Local News

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to a prior commitment and Commissioner Gary Larson was named acting Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented to the commission the CART funds received by the county. She said the county received $64,777.46 and that is $24,454.22 more than last June. She also said year-to-date, the CART funds are up $40,689.46. She went on to say she transferred $103,292.25 from the County School Fines Fund to all the local school districts based on the appropriate share as determined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. These funds are accumulated from basically July through June and come from court fines, tickets, weapons auctions held by law enforcement, and other monies collected from legal penalties. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 4110 and 4120. He also said crews would be out checking road signs and cleaning out pipes as needed. District 2 Commissioner Larson indicated that a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. He did say that a crew was patching some chip and seal roads using the ultimate paving material. Larson went on to report crews would be servicing truck #122. He wanted to let the public know numerous county road signs have been stolen, knocked down or damaged lately, especially in the Howes Mill and Boss areas. This is especially dangerous if an emergency vehicle needs to find a person and the emergency service personnel are not familiar with the roads in that area which could be a matter of life and death. This could also jeopardize someone’s safety if they are being threatened or the home is on fire. The county already has surpassed its budget for signs this year and would appreciate the public being aware and reporting anyone they see damage or stealing the road signs. To report the theft or damage of signs, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241. Larson also said he would be attending a Dent County Tourism tax meeting once a date has been determined. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she would be attending a South Central County Clerk’s Regional Meeting at West Plains on Thursday. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A couple of other items occurred at the Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting last Thursday not reported in our story Friday. The Board of Education committee assignments that were changed for the 2021-2022 school year were Bernie Sirois with the CSIP program and Holly Erway in Health Services. The board also agreed to move the July meeting to Tuesday, July 20th at 6:00. In closed session, the board employed Steven Taylor as a High School counselor, Kalie Jay was moved to the specialist column on the salary schedule, and a $500 stipend was approved for Shelia Adamick, Traci Wulff, and Brenda Hanning. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Community Development Block Grant program has awarded the City of Steelville a grant for $495,788 to help renovate the community building and bring it up to code per ADA requirements. Interior and exterior improvements to the Steelville community building will address ADA accessibility, improve environmental efficiency, improve security, and prepare the building for enhanced emergency use. The ADA improvements will include accessible restrooms, parking, ramps, sidewalks and three entrances. Additional improvements include LED light fixtures, a high-efficiency HVAC system, kitchen remodel with energy-efficient appliances, roofing, gutters, the addition of an emergency generator and automatic transfer switch for building and well, and a security system with card access and cameras. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $630,988 with difference coming from the city and in-kind donations. Archer-Elgin will be doing the engineering work on the project. Steelville was one of 38 recipients sharing in some $15.8 million in CDBG projects that were just announced. The MRPC assisted the city in writing the grant and will serve as the grant administrator.

A one-year contract that will provide guardrail and downed median guard cable repairs in several mid-Missouri counties have been approved by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission during its meeting last Wednesday. The contract entails repairs in various locations as needed in Camden, Crawford, Dent, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington Counties. The commission awarded the contract to Collins & Hermann, Inc, which submitted the low bid of $1,171,021.74. Most of the work would require lane closures when repairs are needed. The project contract durations are from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their June meeting at this evening at 6:00 in the hospital library. After the approval of the minutes from the May 18th meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of May followed by the Chief of Nursing Report with Ashley Sullins. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. In old business, Lucas will give the board an update on the hospital expansion and renovation, the Cerner conversion, and present the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget to be considered for approval. New business may consist of the review of purchases since the last meeting and a report on the July Election of officers. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting is open to the public provided they wear a mask to the meeting.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department reported that during the week of June 14th, the sheriff’s office and the United States Marshall’s Office conducted a joint operation for sex offender compliance checks with the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Salem Police Department, the FBI, and Internet Crimes Against Children. These law enforcement organizations visited the homes of registered sex offenders in Dent County. Of the 65 registered in the county, checks were conducted on 59 homes. The remaining offenders will be completed over the next few days. A total of seven offenders were found out of compliance. Compliance Checks are conducted to ensure that registered sex offenders are following the rules and guidelines laid out in Missouri Statutes. When contact was made with the individuals, an interview was conducted, and items listed on the registry forms were compared. Several offenders had minor infractions such as not having updated license plates or incorrect phone numbers. These were corrected on the spot. A total of 11 arrests were made from the investigations during the week.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting this evening at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington. In the Hearing of Persons, Randy League will request the closure of the streets around the Courthouse Square for the Current River Blue Oval Rally on September 11th. Juliana Bermudez will discuss with the board utility bills that were previously discussed in January of 2020 at her property. Also addressing the board will be Jack Stallings, Chris Hartinger, Teresa Crider and William Parsons to discuss their utility bills. After the consent agenda is reviewed and approved, the board will hear and discuss Resolution #18-2021 that would authorize the mayor to sign an agreement between the city and United Health Care for medical insurance for employees for the City of Salem over the next fiscal year, and Bill No. 3483 which would create an ordinance adopting the annual budget for the City of Salem from July 1st, 2021 through June 30th, 2022. Committee appointments will be discussed before the trailer court license applications are reviewed. In the reports of city officials, boards and committees, City Administrator Ray Walden will update the board on People Centric and items concerning the city, and Planning and Zoning Chairman Gary Brown will discuss two properties that have applied to be rezoned from commercial to industrial. The Board of Alderman will then go into closed session. The regular meeting of the Board of Alderman tonight is open to the public.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 7:48 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about two miles north of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Honda LTD driven by 62-year-old Jerry Latham of St. James was travelling southbound and travelled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree causing both occupants to be ejected. Both Jerry and 61-year-old Debra Latham of St. James suffered serious injuries and were transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. Neither occupant was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Honda sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by a private party.

