Archive for 2021

This morning at 8:30 on KSMO Radio and online at www.ksmoradio.com, Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles will have Salem Memorial District Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas as a special guest to explain in more detail about the upcoming vaccinations and the order the Phases and tiers are supposed to be vaccinated. We invite you to listen to find out the latest information that concerns the people of Salem and Dent County.

Preparations are underway for Ozark National Scenic Riverways to accomplish several prescribed burns this spring, between early February and mid-April. The burns will be carefully planned and monitored by the park’s Fire Management staff. Several prescribed burns planned at Ozark Riverways in 2021 will be cooperative efforts with other land management agencies. The Alley Spring prescribed burn unit is 826 acres near Alley Mill. This burn will be conducted in partnership with Missouri Department of Conservation. The Pulltite prescribed burn unit is 577 acres and is in the upper Current River area in northern Shannon County. This burn will be conducted in partnership with Missouri Department of Conservation and The Nature Conservancy. The Welch Lodge burn unit is 829 acres and is in the upper Current River area in northern Shannon County near Akers. This burn will be conducted in partnership with Pioneer Forest. Individuals in the vicinity of the prescribed burns with respiratory ailments are encouraged to take extra precautions to avoid exposure to smoke. Anyone who is concerned about the potential impacts of smoke from a prescribed burn can request to be added to the park’s notification list in order to be contacted in advance. For more information about prescribed burns at Ozark Riverways or to be included on the park’s notification list, contact Dena Matteson at (573) 323-4814 or dena_matteson@nps.gov. Prescribed burning has a variety of purposes ranging from the reduction of fuel accumulations near developed areas to benefits for native plants and animals in a variety of ways. If you would like to receive additional information about other prescribed burns in the local area, please contact Missouri Department of Conservation at (573) 226-3616 or the U.S. Forest Service at (573) 364-4621.

Emmett Johnson of Rolla recently scratched his way to a $100,000 prize on a Missouri Lottery “$1,000 in a Flash” Scratchers game. The winning ticket was purchased at Phil-Mart located at 500 S. Main in Salem. The “$1,000 In a Flash” is a $10 Scratchers game with over $8.1 million in unclaimed prizes, including another $100,000 prize and a top prize of $1 million. In fiscal year 2020, players in Dent County have won more than $3.4 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received more than $243,000 in commissions and bonuses, and more than $761,000 in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county. All Missouri Lottery offices are currently open by appointment only for claims of $600 or more. Winning tickets may also be claimed by mail.

Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)-Classic, formerly known as CSP-General. The Conservation Stewardship Program is a great opportunity for Missouri farmers, ranchers and foresters to maintain and expand on existing conservation efforts according to Scott Edwards, Missouri State Conservationist of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). While applications are accepted on a continuous basis, applications must be submitted by February 26, 2021 to be considered for fiscal year 2021 funding. Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining and expanding conservation activities on all the land they operate. The variety of CSP conservation activities offer producers a lot of freedom to select enhancements, practices, and bundles that help meet producer’s management goals. Producers interested in CSP are encouraged to contact the local USDA Service Center in Houston by calling 417-967-2028 or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted on line.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released several reports. On Thursday, January 14th, a deputy observed a 43-year-old Salem man outside the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy knew the man to have an active warrant for his arrest through Dent County. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. The next day, Friday the 15th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 200 block of West Franklin Street to serve an active arrest warrant. A 34-year-old Salem man was arrested for having three active warrants through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. On Monday the 25th, a deputy observed a 50-year-old Salem woman at the Dent County Courthouse. The deputy knew the woman to have an active warrant for her arrest through Dent County. She was arrested and taken to Dent County Jail where she was incarcerated. On January 26th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 800 block of North Henderson Street to investigate a 41-year old Salem man failing to register as a sex offender. During the course of the investigation the man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. Finally on Friday the 29th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson Street to serve an active arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 42-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was incarcerated. Please contact the Dent County Sheriffs office at (573) 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is offering weatherization assistance to increase energy efficiency and improve the health of your home. As families spend more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, they tend to use more energy, and energy efficiency benefits become even more critical. The department’s Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program is essential to meeting heating and cooling needs of those with low incomes, especially as many seniors and other vulnerable households shelter at home due to COVID-19. The program provides assistance to make homes more energy efficient, safer and healthier. Properly insulating and sealing air leaks can help many homes save as much as 30% in winter heating costs. Home weatherization not only saves homeowners money and leaves them with a more comfortable living space, it also reduces the pollution associated with generating energy used for heating. Weatherization also leads to significant health benefits, returning on average $2.78 in health-and-safety related benefits for every $1 invested. For more information visit the department’s Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program webpage at energy.mo.gov/assistance-programs or contact the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy at 855-522-2796.

As part of an Environmental Assessment, the Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss a proposed project to improve the Route 19 Round Spring Bridges over the Current River and Spring Valley in Shannon County. The virtual public meeting will be held tonight from 5:00 until 7:00 with the same formal presentations beginning at 5:00 and 6:00. Throughout the online meeting, there will be breaks for attendees to ask questions or share comments. Attendees can join the virtual public meeting online by going to www.RT19VPM.com. The goals of the project are to improve the condition and functionality of these aging structures as well as maintain local and regional connectivity. Although funding is not yet secured for the project, MoDOT is exploring alternatives for replacing or rehabilitating each structure through the study. Comments will be accepted through Thursday, February 25th. For more information or to request a hard copy of the meeting materials, please contact MoDOT Project Manager Pete Berry at (417) 469-6242 or Consultant Project Manager David Kocour at (816) 256-8584.