Archive for 2024

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, both districts are getting roads ready that are to be chip and sealed. If time permits, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said workers will try to grade Dent County Roads 5173, 5630 and 6575. He said they also installed new speed limit signs of 35 mph on county road 6490. Mobray also said he had the list of approved roads from MoDOT that will receive CART funds for Dent County and that total comes to 589.2 miles. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk reported signs will be installed on county road 2115 and new weight limit signs will be installed on county road 3200. He also said brush would be cut on county roads 4410 and 4430, and trees will be removed from Dent County Roads 3330 and 4390. Polk stated service work is being done on truck #75, and workers from both districts took a truck to Knapheide for hydraulic work so that the county could hook up the new road groomer. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported on new Traffic Engineering Assistance Program funds that are available to help public agencies pay for the costs of studying traffic engineering issues on safety or operational problems. Counties funding reimbursement at 80% per project with $12,000 the maximum in TEAP funds with any costs over that the responsibility of the county. Applications must be completed by May 23rd, 2025. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said 15 people voted absentee Saturday and through Monday morning, over 300 people had voted absentee. She said the polls will be open today from 6:00 this morning until 7:00 tonight and bring your picture ID. At the last meeting, electrician Chad Heithold came in to talk with the commission about the exterior electrical work and generator requirements. Also attending the meeting was the new Salem Memorial Hospital Administrator Brooke Bollman who came in to introduce herself to the commissioners. They talked about SB 190 and the ripple effect it could have on the hospital as well as ambulance services. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium. The hearing will be to recognize anyone that wishes to speak on the following rezoning requests. Michael and Glenda Wofford have requested a change from Residential to Commercial for property at 905 and 907 West Scenic Rivers Boulevard. JCS Restoration LLC have requested that 909 West Scenic Rivers Boulevard be rezoned from Residential to Commercial. A request has been made by Rommel and Alyssa Renea Cowan to rezone 900 West Hobson Street from Residential to Commercial. A request for a Conditional Use Recommendation has been made by Jessica Baldwin and Ricky Vanderpool for an automobile service station at 400 East Fourth Street. Following the close of the hearing the Commissioners will hold a meeting to consider the acceptance or rejection of each request.

A boating accident happened Saturday afternoon at 2:15 in Phelps County on the Gasconade River. According to the water patrol report, a 2002 Shoal Runner operated by 46-year-old Ryan Reeves of Rolla, was traveling westbound which is upstream, when he struck a fixed object which was believed to be a rock in the water. Reeves suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health Hospital. Reeves was not wearing a life vest at the time of the accident. The Shoal Runner was secured on the scene.

Calling all Mudbugs, mark your calendars for this Thursday afternoon from 2:00 to 3:30 PM for “Nature’s Magic” at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History. In this enchanting session, kids will delve into the fascinating transformations in nature, some swift and others gradual, that seem almost magical. Participants will also get to craft their very own magic wands to take home. The activities are designed for kids ages 6-12, but everyone is welcome to join the fun. Parents, please make sure to accompany your children. The last campfire and weenie roast of the year will be held on Thursday evening, August 15, at 5:30. We hope to see you there for an evening of fun and food as we bid farewell to another wonderful Mudbugs season!

On Thursday, July 11th, Governor Mike Parson signed into law the expansion of the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program. The expansion allows for the creation of a new medallion and medal to honor Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, and Operation Allies Refuge. The Missouri Veterans Recognition Program, in conjunction with the Missouri Veterans Commission, is seeking new design submissions for the new medal and medallion. Submissions for the new medal and medallion designs are due by September 30, 2024, and should be submitted for the front of the medal and medallion only. The design should not be similar or like any current military or Missouri National Guard medals, ribbons, or awards. Interested parties can submit their design work by email to ng.mo.vets@army.mil or by mail to Missouri Veterans Recognition Program, P.O. Box 1808, Jefferson City, MO 65402. For questions, please call toll free (866) 834-3431 or (573) 638-9561. For specific submission information you can visit, moguard.ngb.mil/resources/veteran-awards. Under the new act, any Veteran who served on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, and Operation Allies Refuge, is a legal resident of Missouri or was a legal resident at the time of discharge from military service or was a Missouri National Guard member regardless of residency, is eligible for the medal and medallion. The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven State Veterans Homes, five State Veterans Cemeteries, and the Veterans Services Program. The Commission is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care for Veterans, seamlessly integrated with the Veteran community, emphasizing a culture of transparency and excellence. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or visit mvc.dps.mo.gov.