An accident occurred early Wednesday morning at about 6:05 in Phelps County on Route Y about three miles west of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Ford Focus, driven by 27-year-old Tabitha Leek of Rolla, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a tree and a utility pole when Leek fell asleep. Leek suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by D & D Recovery of Rolla. The report stated that Leek was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.

The University of Missouri Extension will be offering a workshop to help producers learn how to use native, warm-season grasses to improve grazing and wildlife systems. The in-person workshop will be from 8:00 in the morning until 1:00 on Friday, June 25th, at the S&R Cattle Farm in Davisville, according to MU Extension agronomy field specialist Gatlin Bunton. Native warm-season grasses fill production gaps known as the “summer slump” caused by the summer dormancy of cool-season grasses. Native warm-season grasses adapt well to the climate, soils and pest pressure. During the workshop, attendees will learn how to successfully establish warm-season grasses that have high nutritive value. Bunton and MU Extension community engagement specialist Rachel Hopkins will speak about how to use warm-season grasses in grazing systems to reduce exposure to fescue toxicosis which causes losses in calving rates and weaning weights. Attendees also will learn how native grasses can offer cover for wildlife and provide erosion control. The workshop will include a tour of established fields and lunch for participants. For more information or to register, call the Crawford County Extension Center at 573-775-2135.

As part of an ongoing improvement project taking place on various roadways in Dent and Phelps Counties, work crews plan to start on the next phase next week. Starting Monday, a contractor working for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will begin resurfacing Phelps County Route K. This work is expected to take several weeks to complete and will require daily intermittent lane closures with flaggers to guide motorists through the work zone. Once this work is complete, crews will begin resurfacing Dent County Route HH near Salem. Shoulder work as well as culvert and resurfacing work on Highway 68 from Highway 19 to Highway 8 near St. James will continue into the fall. All work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information and updates about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636)

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting Thursday evening at the Salem High School Library. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed discussed work on the 2021-2022 budget in getting it ready to bring to the board. She also said a statement will be put on the Salem R-80 website by Tuesday about a re-entry plan for the next school year as required by DESE. Since it was not ready in time for the board meeting, the plan will state that it will be subject to board approval. Assistant Superintendent John Smith told the board that none of the test scores from the past year will be used for accreditation. The scores for the 2020-2021 year will be released to the public to show performance levels and individual results, but there will be no annual performance report for the last year and that makes it the third year in a row that no report has been generated. Smith said the R-80 District plans next year to be back to near normal, but virtual education will still be available. Smith reported the district is in the process of putting all the curriculum unit plans and pacing guidelines on the R-80 website for each school. Currently the high school curriculum is available to be reviewed. In the building reports, Principal Dr Herman Blau said 45 students had perfect attendance for summer school at William Lynch Elementary and the Upper Elementary School had great numbers as well. Principal Rich Parks said the Middle School is getting in new equipment, making classroom moves and is having sports camps. High School Principal Marty Anderson said that 27 students were enrolled at Summer School and 21 of them completed it. One student even graduated by earning their credits. The board approved amending the 2020-21 budget to reflect the actual revenues and expenses. After calculating the revenues and expenses, Dr. Reed said there was 22.01% of unrestricted fund balances remaining from the 2020-2021 budget. The board discussed the 2021-22 budget that included a $400 raise in the base salary of teachers to $32,000 plus one vertical step on the salary schedule, a minimum of $10 per hour for support staff and a minimum of $11 for bus drivers. Health insurance per employee averaged $490.11 which was reflected in the budget. She also asked the board to approve the one-time annual WADA transfer from General Revenue to Capital Projects of up to 7%. She expected it to come to about $466,308 and it would be moved from last year’s budget upon the completion of the audit. The board approved donating the old IMac from the art department to the Salem Community Art Center, approved the Healthy Dent County partner renewal of $10,000, and they approved tabling the vote on MSBA policy revisions dealing with virtual education until the next meeting. The board announced Phillip Karr resigned as the boys spring baseball coach and was employed as the spring girls softball coach. Assistant Baseball Coach Tony Edwards was employed as the new high school boys baseball coach for 2021-22. The board then went into closed session.

Road striping operations are in progress throughout the state and the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use caution when encountering work crews. Drivers may come upon slow-moving caravans of trucks refreshing the lines on the roadway at various locations in the state through August. Striping crews must travel slowly as they paint roadway markings to ensure a good quality line. The striping trains consist of three to five vehicles and can stretch over one-half mile while moving 8 to 12 mph. The trucks have flashing lights, boards with flashing arrows and signs that say, “SLOW VEHICLES” and “WET PAINT.” Crisp, easy-to-see striping is a significant safety feature on roadways. MoDOT uses paint embedded with glass beads. The beads reflect headlight beams back in the direction of the motorist to make the stripes more visible, especially at night, wet road or low light conditions. Most of the striping is done during daylight hours. However, it is not uncommon to see crews working at night on interstate highways and other high-volume divided highways. Rain or very damp conditions will cancel or cut short any striping work that is scheduled. If you drive through wet paint, clean your car as quickly as possible with a high-powered water hose, such as those used in car washes. Scheduled striping operations are posted on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org. The map is also available as a free app for Apple and Android devices.

A reminder that the Missouri Department of Conservation will offer one-day women’s only clinic highlighting the fundamentals of shotgun and handgun shooting this Saturday. There will be four separate classes from 9–11 AM, from 12:00–1:30 PM, from 2-3:30 PM, and from 4-5:30 PM at the Rolla Shooting Club in Rolla. Beginner Handgun Class is designed for women and girls ages 16 and older; those age 16 to 17 may participate with a parent or guardian who is also registered for the workshop. The minimum age to participate in Beginner Shotgun Shooting is 12; but girls ages 12 to 17 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian that is also registered for the class. Spots are limited for all classes; registration is required by TODAY. A waiting list will be made available for courses that become full. For more information, send an email to Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov. The Rolla Shooting Club is located at 13950 County Road 3240 in Rolla.

In response to higher than usual City of Salem electric bills, in May and June the South-Central Community Action Agency, Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army came together each Tuesday at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory to help citizens with utility assistance. To date over 200 households have been assisted with $110,000 being spent. Due to the enormous response, a large portion of the allocated funds have been depleted. The June 22nd and June 29th dates where the agencies where to come together at the Armory have been cancelled. All three agencies have worked together to assist as many residents as possible and will continue to do so in the coming months. If anyone still needs assistance, you may contact the Salvation Army by calling 729-8163 or come to the Salem Community Center @ the Amory, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon.

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk w ants to remind anyone who still has delinquent real estate taxes from 2018 that you will need to pay them IN FULL by Wednesday June 30th, 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 from 2018, 2019 and 2020 will be declared due by August 20th, 2021. If not paid by then, your parcel will be sold at the Delinquent Tax Sale that will be held on Monday, August 23rd, 2021. Check payments will no longer be 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 immediately so that it can be explained to you. This is very important so do not put it off any longer. Call the Dent County Collectors 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 per parcel added to the tax bill to pay for advertising costs in the Salem News. Remember, only the taxes for 2018 need to be paid IN FULL by Wednesday, June 30th to give you another whole year to pay the other outstanding years.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host a series of one-day workshops about the basics of fly fishing on June 24th, July 22nd, and August 19th at the Akers Visitor Center. These free workshops are limited to 10 participants for each date and reservations are required. Park ranger Mark Van Patten will demonstrate various fly rod casting techniques, proper catch and release techniques, and strategies for fly presentation. Instruction will also include lessons on aquatic entomology (fish food), recommended equipment, reading the water, and understanding flies. Fly rods and reels will be available for those who do not have their own. The book “Fly Fishing A-Z” will be provided. The clinics are expected to last the full day. Participants should bring a valid Missouri fishing permit and trout stamp, fishing vest, waders, hat, sunglasses (polarized preferred), sunscreen, bug spray, lunch and bottled water. For more information and to make reservations for one of the workshops, please contact the Round Spring Ranger Station at (573) 323-8093. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways follows the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and any corresponding federal mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All participants at the workshop should be prepared to practice social distancing as needed. If you are not yet fully vaccinated, masks are required when social distancing cannot be maintained.

