Posts by Stan Podorski

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 6230 and 6435 while only grdaing would be done oncounty road 6280. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4380, 5310, 5330 and 5333. He went on to report rock would be added to county ropad 4290 andbrush was going to be cut on county roads 3210 and 4340. He said crews would be welding a patch on dump truck #116, working on the water system on the ashpalt roller and also work on the steering mechanism on grader #37. Polk said a man would also be going to get parts from Caterpillar in Rolla. He also said the county would be receiving the new road groomer at the road and bridge department this week. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the CEO of Royal Oak Charcoal would like to come to a commissioner meeting on Monday, June 10th between 9:30 and 10:00. This stems from a conversation that Sheriff Bob Wells had with Tim Jones at Royal Oak about the increase in semi-truck traffic on Dent County Roads 3290 and 3300. Jones told the sheriff he would be speaking with the Royal Oak dispatch as well to reroute the trucks. Sheriff Wells said deputies will continue to patrol the area. The commission reviewed a draft ordinance proposed by Sheriff Wells that would give the Dent County Sheriff’s Department a law the deputies could enforce when dealing with the large trucks who violate state laws. Commissioner Larson said he would like to discuss the ordinance further with the sheriff before having the commission vote on it. Larson also brought up a request from Four Rivers Community Health Center for a letter of support to the state to provide certain health services to the residents of Dent County. The letter was approved by a 2-0 vote with Commissioner Mobray abstaining since his wife Kendra is an employee of Four Rivers. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said sample ballots for the August Primary would be available in her office after June 25th. Citizens could stop by and pick one up or contact her office and she could e-mail them a sample ballot. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday mroning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Today is the last day to apply for the Energy Assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Energy Assistance is designed to provide financial assistance to help pay primary fuel source heating bills for Missourians during the months of October through March. Eligibility requirements for this assistance are based on income, family size, available resources and responsibility for payment of home heating costs. The assistance is offered to eligible low-income Missourians for bills from November 1st through May 31st for elderly and disabled households, and from December 1st through May 31st for all other households. Other assistance available is the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) funds. These funds can be used to prevent or restore disconnected service, assist with emergency repairs and furnace replacements and even purchase wood stoves and air conditioners. To qualify for the ECIP assistance, households must provide a notice of disconnect for energy payments. Applications are availbale. For more information or to learn how to apply for LIHEAP, call the South Central Community Action Agency in Salem at 800-325-4633 or call 729-3500. You can also get the application online at scmcaa.org/energy-assistance.

Embark on a journey through history in the Mark Twain National Forest in the Salem Ranger District this Saturday morning starting at 9:00. The American Hiking Society’s National Trail Days® is the host for the annual event. Explore an Old Trail, an unofficial Trail Segment of the National Park Service (NPS) Hildebrand Route of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, going from Reynolds County into Dent County. The adventure begins on Reynolds County Road 903 at the Trail of Tears “To Original Route – Next 31 Miles” NPS Brown sign across Highway 72 from Marcoot Tower. Hikers will traverse Highway 72, heading west, go past the scenic Marcoot Lookout FireTower, to the locked gate. Beside the gate, hikers will enter MTNF “Forest Road 2795,”on the old Centerville Road. The hike will be in the Scotia-Marcoot Walk-in Spring Turkey Hunting Area. It is free to hike in the Mark Twain National Forest, and parking is free in the Marcoot Lookout Tower area. You hike at your own risk on public lands. One should consider wearing long pants, light-colored clothes, a hat, and boots. Bring bug spray, water, snacks, and maybe lunch. No food is available on or near the premises or restroom facilities. The Missouri Chapter Trail of Tears Association, and the DentCounty Historical Society are the local organizations that meticulously planned the local National Trails Day® event. Contact Deloris Gray Wood, President of the Dent County Historical Society at (573) 729-2545.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education has called for a meeting Monday morning, June 3rd, at 8:15 in the R-80 Administrative Board Room. After approval of the agenda, the board will consider the acceptance of bids for the FEMA construction project. The board will then move into Executive Session to discuss personnel. The board will return to open session and adjourn the meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Alderman met at the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday evening for their regular meeting. The board approved the request by Burgendee Lytle to have 4th, 5th and Iron streets around the courthouse square closed for Summerfest on June 8th. Summerfest will be from noon until 6:00 PM and the streets will be closed starting at 10:30 that morning. The board approved allowing Josh Kotschedoff to spend no more than $20,000 each on transformers and electric poles when ordering them as market conditions are changing daily. There was no motion made by the board on the TAP Downtown Project bids and it died for lack of a motion. In new and miscellaneous business, the board approved Resolution #12-2024 allowing the mayor to execute a one-year memorandum of understanding between the City of Salem and Missouri State Universtity-West Plains Adult Education and Literacy program allowing for AEL Education to be held at 202 North Washington Street in the old city hall basement. The board approved Bill #3609 amending the city code of Salem regarding the creation and membership of the Airport Advisory Board. City of Salem Finance Director Stacey Houston stated sales tax revenue receipts in May were up nine percent and year-to-date, the sales tax numbers are up about one percent. She stated that water and electric consumption were down in April. The cost of power in April to the city was $3.852 million dollars as revenues billed from electric usage were $6.055 million dollars. At the end of April, the total of the fund balances of all city funds was $10,134,925. Houston said the city has received 72% of their budgeted revenues and have expended 62% of what was budgeted. The board then went into closed session.

