Posts by Stan Podorski

An accident happened in Dent County Monday afternoon at 5:30 on Highway 32 about eight miles east of Salem that took the life of two Dent County residents. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Chevy Aveo being driven westbound by 21-year-old Austin Bramson of Salem, was passing a 2001 International Conventional driven by 62-year-old Rodney Hammock of Salem, when Bramson swerved to avoid an eastbound 2021 Nissan Versa being driven by 34-year-old Angela Petro of Boss. Bramson lost control of the Aveo, striking the Nissan head-on before colliding with the International. Bramson and Angela Petro were both pronounced dead at the scene by Dent County Deputy Coroner Gina White at 6:29 in the evening and both bodies were taken to the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. A passenger in the Nissan, 41-year-old Dennis Petro of Boss, suffered serious injuries and was taken by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The Aveo and Nissan were both totaled. The Aveo was removed from the scene by American Automotive and Towing, while the Nissan was taken from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The International sustained moderate damages and was removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by Dent County Sheriff’s department, the Dent County Fire Protection District and MoDOT.

The Salem Memorial Hospital ToRCH Community Leadership Board is excited to announce an Information Meeting and brainstorming session for their recently announced community grants through the Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) Project. These grants are designed to enhance the capacity of our community partners to support the goals identified by the ToRCH initiative. This information meeting will be held on Monday afternoon, October 28th, at 2:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Any and all community partners are invited to attend and discuss ideas that may be eligible for these capacity-building grants. The ToRCH Community Leadership Board will be awarding grants to address gaps in available services within the community. These grants are intended to resolve capacity and resource issues that may arise due to the smaller scale of operations. Potential uses for the funding include expanding staffing, securing larger facilities, purchasing necessary equipment, and overcoming logistical challenges.  Grant categories include:  Community Service; Transportation; Behavioral Health Access; Diabetes Prevention; Food Insecurity; Maternal/Child Health; Obesity Prevention; Primary Care Access; Quality of Life. The grant applications are due December 2nd with proposals being awarded on January 6th, 2025.  A total of $240,000 is available. For further information or to request an application, please contact Tabitha Stanfast, Director of Quality, at tstanfast@smdh.net.

The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History is gearing up to host their “Halloween in the Hollers: All Hallow’s Eve” event! Located just two blocks from downtown Salem, this event will offer something for everyone. Festivities will kick off at noon with a variety of food trucks and booth vendors offering delicious food and unique wares. Local vendors are encouraged to participate, and those interested can reach out via email at sstanford1182@gmail.com. At 3:30 in the afternoon the family-friendly activities will begin, including games, face painting, photo booths, and a silent auction. Most games and activities will be low-cost or free, ensuring fun for all ages. For those looking for a more immersive Halloween experience, the not-so-spooky “haunted” house will open for tours at 4:30. Tickets for the fun house tour are $5. Visitors may even spot characters from local ghost stories as they wander the grounds! As night falls around 6:30, they’ll have the grand debut of the All Hallow’s Eve haunted trails. For $10, brave visitors can navigate the trails for a scare they won’t soon forget. Organizers hope this will become an annual tradition, so don’t miss out on the inaugural event! The Bonebrake Center, a non-profit dedicated to cultural and historical education, will use all proceeds from the event to support the care and maintenance of its historic house and 12-acre grounds, as well as future programs and events.

