Archive for 2024

A fire destroyed the firehouse for the Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department early Tuesday morning after being called in at 5:45. Fire Departments from Winona, Ellington, Summersville and Timber assisted the Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department in fighting the fire. After the fire was extinguished, Eminence Fire Chief Jim Bay reported the fire department lost three pumpers, a tanker and three brush units and all the equipment. The original firehouse and the newer section of the firehouse that was built about six years ago was a total loss. Investigators have not released what caused the fire. The fire station will take up temporary quarters at a County Fuels building. Chief Bay said many surrounding districts as well as the Missouri Department of Conservation are helping and will assist the firefighters on area calls until they can recover. Other fire departments are loaning the district equipment and Ellington has offered to loan them a ladder truck. Chief Bay said the good thing was no one was injured from the fire.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has announced the top ten most common consumer complaints handled by his office in 2023. Advocates in the Complaint Unit of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) take reports and work to mediate complaints between consumers and businesses or individuals. When mediation efforts are unsuccessful, the AGO’s investigators will look into alleged fraud and attorneys will file lawsuits or charges when applicable. The AGO’s Consumer Protection Division obtained $32,177,058.47 in judgments/settlements for the State of Missouri, recovered $12,653,836.14 in restitution for Missouri citizens, and handled 59,822 consumer complaints and inquiries in 2023. The number 1 top form of complaints submitted to the AGO in 2023 was ‘No Call’ complaints. This typically deals with illegal telemarketing calls and No-Call violations. Number 2 was numerous complaints from consumers regarding automobiles, automotive dealers, and automotive repair shops. Real Estate and Construction were number 3 where complaints involved home repair contractors. Fourth was Retail/Wholesale complaints. Most of the complaints regarding retail and wholesale companies dealt with purchases made through the internet, telephone, or mail, and involved late deliveries or products that were never delivered. Coming in 5th was financial complaints typically involving foreclosures, debt collection, loan servicing, and other products, services, and practices by banks, mortgage companies, debt collectors or other financial institutions. Attorney General Bailey said to report fraud or deception, visit the Attorney General’s website at www.ago.mo.gov or call 800-392-8222.

