Local News

The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors met Tuesday evening at 6:00. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the minutes from the November meeting were reviewed. The financial report showed and ending balance as of November 30th of $2,155.62. Bills, payments, and statements were then reviewed and approved before the monthly reimbursement report was presented bringing the total calls year to date to 250. In old business, it was reported that the windows in the dispatch area are being completed and the electric will probably be installed in the new multi-purpose room after the first of the year. In new business, Fire Chief Brad Nash presented the board with the personal protective equipment policy for the NFPA 1851 standard for care and maintenance of firefighting as well as turnout gear and equipment for approval. A motion was made and approved to adopt the PPE policy as presented with FEMA guidelines. Chief Nash also reported that the department has put in for a matching grant for new turnout gear and SCBA bottles. The date was then set for the next meeting for Tuesday, January 10th at 6:00 at the fire station. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold their regular meeting this evening at 6:00 in the Salem R-80 Boardroom. After the approval of the agenda, the Board will hear reports from Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed and assistant Superintendent Dr. Nathan Wills. The board will also hear reports from the principals from the William Lynch Elementary School, the upper elementary school, the middle school and the senior high as well as reports on athletics and activities, Special Education, Technology, and from the Instructional Coaches. In new business, the board will select a MSBA Belcher Scholarship Nominee, approve the MSBA Board Policy Revisions, rescind policy DBB, approve the “Conflict-of-Interest” Policy, set Tuition Rates for 2022-2023, approve the Infinite Campus Contract, approve the purchase of Evaluate, approve revisions to the ESSER III Budget/Plan, consider a Bond Resolution, approve a Bus Purchase, and hear resignations. The regular board will adjourn and move into Executive Session. The regular meeting this evening will be open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday afternoon at around 2:10 in Texas County on Highway 137 about three miles south of Licking. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2005 Freightliner being driven by 32-year-old Michael Lynch of Winona, was traveling south when he traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Lynch, who was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident, suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Freightliner was totaled and removed from the scene by Jays Towing.

The Salem Area Community Betterment Association is proud to host this year’s Trees and Trains Exhibit at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center on Monday through Friday from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. This Saturday and Sunday, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Creative Arts Center next to the ONCRC from 2:00 until 5:00 with the Trees and Trains Exhibit also open at that time. Everyone is welcome to attend and photo ops will be available. Donations are always welcome!