A reminder that the Missouri Department of Conservation will offer one-day women’s only clinic highlighting the fundamentals of shotgun and handgun shooting this Saturday. There will be four separate classes from 9–11 AM, from 12:00–1:30 PM, from 2-3:30 PM, and from 4-5:30 PM at the Rolla Shooting Club in Rolla. Beginner Handgun Class is designed for women and girls ages 16 and older; those age 16 to 17 may participate with a parent or guardian who is also registered for the workshop. The minimum age to participate in Beginner Shotgun Shooting is 12; but participants ages 12 to 17 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian that is also registered for the class. Spots are limited for all classes; registration is required by June 18th. A waiting list will be made available for courses that become full. For more information, send an email to Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov. The Rolla Shooting Club is located at 13950 County Road 3240 in Rolla.

The Salem License Office will be closed July 1st through July 5th. They will reopen on July 6th at 8:00 AM. Customers needing immediate assistance can visit one of the area license offices in Rolla, Ellington, Viburnum, or Cuba.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Monday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the board approved Bill #3481 to approve the change order #10 between the City of Salem and Smith and Edwards Construction, Inc. for the Highway 19 South sewer extension project. The board also approved the change in wording on Resolution #18-2021 amending the City of Salem payment plan. This will allow the city to begin to offer people payment plans beginning for the February 8th through May 15th utility bills. Also, Alderwoman Kim Steelman felt that with it already being June 15th and with a number of people needing payment plans, she proposed and the board approved to extend the shut off date to July 15th for those who have not paid their bill and need to time to set up a payment plan. Those who want to take advantage of the 5% discount must pay their bill in full by June 20th. The board couldn’t vote on this ordinance change at this meeting since it hadn’t been posted for 24 hours, but City Administrator Ray Walden said this gives office personnel guidance and they can inform people of this change as they come in. They also removed the requirement that people have to pay 50% of their utility bill before making a new payment plan. Each plan will be tailored to each individual customer. The Aldermen meeting was then adjourned and the Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Committee meeting began. Administrator Ray Walden said that as of 10:00 Monday morning, 427 accounts have paid their utility bill in full, while 146 customers on payment contracts and another 234 with budget billing and payment contracts have over $100 balance in arrears. The committee then discussed the 2021-2022 budget and went over proposed capital purchases that may be made in the next fiscal year.

A one vehicle accident happened Monday evening at 9:40 in Phelps County on Route W about four miles west of Highway 63. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2012 Ford F-250 being driven by 19-year-old Colton Franks of Rolla, attempted to avoid a deer in the roadway. Franks crossed the center of roadway, traveled off the left side of the road and struck a tree. Franks suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The Ford was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing. The report went on to state Franks was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

A near drowning occurred Monday in Reynolds County at the Johnson Shut-Ins State Park at about 2:30 in the afternoon as 19-year-old Tama Keawena of Jennings, Missouri, was swimming when she hit her head on a rock. Keawena became unconscious, became submerged and was rescued by nearby individuals who conducted CPR until rescue personnel arrived on the scene. State Park Ranger Sgt Heston assisted the water patrol at the scene. Keawena suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Reynolds County Ambulance to the Iron County Medical Center.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting in the High School Library Thursday evening at 5:30. After approval of the agenda the Board will go in to closed session for the discussion of personnel and to approve the closed session minutes from May 20th, 2021. At 6:00 the regular meeting will open with the consent agenda, which will be followed by the Board hearing communications. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed will report on a variety of issues, followed by Administration Reports including Summer School. In new business the board will consider 2020-2021 Budget Revisions followed by the adoption of the 2021-2022 Budget, consider donating old IMAC to the Community Arts Center, and consider the Healthy Dent County Renewal. The Board will adjourn and move into Executive Session. The regular meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education Thursday evening at 6:00 in the High School Library is open to the public.