The Salem FFA Alumni will be holding their 14th Annual Scholarship Fund Labor & Dessert Auction this Friday at the Smith Valley Angus Event Barn. The no charge meal will be provided starting at 5:30 with the auction to follow at 6:30. Students from the Salem FFA Chapter will be providing labor in increments of 4, 6 or 8 hours, which will include various services such as farm labor, wood cutting, hay hauling, babysitting, cooking, cleaning, gardening, etc. Plus, there will be an abundance of homemade pies, cakes, and other desserts that will be auctioned off. For 2024 there will be a new activity. The Salem FFA Chapter and FFA Alumni Chapter are working to create a basket of donated items and gift certificates from local businesses and individuals. Tickets will be sold prior to the event and during the auction. The winner will be drawn at the end of the auction Friday night and they will receive the basket full of goodies and items. All proceeds go to the Salem FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund. For information please call 573-739-2016 or 573-729-6641, Extension 5164. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Healthy Dent County has announced the lineup for the fun community event called the “Non-Newlywed Game” Show. This will be the 6th year Healthy Dent County has held this fundraiser and you won’t want to miss this event as it is “couple vs. couple” in this hilarious version of the classic game show. You will discover just how much our couples know (or don’t know!) about their spouse! This fundraising event will be held next Friday, April 12th at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory beginning at 6:30 PM. The four local married couples who have been selected to play the game are: Tom and Traci Wulff, Matt and Rachel Moncrief, Jon and Danielle Roos and Luke and Hannah Heithold. These couples have graciously volunteered their time to play this fun game and entertain the audience. VIP sponsored tables can be reserved with a $300 donation. The VIP Tables includes reserved seating for eight people as well as numerous table refreshments. A concession stand and cash bar will be open during the evening. A limited number of individual tickets will be sold for $25 per ticket. The individual tickets will not have reserved seating. Lei’s will be sold throughout the night to support your favorite couple. This event sells out every year with tickets not being available at the door so get your tickets now by calling 729-8163 or stopping by the Salem Community Center @ the Armory at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem. The actual event will begin at 6:30 PM and the doors will open at 5:30 PM. Business sponsorship’s are also available that will get you a table for eight as well as your name posted on the big screen at the event center, and being recognized on social media as well.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s Rolla office was in attendance and wanted to let the commission know that Smith filed for re-election for the 8th District. Currently there are two Democrats who have also filed for the 8th District seat for the Primary. Besides that, Wilson wanted to let the commission know Smith is working on keeping the government open for business and not letting it shut down. In the road report, Jason Akins filled in for District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray and stated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5610, plus only grading would be done on county roads 2450 and 5220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk reported rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2120 and 2150, while only grading would be done on county road 2155. Polk also said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 4050. He went on to report that road signs would be installed on Dent County Roads 2210 and 3355 including new truck crossing signs on county road 2210. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported on the commissioner training attended by all the commissioners last week that featured updates on the Missouri Association of Counties, University of Missouri Extension, Sunshine Law requirements, how to properly run a meeting, and received updated information on what to do with the opioid settlement funds. Larson said the commissioners also went to the capital to visit with their legislators. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register for those who want to vote in the Municipal Election this April is Wednesday. She said the “no excuse” absentee voting will begin March 19th and last through April 1st, and the last day to request a mail-out ballot will be March 20th. The commission took fuel bids for 1,000 gallons of unleaded gas by phone and the low bid was MFA Oil at $2.485 per gallon. Phil-Mart and County Fuels each bid $2.85 per gallon. The bid was awarded to MFA Oil. It was announced the County Commissioners of central Missouri will be holding a meeting this Friday in Houston and have invited the Central Region County Clerk’s to join them. It was also announced there will NOT be a commission meeting Thursday due to the lack of a quorum as two commissioners are going to be absent. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon just before 3:30 in Crawford County on Route H about four miles south of Leasburg. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Harley Davidson ridden southbound by 69-year-old David Honea of Cuba, failed to negotiate a curve. The Harley went off the right side of roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Honea suffered serious injuries and he was flown by Arch 6 to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. The Harley sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing. The report stated that Honea was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday afternoon at 3:50 in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 2290, about two miles west of St. James. The report from the highway patrol states that a 1997 GMC Jimmy being driven west by 19-year-old Trevor McFadden of St. James, traveled off the right side of the roadway, then over corrected and overturned. McFadden suffered minor injuries and was taken by the St. James ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla. The GMC was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’ s Towing. The report went on to state the McFadden was wearing a seat restraint.

This week is Severe Weather Preparedness Week and the Statewide Tornado Siren warning will be done at 11:00 Wednesday morning, weather permitting. The day of the tornado drill, NOAA Weather Radios set to receive the Routine Weekly Tests (RWTs) will alert listeners that the tornado drill has begun. Outdoor warning sirens will also sound across participating Missouri communities. At that time, participants should practice taking cover in a designated shelter area or an interior room on the lowest level of a secure structure. Schools, businesses and families are all encouraged to participate in the drill. Educators are also encouraged to use the tornado drill as an opportunity to incorporate tornado facts, meteorological information and safety tips into their lesson plans. Create a family emergency plan to stay safe, and remember to include all pets when building an emergency kit and stocking up on supplies. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is also important to know how to contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in the area. Therefore, it’s important to be ready to act quickly if it becomes necessary. A tornado warning means seek shelter immediately because a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar causing imminent danger to life and property. The safest shelter location for tornadoes is generally an interior room without windows on the lowest floor of sturdy structure, preferably in the basement. Do not seek shelter in a cafeteria, gymnasium or other large open room because the roof might collapse. Immediately leave a mobile home to seek shelter in a nearby building and never seek shelter under an overpass – the dangerous wind tunnel effect combined with flying debris can be deadly. You can learn more about Missouri’s annual Severe Weather Preparedness Week and other weather-related resources at stormaware.mo.gov.

