Local News

The Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for tonight has been canceled due to the passing of former Salem Mayor Gary Brown. No makeup date for the meeting has been announced.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. It was the first meeting for new Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson after being sworn in last week. He wanted to thank everyone that made it possible for him to move into his new role. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 6600 and 6610 while only grading would be done on county road 5510. He said a flat tire on a grader had to be repaired as well. In the District 2 report, Commissioner Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2135 and 2330 while only grading would be done on county roads 3140 and 3150. Larson said a man was going to Springfield to get more oil for chip and seal repair. Last week, the commission put out bids for 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel and the lowest bid was Phil-Mart at $2.75 per gallon below the bids from County Fuels and MFA Oil. The commission also approved appointing Lori Hasten to the Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees to replace Sandra Headrick who resigned. She will serve until next the Municipal Election in April of 2024. With the appointment and confirmation of Gary Larson as Presiding Commissioner, a vacancy for District Two Commissioner has been created. County office vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment. Any person interested in that position may apply online at http://boards.mo.gov. They would need to create an account and complete the application on that website. After the account is created, those interested will be able to select “Dent County District Two Commissioner” on their application. State law allows the current county commissioners to designate an interim commissioner until the Boards and Commissions office makes an appointment. They would have until May 12th to make such an appointment. Whomever the commissioners would designate, that appointee would also have to complete the online application process if they would be interested in receiving the appointment from the governor’s office. According to Kyle Aubuchon, the Boards and Commissions Director, he anticipates an appointment being made around mid-June by the governor. He recommends the central committees and clubs meet in late-May if they want to submit a recommendation to their office. This will allow potential candidates to come forward for the next couple weeks, apply with their office, and make their candidacy known to the committees and clubs. The Boards and Commissions background check process takes a few weeks to complete before any appointment can be made prompting the expected date to be mid-June. The Commission will not be meeting on May 8th due to Truman’s Birthday or on May 11th as there will not be enough for a quarum. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Governor Mike Parson announced 169 school districts and charter schools have received grants from the newly created School Safety Grant Program. The grant program aims to support school safety improvements, including physical security upgrades and associated technology in school facilities such as door locks, monitoring systems, bleeding control kits, and automatic external defibrillators. The $20 million grant was part of Governor Parson’s Fiscal Year 2023 early supplemental budget request. Governor Parson’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal includes an additional $50 million for the program, if approved by the General Assembly. Schools in our are that received the grant include the Salem R-80 School District who received $150,000; Oak Hill R-1 School District who received $50,000; the Steelville R-3 School District and they will get $150,000; the St. James R1 School District who received $200,000; the Bunker R-3 School District and they received $50,000 and the Licking R-8 School District and they received $150,000. The School Safety Grant Program scoring was based on points calculated by the average building age of the district, the assessed value per ADA points and the status survey points. Schools that scored 56 points or more in the survey were awarded funding.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Saturday, April 22nd, a deputy arrested a man in the 600 block of East Hunt Street. The 40-year-old Salem man, had two active arrest warrants and was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated on the warrants. On Monday, April 24th, deputies arrested a man in the 14000 block of West Highway 32 after a motor vehicle crash. The suspect, a 29-year-old Licking man, was arrested for driving while being intoxicated and transported to the Dent County Jail for processing. On Wednesday, April 26th, a deputy arrested a female after a traffic stop at Salem High School. The 32-year-old Salem woman was arrested on an active arrest warrant and transported to the Dent County Jail for processing. And finally, on Friday, April 28th, a deputy arrested a 28-year-old Gerald man after he turned himself in to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was processed, then released from custody after posting bond. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

An accident happened in Phelps County at 9:12 Friday night at the intersection of Highway 68 and Route YY. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Nissan Frontier driven westbound by 28-year-old Brooke Plowman of Salem, struck an animal in the roadway and she overcorrected the Frontier. The Nissan then traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned where the Frontier struck a fence. Plowman suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the St. James Ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The Nissan was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing.

