Posts by Stan Podorski

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular Monday morning meeting. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave her sales tax report for the money collected this month. She said the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $103,208.48 which is $8,460.98 more than for June of 2023. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are up about $19,242.48. The Road and Bridge Fund received $48,107.09 this month, up $3,609.71 more than June 2023. Year-to-date, that fund is up $7,442.91. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $96,635.91 in May and that is up $7,219.18 from the 2023 receipts of $89,416.73. Year-to-date, those funds are up $16,076.87. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5520, while only grading would be done on Dent County Road 5080. Another grader is having maintenance performed on it including getting new blades before it returns to duty. Mobray said a man would be heading to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. Mobray was also sending to Representative Ron Copeland a list of all the county road apron approaches to state highways from District 1 and District 2 that need to be repaired or replaced. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2200 in preparation for it to be chip and sealed. Grading was also going to be done on county road 4330 and brush was going to be cut on county road 5305. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported on the TAC meeting held last Thursday and on the External Relations Committee meeting before the MRPC meeting. He said the MRPC’s Annual Awards Dinner and Banquet would be held in Linn, Missouri at the Osage View Event Center on the campus of Linn State Technical College. The proposed date is October 24th and the cost of dinner is $40 per plate. He also said the Dent County Toy Drive would be holding their Christmas in July fundraiser on Saturday, July 27th from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon at The Commons. They will have a craft show, poker run, cruise-in, Bar-B-Cue, silent auction, live music and more. There will be free carnival games for the kids. People can bring a toy to help fill their truck and you can even get a picture with Santa by the beach. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said excused absentee voting for the August will begin on June 25th while the last day to register to vote will be July 10th. She also said electioneering within 25 feet of the courthouse is prohibited beginning June 25th and that includes political T-shirts and even caps. Curley also wants to remind voters that if you have moved and changed addresses, or changed names due to marriage or divorce, to please stop by her office and get those voter registrations updated. Further, Curley wants to remind all voters that the August 6th election is a Primary and voters MUST select a political party ballot. They have their choice this year of Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or a non-partisan ballot that will include only issues in the county to be voted on. At the last meeting, Mike Elliott of Town and Country Insurance visited with the commission on their insurance claims from the hail damage. Sheriff Bob Wells was also in to discuss the hail damage insurance claims on deputies vehicles. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. A public hearing will be held at 6:00 followed by a public meeting on five requests. The first request is to rezone 1104 South Gertrude from Residential R-1 to commercial for a retail boutique owned by Michelle Watkins followed by a request to rezone 704 South Askins from R-1 to R-2 for the construction of a two-family dwelling on property owned by Maynard Larson. The third request will be to subdivide Lot 3 of the Scenic Rivers Plaza Subdivision located on Commercial Avenue for the building of a grocery store owned by Ridge Properties, LLC followed by a request for the subdivision of 705 North Henderson into two parcels made by owners James and Cheridal Nicholson. The last request to be heard will be for a conditional use for 1509 South Louise Street for the installation of a 26- foot by 48-foot manufactured home on property owned by Michael Florence. The hearing and meeting are both open to the public

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 in the hospital library this evening. At the meeting, Interim Administrator Wes Murray will give his report before the board hears the summary of operations for the month of May as well as statistics for the month. The board will hear about the 340B program, receive the Chief Nursing Officer report and be updated on Human Resources. In old business the Board will be updated on State and Match Funding, plus receive an update on Strategic Planning. The board will also discuss a tax levy increase. In new business, the Board will discuss and approve a new budget before going into closed session. The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors meeting tonight is open to the public. To attend the meeting electronically, contact the hospital administration office at (573) 729-6626, extension 4005.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will hold a special called meeting Wednesday at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main Street. After the call to order and roll call, the Board will go into closed session to discuss personnel. Upon return from closed session, the meeting will be adjourned.

