Archive for 2021

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines announced the workforce and community development focused Salem R-80 Construction Trades Program has been selected as one of four Strong Communities Award finalists competing for $15,000. The Bank of Salem, a FHLB Des Moines member, partnered with Sally Burbridge, the Economic Development Director for Salem and Dent County as well as the Salem R-80 Construction Trades Program to apply for the Strong Communities Award. According to the Construction Trades Instructor A.J. Tinker, the Salem R80 Construction Trades Program focuses on providing hands on training in construction techniques and disciplines while providing a tool for rejuvenating the community. He urges the public to go online and vote for this important project to win this year’s Strong Communities Award. The Strong Communities Award honors the projects, people and programs that promote local small business growth and retention. The winners will be determined through a five-day public voting period beginning on October 4th and ending on October 8th this year. Members of the Salem community can cast their votes in favor of the Salem R-80 Construction Trades Program by visiting the Strong Communities Award homepage at www.fhlbdm.com/award. The voting serves as a component of the selection process to select the winners. The winners will be awarded $15,000 each, and runners-up will be awarded $3,000 each. The public can find out more about the award program at the same webpage.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the report on CART funds and said the county is up $444.84 from money received last September with a total of $61,826.39 being collected. Year-to-date, the CART funds for 2021 received are up $49,946.08 over the 2020 year. District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5690 while only materials would be added to county road 5600. He went on to say dirt work and the approaches to the new bridge on Dent County Road 4210 were being finished and the road is now open. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson was not available and Travis Turner give the road report. He said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2245 while brush will be cut on county road 3050. Turner also stated two men would be doing patch work on chip and seal roads with EPM material. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending an Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management Executive Board meeting today to review and score grant applications for solid waste reduction and/or recycling. Skiles said he, Commissioner Mobray and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley would be attending a meeting at the MRPC to hear Attorney Travis Elliott explain how counties can use their ARPA funds. Skiles also indicated he had a CCAM Executive Board Meeting Thursday in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of August. Also at the meeting were Director of Marketing and Public Affairs Kent Sherrow and General Manager of Steelville Telephone Exchange, Kevin Ancell. They explained they have laid 4.4 miles of fiber in Dent County to date at a cost of about $270,000, plus they have another $30,000 in engineering costs. They are currently laying fiber in the northeastern part of the county that they already serve and actually have the fiber all the way to the bridge at Short Bend. Ancell said it costs between $28,000 to $30,000 a mile to lay the fiber. Ancell said Steelville Telephone Exchange has sent out a postcard to 4,593 people who fall in the “donut holes” of high speed Internet services where the speeds they have are 25 mbs download speed and three mbs upload speed or lower. People are asked to download the QR Code and fill out the survey and get it back to them if you are interested in high speed Internet. Their goal is to have at least six percent of the surveys returned, but their last survey actually had a response rate of over 12%. Ancell said Steelville Telephone Exchanges has run over 640 square miles of fiber in Crawford County with a download and upload speed of 100 mbs each. He said the telephone exchange is interested in providing services to Dent County and will be attempting to get government funding. Ancell was curious to find out if the county commission was going to use ARPA funds to help pay for better Internet services in Dent County and Presiding Commissioner Skiles said the commissioners have not made any decisions and won’t until after they here from Attorney Elliott on Wednesday. Sherrow said the Viburnum and Steelville areas have been designated Smart Rural Communities due to the investment by Steelville Telephone Exchange in fiber which can provide the Internet speeds people are looking for in their homes and businesses which can add value to personal property and allow people to relocate and work from home if they choose. Steelville was not awarded the service areas in the FCC auction to provide Internet services, but they are anxious to fill in the areas those providers would not, and if a provider backs out, they said they would be applying to replace them as a provider. The commissioners then approved the bid from Ferrellgas to provide propane for the courthouse beginning October 1st and lasting through the winter for $1.99 per gallon. The next meeting will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The City of Salem Curbside Yard Waste Pickup is being RESCHEDULED to the week of October 18th. The City of Salem Streets Crew will be performing crack sealing on multiple city streets the first two weeks of October and will not be able to pick up yard waste during that time. Please be courteous while city crews are repairing and maintaining your streets. Again, please DO NOT set out yard waste until the weekend of October 16th.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released several reports for the first week of September. On Wednesday, September 1st, a deputy conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 32 and Phillips Street. During the stop, a 34-year-old Rolla man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1500 block of Route B. During that stop, a 20-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office and was issued a summons for failing to drive on the right half of roadway. She was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 19. During the stop, a 44-year-old Cuba man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 1st offense. The man was taken to the Dent County Jail where he was finger-printed, issued a summons, and released. The next day, Thursday the 2nd of September, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 4000 block of Highway 68. During the stop, a 31-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or 3rd offense. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. On Saturday, September 4th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of MacArthur and Franklin Streets. As a result, a 32-year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. The man was taken to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 19 and Highway 68. As a result of the traffic stop, a 35-year-old Salem man was arrested for a DWI as a persistent offender and failure to comply with ignition interlock device requirements. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued summons, and released to a sober party. On Saturday, September the 8th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 3190 and Highway 68. During the traffic stop, a 21-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 1st offense and driving while intoxicated. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released to a sober party.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon in Phelps County on Highway 63 about a half a mile south of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a XR4145 Tractor driven by 69-year-old Bobby Gately of Edgar Springs was travelling eastbound and was backing down the state right of way while brush hogging. The tractor lost power and rolled into a culvert and overturned. Gately suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla by Phelps Health Ambulance. Gately was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The tractor sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing.