Mayor Brad Nash has called a special meeting of the Salem Board of Alderman at 5:45 tonight at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to discuss Bill #3482 which is an ordinance to resume assessing utility penalties and disconnects for the non-payment of utility bills as described in the City of Salem Code Chapter 700. Nash also called a meeting of the Finance Committee to review the 2021-2022 proposed fiscal year budget at 6:00 tonight at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Both meetings are open to the public.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 5:55 in Franklin County on Route O at Woods Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Kia Sedona driven westbound by 28-year- old John Skaggs of St. James, crossed the centerline on a curve and sideswiped a 2017 GMC Acadia driven eastbound by 46-year-old Libby Dominik of Augusta, Missouri. Skaggs suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Meramec EMS to the Mercy Hospital in Washington. Both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. Both vehicles sustained moderate damages. The Kia was removed from the scene by Sturms Towing and the GMC was removed by John’s Towing.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some additional reports for June. On Tuesday, June 8th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 2000 block of Dent County Road 6380 for the report of a theft. Upon arrival, the deputy found that a 55-year-old Salem man was the reported victim. Two chainsaws were reported stolen. A short time later, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received information that a suspect was attempting to pawn the chainsaws at Cousins Pawn Shop. A deputy traveled to the location and during the course of the investigation, a 26-year-old Salem man and a 24-year-old Salem man were arrested for charges of Stealing of $750 or more and burglary in the 2nd degree. Both men were transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Both chainsaws were recovered and returned to the owner. On Wednesday, June 9th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 6510 and Highway 72. At the traffic stop, a 21-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or 3rd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. If you have any information regarding any investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

Mayor Brad Nash has called for two special meetings of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Salem for this evening, June 14th. The first meeting will be at 5:45 and will be for the purpose of considering Bill No. 3481, an ordinance to authorize Mayor Nash to execute a Contract Change No. 10 between the City of Salem and Smith and Edwards Construction, Inc. for the Highway 19 South Sewer Extension. Also, to be considered is Resolution No. 18-2021, a resolution amending the City of Salem utility payment plan by adding that “The Mayor, Board of Aldermen President, City Administrator, Director of Public Works, or Utilities Supervisor may authorize an exception to this policy.” The second meeting will be at 6:00 and is a joint meeting of the Capital Improvements and Finance Committees. At that meeting, the Board will be updated on utility billing, as well as hear updates since the last meeting. Also, the proposed 2021-2022 budget, including capital projects, will be reviewed in detail. Both meetings will be held at The Community Center @ The Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road and are open to the public.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is seeking public input on the park’s draft Roads and Trails Management Plan that will be available for review and comment on June 18th online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan. The Draft Plan includes detailed maps and an environmental assessment illustrating a No-Action Alternative and two Action Alternatives. The No-Action Alternative reflects a continuation of current management practices, as established in the 2014 General Management Plan. The two Action Alternatives were informed by public and stakeholder feedback gathered earlier in the planning process and represent alternative approaches for addressing issues identified in the plan, while also meeting desired conditions for managing the park’s roads and trails. The National Park Service has identified Alternative B as the preferred alternative for implementation. Superintendent Jason Lott stated that with the release of the draft Roads and Trails Management Plan, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways is in the final phase of a complex planning process. The Roads and Trails Management Plan would establish a network of roads and trails that is clearly mapped, more sustainable, and that will allow visitors to safely enjoy the park’s spectacular resources through a variety of recreational activities, while still protecting those resources for future generations. For those who prefer to review printed copies of the Draft Plan, they will be made available for review at the public libraries in several local communities, including: Van Buren, Birch Tree, Mountain View, Salem, Summersville, Ellington, Ellsinore, Doniphan, Poplar Bluff and Rolla. The Draft Plan will also be available at park headquarters in Van Buren, located at 404 Watercress Drive, from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. The public comment period for the Draft Plan will be open from June 18 to July 18. The comments will be analyzed to determine if there are any adjustments needed and then an alternative will be selected for implementation. Comments will also be accepted through the mail to: Superintendent, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P. O. Box 490, Van Buren, Missouri 63965. As always, we look forward to hearing from the public and encourage all to visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozaror our Facebook page for further updates. For more information, please contact Dena Matteson at (573) 323-4814.