Nineteen art reproductions of paintings by Rudolph (Rudy) Wendelin, courtesy of Mark Twain National Forest, will be displayed this summer at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center in Salem. The Wendelin exhibit will showcase the historic artist’s iconic Smokey Bear campaign imagery that he created during his decades of service to the U.S. Forest Service, starting in the 1930s. The exhibit will be on public display at the ONCRC starting TODAY and lasting through July 12th, Monday through Friday from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon. On loan from the USDA National Agricultural Library, these replica paintings were completed from 1977 through 1995 and remain the most famous depictions of Smokey Bear. Painter Rudy Wendelin worked for the Forest Service as an illustrator beginning in 1933 and was the mastermind behind Smokey’s human-like appearance in his signature ranger hat and blue jeans. Thanks to Wendelin’s art, Smokey’s message “Only YOU can prevent wildfires” has prevailed through the generations. Jordan Mays, Community Engagement Specialist for Mark Twain National Forest helped arrange this special event and hopes it will spread awareness of Smokey Bear and his important message of caring for forests through wildfire prevention. Forest Service staff, art presentations, educational content, commemorative memorabilia, and special appearances by Smokey Bear will occur at times during the scheduled showing. The ONCRC is located at 202 S Main St in Salem. Updates about special appearances, like when Smokey Bear will be in attendance, will be shared on the Mark Twain National Forest’s Facebook page. If you have any questions about the exhibit, contact Jordan Mays at (573) 210-5393 or the Forest’s office in Salem at (573) 729-6656.

A Kids Summer Art Camp will be held Monday, June 24th to Friday, June 28th from 8:00 in the morning until noon for four hours each day. The instructors will be Tana Kettner, Danielle Norris as well as other teachers from the Creative Arts Center. This camp is for children between the ages of 6 and 16 and parents need to sign up their children by TODAY. The cost is $120 for the five days or it is $25 per day. All supplies for the week are included as well as a small snack each day. Do not let your little ones miss out on Art Camp 2024!! Your kids will get to do some amazing art projects, as well as learn valuable art skills. They cannot wait to get creative with your children and create masterpieces! The camps will feature visiting artists with special additional projects such as: tie dye, sculpture, squeegee art, watercolor painting, glass fusing, acrylic painting, paper mache, decoupage, and so much more! Parents…when checking out please add a T-shirt size to your order! All ticket sales close on June 17th to allow time to order t-shirts. All extra proceeds go towards the Arts Center fundraising goal.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and improved Red Bluff Campground on Mark Twain National Forest will take place TODAY at 11:00 this morning at the new pavilion near the campground host’s campsite. This grand opening celebration will highlight the new and modernized camping facilities at this beautiful site. To provide the public a chance to enjoy all this site has to offer, Forest Service officials have waived all fees for camping and day-use activities at Red Bluff today. Guided tours of the site and its improvements including new campsites, showers, a dump station, additional paved loops, as well as improved electric and water will be presented to visitors immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony. In the past, flooding from storms repeatedly damaged campsites, roads, and facilities located in the floodplain at Red Bluff. Visitors are welcome to arrive earlier if they choose. Parking will be available by the old well house and by the Sitze Pavilion. The entrance to Red Bluff Recreation Area is located on Route V in Crawford County, about one mile east of Davisville. A map of Red Bluff is available on the Mark Twain National Forest’s website. Visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy the site before and after the ribbon cutting.

The Prevention Consultants of Missouri and the Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition are inviting everyone to a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on June 21st at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road in Salem from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. This is great training for teachers, school staff, coaches, camp counselors, youth group leadres, parents and adults who work with the youth. The course teaches you how to identlfy and understand as well as respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse use challenges among childre and adolescents age 12 through 18. The training is free but you do have to register and complete a pre-class, online module. You will need to register for the program and registration ENDS TODAY! Contact Linda Kozlowski at 573-368-4755 or e-mail her for more information at linda@preventionconsultants.org. Lunch will be provided! This training is FREE!!