An accident occurred Saturday morning at 11:56 in Phelps County on Route BB about five miles east of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 58-year-old Barbara Underwood of Rolla was travelling eastbound and stopped in the road and began backing up. At that time, a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by a 16-year-old male juvenile from Rolla that was travelling eastbound struck the Silverado in the rear. The juvenile suffered minor injuries and sought his own treatment. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Cobalt sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by private party. The Silverado sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

This Saturday, National Public Lands Day Activities at Round Spring will be celebrated by working on several trails in the park. Volunteering on National Public Lands Day is an opportunity to spend time outside with family and friends, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the benefits that come with the satisfaction of giving back. Join us at the Round Spring Ranger Station at 10 that to work on trail projects in the park. Bring a lunch and enjoy the day outdoors. Volunteers at National Public Land Day will receive a “fee-free” coupon, good for one year, for free one-day entrance into a federal recreation site. In addition, the Ozark Riverways Foundation will sponsor a National Public Land Day celebration full of fun, food, and a free concert at Echo Bluff State Park. Food and fun will be 4:00 until 6:00 that afternoon at the picnic area near the amphitheater, followed by the free concert featuring singer/songwriter Collin Nash at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Skyler Bockman at (573) 323-8093 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

Fall is a great time to try the Current River Challenge hike/float adventure. This self-guided activity includes three “legs” to complete: a 4-mile hike from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park, a 4-mile hike from Echo Bluff to Current River State Park, and a 4-mile float from Current River State Park to Round Spring. Hikers can pick up an informational map brochure at any of the three park sites. At the conclusion of each “leg” participants will stamp their map at designated kiosks. After completion of all three legs, participants can present their stamped map at the Round Spring Ranger Station to receive an award recognizing the accomplishment. The Current River Challenge is a self-guided activity that can be completed at your own pace, in any order and timeframe desired. It can be completed in one day or over multiple days. Plan accordingly when hiking or participating in any outdoor recreational activity. Hikers should take weather conditions into consideration and be prepared during all seasons. Drinking water, rain gear, map, snacks, flashlight, sturdy hiking shoes, clothing appropriate for the weather and terrain, and emergency campfire supplies are recommended. Always remember to inform someone of your plans. For more information about any of the hikes, contact Skyler Bockman at (573) 323-8093 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar.