Archive for 2023

The draft fiscal year 2024-2028 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Wednesday. The draft five-year program includes funding from General Revenue that was passed by the Missouri General Assembly. A 30-day public review and comment period has now begun. The draft fiscal year 2024-2028 STIP lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2024-2028 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2028) and reflects the transportation needs of communities across the state. Those projects in the STIP for Dent County include a scoping engineering project on Route TT for bridge improvements over Crooked Creek in the next two years, the bridge replacement on Highway 19 South over Gladden Creek at an expected cost of $1,827,000 in the 2024 fiscal year, pavement improvements to Route K from Highway 19 to Route KK as well as on Route J from Highway 72 to Highway 32-72 at a cost of $2,071,000 in fiscal year 2025, upgrades to pedestrian facilities on Highway 32 to comply with the ADA Transition Plan at a total cost of $1,991,000 that will begin in fiscal year 2025 with the engineering and right-of-way purchase followed by the construction beginning in fiscal year 2026; the bridge improvement on Route B over Dry Creek at a cost of $1,330,000 in the 2026 fiscal year, and the bridge improvement on Highway 19 over Spring Creek for $231,000 in fiscal year 2027. The proposed program is available for public review. The program is also available on MoDOT’s website: hwww.modot.org. Those interested in offering comments can contact MoDOT by email to STIPcomments@modot.mo.gov or by calling customer service at 1-888-275-6636. The formal comment period ends July 6th, 2023. Following the public review period, the comments will be presented to the Commission. The Commission will review the comments and the final transportation program before considering it for approval at its July 12 meeting.

Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said there will be no Dent County Commission meeting this morning due to a lack of a quorum. He reported by phone on Friday on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting he attended Thursday afternoon at the MRPC offices. Larson said there was a lot of discussion about one of the projects in Dent County scheduled in the state draft STIP plan in the next fiscal year and that is the Gladden Creek Bridge. Initially there was talk the bridge would be closed and those who use Highway 19 would have to be rerouted. MoDOT has found that the cost of improving the other state and lettered highway routes that would have to be used due to the bridge being closed would cost over a million dollars. Larson said an alternative being considered by MoDOT would be to build a one lane temporary bridge over the creek near the old bridge that would use stoplights to control traffic on the bridge. He said nothing has been finalized at this time by MoDOT and would he find out more at the next TAC meeting. The next commissioners meeting will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Chamber Business Expo will be held on Saturday from 9:00 until noon at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center Parking Area at the intersection of Highway 32-72 and 19. Anyone who is a chamber member can receive a FREE ten foot wide by six foot deep space and a second space is only $25.Deadline for booth entry will be tomorrow. Forms are available at the chamber office or e-mail Chamber Director Tabitha Utley at chamber@salemmo.com and she can send you one. If you have questions, call 729-6900 to get the answers.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meet Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board is expected to review and approve the minutes of the May meeting before hearing the financial report, approving bills, and reviewing the budget and calandar. After the monthly reimbursement report, any old business will be be heard then the hearing of any new business which would be brought before the board. Fire Chief Brad Nash will make his report to the board and the date will then be set for the July meeting before adjourning. The meeting next Tuesday evening will be open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday afternoon at around 5:15 in Phelps County on County Road 3120 three miles west of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Ford Focus being driven west of 51 year old Eric Sparks of Rolla, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Sparks, who was wearing a seat restraint, was transported by St. James ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The Ford was removed from the scene by D&D Towing with moderate damage.

Join Tana Kettner & Terrie Welch this Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 8:30 at the Creative Arts Center for a Barn Quilt Class. Participants 13 and up are welcome. In this two-day class, you will draw your own quilt block design on a sanded and primed 2’x2′ piece of plywood, and paint it with house paint with crisp edges. When you finish, you can take it home! The $55 cost covers both nights, with all supplies included. Register online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under Programs for the Creative Arts Center.