Join Parsons Chiropractic on this Saturday for their first inaugural Balloon Glow, food truck and craft fair spectacular! All the fun starts at 11:00 in the morning with food trucks and a craft fair for everyone to enjoy at the Al Brown’s Softball Fields. To finish the evening, you will be able to mark off your bucket list of seeing multiple hot air balloon up close! You will be able to talk to the pilots and watch the balloons glow in all different colors! Admission to the event will be $5 each for ages 2 and up. Make sure to bring out the family for a fun filled night that you won’t want to miss. All activities are contingent on the weather.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning in the courthouse. Commissioner Wes Mobray was not in attendance due to a prior commitment. Grant Wilson from Jason Smith’s Rolla office was in attendance and reminded everyone to vote their conscious by November 5th. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the CART Tax report and said the county received $88,956.90 which is $6,325.44 more than October of 2023. Year-to-date, the county has received over $810,000 in 2024 which is $41,272.25 more than last year. That is a 5.4% increase in collections. In the road report, District One Road Supervisor Billy Sheppard said culverts were going to be replaced on Dent County Road 6580 and rock would also be added to that road. He added that brush would be cut on county roads 5160, 5170 and 6300. District Two Commissioner Gary Polk said work crews would be replacing the bridge on Dent County Road 4480. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the Opioid Settlement Committee meeting held Thursday where they did approve their by-laws. Larson indicated they would be holding one or two more meetings before any applications for distribution would be accepted. He said they will let the public know when that will be happening. Larson also said there will be four openings on the Tourism Tax Committee after the meeting Monday night and he is looking for replacements. Some of the positions will need to include persons in the tourism industry such as lodge workers or camping proprietors. If you would be interested in serving on that committee or finding out more information, contact Commissioner Larson or leave your name at the Dent County Clerk’s Office so he can contact you. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said today will be the first day for “no excuse” absentee voting. She also stated Wednesday is the last day to request a mail out absentee ballot, and the last day to absentee vote will be Monday, November 4th from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon at the courthouse. Curley indicated her office will be open from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon on Saturday, November 2nd for absentee voting. If you need to make changes to your voter registration such as a name or address change, please do that as soon as possible so that it will be completed before you go to vote. She said so far about 350 people have voted absentee during the “Excused” portion of absentee voting. At the last meeting, Kevin Crider from the University of Missouri Extension updated the commission on the feral hog program. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that hunters harvested 5,741 deer during the state’s firearms early antlerless portion of deer season, October 11-13. The top three harvest counties were Franklin with 156 deer harvested, Howell with 140, and Bollinger with 135. Last year’s early antlerless portion harvest total was 16,553. County totals in our area of antlerless deer harvest include Crawford 64, Dent 69, Phelps 64, Texas 54, and Shannon 49. Get more information on harvest summaries by county at mdc.mo.gov. MDC’s Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle attributes the decreased harvest to the stark contrast in weather conditions between the two years. He noted that the unseasonably warm temperatures this year undoubtedly kept many hunters out of the woods, resulting in far fewer deer being harvested. Isabelle said we were fortunate to have caught a cold front during last year’s inaugural early antlerless portion, which resulted in increased deer movement and greater hunter participation. Archery deer hunting in Missouri opened September 15th and runs through November 15th. It reopens November 27th and runs through January 15th, 2025. Firearms deer hunting in Missouri continues with the Early Youth Portion November 2-3. The November Portion runs November 16th-26th followed by the CWD Portion November 27th–December 1st in open counties. The Late Youth Portion runs November 29th–December 1st followed by the Late Antlerless Portion December 7th-15th in open counties and then the Alternative Methods Portion December 28th through January 7th, 2025. Get more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2024 Fall Deer & Turkey Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov.

Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors has called for a special meeting tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 in the Hospital Library. After the call to order and roll call, and agenda approval the Board will vote to go into closed session, followed by adjournment.

MoDOT will hold a public meeting to discuss the rehabilitation of four bridges in Phelps County. The meeting is scheduled for this Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00 at Rolla City Hall, located at 901 E. Elm St. Residents can drop in at any time during these hours, as there will be no formal presentation. The bridges, set for rehabilitation in 2025, are on Route D, Route E, Route J, and County Road 8490. Three of these bridges will be closed during construction. Project team members will be available to answer questions, provide information, and receive input from the public. For those unable to attend, MoDOT offers alternative ways to participate. Comments can be submitted until November 7th either online, by email, or by mail. The project website, which contains all meeting exhibit information, can be found at modot.org by searching for “Phelps County Bridge Bundle.” Mailed comments can be sent to Missouri Department of Transportation, 1511 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO 65109, referencing the Phelps County Bridge Bundle.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday evening, October 17th at 6:30. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated that there were 21 COVID-19 cases reported, 46 active lead cases, 11 screenings for sexually transmitted infections with 40 total tests conducted, no cases of Influenza and one animal bite. The environmental report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there where 9 total inspections conducted, no recalls, one sewer complaint, and 11 environmental questions were fielded. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there was one CPR Course, no consultations for Childcare Health, 2 Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, 21 Title X appointments, 1 Presumptive Eligibility (Temporary Medicaid), and 332 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 538 total appointments other than WIC, 104 Nurse Practitioner appointments, 128 treatment court visits, 163 lab appointments and 147 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, 4 family plannings, 1 well-child visits, 17 online appointments, one other well-woman exam, 4 other physicals, 8 SEMO physicals, 17 other visits, and 51 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 150 individual patients, 29 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, 2 pregnancy tests and 6 lead tests. Immunizations for September totaled 71 for COVID-19, 52 for Influenza, and 123 other vaccines given. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Fall Health Fair October 11th had 76 participants and the Drive-through Flu and COVID vaccine clinic October 17th resulted in over 100 vaccines being administered. The Board was updated on the initiative to perform a formal Community Health Assessment, and opportunities for three potential new grants. Progress on the DCHC Strategic Plan was discussed, plus the facilities RFQ’s. The Health Center financial reports for September were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After any questions were answered, the financial reports were approved. In new business the Board approved the purchase of 10 bike racks from Focus Welding and 6 benches for the Tiger Trail from Lollis Contracting as part of the BCBH Active Transportation Grant. The Board voted to establish a budget line for IT Management Services and authorized Moser to enter into an agreement with a subcontractor to provide the service. The Board approved the creation of a new position of Accreditation Assistant/CHW pending final contract award from DHSS. After review of interest quotes from several banks the Board approved investing $200,000 in a 1-year CD at the Bank of Salem for 4.25%. The Board went in to closed session at 8:00 and returned to open session at 8:55 having discussed personnel and the RFQ, having taken no votes other than approving closed session minutes. The next regular meeting of the Healthy Women appointment, 4 family plannings, 1 well-child visits, 17 online appointments, one other well-woman exam, 4 other physicals, 8 SEMO physicals, 17 other visits, and 51 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 150 individual patients, 29 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, 2 pregnancy tests and 6 lead tests. Immunizations for September totaled 71 for COVID-19, 52 for Influenza, and 123 other vaccines given. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Fall Health Fair October 11th had 76 participants and the Drive-through Flu and COVID vaccine clinic October 17th resulted in over 100 vaccines being administered. The Board was updated on the initiative to perform a formal Community Health Assessment, and opportunities for three potential new grants. Progress on the DCHC Strategic Plan was discussed, plus the facilities RFQ’s. The Health Center financial reports for September were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After any questions were answered, the financial reports were approved. In new business the Board approved the purchase of 10 bike racks from Focus Welding and 6 benches for the Tiger Trail from Lollis Contracting as part of the BCBH Active Transportation Grant. The Board voted to establish a budget line for IT Management Services and authorized Moser to enter into an agreement with a subcontractor to provide the service. The Board approved the creation of a new position of Accreditation Assistant/CHW pending final contract award from DHSS. After review of interest quotes from several banks the Board approved investing $200,000 in a 1-year CD at the Bank of Salem for 4.25%. The Board went in to closed session at 8:00 and returned to open session at 8:55 having discussed personnel and the RFQ, having taken no votes other than approving closed session minutes. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, November 21st at 5:00.