The Cosmopolitan Club held their annual Variety Show and Miss Salem Pageant Saturday night at the Salem Community Center @The Armory. The Miss Personality Award went to Scire Goodson who was sponsored by the Village Gallery, Inc., the Second Runner-Up was presented to Bailey Howard sponsored by Bottorff’s Southtown Furniture, the First Runner-Up went to Kylie Parks who was sponsored by AD-PAR Construction, and Miss Salem 2024 was presented to Neely Leathers who was sponsored by Inman Insurance. Congratulations to all the girls who competed and a big thank you to all the acts that participated in the event.

A fatality accident happened Friday evening at 9:30 in Texas County on Highway 137 about three miles north of Raymondville. According to the highway patrol report, a 1995 Dodge Laramie being driven southbound by 50-year-old Michael Naylor of Licking, failed to negotiate a curve. The Dodge then traveled off the roadway before returning to the road before becoming airborne and overturning, ejecting Naylor who was not wearing a seat restraint. Naylor was pronounced dead at the scene by Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater at 10:25 Friday evening. His body was taken by the coroner to the Fox Funeral Home in Licking. The Dodge was removed from the scene by Jay’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and the Raymondville Fire Department.

At least three people are dead following a house fire that started Saturday night near Rolla in Phelps County. According to the press release from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, a call was received to the 10,000 block of Phelps County Road 2120 at 10:46 Saturday night and, upon arrival, deputies confirmed the house was fully involved with a nearby off-duty Phelps County Deputy discovering and taking care of a young boy who was outside of the house. Deputies also believed other people were trapped in the home but firefighters from several districts or departments could not initially gain entry because of the conditions. The fire was eventually brought under control with three fatalities confirmed. Their identities have not been released. An investigation into the cause of this fire was initiated by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, Rolla Rural Fire Department, and the Missouri State Fire Marshall’s Office.

The Opening Day of catch-and-keep trout season started Friday morning at 6:30 at Montauk State Park. There were 1,825 adult trout tags and another 207 youth tags sold as of 5:00 Friday afternoon. A number of lunkers were caught during the day with the largest being a 7-pound, 7-ounce rainbow by Nicholas Scheel of St Charles followed by a 6 pound, 15-ounce rainbow caught by Ed Yount of Festus. Three other rainbow trout were caught on opening day were at six pounds or above: a 6-pound, 9-ounce trout caught by Tom Rutledge of Winona of O’Fallon; a 6-pound trout caught by Matt Boyd of Park Hills and another six-pounder caught by Easton Brown of Rolla. The largest lunker caught by a woman was a 3-pound, 12-ounce rainbow by Pam Iverson of Licking The catch-and-keep season will be in effect until October 31st.

The Scenic Rivers Industries, Inc. at 601 South Walker Street is holding an Open House this Tuesday from noon until 2:00 where people can tour the facility and meet the employees! Also known as the Sheltered Workshop, the Scenic Rivers Industries employs an average of 30 special needs adults with the guidance of five staff members. As a team, they set high goals and accomplish all that they set out to do. For example, in 2023 the Scenic Rivers Industries recycled 328,000 pounds of cardboard, 40,000 pounds of office paper, 25,000 pounds of newspaper, built 18,000 bird houses, assembled 300,000 pill crush cups and much more. This not-for-profit organization has a mission to provide excellent services, produce quality products while at the same time providing productive and fulfilling employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The Open House is for everyone and they will be providing hot dogs, chips and drinks. They would love to show Salem just what they do. Should you have any questions about the Open House or Scenic Rivers industries, call 573-729-6264.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO), the sole supplier of blood, platelets, and plasma to patients at 45 area healthcare facilities, is partnering with four area attractions to offer free admissions to four attractions ins southwest Missouri and Northern Arkansas for those who donate blood in March and April. They are hopping to boost the region’s blood supply this spring. Those who successfully donate blood will receive an ‘Ozark Adventure Pass” that is worth of $150 in free admissions to the Discovery Center in Springfield and Beyond the Lens in Branson, and in Arkansas, the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville and to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refugee in Eureka Springs. The next CBCO Blood Drive will be held Tuesday from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall located at 201 N. MacArthur. To help avoid wait times, appointments are strongly encouraged. Donors can schedule an appointment at www.cbco.org/adventure or by calling 417-227-5006.