The Meramec Regional Community Foundation was able to award 31 Meramec Region students with scholarships totaling $69,300. Of the 31 scholarships, 23 were awarded through the assistance of the Maries County R-2 Schools Foundation to Maries County R-2 Belle High School 2021 graduating seniors. Those 23 scholarship awards totaled $35,800. Another $13,000 worth of scholarships was awarded to the Belle High School Alumni who qualified for renewable scholarships. The Maries County R-2 Schools Foundation works to ensure that every graduating senior who wishes to pursue higher education will have a scholarship available to them. Two students from Salem received scholarships from the Richard and Jeanne Cavender Scholarship for Public Service for $750 each to Amy Chen and Lucas Morrison, both from Salem High School. Those who are interested in establishing an endowed scholarship can contact Bonnie Prigge or Maria Bancroft at MRPC at 573-265-2993 or via email at bprigge@meramecregion.org or mbancroft@meramecregion.org, respectively.

The Current River Cruisers will be holding a yard and bake sale this Saturday starting at 8:00 at the Lifeway Center on Highway 19 North with the proceeds going to Project Win for cancer support in Dent County. For more information or to make a donation, call 729-7859.

The Salem Park Board met Wednesday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Vice-President Kyle Williams served as the acting president for the meeting. Park and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois went over her Alice Lou Craig Municipal Pool report that showed a number of busted pipes in the pump house from the extreme cold weather in February. Most of the repair work was done by Westport Pools. She said the pool just received some new umbrellas, lifeguard rescue tubes and mask to replace outdated equipment. The Park Board also approved some new inclement weather rules to be initiated at the pool for storms, rain and cool temperatures. She also reported there were some problems in getting the splash pad primed and working properly this spring, but that problem has since been corrected. DuBois said the “Start Soccer” program went well but she had to limit the participants to just ten. She also said the two-week summer camp will be held July 12th through the 23rd and there are still two openings available for children. The cost is $150 for the camp which will include camp presenters followed by swimming in the afternoon at the pool. DuBois reported there are 481 coaches and players in the Youth T-Ball, Softball and Baseball leagues with just over 425 being players. There are six age 3-4 T-ball teams, nine age 5-6 T-ball teams, six boys baseball teams age 7-8 with coaches pitching, six girls softball teams ages 7-10 with coaches and machine pitching, four baseball teams of boys 9-11, four softball teams of girls age 11-14, and four baseball teams of boys age 12-14. DuBois stated there have been three new maple trees planted at the Salem City Park, new yellow fence caps have been put on the ball fields, and a portable pitching mound that was purchased is being replaced due to some damages. She said the Al Brown Fields are back open, but for daylight use only as the light poles have cut to eliminate any risk of them falling. One estimate to replace the lighting system at Al Brown from Musco Lighting came in for between 410,000 to 455,000 dollars. DuBois said at least one other bid will be secured. She also said she had been contacted by Kelly Sink from the MRPC that a mandatory webinar for awardees of the LWCF grants will be held on July 15th and she hopes to have more information on the soccer field grant soon. When DuBois has more information, the Park Board will try to meet shortly thereafter. She also gave updates on the “Eat Smart in the Park” program, sports banner sales and a work update on the Salem Civic Theatre. The board reviewed and approved the proposed budget for the Park and Recreation Department for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The board heard Bob Jenkins, who was not in attendance, intended on resigning from the Park Board. They elected Greg Sanders as the new president to replace Stan Podorski who resigned from the position at the last Park Board meeting. There was a discussion about naming a piece of equipment at the skate park for a local person who used the skate park for years that was killed in an automobile crash, but no vote was taken. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports for June. On Wednesday, June 2nd, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Iron Street. At the traffic stop, a 55-year-old St. James woman was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Thursday, June 3rd, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 1000 block of East Center Street to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 23-year-old Salem man was arrested for having active warrants through Dent County. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of West Roosevelt and Highway 19. At the traffic stop, a 43-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was finger-printed, issued a summons and released. On Saturday, June 5th, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a subject that was robbed at gun point and he was now pursuing the suspect. Deputies traveled to the area where the reporting party had lost sight of the vehicle on Route FF. While speaking to the reporting party, the suspect vehicle was seen driving toward the deputies on Dent County Road 3050. Deputies stopped the vehicle and during the course of the incident, a 33-year-old Leasburg man was arrested for two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of marijuana of 10 grams or less and forgery. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. If you have any information regarding any investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Missouri Bicentennial Time Capsule is seeking submissions from clubs, schools, community groups, businesses and government agencies to commemorate Missouri’s bicentennial this year. The deadline to submit to the time capsule is August 10th, Missouri Statehood Day. All Missouri-based profit and nonprofit organizations are eligible to participate. The time capsule is sponsored by the State Historical Society of Missouri and the Saint Louis Ambassadors with a goal to collect items that document Missouri’s past, present and future. The two organizations are asking for public participation in this project. Organizations and businesses are invited to participate by contributing three items: one to represent their past, one to represent their present, and a note to future Missourians. Items should measure no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches, in other words, no larger than legal size paper and combined be no more than a quarter-inch thick. All submissions need to be in printed form and not electronic. An online registration form on missouri2021.org is required for all submissions and items should be mailed to the following address: The State Historical Society of Missouri…Attn: Time Capsule, 605 Elm Street, Columbia, MO 65201. All participants will be notified of their successful submission and receive a certificate for participating in the time capsule. An event to commemorate the time capsule will be held August 27th, this summer in St. Louis. Once sealed, the time capsule will be housed at the State Historical Society of Missouri until August 10th, 2046, when it will be reopened and shared with the public 25 years later.