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ‘live” Music Festival this Saturday at the Commons featuring the Crowe Boys from New Orleans with opening act, Devon Sutterfield from Salem and St. James. The gates will open at 6:00 and the live concert begins at 7:00. Sutterfield was featured recently on “The Voice” while the Crowe Boys have had success on the Internet with their single “Where Did I Go Wrong” and “The Simple Truth Hurts.” Tickets are available for $30 and are available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and online at croweboys.com. There will be food trucks, a beer garden and more! To find out about the concert or tickets, contact the Salem Chamber of Commece at 573-729-6900.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, June 20th.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2470, 5110 and 6250 while brush was going to be cut on county roads 5015 and 5070. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk indicated grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2150, 2155 and 5240. He went on to say that county road 3260 was being prepped for chip and seal. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported he attended the MRPC meetings Thursday night starting with the Transportation Advisory committee meeting at 4:00 and ending with the MRPC regular meeting in St. James. He said the commission has spoken with Representative Ron Copeland and responded to Senate Bill 1359 dealing with the opening up of the local hospital districts to allow other larger medical facilities to provide services in those areas. Dent County Assistant Clerk Crystal Pilkington said the clerk’s office balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of May. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind anyone who still has delinquent Real Estate taxes from 2021 that you will need to pay them IN FULL by June 28th, during regular business hours from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. If you fail to do so, then on July 1st, the taxes for the tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023 will be declared due by Friday, August 23rd. If not paid by then, your parcel will be sold at the Delinquent Tax Sale that will be held on Monday, August 26th. Check payments are no longer accepted so you will need to pay with cash, cashier’s check or money order. If you are not sure this applies to you or you do not understand how the system works, you need to call the Dent County Collector’s office at (573) 729-3911 with any questions you may have or stop by the Dent County Courthouse. Starting July 1st there will be an additional $25.00 per parcel added to the tax bill to pay for the advertising costs in the Salem News. Remember, only the taxes for 2021 need to be paid IN FULL by Thursday, June 28th to give you another whole year to pay the other outstanding years. The commissioners also said the courthouse will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th for Juneteenth. The next commissioner meeting will be held Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthosue and the meeting is open to the public.

A Barn Quilt Class will be held Monday & Tuesday, June 17th & June 18th from 5:30 until 8:00 with Terrie Welch and Gale Huffman. In this two-day class, you will draw your own quilt block design on a sanded and primed 2’x2′ piece of plywood. You will then tape off areas to create sharp-edged lines, and paint it with chosen colors of house paint. When you finish, you will want to take and proudly display it on your barn or home! These are becoming quite popular and you can be the envy of your neighbors with this colorful display! The cost of the class is $55 with all supplies included. At least six people need to sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to 25. To register, go the SACBA website and find the Programs tab. Find the Creative Arts Center and click to register for the class. Registrations online are on a first come, first serve basis.

The Salem Utility Committee met Wednesday evening at the Salem Community Center at the Armory. A discussion on the ServLine Protection Program was held where this program is meant to provide an insurance type of financial protection against expensive utility bills that could occur due to water leaks at the option of the resident, but residents were “opted in” to the program by default. Each resident has to “opt out” in the first 30 days of the services. It was reported that 77 residents had already opted out of the program. For more information or to opt out, call the City of Salem’s dedicated ServLine phone number at 844-952-0741. Public Works Director Steve Paine reported the water crew recently repaired four water lines as well as two fire hydrants. These repairs are part of an ongoing effort to reduce the amount of overall city water loss that currently stands at 16%. Electric crews are changing out street lights and are checking out a safety hazard reported at the 4th Street Mall. City construction crews are working on numerous tasks including repairing city signage, and municipal concert work on curbs, driveways, and aprons. There was a brief discussion regarding the city’s current capacity of sludge from the treatment plant, which according to Paine is nearing 80% capacity. He urged that this level needs to be reduced soon. City of Salem Finance Director Stacey Houston presented a detailed overview of the city utility funds to the committee, which spurred discussions on different fiscal strategies. These discussions culminated in four motions being passed to be presented to the Board of Aldermen for their consideration. The first motion was made to keep the kWh rate the same for electric, eliminate the service availability fee, and pull prior year funds to balance the electric operation fund shortfall, as well as transfer some from prior year operation funds to the electric reserve fund to complete the reserve goal. The second motion was based on the Water fund balance in which a motion was made to transfer necessary funds from the water reserve fund to the water operating fund to balance the shortfall of the budget, and to transfer from the water reserve fund to the water reserve D&R fund to reach the reserve goal amount. The third motion was focused on the city’s sewer rates, proposing the sewer residential base rate be increased to $12 and the sewer usage rate be $9.85/1000 gallons. Finally, there was a motion to approve the budget as amended to account for the utility rate differences that were discussed during the meeting. All of the motions approved had no opposition from the attending committee members. These recommendations will now go before the Board of Aldermen for discussion. After some questions from the public, the meeting was adjourned.