The Salem Creative Arts Center will be offering a Kid’s Snowman Paint Party with Danielle Norris on Monday, December 19th from 5:30 in the evening until 7:30. What better way to stay warm, than to come and paint snowmen inside. Kiddos and parents are welcome to come and paint. Cost is $15 per kiddo, discounts for multiple kid families may be available. Just contact the Creative Arts Center. Go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center. You can also call or text 573-247-0651.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers for its regular meeting. The board approved the invoice from Sho-Me Power for a new reclosure, travel and labor for the electric substation repair on December 3rd of $22,242.12. They also approved the bid from Ad-Par Construction for $23,000 for work at #4 Parkview Place as part of the “Welcome Home” project and approved the bid from 5 J’s Landscaping and Handyman Services for $16,350 for 102 South Dilworth Lane as part of the “Welcome Home” Project. The board tabled the bids for Municipal Financial Services until the city attorney could review the documents. They went on to approve the bid for 125 tons of salt for the street department from Compass Minerals for $12,051.25, and also approved to buy fuel for the airport with a maximum purchase at this time of $10,000. The price of gas fluctuates daily, and Public Works Director Mark Nash said the city will pay whatever price per gallon it is when it gets loaded onto the truck. He was looking at getting no more than 2,000 gallons. The board approved Resolution #47-2022 that allows the mayor to enter into an agreement between the City of Salem and Gilmore and Bell, PC for post-tax compliance services. The city will have to pay $5,500 for the 2017 Pool Project Certificates of Participation from the Park and Recreation Department’s Special Services Fund which will need a budget adjustment, and the 2017 utility filing fee of $1,100 will be split equally between the electric, water and sewer departments. The board approved Resolutions #48-2022 and #49-2022 that dealt with the properties at #4 Parkview Place and 102 South Dilworth allowing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the construction companies to do the agreed upon work as bid to those individual properties as part of the “Welcome Home” project. The board tabled Resolution #50-2022 authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with a Municipal Financial Advisor since the board tabled the bids. In reports, Temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge introduced Anne Freand from the MRPC who explained they selected Salem to prepare an Active Transportation Plan that would be for trails and sidewalks if funding becomes available. This is for pedestrian walking and biking and there were a number of proposed trails and sidewalk improvements in the plan that will need to be submitted by the end of the month. Freand asked the board to review the plan and submit any corrections or changes they find to her before the plan is submitted. Burbridge said a meeting was held with Archer-Elgin concerning the Phase 2 improvements to the sewer plant. She reported information about net metering in the city is available in a two-part flyer from MPUA in the office, and Ameren will be installing a new AMI system for their natural gas. She said at the Airport Board meeting last week, a representative from Lochner was there to talk about long-term plans for the airport. Mayor Greg Parker thanked Park and Rec Director Melissa Dubois for the ”Light up the Park” display at the Salem City Park, thanked Mark Nash and the electric department for their work when the electric went down on December 3rd, thanked Sinks Pharmacy for sponsoring the parade winners and thanked KSMO Media for video streaming the Christmas Parade. Mark Nash said the electric department is replacing the overhead city lights that have burnt out, but he said there are more lights out than they have in stock. More lights have been ordered, but they are getting harder to get and have increased in price by 40%. He also said utility easements for the 4th street TAP Grant improvements have been secured and people can look at what is being proposed under “City Projects” on the city website. Alderwoman Kala Sisco said she is looking for volunteers for her Community Services Committee to help with how to pay for the 2023 fireworks display for the 4th of July. Call the city administrative offices if you are interested. Alderman Kyle Williams said there would be a Utility Committee meeting at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 6:15 tonight. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their meeting Monday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said his crew will finished up the Title II rock project on Dent County Road 5600 Monday. He said crews would be replacing two crossover pipes on county road 2430, then adding rock and materials to the areas. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said rock was going to be added and spread out on Dent County Roads 2510, 3140, 3150 and 3180 while brush would also be cut on county road 2510. He said a crew would be servicing county truck #126. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he was proud that Angela Black from the Dent County Westside 4-H Club for stream cleanup near the Bonebrake Center and Sara Massengale from the University Extension for her work with numerous recycling projects in the county received awards for their hard work. He said he attended the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting Thursday and said of the 31 projects presented for scoring, receiving the highest score for priority projects was the replacing of the bridge on Route TT at Sligo. Skiles said the Highway 32 bridge at Boss came in 9th in the scoring. Skiles said there would be a Dent County Hazard Mitigation meeting today at the Salem Community Center@The Armory starting at 1:00. He recommends all those entities that have an interest in the plan attend the meeting for their input. Skiles also said the new SEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Dent County are now available for public review at the courthouse at the commissioner’s office. Engineer Corky Stack was in attendance to discuss the bathroom situation at the courthouse as well as roofing. The commission said Stack could get estimates on replacing the shingle roof on the courthouse with commercial metal roofing. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she was working on the budget and financial statements. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

On Thursday, the Salem Memorial District Hospital held their Strategic Planning Retreat for 2022. In attendance were SMDH Board Members, leadership from the Rural Hospital Group (RHG), representatives and heads of SMDH departments and the media. RHG Chief Executive officer Trent Skaggs discussed the impact SMDH employment has on the local economy in that the hospital’s payroll turns over about 12 times locally creating a large economic driver for Salem and surrounding communities. Another strength is the affordability of services where a procedure that would cost $20,000 in a metro hospital like those in St. Louis, would cost about $6,000 here in Salem with the same technology, care and equipment. Skaggs and SMDH CEO Wayne Reid recounted early hurtles and accomplishments of the new administration, from the very real threat of SMDH closing to its current rebound and continued growth. In reviewing recent hospital trends, COVID-19’s impact stood out over much of the data points and would be a reoccurring point of discussion throughout the meeting. from staff shortages to federal funding charges. Skaggs then presented information regarding the SMDH service area, demographics, inpatient origin by surrounding counties and overall market share. Darrel Morris, the Chief Operation Officer of RHG, led a presentation that reviewed each department’s utilization over the last 16 fiscal quarters. With this data in hand, members of the meeting then broke out into smaller groups with the intention to refine and repackage the data for leadership to review and plan the future of SMDH that best serves Salem and the surrounding communities.