A special waste collection for residential and farm electronics, appliances, metals and tires will be held from 8:00 until noon this Saturday, June 12th at Brewer Science at 2401 Brewer Drive in Rolla. Brewer Science, the City of Rolla and Meramec Regional Planning Commission, with funding through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, are partnering on the June 12th collection. The collection is for residential items only and no materials from businesses will be accepted. The collection is open to residents from Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. To minimize personal contact, those bringing items to the collection are asked to stay inside their vehicles and assistants will unload items. Stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, hair dryers, VCR/DVD players, cell phones or anything that runs on a cord or battery. Oil and gas must be removed from tanks of any items such as push mowers and weed eaters. All items must be free of debris. Tires on rims will not be accepted. Please note these items will NOT be accepted: CDs, DVDs, VHS and data tapes; floppy disks; transformers, capacitors or ballasts not clearly marked “No PCBs”; smoke detectors; thermostats; medical waste; gas containers such as propane, oxygen, nitrous oxide; anything leaking oil or acid, such as batteries; broken ink or toner cartridges; alkaline batteries; light bulbs and fluorescent tubes; broken CRTs, TVs or monitors. Fees on certain items will be collected as follows: $25 for CRT TVs over 27 inches and wood console TVs, $20 for CRT TVs under 26 inches, $15 for flat screen TVs, $10 for all computer monitors and refrigerated appliances with Freon. Fees for tires are as follows: $2 each for passenger tires, $7.50 each for semi-truck tires and $35 each for tractor tires. For more information on items accepted or the fee structure, please contact Jill Hollowell at MRPC at 573-265-2993 Ext. 109 or at jhollowell@meramecregion.org. For those unable to participate in the Rolla collection, mark your calendars for collections on Oct. 2 at South Central Regional Stockyards in Vienna and Oct. 9 at the St. Robert Aquatic Center.

The 1st Annual Salem Summer Kids Carnival will be held from noon until 4:00 at the corner of McArthur and 4th Street this Saturday in downtown Salem. There will be music, dance contests, airbrush tattoos, bounce houses, waxed hands and numerous street vendors featuring food, snow cones and popcorn. The event is free and open to everyone!

An accident happened in Reynolds County at 12:50 Wednesday afternoon on Route TT about five miles east of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Honda Shadow driven northbound by 37-year-old William Shipman of Rolla, traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Suffering minor injuries was a passenger on the Shadow, 34-year-old Samantha Stevens of Ellington and she was transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Stevens was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident while Shipman was not. The Honda sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by the owner.

Time is running out for residents and students of Phelps and Dent counties to participate in online surveys about the potential for the creation of a Southeast Missouri Transportation Services (SMTS) deviated fixed-route bus service in the Rolla area with possible connections to the cities of St. James and Salem. The surveys are available at meramecregion.org/surveys. There are separate surveys for students and the general public. SMTS in conjunction with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission is conducting a feasibility study for the development of a potential new route. This bus service would be for a fee and be modeled after the Bluff Area Transit Service in Poplar Bluff and the Connect Service in St. Francois County, both of which are operated by SMTS. While the Rolla service would not be identical to Bluff Area Transit Service or Connect in the number of stops or pricing, it would likely operate similarly, if such a service is found to be a possibility. Feedback is critical to determining the viability of such a service in the Phelps and Dent counties area so if you haven’t taken the survey and would be interested in having this type of service, please take the time to do so. SMTS has contracted with MRPC to conduct the feasibility study. SMTS is a nonprofit general public passenger transportation service. SMTS transportation services are available throughout South Central and Southeast Missouri. For more information, please contact Anne Freand, MRPC planning department manager, via email at afreand@meramecregion.org or via phone at 573-265-2993 ext. 105.