An accident occurred in Reynolds County Thursday night at 7:20 on Highway KK ten miles northeast of Bunker that took the life of a Bunker man. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2002 Lincoln Towncar, driven by 59-year-old Russell Shipp, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Shipp was pronounced deceased at the scene by Reynolds County Coroner Jeffrey McSpadden. The report state that Shipp was wearing a safety restraint. The Lincoln was totaled and towed from the scene by Rowdy’s at trooper’s request.

MoDOT has announced several road projects in and around Dent County for this week. In Dent County, crews will conduct roadside work on Route K from Route E to Route KK. Pavement repair is also planned on Route CC from Route C to Route H. In nearby Phelps County, pothole patching is scheduled for Routes H, P, T, and CC. A culvert replacement project will take place on North Outer Road 44 from the St. James city limits to Route V. Additionally, upgrades to pedestrian facilities continue in St. James on Routes 8 and DD, with completion expected by the end of the month. For all these projects, one lane will remain open with flaggers directing traffic through work zones. MoDOT advises motorists to be cautious and watch for slow-moving equipment in these areas. All work is weather permitting and schedules may change.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the courthouse. Commissioner Wes Mobray was not in attendance due to a prior commitment. In the road report, District Two Commissioner Gary Polk said it was too dry to grade and the work crews would be replacing a crossover pipe on Dent County Road 4290. There was no report given for District 1. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting last Thursday at the MRPC and most of the discussion was on the concrete problems with the Interstate 44 and some of it will have to be replaced. He said he also attended the South Central County Commissioners Association meeting Friday in Houston. He said the commissioners discussed stories concerning mistreatment of citizens by the National Park Service rangers in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and are creating a plan of action to bring to the NPS to see what can be done.  Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all monthly accounts for September. She said Tuesday will be the first day for “no excuse” absentee voting, Wednesday is the last day to request a mail out ballot, her office will be open from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon on November 2nd for absentee voting or changes to your voter registration, and the last day to absentee vote will be Monday, November 4th from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon at the courthouse. She said so far about 300 people have voted absentee during the “Excused” portion of that voting. 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 occurred in Dent County Thursday morning at 7:45 on Highway H on mile east of Lenox. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2000 Ford Ranger, driven by a 17-year-old female juvenile, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch. The juvenile suffered minor injuries and was transported by a private conveyance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report state that she was wearing a safety restraint. The Ford sustained minor damage and was removed by a private party.

The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages people to enjoy fall foliage through camping, hiking, driving tours, or even floating. In our area of the state, autumn has been slow to arrive. Flowering dogwoods have bright red berries that match the brilliance of their changing leaves. The black, mockernut, and pignut hickories are showing signs of their bright beautiful yellows. Perhaps you may have noticed some dots of purple near the ground: That’s our native aromatic aster that’s so important for late-season pollinators. The best place to see color so far is down by our scenic rivers you may notice some of the bottomland species changing color. Sycamore is either yellow or entirely defoliated. Enjoying the fall colors along the river is a refreshing change after months surrounded by deep greens. Take advantage of the great weather and get yourself and your family outside! For reports on other areas of the state, the conservation department offers weekly online fall color updates from agency foresters all over the state at mdc.mo.gov/fallcolor