An accident happened Friday night at 9:27 in Phelps County on Route O at Phelps County Road 5080. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Ford Mustang driven by 48-year-old Michael Huffman of Rolla, was traveling westbound on Phelps County Road 5120 and was traveling too fast for the road conditions as he failed to negotiate a curve. The Mustang traveled off the right side of the roadway and Huffman overcorrected. The Mustang returned to the roadway, became airborne, crossed Route O and went onto Phelps County Road 5080. The Mustang continue forward and went off the left side of the county road and struck a tree. Huffman suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Mustang was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing of Rolla.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday night just past 10:30 in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 2310 at Phelps County Road 2300. According to the highway patrol report, a 2012 GMC Sierra being driven by 48-year-old Amy Dahms of St. James, was traveling west when the GMC went off the right side of the roadway. Dahms then overcorrected and traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Dahms was taken by St. James ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The GMC was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The report went on to state that Dahms was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. Dahms was arrested for a DWI for alcohol, failure to drive on the right side of the roadway involving a crash, failure to display valid license plates, driving while having her license suspended and operating a vehicle with no insurance. Dahms was booked and released.

An accident happened in Dent County on Route O about two miles west of Anutt Saturday night at 9:20. According to the highway patrol report, Makenzie Carlson of Rolla, was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt eastbound when she failed to negotiate a curve. The Cobalt went off the right side of the road and struck an embankment. Carlson suffered minor injuries and taken by a private vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Cobalt sustained minor damage and will be removed later.

During the Rural Philanthropy Summit on April 25th, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks presented Bonnie Prigge with the Fred Lemons Achievement Award. She serves as a board member for the Meramec Regional Community Foundation and as executive director of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission. Prigge was recognized for the outstanding record of asset growth in her 12 years on the board of the MRCF, her service to the Meramec region, as well as her service to Missouri Association of Councils of Government as secretary/treasurer and past- president. She currently serves as chair of MACG’s transportation committee and also is a board member of the Sustainable Ozarks Partnership, a board member of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s federal land access program, a member of the National Association of Development Organizations and an associate of the Economic Development Administration. Founded in 1973, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks is marking its 50th anniversary in 2023 as the region’s largest public charitable foundation serving a network of donors, 53 regional affiliate foundations — including the Meramec Regional Community Foundation— and nonprofit partners across central and southern Missouri through its mission of resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.

Kids’ Free Fishing Day for those age 15 and under is coming up Saturday, May 6th, from 6:30 in the morning until 8:15 in the evening. The registration booth will be open from 2:00 until 5:00 on Friday, May 5th, and all day on the 6th. Volunteers are needed to help with the event. Youth anglers will have the spring branch from the CCC Spillway to the Social Hole reserved for them. Kids are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Adults are welcome to help their kids, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves in the youth zone. There will be door prizes, fly tying and casting, an archery range, mobile aquarium, fishing simulator, and free hot dogs and soda from 11:00 until 1:00. For more information contact the Montauk Hatchery at (573) 548-2585.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, County Clerk Angie Curley appointed Gary Larson as the acting presiding commissioner for the meeting. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray stated the crews would be stock piling rock and doing maintenance in the shop as Mobray says the county saves a lot of money when the crews perform their own maintenance on equipment. District Two Commissioner Larson said crews in his district would be adding materials and grading Dent County Roads 2210, 3260 and 3270 while only grading would be done on county roads 2120, 3273 and 3275. He said brush would be cut on county roads 2110 and 2370. Three members of the Industrial Development Authority Board terms were up for appointment and the commission re-appointed current members Chris Holliday, Jack Todd and Bob Parsons to the board. Later in the morning, 2nd District Commissioner Gary Larson was sworn in officially as the Dent County Presiding Commissioner to replace former Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles who resigned on February 25th. Matt Lloyd with Fabick and Company came in and visited with the commission. The next commissioner meeting will be Monday morning at 9:00 the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Wednesday evening just before 7:15 in Crawford County on Highway 19 at Seven Cedars Road. According to the highway patrol report, a Honda motorcycle being operated by 21-year-old Sawyer Counts of Steelville, was traveling northbound when he failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the left side of the roadway. Sawyer suffered moderate injuries and was transported to a hospital by a private party. The Honda was totaled and removed from the scene by a private party.

A special meeting of the Salem R-80 school board was held Thursday morning. The meeting was held to discuss insurance coverage. After a discussion, the board members approved the United Health Care option #2 for medical insurance, and approved the ancillary renewal for insurance with Principal. The meeting was then adjourned.

A meeting of the City of Salem Finance and Capital Improvement Committees has been called by finance committee chair Alderwoman Kala Sisco and Capital Improvements chair Alderman Shawn Bolerjack. The meeting will take place Monday at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Road. The agenda for the meeting will include an update on the passage of the additional 1% sales tax and what effect it will have on future budgets, a review of the third quarter financials along with a year-to-date review of capital improvement projects. The committees will also discuss the scheduling of future committee meetings before the meeting is adjourned. The meeting Monday evening at 6:00 will be open to the public.

