Archive for 2020

Aging Best, serving seniors in 19 counties, is continuing their curbside meal service at this time. They are currently working together with local centers to collaboratively develop future plans. The goal is to add more programming in a manner that is safe and meets the needs of each of the unique communities they serve and updates will be provided as changes occur. During the pandemic, volunteers have continued the delivery of more than 55,000 homebound meals per month. The curbside meal program is also experiencing an increase. Staff and volunteers are following all the CDC safety recommendations in the delivery of home and curbside meals. Aging Best is also in need of assistance with health and safety supplies. Due to COVID-19, the organization is seeking masks and gloves for their staff, volunteers and participants receiving services. Masks, purchased or homemade, would be greatly appreciated along with latex gloves. In preparation for fall, the organization is also collecting items for homebound care packages. The packages will be provided to seniors before winter weather arrives. Those packages will include lap blankets, socks, warm hats and gloves. Donation of these items is being sought for the packages. Other items being accepted for the packages are lotion, first aid kits and hygiene products. Aging Best is also still seeking volunteers to assist with meal delivery, telephonic and mail reassurance, Ombudsman services, coordinating activities and much more. If you are interested in volunteering, donating items or providing financial assistance please call 800-369-5211 or contact Jody Schafer at 729-2373.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday afternoon shortly after 4:00 in Crawford County on Highway 8 about 12 miles east of Steelville. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2017 Hyundai Accent being driven by a 15 year old female juvenile from Cuba was eastbound when she fell asleep and traveled off the right side of the roadway. The Hyundai struck the ground and became airborne, then struck the ground again before striking three trees and finally coming to rest. A passenger in the Hyundai, a 16-year old Female of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and sought her own treatment. Both girls were wearing their seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Hyundai was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind anyone who still has delinquent real estate taxes from 2017 that you will need to pay them IN FULL by TOMORROW, June 30th, during regular business hours from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. If you fail to do so, then on July 1st, the taxes from 2017, 2018 and 2019 will be declared due by August 21st, 2020. If not paid by then, your parcel will be sold at the Delinquent Tax Sale that will be held on Monday, August 24th, 2020. Check payments will not be accepted after June 15th so you will need to pay with cash, cashier’s check, money order, debit or credit card after that date. If you are not sure this applies to you or you do not understand how the system works, you need to call the Dent County Collector’s Office immediately so that it can be explained to you. This is very important so do not put it off any longer. Call the Dent County Collectors Office at 573-729-3911 with any questions you may have or stop by the Dent County Courthouse. Starting July 1st, there will be an additional $25 per parcel added to the tax bill to pay for advertising costs in the Salem News. Remember, only the taxes for 2017 need to be paid IN FULL by Tuesday, June 30th to give you another whole year to pay the other outstanding years.

The Dent County Health Center will be having a drive-thru shot clinic TOMORROW, Tuesday, June 30th. The Clinic will be conducted from 1:00 until 6:00 in the afternoon at the Health Center parking lot at 1010 East Scenic Rivers Boulevard. There are a number of required shots for children entering kindergarten, 8th grade and 12th grade. Participants are asked to bring their current immunization records and insurance information. If there are questions feel free to contact the Dent County Health Center at (573) 729-3106.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the Independence Day Parade will be held on Saturday, July 4th at 6:00 PM. The theme will be “An American Holiday” with George Flint as the grand marshal. The Chamber is NOT assigning lineup positions for this parade, so participants can line up on a first-come, first-serve basis! The Chamber will reserve spots #1 through 11 for the Salem Police Chief, Color Guard, Grand Marshal, VFW and Corporate Sponsors. All other entries can line up from spots 12-120. The parade will follow the normal parade route but will be extended past the Courthouse to Pershing Street at the top of East 4th Street hill. Those who want to participate will still need to fill out a parade form. and submit it no later than TODAY! Call 729-6900 and talk with Tabitha if you have any questions or stop by the Chamber of Commerce office at 1139 South Main Street.

