about managed hunts can also be found in MDC’s “2020 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet available starting in early July at MDC offices and nature centers, from permit vendors around the state, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

An employee with the company that cleans Missouri’s “Welcome Centers” has tested positive for COVID-19. Facilities recently cleaned by the individual at Conway, Missouri have been closed on both sides of Interstate 44. DBi, the company contracted to clean Missouri rest areas and welcome centers, notified the Missouri Department of Transportation early Thursday morning of the positive test. Both eastbound and westbound facilities were immediately closed to the public. The welcome centers will be cleaned following CDC guidance and utilizing EPA-registered disinfectants. The westbound side is being cleaned and disinfected first and will reopen on Saturday, July 11th. The eastbound facility will then be cleaned and disinfected and will reopen Sunday, July 12th. Parking will still be available at both welcome centers. DBi is installing portable toilets at the locations. The cleaning and disinfecting of the Welcome Centers will be done at no charge by DBi.