Kevin Crider with Missouri Feral Hog Eradication Program was at Thursday’s Dent County Commissioners meeting to share figures on the success of the program. He said that in 2021, the program eradicated 9,857 feral hogs and this year the total is going to be under 6,000. Crider also noted that in 2020 the total was over 12,000. He said the decrease in the numbers indicated that success of the program and that even the number of landowner requests for assistance has gone down. Crider said the program is also assisting Soil and Water Conservation Districts, including Dent County, by providing equipment such as drills, harrows, etc. to help repair feral hog damage. He also noted that Conservation Department and USDA together have 48 trappers in the field to assist landowners. If you are having a feral hog problem, contact Crider through the Dent County Extension office at 729-3196.

The Salem Police Department has released their latest report from December 2nd through the 9th. Their report shows there were 123 calls for service as well as 22 traffic stops with three resulting in a summons or arrest. Some of the reports include one from December 2nd at about 7:30 in the morning. According to the report, officers responded to the 300 block of West Roosevelt for a vehicle that had been broken into. It was reported that items were stolen out of the vehicle in the overnight hours. This incident is still under investigation. Then on December 3rd near noon, officers responded to the 1200 block of North Jackson for a report of a disorderly man that was acting belligerent towards others. The investigation by the police discovered the man had an active warrant out of Green County, Missouri with no bond. As a result of the active warrant, 48-year-old Billy Coleman of Salem was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail awaiting extradition to Green County. In the early morning hours of December 6th, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an out-of-date registration. During the traffic stop it was found the driver had an active warrant out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office for failing to stop at a red light. As a result, 24-year-old Leanna Haws of Salem was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending bond. Later that same day at 2:00 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that a male subject had stolen $100 worth of merchandise and it was caught on video surveillance. This incident is still under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Motorists are being advised to be on the lookout for Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) crews that will be conducting striping operations along the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 44 starting this morning at 9:00 from mile marker 208 near Cuba to mile marker 218 near Bourbon. Striping will last until 5:00 in the afternoon. Motorists will encounter slow-moving lines of trucks with flashing lights, boards with flashing arrows and signs that say, “Wet Paint.” Drivers are reminded to stay behind the last truck in the striping train, which is placed well behind the striping truck. This will give the new paint time to dry and keep drivers from tracking fresh paint across the lanes and damaging the new stripes. It also will prevent paint from getting onto vehicles. If you do drive through the wet paint, which is water-based, clean your car as quickly as possible with a high-powered water hose such as those used in car washes. For more information about roadway striping, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636)

An accident happened Thursday evening at 8:25 on Interstate 44 at the 191.4-mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Chevy Silverado driven eastbound by 26-year- old Jennifer Dolde of Steelville, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck the median cable barrier. Dolde suffered minor injuries and was taken by an EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Chevy was totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing in Rolla

The Salem Creative Arts Center will be offering a Mooey Christmas paint and sip class with Danielle Norris this Friday night from 6:30 in the evening until 8:30. Who doesn’t love a cute calf for the holidays? Bring a warm beverage and let us warm your hearts with this cute painting. The cost is $25 per person all supplies are provided. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Call or text 573-247-0651, or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under Salem Creative Arts Center.

