Posts by Stan Podorski

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Keith Green and Jimmy Williams were in attendance. In the road report District One Commissioner Wes Mobray said his crews continue replacing culverts and patching Dent County Roads 2400 and 4080. He noted that county road 4210 is closed at the bridge, but residents on both sides have alternative ways to get out. Mobray said that the commissioners will be meeting with FEMA Monday the 18th and that pictures of damages have been sent to Grant Wilson to be forwarded to Congressman Jason Smith’s Washington Office. He said that Montauk is closed and all county roads leading in to Montauk have been closed. District Two Commissioner Gary Polk reported that his crew will be grading on Dent County Road 2120 and 4380, plus rock is being hauled to 4380. He added that rock is also being added to county road 2370. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he would be going to St. James Thursday afternoon to re-evaluate the Ozarks Solid Waste Management District grant applications since they were not previously done according to DNR guidelines. He said he would also be attending the Phelps County Housing Authority meeting followed by the MRPC committee meetings and the board meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said her office is working on the budget, plus getting prepared for the April election and that candidate filings begin December 10th. She reported that she balanced with the Collector and Assessor on all collections, abatements, and add-ons for the month of October. Curley said she would be attending a Library Board meeting Thursday evening. She noted that the commissioners were approving bills for payment and that they need to approve the county’s health insurance application, which includes a slight increase in the amount the county pays on each employee to $907.86 per month. The application was approved by the commissioners 3-0. County Coroner Ben Pursiful stopped by so the commission could see the new truck which has now been outfitted with graphics, lights and siren. Commissioner Mobray expressed thanks to all the farmers and equipment operators that had pitched in with equipment to help get many roads back to passable after the flooding. He did say that those wanting to provide help should probably check with the commission before additional assistance is provided because FEMA will need to verify damages the county has sustained. Presiding Commissioner Larson complimented Mobray and Polk on their work and efforts following the flood, even though their terms are ending. There was extensive discussion between the commission, plus Green and Williams on road repair efforts, equipment, operations, budgets, etc. The next regular meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station at #2 South Main Street. The board reviewed and approved minutes from the previous meeting. The financial report was reviewed with an ending balance of $191,520.59. All bills, payments, and statements were reviewed and approved. The budget was reviewed and approved as presented, plus it was noted that the 2025 budget is in the works. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 19 calls for the month of October bringing the total calls year to date to 218. Some of those calls included five fires, four accidents, two Hazmat, and two medical assists. In old business Chief Floyd said they’re still waiting on the AFG grant for radios to open up and he hoped they were still going to have the grants. The Board discussed the Bond/Tax Issue and decided to talk to the bonding company for ideas on how to go forward. In the Chiefs report to the Board, he stated that Steve Paine with the City of Salem stopped by to give an update on the Fire Hydrants. They are working now to test, paint and rebuild if necessary. Floyd noted that the roof is leaking, and he is looking into getting it repaired. He also reported that the radio FCC License has been renewed for another 10 years. The date was set for the December Board meeting for 6:00, Tuesday evening of the 10th at the Dent County Fire Station. 

Attention deer hunters in Crawford County, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has an important update regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling this year. Due to flood conditions, the mandatory CWD sampling station at Huzzah Valley Resort in Steelville has been closed. However, hunters have two alternative options in Crawford County. The Cuba Knights of Columbus Hall at 7057 Old Route 66 in Cuba, and the Steelville Fire Protection District Station No. 2 at 20437 Highway 19 near Cherryville. Hunters in the CWD Management Zone counties can also take their deer to any other mandatory sampling station across the state. Remember, MDC requires mandatory CWD sampling of all deer harvested in the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend of the November firearms season, which is November 16 and 17 this year. Hunters must present their deer at a sampling station on the same day they are harvested so biologists can collect tissue samples for testing. This data helps MDC track the extent of CWD, which has already been confirmed in several counties around the Ozarks. For a full list of mandatory CWD sampling station locations, visit the MDC website. Be sure to plan ahead and find a convenient station near you.

The Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the Old Auditorium. The agenda and consent agenda were approved, with an amendment to the former to remove a bill regarding sewer service fees. The board approved several items, including the purchase of a new 2025 half-ton Chevy Crew Cab pick up truck for $41,233.00, from Ed Morse Chevrolet, for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, for the buyout of a lease for a John Deere Loader, for $84,411.71,  and a contract for an annual Laserfiche cloud subscription for $5,900.00 allowing the City to store their digitized documents on a Cloud server. Financial Director Stacy Houston presented a request for the mayor to sign documents related to a $3.73 million ARPA grant the city received to install a new well, well house, and water tower. The total project cost is $3.768 million, with the city providing a $38,000 match. The board approved this request. The board also approved a resolution for the April 8, 2025 municipal election and heard first readings of bills related to the water tower construction project. Mayor Parker appointed Michael Letchworth as the new Eastward Alderman. Sally Burbridge provided updates on ongoing construction on 4th Street and possible grant applications. Mayor Parker stated the upcoming Christmas parade will be held on December 7th. Line up will begin at 5:00 and spots will be based on a first come first served basis, with the exception of the first six, that will be reserved for the Color Guard and the American Legion. Public Works Direct, Steve Paine, gave updates on the different utility crews, the Fire Hydrant Repair Project, as well as the ongoing flood cleanup at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Board then adjourned the meeting to closed session. 

The Missouri Department of Conservation will close its regional offices during opening weekend of firearms deer season, the 16th and 17th. Staff will be available at CWD mandatory sampling stations or at the Missouri Department of Conservation Call Center at 573-751-4115. The public can also submit questions via the MO Hunting app feedback form. Find mandatory sampling locations in the 2024 Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information Booklet. All Department of Conservation offices will return to regular operating hours on Monday the 18th.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has announced that the winter catch-and-release trout season at Montauk State Park in Dent County and Maramec Spring Park in Phelps County has been postponed due to flood damage. Both parks remain closed following heavy rainfall earlier this week. MDC’s winter catch-and-release fishing season is set to run now through February 10th, but with Montauk and Maramec Spring closed, fishing will not be allowed at those locations until they reopen. When the season resumes, fishing hours will be from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon daily at Maramec Spring Park and on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at Montauk State Park. For more information about winter fishing opportunities in Missouri visit mdc.mo.gov.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that hunters checked 1,857 turkeys during the firearms portion of Missouri’s fall turkey season, October 1st-31rd. Top harvest counties were Gasconade with 51 birds harvested, Osage with 48, and Cedar with 46. Harvest totals in our area include Crawford with 36, Dent with 38, Iron 8, Maries 34, Phelps with 40, Shannon with 10, and Texas County 38. For current fall firearms turkey harvest results by county, go online to MDC’s website at mdc.mo.gov. Hunters harvested 2,220 birds during the 2023 fall firearms turkey season. MDC Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley said that a very warm and dry October likely impacted turkey and hunter behavior. When it’s 80 degrees and windy, the birds may not be in their usual haunts and hunters aren’t as interested in literally sweating it out to find birds. Fall archery turkey hunting continues through November 15th and resumes November 27th through January 15th, 2025. Get more information about fall turkey hunting at mdc.mo.gov.

On November 12, Sheriff Bob Wells and Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley presented a check for the sum of $294.00 to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams to be placed into the general revenue fund for Dent County. The money is the result of efforts by law enforcement involving the seizure of firearms possessed in connection with the arrest by Missouri Conservation Agent Jason Midyett and prosecution of Frank Gorman for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on November 11, 2023. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure and sale of the firearms is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that illegally own/possess firearms. This money will be used for the benefit of the local community.

The Creative Arts Center in Salem will hold a “This or That” Fall Paint N’ Sip class on Friday, from 6:30 to 9:00 in the evening with Danielle Norris. Guests may bring their favorite beverages and snacks to this event. The class is open to those 13 years of age and older. The cost of the class is $25 and all supplies are included. There must be at least six people sign up to hold the class. To sign up, visit the SACBA website, click on “Programs” and on the Creative Arts Center.

MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge, MRPC Planning Manager Anne Freund. MoDOT Central District Area Engineer Preston Kramer, the Dent County Commission, Zach Moser from the Dent County Health Department, Salem City Administrator Sally Burbridge and Salem Public Works Director Steve Paine were in attendance to the Dent County Transportation Needs annual meeting held at the Dent County Courthouse, November 4th. Kramer said the “Standing Rock Bridge” in Gladden on Highway 19 is on the STIP program and the contract has been awarded on the project, but no pre-construction meeting has yet been held. The group discussed all the identified transportation needs from previous years and then added four new ones to the list. They are the Highway 19 Bridge in the north part of Salem over Spring Creek, the bridge on Route B at the Meramec River near Max, the intersection on Routes K & Z as well as Dent County Road 6180, and the intersection of Highway 32 and 72 at the west end of Salem. There was also discussion on the issues caused by the new entrance to McDonalds on Highway 32-72 at Highway 19 where people heading eastbound are turning left into McDonalds from the designated westbound left turn lane to go south Highway 19. The priorities determined from the meeting are still a new bridge on Route TT over Crooked Creek and that work is currently being scoped by MoDOT engineers, a new bridge over the West Fork of the Huzzah Creek on Highway 32 which is also being scoped by MoDOT engineers, new this year is to replace the Highway 19 Bridge in Salem over Spring Creek, and the addition of a right turn lane heading north on Highway 19 at the intersection of Roosevelt. If additional money becomes available for road repair, the high priority unfunded projects would be for new shoulders and alignment on Route B about two-tenths of a mile from County Road 5390, and for new shoulders and safety improvements on Highway 119 to Montauk. The board also reviewed multimodal needs such as the need for increase or availability of public transportation for everyone such as the services provided by the SMTS busses for the public as well as for non-medical needs after hours, adding sidewalks on the east side of Highway 19 from Center Street to Highway 32, adding sidewalks from Route J to Highway 72 north, and adding sidewalks from Carty Street to the Craig Industrial Drive on Highway 32 East (Scenic Rivers BLVD). Also discussed was adding crosswalks at Highway 32-72 and Babb Lane, crosswalks at Highway 32-72 at the Warfel/Doss Road intersection, and adding crosswalks at Highway 19 at Center Street as well as Highway 19 at Franklin. There was discussion to possibly turn the Second Street bridge in the city that is currently closed into a pedestrian and/or bike bridge, to paint bike paths on the shoulders of Highway 32-72 east from the city limits to Highway 19 where it is wide enough, and more. Prigge said this information will be discussed when the MRPC and other regional commissions get together with MoDOT to address transportation issues on December 12th at the MRPC Transportation Advisory Committee meeting.  

Between October 5th to October 18th there were a total of 194 calls to the Salem Police Department for service. Officers conducted 24 traffic stops for various traffic violations with 5 resulting in a summons or arrest. Officers conducted 5 traffic accident investigations along with 5 informational reports. The following reports were generated from those calls. On Sunday, October 6th, at approximately 12:00 noon officers were dispatched to the intersection of Missouri Highway 19 and Truman Street for a report of a disturbance. It was reported that a group of 17–18 year-olds were fighting. While investigating the incident one of the male subjects was very intoxicated and continuing to try to fight and be belligerent. As a result, an 18-year-old Rolla male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. The next day at approximately 5:00 in the afternoon officers were dispatched to Wal Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that a female employee had been caught stealing approximately $150 worth of items. As a result, a 74-year-old Salem female was arrested and released on summons for shoplifting. Then on the evening of Tuesday the 8th 6:00 officers arrested a male subject who had an active capias warrant out of Dent County. The male subject was contacted during another unrelated investigation. Found on the male was a syringe that field tested for Methamphetamine. As a result, a 26-year-old Salem male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Finally on Thursday night of the 10th at approximately 10:00 officers were dispatched to Dirt Cheap for a report of shoplifting. It was reported a male subject had stolen items from the store. After a brief investigation a 37-year-old male from Sullivan, Missouri was arrested and issued summons for shoplifting. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Creative Arts Center in Salem will hold a class on personalizing “Little Golden Books” this evening from 5:00 to 8:00 with Gail Phelan. Attendees will take a Little Golden Book and personalize it with additional pages, pockets, and tags as well as hidden places for notes and stickers. The class is open to those ten years of age and older, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost of the class is $20 and all supplies are included. There must be four people sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to eight. On Friday, there will be a “This or that” Fall Paint N’ Sip class from 6:30 to 9:00 in the evening with Danielle Norris. You choose which painting you would like to paint, and the artist will walk you step by step through the whole process! Guests may bring their favorite beverages and snacks to this event. The class is open to those 13 years of age and older, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost of the class is $25 and all supplies are included. There must be six people sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to 25. To sign up for either class you can go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center.