This spring, the Doe Run Company has shown its dedication to furthering education in Southeast Missouri by donating $6,000 to support STEM curricula and activities in four local school districts. These contributions will expand access to potential career pathways for primary and secondary school students near Doe Run’s operations. In the Bunker R-III School District, Doe Run’s donation is providing elementary students with the supplies necessary to build a STEM Club, as well as offering high schoolers more comprehensive STEM courses. The funds will allow the school district to create a 3D printing program and buy a go-cart kit for students to experiment with motors, speed and motion. Doe Run presented Potosi R-III School District with funds to help them purchase additional VEX IQ robotics, giving more students the chance to learn the science and technology behind robotics. With more robotics equipment, students will be able to put their mathematics and computing skills to the test, improving their ability to think critically and create their own designs. At Lincoln Intermediate School in Farmington, Doe Run’s contribution will help pupils build a compost pile and learn about the science of growing food, as well as hydroponic gardening. Meanwhile, Iron County C-4 will use the donation to expand their 3D printer and robotics technology, teaching kids the basics of coding and providing hands-on activities. Their program has expanded from seventh- and eighth-grade students to now include sixth-grade students. Doe Run takes pride in providing scholarships and STEM programs to students of both elementary and high schools to equip the future generations with more chances to learn and to prepare them for their career paths.

The 8th Annual Veteran Affairs Day will be held tomorrow from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon sponsored by the American Legion Post 99 and All-American VFW Post 6280 located at 2522 Highway 32 West in Salem. The Affairs Day is where veterans can learn about the changes and requirements for them to get their benefits. Veterans can also enroll in VA health care. Veteran Affairs Day is an annual outreach to veterans of central rural Missouri in an attempt to provide easier access to VA services. It includes American Legion District 16 and VFW District 2 which includes Camden, Cole, Crawford, Dent, Howell, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, Osage, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties. Representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs will include enrollment and claims processing specialists from the Truman VA Hospital, as well as benefit advisors from St. Louis VA Regional Office. The Columbia Veteran Center will have counselors and advisors on hand in their mobile unit. The Missouri Veterans Commission will also have Service Officers at the event, as well as a Department of Education Veterans Employment Representative. They have also invited representatives from elected officials, including Congressman Jason Smith, US Senator Josh Hawley and State Representative Ron Copeland. The event starts at 10:00 and a light lunch provided around noon. It doesn’t matter when you served. If you have questions, a claim or need to enroll into the VA healthcare system, please attend. Don’t miss out on your hard earned benefits. Call the American Legion Post 99/VFW Post 6280 at 573-729-3710 for questions or to schedule private time with a counselor.

The Salem Police Department released these reports for the first week of April. During the week of April 1st to April 7th, there were 140 calls for service. Officers conducted 20 traffic stops for various traffic violations with four resulting in a summons or arrest. Officers also conducted two traffic accident investigations along with three informational reports. On Monday, April 3rd around 4:00 in the morning, officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of East Third Street for a report of someone trying to break into a house. Officers contacted the subject who was highly impaired on narcotics. The subject was placed on a 12-hour safe keep at the Dent County Jail due to his level of impairment. The victim in this case did not wish to pursue charges. On Wednesday, April 5th near 5:00 in the morning, officers were dispatched to the area of Forrest Hill Drive for a report of property damage. It was reported that in the overnight hours someone had tampered with and attempted to steal a UTV. This incident is still under investigation using video surveillance from the area. Around 8:00 Friday evening, April 7th, officers were dispatched to Franklin and Grand for a report of a vehicle doing donuts in the field. Officers discovered the driver was intoxicated. After an investigation, a 25-year-old St. James male was arrested and later released on a summons for excessive Blood-Alcohol Content. Later that same evening around 11:30, officers conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 19 and 68 for a vehicle not maintaining a single lane. Officers contacted the driver and he was found to be intoxicated. After an investigation the driver of the vehicle was arrested for a DWI and later released on summons. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Montauk State Park will be handing out free seedlings on Friday April 28th in celebration of Arbor Day. Park visitors can pick up the seedlings at the White Oak Hole parking lot from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. The trees are provided courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s George White Nursery. For more information, contact the park at 573-548-2201.

You are invited to a special workshop at the with Brooks Blevins on “How to Talk Ozark in Seven Simple Steps” this Saturday at 10:00 at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center. The event is free and open to the public. Check out the Dent County History exhibit at the ONCRC which will be open from 9:00 until 2:00 this Saturday.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved Resolution #14-2023 which is a contract renewal with the Department of Health and Senior Services for sewer shed disease monitoring. The city performs weekly tests of wastewater samples to identify the geographic distribution of SARS-CoV-2 and variants for indicators of community outbreaks. The City is reimbursed at $100 per weekly sample. City Finance Director Stacey Houston reported on the sales tax revenues and said the electric, water and sewer revenues are tracking more than budgeted but the expenses are as well. Total for this fiscal year that ends June 30th, the General Revenue Sales Tax Fund is $1,276,912 with $1,252,600 budgeted, the Park and Rec Sales Tax revenue is at $478,828 with $425,000 budgeted and the Capital Improvement Sales Tax revenue is at $638,457 with $650,000 budgeted. The total revenues for the city are $11.2 million with expenses of $9.2 million. There is a total of 7.1 million in the fund balances through March. The board approved the bid from Archer Elgin for a Lead Service Line Project that would inventory all lead water lines and include GIS mapping of lines. This project is part of the $150,000 ARPA funds received with a local match of $30,000 that will be included in the 2024 budget. The board approved Resolution #15-2023, a bid from R. Conway Construction for $23,000 for rehabilitation work at property located at 602 S. Warfel Street. They also approved Resolution #16-2023, a bid from 5 J’s Handyman Services for $21,050 for work at property located at 1103 S. Oak Street; as well as Resolution #17-2023, a bid from Mid Missouri Renovations for $23,450 for work at property located at 711 E. 4th Street. The board went on to approve Resolution #18-2023, a bid from R. Conway Construction for $32,200 for work at 1004 E. 1st Street. All of these projects are part of the “Welcome Home” Project with the homeowners being responsible for paying any bid over the grant approved amount of $23,000 per home. The board approved Resolution #19-2023 which is an agreement with Ameren Missouri for the use of city electric poles for an AMI system that will be used for natural gas services. This is a 20-year contract for 14 poles with the initial 10-year term paying $20 per attachment, then the next five years paying $25, and the second five-year term paying $30 per attachment. The board approved a bid for $3,000 from Lonnie Lundy, Gary Hawrysko and Jon Mihalka for the 1932 General Firetruck. The group agreed to keep the firetruck under cover, keep it in Dent County and if possible get it operable for parades. The Alderman are thankful to the three men that came together to keep the firetruck local. Mayor Parker reminded citizens of the City Wide Yard Sale on Saturday, May 6th. This will be followed by a city-wide cleanup The weeks of May 8th and 15th. Alderwoman Kala Sisco said a joint Finance and Capital Improvements Committee meeting at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory will be held at 6:00 on May 1st. She thanked Healthy Dent County for a holding the recent fun community event called the ‘Non Newlywed” Game. She also thanked them for sponsoring the recent youth volleyball league that was directed by Dottie Steelman. Several youth participated from outlying communities. Alderman Kyle Williams reported that the Cosmopolitan Club is collecting donations for a Fourth of July fireworks show. Donations can be dropped off at Gypsy’s Dream, Current River Kitchen or mailed to P.O. Box 11. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Clerk Angie Curley again appointed Gary Larson as the acting presiding commissioner. In the road reports, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6083 while only grading would be done on county roads 5110 and 5600. Mobray also stated that crews would be servicing a dump truck. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2120 and 2130 while only grading would be done on county road 3180. He said a man would be going to Springfield to get more oil for chip and seal repair. Larson said he was contacted by the Dent-Phelps R-3 school that some limbs from a tree are affecting a bus route and Larson said those limbs would be taken care of. The commission received an e-mail from Dent County Health Center Administrator Zach Moser reporting that trustee Sandra Headrick resigned her board position. Her term was to expire April of 2024. The commission will have to appoint a replacement for that board that would serve until the next election in April. The commission was to open bids for a financial audit for the years 2022-23 at 10:00, but they did not receive any bids. The commission agreed to again seek financial bids for the 2022-2023 audit as required by the county’s bonding agent where the work would be done in 2024. The bids will be due at 10:00 on Monday, May 22nd at 10:00. Clerk Angie Curley said she contacted clerks in Phelps County and Howell County to get a list of possible auditors and she will let them know the county is asking for bids to see if they have interest. The next meeting will be on Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s office released these reports for the week. On Friday, April 14th, a deputy was on East Truman Street while attempting to locate a male subject who had an outstanding Dent County arrest warrant. Upon locating the man, the suspect was found also to be in possession of a controlled substance. The 24-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. He was incarcerated on his original arrest warrant and a 24-hour-hold for the possession of a controlled substance charge. The next day the Dent County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Salem Police Department for a call for a suspicious subject at Country Mart. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that a male suspect had attempted to enter the store office and steal money. The suspect, an 18-year-old Salem man, was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated on a 24-hour-hold pending the issuance of an arrest warrant. On Tuesday, April 18th, a deputy responded to the 1900 block of Dent County Road 6220 for a report of a stolen air compressor. During the investigation, it was determined that the victim was an 81-year-old man from Jadwin. Suspect information was obtained and the investigation is ongoing. Later that same day, deputies responded to the 3100 block of Route HH for a reported stolen vehicle. The victim was a 65-year-old Salem woman. During the course of the investigation, suspect information was developed and the vehicle was later recovered in Phelps County. The suspect, a 33-year-old Salem man, was arrested and incarcerated at the Phelps County Jail. This investigation is ongoing. On Thursday, April 20th, a deputy took a report of an assault that occurred between three juvenile females off South Highway 19 in the Smith Subdivision. Suspect information was obtained and this investigation is ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