The Doe Run Company has confirmed that a man died while working underground at the company’s Casteel Mine near Bixby on Tuesday. Doe Run did not release the name of the man but he was identified on social media as Hagen Barton of Viburnum. A moment of silence was held at the Viburnum and Salem basketball game for him as one of his daughters was a cheerleader for the team. According to Tammy Stankey, media liaison for the company, the man was discovered along a haul road outside of his vehicle. When found, Barton was unresponsive. Emergency rescue personnel were immediately notified and arrived on scene where he was pronounced dead. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and local authorities are investigating the incident. The MSHA has the accident classified as a powered haulage incident which can include equipment such as shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front-end motors, and more. This is the company’s third-mining related fatality since 2009 and the second one to be related to powered haulage.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning in the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was unable to attend due to a back injury. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed District Two Commissioner Gary Larson as temporary Presiding Commissioner. Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s office was in and updated the Commission. According to Wilson the House is working on committee chair appointments and Smith is optimistic that he will be named Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which would make Smith only the second Missourian to chair a House of Representatives Committee. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in with the December sales tax receipts. General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax each received $92,717,79, which was down $290.32 from 2021. She said year-to-date each fund is up $340,417.08. The Road and Bridge Fund received $43,993.18, down slightly from 2021’s $44,090.87. Year-to-date Road and Bridge is up $168,157.06. The Jail Operating and Jail Trust Funds each received $87,986.20 compared to last year’s $88,169.41, which was a decrease of $183.21. Year-to-date each fund is up $334,915.93. Williams reminded everyone the large percentage increases are due to Department of Revenue withholding tax receipts last year. In the road report District One Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated brush would be cut on Dent County Road 5520. He also reported that Truck #125 was being serviced and the alternator was being replaced, plus Grader #38 was being serviced. Larson reported that in District Two brush would be cut on Dent County Road 2510 and brown rock would possibly be hauled to that road. He said that Truck #76 was being serviced, Grader #37 was having some issues, and general maintenance was being done around the shop. Larson also reported that the new graders arrived this week. He did say that on Tuesday he and Skiles attended the Solid Waste Management Full Council meeting and awards banquet in St. James at the Senior Citizens Center. Larson said that Angela Black and Sara Massengale both received awards. Angie reported that her office continues to work on the budget for 2023 and the financial statement. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk brought in the monthly turnover for November. She said that $1,686,239.51 was collected, which was up over $100,000 from 2021. Jody Schaefer and Linda Johnson from the Salem Nutrition Center brought in paperwork about the Center’s financial needs. Schaefer said that from January 1st through November 30th the Center served 28,020 meals. She went on to say that they generally prepare for 80 meals a day and up to 100 when they are serving “special” meals. Larson said the Commission would be studying the materials and situation. The next meeting of the Commission will Monday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $50,000 Clean Water Engineering Report Grant to the city of Salem to evaluate the city’s wastewater system. The grant offers funding to qualified communities to help cover engineering costs for evaluating wastewater system improvements. The city will use the grant to identify wastewater system improvements needed to meet permit requirements, continue reliable service to the area and reduce stormwater infiltration into sewer collection pipes. The city’s improvement plan should be complete in April 2024. According to Dru Buntin, the director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, this type of grant allows Missouri communities like Salem to cover the cost of assessing their wastewater treatment systems, and identify improvements that will keep them operating effectively which not only helps the community maintain and improve key infrastructure they rely on to grow and thrive, it provides important economic benefits as well.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salem “Parade of Lights” float winners have been announced. In the “Commercial” category, the winner was Parsons Chiropractic while the “Non-Commercial” winner was the Dent County Health Center. Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you goes out to all the businesses and organizations who entered floats this year in the parade. In the “Horse” category, Kimberly Stewart was selected the winner by the judges.

Missouri’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) in collaboration with Meramec Regional Planning Commission will host a virtual video call on the topic of broadband availability on Monday, December 19th at 3:00. Citizens, public officials and other leaders will have an opportunity to hear about how they can help improve recently released maps showing broadband availability specific to the Meramec Region. Newly created Federal Communications Commission (FCC) maps will determine what share of $42.45 billion in federal broadband funding will come to the state of Missouri through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, a component of the infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act. The map will identify what locations in the state qualify for help using those funds. To see the FCC map, visit broadbandmap.fcc.gov. At the meeting, OBD staff will review what the map shows about the region and introduce attendees to the FCC’s challenge process, which allows individuals and institutions to submit corrections to the map. By establishing that a given location does not have the level of service listed on the map, the challenge process can open that location up to future funding opportunities and increase Missouri’s share of BEAD funding. Initial estimates indicate that each additional challenge that successfully identifies a new unserved location could be an additional $5,000 of broadband infrastructure funding to the state. The National Telecommunications Information Agency, the federal agency responsible for the BEAD program, has indicated that all challenges filed by January 13th will be considered in its decision about how much BEAD funding each state receives. Challenges filed after that date are still important in order to ensure that no locations are missed when the time comes to fund projects using the BEAD allocation. OBD is partnering with University of Missouri Extension to provide in-person technical support for anyone interested in filing challenges at their county offices across the state. Residents in Dent County should contact the Dent County Extension office is 729-3196. This event is only one component of extensive technical assistance OBD plans to offer to individuals, local governments, and other groups interested in participating in the challenge process. On Friday, December 16th, at 1:00 in the afternoon, OBD will hold a statewide call for anyone interested in hearing more about how they can participate in the challenge process. The December 19th Webex meeting is specific to the Meramec Region. The Office of Broadband Development will also answer questions about the challenge process over the phone at 526-1028 or by email at broadband@ded.mo.gov. In addition to encouraging individuals to file challenges, OBD staff will review how local institutions can promote participation in the challenge process and to work with local officials to identify data sources that could be used for larger-scale challenges. Beginning in 2023, Missouri will use BEAD funding to launch its Connecting All Missourians initiative, which aims to provide high-quality broadband internet to every home and business in the state. Please contact Linda Carroll at MRPC for the meeting link, by phone at 573-265-2993 or by email at lcarroll@meramecregion.org. MRPC is assisting the OBD with outreach and community engagement in the Meramec Region.

