Archive for 2023

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind anyone who still has delinquent Real Estate taxes from 2020 that you will need to pay them IN FULL by 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 for the tax years 2020, 2021 and 2022 will be declared due by Friday, August 25th, 2023. If not paid by then, your parcel will be sold at the Delinquent Tax Sale that will be held on Monday, August 28th. Check payments are no longer accepted so you will need to pay with cash, cashier’s check or money order. 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 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 $25.00 per parcel added to the tax bill to pay for the advertising costs in the Salem News. Remember, only the taxes for 2020 need to be paid IN FULL by Thursday, June 30th to give you another whole year to pay the other outstanding years.

The City of Salem Airport Board will be meeting this evening at 7:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington. At the meeting, the board will discuss the airport budget for this and next fiscal year, discuss land lease agreements for building new hangars, get an update on the new hanger project and also get an update on the fuel pump card reader before discussing any other business. The meeting of the airport board is open to the public.

The Department of Revenue (DOR) is now allowing otherwise eligible Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders to submit their self-certification and updated medical examiner certificate by email or fax to license offices for processing. This change not only helps CDL holders but it is also expected to reduce the number of customers waiting in lines at the State’s contract license offices. Wayne Wallingford, Director of the Missouri Department of Revenue said that since becoming Director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, I have made it my mission to transform the Department and lead it to achieve its vision of providing every customer the best experience every time. To that end, we discovered a need to make the process of maintaining a commercial driver license more convenient and we worked with Missouri lawmakers to take steps to eliminate an unnecessary burden for our CDL customers. This is just one in myriad ways we are working to better serve the 6 million Missourians who depend upon the services we provide. Previously, CDL holders had been required to submit their self-certification and updated medical examiner certificates in person at a license office to maintain a valid CDL privilege. This step often required truck drivers to take time off work or risk getting stalled roadside-perhaps even in another state-due to certificate expirations. For more information on the CDL requirements, visit the DOR website at dor.mo.gov.

If you want to learn to fish, then turn to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Discover Nature Fishing Program. This program provides a series of free lessons throughout the state. All fishing gear is provided. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/discover-nature-fishing. If you already know how to fish but don’t have any fishing gear, the Missouri Department of Conservation works with numerous libraries and other locations around the state to loan fishing gear for free. Loaner gear includes fishing poles and simple tackle box with hooks, sinkers, and bobbers. Worms, minnows, or other bait are not provided. The Salem Public Library and Current River State Park offer the loaner gear. Call them at 729-4311 or 858-3015 for more information.

The Dent County Commission met last Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray said that he had a truck hauling clay and rock to Dent County Road 6485 to fill in a sink hole that has developed with debris showing that was apparently there when the road was built. He also said some of his crew was repairing the exhaust on the single axle truck and the throttle cable on the Dura-patcher for chip and seal repair. Both graders were fixing bad spots in roads. A pre-construction meeting was held Tuesday in the commission office for the FLAP 56 project which is work on the Tan Vat hill on county road 6670. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson gave the report for District Two. He said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 2060 and materials would be added to county road 2210, plus two driveway culverts that were purchased by landowners would be installed. Larson also reported that two men had gone to Sligo to bring in the Cat grader for repairs. In the Presiding Commissioner’s report, Larson said he’d talked to the contractors working on the courthouse and their work is pretty well on schedule. He also reported that he would be submitting an invoice in the amount of $20,273.96 for the white rock applied to Conservation Roads. He also noted that Governor Parson will appoint the District Two Commissioner, probably the week of June 5th, and locally they have no control of who he appoints. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday, June 1st, at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Ten people died in traffic crashes over the 2023 Memorial Day weekend counting period which began at 6:00 Friday evening, May 26th, and continued through 11:59 Monday night, May 29th, 2023. Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers investigated 314 traffic crashes involving 102 injuries and ten fatalities over the 2023 Memorial Day holiday weekend. The patrol also made 130 DWI and 14 Drug arrests over the holiday weekend. There were six boating crashes resulting in three injuries during the same period. The patrol made seven boating while intoxicated arrests during the counting period. During last years 2022 counting period, the Patrol investigated 301 traffic crashes, which included 129 injuries and nine of the 13 fatalities. Also, over the 2022 Memorial Day holiday, Marine operations troopers investigated nine boating crashes, which included one fatality and four injuries. Troopers made 131 driving while intoxicated arrests and seven boating while intoxicated arrests. No one drowned over the 2022 Memorial Day holiday.

The Missouri’s Department of Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) and the University of Missouri Extension, will host a “Connecting All Missourians” regional listening session on the topic of broadband from 9:00 to 11:00 Tuesday morning, June 9th, at the Centre in Rolla located at 1200 Holloway Street. The main purpose of the regional listening session is to hear updates from a diverse range of broadband stakeholders in the region and around the state. Stakeholder input is crucial to the work of the OBD as they continue to develop the state’s broadband plan and future broadband funding programs. The goal of this campaign is to identify broadband challenges and barriers while identifying resources that can further the mission of “Connecting All Missourians.” Feedback received from stakeholders at the event will continue to guide the creation of a five-year infrastructure plan and Missouri’s Digital Equity Plan and will shape the development of broadband infrastructure in Missouri. The meeting will be held in person, with a virtual option available for those who are unable to attend in-person. Registration is requested to ensure enough seating. To reserve your spot, please contact Linda Carroll at Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) at lcarroll@meramecregion.org or call 573-265-2993. Walk-ins are welcome, although registration is preferred. Bonnie Prigge, the MRPC’s Executive Director, says this is an important meeting, and they hope to have broad representation from our eight-county area including business owners, non-profits, schools, libraries, local governments and elected officials, as well as internet service providers, cooperatives and area residents who need better broadband service. MRPC is assisting the OBD with outreach and community engagement in the Meramec Region.

Honoring the “History in the Howes Mill Community” will be held this Saturday morning at 9:00 at the Boss Assembly of God Church’s Pavilion located at 22518 East Highway 32 in Boss. This is also National Trails Day® which is a day set aside by the American Hiking Society for people to get out and enjoy nature. This “Honoring Howes Mill and the Clark National Forest History” event is one of AHS registered events. It is a recognition day for the Clark National Forest established on September 11, 1939, with 1,971,885 acres named in honor of Champ Clark who served in the Missouri House of Representative and US House of Representatives. Three men who have championed the Clark National Forest are Tom Botkins, Kenny Pryor, and Max Butler from the Howes Mill Community. These men will be honored at the ceremony for their historical love of Howes Mill and the Clark National Forest in the land of their Heritage where they grew up. In the original Clark National Forest (which is now part of the Mark Twain National Forest), a walk is planned for Howes Mill, weather permitting. An alternative run, walk, or hike will be in the Boss Cemetery across Highway 32 from the pavilion after the ceremony at 9:00. Please bring a lawn chair, bug spray, and a picnic lunch. Water will be provided. Also, wear clothes appropriate for hiking or walking, including sunscreen. If it is raining, the ceremony will be in Tutor Hall instead of the Church Pavilion. There is free parking. For more information, please get in touch with Deloris Gray Wood, President of the Dent County Historical Society, at (573) 729-2545.