Archive for 2024

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning in the courthouse. In the road report Jason Akins reported for First District Commissioner Wes Mobray. Akins said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6580 and that Truck #125 was in the maintenance shop for servicing. He also reported that the District One crew was replacing missing road signs. District Two Commissioner Gary Polk said that rock would be added to Dent County Road 2110 and that his crew was checking roads. He also noted that they were replacing stolen signs. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said that Friday he would be attending the South Central Commissioner’s meeting in Houston. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that she would be attending the South Central Commissioner’s meeting, which the clerks have been invited to. Curley said the voter registration at Salem High School went well with 16 new registrations occurring. She went on to say that she balanced with the county treasurer on all accounts for February, plus she balanced with the collector and assessor on monthly collections, add-ons, and abatements. Curley said that absentee voting ends April 1st for the April 2nd election, no excuse absentee voting will begin March 19th, and the last day to mail out an absentee ballot is March 20th. She also asked that voters who need to update their voter information can do so at their earliest convenience in her office at the Dent County Courthouse. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Want to see Missouri state parks from a new perspective? Join the Learn2 Climb program and learn the basics of outdoor rock climbing from a certified instructor and then try it out on real rock. This beginner-level course will allow you to enjoy nature from new heights! From 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th, Missouri State Parks is hosting an introductory rock climbing program at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. This opportunity allows participants to try a new activity while experiencing some of Missouri’s vertical attractions. All equipment (harness, helmet and climbing shoes) and expertise is provided; participants just need to provide enthusiasm and eagerness to discover nature and a new skill. They should wear appropriate clothing and footwear for hiking and rock climbing activities, and bring a packed lunch and enough water for the day. This program is free, but preregistration is required. Registration online is open and participation is limited. Participants must be at least 10 years of age; children ages 10-14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the entire program (parents or guardians are not required to climb). To register, visit icampmo.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Default.aspx. If you have questions, please email taylor.ratcliff@dnr.mo.gov. This program is made possible by the Bronco Wild Fund, whose mission is to support agencies and organizations that are devoted to the great outdoors. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is located at 148 Taum Sauk Trail in Middle Brook. For more information, contact 573-546-2450. 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.

Experience two rare events at once on Monday, April 8th when the Smokey Bear Balloon and a total solar eclipse will both be visible in the sky above Big Spring —and visitors can get much, much closer to the Smokey Bear Balloon than the sun or moon! This unique hot air balloon will be traveling to Ozark National Scenic Riverways in early April from Albuquerque, New Mexico, courtesy of Mark Twain National Forest and the National Park Service. Its destination will be Big Spring, the largest spring in Missouri, located approximately three miles south of Van Buren, down State Highway 103. Weather permitting, the Smokey Bear Balloon will be set up in the field near Big Spring for about two hours on the mornings of Saturday, April 6, Sunday, April 7, and Monday, April 8. While fuel lasts, some visitors will get a chance for a short ride, approximately 50 feet in the air and back, in the balloon’s basket. In conjunction with the Smokey Bear Balloon, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be hosting a special event at Big Spring on April 8th to celebrate and view the total solar eclipse. Join us at “The ‘Zark Side of the Moon” for fun and educational activities, information booths, Junior Eclipse Explorer badges, celebrity photo opportunities (Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl!), food vendors, and free eclipse glasses. Though the total eclipse won’t occur until 1:55 in the afternoon at Big Spring and lasts just under four minutes, plan to arrive early to beat the traffic, view the Smokey Bear Balloon while inflated, snag your eclipse glasses, and enjoy activities on the grounds. Pack lawn chairs or blankets so you can grab a spot to watch the sky when the partial eclipse begins at 12:39 pm. For more information, call (573) 323-4236 or check out the website: www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/2024-eclipse.htm.