The Missouri Highway Patrol has released preliminary reports which indicate there were seven traffic fatalities, no boating fatalities, and no drownings over Memorial Day Weekend. The 2024 Memorial Day weekend counting period began at 6:00 Friday evening and ran through 11:59 Monday night. During the counting period the State Highway Patrol troopers investigated 275 traffic crashes resulting in 161 injuries and 7 fatalities. The Patrol made 128 DWI arrests. Boating statistics indicate that there were 7 crashes resulting in 7 injuries and the Patrol made 6 BWI arrests.

The draft Fiscal Year 2025 through 2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program or STIP, from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, is wrapping up its 30-day public review and comment period. In the past 10 years, MoDOT and its construction partners have completed 4,206 projects with a program value of $11.1 billion, but it wasdelivered $536 million below budget and 93% on time. The draft FY 2025 through 2029 STIP lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2025-2029 and reflects the transportation needs of communities across the state. In Dent County, there are four projects in the STIP including pavement preservation on Route K from Highway 19 to Route KK, and also on Route J in Salem from Highway 32 to Highway 72; bridge improvement on Route B over Dry Creek; bridge improvement on Highway 19 over Spring Creek; and the upgrading of the pedestrian facilities to meet the ADA transition plan on Highway 32 and 19.Those interested in offering comments can contact MoDOT by email at STIPcomments@modot.mo.gov, by calling customer service at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636), or by mail to Transportation Planning, Program Comments, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102. The program is also available on MoDOT’s website: modot.org/DRAFTSTIP. The formal comment period ends TODAY!!

The Creative Arts Council is offering a Summertime Front Porch Sign & Wine this Friday from 6:30 unti 9:00 with Danielle Norris. It’s a great time to decorate your front porch!! For those who did Spring porch signs (or prior fall or winter signs), come back and decorate the back of your sign for Summertime! Or you can do this as a stand alone event, and make your very own front porch sign! They use stencils and tracing paper to create their very own one of a kind design to match your decor and tastes. So get those ideas together and come learn how to create your sign step by step. The artist is very hands on, and will help you make it yours!  If you are a repeat attendee, bring your board back or if you have your own board, the cost of the class is $20. If you are a new attendee and will be needing a board, the class cost is $35. A minimum of six people are needed to hold the class and it will be limited to 16. Signup at the Salem Area Community Betterment Association website, go to the Creative Arts Center link and look under programs.