The Board of Directors of Salem Memorial District Hospital will conduct a special meeting Monday, August 5th, at 7:00 in the Hospital Library. After the call to order and roll call the Board will vote to go into closed session. After the closed session the meeting will be adjourned.

The 2024 Primary election will be held in Dent County tomorrow. Voters will have to choose a party before voting and they have four choices this year in Dent County: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian and Non-Partisan which allows voters to only vote for the two amendments on the ballot. Besides the statewide races, there are some contested races in the area. In the race for the United States Representative seat for District 8, Republicans Jason Smith, James Snider and Grant Heithold are running while Democratic party candidates for District 8 are Randi McCallian and Franklin Delano Roth II. Candidates running for the State Representative District 120 seat are Republicans John W. Hewkin and Lancer Blair, and Democrat Jen Tracy. All other local races have only Republican Party candidates. Wes Mobray and Keith Green are running for 1st District County Commissioner seat, while the race for 2nd District Commissioner is between Denver Ellis, Gary Polk, and Jimmy Williams. Bob Wells and Michael Loveday are running for Dent County Sheriff, Alisa Brookshire and Jamie L. Homeyer are running for Dent County Assessor, and Tim Bell and James D. Crocker are running for the Meramec East Township Committeeman. Be sure to take part in our local elections and go vote tomorrow.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Meramec Hills Master Naturalist Chapter are hosting a free catch-and-release fishing event for students returning to school. The event will take place on August 8th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bray Conservation Area in Rolla off of Bridge School Road. The event is open to school-aged children and their families, but registration is required. Participants can register online at the MDC website. Fishing poles and bait will be provided for all school-age children. MDC staff and master naturalists will offer information on fish identification, native plants, and ways to connect with nature. The first 50 participating students will receive free school desk items courtesy of MDC. Attendees are advised to bring extra drinking water. For more information, interested parties can contact Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov.

Calling all Missouri veterans with a passion for hunting! Missouri State Parks is excited to team up with the Missouri Veterans Commission to offer 35 lucky veterans the opportunity for a weekend deer hunt at Mark Twain State Park for the Hero Hunt or Crowder State Park for the General Crowder Hunt. These special hunts are being offered November 8th through 10th, 2024. Apply now for one of these all-inclusive hunting trips. Lodging and meals are provided along with a hunting guide, and if guests harvest deer, there will be limited processing as well. Applications must be picked up and returned to a local Veterans Service Office by September 6th. Veterans in Dent, Crawford, Maries and Phelps counties can pick up applications from Cassondra Stevens, Veteran Service Officer, Missouri Veterans Home, 620 N. Jefferson, St. James or Laura Turner, Veteran Service Officer, 1101 Kingshighway in Rolla. Mark Twain State Park is located at 37352 Shrine Road in Florida, Missouri. Crowder State Park is located at 76 NW Highway 128, Trenton, Missouri. For more information contact: Mark Twain Hero Hunt at 573-248-9985 or General Crowder Hunt at 660-359-6473. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

As the new school year begins, the Salem R80 School District wants to highlight the crucial role of regular attendance in academic and personal success. In a letter from the R80 Superintendent, Nate Wills, he emphasized the importance of being present in class. He outlines in a letter how consistent attendance fosters engagement, responsibility, and a positive learning environment. Missouri’s 90/90 rule requires that 90% of students attend 90% of the time, impacting school funding and performance ratings. Last year, Salem R80 had a 77% compliance rate. To improve, the district is launching campaigns and offering incentives for good attendance, alongside support measures for chronically absent students. Salem R80 will notify families of daily absences and provide additional support as absences accumulate, involving school coordinators and the juvenile office if necessary. The district encourages families to prioritize attendance, underscoring the collective effort needed to help students thrive. The letter from Superintendent Wills is available on our KSMO Radio, Your World Today Facebook page. If you have any questions you can contact the Salem R80 School District office at 573-729-6642.