The State Fire Marshal Tim Bean recommends Missourians use the return of daylight saving time this weekend to test home smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. At 2:00 this Sunday morning, clocks spring forward one hour. Bean also urges families to practice their fire escape plans. Safety experts recommend families practice their home fire escape plans at least twice each year. Getting into the habit of checking them when changing your clocks takes very little time and makes a tremendous difference to your family’s safety. Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a fire by one-half. About one-half of home fire deaths occur at night between 11:00 at night and 7:00 in the morning when most people are asleep. That is why it is important for all family members to be able to act react quickly and get out. Each family member, including children, should know two escape routes from every room in their residence. This information should be shared with overnight guests, too. Bean also reminds Missourians that they should have carbon monoxide alarms for their homes. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, which can be deadly if undetected. The fire marshal makes these recommends checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly by pushing the test button and replacing smoke alarms every 10 years because they lose their effectiveness over time. Install additional smoke alarms if you do not have a minimum of one alarm on every level of the home, inside all bedrooms, and outside bedrooms. Plan two different escape routes from your home and practice the routes with the entire family. Families should also select a safe gathering place outside the residence in the event of a fire. For more information on fire safety, go to https://dfs.dps.mo.gov.

Children of all ages are invited to the Owl Moon and More Story Time and Craft Collaboration this Saturday morning from 10:00 until noon to create paper owls inspired by the beloved book “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen. An interpreter from Montauk State Park will also have fun facts and more to share about owls! The owl crafts made will be loaned to the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center for display with their special Smithsonian exhibit, “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” Please make plans to join us for this exciting opportunity at Salem Public Library in the north basement meeting space. Call (573) 729-4331 with questions.

The Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital and the Columbia Vet Center are teaming up to provide area Veterans with services that includes Veteran’s Administration health care enrollment for those who are eligible, as well as counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma through their Mobile Vet Center at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 500 South Bishop in Rolla on Tuesday, March 19th. The Mobile Vet Center will be at the Rolla Wal-Mart that day from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. The Mobile Vet Center is a 37-foot-long mobile resource unit where veterans can receive assistance in dealing with bereavement issues with marriage and family counseling also available. Additional resources for Veterans through the MVC include VA benefits information and suicide prevention referrals. The customized MVC vehicle is equipped with confidential counseling space to extend access to VA services for Veterans, service members and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities. The MVC also provides readjustment counseling and information resources to assist Veterans in the difficult transition between military and civilian life. For more information, call (573) 814-6206.

The group called the “Concerned Citizens for Salem” is inviting the public to attend a “meet and greet” on Monday, March 11th to meet the candidates for Mayor as well as East and West Ward Aldermen who will be on the ballot on April 2nd as well as incumbent officials who will not be running in this election. The “meet and greet” will be held Monday at 7:00 at the Wilson Family Center at 1000 West Scenic Rivers Blvd. Following the introductions, there will be a question and answer session that will allow all the candidates to speak on the numerous issues concerning the public. The “meet and greet” is free and open to everyone with coffee and light refreshments provided. It is an opportunity for anyone who wants to get acquainted with the people that want to serve as representatives of the City of Salem who are on the April 2nd ballot.

The Rolla Rural Fire Protection District has released an update regarding the fire that took place on Saturday March 2nd at the 10000 block of Phelps County Road 2120. According to the Phelps County Coroner the victims of the fire were identified as Jessica Sager, age 35, Caydence Sager, age 14, and Savannah Sager, age 9. Fire Chief Hayes expressed his gratitude to the many first responders and emergency personnel that responded to the fire. At this time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, currently no criminal activity is suspected. He asks that we keep the Sager Family in our thoughts and prayers.

The 100 Acre Wood Rally will be held Friday March 15th in Potosi and Saturday March 16th in Salem. If you would like to meet this year’s drivers, while they’re in Salem, and view the high performance machines they’ll be driving, you can do so Saturday morning at 9:30. Drivers and their vehicles will line 4th Street until their departure to the first stage at 11:40. This is a rare opportunity to meet world class, regional, and local rally sport drivers in one of the Ozark’s premiere motorsport events.