Posts by Stan Podorski

Associated Electric Cooperative, the wholesale power generator for Intercounty Electric, is requesting members conserve energy due to extreme winter weather and maximum load on the electric grid. The City of Salem is also asking citizens to conserve energy as well. To help safeguard the grid, please help conserve energy Thursday morning from 6:00 to 10:00 by lowering your thermostat a degree or two and turning off any non-essential electric devices. By taking these small steps to save energy together, we all can make a big difference. Remember, if a new peak demand is reached, it causes everyone’s bill to be higher.

An accident happened in Maries County on Highway 63 north of the Highway 28 junction. According to the highway patrol report, a 2012 Chrysler driven southbound by a 59-year-old male of Rolla, was slowing as the driver’s view was obstructed by snow. As the Chrysler was slowing down, a 39-year-old male from Vichy driving a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, failed to notice the reduction in speed and struck the Chrysler from behind. Suffering minor injuries in Chrysler was the driver and a 44-year-old female passenger from Columbia, Missouri. They were both taken by the Osage Ambulance to the Phelps Health Hospital with minor injuries. Everyone involved in the accident was wearing a seat restraint. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. The Chrysler was removed from the scene by Plaza Towing while the Volkswagen was secured roadside.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting today at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda and the consent agenda. The Board will hear communications from the Parker Family, student recognition of Salem High School by Maggie Hogan and be updated on ACT by Robyn Taylor. In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed, surveys will be discussed, and the WL/UE 1st grade transition plan will be reviewed. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. In new business the board will approve the 2025-2026 School Calendar, dishwasher purchases, moving $18,264.56 from YOP checking to general account, budget revisions updating salaries, FEMA change orders, BalanceHQ contract, and Summer School dates of May 27 to June 13. The Board will address resignations, hires and transfers before adjourning and moving into Executive Session to hear personnel issues. Due to the recent weather this meeting could be cancelled or postponed. Visit KSMOradio.com and click on “Current Closures” to stay up to date.

Compass Health Network is seeking participants in Dent County for a focus group in order to gain valuable insights into the criminal justice system. You can share personal insights or experiences from friends and family. Their goal is to develop community-based strategies to enhance our community’s response to behavioral health needs. This program is being funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health. Please contact Julie Riggs, the Community Coordinator for Compass Health, at 573-247-9921 to share your feedback, and to ask any questions you have.

Missouri’s Drought Assessment Committee will meet at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, February 26th, to coordinate a comprehensive state and federal response to drought conditions affecting portions of the state. The meeting is open to the public and will be live streamed via Webex at stateofmo.webex.com. The Drought Assessment Committee is composed of representatives from state and federal partner agencies who provide information, recommendations and coordination to mitigate impacts of the drought. Executive Order 24-13 declared a drought alert October 29th, 2024, until March 31st, 2025, for Missouri counties that are in moderate, severe, extreme or exceptional drought. Nearly all of Missouri has experienced at least abnormally dry conditions over the past year. Missouri was previously under a Drought Alert from May 2023 to September 2024 as well as from July 2022 to March 2023. This will be the committee’s first meeting in 2025. Residents are encouraged to assist local, state and national decision makers better understand drought conditions in their area by submitting a survey form via the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports service. Updated drought information, including a link to the U.S. Drought Monitor map of Missouri, is available at dnr.mo.gov/drought.

Missouri turkey hunters can apply online during February for 2025 spring turkey managed hunts through the Missouri Department of Conservation website at mdc.mo.gov and you will find the managed hunts on the front page or go to the search bar and type in “turkey managed hunts.” Managed hunt details and application procedures are outlined on the webpage. Drawing results will be posted starting March 15. The spring turkey hunting youth portion will be April 12th and 13th with the regular spring season running April 21st through May 11th. Beginning in March, detailed information on spring turkey hunting will be available in the Department of Conservation’s 2025 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold. The 2024 regulation change extending shooting hours from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset on private land is still in effect in 2025. Public land shooting hours will remain a half-hour before sunrise to 1:00 in the afternoon. To learn more about turkey hunting in general in Missouri, visit the Department of Conservation’s website at mdc.mo.gov. Missouri hunting permits are available from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through the MDC free mobile app called “MO Hunting” which is available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded $2.5 million in financial assistance to the city of Licking for upgrades to the city’s water distribution systems. The funding will cover the total cost of the project, which is anticipated to be completed by December 2025. During the project, the city will replace several thousand feet of water mains, along with service lines and hydrants on existing mains at multiple locations. These improvements will enable the city to continue offering its citizens safe drinking water for years to come with a modern and well-functioning drinking water system. Project funding consists of a $1.27 million grant and a $1.27 million low-interest loan, both provided through the department’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. This funding is estimated to save the city’s ratepayers $1.27 million in principal and approximately $435,000 in interest over the loan’s 20-year term. Kurt Schaefer, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources said that the department works with communities like Licking to support water and wastewater projects that help them grow and develop while keeping customers’ utility bills affordable. The department’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund finances improvements to water treatment plants, distribution systems, water storage and supply facilities, along with interconnection or consolidation projects. Communities that borrow from the fund benefit from the below-market interest rate and from assistance provided throughout their project from a project manager. This project will be funded wholly or in part with monies received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on wastewater and drinking water funding opportunities, visit dnr.mo.gov.

It’s been an active year for earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), with 293 minor quakes reported in the past 12 months. Though most were too small to be felt, they are an important reminder that southeast Missouri is located in the heart of the NMSZ, which generated some of the most powerful earthquakes ever to jolt the nation. A series of major quakes occurred in 1811-1812, destroying buildings, ringing church bells hundreds of miles away and briefly causing the Mississippi River to run backward. The area has remained seismically active ever since and averages more than 200 small quakes annually. Each February, Missouri observes Earthquake Awareness Month to emphasize preparedness for the risk of another major earthquake occurring in the NMSZ. While no one can predict when an earthquake will occur, scientists agree that large earthquakes in this zone still pose a risk. Experts estimate a 25% to 40% chance of a large earthquake occurring in the next 50 years. State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Director Jim Remillard said a large earthquake in southeast Missouri could potentially be the worst natural disaster Missouri has ever seen, and it would occur without warning. He went on to note that Earthquake AwarenessMonth is an important time to learn about the risks and how to protect yourself and your family. When shaking starts, the best way to stay safe and protect yourself from falling debris is the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique. Drop to your knees, cover your head, get under a desk or table if possible and hold on until the shaking stops. Experts say that in developed countries with modern structures, falling debris is the most common source of injury. More resources for families, schools and businesses are available on SEMA’s earthquake preparedness website, including fact sheets, interactive maps and informational videos explaining what to do in the event of an earthquake. For more information, visit sema.dps.mo.gov/earthquake_preparedness.

Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer wants to remind everyone your annual assessment forms that list your personal and business property for 2024 are due March 1st. You may drop off your assessment list at the assessor’s office at the courthouse. They are open from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. There is also a drop box on the front lawn of the courthouse for your convenience if you can’t make it by until after hours. You can also mail in your assessment list forms but make sure you have a postal clerk postmark your envelope by taking it to the desk inside at the post office. You can also e-file your assessment list form online until April 30th. Just follow the instructions on the assessment form you received in the mail. The penalty for not getting in your assessment form on time is determined at $10 per every $1,000 of assessed valuation with a maximum penalty of $100 if you have assessed valuation of $10,000 or more. If you have any questions or need assistance with the online form, call Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer at the Dent County Courthouse at 573-729-6010 or stop by during regular business hours.