An accident occurred Friday evening around 8:49 in Phelps County on Highway 68 about two miles south of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, an unknown vehicle and driver traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a parked 1996 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 49-year-old Keith Green of Cedar Hill. The Chevrolet then struck 44-year-old Mikell Bobbish of High Ridge who was outside the truck, Bobbish suffered serious injuries and was flown by Phelps Health Air Ambulance to Mercy Creve Coeur Hospital in St. Louis. The Silverado sustained moderate damage and was removed by Spurgeon’s Towing of St. James.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon around 4:10 in Texas in County on the Big Piney River about 5.6 miles west of Licking. According to the water patrol report, a 1984 Lowe Utility Boat being operated by 44-year-old Jarrell Neal of Salem, was traveling northbound and going downstream when he lost control on a shoal and sharp bend in the river. The utility boat struck a bluff and sunk in the river. A passenger in the boat, 50-year-old Darren Neal of Houston, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston. He was not wear a flotation device at the time of the accident. The utility boat was a total loss and is at the bottom of the Big Piney River.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, April 20th. In attendance were trustees Bob Gravely, Dennis Floyd and Bob Parsons, plus Administrator Zach Moser and Assistant Administrator Roma Jones. Board members Sandra Headrick and Kim Smith were not in attendance. Zach Moser, a notary public, administered the oath of office to trustee to Dennis Floyd and Bob Gravely. An Oath of Office to be used in future swearing-in ceremonies was officially adopted. A letter addressed to the Trustees from Board Member Sandra Headrick was read tendering her resignation after 16 years of service to the Dent County Health Center. Headrick’s resignation was reluctantly accepted. The Board expressed their sincere appreciation of Headrick’s many years of service, which included years of volunteering for the Show Me Healthy Women’s Program and work with the family planning program in prior years. Her medical and nursing expertise has been relied upon by the Board during her tenure. Officer elections were held with Parsons being re-elected Chairman, Kim Smith was elected Vice-Chair, and Dennis Floyd was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 34 new COVID-19 cases for March. He said there were 28 active lead cases in March. Eight sexually transmitted infection screenings were also conducted during the month. Moser noted that a total of two influenza cases were reported in March. In the diagnostics report, Moser said that 241 blood draw appointments were completed in March, plus 26 tests and 16 vaccines for COVID-19, and there were two Influenza vaccines along with 100 other vaccinations administered. There was a total of 495 appointments held during March plus WIC appointments that totaled 327. Moser noted that in March there were 143 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Jones gave the environmental report where she conducted 10 total inspections and fielded six environmental questions. In the Administrator’s report, Moser said that 328 children are currently enrolled with 22 providers in the Childcare Subsidy Program and the program is winding down and will be ending May 31st, 2023. He reported the new accounting procedures were working well and providing better insight for management of the Health Center’s finances, plus the onsite portion of the 2022 financial audit would take place May 4th. Moser said that the Title X (Ten) Family Planning Program started accepting patients April 3rd. The program will offer free and reduced cost birth control, IUDs, STD testing and treatment, basic infertility consultations, and more. It was pointed out that Title X does not pay for abortion or sterilization services and that the Dent County Health Center would not provide those services even if they were paid for. Moser reported that the first ever DCHC Health Fair, combined with an Open House, on April 13th was a success with over 140 people attending. There was discussion on the possibility of having a second health fair in October. The March financial reports featuring income and expenses were reviewed and approved. A number of budget overages and requests for modification were reviewed and approved by the Board. The next regular meeting of the Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees was set for Thursday, May 18th at 5:00.