The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages experienced Missouri birders to become citizen scientists by helping with the National Audubon Society’s 123rd Christmas Bird Count, or CBC between December 14th through January 5th, 2023. The CBC is an early-winter bird census where thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada, and many countries in the western hemisphere go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds. Christmas Bird Counts are held annually to gather data on winter bird populations and to track the long-term status of species and large-scale trends. Each CBC has a coordinator who assigns portions of a 15-mile diameter count circle to participants to count all birds seen and heard over a 24-hour period. Missouri hosts about 20 CBCs, in our area the event will take place at Maramec Spring Park and at Big Spring in Van Buren on Saturday December 17th. For more information, including contacts and instructions, visit mobirds.org. Click on a count and contact the CBC organizer listed if the count is accepting new volunteers.

The City of Salem Airport Board will be meeting this evening at the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington Street. The meeting, called by Airport Board President Tyler Naramore, will be held to discuss future planning for the airport with Lochner and get updates on a number of projects including the fuel tank, pilot lounge, new hanger project and gate opener. The Airport Board meeting is open to the public.

The Rural Hospital Group (known as RHG) will be holding a strategic planning meeting with the Salem Memorial District Hospital Thursday morning at 8:30 at the conference room of the Crossroads Inn and Suites at 1200 South Main Street. All members of the SMDH Board of Directors have been invited to participate which constitutes this being considered a public meeting. The public is invited to attend any part of the meeting that is not closed to the public in accordance with Chapter 610 of the Revised State Statutes of Missouri.

Filing for the two positions on the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is now underway at the Dent County Fire Protection District Building. Filings will be held now through December 27th by appointment. Call for your appointment between the hours of 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon at 729-3250. The two board positions that are open are a two-year term and the other is a six-year term. These filings are for the April 4th Municipal Election in 2023.

‘Tis the season to be giving. This holiday season, give a gift back to the environment by being mindful about how you celebrate. Americans typically generate the largest amount of waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s
Day. As you plan your holiday events and gatherings, add a bit of “green” to your party theme. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources shares these tips to maximize your holiday cheer while also being environmentally friendly: As you choose gifts for friends and family, consider making them yourself. Create homemade snow globes with old glass jars or fill them with cookie and cake mixes for a sweet treat. Repurpose meaningful t-shirts to make a cozy quilt. It’s estimated that more food enters landfills than any other single material in our trash. Adjust your recipes to fit the number of guests. This will leave less left-overs and reduce waste. If you do have food waste, compost as much as possible. If you’re pining for a cut tree, shop at a local tree farm. Buying locally means traveling fewer miles, which creates fewer emissions for a healthier environment. Also, consider a Missouri-native potted tree that can be replanted outside after the holidays. When stringing decorative lights, opt for LED, which have a longer life and use less energy than regular lights. Use a timer that automatically turns lights off and on. Finally, when the parties are all over and it’s time to tidy up, save wrapping paper and bags for use on next year’s gifts. If you bought a cut tree, it can be chipped and used for mulch, or it can be turned into habitat for fish or other wildlife. With a little creativity and planning, you can help alleviate unnecessary waste in our landfills, save money and have a tree-mendous holiday! For more information on recycling, reuse and composting, contact the department’s Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401, or visit dnr.mo.gov.

The Creative Arts Center will be offering a Wheat Weaving Christmas Angel Ornament class with Suzanne Douglass this Thursday from 6:00 in the evening until 8:00. Come join us in celebrating the Christmas season by creating a beautiful old fashion traditional Christmas Angel decoration. The cost is $25 and all supplies are included. They will also offer a Rope Broom making class with Wayne Douglass Thursday from 6:00 in the evening until 8:00. In the days of wooden ships and sails, sailors made things with what they had. By using a bit of rope, they made a nice brush for cleaning up small mess. Join Wayne Thursday evening as he walks you through the steps of creating your own rope broom. The cost is $20 and all supplies are included. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center to register or call or text 573-247-0651.