Tonight at 6:00, join MU Extension Horticulture Specialist Kate Kammler for a short program on growing great tomatoes at the Salem Community Garden behind the Salem United Methodist Church at 801 E. Scenic Rivers Blvd. Learn tips for pruning, identifying pests and diseases, and other ideas to get your best tomato harvest yet! The program is free and open to the public. A reminder, this is a community garden because anyone is welcome to participate and sign up for a plot to garden or attend the free public workshops. The garden is not open for harvesting by the public. The gardeners put in hard work at their plots and their benefit is fresh healthy food for their families, friends and donations to organizations of their choice. Please respect their efforts and do not pick food from the garden unless it is from a plot of your own. Want to join? Call 729-3196.

In the Dent County 42nd Judicial Court proceedings held on Wednesday, June 2nd in front of Judge Megan Seay, Wayne Quick of Salem, was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections under Revised Statues of Missouri 559.115 as requested by Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley for failing to register as a sex offender and for failing to register a social media account. The defendant requested to be placed on probation, but the request was denied by Judge Seay.

The Salem Park and Recreation board will be meeting tonight at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. After the roll call and a review of the minutes of the previous meeting, Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois will give the 2020 Alice Lou Craig Municipal pool report along with the new weather closure policy as well as reporting on the 2021 baseball, softball, and T-ball programs. After the budget review and approval, the board will discuss the LSFC soccer field grant and accept resignations along with election of a new president. Any other business may then be brought before the board before adjournment. The meeting of the Salem Park and Recreation board is open to the public.

A series of road, trail, and bridge projects are underway for eight locations within Ozark National Scenic Riverways to repair damage from the devastating 2017 flood that destroyed many features and facilities along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. Repair work began in May and is expected to be completed prior to the summer of 2022. The length of time needed to complete work at each site is dependent on the complexity of the repairs, weather, and river conditions. Each of the projects could result in slight disruptions to normal activities if roads, trails, or nearby areas need to be temporarily closed to ensure the safety of visitors and workers. The projects will begin at different times, with some running concurrently. Repair of roads and asphalt has begun in the Pulltite Campground and at Baptist Landing. Additional road repairs will be completed at Powder Mill Campground and along Peavine Road near Big Spring. Trail repairs are planned for the Lower Welch Spring trail and the River’s Edge trail near Big Spring Campground. Work to replace the footbridge on the Alley Spring hiking trail has begun and is expected to take approximately two months. The previous wooden bridge is being replaced with a more sustainable steel bridge that is several inches higher than the original, to reduce the chance of future flood damage. Wood fascia and accents will match the aesthetic of the Alley Spring historic district. Replacement of the nearby pedestrian bridge over the Jacks Fork River is also planned but has not yet begun. Once that project is underway it is expected to last approximately five months. The new pedestrian bridge will be constructed at the same height as the adjacent vehicle bridge on Highway 106, with fewer piers in the river so that it is less visually intrusive than the previous bridge. These flood recovery projects are being coordinated with the Federal Highway Administration and its Emergency Relief for Federally-owned Roads Program, which has provided funding, planning expertise, and project oversight for the repairs. For updates on project timelines or temporary closures associated with these repairs, please visit the park website at nps.gov/ozar, visit the park’s Facebook page, or call (573) 323-4236. Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to get hooked on fishing through its Free Fishing Days June 12th and 13th. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. This is an annual event that takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June. Aside from not needing permits, other fishing regulations remain in effect during Free Fishing Days, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. Special permits may still be required at some county, city, or private fishing areas. Trespass laws remain in effect on private property. All other fishing regulations are also in effect. Learn more about fishing in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

The Missouri State Parks invites the public to participate Learn2 Paddle kayaking classes offered at select parks this summer. The program is for anyone who wants to experience kayaking but is not sure where to start. It is also perfect for those who want to get out on the water but don’t own a kayak. In the Salem and Dent County area, the Current River State Park will host two-hour kayaking classes this Friday from 1:00 until 3:00, July 10th from 10:00 until noon, and on August 6th from 1:00 until 3:00. The Missouri State Parks will provide the kayaks, paddle, life jackets and instructors. Participants must be at least 10 years of age. Children 14 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the entire program. Participants should be comfortable around water. All Missouri State Parks rules and regulations apply. This is a family-oriented program; alcohol and tobacco products are not allowed while participating in the Learn2 Paddle program. The class registration fee is $5 per participant; registration is required. For registration information, visit mostateparks.com and click on their Learn2 button under Topics. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.