On Friday at the Missouri State Capitol’s south lawn in front of her classmates, teachers and other children at the capital, Rolla Middle School fifth grader Harlee Tanner was recognized for writing this year’s winning Earth Day slogan, “Join the race to make the world a better place.” It was selected by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from 260 other entries sent by fifth graders from 21 different Missouri schools. Harlee will receive a $50 gift card donated by Central Bank in Jefferson City and a Missouri rock and mineral set donated by Missouri Geological Survey. Making the attendance of Harlee and her classmates possible is the Missouri State Parks Bus Grant Program. Available to schools and nonprofit organizations, the program assists with the transportation expenses of field trips and outdoor learning opportunities at Missouri state parks and historic sites. Applications and more information on the Missouri State Parks Bus Grant Program is available online at the Missouri State Parks website.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning in the courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed District Two Commission Gary Larson as the acting Presiding Commission for the meeting. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray said he had two guys out so the rest of his crew was servicing dump trucks, pickups and other equipment. Commissioner Larson said that he had three guys out and the rest were doing maintenance work and patching chip and seal on Dent County Roads 2550 and 6680. He went on to report that one man with a backhoe was opening up pipes on county roads 2380, 3200, and 3180, while another with a backhoe was cleaning ditches on county road 3260. Larson also noted that his crew was performing other equipment maintenance. Clerk Curley reported that she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of March and that the commissioners had reviewed her reports and signed off on them. She also noted that there were a few bills to be approved for payment. It was noted that Commissioner Larson will be going to Jefferson City next Tuesday to meet with the Senate for confirmation of his appointment as Presiding Commissioner of Dent County. Corky Stack with Stack Engineering came in to talk about a cost proposal on a change order of the shingle portion of the courthouse for $66,636.00. The change would be from the original bid for metal shingles on all mansard roof areas only and not the whole roof. The change proposed was to take off the existing shingles, put on thermal and moisture protection, and put on metal seam roof. The commission felt they still had 5 to 6 years or more on the existing roof so they decided to wait on this until a roof is needed so the proposal was not approved. Stack presented Pay Estimate #3 from the contractor, Alexander Construction, in the amount of $183,346.35 and the commission approved it. Stack brought in an invoice for his services of $9,559.28. After a discussion, the commission approved Stack’s invoice. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Public Safety has approved 428 grants totaling over $6.3 million to law enforcement, fire service, and EMS providers across the state for new equipment, supplies, personnel, and training. To date, a total of 224 fire service agencies have been approved to receive a total of over $3 million for equipment, including turnout gear, extrication equipment, and thermal imaging cameras. Fire districts in our area that received funding include the Dent County Fire Protection District who got $19,972.73; the Timber Fire District who received $20,000; the Jadwin Fire District who received $20,000, the St. James Fire District who got $5,924; the City of Rolla Fire and Rescue who received $20,000 and the Rolla Rural Fire Department who received $17,935.73. The maximum amount of grant funding allowed was $20,000.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 2:15 in Dent County on Highway 19 about seven miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report a 2009 Dodge Durango being driven south by 37-year-old Jonathon Smith of Salem, traveled off the right side of the road before striking a fence and overturning. Smith, who was wearing a seat restraint, was transported to the Salem Memorial Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The Durango was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday at noon at the district administrative office for a special meeting. Last week, the district and architect John Odom opened bids for the construction trades building. They received only one bid and that was from Cahill’s Construction out of Rolla. It was for the entire project and the board rejected that bid. City Administrator Sally Burbridge said the YOP expiration will be September 30th of this year unless an extension is granted while the CDBG grant will be ending on December 31st. The board did approved the rebidding of the addendum to the specs that calls for work on the building shell only which will be opened on May 19th. The board approved to move the consideration of bids on the baseball field to the May meeting. The board approved a contract with FFA Instructor Dalton Sanders to use a school bus he owns that was used at the Maries R-1 School District where they will pay six months of his insurance premium which comes to $2,500 and other consideration. The new bus the school ordered which was supposed to have already arrived, is now due to be delivered sometime in May. The board then accepted the resignation of teacher Karla Tiefenthaler who has accepted the principal’s job at Dent-Phelps R-3. The Special meeting of the Salem R-80 board was then adjourned.