Memories of cookies and cider, sleigh rides, homemade gifts and ornaments, and warm gatherings of friends and family are all part of the spirit of Christmas in the Ozarks. An “Ozark Christmas Celebration” will take place at Alley Spring this Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Bring the family to see the Old Red Mill decked for the holidays. If you arrive before dusk, the holiday decorations near the mill and stunning backdrop of Alley Spring in the winter provide the perfect setting for a holiday photo you can cherish for years. After dark, lanterns will light the pathways to the mill where you can visit with old friends and new, sing Christmas carols by candlelight, and munch cookies with hot drinks. You can even make a simple holiday ornament to take home. Warm up your singing voice and dress warm for the festivities. Alley Spring is located six miles west of Eminence on Highway 106. For more information, please contact Ranger Josh Chilton at 573-226-3945. This holiday event is conducted in partnership with the Ozark Riverways Foundation, Shannon County Museum Association, Dent County Historical Society, and the Ozark Heritage Project.

The 2nd Annual “Santa Paws” is coming to The Commons! The Dent County Animal Welfare Society will be hosting a pet adoption event this Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon Saturday and from 1:00 until 3:00 on Sunday. Bring the kids and get pictures with Santa as well as the Grinch and play with beautiful puppies looking for homes. There will be a bake sale if you need a snack! If you have any questions about adopting or about supporting the Dent County Animal Welfare Society, call 729-3556.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director as well as Temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge was in attendance for her monthly update. She said November was fairly slow for activities as the two state leads that were available required services or space that Salem does not have access to or that is available. She did report the electric outage on Saturday was from a squirrel that shorted out a main breaker at the Salem sub-station that back fed through other lines causing not only the City of Salem to be without power but also parts of Intercounty Electric. She stated Sho-Me Power Electric Co-Op was in Salem until Saturday evening repairing the problem. Burbridge reported the “Welcome Home” program has 15 of the 25 homes in process with three of the first four contracts approved. The 4th house is to be presented at the next aldermen meeting. She also mentioned there was a slight uptick in the Dent County Unemployment Rate in October from September going from 2.2% to 2.9% which came as a result of the workforce shrinking by 100 people while those unemployed or looking for work rose to 179 from 136. This percentage is slightly higher than the state average of 2.6% and below the national average of 3.7%. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray reported grading will be done on Dent County Roads 5220, 5390 and 6460 while brush will be cut on county roads 6250 and 6255. Mobray said more materials will be added to Dent County Road 5600 as part of the Title II project work and that should be finishing up the project. He did say he would be a meeting with the engineer from Great Rivers Engineering and representatives from H. R. Quadri from Van Buren this morning at the courthouse concerning the Cooley Bridge FLAP project. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3170, 3250, 3260 and 3270 while only grading was going to be done on county roads 2083, 2075, 2220, 3173, 3273 and 3275. Larson said brush would be cut on county road 2550. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to thank the City of Salem for allowing the electric department bucket truck to put the Christmas lights on the big Blue Spruce in the front of the courthouse. One strand did go out and they may have to ask for the use of the truck again to repair them. He also wanted to thank the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salem for another successful “Parade of Lights” Saturday from the SBU campus to the courthouse. Skiles also wanted to thank the Alexander Construction Company for getting the lights to work on the courthouse for the parade Saturday. Skiles then discussed the unapproved minutes from the Dent County Salary Commission meeting that he was unable to attend for some clarification in what was written. The minutes said the discussion by the committee was for an “Annual Continuing Cost of Living Increase” for office holders and employees, and Skiles said the State Statute Section 50.333 RSMO does not include any wording that would allow for the commission to approve such a long-term commitment. He was confused by that phrase and another later in the minutes that said the COLA approved at this meeting and “motion for any future COLAs to be given across the board.” Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams and Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer were invited to attend the discussion along with Dent County Clerk Angie Curley and the commissioners. After some discussion with the group, they said it was not their intention when they passed the recommendation to adopt a 4% COLA that would go past the 2023 year. The salary commission recommendation will be reviewed by the commissioners when they determine the 2023 budget to see if the COLA is affordable once all the commitments for the year have been identified and accounted for. Homeyer asked the commission if they would be applying for the Cyber Security Grant and they have not made any decision on that yet. Commissioner Skiles asked Assessor Homeyer if the county had new plat books yet and she said she is working on that and will bring down the draft before it is printed. The commission agreed to send a letter to St. Charles County in regards to updating a new invoice #190065. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The Creative Arts Center will be holding a Holiday Ceramic Paint Party with Isabella Knaack this Wednesday from 5:00 until 7:00 in the evening. Come get in the holiday mood with a relaxing few hours of painting fun. There will be holiday ceramic figurines, plates, bowls, cups, etc. This is a pay per piece workshop costs start a $3. There will be an additional 40% added if you would like your piece glazed and fired. To sign up for events from the Creative Arts Center, call or text 573-247-0651, or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.

The Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center has the 2023 Natural Events Calendar published by the Missouri Department of Conservation available just in town for the holidays. The incredible photography with amazing images of native animals, plants, and places, along with phases of the moon, holidays and days of recognition, daily notes about natural events, and more. The 2023 Natural Events Calendar makes an excellent Christmas gift and is priced at only $9.00 at the ONCRC at located at 202 South Main Street and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

On Saturday, six members of the Salem High School Band auditioned at Hickman High School in Columbia performing in eight individual auditions. Named to the Missouri All-State Band was senior Christopher “Kip” Harris who earned 1st Chair playing the Euphonium. He is the first Salem Tiger to ever be named as first chair playing the Euphonium for the Missouri All-State Band. This is the second year in a row he has achieved the honor of making the All-State Band. Also named to Missouri All-State band was sophomore Xander During as the 2nd Chair Contra-alto Clarinet, an instrument he just began playing this semester. He also auditioned in the competition on the Bass Clarinet. The All-State Band is the highest honor a high school band student can achieve! The Missouri All-State Band will perform at the Tan-Tar-A Conference Center on Saturday, January 28, 2023. A special congratulations goes out to Kip and Xander, and a job well done to all the other band members who competed at the audition.

In the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce business Window Decorating Contest, taking 1st place was Pizza Hut on Highway 32-72 East. Taking second place in the competition was the Salem License Office and US Bank. Visit these beautiful windows as well as all the other entries located at McDonald’s, Allen’s Treasure Chest & Den, American Family Insurance, Trinty, VIP Properties, Progressive Ozark Bank, Parsons Chiropractic, Edward Jones, the Ozark Natural Cultural Resource Center, Country Chic Boutique and Tax Masters.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday evening at 7:30 in Crawford County on Highway 19 just south of Nature Lane. The report released by the highway patrol states that a 2013 Toyota Prius being driven by 74-year-old Wanda Dinkela of Steelville, traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Dinkela and a passenger, 72-year-old Carla Nicocin, also of Steelville, both suffered minor injuries and were taken to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The Toyota was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The driver and passenger were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released reports for the end of November. On Sunday, November 27th, a deputy investigated a trespassing complaint on Dent County Road 3190. During the investigation, a 28-year-old female and 38-year-old male, both of Salem, were arrested on outstanding warrants and taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Monday, November 28th, a deputy investigated a reported fraud. The victim, a 62-year-old Salem female, told the deputy that unknown persons had made unauthorized transactions with her bank account online. The investigation is continuing. On Wednesday, November 30th, a deputy investigated a reported domestic assault that occurred on Private Lane 335. The victim, a 59-year-old Salem woman, reported she was assaulted by her spouse. The suspect, a 59-year-old Salem man, was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail and charged with Domestic Assault in the 2nd Degree If you have any information about any investigation, please call the sheriff’s department at 729-3241.

The City of Salem Park and Recreation Department is once again holding the “Light Up the Park” at the Salem City Park now through December 31st and everyone is invited! There is no charge to drive through park after dark entering from Route J also known as Rolla Road which is the normal park entrance. Those organizations, individuals or businesses that have displays up this year are the Corinth Baptist Church, Town and Country Financial Services, Mid-MO Spray Foam, Parsons Chiropractic, Edward Jones, Salem United Methodist Church, Scenic Rivers CPA, Town and Country Insurance, United Country – Salem Realty, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Bank of Salem, Chilton Oil Company, Salem Residential Care, Salem Rotary, Town and Country Bank, Dent County 4-H, C & G Rebuilders LLC, Tina Pierce and Family, 5G Services – Heating and Cooling, State Representative Ron Copeland and Family, Salem Lutheran Church, City of Salem Parks and Recreation, the Salem FFA and the Salem Community Center @the Armory. Christmas music at the park on 97.5 FM is provided by KSMO Radio. This Saturday, you can enjoy popcorn and have pictures taken with Santa at the Salem City Park from 3:30 until 6:30. For more information about the ‘Light Up the Park” or pictures with Santa at the park, please contact Salem Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois at 729-6290 or send her an e-mail her at salemparks@salemmo.com.