The City Salem’s Capital Improvements will hold a workshop tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@the Armory. The meeting has been called for the introduction of City of Salem budgets and to review proposed FY24-25 Capital Improvement Projects. The meeting was called by Alderman Shawn Bolerjack, Chairman.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released information on a number of cases heard in front of Judge Michael Randazzo on Wednesday, May 22nd. In the first case heard, Ronald Breeding of Salem pleaded guilty to felony resisting arrest as a persistent felony offender. Breeding was sentenced to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by the prosecutor. The case of Kristin Thompson of Salem was heard and she pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a weapon. Thompson made the plea after serving 24 days in jail. Prosecutor Curley sought a four-year suspended execution of sentence due to the nature of the incident with the standard terms of probation and no contact provisions with the victim and his family. Thompson sought a suspended imposition of sentence with probation. Over the objection of the state, Thompson received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on probation for five years. The probation case of Bobby Oller of St. Louis was heard as he was on probation for felony driving while having his license revoked and the possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutor Curley requested his probation be revoked and Judge Randazzo agreed, sentencing Oller to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. In the case of Isaac Ghormley of Salem, he pleaded guilty to the possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine. Judge Randazzo sentenced him to a seven years suspended execution of sentence with five years of probation and parole after serving a jail sentence as requested by the prosecutor. The next case heard was that of Trevor Elrod of Salem who pleaded guilty to a Class E felony for domestic assault in the 3rd degree after serving 45 days in the Dent County Jail. Elrod was sentenced to a four-year suspended execution of sentence with five years of probation and parole with no contact with the victim or the victims’ father. In the last case heard that day, Britta Botkin of Salem pleaded guilty to the possession of a controlled substance-fentanyl. She was sentenced to serve seven yeas under the RSMO Section 559.115 program as requested by Prosecutor Curley.

The Mudbugs will be meeting this Thursday from 2:00 until about 3:30 at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History to find out how many different wildflowers they can find. Maybe enough to win the color scavenger hunt? The Mudbugs will do a little flower pounding art and the Muslin cloth will be provided. Mudbugs can bring their own white T-shirt to decorate! They may even try their hand at making dandelion tea. The Mudbug activity is geared toward children age 6-12 or so, but all ages are welcome. They will do their best to accommodate younger children. A donation to the Bonebrake Center of $2.00 per child is appreciated. Contact Janet Price for more info at moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds hunters and anglers that squirrel and black bass seasons opened this past Saturday, May 25th. The hunting season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs now through February 15th, 2025. Allowed methods include shotguns, rifles, and other legal firearm methods, as well as archery equipment, and slingshots. Squirrels may also be harvested with cage-style traps during the hunting season as long as hunters have a valid small game hunting permit. Traps must be labeled with the hunter’s full name and address, or Conservation Number, be attended daily, and have an opening of 144 square-inches or smaller. The daily limit for hunting, including the use of cage-style traps, is ten and the possession limit is 20. Hunters must have a permit valid for hunting small game or be exempt. If you are a fisherman, anglers may catch-and-keep black bass, such as largemouth, smallmouth, spotted or Kentucky bass, now through February 28th, 2025. Black bass can be found statewide but have a closed season part of the year in most streams south of the Missouri River. Black bass can be caught and released legally throughout the year anywhere in Missouri, and legal-sized bass may be kept all year long from impoundments and streams with no closed season. In most state waters, the daily limit on black bass is six. Fish taken from most rivers and streams must be 12-inches long. Additional regulations may apply to specific waters or areas. Anglers must have a valid fishing permit or be exempt.

There is a collection box at Salem Public Library for old, damaged, or soiled American flags. Anyone may leave a flag there now through Saturday, June 8th. The library will deliver these flags in need of retirement to the American Legion Post 99. The Legion will properly dispose of them in accordance with the United States Flag Code.

During the week of May 4th through the 10th, officers with the Salem Police Department were dispatched to a total of 80 calls for service. Officers conducted eight traffic stops for various traffic violations with two resulting in a summons or arrest. Officers also conducted five traffic accident investigations and wrote four informational reports. Here are some of the arrest reports: On the evening of Monday, May 6th at around 5:00, officers arrested 39-year-old Khira Longacre of St Louis, for active warrants for her arrest out of Jasper County, Missouri. The arrest was made following a traffic stop of a vehicle near the intersection of Hickory Street and Highway 32. On Thursday afternoon, May 9th close to 2:00, officers arrested 42-year-old Matthew Lewis of Leasburg, for an active probation and parole warrant with no bond out of Crawford County. The arrest was made following a short term investigation into the location of Lewis. Finally, during the afternoon of Friday, May 10th near 4:00, officers arrested 32-year-old Ryan Knight of Salem, for two active no bond warrants out of Dent County. The arrest was made following officers on patrol identifying the Knight walking near the intersection of Hickory Street and Highway 32. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.