Beginning Wednesday July 1st, 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 is July 1st through the 31st. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available August 15th through Jan. 15th, 2021. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by mail. You can et more information on managed deer hunts, preview hunt details, at 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.

Thursday, the Dent County Health Center has announced that a third positive COVID-19 case has been found in Dent County. The person has been notified that they have tested positive for COVID-19. They are working with this individual to insure they are following Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in regards to isolation. The Dent County Health Center has identified and reached out to close contacts in order to monitor them for symptoms and contain spread. No locations of possible public exposure in Dent County have been identified! It is important that each and every one of us continue to practice basic preventative measures to help decrease the spread. These measures, as outlined by the CDC, include avoiding contact with people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, proper hand-washing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, and staying home when sick. The Health Center highly encourage if you suspect that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please call your healthcare provider before seeking care.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met June 18th at the Health Center. Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray updated the Board on the Health Center’s continued response to COVID-19. The first CARES Act payment request, for the month of March, has been submitted to MRPC. She, along with local school administrators, joined in a DHSS and DESE webinar earlier in the week to discuss school re-opening. Mobray and school administrators are scheduled to meet in early July to discuss plans for re-opening Dent County Schools. The Health Center and SMDH conducted a free COVID-19 testing site at Aranda’s Mexican Restaurant the 18th. She reported outpatient lab services were provided to 87 clients in May. A drive through school shot clinic with no appointments necessary will be conducted on the Health Center parking lot June 30th. Parents and students need to bring current immunization records and insurance information. Also, shots are available daily by appointment, plus nurses will give required immunizations at senior registration. Kindergartners must be up-to-date on immunizations to start school in August. Eighth graders are required to have one dose of meningitis and one dose of Tdap. Seniors are required to have two doses of meningitis unless the first dose was administered to a student who was 16 years of age or older, in which case only one dose is required. At least one dose must be given after 16 years of age. The Dent County Health Center currently bills most insurance companies and offers state vaccine for uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid clients. To make an appointment for vaccinations or for questions please call the Health Center at 573-729-3106. The Health Center investigated 3 animal bites, 7 cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, 1 case of Erlichia Chaffeensis, and 1 case of COVID-19 in May. DCHC expenses were approved, the next regular board meeting was set for July 27th at 5:00, and the meeting was adjourned.

Meramec Regional Planning Commission, with funding from the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) and volunteer support from Brewer Science and the city of Rolla, gathered 29.91 tons of residential scrap electronics, appliances and tires at the 15th annual special collection held June 13th at Brewer Science in Rolla. Approximately 330 vehicles from within the Ozark Rivers seven-county region – Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington – dropped off items at the collection. Tires were the most collected item with a total of 477 tires, amounting to 6.82 tons being diverted from landfills. The most frequently recycled electronics or appliance item was televisions with 216 being collected. Other items included water heaters, computer monitors, washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, dishwashers and various cord or battery operated smaller electronic devices. At the collection held in Salem in May, there 91 vehicles that came through the collection and left 2.5 tons of electronics, 1.8 tons of white goods like washers, stoves, etc, and 1.74 tons of tires. Appliances and e-waste are handled by Midwest Recycling Center, a certified collection contractor, who distributes the collected items to either be refurbished or broken down to recycle rare earth element components. The last resort is responsible destruction and that assures contaminants in electronics, such as mercury, lead and arsenic, never pollute the air or water. The next Ozark Rivers Solid waste Management District Collection will be October 3rd at the Maries County Road District #1 Building at 11055 Highway 133 in Meta, Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages the public to discover nature this summer during frogging season. Beginning June 30th at sunset through October 31st, those with a fishing permit or small-game hunting permit may frog for bullfrogs and green frogs. The daily limit is eight frogs of both species combined and the possession limit is 16 frogs of both species combined. Froggers must be familiar with and follow all MDC rules and regulations.