The Bread and Butter class originally scheduled in November at the Current River State Park that was postponed has been rescheduled for this Saturday from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. Snacks and drinks will be available, but attendees will need to bring their own lunch and a jump drive for the Power Point presentation as well as something to take notes with. Participants must be 16 years old or older to attend. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, contact Connie at 573-751-1224 or e-mail connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov. Registration will close on December 5th. The Current River State Park is located at 11053 County Road 19D south of Salem.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6470 while only grading would be done on county roads 4210 and 5490. He went on to say the Title II rock work is almost completed. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3140 and 3180 while brush would be cut on county road 2530. Larson reported work crews would be installing a driveway pipe on Dent County Road 3300 and materials would be added to the road as well. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he met with Dent County and Salem Economic Development Director and temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge about a letter of support for the city’s application for additional grant funds for the Department of Economic Development’s Community Revitalization Grant. These funds would be in addition to the TAP grant the city has already been approved for that would remove and replace all non-ADA compliant sidewalks serving businesses along 4th Street as well as installing historic replica lighting on 4th Street on the south side from Highway 19 to Iron Street, and both sides of 4th Street from Highway 19 to Washington Street. The additional funds would be used on the west side of the 4th Street project and extend the scope of the original project. The total amount of funds for the project would come to just over $990,000. The commission approved the letter of support from the county for the project. Skiles said he spoke with the Alexander Construction Company concerning the courthouse Christmas lights and they reported to him they are on their last leg. They have them working at this time and hope they will make it through the holiday season. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she continues to work on the budget and financial statements. A.J. Seay and Amanada Sapaugh with the Senate Bill 40 board updated the commission on their status. He said 60% of their budget goes to the Sheltered Workshop with another 34% going to administration for salaries and building upkeep. He also said six percent of their funds go to schools for special education needs. Seay said they are working on their budget and brought to the attention of the commission the Sheltered Workshop may need a new storage building if they receive three work contracts they are negotiating. He said the SB40 Board budget couldn’t assist with that project at this time as the estimated costs could be $60,000 or more. Also, the flood plain maps at the Dent County Courthouse as reported in Your World Today Thursday are the proposed preliminary maps from 2019 and 2020 as the new maps are not yet completed. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said her office will have extended hours for those wanting to pay their tax bills on December 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th from 8;00 in the morning until 5:30 in the afternoon. Remember, all mail MUST be postmarked NO LATER than Saturday, December 31st and she recommends if you wait until that day to take your envelope inside to have it hand stamped. There is also a drop box in the front of the courthouse at the southwest corner of the courthouse square. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Kick off the Christmas season with the annual tree lighting and Salem Chamber Choir performance at Echo Bluff State Park this evening. The tree lighting will be at 7:00 followed by the Salem Chamber Choir’s heavenly sound as it fills to the rafters of the Lodge lobby as the choir performs traditional Christmas carols. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive just north of Eminence. For more information, call 573-751-5211. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem will be holding their “Parade of Lights” Saturday night starting at 5:30 from the SBU Salem Campus at Grand and Franklin. Over 50 entries are participating this year with the theme “Under the Christmas Tree” with the Grand Marshall this year being former Mayor Gary Brown. The parade will move east on Franklin to MacArthur where the parade will travel north to 4th Street and then head east to the courthouse square. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the parade, but if you are unable to make it this year, KSMO Media will be streaming the parade LIVE from their post near the Salem Public Library at 4th and Jackson Streets. The broadcast should get underway close to 6:00 and can be seen on the KSMO Facebook Stream page, ksmoradio.com and the KSMO YouTube page. There is no charge to watch the parade and if you miss it, the parade will be available for playback at a later time. If you have any questions about the parade, please call the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Office at 729-6900.