Missouri State Parks values the tremendous contributions and sacrifices made by members of the military and their families. To show its appreciation to active service members, Missouri State Parks is participating in the Blue Star Museums program, which offers free admission to the nation’s active-duty personnel and their families. The Blue Star Museums program is a collaborative effort of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, U.S. Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums across the nation. Anyone currently serving in the military and their families can receive free admission to museums and historic sites that are part of the Missouri State Parks system by showing their military ID. The 2023 program begian on Armed Forces Day, and will end Labor Day, Monday, September 4th. In addition to the Blue Star Museums program, Missouri State Parks also offers a military camping discount. Active-duty military and veterans alike receive a $2 discount year round at state parks campgrounds. The military discount will be given to retired, veteran and active-duty military personnel, as well as family members of active-duty military personnel, by showing a military or veteran identification. More information on both these programs can be found by visiting mostateparks.com.  Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a suit of quo warranto to remove Iron County Sheriff Jeffery Burkett from office. The quo warranto holds that Burkett “has knowingly or willfully failed and refused to perform official acts and duties with respect to the execution or enforcement of criminal laws of the State, and has engaged in willful acts of misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office.” The petition alleges that Burkett is unfit to hold office after allegedly helping Rick Gaston, an Iron County resident, with a plot to kidnap Gaston’s children from their mother after a domestic dispute. Following this incident, the Washington County Prosecutor criminally charged Iron County Sheriff Jeffery Burkett with one count of participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities, a class B felony; one count of tampering with a victim, a class D felony; one count of attempted kidnapping in the third degree, a class B misdemeanor; one count of stalking in the first degree, a class E felony; one count of stalking in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; one count of unlawful obtaining of criminal history information, a class A misdemeanor; one count of unlawful disclosure of criminal history information, a class A misdemeanor; one count of misuse of emergency telephone services, a class B misdemeanor; and one count of making a false report, a class B misdemeanor. The Attorney General’s Office argues that Burkett “abused his power and authority as an elected sheriff by encouraging other law enforcement officers to make illegal arrests and detentions, knowing that he had no jurisdiction or authority and knowing that the arrests and seizures lacked any probable cause or reasonable suspicion.” The petition further asserts that Burkett’s “actions of utilizing his office and its resources, including two deputies, to further criminal acts and conspiracies, were willful acts of misconduct, malfeasance, and misfeasance, and constitute willful and fraudulent violations of his official duty to enforce the criminal laws of the State in direct violation of Section 106.220, RSMo, and outside his jurisdiction granted by Section 57.010, RSMo.” The petition also asks the Court to remove Burkett from office immediately due to the Department of Public Safety’s temporary suspension of his peace officer certification.

The new Missouri Drought Mitigation and Response Plan is now complete after more than two years of study and development. The update replaces the previous 2002 drought plan and uses modern tools for enhanced monitoring and assessment of all types of droughts. It also gives everyone from government officials, to water users, the water suppliers and the leaders of industry guidance for adopting water conservation best practices to grow their drought resiliency. Michael Weller of the department’s Water Resources Center said that this new drought mitigation and response plan allows us to be much more proactive in how we prepare for and respond to droughts as opposed to just reacting to their negative impacts. The primary goals of the Missouri Drought Mitigation and Response Plan are increasing public awareness, serving as an information source for reducing drought impacts, enhancing resiliency, promoting water conservation, improving monitoring, facilitating response planning, as well as clarifying roles and responsibilities. Among the metrics the updated drought plan uses that were unavailable 20 years ago are data from remote sensing of rainfall amounts and satellite measurements of soil moisture. The plan’s new matrix of drought actions is designed to rapidly assess what areas of the state are most affected by drought as well as what industries are either most susceptible or at risk under different conditions. A comprehensive list of actions and initiatives further outlines what measures can be taken at all levels before and during drought. Visit www.dnr.mo.gov to learn more about drought in Missouri. The current drought conditions for Missouri and other states are available to view at www.drought.gov.

Missouri Mines State Historic Site invites the public to the return of the annual Rock Swap from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon this0 Saturday. Attendees will have the opportunity to buy, sell, swap or admire rocks, mineral specimens, fossils, rock jewelry and rock art at this event on the historic site’s grounds. During the event, there will be free admission to the historic site museum for self-guided tours. The museum interprets Missouri’s mining history and displays restored old mining machinery and an outstanding mineral collection. A free guided tour led by interpretive team members will be provided at 2:00. Rock hobbyists and vendors wishing to set up a booth must complete an application. Booth spots are free, but are limited and must be reserved in advance. All booth spots will be outdoors in an open area, approximately 12 feet by 12 feet. There will be no electricity or amenities provided at booth spots; vendors will need to bring their own tables, chairs and shade tents, if desired. For an application or more information about this event, contact the historic site office at 573-431-6226. Missouri Mines State Historic Site is located at 4000 Highway 32 in Park Hills. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

An accident happened in Crawford County on the I-44 South Outer Road just east of Bourbon at 7:41 Thursday morning. According to the highway patrol report, a 2019 Buick Encore driven eastbound by 80-year-old Lawrence Daulby of Steelville, went off the right side of the roadway and struck several trees. Daulby suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by the North Crawford County Ambulance. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Buick sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Chuck’s Towing.