The 2024 School Readiness Event will be held on August 17th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory from 9:00 until 11:00 in the morning. At the event, kids will be given free backpacks and school supplies. There will be prizes and giveaways as well, but pre-registration is required. You can pre-register August 14th at the Dent County Community Action Agency at 1405 South Wines Street in Salem from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00. For more information, call 573-729-3500, extension 10.

This weekend is the “Back to School” Sales Tax holiday in the state of Missouri. It begins at 12:01 this morning, and runs through Sunday night at 11:59. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax for this time period only. The 2024 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday exempts all state and local sales or use tax taxes during the exemption period on qualifying items with some limitations. Those limitations are on clothing which can be any article having a taxable value of $100 or less; school supplies which cannot exceed $50 per purchase; computer software where the taxable value is $350 or less; personal computers which cannot exceed $1,500; computer peripheral devices which cannot exceed $1,500; and graphing calculators which cannot exceed $150. During prior years only state and some local sales and use taxes were exempt. Senate Bill 153 changed this by exempting all local sales and use tax on qualifying items. For more information you can visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website at dor.mo.gov and click on the “Taxation” tab.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse where in the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4215 while only grading would be done on county roads 5680 and 6590. He also stated brush would be cut on county roads 4210 and 4120. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4340 and 4370, while rock would be added to county roads 4430 and 4290. He also stated brush would be cut on county roads 4430 and 5310. Polk went on to say a cylinder hose was being replaced on a dump truck. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported electrician Chad Heithold and the city electrical department were getting ready to repair some of the issues with wiring at the courthouse and also providing a new service connection to the courthouse which was part of the renovation. Larson said Heithold may stop by the courthouse to provide some options the commission may consider. Larson stated tourism tax collections for the month of July were $11,008.78 as reported by the collector. This fund is made up of fees from camping, Air BNB’s and lodging. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said no-excuse absentee voting continues through Monday, August 5th at 5:00 at the courthouse, and voters should make sure personal information on file in the clerk’s office is up to date such as their address or any name change. Voters can also contact her office to see where they will be voting in the Primary on Tuesday, August 6th. Her office phone number is 729-4144. Election Day will be Tuesday when the polls will be open from 6:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. Curley said her office in the courthouse will be open this Saturday from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting. Sample ballots are available at her office, or she can e-mail one to you. This is a Primary election so all voters will have to declare a party for whom they will cast their vote from Republican, Democrat, Libertarian and Non-Partisan, which only allows the voter to vote for the Amendments. Don’t forget to bring a photo ID with you when you vote. Also don’t forget, there is no electioneering within 25 feet of any voting locations and that includes political shirts, caps, signs, etc. Curley also said she applied for and received $11,750 from the “Help America Vote Act” grant for the 2024-25 year as part of the state allocation. At the last meeting, resident Terry Baker agreed to pay the county $7,000 for 1/5th of a mile to be chip and sealed on Dent County Road 2220 for the first layer of chip and seal. A second installment of chip and seal shall be applied within five years and the second payment will be due at the time the work is to be done. As part of the agreement, an exhibit was attached and should Mr. Baker pass away, the agreement would be settled through his estate. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dry Creek Bridge on Route HH, near Cherryville, has reopened to traffic as of July 31. MoDOT announced that rehabilitation work on the bridge has been completed. The bridge has been closed since June 3rd. The construction involved replacing the bridge deck, which had deteriorated over time. Officials noted that while the bridge’s supporting structures, dating back to 1961, remain in good condition, the driving surface required replacement. The reopening of this route should ease travel for local residents and commuters in the area. MoDOT encourages drivers to use caution when crossing newly reopened bridges and to obey all posted traffic signs.

Join Bob Phelan on Sunday afternoons this month from 2:00 till 4:00 for Photographing Missouri’s Beauty. Get to know your digital (or film) camera and what it can do for you. Learn what all those buttons do and how you use them to tell YOUR visual story! Your camera should have adjustable settings. The Missouri Conservationist Magazine will be used to show you how their great photographers make you feel that you are right there in the story, so you can use some of their techniques. If you have questions you can email Bob at: bphelan352@gmail.com. The cost is $20 per session, per person. To register, go the SACBA website and find the Programs tab. Find the Creative Arts Center and click to register for the class. Registrations online are on a first come, first serve basis.